*"Who am I?"*
When Chuuya opens his eyes on a mountain of rubble, he has nothing but his own name. No past, no family, no memories—just a power to bend gravity itself and the comrades he'd die to protect. But the question he's too afraid to ask haunts every battle, every drink, every laugh he fakes: *What if I'm not even human?*
Eight years later, a strange ability is running wild through Yokohama, and anyone who touches it has their deepest secrets torn into the open. Assigned to investigate,
The Night the Twin Dark Hearts Leak - Rashomon, Roar—The Underground Warehouse of the Ash Crown Trading Company and the Resolve to Believe
Morning at the port district. Dazai stood beside Chuuya, who had just stepped out the front entrance of the Black Whale.
"Oh my, Chuuya. You're up quite early today. Did you sleep well last night?"
"None of your damn business. Stop following me."
Chuuya ignored Dazai and started walking. But Dazai fell into step beside him as if it were nothing.
"So cold. You and I are conducting a joint investigation right now, aren't we?"
"Shut up. I'm going alone."
"To the Lighthouse of Silence, right? To dig up your past."
Chuuya's feet stopped for just a moment.
(This bastard—how much does he know?)
Dazai's inner voice flowed in.
(I can't let you go alone. That place is dangerous.)
Chuuya gripped the brim of his hat tight.
"...Do whatever you want."
Just as the two of them were about to start walking—
"Chuuya-san."
A low, restrained voice.
Chuuya turned around. Standing there was a young man wrapped in a black coat. Short, straight black hair. His bangs fell over his eyes, and his sharp, dark-colored gaze was fixed directly on Chuuya.
Akutagawa Ryuunosuke. Twenty years old. A force to be reckoned with in the Port Mafia's raiding squad. Chuuya's subordinate—and a man who had once been raised by Dazai.
"Akutagawa. What is it?"
Akutagawa glanced at Dazai standing beside Chuuya. For just an instant, his eyes froze over.
"...Dazai-san."
His voice turned low and sharp.
"Hey there, Akutagawa. It's been a while. Glad to see you're doing well."
Dazai smiled brightly.
Akutagawa pulled his gaze away from Dazai and turned back to Chuuya.
"I've completed a solo reconnaissance of the Seventh Warehouse District. The mastermind's catalyst has been enshrined in the Grey Crown Trading Company's underground warehouse."
"What?"
Chuuya's expression tensed.
"That's not all. The ability emitted by the catalyst is rigged to collapse the entire surrounding space. If left alone, the whole warehouse district is in danger."
"...Understood. We head there immediately."
Chuuya changed direction.
"I'll come too."
Dazai fell into step beside Chuuya.
Akutagawa's eyes pierced through Dazai once more.
(Why is Dazai-san—fighting alongside this man?)
Akutagawa's inner voice flowed into Chuuya's head.
Chuuya gripped his hat brim, his expression complicated.
"...Akutagawa. You come too. We'll need manpower to destroy the catalyst."
"Understood. I'll take the vanguard."
Akutagawa stepped in front of Chuuya.
"Chuuya-san. I will follow your orders."
Chuuya gave a small nod.
The three of them headed north through the port district.
—
The Seventh Warehouse District.
Though it was nearly noon, the wind sweeping between the warehouses was cold, and the smell of the tide was thick.
The three pressed deeper into the warehouse district.
"This is it. The entrance to the Grey Crown Trading Company's underground warehouse is just ahead."
Akutagawa pointed to the door of an old warehouse.
"Inside, Grey Crown members are guarding the catalyst. Roughly twenty of them."
"Twenty? That's nothing."
Chuuya clenched his fist.
"Don't get careless. The catalyst's influence is amplifying the heart-leak ability. There's a chance the enemy can hear your inner voices too."
Dazai pressed his hand against the warehouse wall.
"...Just as I thought. The ability's residue is spreading through the walls. Chuuya, Akutagawa. I'll direct your coordination. Understood?"
"I don't take orders from you!"
"But my directions are the most efficient. I know your fighting style better than anyone."
(Chuuya's fighting style—yeah, I'm the one who knows it best.)
Dazai's inner voice reached Chuuya.
Chuuya's face flushed hot.
"Shut up! Don't talk like you've got me all figured out!"
