[Bungo Stray Dogs: Ranpo X Chuuya] A Year Older, Yet Still Like the Younger One

[Midsummer, fizzing soda, butterflies in a flurry]

*Currently planned as three parts: everyday life, aiming for an ordinary warmth; and strange tales, combining the seven mysteries of the main work with some mind-game manga.

*An ensemble cast, with a bit of everything! The main pairing is Ranpo and Akiko, but there will also be Mori and Yosano, Ranpo and Tachihara, Poe and Ranpo, the Double Leaders, Double Black, Oda and Dazai (friendship), Mori and Kouyou... and more. This isn't just about the two of them together; it also covers their individual lives, gradually building out the plot. It really is pretty ridiculous and feels like a jumble of random writing, so consider yourselves warned (sorry).

What is the right thing to do, after all?

Akiko stood on the rooftop. The dusk was thick, clouds gathered as if preparing for a downpour. She took a step forward. Her red leather shoes scraped against the edge of the bricks with a "skritch, skritch."

Ranpo crept closer like a kitten, eyes narrowed, and tugged at her skirt. "I'm hungry."

"Huh?"

His manner was so out of place amid the mood of the moment that Akiko nearly kicked him away when she froze in surprise.

As she unconsciously lifted her leg a little, Ranpo pressed close and pulled out a lollipop. "I'll give you my last one."

His smile was as innocent as ever, but then his expression suddenly turned serious. A flash of sharpness crossed his eyes as he looked up at her.

"Oh no, it's so cold. It's going to rain. Come down and take me home!"

"Miss Yosano, if you want to come here again, pick a clear, sunny day."

Pfft. Akiko walked over to him, tilted her head, and stared into his eyes before covering her mouth and laughing. "Did you steal that line from Dazai?"

"Don't laugh!" Ranpo turned his head away and pouted.

"All right, all right!"

"And don't say 'all right'!"

-

After he kissed her, Akiko shoved Ranpo away. A few seconds later, she quietly glanced back and saw that he'd already turned around, covering his face.

Could he be embarrassed???

Akiko reached out with both hands and turned his face toward her. He pressed his lips together and blinked, his eyelashes fluttering too. Honestly, he was the one who'd suddenly pounced on her, yet he looked more aggrieved than anyone.

"Are you angry?" Ranpo asked. The moment their eyes met, they both looked flustered for a moment.

The feeling of his lips still lingered. Her voice softened for some reason. "I'm not angry, just startled. I didn't expect you to suddenly want to kiss me..."

"Even so, I'm a normal twenty-seven-year-old man..." He turned his head away, pouting, and his cheeks suddenly reddened.

"Is that so~"

Onlookers: Seriously, our kitten is almost thirty. Find him a big sister Akiko already! Keep it in the family; don't let someone else whisk him away.

-

A person's life may have many moments that define who they are. The same was true for Ranpo.

When his parents died, when he met Fukuzawa Yukichi, when he watched Akiko approach from afar in a white dress, and when his little daughter's chubby hand wrapped around his index finger.

He suddenly realized that he could feel fear and tenderness, love others without reservation, and give them everything he had.

◎ Sorry for the slow updates, and my writing isn't very good either. I'll keep working to improve. Also, the picture is a messy doodle, and it looks even worse after being compressed, so don't mind it (Akiko should be taller than Ranpo in heels, right??`)

◎ I'll do my best to explain the plot in the titles and summaries, so feel free to skip around.

◎ Thank you, everyone. Hope you have a lovely life!

Theme: Big sister, tonight I care nothing for humanity; I only want you