Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Humming to himself, Seitarou clutches the parcel in his hands a little tighter.

You can do it, Tanabata! He thinks to himself. You can do it!

He’ll do it! He’ll walk right up to the Supervisor, and—

“YAMATO! WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!”

WAIT FOR HIM TO CALM DOWN BEFORE EXISTING IN THE SAME COUNTRY AS HIM!

Just…Just gonna wait a few hours…

“15! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!!!”

“I got bored.”

“GAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”

It’ll be fine, Seitarou…It’ll be fine!

“KUU! GET DOWN FROM THERE!”

“Mrow?”

“YES, NOW!”

Just…Think…Happy thoughts!

“I WILL STAY AT THIS LEVEL OF AGGRESSION ALL DAY, AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE MY MIND!”

HAPPY THOUGHTS!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

You ever just wake up and wonder…Why? Why am I getting up?

Just to hate your day? Hate the people around you? Have all that building hatred manifest in your stomach, making you hate your day more, hate the people around you even more and repeat the cycle in your stomach, OVER AND OVER AGAIN?

Because Hajime does. Hajime does A LOT.

And you know what? One day, one, glorious, day…he is going to snap. And he will slaughter everyone. No exceptions.

“Mrrow.”

Okay, maybe one exception.

But yeah. Breaking Point. Murder. Sleep.

Gonna happen.

Fortunately for everyone else…

“Um…Excuse me, sir?”

…There is a daily reprieve.

“I brought you some tea,” Seitarou chirps, gently placing a cup down (unlike a certain headband-wearing maniac). Hajime grunts in thanks. “And here’s some fresh water for you, Kuu.” He says as he kneels and places a bowl down.

Why. Is. He. So. Sweet?

“Oh no!”

Even when he drops water on the floor, he’s so goddamn cute!

Eyes tearing up at the bowl laying upside down on the rug, Seitarou starts to whimper, “I’m…I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay,” Hajime dismisses, getting up to get some paper towels.

“No!” Seitarou tries to protest, getting up to get them himself. “I’ll--!”

Annnnnd, their hands are touching.

“Oh!” Seitarou squeaks, blushing. “Um…”

Hajime’s face is impassive.

His mind…

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He’s…touching Seitarou.

His tiny little hand, all wrapped up in a glove Hajime wants to rip off so much right now.

And, Seitarou retracts his hand.

“I’ll…um…Refill the bowl.” And he runs off. “I’m sooooooooooooorry!” He wails as he leaves.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Okay, that was horrible!

Why?! Why does he always find a way to embarrass himself around the Supervisor?!

He’s just so…in charge! And strong! And capable!

Why?! Why would he even want to go out with someone like Seitarou?! Being pretty can’t get him that far!

He might as well— No!

Get it together, Tanabata! You need to steel yourself!

You are gonna walk right back in there, and--

“Hello, lieutenant!”

“Ahhh!” Seitarou shrieks as he jumps in surprise.

Catching his breath shakily, he turns to see the Deputy Supervisor jogging over.

“How are you doing this fine day?” His superior greets, oblivious to the panic he instilled in his subordinate.

“I’m…” Seitarou pants. “I’m okay.”

Giving the smaller a pensive look, the larger pursues, “Are you sure?”

“Huh?”

“I’ve noticed that you’ve been rather anxious these past few days.” The man notes. “Particularly around the Supervisor. Has something happened between you two?”

He noticed?!

“Um…” Seitarou starts, face flashing bright red. “Well…”

The Deputy Supervisor smiles knowingly.

“Ah,” He says, nodding. “I see.”

“I--!” Seitarou starts to panic. “No, I—You see--!”

“Oh, look at that!” The Deputy Supervisor interrupts as he looks at his watch. “Why, it’s already time to escort No. 25 to the infirmary!” Turning his head back to look at Seitarou, he instructs, “You’d better get going!”

