Into The Rose Garden (Seidou x Kanae/Karren)

Chapter Fifty-one - Unsettled argument

The silence of a library, with the tiny sounds of computer typing and page turning, with small streams of light going through windows and such.

A gentle sigh escapes from a young man, as he rests his head onto the palm of his hand. And soon, an older male comes along.

"Have you figured it out, Takizawa?" Seidou looks up, shrugging as he had done so. "I-It's...a little harder than I thought, b-but I can do it on my-!" "Here, let me help." Houji takes a seat next to the younger male, causing Seidou to scoff and turn his head away, again resting it on the palm of his hand.

"I'm fine! I just need the right material." Houji tilts his head. "Am I...doing something wrong?" Seidou rolls his eyes as he sighs, still looking the other way. "It's not that, it's just... If I needed help, I would've asked."

Houji sighs himself, looking down at the book Seidou was looking into. "I know you well enough, Takizawa, to know how stubborn you are when it comes to getting help." Seidou lowers his eyebrows, sighing softly.

"You sound like my dad..." "Your dad sounds like a wise man." 

Seidou scoffs, turning his head back to Houji. "But Houji, how long have we been partners? I mean, you know I graduated nearly a year ago, so you should know I've learned enough." Houji wears a slightly offended look on his face. "You can never learn enough about this line of work, it's very important to learn a new thing about it every single day."

Seidou sighs. "Still... It's been three months since we've been given this case, and there has been nothing. Are they ever going to let us do anything else?" "Takizawa! I can't believe you're saying this! No matter how long it'll take, it's our duty to get dangerous ghouls out of our senses. You should know that, why else would you join?" 

Seidou blushes softly due to embarrassment. "I-I know, I'm sorry. It's just, this case seems impossible." Houji chuckles softly. "A lot of cases are like that, you're just feeling frustrated right now-!" "I'm fine! I don't need your help!"

Suddenly, Seidou's expression changes from that of frustration to regret. "I-I'm sorry Houji, y-you're right! ...You're right. Ugh, can we just go back to the office now? I'm sure we can find more there." Houji sighs soft, nodding gently as he did so.

"That sounds like a better idea, good thinking." Seidou smiles softly before letting it drop back down.

And so, the partners made their ways to train station. They entered into the train cart, with barely anyone there.

The whole time, the two just stood there, awkwardly silent.

Eventually they get back to their little base for work, making their way to their office and whatnot. There was not a single word spoken between the two, instead it was replaced by constant typing.

Seidou sighs to himself, before typing away himself. And in the middle of their research and searching, a young woman appears. 

"Hey, which one of you is...'Seidou Takizawa'?" To which Seidou sheepishly raised his hand

The female looks over a piece of a slip of paper. "Awesome, it appears to be from...a 'Seina'?" Seidou tilts his head slightly. "My sister?" "You have a sister, Takizawa?" Seidou scoffs. "Of course I do, a lot of people have at least one sibling."

The female smiles softly, handing over the basket of treats and balloons. "Well, Happy Birthday! Have a nice day!" And as the female left, Seidou just stands there with the basket in his hands. Shrugging and turning around, however Houji was now standing himself.

"Today's your birthday...?" The young male, looks away slightly, nodding. "Uh huh..." "Why didn't you tell me?" "W-Well, I never knew the right time to actually discuss birthdays, I guess I just thought-!" Houji shakes his head. "No, I mean today! Today is your birthday, and yet you didn't say anything about it. Why?"