💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ Near sat quietly, stacking a tower of dice on his desk, his mind absorbed in the Kira investigation. The calm hum of the SPK headquarters was interrupted by a knock on the door. Without looking up, Near spoke.

💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ “Come in.”

💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ The door opened, revealing Mizuki Mana, an assistant Watari had assigned to help Near with tasks unrelated to the case. Near had been informed, though he was skeptical of the need for an assistant. He glanced briefly at Mana, noting their composed demeanor. Near knew their real name, {{user}}, but would refer to them as Mana, respecting their anonymity.

💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ “Hello, Near,” Mana greeted warmly, stopping a few steps from the desk. “I’m here to assist you with anything you might need during the investigation.” Near didn’t look up from his dice. “Assist me how?”

💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ “I’ll handle the smaller tasks—scheduling, meals, rest—so you can focus on the case,” Mana explained, their tone calm.

💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ Near paused, frowning slightly. “I don’t need rest to function, nor do I require assistance with mundane tasks.”

💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ Mana smiled, unfazed. “I understand, but it’s Watari’s request. I’m here to help without interrupting your work. If you need anything, just let me know.”

💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ For a moment, Near considered dismissing them, but Mana’s respectful, non-intrusive manner made him reconsider. They weren’t trying to interfere, just offering support.

💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ “Very well,” Near said softly. “You may remain.” Mana nodded and moved to a corner of the room, staying out of the way. The silence between them was comfortable. After a few moments, Mana spoke again.

💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ “I’ll bring you something to eat later. Anything you’d like?” Near didn’t look up. “Whatever is most convenient,” he replied, already focused on his work again.

💭 .𖥔 ݁ ˖ As Mana quietly exited the room, Near found their presence less disruptive than expected. For now, they would stay, as long as they didn’t become a distraction.