“Oh!” Seitarou snaps back to reality. “Ye-Yes! You’re right!” Starting to turn, he stammers out, “I’ll…I’ll be going now.”

“And lieutenant?”

“Yes?” Seitarou turns back around.

Placing a hand on Seitarou’s shoulder, he says gently, “Have more faith in yourself. I believe you will only meet success with your task, and both you and your charge will be satisfied.”

“Oh!” Seitarou pipes up. “Taking No. 25 to the infirmary?”

“Yes, that too.”

Seitarou squeaks.

He Deputy Supervisor chuckles.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

“Are you excited about your lunch with No. 58?” Seitarou asks No. 25 in the infirmary.

“Mm-hmm!” Nico hums. “It’s gonna be great!”

Ah, Seitarou thinks to himself with a gentle smile on his face. Young love…

“Thanks for the meds,” he hears a familiar voice say before turning to see—

“Supervisor?!” Seitarou squeaks out.

“Oh,” the Supervisor sounds. “Hey.”

“Hi.” Seitarou says back, blushing, conveniently forgetting he technically already greeted him.

Vaguely, he hears No. 25 go, “Ooooooo.”

“So…” Seitarou trails off.

“Yeah.” The Supervisor agrees.

He…seems calmer now. So…should…

A tug comes from behind. Turning a bit, he feels No. 25 pull him close to whisper, “Do it!”

Gulping, Seitarou straightens himself out. Clearing his throat and balling his fists, he pushes himself to say, “Supervisor! Are you doing anything tonight?!”

“Huh?” the Supervisor grunts.

“Are you?!”

“…Yeah.”

…Huh?

“I’m working the night shift,” the Supervisor clarifies. “Remember?”

Oh.

“Oh, right.”

So…

“S-Sorry,” Seitarou gets out. “Um…Was there anything you…wanted to do?”

“What else would I wanna do?” The Supervisor questions back.

“Um…” Seitarou mumbles as he tries to steel himself. “Maybe…go out somewhere? With…someone?”

“Absolutely not.”

Seitarou feels something shatter, but he knows nothing in the physical world did.

“I don’t slack off.” The Supervisor supports.

“Seitarou-chan…” He hears No. 25 say softly in sympathy.

“I see…” Seitarou gets out.

So…no.

“Alright,” Seitarou says, “Sorry if I bothered you.”

“…You okay?” The Supervisor asks, confused.

“Yes sir,” Seitarou says, emotionless. “I’m going to go over some things with Dr. Otogi then escort No. 25 and the others back to their cell. See you later.”

And Seitarou walks away, feeling his heart break with every step.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

“Damn,” No.69 says from where he and the others were conversing with the android. “That was brutal, Hajime.”

“Even I feel bad for him,” No.11 agrees.

“What are you idiots talking about?” Hajime sighs, already feeling a headache come on.

“Uh…” No. 69 begins with an eyebrow raised in disbelief. “The fact you just destroyed Seitarou?”

“What?” Hajime responds, confused. “I didn’t do anything to him.”

“You turned him down pretty hard,” No. 11 expands.

“Uno’s never even been shot down like that before,” No. 15 notes, before No. 11 tackles him.

“How could you break Seitarou-chan’s heart?!” No. 25 yells, grabbing Hajime by his collar.

“NICO!” The other occupants of the cell yell as they try to pry him off.

Ignoring the intimidation tactic in favor of getting something cleared up, Hajime asks, “What? All I did was answer his questions! I don’t know why he’s sad!”

The entire lineup of Cell 13 freezes, eyes wide.

“What?!” Hajime says, annoyed.

“…You cannot be this dense,” No. 11 says after a minute. “Can you?”

“You got something to say, inmate?!”

“Hajime…” No. 69 starts.

“What?!” Hajime says in exasperation for their shit.

“…You know he was asking you out…right?”

“…What?”

“Dude,” No. 15 cuts back in. “Even I picked up on that.”