"It's the truth, isn't it?"
"It's not!"
"Chuuya-san. We don't have time. Thirty minutes remain until the catalyst collapses."
Akutagawa's calm voice cut between the two of them.
Chuuya clicked his tongue.
"...I know. Let's go."
—
The underground warehouse.
With each step down the stairs, the air grew heavier. The ability's residue drifted through the air as purple particles.
"There they are!"
Voices of men echoed from the back of the warehouse.
"Intruders! Kill them!"
"I'll take the vanguard."
Akutagawa's coat billowed.
—Rashoumon.
The black coat transformed into the shape of a beast. Sharp fangs. A long tail. The black-clad beast melted into the warehouse's darkness and lunged at the men.
"Gwaaah!"
A single strike from the black beast sent a man flying.
"What the hell is this thing!"
"Don't falter! Fire!"
Gunshots.
But the bullets were deflected by the black beast.
"Chuuya-san!"
"Leave it to me."
Chuuya touched the ground.
—Upon the Tainted Sorrow.
He manipulated the gravity of the floor beneath his touch.
"Whoa!"
The men's footing suddenly grew heavy. The arms holding their guns were dragged down as if sinking into the floor.
"W-what the hell!? I can't move!"
"Left. Chuuya. Three of them, hiding behind cover."
Dazai issued directions while tracking the warehouse's structure with his eyes.
"I know!"
Chuuya kicked off the floor. Manipulating gravity, he kicked off the ceiling and landed above the men behind cover.
"Guh!"
One strike. The man went down.
"Akutagawa, block the right corridor. Enemy reinforcements are coming."
"...Understood."
Akutagawa sent the black beast into the right corridor. The beast destroyed the wall, sealing the passage with rubble.
(I'm following Dazai-san's orders. ...How infuriating.)
Akutagawa's inner voice leaked to Chuuya.
Chuuya glanced at Akutagawa for a moment.
(So Akutagawa feels the same way about Dazai...)
"Chuuya, you'll get shot if you space out."
"Who's spacing out!"
Chuuya spun around and sent one of the men flying with a punch.
(Even at a time like this—I'm following Dazai's directions and it pisses me off.)
Chuuya's inner voice leaked to Dazai.
Dazai chuckled softly.
"You're not very honest, are you, Chuuya."
"Shut up! Focus on the fight!"
"I am focused. I'm watching every move you make."
(Chuuya's fighting style—yeah, I'm the one who knows it best.)
Dazai's inner voice reached Chuuya again.
Chuuya's ears turned red.
"You say one more word and I'll punch you!"
"Yes, yes. More importantly, it's deeper in. The catalyst is in the innermost chamber ahead."
Dazai pointed toward the back of the warehouse.
—
The innermost chamber of the underground warehouse.
In the center of the wide space, an object radiating purple light floated in midair.
The catalyst of the heart-leak ability.
"That's it."
Chuuya started toward the catalyst.
"Wait, Chuuya. There's a barrier."
Chuuya stopped at Dazai's voice.
Around the catalyst, something like a thin membrane was visible. Purple light rippled across its surface.
"An ability barrier. Physical attacks won't get through. My No Longer Human can nullify it on contact—but it won't reach from this distance. And if we try to break the barrier, the catalyst will detonate."
"Then what do we do?"
Chuuya glared at the barrier.
"Let me try."
Akutagawa sent the black beast at the barrier.
Clang!
The beast's fangs were repelled by the barrier.
"...It's hard."
Akutagawa sent the beast again.
Clang!
Repelled again.
"It's useless. Rashoumon's attack power can't break that barrier."
"Then what do you suggest?"
Akutagawa glared at Dazai.
"Even my gravity manipulation won't work unless I touch it directly. And even if I crushed the barrier along with it, there's the risk of the catalyst detonating."
Chuuya clenched his fist.
"We're under twenty-five minutes now. Let's hurry."
Dazai observed the barrier intently.
"...I see. This barrier is made from the flow of the heart-leak ability. We just need to reverse the flow."
"Reverse it?"
"Yes. This ability makes anyone who touches it exchange their true feelings. I'll interfere with that flow in the opposite direction using my No Longer Human. That way, we can destroy the catalyst along with the barrier."
Dazai looked at Chuuya.
