Chapter Text
In the months before spring, the most intense criminal cases seem to suddenly vanish. No convoluted plots, or murders, or anything of the sort, which leaves the petty cases of theft, robbery, and assault in the hands of the agency. It’s a pattern that Atsushi begins to notice after working for as long as he has. It’s not particularly a disappointing factor — In fact, it’s a nice time of the year for the agency to look forward to and sort of relax — yet the lack of interesting crimes happening leaves dreadful paperwork and surprisingly vacant times of the day.
Atsushi finds himself zoning out, staring at the building across from the Agency through a window he can see from his office desk. It’s another day of boring paperwork, and another day Atsushi would rather just spend in the cafe, with his teammates, and talk about how the week has been progressing. It’s an especially dreadful day because Atsushi notes that today marks the deadline of Ranpo’s paperwork on a recent robbery he solved himself. He knows he and possibly Kunikida will end up with his paperwork, as the great detective himself refuses to do anything that doesn’t pique his interest, so he contemplates this further as he continues to stare out the window. He can feel his eyebrows twitch on his head, but he knows that in the end, he will have to do the work whether he wishes to or not.
Before Atsushi can form another thought, a slam on his desk alerts him from his daze, and he quickly moves his head to face the source of the sound. It’s Ranpo. Before Atsushi can even greet him, Ranpo interrupts him in a curt manner.
“Here ya go,” He states flatly. It’s then that Atsushi notices that the source of the sound wasn’t Ranpo directly, but rather the pile of documents in front of Ranpo’s figure. As Atsushi stares at the documents, he doesn’t get a chance to express his confusion when Ranpo interrupts his thoughts again. “It’s the paperwork on the robbery. You’re welcome.”
With that said, Ranpo takes his leave, not bothering to elaborate further. Atsushi takes a moment to process what Ranpo said, but when he does it only leaves him more confused than before. Did I mishear him? Atsushi wonders as he reaches out to look at the documents. Page after page, Atsushi notices that not only did Ranpo write in this, but he also responded correctly . No errors to fix, his handwriting is eligible, and its with these two factors that Atsushi slowly raises his eyes to look at Ranpo. He’s already on his desk, writing in what appears to be more paperwork. Ranpo’s expression remains unchanged, but Atsushi can’t repeat the same sentiment for himself. He unconsciously had shifted his face into such a perplexed look. It’s then that Atsushi’s thoughts come flooding into his head with so many questions.
Does he have brain damage? Why did he do his work? Did Fukuzawa yell at him??? This has to be a dream or something, why else would he do his work??? After a full long minute of staring, it’s then that Atsushi realizes he must’ve been looking too long, because Ranpo glances at him for a moment, before he returns to writing. Atsushi turns back to his desk. It’s there that he realizes something must be a problem, but it’s also then that Atsushi decides not to ask. He decides that it’s best to leave Ranpo to solve this issue on his own, and with that conclusion, Atsushi’s fingers begin to tap away at his keyboard.
——————
Dazai was casually laying on the sofa, like most of his recent days, listening to his music when a conversation between Ranpo and Atsushi piqued his interest. It seemed he wasn't the only one interested however. Yosano and Kunikida happened to also be within earshot, conversing about a different matter when they both noticed the conversation, giving eachother confused looks when Ranpo walked away. He stared for a second at Ranpo. Something was definitely bothering him. His face seemed tense, and the weirdest part was the inherent focus he was putting into such minimal cases. Never had such easy cases taken this much concentration from Ranpo, and Dazai was now fully interested in whatever was going on. He made a mental reminder to indirectly corner Ranpo later in the day, in hopes of figuring out what could be bothering him so much.
Except he never did. Dazai, at some point, went to the restroom, and upon his return he noted that Ranpo was nowhere in sight. It took him two seconds to realize that Ranpo was avoiding him. He’d figured Dazai’s plan out, and had escaped without a single glimpse. Dazai couldn’t help but smile to himself. He reeaally doesn’t want to talk about it, huh? How interesting.
——————
When Ranpo returned to his apartment, he was exhausted. All that soul sucking paperwork was really the most boring thing on earth, which should’ve actually benefited Ranpo. He had planned to exhaust himself with tasks he can’t stand, all for one important purpose: to get his mind off of Poe. As he took his shoes off, he reflected on the effectiveness of this strategy. Sure, it worked somewhat today, but the work was so miserable that he’d rather go skydiving without a parachute than do it again. Letting himself fall on top of his mattress, he let out a long sigh.
He’d always considered Poe as a friend, despite Poe’s claims that they’re rivals, but recently something stirred within him. Sure, the friendship was fun, but something felt missing, and whatever it was that Ranpo was yearning for, he himself did not wish to know. He wanted to keep things the way they were, despite also wanting to change their friendship into… into what exactly? Ranpo shook his head before he let his thoughts derail. Damn it, I need to stop thinking. He begrudgingly lifts himself off his mattress, instead choosing to get ready for bed. He promises not to think about Poe anymore that night. He unfortunately does.