“He wasn’t asking me out!” Hajime denies, tossing the knot of idiots off of him. “He was just asking about my plans tonight, on February 14^th, whether or not I wanted to do anything, with someone else and…”

He trails off as his words finally get processed in his mind.

“…Shit.”

“Looks like he finally got it boys,” No. 11 tells his cellmates. “Just had to get through that thick, hairless skull.”

“Did he not see Seitarou-chan was in total love confession position?” No. 25 wonders aloud.

“And here I thought he wanted all up on that pretty boy ass,” No. 69 shakes his head. “What a shame.”

“Hajime,” No. 15 tries. “Are you…okay?” He asks the Supervisor, who’s frozen.

“…Excuse me,” Hajime says before walking out of the infirmary and to the nearest hole in the wall he can find.

And promptly screams into it.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“Nico,” Upa asks at lunch. “Why is your supervisor faceplanting the table?”

“He accidentally rejected his best boy,” Nico explains as he takes a bite of pudding. “Failed to notice him, a true failure of a sempai.”

“Oh,” Upa sounds, having spent enough time with Nico to understand his weeb lingo. “Okay.”

Even Samon looks sorry for him.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

“I heard what happened,” Hitoshi says from across Hajime’s desk.

“From?” Hajime says from where his face is buried in Kuu’s fur.

“A source.”

Should really figure Hitoshi’s information network soon…

“You could still make it work!” His brother encourages. “Just tell him that you didn’t understand, and you’d love to go out sometime!”

“I’ll pass,” Hajime says.

“Mrrow,” Kuu shakes his head at his owner’s dumpster fire of a personal life.

“You can’t give up!” Hitoshi argues.

“Already have.”

“But it was just a misunderstanding! You just have to clarify!”

“Go back to your building, Hitoshi.”

“But--!”

“Now.” Hajime demands raising his eyes to meet Hitoshi’s with a piercing gaze.

Sad, Hitoshi nods before squeezing his brother’s arm. “I promise,” he says gently. “It’ll work out.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

“I’m such an idiot,” Seitarou sobs into his hands. “Why would I ever think he likes me?!”

“What’s this negative self-talk?!” The Deputy Supervisor says, appearing out of nowhere. “And in front of the library!”

Sniffling, Seitarou lifts his head up and points to a sign. “This is the…b…bathroom.”

“Oh!” The Deputy Supervisor sounds. “That makes sense, considering the lack of books!”

“Yes…” Seitarou moans before he goes back to crying.

“Why so glum, lieutenant Tanabata?” He’s asked, before his superior sinks to sit next to him.

“W…Well…”

…

“I see,” the Deputy Supervisor scratches his chin after the story is relayed to him. “Truly, I don’t believe you were rejected, though.”

“Wh-What else could you call what happened?!” Seitarou whines. “He clearly wasn’t interested!”

Chuckling, the larger man says, “Oh lad, we both know that the Supervisor--”

“HOW DID YOU KNOW IT WAS HIM?!!!!!!!!”

The Deputy Supervisor just gives him a look.

“I’M THAT OBVIOUS?!!!”

“You both are!” His superior chirps. “To everyone except each other!” He gives a small laugh. “But, that’s how these things go sometimes!”

“Huh?!”

Each other?!

But…But the Supervisor--!

“Let me ask you,” the Deputy Supervisor cuts into his thoughts. “In all your time working here, how would you rate the Supervisor’s emotional awareness? Or picking up of personal conversation cues?”

“…Oh.”

Oh.

Ohhhhhh.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Well. You screwed it up Hajime.

Hopefully it won’t affect their working relationship. No, Seitarou’s good at being professional when he isn’t crying.

…

…Somehow that doesn’t make him feel better.

Oh well, at least there’s paperwork.

“Excuse me?”

Looking up he meets—

“Seitarou.”

“Supervisor.”

“…”

“…”

“…Hi.” And, that was the best thing he could come up with.

“Hello,” Seitarou says back, nervously looking to the side, arms behind his back.

