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While Shuichi Akai was undoubtedly an elite agent, he had always been the kind of person who didn't criticize his colleagues. Be it their attitude, performance, etiquette, or philosophies, he never took the time to let them know they were doing something wrong. Not because he wasn't concerned; he just really didn't care. He'd actually get more worried when he ran out of cigarettes or lost his lighter or didn't find black coffee in the vending machine.
But today was different.
When he opened the door to the office, he felt his blood boil.
He found her partner leaning over her crossed arms on the desk.
Sleeping.
At her desk.
At 7:50 in the morning.
While the rest of the building was buzzing with incident reports and deployment orders.
"Jodie."
No movement. No answer.
A few infuriating seconds passed
"Jodie," he called again.
"Hmm." At last. A shift. A hum. "What?"
In exactly four brisk steps, Shuichi reached her desk and placed a folder on it in a not-so-gentle way. He hadn't been infuriated in his entire life like he had been for the past few days.
"Get up. We have a case," he said.
Slowly, Jodie straightened, blinking sleepily at the folder in front of her.
"Kidnapping again?" she asked, taking the files.
"Yes."
"Okay..."
"Jodie." He pressed his palms on the desk and leaned a little closer to her. "I know what you're thinking, like the rest of the team. That these cases have felt boring after the mission in Japan where we brushed shoulders with death. But you still enter this building carrying your weapon and badge. You still need to work."
Jodie tilted her head, her eyebrows knitting together. "Shu? What's wrong with you?"
"Not with me. With you. Today is the third day I've caught you sleeping your ass off when you were supposed to be working."
"I had nothing to do," she answered, propping her elbow on the desk and leaning her cheek on her palm. "If I had, you wouldn't have found me like that."
"Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, I used to see you writing reports or reviewing files when I entered this room. Not snoring."
"I don't snore," she snapped.
"You do," he insisted. "Now get up and work. But before that, wipe that drool on your arm."
Automatically, Jodie followed the direction of his gaze and squinted at her arm, which was indeed wet.
"It isn't drool. It's sweat."
"You're sweating when it's nineteen degrees?"
She nodded and pointed at her neck. Indeed, tiny sweat beads were visible. "You see?"
Shuichi stared at her neck for a moment too long before looking away. He averted his gaze at the air conditioner, and then back at her.
"You alright?"
"Yeah. All fine."
***
When Shuichi settled on the driver's seat, holding a cup of coffee, Jodie closed her eyes and stopped breathing involuntarily.
She pulled out her handkerchief and covered her nose. Yet it didn't help at all. The aroma of his black coffee was so strong that she felt as though the smell were poisoning her.
Shuichi looked at her, lowering his cup.
Her stomach lurched.
He took another sip.
She slapped a hand over her mouth.
"Shu... can you... can you please... finish your coffee outside?"
He looked at his coffee, then at her. "You're kicking me out of my own car?"
"The smell... is killing me. Get out."
"Ah... you're ordering me?"
"No." Jodie leaned against the backrest. "Im begging you."
Shuichi took another sip. "You're used to this smell, aren't you?"
He was definitely not stepping out. She had suspected it. Not because it was his car. Not because it was beginning to rain. And especially not when he was someone who took time drinking his coffee and actually enjoyed it that way.
So she reached for the window switch and rolled the window down, stucking her head outside.
"I'm done. I'm done," Shuichi said behind her. "Close the window now and buckle up."
Jodie glanced at the empty coffee cup. "Did you spill it?"
"No," he hissed and licked the coffee residue from the corner of his mouth.
"How's your tongue?" she asked, suppressing a laugh.
He started the engine, glaring at her. "It's burning."
Somehow, that made her smile and feel a little better.
"Thanks for not letting me die."
***
The next day, Shuichi stood by the office door for a few moments and wished not to find Jodie sleeping on her desk again.
He inhaled slowly and pushed the door open.
There she was.
Awake.
Smiling.
Speaking.
To Camel.
"Good morning, Akai-san," the big man greeted and smiled awkwardly at him.
"Hmm. Morning," Shuichi greeted back.
His gaze averted to Jodie, who regarded him with a nod before returning her full attention to Camel.
