As promised, Dazai dragged himself out of bed the next day with the intention of letting little Chuuya reunite with the new friends he found in the agency.

He could not see why he got along with them, but to each their own, he supposed.

Chuuya was not easy to wake up, he never was.

Dazai returned to the bedroom after showering and dressing (as loud as he could in hopes that the kid would wake up to the noise.)

Dazai had no such luck, the redhead lay out on the bedspread horizontally, occupying the space that Dazai had once slept in.

"Come on Chibi, rise, and shine~" Dazai announced, opening the curtains to shed the orange light of the sun into the room.

Chuuya didn't move.

"Tch, you and your sleeping habits. Just like a dog," Dazai shook Chuuya's shoulder for a minute straight, when he still didn't respond, only flopping pliantly in Dazai's hold, Dazai pulled away to poke his cheek.

"You aren't dead, are you?"

Little Chuuya made a sleepy noise. Very much not dead.

In the end, Dazai resorted to using the spray bottle. It worked like a charm, though he did up with deep scratch marks on his face when Chuuya awoke from his slumber.

Perhaps he was more of a feline than a canine, though that was only when he was tired. Chuuya was a dog when fully awake, loyal and determined. Though now, Chuuya hissed and scrambled under the covers and away from the spray of water.

And ten minutes later, he was still sulking in the corner, Mackerel joining him in his cowering.

"Chuuya, come on~" Dazai bargained, waving a protein bar in front of the kid's face. "You want to see the agency today, correct?"

Chuuya perked up, unfolding his body and slowly getting to his feet to grab the bar and viciously tear it open. "I didn't think you were actually telling the truth."

Dazai put a hand to his heart "I am wounded, since when am I the type to go back on my word?"

Chuuya scrutinized him before nibbling on the bar "I dunno, jus' feel like you would."

Dazai sighed, turning to reach for Chuuya and steer him into the restroom. "Enough of the slander, such hate for such a tiny body."

Chuuya didn't have the energy to reach and punch him.

Dazai released the redhead from his grip "now take a shower, you stink." No, he didn't.

Chuuya opened his mouth to say something, but Dazai cut him off. "That uniform you like wearing is hanging in the closet."

Chuuya raised an eyebrow "you washed it?"

"Uh-huh."

"Stop being responsible, it's creepy."

Dazai nodded in agreement "I scare myself sometimes. I am a changed man, Chibi."

"Sure," Chuuya scoffed before closing the restroom door right in Dazai's face,

————-

Getting Chuuya to leave the apartment proved to be even more of a perilous task than waking him up.

"But Chuuya I thought that you wanted to go see them" Dazai whined, almost as childish as the redhead who held Mackerel in his arms. He looked about three seconds away from stomping his tiny feet.

"Yes, but I already said that I'm not leaving without Mackerel!"

Why did children have to be so stubborn?

"The cat is fine here" Dazai assured, shooting the animal a dirty look "let's make life easier and go now-"

"Wouldn't life be easier if we stayed here with Mackrel?" Chuuya asked, switching gears from frustrated child to frustrated child who knew how to wraponize puppy eyes.

And... the Chibi did have a point.

What was stopping Dazai from just going back to bed and sleeping the day away? Normally, he would do just that, but the situation was strange...

The tightness in his chest had subsided to be less crushing, as did the anchor weight in his gut. He was up and out of bed now and he wasn't going to go back, for once.

"Chibi, cats aren't allowed at the agency" Dazai started, then a light bulb lit in his head. "But i do know what can replace the cat~"

Chuuya glared suspiciously "...What is it?"

Dazai smirked, Chuuya seemed hooked as he slowly let the cat down. "You'll have to see for yourself."

Chuuya ended up following him after some more convincing, kissing mackerel on the forehead in apology. Dazai knew that Chuuya was worried about the cat being lonely, so he left Chuuya's door slightly ajar to let it sleep on the bed.

Now no one could ever say that he was a bad person, he just helped a cat from the bottom of his- or well, the Chibi's- heart.

Everything went smoothly as Dazai turned around to lock the Chuuya's door behind him, Chuuya watching with a bored expression, stuffed sheep in hand. (Dazai didn't know where he found it, he had made sure to dispose of it via trash can.)

Well, everything was going smoothly until Chuuya's grip around his hand tightened around his wrist. "Hm?" Dazai looked down and Chuuya pointed down the hallway to the old lady- Ms.Chiyo- walking towards them.

Dazai bent over slightly to whisper to Chuuya "act like my son."

