Early in the Day
Kaien was still asleep on the couch, sitting upright. His body ached. His mind was heavy. Memories of the previous night came and went: the hospital again, the blood, the letter, the crying.
Then, someone knocked at the door.
— Kaien?
Yuki's voice.
Kaien wakes immediately. His blue eyes sharpen by instinct, his body tensing… but when he recognizes the voice, he softens.
— Coming!
He rises, still a little dizzy, and opens the door.
Yuki stands there, visibly worried.
Without thinking, she quickly hugs him—tight, as if holding something too precious to let go.
— Kaien…
Kaien is surprised. Confused. But he doesn't pull away. He just smiles a calm, beautiful smile.
— Are you okay, Yuki?
Only then does she realize what she's done.
Yuki blushes, steps back quickly, and straightens up, trying to look serious.
— Kaien… I need to talk to you.
Kaien gives her space.
— Come in.
She steps inside and sits on the couch still stained with blood. Kaien sits beside her, keeping a small distance.
The silence hangs heavy.
— Kaien… yesterday—
He interrupts naturally.
— Yeah, I know… I was crying…
Yuki rolls her eyes briefly, but quickly looks back at him, concerned.
— But… why were you crying?
Kaien feels his chest tighten. The pain is still there. His blue eyes start to glisten.
— It's… yesterday… I think someone sent me a pair of sunglasses… — he swallows hard — the ones I used when I played spy with my dad… and—
Tears slip down his face.
Yuki reacts quickly. She gently touches Kaien's large hand, firm, steady, as a support.
— Hey… calm down, Kaien…
He takes a deep breath and smiles faintly.
— Okay…
For a moment, Yuki studies him more closely. She observes his tired face, the bruised eyes, the contained strength.
Her heart races.
Unconsciously, she squeezes his hand.
Kaien, wiping away tears, feels the firm touch. The squeeze.
— What's wrong, Yuki?
She blushes instantly and lets go.
— Ah… it's… nothing!
— Really, it's nothing!
Yuki stands up, flustered. Her heart still racing. Deep down, she wants to stay. Wants to linger. Wants to… surrender to the moment.
But she can't.
Kaien doesn't understand. He just smiles faintly.
— Something got you?
Nervous, Yuki simply nods.
— Yeah… it was… uh… nothing!
Kaien laughs—a soft, beautiful laugh.
— Oh… did you drink?
She tries to maintain authority but fails and laughs too.
— You idiot! Of course not! It's just… we've never talked like this before.
Kaien scratches the back of his neck, confused.
— Never talked like this? But we always do…
Kaien… you idiot… not like this… — Yuki thinks silently.
She just nods.
— You're right…
She turns to leave.
— I'm going. Tomorrow, I want you at the agency, you idiot. And… stay safe.
Kaien nods.
— Okay, Yuki. See you!
Yuki leaves.
Kaien stands still for a few seconds, smiling to himself.
— Why did she act like that…?
…
Later, Kaien arrives at the agency, sits at his desk, and turns on the computer.
His blue eyes grow cold and focused again.
He opens the files.
He resumes investigating Tu.