"So, what happened next?" she asked, looking and sounding enthusiastic.
Shuichi pulled his chair and sat down.
Slowly.
Suspiciously.
"Well..." Camel paused, scratching his cheek. "I was warmly welcomed by her family. We ate dinner together, I had a few glasses of wine with her father and brothers afterward, and they told me they were looking forward to meeting me again."
Jodie clasped her hands together, her face beaming with joy.
"That's really nice to hear, Camel. It means they like you and they approve of your relationship."
"That's what my girlfriend said to me too."
"And how do you feel about it?"
"I don't know. I mean, I'm really happy, but I can't describe how much. And I'm excited to meet them again."
Jodie grinned. "I'm happy for you, Camel."
Camel smiled shyly. "Thanks."
Shuichi, who was actually watching and scrutinizing them in silence, cleared his throat.
"Are you two done with your early morning slice-of-life conference?"
Camel scratched the back of his head.
Meanwhile, Jodie eyed him sideways, as she began to fan herself.
Shuichi's lips twitched. She was feeling warm again while everyone else was comfortable. Geez. He was even wearing a jacket, and Camel a coat. And there she was, in a thin, loose blue blouse with two buttons left open.
"From what I've heard," he said, looking at Camel. "I conclude your girlfriend introduced you to her family, and everything turned out fantastic, right? Congratulations, Camel, and good luck with your next meeting with them. But I'm afraid I need my partner now because we have to work."
"Yes, of course," Camel answered.
"Update me, Camel," Jodie said, taking his hand and squeezing it, smiling brightly.
"Sure. Sure. I will," he nodded, his cheeks burning red.
When Camel turned around, Jodie called him.
"Wait, wait." She stood up and, without a word, adjusted his tie and collar. "There. Better now."
She inclined her head and squinted at him, which, of course made the agent confused. Confused and stiff. It couldn't be denied by the expression of his face.
"I hadn't noticed how smooth your facial skin was until now," Jodie said. "What's your skincare routine?"
"Uh... well... I..." Camel stammered. "I just wash my face with the same shower gel I use for bathing. Morning and evening."
"Really?"
Shuichi stared at her. She looked amused. Genuinely amused. And for some reason only he knew, it irritated him.
"Ehem..." He coughed. He just needed to.
Both his colleagues looked at him, Camel with an awkward smile, Jodie with a blank expression.
"Well... I got to go now. See you both around."
When the door closed behind Camel, she returned to her seat and resumed fanning herself.
"He's got a girlfriend, Shu," she said after a while.
Shuichi snorted. "I heard."
She inclined her head. "You?"
"..."
"You got one too?"
"..."
"Shu?"
"You smiled a lot at Camel."
The words slipped out before Shuichi could prevent them. Words that sounded more accusatory than commentary. At least, for him. Since when had he cared about who she smiled at and how much she did it?
Jodie shrugged. "I like Camel."
His eyes narrowed. In what sense?
As if she read his mind, she added, "I liked him even before. But I think I'm growing fond of him more and more each day. I find it strange. You know, to suddenly feel that way for someone. But...maybe life is just like that, full of surprises."
When he remained silent, she glared at him. "I know what you're thinking, Shu. And for the record, you're wrong."
Shuichi felt half relieved because she had made it clear that she had no romantic feelings for Camel whatsoever, and half confused because he couldn't quite grasp why she had suddenly become too affectionate toward him. She said life may be full of surprises. Was it really that simple?
***
For the days that followed, Shuichi found himself unsettled by his partner's unusual behavior.
The early morning tiredness.
The sensitivity to coffee smell.
The sudden fondness toward Camel.
What would he witness next that he would add to the list?
He wished for none. Because he hated himself for thinking too much about it, and he hated himself for getting concerned.
Unfortunately, though, the heavens didn't grant his wish.
One morning, Jodie was quiet. Suspiciously so. Like she had been suspicious for at least two consecutive weeks now.
When he heard her sniff, he stopped typing on his computer and looked at her over the monitor.
"Hey. You okay?"
She shot her a look as if she were offended that he had just asked how she was. She sniffed again. This time, she didn't look just offended. She looked betrayed.
