Author's Note:

SEMBREAK IS REAL! *cries*

And now to confess! Supposedly, I was to upload this chapter since last Saturday but I had classes, social and family gatherings and barely rest. At. All. Apologies for the delay! Meanwhile, I have holidays for two weeks starting this week and I hope I can finally finish this short series.

And for a good reason as well *winks*

I'm keeping you long enough so have fun reading~

DISCLAIMER: Hataraku Saibou belongs to Akane Shimizu-sensei~

EXODUS

"They're an unruly bunch but they meant well." Yuuichi began, his visible eye never leaving the red-haired intern across her until Shiori strode in with their orders. A cup of raspberry latte for the red-haired woman and his personal favorite- peppermint with a mixture of lemon and ginger ale tea. The white-haired officer swirled his cup before sipping.

Nothing changed, it seemed.

Raising his head, the white-haired officer found his cousin inside her booth and smiled. Shiori never fails to surprise him. Considering her five years of internship abroad, the woman remembered his personal favorite still.

Shiori caught his gaze knowingly, beaming, and nodded towards his companion.

Ai waved a hand in disbelief despite her nervous chuckle. Several of his colleagues made her anxious when they band around the red-haired intern the second she appeared alongside Hisoka. This time, she was wearing her spare denim shorts and Yuuichi's black shirt. Hisoka, noticing her unease, pushed the shaky intern unto her brother's arms and flipped everyone involved.

Yuuichi acted as if nothing happened while she sweat dropped, watching the timid female addressed every one of their 'uncouth' behavior towards her. That, and the two of them were leaving so they'd better get their fucking asses back to work.

"I just hope my coworkers did nothing else to make you uncomfortable." Long lashes fluttered in wonder before the thought settled. The man was referring to the earlier scuffle, she mused. A genuine smile graced her lips as she sipped her latte.

"Shirogane-san worries too much. In fact-" She bowed her head, scratching her cheek. "-I should be the one apologizing for my manners. I came late and then imposed on everyone while they were working."

Yuuichi merely stared before laughing softly. "You don't have to apologize especially when its my own discretion. I have to drop Aine by the office for the day. Besides, I can't leave you soaking wet from the rain, can I?"

Ai flushed at the reminder. "T-Thank you and I apologize for the inconvenience again."

"There you go again. Is it in your nature to apologize so readily, Akagawa-san?" Yuuichi replied, flicking her forehead. Ai pouted at him, hands covering her abused forehead when the officer chuckled at his own childish behavior. Yuuichi looked startled however when the intern reached over and pinched his nose.

A camera shutter went off nearby.

"Unfair . . ." Ai whispered, cheeks burning and hazel eyes looking anywhere except his. Yuuichi tried to hold it down. He really did but his laughter escaped his lips before he knew it. Ai gaped at the man, the spell breaking when Shiori appeared once again and set down two slices of blueberry cheesecake.

The woman blinked, ready to call the older back but the officer spared her no chance and spoke. "My treat."

"Eh?"

"For all the troubles my team caused you." Ai tilted her head in silent inquiry, a hushed invitation for the man to proceed. The officer lifted his cup and sipped before he spoke once more. "Satou has been calling you since 'that', correct?"

"EH?!"

"You don't have to hide it, Akagawa-san. I've known him and the others for far too long already." He assured. Unknowingly to the woman, Yuuichi had plans to propose a simple dinner towards her as means to show his gratitude for handling his work-related messages and calls. And maybe, his nosy team while he had been away.

Hisoka seemed satisfied when he asked for her suggestion though. But, alas, the pouring rain showed no signs of stopping soon.

"I bet that Keiko-senpai must be bothering you as well. After all, she'd been teasing me ever since she called you." Ai replied, tracing her cup with a finger while her gaze fixated outside.

"Keiko-san?" The red-haired intern nodded in silence. "Keiko-san seems quite busy for that."

"I beg to differ, mister." Ai giggled before yawning. The grayish monotone that now painted the heavens had been inviting her for a short nap since earlier. Exasperation dwell within her when the intern noticed Yuuichi giving her a small smile of understanding.

