Part 1. Chapter 2

We love those who don't love us.

We ruin those who are in love with us.

We hate, but we kiss

We do not strive, but we live.

We allow it without wanting to

We curse, but we take,

We talk and forget about that,

We always lie about what we love.

We contemplate indifferently,

We do not respond to the sparks of the eyes

We're playing rough with our feelings

And we don't regret anything.

We dream of being with our loved one next to us,

But we only forget about that,

That we love those who don't love us

That we are ruining those who are in love with us.

Pushkin.

Fukuzawa was sitting at his wooden desk with a pen in his hands and was looking nervously at a piece of paper in front of him. Ranpo was standing next to the boss, holding a bag of sweets in his hands. He was sitting on a wooden chest of drawers.

- Boss, are you sure Atsushi is coming? - Ranpo asked indistinctly, stuffing his mouth with sweets.

- Yes, I sent Dazai after him so that Kunikida wouldn't swear at him. Fukuzawa spoke without taking his eyes off the paper.

- Well, then he's coming any minute. - The detective added, rummaging through the bag.

A second later, Atsushi ran into the office out of breath.

- B-boss! I'm sorry for being late! - Nakahara fell face down on the floor.

- Hey, Atsushi, what are you doing? Fukuzawa is not angry with you. - Ranpo said calmly.

- Ranpo? What are you doing here? - The boy sat up and looked in surprise at his colleague chewing sweets.

- Ranpo insisted that he stay in my office while I work. - putting down the pen and getting up from the chair, the Boss said.

- Yes, otherwise it's boring without Dazai! - Ranpo leaned on his palms, placing the bag next to him and lifting his head up.

- without Dazai? - Atsushi asked.

- Yeah! - Edogawa abruptly got off the chest of drawers and put his hands on his belt and looked proudly at Atsushi, who was sitting in surprise.

- Ranpo, get back to work. You've received his one unsolved crime. - Fukuzawa said, crossing his arms.

- But Boss! I'll only be there for 5 minutes! Moreover, I will not be able to get there alone. - The detective pronounced the last sentence with a special expression and cast a sly glance at Atsushi.

- Don't even hope. - Fukuzawa said rudely, standing with his back to the guys. - Kenji will help you. Go ahead.

Ranpo puffed out his cheeks and discontentedly left the Boss's office. Atsushi and Fukuzawa were left alone.

- Dazai and Kunikida said that you are giving a reward to the entire Agency. - Atsushi began, sitting up.

- Yes, it is. And I would like to present this award to you.

He turned to the boy (the boss had been facing the wall all this time and with his back to Nakajima.)

Fukuzawa held out his hand to Atsushi with the gold medal. Just like Dazai's, only slightly modified. In the center was not Dazai, but Atsushi. Around the circle is the place where the boy works. There are ribbons on top of the medal, which interested Osama so much.

- Ah... thanks. - the boy muttered softly and took the medal, put it around his neck. Nakajima did not notice the boss's second hand with 2 packs of MochiMochi are small rice dough cupcakes with lots of filling. and Dorayaki Dorayaki — two honey sponge pancakes held together with a velvety paste of red adzuki beans. . He continued to hold these sweets until the boy hesitated and took this food.

- Thank you very much! - Atsushi bowed and quickly walked out the door.

Dazai was still sitting at his desk, reading a book. Hearing the creak of the door, Osamu abruptly cheered up, threw the book aside and rushed to Atsushi.

- Oh, Atsushi, you're back. You've been taking a long time. - Dazaya began, squeezing Nakajima's wrists. - what do you have there? Mochi and Dorayaki? Will you give them to me?

- Of course, Dazai. Take it. - said the boy, holding out his palms with sweets. Dazai accepted them and returned to the table. Osamu took the book in his hands, put the food on the table and continued to read, sometimes extending his long thin hand for sweets.

Atsushi also sat down at his desk and began to work.

***

Mori sat at his desk and wrote something while Elise ate the best desserts in Japan. There were a lot of important things to do, so Ogai tried to work faster and distract Alice with various tricks. Food, toys, coloring books, outfits.

- Oh, it takes so much trouble to attribute this morgue to yourself. And the director also named a considerable amount. However, it's worth it. - Mori said, resting his head on his palm.

There was a knock on the door.

- Come in. - Ogai said, without taking his eyes off the papers.

A short man entered the office. His gray-blue eyes were clearly set up for a serious conversation; a black hat with a red ribbon hiding bright orange hair, a black choker.White shirt under a dark red vest, black necklace, bolo tieconsists of a piece of cord or braided reins with decorative metal clips.made of black ribbon, fastened with a small silver buckle, an open black cropped jacket with sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Black trousers, a matching belt hanging from his right hip, and black low-rise shoes, as well as black gloves.

