"Yes! That man-eating tiger should have just stayed there, but it even chased me this far," the boy clenched his fist in frustration.
"Since I left the orphanage, I was wandering around the Tsurumi River", He sighed. "Where could I run while I was getting dizzy from hunger?" Atsushi laughed self-deprecatingly.
Like she was nothing but a spectator there, Itsuho sat back on her stool as she observed; it was unknown what was going on in her mind as Kunikida squinted his eyes at her.
"When did that happen, Atsushi-kun?" Dazai held his chin as he focused on the white-haired boy.
"It is two weeks since I left the establishment and four days....." He paused. "Since I saw it by the river"
"We are focusing on the damage caused by the tiger these last weeks. And there are testimonies about the tiger seen by the Tsurumi River four days ago," Kunikida remarked.
"Atsushi-kun, are you free right now?" Dazai suddenly pointed at the boy, startling him. "If you are getting targeted by the 'man-eating tiger', then it is convenient"
"That sounds like pure extortion to me" Itsuho took a sip from a cup of water after hearing that the water was free from the waitress.
"My, my, Itsuho-chan, you wound me" Dazai clutched his heart with a mock-hurt expression. If she had eyes now it would be involuntarily rolled in exasperation. "I was trying to help Atsushi-kun while we were finishing our job. Isn't it win-win?"
She ignored him as she emptied the cup. Seeing the boy backing down, he grinned at him. "You know, Atsushi-kun, if you're willing to be our bait, there is a reward for you"
"Reward!!" Soon the boy's face brightened, though a bit skeptical. "Err.....how much?"
Dazai wrote something on the paper. From the way he was writing it, Itsuho was sure that was a six-digit number as he showed it to the boy.
Atsushi's eyes widened as sweat appeared on his face, already tacitly agreeing.
"I think you chose the wrong profession, Dazai", Itsuho sighed as she put down the empty cup. Dazai's grin widened as he wrote something on a piece of paper again.
"Kunikida-kun, return to the company and give this note to the President" He handed the piece of paper to the blonde man.
"Hey, are you really planning to catch it with three of you? Shouldn't we gather more information?"
"Hmm, three of you?" Itsuho raised an eyebrow. "Did I tell you that I help you?" She smirked slyly.
"Itsuho-chan, don't you feel Atsushi-kun is too pitiful?" Dazai's eyes widened as he smiled at her retort.
"I do, so what?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Don't tell me you are scared, Itsuho-chan? After all, it is a huge man-eater that can catch you instantly by the neck. Even if you are a shinobi, that won't be easy to defend," Dazai smirked slyly.
"Don't play that card on me", Itsuho chuckled as she understood what he was playing at. "Why would I help you without getting anything in return?"
"You! Don't forget you are under our supervision", Kunikida glared at her.
"I don't. But I only agree to be under your watchful eyes, not to be your free helper," she said nonchalantly, ignoring his irritation.
Kunikida took a deep breath to calm down. "So what do you want, Itsuho?"
"Let me meet your president today", Itsuho said slowly, every word enough to make Kunikida pause and look at her with a guarded expression.
Seeing the sly smile on her face, Dazai raised an eyebrow. "So you figured out and saw through...Itsuho-chan"
"You mean your president is the samurai this one mentioned?" She pointed at Kunikida, whose pupils dilated.
"How?"
"Well, that was quite easy. You two almost acted like familiar with each other, but in some sense, it was only professional, and you both seem to know him. That mean he most likely a colleague of yours or a superior....." She tapped the table.
"And then....." she smirked. "Won't tell ya.."
"Haa!!" #
"Pfftt"
Kunikida glared at her while Dazai burst into laughter as Atsushi looked at her like she was a witch who played with people the way she smiled.
"Anyway, are you in?" Kunikida glared at her for taking advantage of their situation as Dazai looked at her with amusement.
"Are you sure you can catch without seeing anything?"
"I do", she said, nothing else more.
"Alright", Kunikida sighed. "I'll inform the president" Then he looked at her deeply before walking to the exit.
"You are really something else, Itsuho-chan", Dazai smirked.
"Maybe" She shrugged. "Like you guys, I also have my own priorities."