• The mission was a disaster from the start.

At fifteen years old, Dazai and Chuuya were already some of the Port Mafia’s most dangerous members, but that didn’t stop them from arguing every chance they got.

And tonight was no different.

“Would you stop getting in my way for five minutes?” Chuuya shouted, kicking an enemy into a wall.

Dazai scoffed. “Maybe if you thought before acting, I wouldn’t have to.”

“At least I actually do something!”

The argument only got worse as the mission fell apart around them.

Gunfire echoed through the abandoned building. Enemies poured in from every direction. The intel had been wrong. They had walked straight into a trap.

Even then, neither of them stopped arguing.

“You’re impossible!” Chuuya snapped.

“And you’re reckless!”

“Maybe I’d be better off without you!”

Dazai froze.

Then laughed.

A cold, cruel laugh.

“Funny. I was just thinking the same thing.”

For a moment, Chuuya’s expression faltered.

But before either of them could say another word, the building shook violently.

An explosion ripped through the floor.

Everything collapsed.

Concrete. Steel. Dust.

The world disappeared beneath them.

When Dazai finally opened his eyes, his ears were ringing.

The building had become a graveyard of rubble.

“Chuuya?”

No answer.

Dazai pushed himself to his feet.

“Chuuya.”

Still nothing.

Something unpleasant twisted in his chest.

Then he saw him.

Half-buried beneath a collapsed support beam.

Blood stained the concrete beneath him.

Dazai ran.

The argument vanished from his mind instantly.

“Chuuya!”

He dropped to his knees and started tearing debris away with shaking hands.

“Hey.”

No response.

“Chuuya.”

Nothing.

His stomach dropped.

For the first time all night, Dazai was terrified.

Not of dying.

Not of the mission.

Of losing him.

A weak cough suddenly broke the silence.

Dazai looked up immediately.

Chuuya’s eyes cracked open.

Barely.

“Dazai…”

His voice sounded wrong.

Too weak.

Too small.

Relief hit so hard it hurt.

“You’re an idiot,” Dazai said quickly. “Don’t scare me like that.”

Chuuya gave a faint, pained laugh.

“…Thought… you’d be happy…”

The words stabbed deeper than they should have.

Because they both remembered what Dazai had said.

Maybe I’d be better off without you.

Dazai couldn’t even bring himself to look away.

“Don’t talk.”

“Can’t… help it…”

Blood stained the corner of Chuuya’s mouth.

Dazai’s hands tightened.

“Save your strength.”

For once, Chuuya didn’t argue.

His eyes slowly started to close.

“Hey.”

No response.

“Chuuya.”

The panic returned immediately.

“Stay awake.”

Chuuya’s breathing was growing weaker.

“Dazai…”

“Yeah?”

A long pause.

Then, barely audible:

“…Liar.”

Dazai’s heart stopped.

Because he knew exactly what Chuuya meant.

The sirens were getting closer.

But Dazai could only kneel there in the rubble, blood on his hands and guilt clawing at his chest, desperately trying to keep Chuuya awake.

Because if Chuuya died tonight…

The last thing he’d remember was Dazai saying he’d be better off without him.

And that was something Dazai knew he’d never forgive himself for.*