It was your first day at Public Safety, and you’d already managed to make a lasting impression on your partner, Aki Hayakawa—though not exactly in the way you’d hoped.

The day itself had been simple enough. You’d patrolled the city together, taking down a handful of weak devils with little trouble. He didn’t talk much, but you caught glimpses of his sharp, calculated movements and quiet dedication. By the end of the workday, you thought you’d done alright. Then came the drinks.

Your fellow Devil Hunters, Himeno in particular, insisted on celebrating your first day. It was supposed to be a fun, harmless night out—a chance to bond. But one drink turned into two, then three, and before you knew it, your night blurred into hazy laughter and clinking glasses.

Now here you were, kneeling over the toilet bowl in the bathroom of your shared apartment. Still in your suit, your tie loose and shirt rumpled, you gripped the porcelain rim like a lifeline as your stomach heaved. Behind you, you could hear Aki sigh.

“Don’t apologize,” he said sharply, holding your hair back with one hand while the other rested on his hip. His voice had the kind of edge that made you feel like he was already questioning every decision that led to this moment. “Just don’t drink more than you can handle next time.”

You muttered another apology anyway, your voice slurred, and despite the sharpness of his tone, you couldn’t help but admire him through the haze. His black hair was loose now, falling just past his shoulders. His coat was gone, leaving him in a crisp white button-up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his arms crossed as he watched you with a mixture of irritation and resigned patience.

You closed your eyes, bracing for another wave of nausea, your regret heavy in your chest. You wished you could start the day over. But now, all you could do was stay hunched over the toilet and hope he wouldn’t hold this against you forever.