Chapter Text
(Y/n) stared at the screen in front of her with dismay. She’s been staring at the blank document for an hour now trying to find a way to start her report. Tsugaru and Momose left her behind once again to be stuck on the rookie job. (Y/n) let out a sigh.
“Why is this so hard?” she asked herself aloud. It’s not that the case is hard, it’s the fact that her brain can’t come up with anything because all she’s been thinking about is Tsugaru and his stupid smile.
When they were walking home together, (Y/n) said something stupid that made Tsugaru laugh and the smile he gave her when he looked at her has been embedded in her head ever since.
“Ugh, that was a week ago! Get a grip already!” she groaned, hitting her head with a notebook. She heaved out another sigh, looking at the empty desk in front of her. If Tsugaru was here, she definitely wouldn’t be able to concentrate at all. Not that she’s doing any better now, but she remembered the incident with her first report that she worked so hard for only to be dumped in the trash by Tsugaru.
(Y/n) cracked her knuckles, beaming with newfound motivation. She gritted her teeth in irritation.
“I’m going to show him just how stupidly good I am at this,” she said to herself, typing away on her computer.
A few hours passed and Tsugaru and Momose finally returned to the office. (Y/n) heard them but she was too deep into the report to let them ruin her streak. Tsugaru crouched down behind (Y/n) and placed his chin on her shoulder, reading over her report. (Y/n) did her best to ignore her heart’s fast beating, and she didn’t stop to acknowledge Tsukaru.
“Hey, Little Hare, I’m back,” Tsugaru whispered, moving his head to the side to stare at (Y/n). (Y/n) stiffened when she felt Tsugaru’s nose tickling her ear. She could feel his stare on the side of her face but she pushed through, not breaking her motivation.
Tsugaru is, after all, her motivation. She’s working extra hard on this report to make him proud. To make him realize that she’s more than just a rookie. She worked just as hard for the past reports she wrote, but Tsugaru never complimented her. All the all-nighters she pulled and not a single praise from her boss. After she realized her feelings for Tsugaru, (Y/n) worked harder to make him see that he could trust her. She wanted him to see her, praise her, shower her with compliments, encourage her, and maybe, just maybe, start liking her too. While the last one is completely absurd and impossible, (Y/n) didn’t stop hoping and dreaming.
“(Y/n),” Tsugaru smiled when he noticed (Y/n) finally stopped moving her fingers. He spun her chair around to make her face him.
“I’m done with the report!” (Y/n) roared and Tsugaru winced.
“Shut it!” Momose snapped from across the room and (Y/n) turned red in embarrassment. Tsugaru smiled to himself.
“Are you done ignoring me now?” he asked, sulking that his Little Hare was ignoring him. (Y/n) stood up and walked toward the printer to grab the report. She walked back to him and handed him the report.
“Please, read it,” she said with determination in her eyes. Tsugaru’s eyes softened at the sight of her being all cute and serious.
“I will,” he said, grabbing the report from her hand. When (Y/n) didn’t move, he looked at her again to see her staring at him expectantly. He chuckled, shaking his head. Tsugaru took a few steps back to sit on the edge of Momose’s desk. (Y/n) watched him, trying her hardest not to drool at the sight of him. He looks so beautiful, she thought, letting out a dreamy sigh. Tsugaru didn’t say anything if he heard her and she was thankful for that.
After a few more minutes, Tsugaru stood up again and stared at (Y/n). She tried searching his face for any indications of what he thought of her report but found none. She cleared her throat, her eyes dancing between Tsugaru and her report.
Was it bad? Did she bomb it? Did he think it was trash?
The thoughts running through her head were cut off when Tsugaru placed the report on her head. She looked up to find him looking at her tenderly.
“You worked hard, huh,” he said, smiling at her. (Y/n)’s cheeks turned red as she nodded her head vigorously.
Critical hit, Tsugaru thought to himself, wanting nothing more than to pinch (Y/n)’s red cheeks.
“I’m so proud of you, Little Hare. Keep it up,” Tsugaru said softly, tapping her head a few times with the report. (Y/n)’s eyes widened in happiness and a big grin made its way to her face. She didn’t imagine or hallucinate that, did she? Tsugaru really did say all that, right?
“Thank you, Captain!” she said excitedly, bowing her head slightly. Momose was about to yell at her again when he noticed the gentle look on Tsugaru’s face. He pretended not to see anything.
(Y/n) looked at Tsugaru again and they stared at each other for a few seconds before grinning at one another.