Ai barely opened her lips when her- his phone, she reminded herself, buzzed on her bag. Hazel eyes widened when the intern pulled the device, flashing a name unfamiliar to hers.

*Helper T calling...

Yuuichi, who partially seen the caller id, grabbed the phone and flashed her a silent apology. Ai simply waved and simply watched the man walked inside the restroom.

"So~" Shiori began, sitting next to the red-haired woman gracefully when her cousin disappeared. "Having a good conversation, I see." The said woman could barely hold in her giggles when Ai sipped from her cup, smiling after.

"Yuuichi-san' s different." The elder leaned closer, brown eyes wide with- was that excitement? she thought. Ai scratched her cheek, almost blushing, when she probed for more."Different in what kind of way? Normal? Special? Which is which, Ai-chan?"

"Um, a special one?" The former murmured. Ai continued when she saw her 'elaborate-please' look. "It's hard to explain, Shiori-san. I mean, there's no way that we've met after knowing that he and I lived in opposite cities but I feel like I have met him somewhere."

"Maybe~ After all, the world is a big place. But enough of that! I wanted to know if something attracts you towards him?" Ai looked away, unsure what to say, but her eyes find the man making his way back to their seats. Yuuichi regarded his cousin first before turning to the intern, crouching till his eyes leveled with hers.

"A *police call?" The intern guessed. His lips quirked up. Looks like someone did their own homework.

"Yeah. There's been a sighting nearby and Helper T called in that he'll be assigning my squad for a formal investigation. As their squadron leader, I should be at the location at 1700 in the evening."

"I see."

"I'm sorry if I have to leave early." Ai shook her head, giving his hand that rests on her cheek a squeeze.

Snap, click!

"I was planning to take you out for dinner though," Yuuichi admitted, causing the female to laugh softly.

"Hey, there's always next time. Plus-" She held up her own phone, beaming. "-you have my number. You can call me anytime, anywhere-" Her voice faded away when she remembered her schedule for the next few weeks, "Okay, maybe not always! But you can always leave a message."

"Alright." Yuuichi nodded before swooping in, kissing her forehead briefly.

Ai stared at the man blankly.

Shiori looked like she won the lottery.

And the officer, who seemed to realize what he did, simply ruffled her hair before facing his grinning cousin. "I'll be leaving Akagawa-san in your hands, Shiori-san. And please! Don't stay out for long."

"You don't have to worry about your little, cute 'girlfriend', Yuu-kun, and focus on your job!" Shiori teased at the retreating man, giggling internally when she saw him tripped on his way out. As soon as she heard the door closed, the barista turned sideways to see Ai covering her face.

"Ai-chan?"

The intern peaked through her fingers. "Y-Yes?"

"No, its nothing~" She hummed victoriously and silently waved towards a man by the entrance, green uniform peaking through his jacket. The said man saluted, grinning victoriously at her, before he slipped out as well.

Not too far away from the said cafe, a hooded man stood by the shadows. He gritted his teeth while cracking his knuckles nervously before he disappeared into the alleyways.

Three weeks since then, Ai find her person spending her Friday night with Yuuichi. It began with her fellow interns whispering excitedly when she passed the lounge, whispering about a handsome man sitting by the waiting area. Ai, still on her rounds, hardly heard them until she met Keiko along the corridors, screeching. Before she could even react, the woman passed her clipboard on some nurse and dragged her towards their lockers. The intern stared dumbly as the nurse sifted through her clothes, pulling an off-shoulder dress, and forced her inside the restroom.

"S-Senpai?"

"You should have told me! And here I thought that we're friends, geez!"

"P-pardon?" Now, the intern was confused. What was she talking about? Keiko scowled at her baffled expression when she appeared and pulled her to sit on the sink, brandishing her makeup kit in hurry.

"A date."

"Who? You?!" Keiko glared as she applied foundation and lipstick steadily.

"Idiot. I meant, you and Yuuichi-kun. In a date."

"EH?!"

"And he's been waiting down there for hours already." The nurse patted her shoulder as Ai quickly changed her flats into heels, almost running towards the lobby with Keiko hollering behind her. Hisoka mentioned that her brother would be quite busy with his investigation. What was he doing at the hospital then? Did their clues lead them here? Or did someone . . . Ai shook her head as she squeezed her way inside the elevator. She have to be positive!