"Your wha-" Chuuya made a surprised noise when Dazai swept him up to carry him on his hip, Chuuya grumbled and wrapped his arms around Dazai's neck.

"Hello" Chiyo greeted kindly.

Dazai hefted Chuuya higher on his hip, placing his keys in his pocket. "Good morning" Dazai replied, acting the role of flustered 'parent' as he picked Chuuya's stuffed animal that had fallen to the floor and returned it to its rightful owner.

"It's a beautiful day, where are you headed?"

Dazai pulled a fake smile, internally smirking when Chuuya smushed his cheek against his neck, bringing the stuffed animal close to him. Perhaps he was scared of getting his cheeks pinched again.

"To work" Dazai answered vaguely, turning to walk to the parking garage.

"If you ever need help watching the little one then let me know, I know how busy Nakahara can be." She offered.

Dazai waved over his shoulder In goodbye "I'll consider it~" No he wouldn't. Chuuya's grip on him tightened. He really must not have liked overbearing old women, though Dazai did not either.

Chuuya then looked up to him "pretend to be your son?"

"Only when she's around" he answered.

"...Are you sure you didn't kidnap me from my parents and that this isn't some scheme to not get caught?"

Dazai hummed, placing a hand on his head "you have a big brain, but also a big mouth. Keep it shut please."

"Trying to keep me quiet? suspicious."

———-

They arrived at the agency slightly later than last time, Kunikida didn't hold back in yelling directly in Dazai's face all while greeting Chuuya with weary waves. He was obviously still on edge from Chuuya's sugar high during their last meeting.

Eventually, Dazai escaped the onslaught of yelling to slip away to his desk, Chuuya remained there when Kunikida looked down to see the plushie in his hand, a satisfied look on his face. "Is your stuffed animal in good shape?"

Chuuya looked down to the sheep in his arms."Oh? Yeah, she's fine."

Kunikida nodded, a proud smile on his face "Good, I only make the best quality objects."

Chuuya's eyes widened "You made this?"

"Yes, it is my ability. Would you like to see me make something else?"

Dazai watched the interaction, Chuuya nodding giddily as Kunikida slipped his notebook from his pocket.

Attention hogger.

Well, at least Dazai didn't have to worry about watching him anymore if Kunikida had his attention, so he turned to Atsushu to stare at him until finally, the white-haired teen felt his gaze and halted his work.

"Why are you staring at me, Dazai-san?"

"Ah, Atsushi-kun, you should do me a favor."

Atsushi shot him an unimpressed look "What is it this time, Dazai-san?"

Dazai sweatdropped "wow, such harshness. But you see, I made a promise to the chibi. We had to leave our- his cat, at the apartment, and he really wanted to bring it."

Atsushi inhaled, gathering all the strength he had before giving the man a flat look "I will not turn into a cat, and even if I was able to, I still wouldn't because I'm a tiger."

Dazai shrugged "Same difference, so will you, please?" He clasped his hands together and gave Atsushi his puppy eyes.

Atsushi only seemed bothered as he turned back to his laptop, but then a child's voice sounded from beside Dazai."What are you begging for?" Chuuya asked, sounding every bit judgmental as Atsushi felt.

"Oh, nothing little Chibi. I was just finding a way to let you pet a huuugggeee cat."

Chuuya's eyes lit up as his head turned to Atsushi "You can get a big cat? Where can I find it?"

Dazai smirked, bingo.

Atsushi stammered, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly "Y-you see Chuuya-s
an, there's no way to find it-"

Chuuya's bottom lip jutted out and his eyes shone with unshed tears. He nodded slowly "I understand, thank you-"

"No, no!" Atsushi scrambled "I- I can get you a cat, i- I can get you anything you want! Just give me a second."

"Really?" Chuuya instantly brightened, Dazai would reward him later with ice cream for his A-plus acting. The chibi must have been bored to be willingly going along with his plan, or he just really wanted to see a cat.

Atsushi nodded, practically tripping over himself in his haste to get out of the room "Yes, it's down the hall I can go get it."

"Thank you Atsushi-kun~"

Chuuya looked at Dazai, his cheery look completely wiped from his face "what is he doing?"

Dazai leaned back, satisfied "you'll see."

Chuuya watched the door intently, and soon enough, after a few questionable noises came from the hallway, the door was nudged open.

Dazai gapped, pointing "look! A kitty cat!"

At the same time, Chuuya raised an eyebrow "what is that?"

