Can the Bandage Freak Dream of a Cherry Blossom Demon?

[The full book costs 3.74. Thanks so much for supporting the original!]

Also, check out my completed story next door, "Click Here to See Dazai Raising a Daughter."

I'm a cherry blossom spirit on the verge of withering. The cherry blossoms along the Tsurumi River are one of my manifestations.

There's a strange bandage-wearing man here who goes into the water like clockwork every day, but always gets saved thanks to one coincidence or another.

He's interesting.

But today, he must be having bad luck. He's already underwater, bubbling away.

He's one of my few sources of entertainment. It'd be such a shame if he died just like this, so I saved him.

"Ahh, what a beautiful young lady! Your beauty is like the shining sun, striking me right in the heart! Perhaps I might be so lucky as to invite you to join me in the water?"

He praised me so enthusiastically. I'm so happy! Is this how humans show friendship?

"If I say yes, will you be my friend?"

"Of course!"

"Then come play with me before you go into the water!"

Lately, many witnesses have seen Dazai talking to the air by the riverbank all by himself.

Everyone was shocked. Has Mr. Dazai finally gone mad?

Kunikida: Dazai, don't push yourself too hard lately. I'll take care of your share of the work. Go out and get some fresh air!

Yosano: Mr. Dazai, would you like me to take you apart and put you back together? It might give you a whole new outlook on life.

Atsushi: Mr. Dazai, I'll work hard to grow stronger and make sure all your effort hasn't been wasted!

Akutagawa: Mr. Dazai! How could you have fallen so low!

Chuuya: Dazai, this isn't like you at all. Pull yourself together!

The man himself: ?

Only Ranpo, who saw the truth, looked sharp-eyed and certain: He's just in love.

[Please Note]

1. This is a happy ending.

2. Apologies in advance if anyone seems out of character.

3. Updates every night. I'll let you know if I can't update.

My upcoming story next door, "When Young Dazai Picks Up a Silver-Haired Natural Perm," is open for bookmarks. Please give it some love!

[Upcoming Story Blurb]

When fourteen-year-old Dazai had finally grown tired of this boring world, he stood on the banks of the Tsurumi River, psyching himself up to carry out his grand drowning plan. Suddenly, a silver-haired man with a natural perm fell from the sky and knocked him straight into the river.

Dazai, who wasn't mentally prepared yet: Huh?

The strange older man let out a girlish shriek: Aahhh! Somebody save Gin-san! Gin-san can't swim, glug glug glug...

One day, Yokohama quietly gained a new odd-jobs shop. It took on everything from saving the world to helping old ladies find their cats.

The owner of the shop was a dead-eyed older man who liked to wear just one sleeve and carried a wooden sword at his waist. His employee was an underage kid who would suddenly jump into the water midway through a job whenever the mood struck him.

Dazai: Ah, you stepped over that rock with your left foot first. I'm going into the water.

Gintoki: Hey! Come back! Gin-san was wrong. I'll step over it again, so don't suddenly go into the water, okay!

Theme: Hold firmly to the will to live