My Deceased Best Friend Is Back

I'm Niwa Shizuhiko. After I died, I was told that I was an unintroduced character from the prequel to the popular anime Bungo Stray Dogs. My health was so poor that I died before the main story even began. A strange System brought me back to life. It told me that if I completed its tasks, I could return to my original world and be resurrected with a healthy body.

What? An offer like that exists?! How could I turn down something that falls right out of the sky?

Charge! My older brother and childhood friends are waiting for me to come home!

1. The Harp and the Bird

The younger brother of Gin, the organization's top killer, died in his arms.

"You know, I really did love your blond hair... the color of the sun. It looked so warm, so very warm. But now, even your hair has turned white..."

Disgusting white.

The boy squeezed Kurozawa Jin's hand and gave him a comforting smile. "Jin, go do what you want to do."

2. A Different Agenda

"That guy's so weird! He doesn't fit in at all with the whole Japan branch!" Lu Mingfei shouted, clutching the welcome gift the boy had given him.

The entire Japan branch was wary of the agents sent from headquarters, except for that one person: the Uesugi family's retainer and Miss Eri's personal interpreter.

He really was taking his "guests" around Tokyo.

"Mr. Lu and Miss Lu's visit has made the young lady very happy. It has made me happy as well. I do hope you can stay by her side, or perhaps go to headquarters to study once her health improves. Girls should be free to live as they please."

"The young master may be a good brother, but he isn't a good guardian."

When the ace squad was wanted, he was the one who helped them escape.

"Mr. Lu, please don't worry. I'll help you all leave safely."

Lu Mingfei thought they would never meet again, until the day the White King awoke. The familiar white-haired boy stood alone before them.

"Your Majesty, your era has passed. It is time for you to sleep," Uesugi Shizuhiko said, tightening his grip on his katana. His green eyes lit up, burning gold. "All those traitors who stand in the way of Your Majesty's sleep shall be cut down by your servant!"

3. The Bitter Summer Day Is Short

Geto Suguru found a quiet junior while out on a mission. The junior seemed obedient and well-behaved, but was surprisingly suited to becoming a jujutsu sorcerer.

"I don't understand what you're worried about. To me, family and friends are the most important things. I'd give everything I have for them."

"You and Gojo are both seniors I'm close to. Kenji and Yuo are classmates I trust, and Professor Yaga is a teacher I respect. Shoko is also very kind to me. I won't let anyone hurt them."

The wanted young curse user held a naginata in one hand, blood dripping from its blade.

"If those rotten old oranges are keeping everyone from being happy, then let's make them disappear."

"You will all have absolute freedom."

But before that...

"I'm sorry, Gojo. 'Don't. Stop. Me.'"

4. A Glimmer in the Dark

Odasaku, a low-ranking member of the Port Mafia, adopted a frail "child."

The "child" unexpectedly got along well with his friend, Dazai Osamu.

"I got the 'Book,' Osamu. I won't let you go down that path. I hope both you and Chuuya get what you wish for."

Dazai wanted to grab him, but something instinctive held him back from approaching the young man.

"Don't you have any wishes of your own?"

"Of course I do! I want you to be loved without reservation. You and Chuuya are the most important people to me. In my eyes, the Port Mafia isn't right for you."

"No one is born suited to darkness. I really hate hearing people say Dazai was born for the dark. In my eyes, there's no difference between you and Chuuya."

The gray-haired young man smiled softly and embraced his friend, who was wrapped in loneliness.

"Take Odasaku to the Armed Detective Agency. Leave the rest to me, okay?"

"I promise I'll give you, all of you, the future you want."

Dazai felt only the damp scarf around his neck. It was sticky and felt disgusting.

"'I offer you my fond farewell, and wish you happiness and good fortune always.'"

Things should have gone according to plan. After passing through the temporal turbulence, the story's course seemed to gradually fall back into line with fate.

Niwa Shizuhiko couldn't stand by and watch his friends head toward that endless abyss they were destined for.

"If the ending needs a sacrifice, I hope that person will be me."

"I'm already a ghost, anyway. If they're all alive, then that's a truly Happy Ending."

May I become the kindling that lights the dawn my friends have yet to reach.

Reader's guide:

1. I don't update daily, but updates are at nine. The rest of the time is spent fighting writer's block and revising.

2. Third-person narration in the main story, my own take, characters may be out of character, and the timeline is chaotic. Mainly Bungo Stray Dogs, starting from the third loop, entering the Beast boss route in the middle.

3. Content notes: Odasaku, the police academy group, Geto, Eri, Yoshiki, and Yoshitake are saved from their canon deaths. Kurozawa Jin and Akai Shuuichi; Akai Shuuichi and Kurozawa Jin. Chu Wulong has a childhood sweetheart. Mafia Dazai (boss and executive), Chuuya (boss and executive), Ango, Ranpo (with abilities), Atsushi and Kyouka, and the Armed Detective Agency's Dazai, Chuuya, Odasaku, and Akutagawa all appear.

4. Inspired by the song "Is Mom, Is Daughter" and the lyric "I hope you are loved." This story is mainly about relationships, and I also hope Dazai Osamu, Nakahara Chuuya, and Edogawa Ranpo are loved.

Theme: Hardship can help people grow, but that doesn't justify forcing them to suffer just so they can grow.