A/N: Did a fanfic with this kind of writing style before, I thought it'd be fun to try it with KamiMiyo too (and in English ;w;). Portraying both Kaminaga and Miyoshi is so hard—I have so many ideas for them, which I'd probably never be able to write lol—but the nature and complexity of their relationships was the thing that made me love this pairing instantly. Hopefully, though, I won't mess up so much and this fanfic comes out in the way I see them in my head, hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! (´・ω・`)

Joker Game © Yanagi Koji and I do not gain any profit from writing this fanfiction.

i. under the morning light

One of the reminiscences that could never be washed away from Kaminaga's memories was of a spy named Miyoshi, as he sat beside the window at the agency's small library on the fourth floor, with a book on his lap, basked under the morning sun. It was a modest scenery, neither a special occasion nor a point of culmination, but there was just something in its simplicity that made the moment lingered. Perhaps because it was their first chance to talk with only the two of them present, or maybe because it was the first time he realized how flawless the contour of Miyoshi's face was—from his pretty eyes to his salient chin—carved by shadows and golden rays.

Kaminaga had pretty much picked up on everyone's quirks since the early of their trainee days. It was a little harder with the number of people who started at first, but later as the days went and they finally dwindled to eight men, the more chance they got to interact, the more each of their personalities became prominent. But it had never occurred to him, the Miyoshi who liked reading books—not that Kaminaga thought he didn't fit the smart image—he just didn't see that narcissistic Miyoshi would also need to hide himself away sometimes.

"Sorry," he remembered it was he who first attempted for any sort of conversation, during the first few weeks of their training, "did I disturb you?"

"As long as you won't start screaming or something of the like," chestnut-colored eyes glanced, "then I'm not bothered."

"I'm just going to open the window and smoke, if that's alright with you?"

"Be my guest."

Miyoshi titled his torso a bit to the side so he could easily open the windowpane, followed by a slight shake of the head and a thin smile when refusing the cigarette Kaminaga offered him. They eventually just sat there, falling into a sweet silence of the early winter. Kaminaga leaned on his chair, eyes parking somewhere between the bookshelves behind Miyoshi's back, as his ears searched for proof of lives, even if it was just a faint sound of breaths or tiny chirp of birds outside.

He wasn't thinking about anything particular when without a warning, Miyoshi closed his hardback book with a dull thud, blowing off dust particles that looked akin to light snow. He left it on his thighs, while his gaze shifted outside; still as a statue, as if was contemplating, or trying to find inspiration in the windows of other buildings. Bending forward to tap the cigarette on the ashtray on the small table separating them, Kaminaga peeked at his book—The Odyssey, carved in silver letters on a sky blue cover.

Positioning his back to be as comfortable as the wooden chair allowed him to, he puffed trails of smoke.

"I never thought you're a fan of Homer."

"I'm not," their eyes met for a brief second, before Miyoshi returned his gaze to his book, tapping his fingers on the binding, "was just looking for something to keep me busy last night."

"You could always come to cafeteria like usual, you know," Kaminaga said, "we played cards until past midnight."

The corners of his lips turned slightly upwards, and the only thing that crossed Kaminaga's mind was how Miyoshi was always able to make his lips curved in a way that look so effortless and natural, "Sometimes you just need the time to be alone."

"Well, if you say so, I guess I could understand." He chuckled a bit. "So, did you find something interesting about Odysseus?"

"Not particularly, except maybe for the fact that he probably slept with pretty much every woman he met," Miyoshi looked at him, still smiling, "somehow that sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it?"

"Let's just pretend you weren't looking at me when you said that."

"I'm still looking at you, though."

Kaminaga laughed. "May I ask what are you trying to imply here?"

"Other than things that have been depicted in some ancient Greek epic poems actually still could be found in today's society, no," Miyoshi replied, "I'm not trying to imply anything."

Only a couple of weeks ago, this man and all of his sickeningly sweet, disparaging innuendos had irked him to no end. But now when he'd realized that Miyoshi might simply be a cynic to the core, and that by throwing sarcastic remarks was his way of trying to keep the conversation going, he instead found himself grinning, genuinely amused at how bizarre his personality was. For the same reason he also didn't reply. Kaminaga hated losing, but for this one time, he'd let Miyoshi feel satisfied. Consider it as him being genial. And he could be wrong, but Miyoshi did seem a bit younger than him, so consider it as Kaminaga being a courteous big brother as well.

So then he resorted to just enjoy his cigarette, while the smoke danced above his head before it dissipated in the morning wind. There were, after all, some moments that were meant to be savored, just like this one.

Kaminaga might not look like it, but he actually fancied reading. So far the only trainee he met most often in the library was Jitsui, though their relationship was just that of a polite conversation with occasional comments or recommendations about books that both of them had read. Miyoshi's presence might be a good change of pace; listening to other people was indeed Kaminaga's natural interest. Miyoshi would almost certainly be a great partner for conversations, though sometimes he made Kaminaga want to throw him the ashtray.

"Actually," Miyoshi said, suddenly, "there was something that kind of caught my attention more than Odysseus and his adventures."

"Oh?"

Miyoshi set the book in his hands, letting the papers turned swiftly under his fingers, as if trying to find a certain page. Kaminaga didn't want to admit that he was already curious. But he didn't stop until the back cover was reached, and the man returned it to his lap instead. "I just thought there was something quite amusing."

"And that something is?" When his interlocutor only smiled, he quickly added, "Don't make it as if you want to say it then leave me hanging."

"Am I catching your interest, Kaminaga?"

"Perhaps." He puffed his cigarette, looking as absent-minded as possible. Though Kaminaga was a good actor—that was part of his job as a spy, actually—he knew there was no use of pretending in front of people who were also always faking.

"Automaton."

"Pardon?"

"You asked what's amusing, my answer is, automaton; King Alcinous' gold and silver dogs," Miyoshi said, "that, if you're familiar with some Greek myth or Homer's works."

And of course he did. Kaminaga had read The Odyssey—hell, he even read The Iliad before that—and his memory was excellent, so he knew exactly what was being talked about. "The dogs that guard his palace?" he asked. "What's funny about them?"

Miyoshi placed the book on the table, almost making Kaminaga think that he wanted to show something, but the book cover was closed. "Define automaton?"

"The Homer's one? A statue out of metal, having the ability to move by themselves because they were given life by the gods or something."

"Precisely," Miyoshi sighed, "and that also sounds strangely familiar, isn't it?"

Kaminaga raised an eyebrow, this time not catching what Miyoshi meant. He hoped his expression was enough to make the other spy elaborate further, but the man only maintained the curve on his lips, as if it was the only thing that he was supposed to do in the world. He then rose from his seat, dusted invisible dust off his waistcoat, and took the suit jacket from the back of the chair. Without any word, he walked toward the door.

"Wait," Kaminaga called him right when his hand was on the doorknob, "where are you going?"

"I meant to catch some sleep, if you don't mind," stopping briefly, he said, "I was up all night, you see."

"Well yes, but I still don't get what you mean."

He stared at Kaminaga for a few long seconds, face unreadable. Miyoshi then shrugged. "Yet."

The door closed. Kaminaga was left alone in the room, with old books and tales about automatons.