Nine

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When Tomie Tsujitsugi stepped out, Akira Suya was already prepared to be the center of attention. Indeed, whether walking down the street or entering the barbecue restaurant, Tomie Tsujitsugi was like a massive spotlight, drawing people’s gazes as moths to a flame.

Perhaps because it was dinnertime, there wasn’t a single empty seat in sight at the barbecue place. An apologetic staff member approached and said they would have to wait, as there were two parties ahead of them.

Akira hesitated slightly; it was indeed quite crowded. He glanced at Tomie, the noble and beautiful youth standing with arms crossed, wearing an expression of impatience.

Those gorgeous, passionate eyes swept disdainfully over the bustling restaurant. He detested noisy, crowded places like this. To him, dining with such crowds lacked any sense of refinement.

“There are no seats available, we’ll have to wait longer. Maybe we should try another place,” Akira said, glancing at his watch; it was getting late, and dinner would be quite late if they waited.

Tomie frowned unhappily. “Why should I wait?”

Without another word, the young man brushed past Akira and strode into the barbecue restaurant. The staff member hurried forward apologetically to stop him but was pushed aside roughly.

“Don’t touch me! You stink!” Tomie snapped.

Akira quickly steadied the nearly toppled waitress. “Are you alright? Sorry about that.”

She shook her head, looking a bit downcast. “I’m fine, sir.”

Seeing this, Tomie harshly pulled the waitress away. “Back off! You witch! Stay away from my boyfriend! Get lost!”

Struggling against Tomie’s grip, she barely maintained her footing. Looking up at the dazzling youth, she saw a slender figure with a beautifully delicate face, his exposed arms and neck pale and smooth, exuding an elegant pride like a majestic swan.

Even in anger, he was stunningly captivating.

In sharp contrast, the waitress, reeking of smoke and grease, with dull skin and plain features, clenched her apron tightly. She envied him—he looked like a superstar.

“Don’t be mad. Let’s eat somewhere else,” Akira quickly soothed the furious Tomie. He wasn’t even sure if Tomie was human. If he angered him again and another incident like at the police station occurred, it would be a disaster.

Tomie snorted coldly and tugged Akira further into the restaurant, ignoring the staff.

The waitress stared fixedly at the youth’s retreating back, biting her lip without realizing anything.

How could he have such a handsome, dependable boyfriend? Why her beloved wouldn’t accept her advances—was it all just because of that face?

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But that really was a beautiful face. Why did it belong to someone so malicious? She wished it were hers...

The commotion drew many eyes. Some craned their necks toward the door, and upon seeing the refined youth causing the disturbance, couldn’t help but rebuke the staff.

The staff continuously bowed in apology before hastily retreating from the main hall.

Near the entrance, in a small private room, Atsushi Nakajima had witnessed the entire scene and couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the staff member. “That person was really rude.”

Kyouka Izumi nodded. “Atsushi is right.”

Doppo Kunikida also disapproved of the youth’s behavior. “That young man’s boyfriend…”

“Stay away from those two, or you might end up worse than dead,” Edogawa Ranpo abruptly interrupted, having quietly eaten barbecue until now. His sudden words attracted the attention of everyone at the detective agency.

“Ranpo-san...” Atsushi Nakajima was startled by Ranpo’s serious tone and swallowed nervously. A commotion erupted again not far off—the private room the youth had entered.

For some unknown reason, the group that had been dining there all came out. The leader of the group even offered their private room to the two newcomers.

Though some members of the group complained incessantly about leaving unfinished meals, their leader seemed oblivious, smiling ingratiatingly at the youth and calling a staff member over to say they had finished eating and would pay for the youth’s meal as well.

The staff hesitated—there were others waiting in line—but the youth impatiently walked into the waiting area, demanding the waiting guests yield the room.

Though an unreasonable demand, the others strangely agreed, unaware anything was amiss.

Atsushi Nakajima’s gaze lingered on the youth. The impatient expression and beautiful face unconsciously captivated him, and in a blurred moment, Atsushi felt that everything was just as it should be.

He was so adorable, beautiful, and kind…

Sensing the gaze, the youth suddenly turned toward Atsushi. Those beautiful eyes seemed capable of swallowing one’s soul.

Atsushi couldn’t help but stand up, a voice inside him shouting to approach, to fulfill all his desires, to keep his gaze forever fixed upon himself.

“Atsushi!” Edogawa Ranpo called sharply. Dazai Osamu, sitting beside Atsushi, reacted quickly, knocking Atsushi unconscious with a hand strike and placing his hand on Atsushi’s forehead.

“An ability?” Dazai whispered to Ranpo.

Ranpo’s expression darkened. “Tch, not exactly. We have to leave now. Atsushi can’t stay here any longer, or there’s no hope for him.”

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The detective agency members had originally come out for dinner, but none expected such an incident. Especially Ranpo’s grave demeanor, which made them all nervous.

Akira noticed that Tomie wasn’t speaking but staring intently toward a curtained private room.

Though uncertain what Tomie was fixated on, at least he had stopped causing trouble.

“Let’s eat. Aren’t you hungry?” Akira spoke and brought Tomie’s attention back. Tomie snorted lightly, hooking his arm around Akira’s.

“Of course I’m hungry. Don’t mind those people. You’ll have to grill the meat for me—I only eat what you cook.”

He pushed Akira into the private room. Akira twitched his mouth, speechless at Tomie’s twisted words. Who was really bothered here?

After the two entered, the detective agency group swiftly left the barbecue restaurant. Only when they returned to the agency did Ranpo’s alertness gradually fade.

“What exactly is going on, Ranpo-san?” Dazai asked after settling Atsushi down. It was his first time seeing Ranpo so tense since joining the agency.

Dazai put away his usual playful demeanor, his indigo eyes fixed on Ranpo. He understood Ranpo’s talents profoundly.

And because of that, Dazai understood the gravity of the situation even more.

Ranpo anxiously tugged at his messy hair. “I don’t know what that thing really is, but Dazai, if the agency comes into contact with it, I’m afraid everyone except you will go insane.”

Dazai pondered. ‘That thing.’ ‘Existence.’ Those words smelled of danger.

“Is it an ability?” But if it were just an ability—even a psychic one—with Ranpo around, he wouldn’t say ‘everyone would go insane.’

Previously, when the syndicate attacked and they sabotaged the port black market gang to trigger Q’s ability out of control, Ranpo wasn’t this worried.

At that time, Q’s ability, Brain Hell, was already rampant and quite troublesome under the syndicate’s influence.

“Don’t try to get near it, Dazai. Even you will be affected over time,” Ranpo warned, well aware of Dazai’s nature from their long partnership.