Chapter Text
Phoenix let out a weary sigh as he shut the case file on his desk, exhaustion weighing him down due to the recent workload. Just as he was about to stand up and take a break, the doorknob turned, and the door to his office swung open, revealing a familiar face.
"Nick!" The Kurain master dashed over to embrace her best friend, her youthful exuberance as apparent as ever.
"Maya, what brings you here?" Phoenix inquired, genuinely surprised by her visit.
"I'm here to support you, Nick! I know you've been feeling lonely lately," Maya said, breaking the hug and moving towards the window.
"What are you talking about? I've always got plenty of work to keep me busy," Phoenix sighed, sinking back into his chair.
"I'm not talking about work, Nick. I mean..." Maya hesitated, fumbling for the right words.
"Just say it," Phoenix urged, though his annoyance was mostly a result of fatigue.
"Got it! I know you've tried dating in the past, even if it didn't go well..." Maya brought up painful memories, such as his ill-fated relationship with Dahlia, from the depths of Phoenix's mind.
"I thought maybe you should take a break from work and consider other aspects of your life," Maya said as she took out her phone, attracting Phoenix's attention.
She showed him her phone screen. "A dating app. Seriously?" Phoenix's patience was running thin. He appreciated Maya's concern, but his personal life was just that – personal.
"I've been using it for fun. You simply enter your initial, age range, and interests, then see where it leads. You can even make friends. Look at this example," Maya said, typing on her phone and showing Phoenix.
"It says 'K, female, 25-30, 'bringing justice to the world'..." she smirked.
"That's..." Phoenix began.
"Oh, and 'eating good food'!" Maya added.
Phoenix chuckled. "I can see why you two might hit it off, even if you have an insatiable appetite."
"Hey, don't underestimate my taste buds! I only go for top-quality food, and all hamburgers fall into that category!" Maya retorted with a grin. Then, she grew serious.
"Listen, once I have some free time, I'll give it a shot, okay? Just be cautious. You never know who you might encounter, so don't accept sketchy connections," Phoenix cautioned. Maya closed her eyes, shook her head, and gestured for him to stop.
"You're starting to sound like an old man, Phoenix. I've been through a lot and know how to protect myself now. I'm not the little girl you used to know. Trust me. If you ever need anything, you know I'm just a call away," she reassured him, leaving a note with the app's name on his desk.
"Anonmeet?" Phoenix looked perplexed at the hastily written note, which seemed like Maya had jotted it down on the train. After bidding each other goodbye, Maya departed.
"Well, maybe it won't hurt to give it a try," Phoenix mused as he slipped the scrap of paper into his pocket.