“Mrrow,” Kuu shakes his head at their stupidity and walks away from the dumber species.

“So…” Seitarou says.

“I apologize if I…” Hajime cuts him off. “Offended you in any way.”

“No,” Seitarou shakes his pretty little head, ponytail bouncing. “I should have been more direct, I’m sorry.”

“It was…pretty obvious,” Hajime denies. “Now that I think about it. And I…could have…phrased things better.”

“…”

“…”

“So…” Seitarou tries to resume the conversation, “Anything come up on the cameras yet?”

“No,” Hajime informs, extremely grateful to be back to work-talk. “It’s actually been pretty quiet.”

“Maybe Cell 13 is just grateful we let them have their lunch with the inmates from Building 5,” Seitarou muses. “They could just be letting us have a quiet night as a show of gratitude?”

“I’ll buy that the day one of them can spell ‘gratitude.’” Hajime dismisses.

“Well, in any case…” Seitarou says, blushing as he works with whatever’s behind his back, something rustling.

“Hm?”

Pulling his arms forward reveals bags. “Um…” the smaller tries to start. “I…ordered some food, from that really nice restaurant you said you liked, um…” He trails off, face an inferno.

“…Oh.”

“Would…you like to share it with me, while we watch the footage?”

He…He still…

“…Yeah.”

“Really?!” Seitarou squeaks, smiling.

Hajime actually feels his lips move upwards a little.

“Yeah. I’d like that.”

Chapter Text

“Try some pudding, Master!” Nico chirps, holding a spoon out, arm between the bouquet and candles.

“I’m perfectly capable of feeding myself,” Upa turns his head up haughtily.

“But it’s more romantic this way!” Nico whines, spoon still out. “Please?” He bats his green little eyelashes.

Dooming himself by looking over at Nico’s pouty face, Upa sighs in defeat, preparing to indulge Nico’s whims…

“Hey Nico?” Rock pipes up. “If he doesn’t want it, can I have it?”

“You already ate yours,” Jyugo scolds lightly.

“Just take it Upa,” Qi sighs. “No one’ll think any less of you.”

“Why would we look down on Upa for liking pudding?” Liang asks.

“Mother of…” Uno facepalms. “Liang, please, tell me you’re not really that daft.”

Oh right.

They’re here.

“Why did you all need to come here again?” Upa asks, a vein throbbing.

“To chaperone our sweet Nico!” Rock explains, throwing an arm around the aforementioned sweet Nico.

“And we came to chaperone you!” Qi teases, messing with Upa’s hat.

“I don’t need a chaperone!” Upa pulls back to glare at Qi. “That’s what Samon and the Gorilla are for!”

“Uh…” Jyugo cuts in, pointing at the guards. “I don’t think they’re really doing that good of a job.”

Hajime is faceplanted on the table while Samon looks at him in shock.

“What happened to you?” The monkey asks, animosity forgotten.

“He accidentally shot down Seitarou,” Uno informs him.

“Oh,” Samon says. After a pause, he gives Hajime a hesitant pat to the back. “It’ll be okay?”

“That wasn’t very assuring,” Jyugo notes.

“I’m not good at this!” Samon snaps.

“Do you know anyone who is?” Qi shrugs.

An idea comes to Samon. “Give me a minute.” And he quickly texts out a message.

“Should we try to keep this from spreading?” Rock tries to be responsible.

“That would be less funny.” Uno counters.

“He won’t say anything!” Samon claims.

“…Who is ‘he?’” Qi asks, raising an eyebrow as he sips his water.

Everyone else follows suit.

“None of your business!” Samon shrieks, blushing.

“…”

“STOP STARING AT ME!”

“Stop getting distracted!” Nico whines, shoving his spoon in Upa’s face. “Take my pudding!”

“Nico!” Upa scolds.

“Do it,” Rock begins to chant, moving his balled hands up and down, being followed by Uno. “Do it!”

