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Yosano watches over the new hire, Kyouka, with a careful eye. How Atsushi, a certified newbie himself, managed to snag a mentee is beyond her. And not just any little one, but another refugee from the Port Mafia of all places.
The mere thought of that hellhole and that bastard nearly sends Yosano down a bitter spiral, so she shoves those thoughts into a cage and locks it up tight. Something for future Yosano to deal with.
She instead returns to Kyouka and her observations thus far. Other than her cuteness (which is very handy for dolling her up), Kyouka’s most notable talents are her skills as a former assassin and her ability to simply blend into the background.
Her routine consists of following around Atsushi like a puppy, speaking only the most necessary of words, and observing him as well as everyone else in the Agency. The way she becomes almost…invisible, despite her distinctive appearance. As if she melds into her very environment. This is absolutely a learned trait, one that Yosano imagines serving her well as an assassin.
There’s only one other person who is capable of the same feat, Fukuzawa himself. And even he has a certain commanding presence, one that forces everyone to take notice once he decides to make himself known. But even when Kyouka moves to the forefront, her silent and calm demeanor still masks her presence.
Looks like Yosano ought to take a more active approach. Facing anything head-on, whether a threat or a new coworker, is exactly how she prefers it. She grins as she continues to polish her surgical equipment.
“Kyouka-chan?”
The girl in question faces Yosano as she clutches the file Naomi just handed to her. “Sensei?” Her shoulders are stiff, face still as stone. It’s clear as day that she still doesn’t know how to behave around her.
Yosano makes sure to give her a sweet smile. She’ll definitely have to fix that. “I’m going to pick up some supplies. Want to come with?”
It takes a moment, and Yosano waits patiently for her answer. Then she nods, drops off the file on Atsushi’s desk, and approaches her at the door. All while her entire body, from her footsteps to the flip phone hanging from her neck, remains whisper quiet.
Getting basic medical supplies takes little time, as it’s just a simple touch-up while Yosano waits for the bulk orders she’s already put in. The real treat is the fun shopping they get to do after on company time and with the company card. After all, she’s the only member on 24-hour call, which means she gets perks no one else does.
“How would you like to get a quick bite before we start on clothes shopping?”
Kyouka looks at her with those large, doe eyes. Her shoulders are still stiff but at least there’s a little more light in her gaze now. “Yes, please.”
Thanks to Ranpo’s suggestion, they find a lovely little cafe about five minutes from the Red Brick Warehouse and order some sweets. Yosano sips her café au lait, chasing away the last remnants of chocolate cake clinging to her teeth.
Kyouka is digging into her strawberry ice cream parfait. The expression on her face when the confectionery monstrosity was placed on the table (complete with extra chocolate pocky and whipped cream) was one of pure childlike wonder.
In that moment, Yosano is reminded that, although she may be a former member of the Port Mafia, she’s still a young girl experiencing many of the teenage milestones that she’s missed out on.
She recalls another young girl who lost much of her own childhood due to horrific events and had to play catch-up as she adjusted to a somewhat normal life.
“How have you been adjusting to the Agency so far?”
Kyouka swallows her bite and taps a finger to her chin. “So far it’s been good. Everyone is very welcoming.”
“Even Kunikida?”
She smiles at that, eyes a bit cloudy. “I never blamed him for mistrusting me. I wanted Atsushi-san to turn me in as well.” She sighs, as if she’s already used up her allotted words for the day. “But he’s been kind to me now, in his own way.”
“Glad to hear it. We’re admittedly a bit tribal at the Detective Agency. But once you fit in, we’re with you for life.” Yosano lowers her cup and crosses her arms. “Though if he or anyone else steps out of line, you make sure to tell me. Okay?”
That finally pulls a giggle from Kyouka, and she agrees. Yosano counts it as a grand victory for her first mission. The next step is to make it happen way more often.
“Now, once you’ve finished, we’ll head off to get you some cute outfits.” She’ll also need plenty of good-quality toiletries, but that can wait until the last minute.
There’s another reason why Ranpo told her about this particular cafe, and it has to do with the man walking towards them, face in his Ideals and completely unaware of their presence.
“Well speak of the devil, Kyouka-chan. Kunikida, over here!”
He glances up and the moment they make eye contact he pales, knowing he’s cornered.
“Perfect. Now we have our designated bag carrier.” Yosano grins like a shark in bloody water.