[City Police HQ - Late Evening]
[The dim hum of the fluorescent lights overhead buzzed in the silence of the records office. Captain Reina Kanzaki sat alone at a corner desk, a lukewarm cup of coffee resting untouched beside a mountain of reports. Her fingers carefully flipped through a thick folder labeled: Classified: Grail Guerilla - Alleged Underground Expansion. It was heavy, overstuffed.]
Reina: thinking Sovereign Circle... you slippery bastards. Always leaving just enough to be a ghost.
[As she flipped through faded reports, surveillance photos, and informant notes, a single sheet slipped out and glided to the floor. Reina blinked. It wasn't part of the folder.]
[She frowned, leaning down to pick it up.]
["Incident Report: Ukyo Subdivision Massacre - Case ID #U-4576"
Status: Unresolved
Not Authorized for Public Disclosure]
[Her expression hardened. That name hadn't come up in years. Her eyes darted across the page, absorbing the cold, brutal summary of what happened in Ukyo: unexplained explosions, charred bodies, missing civilians... and a survivor's report about strange masked individuals and experimental tech.]
[The moment her eyes met the title, her body froze.]
[A bitter silence swelled around her, and she stared at the paper for a long, motionless moment—long enough for the suppressed memories to rise.]
Reina:quietly ...So it's still buried in here after all this time...
[She turned the page, and there it was—the same night she'd tried to forget. The report gave cold, clean facts: unidentified explosions, scorched structures, multiple casualties, missing persons... but what it didn't mention were the screams, the smoke, the blood on her hands.]
[And the small hand she never held again.]
Reina: thinking You were there too, weren't you... Sera?
[Her fingers gripped the edge of the document, knuckles pale. The image of a little girl flashed in her mind—bright crimson-red eyes, short raven black hair, always trailing behind her with a stuffed rabbit in hand.]
[She swallowed hard.]
Reina: muttering Back then, I couldn't protect you. I was barely even alive myself...
[The fire. The chaos. She remembered the way she had woken up in the rubble, sirens wailing in the distance, her sister nowhere to be found. The official report marked Sera as "presumed dead." But Reina had never found a body.]
Reina:softly I joined the force to get stronger. To find them... the ones who did this. And maybe, somehow... to find you.
[She stood, stiffly, pocketing the document with care. Whatever the Sovereign Circle was planning, it wasn't over—and neither was her past.]
[Not until she found the truth.]
[Not until she found Sera.]
[The Next Morning - City Police HQ]
[The morning sun crept through the blinds, casting long stripes of gold across stacks of untouched paperwork. The office, still quiet before the day began, was broken only by the soft click of polished shoes approaching.]
[Ryou Ishijima, Reina's second-in-command, pushed open the office door—only to find her slumped at her desk, arms folded beneath her head, asleep beside the now—cold coffee and scattered files.]
[He blinked, mildly surprised.]
Ryou:softly Captain...? You stayed here all night again?
[Reina stirred, slowly lifting her head. Her hair was slightly tousled, and there were faint creases on her cheek from the desk. She blinked in confusion for a moment before realizing where she was.]
Reina: groggy ...What time is it?
Ryou: Just past seven. You missed dinner, and probably a good night's sleep. Again.
[She sat up straighter, rubbing her neck with a tired sigh.]
Reina: Damn... I lost track of time.
[Ryou glanced at the files, noticing the Ukyo Subdivision Massacre document still poking out beneath her notes. He didn't say anything, but the look on his face told her he'd noticed.]
Ryou: quietly You found something, didn't you?
[Reina met his gaze, pausing for a moment.]
Reina: ...Maybe. Or maybe I found something I wasn't ready to see again.
Ryou: gently Is it about your sister?
[Reina nodded slightly, the weight behind the motion far heavier than it looked.]
Reina: The past keeps circling back, Ryou. And this time, I don't think it's just memory haunting me.
Ryou: softly You know I've got your back, right?
[She gave him a faint smile—small, tired, but genuine.]
Reina: I know. Thanks.
[Ryou looked at the stack of papers again.]
Ryou: You still planning to tackle the Sovereign Circle on your own?
Reina:with quiet resolve No. But I won't sit back either. Not anymore.
[She stood, stretching slightly and brushing off her coat.]
[Ryou let out a quiet sigh and stretched his arms above his head, loosening up as the early shift buzzed faintly in the background.]
Ryou:lightly teasing Well, I guess I'll start brewing coffee and get this day rolling... but you should seriously think about going home and catching a few hours of sleep in an actual bed.
Reina:already reaching for another file I'm fine, really. I've had worse.
Ryou: crossing his arms Reina.
[She paused, raising a brow at him.]
