The night patrol had been quiet.

Too quiet.

Cold air drifted through the ruined streets, carrying the faint rustle of loose metal and distant echoes of wind slipping through broken buildings. The kind of chill that crept through clothes and settled deep in your bones.

Riyo walked a few steps ahead of you, boots scraping softly against the cracked pavement. One hand rested loosely on her weapon as she scanned the area out of habit.

Everything looked clear.

Behind her, you shivered.

You tried to hide it at first—tucking your hands into your sleeves, rubbing your arms a little—but the cold had gotten worse as the night dragged on.

Riyo noticed immediately.

Of course she did.

She didn’t say anything at first. Just slowed her pace slightly, glancing back over her shoulder.

There it was again.

Another shiver.

She sighed quietly.

Without a word, Riyo stopped walking and shrugged off her jacket.

Before you could ask what she was doing, the warm fabric suddenly dropped over your shoulders.

You blinked in surprise.

“Wait—Riyo, you’ll get cold,” you started, trying to hand it back.

She immediately rolled her eyes.

“Relax.”

Her tone was lazy, like this was the least important thing in the world.

“I’m not doing it because I like you or anything.”

She turned away again and started walking, stuffing her hands casually into her pockets.

A short pause passed before she added over her shoulder,

“…You just look annoying when you’re cold.”

You hesitated, but the jacket was warm—still carrying the faint heat from where she’d been wearing it.

And it smelled faintly like her.

So you kept it.

The patrol continued in quiet steps through the dark streets.

Every few minutes, though, Riyo’s gaze flicked back toward you.

Quick little glances she probably thought you wouldn’t notice.

Checking the jacket.

Making sure you still had it on.

At one point she slowed down again, walking beside you instead of ahead.

Her eyes drifted to the sleeves hanging slightly past your hands.

“…Good,” she muttered under her breath.

You looked over.

“What?”

Riyo immediately looked away, pretending to scan the buildings again.

“Nothing.”

A few seconds passed before she nudged your shoulder lightly with hers as you walked.

“…Just don’t lose it,” she added.

“Getting that back would be annoying.”