“How old are you two?!” Upa yells.

“Do it!” Jyugo joins in.

“Really?! You!”

“Do it!” Qi pokes Upa’s face.

“I will throw you in the compactor where you belong!”

“Do it.”

“LIANG, WHY ARE YOU CHANTING?!”

“It seemed like fun,” he tells his cellmate. “And it is.”

“Urgh…” Upa grumbles.

“Do it!”

“Mmmm…”

“Do it!”

“Mmmm…!”

“Do i--!”

“OKAY FINE!” Upa explodes before grabbing Nico’s hand and swallowing the spoonful.

“Yay!” Nico cheers as a chorus of hoots and hollers sounds from the table.

Blushing, Upa turns his head before anyone can see. “Morons.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

“So…” Uno starts as he bites into some steak, “Upa…”

“Yes,” Upa sighs. “Caterpillar eyebrows?”

Gasping at the address, Uno scolds, “The audacity! And to your prospective older brother-in-law!”

Upa barely manages to hide how he chokes on his brussel sprout (NOT because he’s thinking about marrying Nico!).

“Just say what you want to say,” Upa sighs. “And quit wasting time.”

“Alright,” Uno snorts. “Then…”

“Hm?”

“On a scale of one to one hundred…how cute do you think Nico is?”

“…Wh—What?” Upa chokes out.

“Well?” Qi rests his cheek on his hand, like the smug trash he is. “Answer the man, Upa.”

“You stay out of it,” Upa hisses.

“Why are you asking this?” Liang pursues. “That scale seems higher than most people use for rating things.”

“Because,” Uno starts sweetly before dissolving into an angry banshee. “That old bird from Building 3 said little Nico was only a 10/100! AND THEN HE HAD THE STONES TO RANK ME AS A TWO!!!!!”

“Do you want him to compliment Nico,” Jyugo butts in, “Or you?”

“NICO, BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE BEING COMPLIMENTED TOO!”

“Why are you so concerned about what someone else thinks of how you look?” Liang asks, confused.

“SHUT UP PRETTY BOY!” Turning his head back to Upa, Uno demands, “Now rate Nico, and you better be sincere! I can tell!”

“And keep it PG!” Rock adds, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

 “…Be honest?” Jyugo shrugs.

“Jyugo!” Rock scolds, smacking the back of Jyugo’s head. “You’re supposed to be intimidating!”

“…Or else?”

Rock sighs and lays his face in his hands.

“Well…” Qi winks. “They’re waiting.”

“Rate me!” Nico cheers. “I need to know where I stand as a best boy!”

“…Nico,” Uopa grunts out.

“Hm?” Nico hums, smiling.

“…Nico is…” Upa tries.

“Yes?” Uno pushes.

“…definitely the cutest out of all of you.”

Nico gasps in joy.

Uno rounds on him.

“THAT IS NOT WHAT I ASKED!” He explodes. “YOU CREEPY JIANGSHI!”

“I was honest,” Upa smirks.

“1 to 100!”

“That doesn’t matter Uno-kun!” Nico chirps. “I really am the cutest!”

“We already knew that!”

“Just let it go Uno,” Rock sighs. “Just shit-talk that Supervisor with Hajime and that monkey guy and you’ll feel better.”

“You wanna complain about Kiji?” Samon perks up then adds, “And I’m not a monkey!”

“Yet you knew I was referring to you,” Rock says before taking a self-satisfactory sip of his water.

Samon debates the merits of turning a meathead into a charcuterie board.

“He annoys you guys too?” Uno pipes up.

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Hajime looks up from his brooding briefly before putting his head back down.

“Oh!” Uno sounds in gossip. “Well then…” And goes off on a tangent, Samon nodding along.

While Nico continuously giggles, “Master thinks I’m cute, Master thinks I’m cute!”

Upa looks down.

They said be honest.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

“So Upa,” Rock begins, fingers tented together as he gives a piercing stare. “What exactly are your plans for the future?”

