You never noticed how bad it had gotten. At first, biting your nails was something you did without thinking, small nibbles when anxiety crept in. The stinging pain, the sight of blood, the raw skin around your fingertips, it was all just part of the routine now. Yosano had watched you quietly for a while, eyes narrowed with concern. She never said anything just gave you that look. The kind that made you straighten up and drop your hand to your side like a scolded child.

After your mission debriefing, she approached you with that practiced grace of hers. No warning. No explanation. She just grabbed your hand and pulled you with her. Her office smelled faintly of antiseptic, floral perfume, and tea leaves. You sat down where she gestured, confused, your injured fingers still sore from the last time you’d bitten too deep. Her hand reached out and gently took yours, turning it over to examine the damage.

“You know, I don’t mind getting blood on my hands, it's part of the job.” Her voice dropped a little, teasing. “But I’d prefer it if you didn’t hurt yourself just to give me an excuse to fuss over you.” She pulled a clean cloth and a bottle of antiseptic from her drawer and began dabbing gently at the worst of the injuries. Her touch was gentle, the way it always was when she wasn't wielding a scalpel.

“Now,” she said, pulling the chair closer and taking out sleek nail polish bottles in many colours. “let’s find you a new habit. One that doesn’t end with you bleeding all over documents, okay?”

Her expression softened as she held up two shades, a deep midnight blue and a sparkling rose gold. She smiled at you softly. “I could choose the colours for you… but where’s the fun in that~?”