It's just Dazai-san. It's just Dazai-san. It's just Dazai-san-

Oh, who was he trying to fool? Atsushi would never be ready enough to face Dazai-san again, even if it was another version of him.

But could you blame him? His Dazai-san had been dead for several months now, leaving behind information about The Book and what had to come for him and Akutagawa to deal with. It had been a few stressful months for him, dangling between visiting the orphanage, keeping his new boss in check, taking out the threats that Dazai-san had told him about, and protecting The Book.

At least, visiting the orphanage had been relaxing for him, and talking to Akutagawa had been helpful too.

Talking about Akutagawa... he had been the first friend Atsushi ever made. Of course, there was Kyouka-chan too, but Kyouka-chan was different, she always felt like a little sister to him, even at the start. Akutagawa, on the other hand, was the first person to understand him like that, right from the start. If it wasn't for Dazai-san...

Ah, such a bitter thought.

Atsushi wasn't that naive. He knew the first meeting between him and Akutagawa was planned by Dazai-san. For them to get along and then fight like that was all in his calculation for what came after.

That was why for all he loved, respected, and felt thankful for Dazai-san... Atsushi also hated the man so much, for what he did to Akutagawa, for how his plan put Kyouka-chan in danger, for leaving Chuuya-san behind, for leaving him behind-

And looking at this Akutagawa... Atsushi found himself hating the man a little bit more.

It's quite funny.

Atsushi had said that he couldn't image Akutagawa in the mafia... But this Akutagawa, this Akutagawa was perfect for it. Everything about him was tailored in mafia-black. Like how Dazai-san had tailored Atsushi for the mafia too-

But it didn't matter anymore... Because Dazai-san was dead and Atsushi missed him, and now he was going to meet another version of Dazai-san that was still alive.

"We're here."

Atsushi wasn't ready for this.

❖❖❖

Ryuunosuke was feeling quite conflicted right now. On one hand, he didn't want to disappoint Dazai-san. He also needed to deliver the target to Dazai-san so they could fix this mess. But on the other hand, the weretiger looked like he was on the edge of having a mental breakdown. Not that he really cared about the weretiger but watching the fool having a mental breakdown was not on his to-do list. Also, watching one before was enough, he didn't want to watch another one.

"We're here."

It was too late to change his mind anyway. They were already here.

❖❖❖

"Dazai-san?"

Akutagawa called out.

Atsushi would laugh at the irony of Akutagawa calling Dazai-san's name with respect instead of calling him the man in black with venom if he wasn't panicking inside.

He, the White Reaper of the Port Mafia, a man many people feared and respected, was panicking because he was about to meet his old boss who wasn't really his old boss but just his counterpart in another world? People would laugh if they heard about this.

"Ah, you're here, Akutagawa-kun and... Atsushi-kun?"

A familiar voice answered them in an unfamiliar cheerful tone.

His breathing hitched. Atsushi suddenly couldn't breathe.

It's Dazai-san. It's really Dazai-san.

Atsushi let out a choked cry, trying not to look at the source of the voice.

It's Dazai-san. It's Dazai-san.

It's too much. Atsushi botched out of the warehouse, ignoring the words 'Jinko' and 'Atsushi-kun' calling after him.

❖❖❖

Nakajima Atsushi Entry Update:

✎ Grey - the white reaper
Name: Nakajima Atsushi
Occupation:
• Mafioso
Affiliation:
• Port Mafia
• Mori Ougai (adopted father)
• Akutagawa Ryuunosuke (partner)
Nickname(s)/Alias(es):
• White Tiger
• Port Mafia's White Reaper
• Jinko/Weretiger (by Akutagawa Ryuunosuke)
Notes:
• The White Reaper is from the BEAST world, but with a bit of a twist in what happened at the end and what happened in the aftermath.
• One of the few Atsushi who is aware of the truth about his world and The Book.