The white ears on Atsushi's head twitched as he crossed his fluffy arms "I tried to fully transform but it didn't work." As he talked, his fangs glinted under the agency's lighting. "And I'm not a cat, I'm a tiger."

Kunikida completely ignored the situation while the rest of the agency members stifled their laughter at the sight of Atsushi, his hair raised on end and tail poked out as straight as an arrow.

Yosano even emerged from her office at the racket, a hand flying to her mouth. "Did you seriously bully Atsushi into transforming?"

Dazai faked an offender gasp "I did no such thing, it was him!" He pushed Chuuya forward, who looked equally confused as he was amused.

"I asked for a cat, not a cat man."

Another wave of laughter over the agency, Atsushi's ears flattened against his skull. "I am a tiger-"

A red laser shone against the wall, moving around tauntingly. Atsushi's eyes dilated as he followed the movement with his head. After a few moments of tense silence, he finally pounced, leaving large claw marks in the wall as he chased the laser dot.

Dazai smirked as he twirled the laser pointer in his hand around, taking in the chaos as the agency members ducked out of the way, papers flying and wallpaper getting shredded.

Kunikida shouted orders that were drowned out by the noise of the office, Yosano retreating back to her own office while cackling like some kind of witch.

Chuuya crossed his arms, flinching at all of the noise. "I just wanted to see a cat" he muttered to himself, putting his back against the wall and scooting further and further away from the ruckus until he felt his back hit a door.

Without a moment of hesitation, he reached up to slip behind it and into the room, the noise dulling significantly. Chuuya let his shoulders sag as he turned and slid to the floor, sniffling slightly.

He should have just stayed at the apartment with Mackerel.

Then someone cleared their throat, making Chuuya jump. He quickly lifted his head from in between his legs, looking around the room. Now that he paid attention, he realized that he was in an office of some sort. A white-haired man that he had never seen before sat at the desk, pen in hand.

"Oh. excuse me" Chuuya bowed in apology, moving to his feet to leave the room and plunge back into the madness outside.

"It is alright" the man held up a hand to halt him, his expression was carefully neutral but Chuuya could tell that it was far from cruel. In fact, he had a calming aura, one that drew Chuuya closer to him.

"You can sit" the man pointed to the chair across from his desk "stay as long as you wish."

Chuuya spared one last glance to the door before hopping up onto the chair, drawing his legs up to his chest to rest his head on his knees. At least he hadn't been put on that child leash or been sprayed with water today, though he was regretting coming back.

The sound of pen on paper filled the silent room as the man in front of him sifted through the paperwork, occasionally scribbling something onto the documents. "What's troubling you?" he asked suddenly.

Chuuya hadn't expected the question, so he shrugged. "I just miss my cat." And I want to go home and take a nap. And I want to see my parents. And I miss my home.

The left went unsaid, but with the way the man's calm gaze flickered to Chuuya, he felt as if he had been read.

Then he lifted himself from his chair, Chuuya watched as he opened the window, the cool air filtering through. But instead of moving back to his seat, the man bought his fingers up to his mouth and whistled, loud and piercing through the noise of the streets.

Chuuya watched in wonder as a cat gracefully hopped up onto the window ledge, purring when the man held out a hand to stroke against its face. The man grumbled something under his breath, and the cat looked to Chuuya curiously, jumping to the desk to study him.

"Hi' Chuuya greeted, holding out a hand for the cat to sniff. Once it deemed him safe, it immediately jumped to his lap, nuzzling his stomach. Chuuya cracked a smile, giggling at the feeling.

The man watched the interaction fondly, taking his seat once again.

But this time, it wasn't silent. Chuuya petted the cat's ears as he looked up at the man "My name's Chuuya, what's yours?"

"I'm the present of the agency, Fukuzawa."

"Oh, sorry for intruding" Chuuya's cheeks flushed red in embarrassment, though when the cat butted its head against his chin, the red flush turned into an excited flush. "How did you do that? I thought only dogs could respond to whistles?"

"Well," Fukuzawa flipped a paper, continuing to write on it. "Some cats are stubborn and do not listen, but once you gain their trust they will always listen."

Chuuya listened intently, nodding "That's so cool, I'm going to do that with mackerel... when I learn to whistle."

Fukuzawa chuckled at that, whistling easily. Chuuya tried to copy him, but all that came out was a pitiful wheezing noise.

"You'll get there" Fukuzawa reassured once he saw Chuuya's discouraged face, "Keep practicing."

Suddenly Chuuya's mind wasn't racing and his heart was no longer aching.