Shuichi abandoned his business completely. "What's wrong with you? Did something happen?"
"Did you eat my chocolates?"
His gaze darted automatically to the heart-shaped ceramic canister on her desk, then back at her.
"Did you?" she repeated, her voice not sharp. Just hurt.
Almost reluctantly, almost sorry even though he thought what he had done wasn't a crime, he nodded.
"I forgot to tell you. I took two pieces while you were in the toilet."
"Two pieces? Dark and hazelnut?"
He shrugged. "I didn't look at the label. But, maybe. One tasted bitter and the other one nutty."
She pouted. "How could you?"
His eyes widened. "How could I?"
"Those are my favorites. And the last remaining pieces. And you ate them."
His lips twitched. He felt like laughing at the absurdity of her deeply hurt by the loss of her chocolates. But then the thought hit him. Hard. This was an addition to the list of Jodie Starling's strange behavior that had been bugging him for weeks now. And this might be the ridiculously strangest one yet.
Shuichi sighed and went back to his keyboard. "Okay. I apologize. I'll buy you a box of them."
He glanced at her and saw her face instantly lighten up.
"Really? Is that a promise?" she asked, her big blue eyes beaming with joy.
"Yes. It's a promise," he answered, relieved that the matter was solved easily.
***
Shuichi kept his promise. That afternoon, he skipped lunch so he could stop by the nearest store to buy chocolates.
On his way back to the office, he heard his female colleagues whispering about someone vomitting in the restroom. He hadn't intended to listen to their gossip until he heard her name.
"Jodie looked pale."
"Stomach flu?"
"Stress?"
"Food poisoning?"
"Menstruation?"
"Pregnancy?"
A pause followed.
One spoke with certainty. "I heard she has a boyfriend."
"Camel?"
"No. Camel has a girlfriend."
"Akai?"
"Impossible."
His ears burned at that.
Another spoke assumingly. "He never wanted her back."
Shuichi felt every muscle in his body tense. The audacity of these people to make assumptions about his feelings. But at the last second, he thought better of confronting his colleagues and threatening to file a formal complaint if they didn't stop gossiping about their coworkers' private lives.
As he walked away, he heard another remark that would stubbornly linger in his mind.
"I saw her with Agent Conrad from the Fugitive Task Force. They looked like lovey-doveys. He must be her boyfriend."
***
After approximately three seconds of settling comfortably into her chair, Shuichi launched a missile of a question that almost made Jodie choke.
"Are you seeing someone?"
She raised an eyebrow. "What?"
He leaned back. "Who's Conrad?"
"Agent Conrad?"
"Are you dating him?"
"..."
"Are you?"
"..."
Finally, she answered. Not with words. Just a sound. A laugh. Bright and real.
"My goodness," she said after a while, reaching for the chocolates he had bought her and placing them inside the canister.
She took a few pieces and offered them to him. "You want some?"
Shuichi exhaled through his nose. "An answer, Jodie. Not chocolates."
She unwrapped one and took a bite.
"Agent Conrad was my classmate in high school. One of my few closest friends, to be precise." She glanced at him, whose eyes remained narrowing at her. "He worked in Washington and was recently transferred here to New York. We bumped into each other, I recognized him first, then he recognized me after five seconds of staring at my face."
Shuichi crossed his arms. "Are you close?"
Jodie nodded with a smile. "I told you. My circle was small back then. He was one of the few people I enjoyed life with. And when we met again after many years, we found ourselves reminiscing about old times." She popped another chocolate into her mouth. "By the way, would you like to come with me? It's his daughter's baptism next week and he added me on the list of her godmothers. He said I'm welcome to bring my friends with me."
"Oh. I see," was all his answer.
***
Shuichi closed his phone. The results he found on the web matched his existing knowledge. All symptoms pointed in one direction.
Impossible? Could be.
Surprising? Kind of.
Alarming? Nah.
Disappointing? No way.
Horrible? He was a monster if he thought that way.
Exciting? Well...
Life-changing? Oh, well...
When Jodie entered the van, he adjusted his position on the chair, pretending to focus on their operation that day.
Well... he should now.
Jodie sat in front of the monitor, the screen lighting up with live feeds of the hidden cameras.
