Those Years I Spent as Dazai’s Childhood Friend

The story of Yeye 2.0 and Dazai, childhood friends who grew up together!

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When Tsushima Shuji was five, he got a companion to study with.

The companion said his name was "Shirakawa Yeye," and he was exactly the sort of person Tsushima Shuji hated most.

An idiot who was naive and straightforward, as if he couldn't understand the complexity of people's hearts, and who could bound up to you the first time you met and cheerfully say, "I like you so much."

Tsushima Shuji merely scoffed and pushed down the other's hat to keep the pair of fluffy ears that had just appeared from being seen.

"I've got nothing better to do. If this dog is obedient enough, I might as well keep him."

Later, when the youngest and brightest heir of the Tsushima family ran away from home, he took nothing with him. Only a little snow-white Samoyed followed after him, yipping and whining.

*

There was something everyone in the underworld knew.

The youngest executive of the Port Mafia always had the most loyal dog by his side.

Even more terrifying, this was a "dog" capable of making heavy weaponry.

The Mafia member, who had long since changed his name to Dazai Osamu, had nothing to say.

He scoffed as he applied ointment to the other's wound, deliberately pressing a little harder. "You work in research. Why go looking for a fight with me?"

As always, the other gave him a sincere-sounding excuse. "I can take a bullet for you, too, Dazai! It's not like I have nothing better to do."

Dazai: .

If that dog hadn't stopped all sixteen of the suicide methods he'd tried during the fight as if he could predict them, he might actually have believed him.

The feared Mafia member sighed.

Fine. Let it be.

*

Until one day, they had a fight.

It was the first time they had ever had such a fierce falling-out.

For the first time, Dazai Osamu saw the other so angry that he couldn't stop crying, yet still stubbornly declared, "I'm really mad! I won't forgive you so easily this time, Dazai!"

"I'm running away from home!!"

But neither of them expected what happened next.

The moment Shirakawa Yeye stepped outside Yokohama, the scenery around him suddenly shifted.

When he opened his eyes again...

Four years had passed.

*

"Dazai-senpai really hates dogs. He even goes so far as to fight them over dog food."

Nakajima Atsushi, who had recently joined the Armed Detective Agency, shuddered at the memory.

Ranpo raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Then one day, Nakajima Atsushi saw Dazai-senpai, who was always wearing a frivolous smile and skipping work, but could always be counted on when it mattered, staring in one direction as if stunned and unable to believe his eyes.

Dazai-senpai walked over and knelt beside a filthy Samoyed.

His bandaged hand trembled slightly as he touched the limping leg of what was probably a stray dog.

"...You're back." Nakajima Atsushi heard him speak softly, with a tenderness as though he were afraid of waking someone. "Let's go home."

Only later did Nakajima Atsushi learn the truth.

That was the person who had been part of Dazai-senpai's life for nearly its entirety, the one and only exception.

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[Reading Guide]

1. A heartwarming story about raising kids, with a little bittersweetness and lots and lots of sweetness. A kitten and a puppy stumble their way through growing up together.

2. The main story is told in third person.

3. I'll revise the synopsis before the story begins, but the central premise will stay the same.

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Idea saved on 23/10

Synopsis posted on 25/1/5

Theme: Those who meet will meet again