“Rock-kun!” Nico complains. “If you’re gonna do the G*ndo pose, you need glasses!” Then runs around the table to pluck Qi’s from his face.

“I need those!” Qi complains.

Everyone ignores him.

Except Jyugo.

“Give them back Nico,” he implores.

“It’s for a thing!” Nico defends before plopping them on Rock’s face. “Ooooooh!” He says in awe. “Now you look like a horrible father!”

Jyugo shrugs. “I tried.”

Qi sighs.

“As I was saying,” Rock grunts back in. “Where do you see yourself, say, five years in the future?”

Upa sighs. “Are we really doing this?”

“Yes,” Uno confirms, passing out the mugs of tea he apparently made at some point. Sitting down and putting a hand on Rock’s arm, he gives him an imploring look. “Please go on.”

Sucking in a deep breath and begging the universe for strength, Upa exhales. “I don’t know, not in prison anymore?”

“A prison sentence?!” Rock yells, aghast. “I won’t let my little Nico go out with a jailbird!”

Gasping, Uno falls to the floor when no one makes a move to catch him. “I will remember that!” He declares from the ground.

“Rock-kun!” Nico tears up. “NOOOOOOO!”

“W—You’re in prison!” Upa argues. “He’s in prison!” He points at Nico. “We’re all in prison!”

“That’s no excuse!” Rock protests. “And—AAAGGHH! My eyes!” He moans in pain as he takes Qi’s glasses off and rubs circles into his looking organs.

Seeing the opportunity, Liang snatches Qi’s glasses back and hands them back to their owner.

“Thank you,” Qi sighs, rubbing them clean with a cloth. “The nerve of some people,” he grumbles.

“I don’t care if Master’s in prison!” Nico puffs his cheeks out. “I love him!”

…

…WHAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT???!!!!!!!!!!

Th—That—Nico!

Kind of…early—Or…do they…

“Upa?” Liang says hesitantly beneath Rock and Nico’s arguing, waving a hand in front of his face. “Samon?” He calls out. “I believe Upa is broken.”

“Huh?” Samon grunts as he walks over and checks the tiny inmate. “Oh wow. That did him in.” Shaking his head, he notes, “Love is a powerful thing.”

“Are you speaking from experience?” Liang questions innocently.

“Sh--Shut up!” Samon blushes.

 Liang tilts his head like a curious cat.

“DON’T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!”

“Hmph!” Nico folds his arms and whips his head away. “Well I’m gonna go out with Master no matter what you say! I’m a modern femboy who can make his own decisions!”

“Fine,” Rock grunts. “The bit isn’t fun without a shotgun, anyway.” A hopeful smile emerging on his face, he turns to his supervisor. “Hey Hajime!”

“No.” Hajime lifts his head up briefly before going back to wallowing in despair.

“Man…”

“Hey,” Uno says as he gets up from his spot on the floor where he was plotting revenge. “Where’s Jyugo? And Qi?”

“They said they were ‘lighting a joint’ in the bathroom,” Liang answers. “Whatever that means.”

“THAT’S WHY THEY BOTH WENT TO THE BATHROOM?!” Samon shrieks. “AND WHERE DO THEY KEEP GETTING WEED FROM?!”

“Well why didn’t you stop them?!” Hajime roars, lifting his head up.

“WHY DIDN’T YOU STOP THEM?!”

“WILL ONE OF YOU GO GET THEM?!” Uno demands.

No need, as Shiro approaches the table holding the two by the scruff like kittens.

“Heeeeeeeey,” Jyugo greets.

“You know,” Qi drawls. “You really shouldn’t do this stuff until you’re at least twenty-five.”

“No man,” Jyugo shakes his head. “Nico’s 25, I’m 15.”

“Oh yeah…”

Uno marches over to them, Rock in tow.

Pointing an accusing finger at Qi, he scolds, “How dare you give Jyugo drugs!” Turning to Jyugo, he continues, “And how dare you do drugs!”

