It was still late at night. Having finally finished gathering information, I decided to get through all these books ahead of time.
Memorizing them all would not be easy, but I could not really call it difficult, either.
If I put everything into it, one night would more or less do.
Honestly, though, I did not particularly like studying, and doing this was painful no matter how I looked at it.
Still, the outcome was good enough.
Thirteen hours, over a dozen books read. This probably was not the first time I had envied Osamu Dazai's brain.
How wonderful would it have been if my old self had a mind like this?
Then I probably would not have hated studying. After all, those things had left me with a mental scar, but looking at them again now, they did not actually seem that difficult.
At some point, the moon had silently disappeared, and the sun slowly rose into the sky.
Strands of early morning sunlight fell across the densely packed text. I rubbed my aching eyes and looked straight at the dazzling sun.
"Seriously, light is so annoying."
Muttering under my breath, I closed the book in my hands and drew the curtains tightly shut, refusing to let in even a sliver of light.
I groped around for my phone and continued reading by its faint glow.
That was why I would never like daytime. Why could it not stay late at night forever?
I argued over these meaningless questions in my head while memorizing the book in my hands.
Reading everything through took longer than I had expected. I had thought it would take sixteen hours at most, but before I knew it, dusk had arrived.
From dusk to late night, from late night to morning, from morning to noon, and then back to dusk. Perhaps I had no sense of time, or perhaps I simply did not want to pay attention to it.
So when I put the books down again and saw that the faint light filtering through the curtains had dimmed, my mood lifted a little.
The sunset clouds were beautiful-a flame I did not have to fear would burn me, a light that would not shine on me.
With that thought, I opened the tightly drawn curtains again.
A little light was enough. If I could embrace the night, then naturally, I should embrace the silent, deserted hours after midnight, too.
Thinking this, I slowly sat up. I piled the books covering the bed to one side, carefully erased every trace around me, and curled up in the middle of the bed.
Was it me who felt unsafe, or Osamu Dazai?
It did not matter anymore.
I did not understand whether I was being assimilated or affected by something else. In any case, I was becoming more and more like him. Osamu Dazai, Boss Dazai...
It had nothing to do with what I wanted. The change crept in without my noticing, and suddenly, I understood why the Book had told me those things. Perhaps one unknown day, I really would become him.
But that did not matter so much, either, did it?
I felt no urge to resist. Ultimately, my own body was probably still lying in a hospital room. A frail body was better than a paralyzed one.
Curled up in a corner of the bed, I raised the corners of my lips indifferently, entertaining myself with these thoughts.
This day had passed so quickly, like a dream. It still did not make traveling to another world feel real, aside from the Cursed Spirit that had tried to kill me at the start.
Had I suffered from insomnia before? In any case, I had it now. I lay with my eyes open, unsure what to think or what to do.
Still, I did not need to worry about being unable to sleep. My body was so exhausted that passing out when it could no longer bear the strain was a perfectly decent way to rest.
So when I passed out, I actually felt a strange sense of inevitability.
Osamu Dazai probably got all his rest from however long he stayed unconscious.
There was just one thing I still could not understand: could Osamu Dazai force his body to shut down and restart?
I wanted to learn that skill, too.
That was my last thought before losing consciousness.
So when I sat up, half asleep in the pitch-black night, I was still utterly confused.
Had I dreamed? Unfortunately, I had already forgotten what the dream had looked like.
Was I awake now?
I did not know.
All I knew was that everything before me was black, and there was no light outside. Even the moon and stars were hidden behind clouds.
With some urgency, I rubbed my eyes, turned on my phone, and checked the time.
Exactly four hours. So automatic shutdown and restart was a passive ability?
Indifferently putting on a false smile, I looked at the still-dark sky outside, calmly got up to wash, and draped the red scarf around my neck.
What a leisurely morning. I sighed softly, but wasted no time straightening the tangled mess of bedding.
I wiped the books and objects that bore my fingerprints clean, then put everything back where it belonged, making the room look as though I had never been there.
Then I sat quietly at the desk alone, leafing through books I had already read several times and could even recite from memory.
When would Masamichi Yaga come? Probably a little later. After six or seven, at least.
After all, disturbing someone's rest was terribly rude.
But having to wait another few hours was nothing to be happy about.
Thinking this, I stared without blinking at the faint threads of light seeping through the gap in the curtains.
If it were Osamu Dazai, he probably would not allow himself even a moment to relax or let his mind go blank. But right now, I wanted to switch off a little.
So I thought about nothing and simply stared at the sunlight.
Grrr-
Right. Since eating a Crabmeat Can the night before last, I had not even touched any water.
"Eating and drinking really are so easy to forget."
I sighed softly. It would have been impossible to say I felt nothing, but the stomach pain from the day before yesterday was still vivid in my mind.
My whole body had throbbed with pain, as though insects were devouring my organs. As though it could send me out of this world in a single instant.
