The next day...

"Yaaaaaawn...!" I yawned. All of the members of the agency were at a meeting, including myself. Dazai wasn't here, neither was Rampo, so I was super bored. "At present, we have an unidentified criminal organization threatening to detonate a large bomb in a metropolitan area and launch a smear campaign against the agency." Kunikida said, in front of the white board. "I know the agency's between a rock and a hard place. Tell us more about the bomb." Yosano said. "This is the message left behind by the client. I'll read it now." Kunikida said, looking at the clipboard he was holding. "Greetings, I hope your agency is faring well. Forgive my impudence, but I have placed a bomb capable of causing mass destruction in a certain location here in Yokohama City. To secure the citizens' safety, I request that you locate and disarm the bomb at your earliest convenience. You have until sundown. I have faith in your abilities. Respectfully, the Azure Messenger." He read the message aloud. "Who could the Azure Messenger be?" The President asked. "We don't know as of yet." Kunikida replied. "So it's all rigged so that if the bomb detonates, word of the Agency's failure will spread like wildfire." Yosano said. "The Agency can weather sticks and stones, but this attack would hit us hard." Yosano said. "Since yesterday, the office staff have been searching for plausible locations, but there are too many possibilities." Haruno said. "Hey. Are we still unable to reach Rampo?" Kenji asked. "It seems the case in Kyuushuu is coming to a head. I've requested that he contact us as soon as the criminal is caught, but..." Haruno replied. "Any further information from that taxi driver?" The president asked. "He denies any knowledge of the bomb. He wouldn't have it in him to blow up Yokohama itself." Kunikida replied. "Listen, all!" The president announced. "This case is a cowardly act using information to attack the armed detective agency. We have two objectives: uncover the Azure Messenger, the instigator, and disarm the bomb." The president said. "The bomb takes priority due to its time-sensitive nature. If we cannot find the bomb and lives are lost, we no longer have the right to call ourselves a detective agency." The president continued. "Think of this mission as a fight for the agency's existence and pride." The president finished, as we all stood up.

Timeskip...!

"..." Me, Atsushi, and Kunikida walked into the cafe downstairs, and saw Dazai talking to Sasaki about Kunikida. The three of us sat at a table behind him, and peeked over the booth. "...maybe he's got some soldier ants working for him in his brain--", "Ow!" Kunikida whacked Dazai with his fist, causing him to fall over in his seat. "Oh, I didn't know you were here, Kunikida..." He said. "Haruka told me where you were. And how could you ditch the meeting during an emergency to go on a fancy afternoon date?"  Kunikida said, turning around. "Are you jealous of the fancy date?" Dazai said, peeking over his shoulder. "Am not." He said. "So he is...." Me and Atsushi said silently. "She's a victim who was nearly killed. Ensuring her safety and tending to her psychological well being is an Important and urgent duty for the Agency, wouldn't you say?" Dazai said. "Why are you, the poster child for sloth and irresponsibility, a good fit for the task?" Kunikida asked. "Besides, given her good looks, I'd assume she has a boyfriend at least." He said. "Apparently they broke up recently. That's why, Kunikida, I say you can do this!" Dazai said, smirking. "Listen, Dazai. I came here because you skipped out on the morning meeting and I need to tell you what's going on." He said again. "I know what's going on." Dazai replied, slouching in his seat. "The goal of the Azure Messenger who set the bomb is to crush the agency." Dazai said. "Really?" I asked. "What?" Atsushi asked, looking at me with a confused expression. "You were at the meeting though!" Atsushi said. "Yeah, I fell asleep halfway through it. Just because I was there doesn't mean I listened." I shrugged, smiling. "..." Atsushi sighed, as I giggled. "Um..." said. "Are you sure that an outsider like me should be hearing this?" She asked. "Not really..." Atsushi mumbled. "Sasaki's a person of interest in this case. There's no issue here!" Dazai said happily. "Whaaaaat?" Atsushi said to himself. "Sasaki, what's the class you teach at the university again?" Dazai asked. "Social Psychology." She replied. "That's great! I'd love to hear what you think about this case." Dazai said. "About the Azure Messenger... It may have something to do with the Azure King in the notorious Azure Flag Terrorist incident." She said. "So you think that as well..." Dazai said. "It could very well be the Azure King himself. It's said that he blew himself up after being cornered by the police, but... It's possible he faked his death and is still alive." She said. "A former official, the Azure King set off a bomb in a government facility and issued a statement." She continued. "His targets included killers whose cases were dropped due to incompetent prosecutors, as well as diet members who were engaged in political corruption on a global scale... All dangerous criminals untouchable by the law." She continued. "But if he's still alive... Why would he attack the agency like this?" Atsushi asked. " I have no idea." Sasaki said. "Well, the one who backed the Azure King into a corner is Kunikida, who located his hideout." Dazai said. "I see. Kunikida is the target of vengeance here." Dazai said. "The terrorist's death was confirmed by the military police after forensic analysis. There's no doubting it." Kunikida replied. "Either way, you should stay on your guard until you figure out who it is. We'll need to hide Sasaki somewhere safe as well." Dazai said. "That I will not allow, Dazai!" Kunikida said loudly. "What do you mean?" I asked. Kunikida grabbed Dazai by his cloak. "You think you can keep a lady in your room?!" He yelled. "Uh... News flash... I live with Dazai." I said, trying not to laugh. "...In the name of personal safety? And day and night, do such and such unthinkable things?!" Kunikida yelled again. "Nothing like what you're imagining is happening though." Dazai said. "Huh?" Kunikida said. "When I first let her stay, I slept on the couch, and she slept in my room." Dazai said. "And didn't lay a finger on her, of course." He said again. "He's telling the truth." I said. "Well, I knew you misunderstood, but I thought it was funny so I didn't correct you." Dazai snickered. "I really wonder why these two are partners..." Atsushi mumbled, as I laughed. Kunikida screamed, as he let go of Dazai. Dazai turned back around to face Sasaki. "Kunikida seems to like Sasaki a lot. Sasaki, what kind of man do you like?" Dazai asked. "T-type? It would be presumptuous of me to even have such a thing in mind..." Sasaki said. "But... I do think it is wonderful when a man strongly believes in an ideal and pours his heart and soul into it." She said, slightly embarrassed. Just then, Kunikida stopped screaming. "That's totally Kunikida!" Dazai said. I peeked over Dazai's shoulder and nodded. "Okay, the two of you can pick up the rest." Dazai said. "Hey Dazai! Don't go making assumptions!" Kunikida said in a panic. "Heh... Kunikida, you're an open book." Dazai said. "Yeah..." Atsushi and I said. "He may be twisted, but as you can see, he is a high-minded individual who lives and breathes for his ideals." Dazai told Sasaki. "Although, perhaps for that reason, his ideal woman is a bit of a challenge." Dazai said. "Would you like to take a look?" Dazai asked, handing her the book. She took it, and opened it. "NOT AGAIN! WHEN DID YOU--" Dazai held Kunikida back as Sasaki read it. "Kunikida..." Sasaki said. "Yes?" He replied. "This goes a bit too far." She said calmly. "Ugh." Kunikida said, as his arms and head dropped. "He's crushed." Atsushi said.

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I LOVE UPDATING WHENEVER I CAN...!~

It's a weekend, so I'm probably going to post one or two more chapters after this one lmao

So stay tuned! See ya!