[Osamu, about what time do you think you’ll arrive?]
Dazai received the message just after finishing some work on the seawall by the coast.
Hirotsu Ryūrō and the other Port Mafia members working alongside him watched in surprise as the young executive’s expression turned to one of worry the moment he finished reading the text.
“This is bad!” He looked up at Hirotsu with pleading eyes. “I’m going to be late for my date!”
“…”
Hirotsu reached into the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a pocket watch. After checking the time, he asked Dazai, “May I ask what time your date was scheduled for?”
“Ten-thirty,” Dazai answered solemnly.
The watch read 10:45.
Hirotsu couldn’t help twitching at the corner of his mouth.
“Aren’t you already late?!”
“Mmm—but,” Dazai said, stroking his chin thoughtfully, “my girlfriend tolerates me being up to half an hour late, so as long as I get there before eleven, it doesn’t count.”
He took his handheld game console back from Hirotsu.
“I’m off then. You can handle the rest of the work.”
With that, he waved casually over his shoulder without looking back and walked away.
Hirotsu bowed slightly.
“I wish you a pleasant date.”
After saying it, he froze for two seconds before turning to one of his colleagues, a rare look of bewilderment crossing his face.
“…Who did Dazai say he was going on a date with?”
“His girlfriend.”
“I didn’t mishear him?”
“No, sir. You heard correctly.”
Hirotsu sucked in a sharp breath.
What kind of girl would make such a terrible life decision as dating Dazai? That’s almost too pitiful to bear.
Completely unaware that strangers were pitying her, Ringo Shirakawa stared at the message on her phone.
It had been read.
There was still no reply.
Resting her head on the café table, she let out a sigh.
She tried to reassure herself.
He read it but didn’t reply. At least he didn’t tell me something came up and he couldn’t make it.
That means he’ll still come… probably.
After dating Dazai for two months, she’d almost gotten used to this kind of thing.
Still lying on the table and absentmindedly staring into space, Ringo began thinking back to how she’d ended up with this boyfriend in the first place.
Ah.
I won him by losing a game.
Back then, after Dazai had agreed to date her, her brain had completely shut down for several seconds.
When she finally came back to her senses, she’d frantically tried to explain herself through stammers, but Dazai had simply said,
“But I took it seriously. You’re the one who confessed to me first.”
He’d sounded so confident and righteous that Ringo, who had already felt guilty enough, ended up feeling even more apologetic.
By the time she’d realized what was happening…
She somehow had a boyfriend named Osamu Dazai.
Even now, it still felt unbelievable that they’d started dating before either of them even knew the other’s name.
Only after they began dating did Ringo learn that her boyfriend’s name was Osamu Dazai.
He was two years younger than she was.
He was already working.
And…
That was all she knew about him.
He’s probably going to use “work was too busy” as his excuse again.
I don’t even know what kind of job he has. Every time I ask, he brushes it off with that carefree attitude.
No, this can’t keep going.
At the very least, I need to find out what he actually does for a living!
The moment she made up her mind, Ringo shot upright in her seat—
Only to have something lightly tap her on the head.
The socially anxious Ringo gave a little shiver, the single cowlick on top of her head wobbling with her.
She nervously turned around, bracing herself for some troublesome encounter.
Instead…
She saw a rose.
The hand holding its stem was wrapped in familiar bandages.
Ringo’s eyes instantly lit up.
“Osamu!”
Then she puffed out her cheeks in complaint.
“I told you not to sneak up on me from behind like that.”
“Ah…”
Dazai tilted his head slightly.
“I forgot.”
He handed her the rose.
“This is for you.”
Not a trace of guilt could be found on his face despite arriving late.
Looking at the rose Dazai held out to her, Ringo’s heart sped up.
Her cheeks flushed pink as she accepted it, looking up at him with sparkling eyes.
“Is this… an apology for being late?”
“No.”
Dazai sat down across from her as naturally as if he’d arrived on time.
“I saw someone selling flowers on the way here. They said, ‘Why not buy a flower for your girlfriend?’ It was surprisingly difficult to refuse, so I bought one.”
As he spoke, Dazai glanced at Ringo.
She looked genuinely happy.
Her violet eyes had curved into smiling crescents.
“You’re incredibly easy to please,” Dazai said, resting his cheek against one hand as he watched her. “Are you really that happy?”
“Of course I am,” Ringo answered without hesitation.
Then she asked in return,
“Shouldn’t anyone be happy to receive a gift from their boyfriend?”
“I suppose.”
Dazai stretched lazily.
“I wouldn’t know.”
He reached across the table and lightly hooked a finger around the cuff of her sleeve.
“So, what are we doing today?”
Hearing him ask, Ringo straightened her back.
“It’s already after eleven, so let’s go straight to lunch and then watch a movie.”
…
Dazai stared at her.
Ringo asked cautiously,
“Is… something wrong?”
“Little Ringo…”
He continued staring at her.
