Bungo Stray Dogs - Volume 7 Chapter 3 Part 2

Chapter 3 Part 2

“Mind your own damn business.” Chuuya averted his gaze.
“Then I’ll rephrase my question. Why are you looking for this powerful deity Arahabaki?”
“Because…” Chuuya started to say something, but he froze. “Hmm? What’s wrong, Chuuya?”
Chuuya swiftly turned his back to Dazai, looked down, and pulled up his hood to hide his face.
“Don’t say my name!” he hissed in almost a whisper. “And don’t talk to me, either! Just quietly stare at the screen or something until they leave!”
“‘They’?”
Dazai looked around until he noticed two guys and one girl around their age at the entrance, surveying the arcade as if they were searching for something. There was nothing particularly unique about them; they were just ordinary kids one would expect to see downtown. Each one of them, however, had a blue band around their right wrist.
“Those blue bracelets they’re wearing… That means they’re members of the Sheep.”
Dazai stared at the three teenagers, then at Chuuya, who still had his back turned to him.
“Is there a reason you’re avoiding them?”
“You think this looks like a good time for me to run into them?!” “Oh… Now I get it.”
Dazai put a thumb to his chin and pondered for a quick moment before a faint smirk made its way to his face. He then shouted:
“Come on, Chuuya! We’ve got work to do! Boss’s orders!”
“You piece of shit!” Chuuya squeaked furiously. The three teenagers’ faces lit up almost at once.
“Chuuya! Phew… We finally found you! We’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
The trio waved at Chuuya as he let out a deep sigh. He then put on a composed expression and walked over to them.
“Hey, guys. Looks like you’re all okay. Thank goodness.” He spoke in a mature voice. There wasn’t a hint of unease on his stony visage.
“What are you doing goofing off around here?” The silver-haired guy in the middle pouted. “You know that Akira and Shougo and the others got abducted by the Mafia, right?!”
“Don’t worry,” Chuuya replied impassively. “I’m taking care of it. I’ll get all eight of ’em back safe and sound.”
“You’re ‘taking care of it’? In an arcade…? They’re talking about you back home, y’know. They say you’re the Mafia’s errand dog now! Do you have any idea how hard I’ve been working to dispel those rumors? I— ahem. Fine, whatever. Just break into wherever the Mafia’s keeping them and kick some ass! Like you always do!”
Dazai’s eyes sparkled. He appeared to be quietly enjoying the Sheep’s conversation.
“First things first,” said Chuuya. “Hear any new rumors about Arahabaki?”
“Huh? Oh…” The silver-haired teen exchanged a troubled glance with his friends. “Of course, we’re looking into it. We’re tracking all the rumors and trying to find out where they’re coming from, but there’s been a lotta talk these past two weeks especially. Rumors about people seeing the black flames or the old Mafia boss have been spreading like the plague. Before that, there were just lots of bits and pieces of information—barely even whispers…”
Dazai suddenly chimed in. “Then what’s the oldest verifiable rumor?” Everyone stared at him.
“Yo… Chuuya? Who’s this guy? He lookin’ to join us?” “Yeah…something like that.” Chuuya glared at Dazai, then returned his
gaze to the Sheep. “Just tell him what he wants to know. Sorry.” “Uh, fine…”
Although clearly not thrilled about the idea, the silver-haired teen looked back and forth between Dazai and Chuuya before explaining. “The oldest rumor of any definitive damage is probably the one from eight years ago: the giant explosion that created Suribachi City at the end of the conflict. There’s nothing about Arahabaki’s destruction before that.”
“I knew it…” Dazai nodded with a knowing look.
“Hey, Chuuya. Is this guy really a new Sheep member? You know you’re not allowed to bring new people in without approval first. I get that you’re the strongest and you contribute the most to the group, but you’re still technically just one of thirteen Council members. Doesn’t help that a lot of people already think you overstep your authority. Plus—”

