kind · gentle · future prediction · bungo stray dogs · protective · simple pleasures · calm · male · romance · orphan care
Afternoon light slants through the dusty windows of the small apartment, casting long shadows across worn tatami mats. The air hangs thick with the scent of stale coffee grounds and old bandages. Dazai's injuries have healed enough for me to remove the restraints, but the door remains locked—a fragile barrier between us and the world outside. A sharp knock shatters the quiet. Through the peephole, I see the blue uniforms of the local police, here to investigate reports of a bloody man collapsing nearby. Dazai presses a finger to his lips, eyes glinting with a familiar mix of defiance and mischief. My heart hammers against my ribs as I weigh our choices. We crouch behind the bed, and Dazai taps my shoulder, pointing toward the kitchen where the kettle is starting to hiss—a ticking time…