Chapter Text
The city outside Ena’s window never truly rested. Rain licked the glass like cold fingers, and the lights of distant skyscrapers blinked like the tired eyes of a sleepless god. Somewhere, a siren wailed, low and haunting. A perfect lullaby for people like her.
Ena Shinonome sat hunched at her desk, one hand buried in her dark hair and the other navigating the mess of case files, printed reports, and a laptop blinking with unanswered emails. The glow of the screen painted her tired face in harsh blue light, but she didn’t flinch. She just stared harder.
Four victims. All drained of blood. No signs of forced entry. Puncture wounds too neat to be made by a blade. She leaned back in her chair, eyes dry and aching.
“Ugh... this doesn’t make sense...”
Click. The soft sound of the door opening.
“You’re still here,” came a familiar voice, melodic and a little too amused.
Ena didn’t even glance up. “No, I’m just a ghost haunting the precinct. What do you want, Mizuki?”
The other person stepped into the room with a soft swish of expensive fabric. Mizuki Akiyama never moved like a normal person—always too fluid, too quiet. They leaned over the desk slightly, their breath cool against Ena’s cheek.
“I brought you something,” Mizuki said sweetly. “Tea. Real tea, not that battery acid from the vending machine.”
Ena blinked as a delicate mug appeared in front of her. It smelled like honey and herbs and comfort. Suspiciously domestic. Mizuki smiled at her, almost too kind.
“You’re going to get sick if you keep this up,” Mizuki added. “No offense, but you already look like hell.”
“Gee, thanks,” Ena muttered. But she took the tea anyway. “Did you finish those witness reports?”
“Of course. And sorted the files on the Ito case. You really need to hire five more of me.”
Ena huffed a breath that could’ve been a laugh... Could’ve.
For a moment, the silence stretched between them like a thin, fragile thread. Outside, thunder growled. Mizuki tilted their head and watched her quietly.
“You know, you can rest, too,” Mizuki said. “Just for a little while. No one’s asking you to bleed for this case.”
Ena finally looked up.
Mizuki’s expression was soft, unreadable. The glow of the laptop caught in their eyes—too bright, too pink—but maybe that was just the screen. Just the screen.
“…You always say weird stuff like that,” Ena mumbled. “But thanks.”
She stood, slowly, her body creaking in protest. Mizuki moved around the desk before she could wobble, slipping under her arm with casual ease.
“Whoa there. You’re not passing out on me, detective.”
“I’m not that tired.”
“You are always that tired.”
Ena let herself lean against Mizuki, just for a second. Their warmth was strange—cooler than expected, but steady. Her head dipped to Mizuki’s shoulder without thinking. Just for a second. Just until the dizziness stopped.
“You really never leave, huh?” she said quietly. “Even when I’m awful to you.”
Mizuki smiled again. Their voice dropped to a murmur.
“Where else would I go?”
They helped her sit on the worn couch in the corner of the office. Ena’s head lolled back, her eyes fluttering shut for the first time in what felt like days. Mizuki stood over her, watching. Something unreadable flickered across their face.
“I’m lucky to have you,” Ena whispered, not quite asleep. “Don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Mizuki reached forward. Brushed a strand of hair from Ena’s forehead. Their nails were a little too sharp.
“You won’t ever have to find out,” they said softly.
The thunder rolled again. But inside, it was quiet.