Although I had suddenly stopped caring whether I headed for the Sanzu River, I refused to get there in such a painful way.
Knock, knock, knock...
Knock, knock, knock...
A series of clear, light knocks interrupted my thoughts. Only then did I abruptly snap out of my daze and put on a smile again.
I strolled to the door, bowed slightly to Masamichi Yaga, and greeted him softly.
It was all within my expectations. Everything was, right down to the time, which was off by less than a minute.
"You didn't leave your dorm yesterday?"
Masamichi Yaga frowned, but there was no hiding the concern in his eyes.
He was probably wondering how I had eaten without leaving my dorm, too.
"Ah... I got so absorbed in reading that I forgot. But I've memorized everything now."
Still wearing that obedient, false smile, I answered Masamichi Yaga casually, letting just a hint of pride slip into my voice.
"Hmm... good work. Go eat first. The cafeteria said no one came by."
Masamichi Yaga's brow relaxed, and he led me toward the cafeteria.
I had a fair idea of what he was thinking. He had noticed that faint trace of pride, and would naturally conclude that I was still a child, a student.
But that was fine. It was what I wanted him to believe.
I followed Masamichi Yaga very obediently toward the cafeteria. The weather was lovely today; even the light was gentle.
A mild, warm breeze brushed the hem of my clothes, and soft sunlight fell over me without dazzling my eyes. A sincere smile would not appear on Osamu Dazai's face, but at this very moment, mine grew considerably more genuine.
Still, I had not expected to meet my classmates on the way-or rather, my future classmates.
Staying close behind Masamichi Yaga, I glanced over and saw two young men with their arms around each other's shoulders.
They wore matching, though modified, Jujutsu High uniforms. One was gesturing at the other with a bottle of some drink, until they finally noticed Masamichi Yaga and me.
"Teacher Yaga!"
"Teacher Yaga."
The two voices rang out almost simultaneously. Both their gazes fell on me in unison, filled with questions but no malice.
"Sōsuke, Nozomu."
Masamichi Yaga gave a slight nod to the two young men waving to him, then followed their gazes to me and nudged me forward from my place half a step behind him.
"Sōsuke Mizukawa, a third-year and Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer. Nozomu Sakai, a third-year at Jujutsu High and Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer."
Masamichi Yaga calmly introduced the two young men before me, one tall and one slender.
Then, under their puzzled gazes, he introduced me to them.
"Osamu Dazai. His Jujutsu Sorcerer assessment hasn't been completed yet, but his Cursed Technique is unusual. He'll be joining your year."
As Masamichi Yaga introduced me, I smiled and nodded while also sizing up the two of them.
Sōsuke Mizukawa was strongly built and at least 180 centimeters tall. His hand-to-hand combat skills definitely could not be poor. Judging by the marks on his fingers, he probably used a Cursed Tool like a naginata. His Cursed Technique was unknown for now. He was cheerful and easygoing, but was his outfit not a little too individualistic? He looked like he had a case of adolescent delusions.
Nozomu Sakai was slender and had a calm air about him. His hand-to-hand combat skills probably were not much better than mine. He harbored no ill intent, and most of his Cursed Tools were meant to keep him alive. Another very cheerful young man.
While I studied them, they were studying me as well. Of course I could feel it. In fact, I was faintly curious about what they might deduce.
Sōsuke Mizukawa stared at the gun calluses on my fingers for a long time, drawing Nozomu Sakai's attention to them as well.
What surprised me, though, was that neither mentioned it. Instead, they invited me to eat with them at the cafeteria while maintaining a respectful distance.
Masamichi Yaga merely gave us a calm look, hid his emotions behind his sunglasses, and turned to leave.
Apparently, this was part of Teacher Yaga's plan, too.
Wearing a faint, false smile, I listened as Sōsuke Mizukawa dutifully explained the layout I already had engraved in my mind, and stopped thinking about anything else.
Instead, I walked and paused alongside them, letting my usual thoughts fall completely quiet as I softly responded, until we reached the cafeteria entrance.
Only then did I snap back to my senses. At some point, I had let go of even the slightest wariness toward them. How disgraceful.
I sighed, then caught a glimpse of what the cook had made that morning. My eyes lit up, and I hurried happily to the serving counter with my two classmates.
"Beautiful lady, could I have two extra crabs?"
Yes, I had no idea why there were crabs in the morning, but they were crabs! Although I personally preferred canned crab meat, crabs were absolutely fantastic.
Thinking this, I lavished praise on the teacher serving the students' food until her face flushed slightly, and she happily gave me two extra crabs.
"Do you really like crab, Dazai?"
Nozomu Sakai seemed a little surprised by my transformation. A moment ago, I had been their bored classmate listening to their explanations, only for my eyes to light up the instant I entered the kitchen.
"Mm-hmm, I really, really love it. But I wish none of them needed shelling."
Munching on crab roe, I nodded vigorously with sparkling eyes, answering Nozomu Sakai through a mouthful of food.