"However, for that to work, I need to fully receive your true feelings. Your true feelings will pass through me and flow into the catalyst. ...In other words, you have to open your heart to me."
Chuuya's expression froze.
"...My true feelings."
"Yes. It comes down to whether you can trust me."
Dazai's smile vanished.
"Chuuya. You might not be able to trust me. Even so, I want you to."
(I want to protect you. That's why I'll receive your true feelings.)
Dazai's inner voice flowed into Chuuya.
Chuuya looked Dazai straight in the eye.
(I want to trust him. I want to, but I'm scared. That I'll be betrayed again.)
Chuuya's inner voice leaked to Dazai.
"Chuuya-san."
Akutagawa spoke quietly.
"I will follow your judgment."
Akutagawa's eyes fixed on Chuuya.
"If you trust Dazai-san, I'll follow. If you don't, I'll find another way. ...Either way, I'm on your side."
Akutagawa's voice was matter-of-fact. But his words carried unwavering loyalty.
(Chuuya-san, who trusts Dazai-san... I...)
Akutagawa's inner voice leaked to Chuuya.
(I want to be like Chuuya-san. But my feelings toward Dazai-san are still...)
Hearing Akutagawa's inner voice, Chuuya bit his lip.
"...Akutagawa."
Chuuya slowly removed his hat.
"Your loyalty makes me happy. ...Thanks."
Chuuya turned back to Dazai.
"Dazai."
"What is it?"
"...I'll trust you. Like the old days—I'll put my back to yours."
Chuuya's voice was trembling. But he didn't look away.
Dazai's smile vanished for an instant.
"...Chuuya."
Dazai's eyes wavered slightly.
"Leave it to me, partner."
Dazai took Chuuya's hand.
—No Longer Human.
Dazai's ability interfered with the flow of the heart-leak ability in the opposite direction.
Chuuya's true feelings flowed into Dazai.
Dazai's true feelings flowed into Chuuya.
(I've always wanted to say this. I wanted to protect you.)
Dazai's inner voice reached Chuuya's mind, clear and distinct.
Chuuya's eyes went wide.
"Dazai... you..."
"Now, Chuuya! Destroy the barrier from the inside!"
Chuuya gripped Dazai's hand back.
—Upon the Tainted Sorrow.
The gravity manipulation flowed through Dazai and into the interior of the barrier.
Crack.
A fissure ran through the barrier.
"Akutagawa! The final blow!"
"Understood."
Akutagawa unleashed the black beast.
—Rashoumon.
The black beast slammed into the cracked barrier with full force.
CRASH!!
The barrier shattered.
"The catalyst!"
Chuuya manipulated gravity and crushed the catalyst.
BANG!
The catalyst shattered into pieces.
—
"Did we... do it?"
Chuuya exhaled.
That was the moment.
From the fragments of the shattered catalyst, purple light exploded outward.
"What!?"
The light enveloped Chuuya's body.
—A white room.
That scene again poured into Chuuya's mind.
Pure white walls. Pure white floor. Inorganic light.
—My brother.
"Guh... aaaah!"
Chuuya clutched his head and dropped to his knees.
"Chuuya!"
Dazai caught him.
"Chuuya-san!"
Akutagawa deployed the black beast, guarding the surroundings to protect them both.
"...The catalyst is not just one."
A voice echoed through the warehouse.
Low, cold—a voice belonging to no one they knew.
"Destruction on this scale was anticipated. Let's see how long the bond of the Twin Dark holds. Show me."
The voice reverberated off the warehouse walls and faded away.
"...The mastermind."
Chuuya forced the words out from within Dazai's arms.
"Next time... you plan to expose my past?"
Chuuya's voice was hoarse.
Dazai held Chuuya up and stared into the warehouse's darkness.
Behind his smile, a cold shadow flickered for an instant.
(I anticipated this situation. ...No, I should have been able to. If only I'd noticed sooner.)
Dazai's inner voice leaked faintly to Chuuya.
Chuuya looked up at Dazai's face.
"Dazai... what do you know?"
"...Chuuya. Rest now. You did well."
Dazai didn't answer Chuuya's question.
Akutagawa watched the two of them with a complicated expression.
(Dazai-san is hiding something again. ...Chu
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