"She's confident, keeps telling me this will be as easy as one, two, three," she said.
He smirked. "There are only two kinds of assets, after all. Nervous and confident."
They looked closely at the monitor screen, as their asset—the target's girlfriend who had been offered a deal in exchange for planting a camera and retrieving a document from her boyfriend's study, entered the house.
Unexpectedly, the boyfriend arrived and caught her in his study. She played the situation, seducing him when he got suspicious of her. She pulled him toward the sofa. This girl was willing to do everything to clear herself of her charges. She obviously didn't care if she already planted the camera and two agents were surely watching from the van right now.
The small space inside the surveillance van felt even smaller. The air shifted into an awkwardness neither of them could deny was mortifying.
Shuichi looked away first. Then Jodie did. This was beyond unimaginable.
"I think one of us should keep watch," he said, trying to sound composed, even though he was trying not to die from secondhand embarrassment. "Just in case something happens."
Jodie cleared her throat. "You're right."
She returned her attention to the monitor screen. And just as she did, distinct sounds echoed through the comms, ones they were very much aware were... unsuppressible screams of immeasurable happiness.
Shuichi squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. While Jodie put a hand over her mouth as she continued to watch, because, apparently, he had been right. It was a surveillance operation and they were supposed to monitor the situation, no matter how absurdly uncomfortable it was.
After enduring a few more challenging minutes, the ordeal finally ended. The asset came back, victorious and flushed. She handed them the needed document.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that. I needed to distract him," she said, winking at them.
When they were alone again, Shuichi noticed how a faint twitch in her lips never left. She occasionally pressed her fingers to them as if forcing herself to hold back from laughing.
When he lifted his eyes to look at her, Jodie did the same. Their eyes met. He stared at her, she stared back. She bit her lip, then laughed. He pressed his lips together, then laughed too.
When they recovered, he cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "Well... that was—"
"I'm pregnant."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Everything went very still. Neither of them spoke for the next minute and a half, nor dared move, as if they were both holding their breath.
When Shuichi's heart finally resumed beating, he somehow managed to form a word to answer her.
"Oh."
She was pregnant. Of course, she was. Her unusual behavior that had both annoyed and amused him at the same time all led to one possibility. He had understood it from the start. He just hadn't ruled out the existence of other possible explanations.
He was staring at his clasped hands when he heard her sniff and looked up.
She was looking down, lifting her glasses and running her fingertips beneath her eyes.
The sight made his chest tighten.
"I found out a few days ago," she said, still not looking at him. "I didn't want to hide it from you forever. After all, that wouldn't have been possible. I'm sorry if I caught you off guard."
"I had suspected it," he answered matter-of-factly.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"You might not have wanted this."
"I never said that. And I don't think that."
And he meant it. For some reason, the idea of things turning out differently somehow saddened him.
Jodie finally straightened up, letting out a quiet, humorless laugh.
"This is ridiculous. It was just one night."
Shuichi ran a hand along his forehead. "That lasted the whole night."
Heat crawled up his face at his own words.
He closed his eyes, and it didn't help at all when memories of that night forced themselves into his mind. He suspected his cheeks were completely red by now.
Her apartment.
The sofa in the living room and the coffee table he had broken.
The empty space in the kitchen Jodie had been saving for a new fridge.
The newly bought carpet in the hallway.
The bathtub and her toiletries he had knocked over.
And finally, the bed. Her wide, soft, creaking bed.
Shuichi wondered if she was remembering the scenes too. He hoped she was. Because then it would mean she didn't regret their night. Because it would hurt him if she did. Because he didn't.
"My favorite part was... the one in the kitchen." Jodie said, wiping away a stubborn tear.
Which made him smile.
Which meant she remembered everything as fondly as he did.
Which meant she didn't regret their night, she didn't regret him.
Which meant there was nothing to be worried about.
"Mine was... the bed," he said. "The sheets smelled really nice."
They looked up, simultaneously, and their gazes locked. He smiled, wide and warm and real. She returned it just as sincerely.
He took her hand and closed his fingers around hers—a silent reassurance that both of them understood.
They were definitely going through this together.