Mint Chocolate Cookies (World trigger)

Something To Chew On

"Tachikawa is on his way." Ninomiya spat, ungraciously.

He was done. He was so done with Hatohara. He was done with her excuses, her lies, he was so done with her bullshit drama.

Ninomiya had waited a week. He had given her another whole week of amble time, and he had made it very evident to her that she needed to tell them what happened on the other fucking planet, but after another seven days, another 168 hours to come clean and she didn't. She was tight lipped and stubborn, and he was ready to throw her into the sun.

Tachikawa seemed keen on not having Ninomiya cause anybody bodily harm, so he had reminded him of his previous offer, over text, and was coming to see if they could get her to open up a little. He tapped his foot with a curiosity, and even though Hatohara apologized, he still didn't feel any better.

How hard could it possibly fucking be?

Hatohara, in his mind, needed to grow a goddamn backbone, and take care of herself, and maybe, I don't know put some effort into something outside the fucking kitchen!

Ninomiya, similarly, let his fury fester for a bit too long, and had become inconsolable with her.

It was too damn much, something so important to not understand, and to know that Tachikawa, of all people, knew the whole story, It made his blood boil and made him clench his jaw reflexively. Yet, in his blind rage, he felt as if he should be partially mad at Tachikawa, yet he wasn't.

He was far from it... he was grateful.

Tachikawa was there to help, he thinks, and hopefully nothing would go aari.

However as his foot increased in a frustrated pace, he doubted that anything would ever go to plan when it came to Hatohara. Making shit difficult was what she did best.

Still, he was grateful for his saviour when somebody, Tachikawa presumably, hammered on the door. He stood up to answer it, but the door already slid open.

And yes, there he was in all of his peach-fuzz glory. The fish-brained idiot who, somehow, knew all the answers.

Inukai was in the kitchen area off to the side with Tsuji, giving Him and Hatohara space before Tachikawa had arrived incase a fight broke out. Or, in this case, more of a one-sided beatdown. Hatohara would never stand up for herself.

And suddenly, Ninomiya noticed there was something in Tachikawa's hands.

A plate of to-go mochi from the restaurant.

He smiled happily, like nothing was wrong at all, and the shit eating grin he wore suddenly made it feel so. Ninomiya felt his anger suddenly melt away, and Tachikawa alone, just standing there, reminded how carefree he could afford to be.

He had food, all of his friends all of his teammates... what was there to be angry about? Hatohara would have to come clean eventually.

Tachikawa handed the entire dish to him, and winked at him.

"I passed by, and thought of you. I know this is rough."

Ninomiya appreciated the gesture greatly, but only had one thing to say. "I'm the one who owes you, you moron!"

Tachikawa laughed. "It's not some favor you have to repay, this was just me being weird. Take it- take it- okay, now shut up."

Inukai and Tsuji were in the doorway of the kitchen, and were moving to the back room. It was nothing short of squad therapy, with the ever awful, foolish therapist, Mr. NoBrain McStabby Stab.

He was anything but qualified.

It's not like it mattered now however, as Ninomiya politely let everybody take their preferred seat, and pulling up a spare chair from the table for himself.

"Can I get you anything Tachikawa? A ginger ale? A cookie?" Lord knows we have plenty of those. Most failed tests for Kage.

"I'm good thanks..." Tachikawa says, hand raised.

"Now, let's get cracking shall we?"

_________

It's been an hour.

They haven't cracked.

They haven't 'cracked' anything. Hatohara, the secrets, nothing.

Tachikawa refuses to tell, and does nothing but aimlessly prompt her, but she's a sitting fucking duck.

And it's taking every fucking morsel of strength and self restraint he has flowing throughout his entire body not to start yelling, or strangling her.

Son of a bitch, Tachikawa had made the effort, he was making the effort, Inukai and Tsuji were trying their best, but she was being a selfish, stubborn- prick.

And before they knew it, they were out of time.

It was over.

Hatohara had been called for patrol with Tsuji, and Ninomiya swears to god, she wouldn't be so lucky next time. He wouldn't let her, and the moment she left the room, Inukai also excused himself, going to Kage's, his third batch of cookies in hand.

And suddenly, it was him and Tachikawa alone in the squad room, and the doors shut.

Tachikawa looked back at him immediately after they all left.

"Are you going to be okay? She's being so damn stubborn, I can't believe it..."

"No!" He cried, "No, I'm not! What the hell is she playing at! We take all the trouble, and she's being a selfish bitch! She can't even begin to tell us! What the fuck!"

"I get it... she is being difficult, but she's probably really struggling. If you started yelling at her, and she still refuses you, I think that's our red flag."

Ninomiya sighed, and collapsed down in the seat beside Tachikawa, realising he was right.

Tachikawa reached over, and handed him a mochi.

"Here." He greeted nonchalantly. "It'll improve your mood."

"Thanks."

"It's good to see you trying though." He encouraged him, as Ninomiya began to chew on the soft little bundle. "I'm sure that it's going somewhere, even if she won't let us see it."

"I fucking pray...."

Tachikawa smiled at him, and then there was a pause.

"Well, uh, thanks for having me I guess? I'm sorry I couldn't help to much... I mean, nothing we could've done, right?"

He grabbed his jacket from under him and stood.

"I should get going... It was nice to see you I guess-"

"Wait."

Ninomiya almost made a command, even though the word was hardly more than a whisper.

"... Yes?"

"I-"

"I'd like it... If maybe you stayed."