16 The Strongest (Part Seven)

Dazai Osamu fell silent for a moment, sucked the crab leg meat out and swallowed it, then complained nonchalantly, “I remember it was always Chuuya who was nagging me to work before... Now that I’m seriously working, you’ve got complaints too? Moody, aren’t you?”

“But we don’t have any work right now,” Nakahara Chuuya said calmly.

Even if Dazai remained expressionless, he could tell something was off with Chuuya. Few things made Dazai take matters so seriously. If he claimed it was just to explore new worlds, Chuuya wouldn’t buy it.

They locked eyes. Chuuya’s gaze was calm, like a frozen sea surface, clearly reflecting Dazai’s silhouette.

Dazai chuckled. He sneered, “I’m nothing like Chuuya. I’m not that generous with people who scheme against me!”

“I didn’t even know anyone could scheme against you,” Chuuya said, finishing the last crab and tossing the shell onto Dazai’s plate, wiping his hands on a nearby towel. “Suguru Geto? Can he really do that to you?”

“Chuuya, your choice of words is disgusting!” Dazai said with disdain. “I’m aiming for someone behind Geto.”

“Do you think it’s Satoru Gojo?” Chuuya asked.

“Who knows?” Dazai replied. “After all, what we know about Gojo comes from third parties.”

Chuuya rolled his eyes and shot back sarcastically, “Don’t tell me you’re scared of Gojo?”

“Huh?!” Dazai raised an eyebrow. “Are you kidding me, Chuuya?”

Chuuya brandished his crab cracker threateningly at him. “Are you going to say it or not?!”

Dazai didn’t answer but countered, “I’m the one who should be asking you first!”

“I’m worried because of you,” Chuuya answered frankly. He crushed the crab shell in his hand and picked out the meat. “What about you?”

“...Since when did Chuuya get so straightforward?” Dazai averted his gaze to the crab in Chuuya’s hand. His fingers were still graceful. “I just hate being watched.”

“Isn’t trickery your specialty?” Chuuya said, raising his tone as he looked at the unwilling-to-answer Dazai. “Dazai.”

“Alright, alright...” Dazai said reluctantly, “I admit I’m a little... anxious.”

“So you think my strength isn’t enough?” Chuuya narrowed his eyes menacingly, twirling his wrist unconsciously.

Dazai watched the movement, realizing if he couldn’t give Chuuya a satisfactory answer, he’d probably get roughed up.

But he was glad.

Leaning his upper body toward Chuuya, his knuckles drummed happily on the table. “Do you think I’m underestimating you?”

Since Chuuya woke up in this world, his attitude toward Dazai had changed. Honestly, Dazai didn’t like it. He didn’t want Chuuya to hold back because of guilt or anything else. He liked it when Chuuya vented all his emotions on him without reservation—joy, sorrow, or anger.

To be clear, he liked seeing Chuuya so mad he could barely contain himself.

“Otherwise?” Chuuya said. “You didn’t act like this with Weilen, did you?”

Dazai blinked twice. “That’s because...”

Chuuya said calmly, “Because Weilen was brought here by you, and you had a plan and preparations to deal with him.”

Dazai dragged another scapegoat into the conversation. “Mr. Mori was in the know too.”

“I know,” Chuuya said. “But Weilen’s true strength was beyond your expectations, wasn’t it?”

“This isn’t Yokohama, Chuuya,” Dazai said. There’s no port Mafia, no Armed Detective Agency—just the two of them.

“You have me—isn’t that enough?” Chuuya’s expression was arrogantly natural, born of absolute confidence bordering on pride.

The pair known as the “Double Blacks” were invincible; their cooperation had never failed, no matter the enemy.

—Besides, when has Dazai ever worried about lacking leverage? Any power could be bent to his will—that was Dazai.

Chuuya grabbed Dazai’s collar, staring into his eyes. The distance between them closed until Dazai could feel Chuuya’s warm breath on his face.

A confident curve lifted Chuuya’s brows and eyes. His gaze fixed intently on Dazai’s pupils. Catching a flicker of hesitation, Chuuya’s expression softened and he promised, “Dazai, I won’t die so easily.”

“Hmph!” Dazai’s expression darkened swiftly. His gaze unleashed a storm of darkness, only to be swallowed by the whirlpool at his pupils’ center. He snorted, his voice trembling slightly with suppressed emotion. “Chuuya, you really have the nerve to say that!”

Chuuya released Dazai’s collar and flashed him a radiant smile. “Even if I die, you can’t get rid of me. What’s there to fear?”

Dazai stared at Chuuya’s smile. His heart—dormant since Chuuya’s death—suddenly pounded wildly, painfully against his chest.

Gritting his teeth, eyes stinging, he glared at Chuuya fiercely. “If you dare die in front of me again...”

Chuuya settled back into his chair, leaning against the backrest with certainty. “I won’t. I promise.”

Dazai looked at Chuuya’s confident expression and asked, “What guarantee do you have?”

Chuuya’s bright blue eyes met Dazai’s, his smile tinged with teasing. “You. You never make the same mistake twice. Right, Dazai?”

Dazai took a deep, deep breath. His mind buzzed, and a swarm of butterflies fluttered wildly in his chest.

He swallowed hard, like swallowing molten lava that burned through his insides, radiating heat through his whole body.

“Yeah,” he said. “Chuuya’s life is mine.”

Chuuya shrugged, casually entrusting his life to Dazai.

Dazai said, “Tomorrow, we’re going to Saitama to check out Satoru Gojo’s secret lover.”

“Mm, but first finish your crab,” Chuuya lifted his chin toward Dazai, threatening, “Waste any of it and I’ll bury you in the sand!”

Dazai looked at the forgotten crab meat on his plate and whined, “It’s all cold now...”

“Who told you not to eat it in time?” Chuuya admired his expression, a beautiful smile playing on his lips.

Dazai sighed over missing the best taste of the meal, picked up his chopsticks again, and said while eating, “No need to rush with the domain. Chuuya’s more instinct than skill; maybe he’ll just naturally get it when the time comes.”

“I still don’t quite understand how cursed spirits fight,” Chuuya said, looking at his hands, which glowed faintly with a dark red aura—a sign he was using his supernatural power.

Dazai said, “Judging by Suguru Geto’s level, Chuuya can still crush most sorcerers worldwide. The cursed users you’ve faced recently have already proven that, haven’t they?”