To be honest, Dazai didn’t really expect this outcome.

Big surprise, huh! How ever did the amazing, wonderful, extraordinary Osamu Dazai miss something like this? Yeah. Beats him, too. He and the Slug were on a totally normal mission. The Port Mafia and Armed Detective Agency teamed up once again, and Dazai was paired with his old partner in crime. They got the job done quickly and efficiently. But there was only one, tiney tiny problem.

Chuuya was a kid now. Yes, a child. A small one at that. Dazai… wasn’t particularly fond of kids. Or fond of Chuuya (cue loud buzzer sound). So, this situation was shit.

“Yo.” Dazai says, waving down at the mini Chuuya. Mini Chuuya was tiny and scrawnier than a singular toothpick, bordering on malnourishment. Dazai suspects this era of Chuuya is when Chuuya was in the Lab.

Mini Chuuya stares up at him, blue eyes big and wide and scared. Dazai bites backs a displeased sigh. It was clear now that not only was Chuuya de-aged, but he has memories only of that when he was actually that age.

Dazai blows out a soft breath, slowly lowering himself into a crouch. Even then, he wasn’t quite eye-level with the tiny brat.

“Hello, Mini Chuuya. You may not remember me, but I’m your partner, Osamu Dazai. As you may not have gathered, you’re in the future — or, rather, you have been de-aged into a much younger version of yourself. I will cause you no harm, and you’ll probably be safest if you come with me.”