“Without me!” Rock interjects, nodding his head.

“Rock!” Uno rounds back on him.

“He said things have been rough lately,” Qi shrugs.

“Jyugo-kun!” Nico whines as he runs over. “You did drugs again?!”

“Nico no!” Uno tries to warn. “Don’t come closer!”

But his warning falls on deaf ears as Nico reaches them.

And the combination of Nico and marijuana causes them to go up in a pink explosion, launching them all through the ceiling.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“…Is that what it means to ‘get high?’” Liang asks a still unresponsive Upa.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

“Bye Master!” Nico waves from the gurney. “I’m glad we could have Valentine’s Day lunch together!”

“…”

“C’mon,” Qi encourages as he nudges Upa with his foot (as his arm is in a cast). “Say something.”

Upa does not.

Instead, he walks over to Nico’s gurney.

“Master?” Nico pipes up when Upa reaches him. “What--”

And goes red when Upa kisses his cheek.

He’s speechless, even after a minute when Upa starts to walk away.

Eventually, Nico gets his words back. “Oh, Master!” He squees as he begins the journey to the infirmary. “That was so cool, Happy Valentine’s Day!” He calls as he is led through the doors.

“Smooth,” Qi teases.

“…” Upa’s still unresponsive.

“Samon,” Liang starts as they begin walking to the transport. “Is Upa going to be alright?”

Putting a hand on his shoulder, Samon bluntly tells him, “Probably not.”

Chapter Text

“Thank you for the invitation,” Kenshirou blows on his mug, “Warden Hyakushiki.”

“Thank you for keeping me company,” his superior thanks back. “I figured I owed you for introducing me to that tea shop in the first place.”

“Think nothing of it, it was my pleasure.”

She chuckles a bit. “Very well.”

A nice blend of jasmine shared between them, they’re both content.

“I must say,” the Warden begins. “Out of all the personnel here, I can always count on you to put my mind at ease, Yozakura.”

“Thank you,” Kenshirou says, trying not to explode. “It is an honor to hear such from you.”

“I’m only stating facts,” she tries to downplay. “With so many loud and bright personalities amongst the staff, it is nice to have someone so focused and calm such as yourself.”

He mentally implores the Warden to stop complimenting him before he goes into cardiac arrest.

“And are things going well in Building 4?” She asks as her lovely lips take a sip perfectly, no liquid trickling down, fingers strong and elegant.

"All is progressing well.” He reports, heart calming. “Even young Sugoroku is showing vast leaps in improvement.”

“Hm,” she hums. “Perhaps he shares more traits with his brother than we thought.”

Kenshirou feels something break at the mention of Hajime.

“Of course,” she regains his attention, “He could just be taking after his superiors.”

Smiling a bit, he muses. “He shows promise. I’m curious how things will go for him.”

“I trust he’s in good hands,” she takes another sip. “You never fail to meet my expectations.”

Warden…Hyakushiki…his heart…can’t take…much more.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“Also,” he asks before he leaves. “Have you seen Mitsuru, Warden? Usually I see him at least six times a day.”

“Oh,” she responds. “I locked him in his office to prevent any Valentine’s Day shenanigans. We don’t need another lawsuit from the Catholic Church.”

If he did not know her, he would question her. Perhaps knowing her, he might.

But…he also knows Mitsuru.

“I see. A wonderful call of judgement, Warden Hyakushiki.”

“Thank you.”

(And Mitsuru watches the drama unfolding throughout the prison on his screens with joy. Because things are perfectly capable of getting ridiculous without him.)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

As he leaves she watches him, perhaps a second longer than she needs to.

But for some reason, she can’t help it.

Despite his simple demeanor, his loyalty and dedication is unquestionable.

Why does that make her heart flutter?

Whatever the case, he puts her at ease, and that’s enough.

She smiles to herself, just a little.

He truly is…diligent.

…

Oh no.