Work Text:
“Only Sane Ones in the Room”
Lights gleamed all over Lumina Square as the twilight approached. The occasional sounds of cars driving past a smooth traffic system guarded by Public Security’s Bangboos and officers, ensuring safety for all citizens this evening. Lively chattering came from the city’s inhabitants where even the dimmest alleyways were kept alive underneath the light and conversations. It was no surprise that Lumina Square is renowned for its safety across New Eridu, mostly.
On the sidewalk were slow and tired steps from the heels of a tired deputy chief, Tsukishiro Yanagi. Her pink hair and uniform was still neat but her eyes were far from neat with eyebags and droopy from exhaustion. Who would’ve thought that five days of being absent from work due to her newfound love for the Starlight Knights would come back to haunt her as upon returning to work, what awaited her was mountains of paperwork and a recent commission to patrol Hollow Zero again with her companions, Hoshimi Miyabi, Asaba Harumasa, and Soukaku.
To say she was tired from everything would be an understatement. No less than the fact she did 95% of the paperwork they were assigned, especially the ones she missed from the five days of being on leave.
Fortunately for her, Waterfall Soup was open. Her stomach grumbled at the scent of fresh ramen being cooked. She sighed before taking a break from walking back home to eat ramen. Even if Soukaku had left work early and was waiting for her back at the condo, she was being accompanied by Billy and knowing them, they’d be watching Starlight Knights anyway while waiting for her.
As she sat down, she ordered Green Pepper Meat Noodles. It was unusual to peers but it was her favorite. She slouched over and held her chin on the counter as she waited for her ramen, she removed her glasses and yawned, she just wanted to get home already.
“The usual please, Chop Junior.” a familiar voice echoed from her side. On the ground were paper bags from 141, filled with groceries and food. Yanagi’s gaze turned to the man who sat next to her, scanning his black pants before noticing his blue jacket. Her gaze rose as she stared at his hair, she noticed it was the same old silver hair that she easily recognized.
Wise.
“Manager? What brings you to Lumina Square this hour?” Yanagi greeted Wise almost tiredly, far too tiredly than she intended and far more comfortable than her usual formalities.
Wise turned to the familiar voice to his left and saw Yanagi in her white blouse and black pencil skirt. However, she wasn’t wearing her glasses and was noticeably far more tired with some wrinkles, eyebags, and the droopy expression. Even if she had a proper sleep schedule, she was too tired for it to even matter, “Eh? Miss… uh… Tsukishiro? Is that you?” Wise’s voice was soft and concerned, he could barely recognize it was Yanagi; he wouldn't have noticed it was even Yanagi and could’ve mistaken her for anyone if she didn’t call him.
Yanagi was surprised to hear Wise’s hesitance to call her by her name, “Sorry… Am I that unrecognizable like this?” she gave a soft chuckle before straightening herself which made her more recognizable, “How’s this?”
“Ah, so it is you, Miss Tsukishiro.” Wise scratched the back of his head, “I was getting chips, groceries, and batteries for Eous and Belle. I’m surprised to run into you at this hour, I thought you’d still be at the Throne Quarter?” he relaxed slightly upon being sure it was Yanagi.
“Oh, well… Section 06 was lucky to have an early leave after a mission in Hollow Zero and all.” The deputy chief said before leaning tiredly onto the counter, “It's so hectic over at Section 06 these past few days.” Yanagi said softly, almost regretting her addiction to Starlight Knights.
Wise gave a sympathetic smile, “I can see that. Did you enjoy Starlight Knights too much?” he made a quip at her expense to lighten the mood.
“Very funny, Manager.” The deputy chief sighed, even if she found the remark funny, she was too tired to make much of it or return the sentiment.
“Hm, are you okay Yanagi? You don’t seem like yourself right now.” the young manager’s voice hit Yanagi like a soft melody to her ears. It surprised her when someone spoke to her with such sympathy and the question coming from someone outside of Section 06 or her companions.
“… Truthfully, no.” Yanagi said as she looked away from Wise’s gaze, she wasn’t herself and was growing frustrated, “So much paperwork, so many tasks, so many things to keep up with. I mean, I had to hire Billy again to watch over Soukaku.” Yanagi’s voice stopped being soft and was with a tinge of frustration, "It's annoying, really. There's so many things to do and there's Harumasa wanting to have an early leave and Miyabi being aloof and doing her training!" Yanagi's voice rose slightly before becoming more reserved and soft upon realization, “I- I mean I don’t think Harumasa or the chief are lazy but it just feels like I’m doing everything in keeping Section 06 together and I'm the only reason it hasn't fallen apart yet.”
The deputy chief took a sudden pause in her rant, “I- Sorry, Wise. I don’t mean to act like this- I mean outside of formalities or composure that many people expect of me.” it was something out of character, she was composed but suddenly, she was venting out her frustrations in Section 06 to Wise, "I apologize for you hearing all that. They're good people, really."