“Are you blaming me for being late?”
“N-No!”
Ringo hurriedly waved both hands.
“I know you had work! It’s okay. I don’t mind waiting for you!”
She smiled awkwardly.
“Come on, let’s go.”
Dazai rose unhurriedly and followed Ringo out of the café.
The restaurant wasn’t far away, so they walked.
Ringo naturally took the inside of the sidewalk, while Dazai walked on the outside.
After staring at the hand hanging by Dazai’s side for a while, Ringo gathered her courage and asked tentatively,
“Um… Osamu…”
“Can we hold hands today?”
Ever since they started dating, Dazai had never once taken the initiative to hold her hand.
But in Ringo’s mind, couples were supposed to hold hands.
It had taken her days to work up the courage to ask him the first time.
He had rejected her without mercy.
“No.”
Dazai had answered matter-of-factly.
“I’m not used to physical contact with other people. That includes girlfriends.”
That single sentence had completely shattered all the courage she’d painstakingly built up.
She’d been depressed for several days afterward.
Yet on their next date…
She’d asked again.
Their relationship might have started under bizarre circumstances, but Ringo took it seriously.
Unfortunately…
No matter how many times she asked, Dazai’s answer never changed.
“Let’s not.”
Today’s answer was no different.
“…Okay.”
Even though she’d expected it, Ringo still couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
I’m dating someone… but this relationship isn’t sweet at all… QAQ
She lowered her head.
Even the little cowlick on top of her head drooped listlessly.
Out of the corner of his eye, Dazai watched the girl walking beside him.
His gaze drifted down to her hand.
Her hand looked considerably smaller than his.
After comparing them mentally, he concluded he could probably wrap his entire hand around hers.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he asked,
“So what are we eating?”
“Crab!”
Ringo’s cowlick perked right back up.
“A classmate recommended this place! You said you like crab, so I wanted to bring you there.”
“Oh?”
Dazai bent forward until his face was close to hers.
“It won’t be cheap, will it?”
“You’re still a student, Little Ringo.”
“Can you really afford to treat me to crab?”
Too close!
Ringo unconsciously held her breath, staring at him without blinking.
She had to admit…
Even with one eye hidden beneath bandages, Dazai’s face was devastatingly handsome.
And honestly…
Part of the reason she’d fallen for him after they started dating was because of his looks.
Who doesn’t like handsome guys?!
“I can!”
Ringo nodded rapidly.
“I earn money from a part-time job.”
She didn’t even notice how naturally Dazai had assumed she would be paying.
“Oh?”
Dazai widened his eyes in genuine surprise.
“So even though you’re socially anxious, you still have a part-time job?”
That really was unexpected.
“It’s a job where I don’t have to interact with people,” Ringo explained, blinking.
Then she tilted her head.
“Speaking of which… what exactly is your job, Osamu?”
“Me?”
Dazai pointed at himself.
Seeing her nod, he shrugged.
“I’ve told you before.”
“I’m an Executive of the Port Mafia.”
“That’s my job.”
There he goes again!
“You’re lying.”
Ringo puffed up her cheeks, looking unusually serious.
“Could you answer me properly?”
Dazai clasped both hands behind his head.
“When have I ever lied to you?”
“Mafia members aren’t like you!”
Ringo declared confidently.
“I’ve seen them in movies!”
“Oh?”
Dazai asked with interest.
“Then what are they supposed to be like?”
Ringo thought for a moment.
She straightened her posture into what she believed was an imposing stance and cleared her throat.
“What have I ever done to make you treat me with such disrespect? You won’t even call me ‘Godfather.'”
The pose was convincing enough.
Unfortunately…
Her voice was so soft that it carried absolutely no intimidation whatsoever.
Dazai stared at her for ten full seconds.
Then, without the slightest warning—
“Hahahahaha!”
He burst into laughter.
“Where did you even learn that?!”
“That’s way too funny! Hahahaha!”
Only then did Ringo realize what she’d just done.
Her face instantly turned scarlet.
Dazai’s laughter drew curious looks from passersby, making her wish the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
This is social death!
“Stop laughing!”
“But it really is funny!”
Dazai laughed so hard tears nearly came to his eyes.
Without warning, Ringo grabbed his clothes and started dragging him away at a run.
“Slow down, Little Ringo—”
“No!”
The two of them went to eat crab.
When they came out of the restaurant, Dazai looked thoroughly satisfied.
In an unusually good mood, he asked,
“So what are we doing next?”
“The movies!”
Ringo opened the ticket on her phone for him to see.
“I already bought the tickets. Let’s go!”
Dazai couldn’t quite understand how sitting in a pitch-black movie theater where you couldn’t even see each other’s faces counted as a date.
Still, his girlfriend seemed eager to go.
And since the crab had been delicious, he happened to be in a good mood.
Going along with her didn’t sound so bad.
Just as Ringo was hailing a taxi, Dazai’s phone rang.
“This is Dazai.”