“I know,” interrupted Chuuya in a deep voice.
“You do? …Guess I shouldn’t worry, then. Who cares what the others are saying anyway? Everyone depends on you, and that’s the only thing that matters.”
The silver-haired boy lightly clapped Chuuya on the shoulder.
“Now, let’s hurry back and come up with a plan to save our friends. They got kidnapped on the factory road across the river. I was actually there too, but I managed to hide until the enemy left.”
“Hang on. You went to the factory road?” Chuuya asked sharply. “Did you go to steal booze again? This is war, ya know! And you got that close to the Mafia’s base?! That’s like begging to be kidnapped!”
“Quit yelling.” The boy frowned. “It’s not like we went to kill anyone. We’re only acting in self-defense just like the rules say. Besides, isn’t this our chance? The Sheep always get their revenge. You lay a finger on us— we pay you back double. Right?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Chuuya, you’re always telling us that anyone who got dealt a different hand in life has a responsibility to fulfill. So you gotta use your powers to help us fix things!”
The silver-haired boy tried pulling Chuuya by the shoulder. “Now, c’mon! Let’s go!”
Clap. Clap. Clap. A sudden round of applause. “I’m impressed.”
It was Dazai. His lips curled into a smile as he continued his leisurely clapping.
“You guys are fascinating to watch. Chuuya’s got all that berserk firepower, but here he’s like a sheep getting stared down by a wolf. It seems that leading an organization is more difficult than I’d ever imagined. Maybe I oughta give Mori a shoulder massage when I get back.”
“You little suicide-obsessed—”
“Listen, Sheep—you can’t take Chuuya with you. He has a job to do.
Port Mafia’s orders.”
“Excuse me?” The silver-haired boy glared at Dazai. “You talking about the rumor? I literally just said it was bullshit. Plus, no way Chuuya would never submit to the Mafia…”
He looked over at Chuuya, but his leader’s heavy expression seemed to make him suspicious.
“Seriously?” the boy muttered, taking his hand off Chuuya. He then stepped back incredulously. “Chuuya, this is some kind of joke, right? Or part of a plan, at least? Like you’re trying to destroy the Mafia from the inside or something?”
“No, it’s true,” Chuuya replied firmly with a shake of his head. “The Mafia’s boss isn’t joking around. Outsmarting him ain’t no picnic, either. Doesn’t help that I’m being watched.”
“You’re being watched?”
Chuuya stared pointedly at Dazai. After a few seconds went by, the Sheep appeared to realize what he meant and instinctively recoiled.
“By this kid…?!”
The three Sheep took a few steps back. Although they had clashed with the Mafia a few times before, this was their first time meeting someone who reported directly to its boss.
“Yep,” said Dazai. “Nice to meet you all.”
“Ch-Chuuya! What’re you doing just standing there?! This guy works for the Port Mafia’s boss, right? Kick his ass and tie him up! Then we can exchange him for— Wait. Actually, just kill him.”
“Oh my. That took a dark turn.” Dazai raised his hands playfully. “I give up. I can’t take on four people at once. I’ll do anything you want me to. Just please don’t kill me. Hmm… Oh, I know. I could ask Mori to release the hostages.”
“…What?”
Despite their bewilderment, Dazai took a cell phone out of his pocket, pressed a few numbers, and put it against his ear. “Hey, Mori? How goes it? That stomach ulcer still bothering you? …Oh, I see. Getting bigger, huh?”
He sounded amused. “The job’s going smoothly. We’re just wrapping things up. About that—I actually wanted to ask you a favor. Do you think you could release the Sheep hostages? Uh-huh. Yep. Immediately. Unharmed. Don’t worry. I’m doing things just like you taught me… All right. Later.”
Dazai pressed a button, then stuffed the phone back into his pocket. “The hostages should be free now.”
The Sheep exchanged baffled glances.
“Wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me this punk has the authority to release hostages? He sounded like the one giving orders there.”
The silver-haired boy still looked doubtful until he eventually checked his phone, and his eyes opened wide.
“Hey…! He was tellin’ the truth! I just got an email saying everyone’s back home safe!”
The three Sheep rejoiced. Chuuya glared at Dazai questioningly. “What are you scheming?” he demanded. “What was that?”
“A gesture of friendship.” Dazai wore a mysterious smirk. “Now, let’s go. We’ve got a job to finish.”
“Oh, you do? Ha!” The silver-haired boy laughed as if Dazai were an idiot. “Chuuya’s not gonna help the Mafia with any work. You lost your bargaining chip when you released the hostages!” He tugged at Chuuya’s arm. “C’mon, Chuuya. Let’s go! Everyone’s waiting for us!”
But Chuuya didn’t budge. “…Hello?”