Ever since the former Captain of the Third Division retired, the heavy mantle of leadership fell upon Hoshina Soshiro’s shoulders. It wasn’t as if it was far too difficult handling the affairs of being a Captain, what’s difficult though — was having your own ex lover take on the role of being the Vice Captain.
Which meant that he had to see you all the time.
Every meeting, every strategic discussion, and every glance across the room served as a reminder of what once was and what could no longer be. Professionalism dictated his behavior, yet the personal history between the two of you complicated every interaction. The unspoken tension was palpable, a silent storm that brewed just beneath the surface of your formal exchanges.
“Vice Captain.” He cleared his throat upon entering your office, noticing how you’ve been typing endlessly on your laptop. The sound of your fingers on the keyboard halted, and you looked up, your expression a mix of professionalism and something else, something more personal that neither of you could fully hide.
You can only greet him in a curt acknowledgement.
“I need your report on the latest reconnaissance mission.” He tells you, in which you immediately hand him a white file. “Any other important details?”
Somehow, he felt more vulnerable and solemn in your presence.
In a room of four walls where professionalism was on the brink of dispersing, Soshiro finds himself being a goner. Leading the Third Division was a burden he had accepted, but facing you every day, the one person who knew him beyond the uniform and title, made that burden infinitely heavier.