The low tone in his own voice surprised him. His reply came out more softly than he expected.

"You've grown up."

The consequences of saying those words were like the casting of a spell.

His subordinate had matured. Doujou thought he had always have been careful to know his subordinates. What there weaknesses and strengths laid, their doubts and confidence, their over well-being. But by the time he actually became fully conscious of Iku's progress as a Task force member and his subordinate, Doujou realized he was indeed flustered at how fast Iku seemed drift farther and farther away the aggressive, hot-headed idiot she used to be.

The recognition of that fact could never be taken away either. Doujou had a feeling that it was something he had not wanted to know for a while now. However, Doujou had gradually come to face that fact and saw it for itself. The tone of those words he spoke reflected his acceptance of that.

Before, though, it used to be was like walking in the dark. Doujou wasn't sure of what he should or how he should react in In those moments when Iku's improvements became so frighteningly clear. Praise her? If her maturity hadn't shown in the most sudden of times he would, and eventually had, giving her a smile that he had, unknowingly, began to make her eyes quickly avert to the tiled floors of the library and the rising and depression of her chest grow a bit faster.

What was living behind that smile?

Doujou knew that he felt pride and admiration, confidently. After all, who wouldn't of a good subordinate? But something much more heavy, stronger lurked behind that expression that Doujou would never admit to Komaki or even, himself, if its nature was asked. Even he knew that he was walking a fine line between a superior and some other unknown role he hadn't want to identify. If known, well...Doujou's thoughts hadn't dared tread that far.

And so, for now, he abided by fine lines and had hesitantly, but nonetheless acknowledged, Iku's growth when he perceived it. Nowadays he seemed more sensitive to her changed self because he picked it up in more subtle actions of hers, like the time when she bothered to tip-toe around the fact that he was short when they cleaning Inamine's house in an attempt to show consideration, or the doubtfulness she expressed that they would be able to reach Library Base now that they were fleeing from the Media Better-ment Agency with Touma, the enemy's person of interest in their backseat, which showed her understanding of the gravity of the circumstances that beheld them.

Regardless of Kasahara's progress, there was always something that he could still help her, and that brought on an urge to aid her. Doujou was her superior, and it was exactly why he was there above her in rank in the first place. It was his duty.

But duty exactly didn't seem to be there when Iku had surely but gently wrapped her fingers around his. In the darkness of the flying shipping container, what Doujou thought to be an only slight questionable action for a superior officer to do to their subordinate in distress, his light covering of her hand over his, turned right to run straight across that fine line and it delved into a an airy, gloating weight that nestled into his own chest. But fine lines didn't matter right then. She responded to him, and it was pleasing. More than pleasing. Whether it was because he knew her nervousness was lessened, or that her fingers had willingly clutched his, or both, Doujou hadn't known because he decided that recognition was a dangerous spell to cast and sought to stay away from it. He wanted to be close but being close lead to things that needed to be mentioned.

And so, as briefly as Doujou clutched Iku's fingers and palm a bit tighter, he also allowed the slow crawl of coldness seep back into his hand after he let go.

First fic ever. I don't know if I'm doing this well...but will edit if I can find a better way to express this OTP of mine.