- Oh, Chuya, it's you. - Mori said, looking up at the slightly disgruntled guy with his arms folded across his chest.

- Yes, and I would like to give you something from Dazai. - Chuya said, closing his eyes and highlighting the name of his former comrade.

- from Dazai? - Ogai was surprised.

- yes.

Mori was slightly shocked by this statement and folded his arms in a cross, leaning them on the table and said:

- so that's why you asked to take over that morgue. And I was wondering why you gave up on her.

- This is very serious. In no case should we allow Gogol to resurrect a member of the Death of the Celestials, otherwise events may be many times worse than last time.

- I understand that perfectly well too. - Mori said, leaning back in his chair. - We need to find out the location of Nikolai. Give this to Akutagawa.

- OK. - said Chuya and turned around and left.

Mori exhaled, but took Dazai's words seriously. «Is it really possible to revive a person? Then, will I be able to see her again?..»

Elise knocked him out of Ogai's thoughts:

- I'm tired of drawing! And the desserts are over! Bring me some game! - the little girl began in a moody voice, lowering her hands down in displeasure and stamping her foot.

- Yes, yes, I'll ask you to bring something now! - Mori immediately said, waving his hands, and then called one of his people. After 2 minutes, all Elise's whims were eliminated.

Chuya walked down the corridor of the Port Mafia office, remembering the old days spent with Dazai. Their joint missions, where Nakahara was happy when he was with Osamu. «Why did Dazai suddenly decide to leave the Port Mafia? Because of Odasaku's death? - Chuya hit the wall with great force and it crumpled. - we had such a good time together... Chuya thought.»

Dazai left Chuya, Akutagawa and many of his other comrades and started life with a clean slate, but why is that?

Nakahara was already near Akutagawa's room; right in front of his iron door. Gathering his thoughts, Chuya knocked and then opened the door.

The room was small enough. A bed on the side, a desk with a lamp and a wardrobe.

Akutagawa was sitting at the table, reading something. As soon as the door creaked, Ryunosuke was distracted from his business and turned around (the table was facing the wall, so the person sitting did not see the people at the door.)

- Hi, Akutagawa. How are you? - Chuya began, standing at the threshold.

- It's fine. The boss said he would buy some kind of morgue and I am now reading a document about it. - Ryunosuke sat up and clenched his hand into a fist, leaning it against his mouth.- Do you know anything about this?

- Yes, I know. I suggested to the boss to do so. - Chuya said, lowering his head.

- Why?

- I think this is the best way to fulfill Dazai's request.- Nakahara raised his head and looked at his comrade with a serious face.

- A request.. Dazai? Akutagawa was shocked.«What request did Dazai have? - he thought»

-Yes.

Chuya told Akutagawa of Dazai's dialogue with him, in which Osamu talked about Gogol's plan and that it was necessary to prevent Nikolai from taking possession of Dostoevsky's body.

-So that's what it's all about.- He put his hand to Ryunosuke's chin. - Do I have to deal with that tiger again?

- Dazai will inform the boss of the Armed Detective Agency about what I just said; Therefore, I think Mori and Fukuzawa will meet again.

- I see. Well, I'll think about it.- Akutagawa finished, returning to the table and poring over the contract.

- By the way, the boss asked you to look into Gogol's location.

Chuya didn't bother, so he just came out with a slightly depressed mood. Akutagawa was in exactly the same condition right now. «Why doesn't Dazai return to the Mafia? Does he cherish this tomboy who got Dazai's recognition so easily? - Akutagawa tapped the table. - then why would he force me to fight this Tiger together?" It's not the first time I've fought side by side with this boy!»

Ryunosuke leaned his elbow on the table, put his hand to his face and closed his eyes and began to think about Dazai: about their first meeting, about how Dazai taught him ...

***

- Well, today went down the drain - sadly (with acting) Gogol said after changing clothes, sinking to the floor. - today I didn't learn anything new. Why is everything just books about death, and not about rebirth?

Nikolai abruptly calmed down and took the card from his eye, dropping it to the floor; it hit several times and calmed down.

«Maybe we should change the approach to the search? What have I been doing all day today? I went to libraries all over Japan, but I didn't find anything. I won't be able to do anything at this rate, and time is running out. And it doesn't matter where this method will be located... The deadline is about to expire... - He looked sadly at the window; the moonlight was falling in a completely different place today. - all the more reason to find his body. Maybe I need an assistant? He suddenly remembered his assistant, who helped Gogol to make a game for Dazai and Dostoevsky. - Sigma. Where is he now?»