"Then you could try soft-shell crab. The kind you can eat with the shell on."
Sōsuke Mizukawa offered the suggestion thoughtfully while pulling apart a crab leg.
"Speaking of which, do soft-shell crab shells taste good?"
"Never tried them-"
"Don't mind that idiot Sōsuke. He's always asking these weird questions. Besides, even if you can eat a soft-shell crab whole, it's not really all that satisfying."
"It's not a weird question. If you want one with more meat, just buy king crab."
"Idiot! King crabs aren't crabs."
"Huh? They're not? I didn't know that."
"I think I've heard that before. I don't remember."
"Strictly speaking, they'd count as crustaceans."
"But they're delicious."
"Can't argue with that."
"No, wait, why am I the only one who didn't know?"
"Not everyone's spent their whole life in Jujutsu Society."
We chatted about these inconsequential things and happily finished breakfast.
In truth, once students reached their third year, there were very few specialized classes. Most of their time was spent on self-study, practical lessons, and hand-to-hand combat classes.
Even though I had skipped ahead, I had already memorized so many books that I had no need for theory classes.
As a result, Masamichi Yaga had not adjusted the timetable in advance.
"We have hand-to-hand combat class in a bit. Want to come along, Dazai?"
For some reason, Nozomu Sakai had been exchanging meaningful looks with Sōsuke Mizukawa, as though they shared a private code.
Unless I was mistaken, Nozomu Sakai was trying to draw me away so Sōsuke Mizukawa could do something.
I saw through them with ease, then nodded gently, still wearing the same faint smile.
"Sure, Nozomu."
Hearing me call him by his first name, Nozomu Sakai froze briefly before quickly returning to his earlier manner and leading me toward the field.
"Nozomu, isn't Sōsuke coming with us?"
Feigning confusion, I tilted my head in a cute pose, my eyes full of questions.
"Ah, Sōsuke has something to do back at the dorm. Anyway, let's go ahead."
At my question, Nozomu Sakai scratched his head guiltily, then quickly regained his composure and continued leading the way with a perfectly serious expression.
Sunlight fell across the side of Nozomu Sakai's face. Osamu Dazai was nearly 175 centimeters tall, so I could easily see the top of the young man's head; he was under 170.
Completely unguarded, with not a trace of malice despite his slight guilt, he had simply and naturally turned his back to me.
What could I say? I had never experienced any of those mafia affairs myself, yet I was naturally drawing closer to Osamu Dazai, judging someone through experiences I had never had.
Nozomu Sakai gleamed in the sunlight, as though his whole body had been gilded in gold. Warm, but seemingly not so dazzling.
He kept a perfectly reasonable distance, occasionally turning his head slightly to check whether I was keeping up, his eyes full of warmth.
I watched him quietly, wanting to draw a little closer yet also wanting to move away. I did not know how to describe that feeling, but we both remained silent in unspoken agreement.
One of us quietly led the way while the other followed, until I found Sōsuke Mizukawa ahead, waiting for us. In his hand was a... pistol?
I stared at Sōsuke Mizukawa, a little stunned. For a moment, I could not understand why he had a pistol. By my assessment, he should have been more accustomed to melee weapons.
While I stood there bewildered, Sōsuke Mizukawa pushed the pistol into my hand.
"Sōsuke?"
I blinked in confusion at the two of them, who only smiled without speaking.
"A gift for you. Your hand-to-hand combat is probably about on par with Nozomu's, so melee weapons are pretty much out. Personally, I think a gun suits you better, anyway. No close combat needed."
Sōsuke Mizukawa looked at me with an innocent expression, then glanced at the sky and the ground as he made up that lie.
"Hey, hey, what do you mean, his hand-to-hand combat is on par with mine? You picking a fight?"
"I don't go around bullying people."
"Sōsuke Mizukawa! Dazai, let's shut him out! Let him spend the rest of his life with his weapons."
"...Sure."
I blinked my slightly stinging eyes, then slipped the handgun into my pocket.
Well, I suddenly felt a little less like Osamu Dazai. Just a little kindness-a tiny bit was enough.
I nodded with a faint smile, then turned away with Nozomu Sakai, grinning as though I had every intention of ignoring the flustered Sōsuke Mizukawa beside us.
"Huh? Wait, Dazai. I-I was the one who gave you the handgun, so why are you shutting me out?"
"Shouldn't you be shutting Nozomu out instead? Haven't you got something mixed up?"
"You idiot, Sōsuke...!"
Nozomu Sakai doubled over laughing at Sōsuke Mizukawa's bewildered expression, then darted behind me.
Unsurprisingly, Sōsuke Mizukawa followed right on his heels, and the two of them started chasing each other around me as though I were a pillar.
"Pfft...you two really get along."
"No, we don't."
"No, we don't."
"You're copying me again."
"You're copying me again."
"Pfft, hahahaha...and you still deny it."
Before you continue