“I’m here to get you for the night shift.” Seryu informed him.
“Seryu, I think you got it wrong. Captain Ogre didn’t plan me into the night shift. Neither are you, if I remember the duty rota correctly.” Tatsumi slowly stood up from his seat.
“It was a last minute call before the Captain closed his shift.”
“But I just worked a full shift…”
The girl put a hand on his shoulder with that uplifting smile of hers. “Ogre said that you’d not have to work tomorrow, if you pull through the night shift.”
Tatsumi sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Give me a moment.”
“I’ll wait outside.” Seryu vanished behind the door.
Hachirō gazed at his colleague with a frown. Hiroe glanced up at her father in perplexion as though she could feel the shift in his demeanor. “It’s your first night shift, huh?” He stammered.
“Yeah.” Tatsumi bent down and laced up his boots. “It’s just another shift. I’ll be fine.” A drawn-out yawn escaped his lips. “I could pass out on the stool…” The young man forced himself back on his wobbly feet.
“Good thing that Seryu’s there to keep ya company. You two must be on your guard.” Hachirō reminded him in an atypically serious tone.
“Is it that bad out there at night?” His hand rested firmly on the hilt of his katana.
The vice-captain led him away from the table and lowered his voice. “The evil scum feels safe at night. Is probably what Seryu would say and she ain’t wrong.”
“Plus Night Raid, I get it. I’ve already had an entire day of that ‘evil scum’ so it can’t be much worse, am I right?”
The older man put his hand on Tatsumi’s shoulder. “Just watch out for each other, will ya?” He repeated with raised cheekbones. “And grab another coffee down the road. It’s gonna be a long night.”
“Alright, will do. Thanks.”
“Here’s the omurice I packed for your friends.” Ayano handed him two sizable plastic boxes.
“Thank you so much.” The teenager made a polite bow. “How can I make this up to you?”
The woman waved her hand in dismissal. “Don’t mention it.”
“And remember, you’re always welcome here.” Hachirō offered with his genuine and slightly goofy smile across both his cheeks.
Tatsumi’s lips curled up into a bright, innocent grin. “Thanks. I’m happy to hear that.”
“Alright, better don’t keep Seryu waiting or she’s gonna start the shift without ya.”
The younger officer saluted. “Have a good night, vice-captain Hachirō. You too Ayano and Hiroe.”
The small girl emerged behind her father’s leg. “You too, Tatsumi.”
He headed outside and joined up with Seryu.
“Can we stop by at my place before we start the shift? I need to drop this off or we’ll either have arson or two starvation cases.”
His female colleague chuckled. “Ah, that’s alright. And make sure to greet Sayo and Ieyasu for me.”
“Will do.”
Tatsumi entered the small living room, the creaking noise easily masked by all too familiar bickering piercing through the door to their bedroom. How he hasn’t been called to his own home yet by the neighbors due to disturbance of peace was a sheer miracle at this point.
YOU ARE READING
Akame ga kill x Ashura
FanfictionHard labor, family and a sense of community. Such was the simple life in the villages. For Tatsumi that was all he knew and all he ever needed. Soon however, nothing of this 'simple' life he cherished would remain but a mere, distant memory. Desper...