"Yuuichi-san!" The said man caught her gaze, blinking in question as she approached him. "I-I thought that you'll be busy!"

"Indeed I am but Shiori-san and Keiko-san that- Oh." Yuuichi flushed red, muttering something under his breath. The intern inclined her head until her hazel eyes saw his clothes- a simple tee under his long coat with matching pants and shoes. Ai felt her cheeks burning when she realized too that yes, they've been set up by their friends. Whatever embarrassment they both held melted when they simultaneously apologized- catching their own gazes in the process and laughed heartily. Despite the little mishap, Yuuichi eventually asked her out for dinner and spent the night away on a fancy restaurant, talking about their jobs. And maybe, a little about themselves.

"Thank you for the dinner, Yuuichi-san. I really enjoyed it." Ai smiled, bowing her head in gratitude as they stepped inside the porch. The intern meant to take a cab but Yuuichi insisted on driving her home, arguing that it's already one in the morning. It'll be unsafe for you to travel alone, he reasoned. In the end, she couldn't refuse the man.

Not when his expression told her that he won't let the matter rest.

The officer tousled her hair, earning himself a playful jab from the woman.

"And I as well," Yuuichi muttered. It must be the light- or lack thereof- playing tricks on her mind but she thought she saw his smile waning a bit. Ai grasped his hand, whispering.

"You know I'm willing to listen, right?" The officer studied her, how the stars seemed to reflect on her seemingly amber eyes. They never looked so solemn until now. Leaning his head on her shoulder, Yuuichi mouthed, "I'm leaving for a couple of weeks, maybe months if the trail continues."

Ah, the case.

"Is it that bad?" He hummed, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Dangerous. Hasegawa-san realized that and ordered to mobilize the whole unit including the reserves. Just in case. I'm concerned about Aine though."

"Aine can stay at my house for the time being. I'm pretty sure Yui would like it as well." Yuuichi visibly relaxed at her offer,

"You have my thanks, Akagawa-san." The intern wrapped her lithe arms around his large frame and smiled despite her own worries towards everyone else in the SAT. She couldn't help it. Three weeks in their friendship and Ai found herself at the center of their little group, excluding the station's commissioner who saw her as nothing but a distraction.

Keiko found it amusing though, going as far as inviting Rairi and Takumi to join their circle. Incidentally, everyone else knew them both through KMP's denizen forensic pathologist as well as Kanegawa Private's outstanding alumnus, Mikazuki Hiro.

"Hey! What are best friends for, right? But you gotta promise me..." Yuuichi leaned back, his disheartened look replaced with a smile.

"That I'll be home,safe and sound? Always." He replied, kissing her forehead goodbye and waited until she gone inside. Ai watched the white-haired officer climbed inside his car through the window, the smile that she sported gone as she clutched a hand over her heart.

"You'd better be."

[Yuu-kun. I'm sorry to bother you when you're busy but have you seen Ai-chan recently?]

"Akagawa-san? I've been occupied with field work recently but I do heard from her that she'll be taking her exams this week. "

[I see.]

"Is there a problem, Shiori-san?"

[Is it safe to assume that the last time you saw her was when I brought Ai-chan along to your parents' place then?]

"...What's this all about, Shiori-san?"

[...]

"Shiori-san?"

[Yui-chan's been crying when she and Keiko-chan got in the cafe.]

"I-I don't understand..."

[Ai-chan's gone missing, Yuu-kun.]

Well, that escalated quickly! Any violent thoughts at the moment? Feel free to express anything~

DICTIONARY:

1. Helper T calling. This line here stands for a military call sign. Call signs assigned as unique identifiers to military communications. In wartime, monitoring an adversary's communications can be a valuable form of intelligence. Consistent call signs can aid in this monitoring, so in wartime, military units often employ tactical call signs and sometimes change them at regular intervals. In peacetime, some military stations will use fixed call signs in the international series. (Wikipedia)

2. Police call. A police call is when an entire unit lines up and walks across a certain area looking for *something. (Business Insider)