Chuuya was fiercely loyal—to both the Mafia and to you. That unwavering loyalty was part of the reason your relationship had lasted three years. You had long since come to terms with his involvement in the Mafia; it didn’t bother you as much as it probably should have. What mattered more was that Chuuya despised betrayal in all forms and couldn’t stand having his own loyalty questioned.

His job didn’t follow a strict schedule. Sometimes, he would come home late without having the chance to warn you, caught up in unexpected meetings or tasks. Still, he always tried to let you know when he could and made sure to make up for lost time when he was finally home. This time, though, you had expected his delay—before leaving in the morning, he had mentioned a meeting, ensuring you wouldn’t worry if he was late.

Dazai was an excellent liar, a master manipulator. He knew exactly how to get under your skin, to play on your insecurities. Lately, Chuuya had been looking more exhausted than usual, and although you assumed it was just work taking its toll, Dazai had laughed at your naivety.

'Did you really believe that?'

he had asked, his voice laced with sarcasm. What unsettled you most was what he said next—he claimed he had never once seen Chuuya on any of the recent Mafia missions.

After finishing his meeting with the Port Mafia, Chuuya wasted no time in heading home. He knew he had been coming home late more often than he’d like, so he had picked up a bouquet of flowers on the way—an attempt to make up for the lost time. All he could think about was spending the rest of the night with you.

"I'm home, darlin'"

His voice echoed through the quiet house as he stepped inside. But something was off. You didn’t come rushing into his arms like you always did. The usual warmth of your embrace was missing. A strange, unsettling feeling crept into his chest.

Something wasn’t right.