13 The Strongest (Part Four)

By the seaside, the azure ocean shimmered under the sunlight, its waves reflecting sparkling glints, while the silent beach lay deserted.

Far from the reach of humanity, Osamu Dazai lay stretched out on sun-warmed rocks, hands clasped behind his head, his gaze fixed on the figure of Chūya Nakahara.

The man with fiery orange hair floated in midair, his feet barely touching the vast expanse of ocean beneath him. The sunlight poured down unfiltered, and its brilliance softened the dark red glow emanating from him, instead casting a golden halo around his form.

Slowly, Chūya descended. His feet grazed the sunlit surface of the sea, tinting the water with a faint dark red aura.

Moments later, towering waves surged upward, transforming the once calm sea into a roiling tempest. A towering wall of water rose like a tsunami, roaring with overwhelming force as it swept toward the shore, drenching the lone figure on the beach to the bone.

Dazai, flustered and exasperated, shouted, “Chūya!!!”

Floating above, Chūya laughed heartily, his mirth tinged with mischief as he savored Dazai’s rare display of disarray.

Dazai wiped the seawater from his face, glaring at him with fierce indignation.

“Don’t act like a dried-up salted fish, Dazai,” Chūya said with a radiant grin. “I guess you’ve regained your strength by now, huh?”

Standing atop the rocks, Dazai shot back, “You’re the one acting like a rambunctious puppy! Do you think everyone enjoys running around like you?”

“At least I don’t look like a tree about to wither and die!” Chūya crossed his arms as he descended to face Dazai. “A little splash of water suits you much better!”

“That’s just your twisted sense of humor getting worse!” Dazai retorted sharply.

Chūya raised an eyebrow, proud. “Well, I have you to thank for that.”

“You act as if I’m the one who corrupted you!” Dazai said. “My sister always thought so.”

Chūya’s lips curled into a sly smile. “Who else gave off that impression if not you?”

Dazai squinted. “What about the crab you promised me?”

Chūya replied, unrepentant, “Can you blame me? I didn’t back out! Didn’t I catch it for you?”

“It was so! So! Small!” Dazai gestured the size with both hands, indignant. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”

Chūya said, “Isn’t that how crabs are this time of year?”

“No way!” Dazai argued vehemently. “This is the prime season for sakura crabs! Otherwise, why do you think they’re called ‘sakura crabs’?”

“I have no idea why,” Chūya’s tone softened slightly. “When I caught it, that’s just how it looked! I didn’t deliberately pick a tiny one for you.”

---

Dazai lamented, “Sakura crabs are a specialty of Aomori, hailed as one of the ‘Seven Treasures.’ You’re wasting it, Chūya!”

Chūya gloomily asked, “Why don’t you just eat at a restaurant then?”

Dazai countered, “How are we supposed to order for two?”

“Just like before, bring one or have it delivered,” Chūya said irritably. “I think you’re doing this on purpose!”

Dazai pulled out his ace card. “You promised me.”

Chūya: …

He ground his teeth, took a deep breath, and growled, “Fine! I’ll catch some for you tomorrow! Happy now?!”

Feigning reluctance, Dazai said, “Don’t push yourself, Chūya. I won’t blame you if you go back on your word.”

“Yeah, right!” Chūya sneered and rolled his eyes. “You’re just going to bring this up every time we argue!”

“I’ve never done that,” Dazai raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise, then grinned mischievously. “But that’s exactly something I would do.”

Chūya crossed his arms. “I knew it. You’re not that kind-hearted!”

Dazai said, “If it were you, you’d do the same.”

“Of course!” Chūya replied matter-of-factly. Such leverage was worth remembering forever.

So why did people always think it was one-sided bullying between them?

But Dazai didn’t mind. No one understood their relationship, just as no one knew what he saw the very first time he laid eyes on Chūya.

He looked at Chūya before him, those bright blue eyes shining—not because of the sun, but glowing even in the darkest night.

They had switched worlds and species. Everything had changed, yet somehow nothing had.

It wasn’t a matter of masking or feigning calm. Chūya simply accepted it all, just as he had made his choice so easily at sixteen.

—He never even bothered to ask why.

Dazai had prepared countless reasons to persuade Chūya, yet none were used.

Chūya trusted his plans and arrangements as always, never asking if there was no way back.

---

Perhaps he already knew the answer: those who have died cannot return.

Dazai and Chūya stood on the rocks, the sea breeze lifting their hair.

Chūya looked at the silent Dazai and raised an eyebrow. “Dazai?”

Dazai caught the worry and doubt in Chūya’s eyes and said lightly, “I just didn’t expect your skin to get so thick!”

“Screw you!” Chūya shot him a glare. “I’m going swimming. You can stay here and roast under the sun!”

Dazai watched Chūya turn and run into the sea, chuckling softly. “You really are just like a little dog.”

The little dog ran off to play, and it was time for him to work.

Dazai jumped down from the rocks, landing nimbly on the sand, hands in his pockets as he strode toward the figures on the beach.

“Spending your time catching crabs—what are you even thinking?” Coral said, looking at the two recently born companions with an expression of speechless disbelief.

“First, how did you end up here?” Dazai asked. “I thought we just parted ways not long ago.”

While Chūya was catching crabs, they had unexpectedly encountered Coral and Kaguya by the sea, and the person or being hiding behind them was growing restless.

Kaguya and Coral spoke in unison.

“We’ve been apart for a month.”

“We’re here to find Dugong.”

Dazai looked toward the third figure—no longer quite human. Compared to the still humanoid Coral and Kaguya, Dugong resembled a strange ocean creature. Strange appearances were normal in the deep sea, after all.

With Dugong, they first grasped the concept of a domain.

A vast ocean appeared out of nowhere, indistinguishable from the real thing—or perhaps it was real, existing in another space entirely.

Dazai stood within the domain; his abilities did not affect its formation, likely because he never touched Dugong directly.