"You were sound so dark Itsuho-chan" Dazai leaned in more as Kunikida drag him back by collar.
"Any way we are not philanthropists brat. we already left behind the schedule too much and no time to waste"
Kunikida took a sigh of relief as his stress somewhat pent up after choking brown haired man for a while.
Soon Dazai look up and gasped. Kunikida look at him, with a bit of concern.
"What?"
"That intel is right.... one person's efforts isn't enough for this kind of work" That offhand remark earned another annoyed look from Kunikida.
"It is not like our line of work is peaceful enough!" That statement raised an eyebrow of Itsuho as she turn her head to them thoughtfully.
'Why? Did you get an epiphany or something? Dazai" she lazily asked thinking he was talking orphanage situation while earning a lazy smirk from him.
"Nope I wasn't mean work Itsuho-chan. I mean when it comes to hanging yourself by the neck. For that one person's efforts isn't enough"
"Huh? Isn't that basically a suicide?" Itsuho taken aback as Kunikida deadpanned.
"Well since there is two people there that almost consider as a murder"
"What are you talking about Itsuho-chan, Kunikida-kun?" Dazai shook head with a mock disappointment.
"I was talking about hanging health method"
"Hanging health method?!" Kunikida narrowed his eyes, thinking he sprouting nonsense.
"Yep, hanging health method. That really good for shoulder cramps" Dazai raised a finger as he said something important.
"Is that really true?!" Kunikida's eyes widened as he opened the note book to take notes as Itsuho witness this in amusement.
"Fimly....ties...neck...tie" Kunikida started to write seriously as Itsuho chuckled.
"There is no such thing he is messing with you" Hearing that Kunikida's imaginary pen broke as he pounced on Dazai and started to choke him as Dazai blissfully took it upon himself.
"S....so then..." Atsushi look at the three of them. Then Kunikida snapped as the boy flinched.
"What is it?" After strangling Dazai to heart content Kunikida took a breath as he look down calmly.
Dazai finally sat down properly while Itsuho 'look' at him as her faint smile that gave him no idea what is she thinking no matter how hard he try to read while Kunikida also turn to Atsushi, making him nervous about what to say.
"What is your work today detectives?"
"We are looking for a tiger" Kunikida sighed as he pushed his glasses up.
Following that Itsuho raised an eyebrow as she felt very intense emotional reaction from Atsushi but she stayed like the way she is.
As Dazai noticed Atsushi's pupils constricted, a glint appeared in his eyes as he started to describe their job.
"It appeared in a nearby town. Apparently it's a 'man eating tiger' It was first seen at a field in suuko eating corps."
Hearing that Atsushi's face filled with fear as he fell down from stool.
"Please excuse me!"
Then he started to crawl like he doesn't have any strength left in legs to stand up.
"Wait!" Kunikida instantly stood up from the seat and grab Atsushi by collar. Itsuho turn her head to them as she sensed the commotion took with the people around her.
Itsuho's index finger that tap on table paused as she felt a sharp gaze on her as she knew it is Dazai.
"Bustard, do you know the 'man eating tiger'?"
Atsushi's face contorted with fear as his whole body trembled. "It impossible! There is no way a person could rival him! And it is after me and...and I'll be killed!"
Hearing that Kunikida released him from air as his body moved sideways and hand moved to catch the boy's wrist. But the before he moved his wrist firmly held by a strong grip.
"You!" Kunikida's and Dazai's pupils dialted at the unexpected situation that happened now as Kunikida try to free his wrist as Itsuho gave the crowd who looking at them to a polite yet meaningful smile that enough to make them to mind their own businesses.
"My my how rude Kunikida." Itsuho looked at him like a mother gently reprimand a child. "That's not how you question someone for information"
Then she let him go and help the boy to stand. "So Atsushi-kun it seems you are in a quite a cat crisis. So why not tell this two gentlemen about it more? May be they might be able to help."
She patted the white hair of the boy, giving him a slight encouragement.
"True" Kunikida begrudgingly admit. "Didn't I tell you that when it comes to fighting, Armed Detectives are experts"
"Well I have to admit that Itsuho-chan is quite right here" Dazai also stood up and walked to the boy. "Doesn't the president always tell you off for your method of gathering information and questioning?"
Itsuho turn to the boy with a encouraging smile for making him at ease as he started to speak.
"My orphanage was..... destroyed by that tiger." He took a deep breath to surpress whatever thought he felt under Itsuho's hand.
"The field was devastated, the warehouse was blown away and there were many who died. But the poor orphanage couldn't maintain itself."
A bitter smile appeared on his lips. "To reduce the numbers of mouth to feed, I was drown out" Atsushis mood fell as he reliving on his past memories as her hand that patting his hand paused for a second but then keep patting to console him.
"Only you Atsushi-kun?"
The boy nodded as he about to cry. "How interesting" Itsuho muttered under breath. "So it is chasing you to here from your orphanage Atsushi-kun?"