To say that Higuchi was surprised at this turn of events would be an understatement. I mean, Akutagawa asking Atsushi to marry him out of the blue? Who wouldn't be shocked. "Akutagawa-senpai..?"

"Shut up, Higuchi, I don't have time for you right now," Akutagawa hissed before stomping toward Atsushi and grasping her other hand. "I'm taking her."

"What?! No, you're not!" Dazai denied him, yanking Atsushi towards himself. "Let go of Atsushi-chan's precious hand!"

"No, you let go of her hand!" Akutagawa shot back, pulling Atsushi back to his side. "The were-tiger is coming with me!"

They continued to bicker back and forth like this, and yanking Atsushi from side to side like she was a teddy bear two little boys both wanted but refused to share. Eventually, Higuchi laid down her weapons and left (which no one noticed). After a few minutes, Atsushi decided enough was enough.

"Let go of me, both of you!" She exclaimed and they both did as she said. She rubbed her wrists. "Dazai-san, I'm heading back." She started to walk out of the alleyway.

Akutagawa coughed into his hand. "You win this time, Dazai-san," he admitted defeat. "But next time, I won't give up so easily."

Dazai stuck out his tongue at Akutagawa before catching up with Atsushi, matching her pace. They silently walked to the agency. When they were halfway there, Dazai attempted to make conversation. "So.. Atsushi-chan.."

"Don't talk to me, I'm angry," Atsushi told him.

"I know what will cheer you up," Dazai declared and for the second time that day, interlocked his hand with Atsushi's. "C'mon, it'll be like our first date!"

When Atsushi said she was angry, she wasn't lying. But.. she couldn't resist Dazai's charming smile and his pleading eyes. Atsushi sighed. "Dazai-san, we're not dating."

"Yet," Dazai added before dragging Atsushi to the café that shared the same building as the Agency on the ground floor. He hummed happily as they sat together at a booth table. "We don't get to enjoy this café very often, you know~"

"Ah, really?" Atsushi rose a brow in suspicion. "I find that hard to believe."

"What's that supposed to mean, Atsushi-chan?" Dazai curiously asked her.

"It means you look like the type to slack off," Atsushi explained before Kunikida came stomping down from upstairs. "Hello Kunikida-san."

"Hello Atsushi," Kunikida greeted before turning to Dazai. "Dazai! Don't go slacking off and dragging Atsushi with you! You should've just came straight back to the Agency after what happened with Akutagawa!"

Dazai rose his hands slightly in defense. "It's not my fault Akutagawa decided he wanted to marry the beautiful Atsushi-chan. Although, he'll never have her.."

"Stop being such an idiot!" Kunikida scolded loudly before dragging Dazai back upstairs to the agency's level, with Atsushi following quickly behind. They quickly reached the agency and walked in to a... Strange sight of Ranpo panicking and waving a paper around that was on fire.

"Someone with a fire ability," Ranpo spoke fast. "Came in after you left and jumped out the window. Can someone help me already?!"

As the others helped Ranpo with the small fire, Atsushi glanced out the window to see someone running away. "Is that the ability user?" She questioned and Ranpo nodded after she pointed him out. Without hesitating, she opened the window and prepared to jump out to follow her.

"What are you doing, Atsushi-chan?" Dazai's voice surprised her, and she whirled around to face him. "It's too dangerous to go after him."

"But she-!" Atsushi groaned in frustration. "Not having control over my ability is really frustrating, you know! I think this is the perfect opportunity to go and force it work!"

After putting out the fire, Ranpo nodded in agreement. "It is. I can tell you where she's heading if you're interested, Atsushi."

"Yes-"

"No," Dazai cut in. "As I said before, it's too dangerous. Atsushi-chan needs more training before she goes out on her own."

Atsushi couldn't remember her past, that's true, but she could vividly remember how she felt, and how she feels now. "Stop treating me like I'm gonna break!" She demanded. "I'm stronger than that!"

Dazai sighed. "I'm sorry Atsushi-chan but I just care about you—"

"Care about me? You literally just met me a few hours ago!" Atsushi's voice practically rose to a shout. "I'm not.." She hesitated. "I'm not my male counterpart, okay? But I can damn well hold my own!"

"Wow, female Atsushi has got some spirit," Ranpo suddenly commented. "I recommend going after the fire ability user in a week or two though, because that's when we'll have the chance to ambush them."

Atsushi nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Ranpo-san."

"Yeah yeah," Ranpo dismissed before he went back to lazying around. After a few seconds, the office returned to normal.

Dazai enveloped Atsushi's hand in his own, and she didn't pull away. Encouraged by this, Dazai spoke, "I'm sorry. Maybe this week we can get to know each other better?"

Sighing softly, Atsushi responded, "I'd like that."

"For now, though, I'll show you where you'll be staying!" Dazai's mood made a complete 180 degrees, and he was now cheerful and chipper. "Since Atsushi-kun isn't here right now, you'll get to stay in his apartment! Yay!"

"He has his own apartment? Wow.. He really has his life together," Atsushi laughed. "Let's do it after work, though."

"Aw, but Atsushi-chan~ I wanted us to spend the rest of today bonding~" Dazai whined. "Please, Atsushi-chan?"

"I don't think that's for me to say," Atsushi awkwardly responded. "Maybe you should ask Kunikida-san?"

Upon hearing his name, Kunikida turned an eye on the duo. "Did you need me for something?"

"Yeah! Kunikida-kun, we're gonna take the rest of today off so I can show Atsushi-chan her apartment!" Dazai boldly grinned, causing Kunikida to frown.

"You can wait until after work."

"Sorry~ Atsushi-chan and I are sneaking out!" Dazai laughed and ran out of the office, forcing Atsushi to go along with his antics. "To your apartment we go!"