Wise let out a soft sigh, a quiet breath to reassure her, “It’s okay. You’re out the clock too, right?” he gave a soft chuckle before leaning onto the counter, “It's fine to let loose, I have some of my own frustrations too.” Wise confessed to Yanagi which surprised her, she didn’t expect Wise to have his own frustrations, he always exhibited a calm and composed aura like Yanagi.
Yanagi looked up at Wise slightly wide-eyed, “Frustrations? … I take it that both proxy work and Random Play are just as merciless?” she said softly, her empathy took over her as she noticed she wasn’t alone in struggling with work and responsibility.
“Mhm.” Wise nodded at Yanagi’s question, “Though it’s not commissions I’m worried about, it’s Belle.” he sighed as he recalled her current condition.
“Belle? What happened to her?” Yanagi’s interest piqued; usually, it was the other way around and it was Belle being worried about Wise working hard and late at night by handling financial matters for Phaethon.
“These past few days… She’s got a new issue involving her eyes.” The young manager said softly. Yanagi listened to Wise’s own frustrations and worries, “She gets headaches more often when using the HDD or even being in Hollows. And the only thing easing her pain is porcelume materials. She’s pushing herself so much that even though I appreciate her trying to help with management, it's getting more dangerous the more she keeps pushing herself when she does commissions.” he sighed.
Yanagi’s eyes softened, she gave Wise a sympathetic gaze before speaking, “It sounds like you’re trying to keep things together too.” she looked back at the counter as she waited for her order of ramen.
Wise didn’t respond immediately and let a comfortable silence take over. The two stayed like that as they observed their surroundings, “It’s nice she tries to be helpful with the chores and duties as Phaethon but sometimes, I just want her to rest up and let me handle things for her as her older brother.” he took a short pause, “There's also her being fiscally irresponsible. Too much for her own good.” shuddering at the thought of Belle's gacha addiction.
Yanagi gave Wise a soft chuckle, finding humor in the comment, “I guess she also has her quirky sides too.” Yanagi thought, “Harumasa’s like that too. He’s talented but so, so irresponsible with time. It’s no wonder that Belle would like him.” both Yanagi and Wise shared a tired laugh.
“Oh I’m so gonna kill him for that.” Wise said sarcastically, pretending that his big brother instincts got alerted, “But really. Even if she makes things difficult, I still love her all the same. I wouldn’t replace her for the world.”
A comfortable silence took over before Yanagi spoke up, “That’s what makes it worth it, right? I guess it applies even for Section 06, no matter how much they really dislike the work, it's still worth working hard for them.” the deputy chief said with a tired smile, “Even if it's so tiring and painful to work so hard for them, it’s such a nice reward to see them smile at the end of it.”
Wise gave a smile to Yanagi’s comment, his order arrived first but he continued the conversation, “I didn’t think I’d be able to relate to someone like you over work.” he chuckled before taking a sip of the soup.
“I didn’t think you were overworked like me either, Manager.” A soft smile grew from Yanagi as her order arrived. The comfortable atmosphere helped soothe both minds from the work they had to deal with everyday in life, “It’s nice to let loose some frustrations relating to work.” the deputy chief used the chopsticks and ate the noodles while speaking with Wise.
Wise smiled at Yanagi’s comment, “It feels nice knowing that you’re not always as composed as you made me think." he said before continuing to munch on the noodles.
Yanagi smiled at the comment but paid no mind to it, “I guess I can say the same thing about you, it's nice to know you’re also not as composed as I am.” she said. The pair finished their noodles and enjoyed each other’s presence for another minute before leaving.
“Yanagi, you forgot something.” Wise’s voice ended the silence, his hand was raised towards Yanagi. On his palm washer pair of glasses, surprising the deputy chief as she realized she wasn't wearing her glasses.
“My- My glasses. I almost forgot about it!” Yanagi blushed in embarrassment, she kept forgetting her glasses whenever she took breaks in walking home, “Thank you so much, Wise.” she bowed gracefully before the two continued walking.
The pair walked in a soft and comfortable silence with Yanagi humming and Wise enjoying the peaceful surroundings of Lumina Square late at night. As the two approached the crosswalk, Yanagi’s voice cut through the silence, “I suppose this is where we part ways.”
Wise nodded, he smiled at Yanagi, “Yep. It was nice hanging out with you, Miss Tsukishiro.”
Yanagi shook her head, “Please, no need to call me miss. As you said, I’m out the clock, there’s no need for formalities, right?” she chuckled as she threw the logic back at him.
Wise laughed at Yanagi throwing the logic back, “Harumasa would laugh if I told him you were developing a sense of humor.” he said before smiling, “Stay safe, Yanagi!”
“Mhm, stay safe, Wise.” Yanagi waved back at Wise before crossing and continuing her walk back to the condominium to Soukaku while Wise walked back to the parking lot to drive home to Sixth Street.