Reina: You're pulling rank on me?
Ryou: smirking Not as your subordinate—just as someone who's known you long enough to tell when you're running on fumes. Go home. Rest.
[She glanced at her desk, at the faded document beneath her fingertips, then back at him. For a moment, it looked like she might argue again—but the tiredness in her eyes betrayed her.]
Reina: softly ...Alright. Just for a few hours.
Ryou:relieved Good. Don't make me call your landlord to check if your bed still exists.
Reina:half-laughing It does. I just forgot what it feels like.
[She finally grabbed her coat and moved toward the door.]
Ryou:as she left And Reina? Whatever you found in that file... we'll handle it. Together.
[She stopped at the doorway, glancing over her shoulder.]
Reina:quietly I know.
[And with that, she stepped out into the light of a new day—haunted by the past, but not facing it alone.]
[As Reina stepped out of the office, adjusting her coat and brushing a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, the door opened again-this time revealing Officer Shin Hakisachi, coffee in one hand, tablet in the other.]
[She blinked when she nearly bumped into her.]
Shin: Oh-Captain. Didn't expect to see you leaving at this hour.
Reina: half-smiling Miracles happen, Shin. Don't get used to it.
[Shin gave a short chuckle, stepping aside to let her pass as she headed toward the elevators.]
Shin: calling back lightly Well, the precinct might fall apart without you.
Reina: over her shoulder Then it's a good time to test your independence.
[With that, she was gone.]
[Shin stepped into the office and found Ryou already settling at his desk, sleeves rolled up and the smell of fresh-brewed coffee wafting from the side table.]
Shin: grinning You're up early, as usual.
Ryou: Someone's gotta open the place. Reina nearly burned herself out again-finally convinced her to go home for once.
[Shin let out a low whistle as she set her coffee down.]
Shin: That's rare. What got her to budge?
Ryou: Her eyes. She's been carrying something heavy since last night. That file on the SoveCle stirred up something personal.
[Shin's expression sobered. She glanced at the desk and spotted the document peeking out from beneath a stack of notes.]
Shin: quietly ...She's not gonna let this one go, is she?
Ryou: shaking his head No. And I don't think we should let her handle it alone either.
Shin: nodding Then let's start digging.
[The two exchanged a look of silent understanding. Another day was beginning-and the shadow of the Sovereign Circle loomed just a little closer.]
[Meanwhile-at Shirou's house]
[Golden morning light filtered through the curtains, painting the walls in a gentle hue. The air was still, quiet save for the faint rustle of leaves outside the window and the occasional chirp of birds greeting the day.]
[Shizuka stirred first, blinking sleepily as she took in her surroundings. Her gaze fell on the soft profile beside her-Shirou, still sound asleep, a peaceful expression across his face. His arm had shifted in the night, now resting lightly between them on the blanket, dangerously close to her own.]
[She stared for a moment, then let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.]
Shizuka: For someone who claims to be a light sleeper, you sure slept like a rock today.
[She smiled to herself, then gently shifted the blanket as she sat up. Her legs touched the cool wooden floor, and she stood slowly, stretching with a quiet yawn.]
[As she reached for the curtain to peek outside, she heard rustling behind her.]
Shirou: half-asleep ...What time is it?
[She glanced over her shoulder to see him blinking the sleep away, hair slightly messy, one eye open in a sleepy squint.]
Shizuka: gentle Still early. Maybe around six. The sun's just rising.
Shirou: Ugh... mornings...
[He sat up slowly, scratching the back of his head.]
Shirou: You didn't sleep well?
Shizuka: I did, actually. Your bed's... comfy. Didn't expect that from a guy who lives in organized chaos.
Shirou: grinning Hey! I keep my chaos arranged by priority.
Shizuka: smiling Sure, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night.
[Shirou laughed under his breath, finally pushing off the bed and walking toward the window, standing beside her. The two of them looked out over the quiet neighborhood, bathed in warm orange light.]
[For a while, neither spoke. It was the kind of silence that didn't need to be filled.]
[Eventually, Shizuka broke it with a quiet murmur.]
Shizuka: ...It's strange.
Shirou: glancing at her What is?
Shizuka: Waking up like this. In someone else's room. Sharing space. Feeling safe.
[Shirou's expression softened.]
Shirou: I get that. But you're not just anyone, Shizuka.
[She looked at him then, her eyes searching his face.]
Shizuka: quietly Neither are you.
[Another silence. Deeper this time. There was something in the air-unspoken, unforced, but present. Neither rushed to label it.]
Shirou: lightly, to break the tension Wanna eat? I can make breakfast. Nothing fancy though-just eggs and toast.
[He stood and rolled his shoulders with a yawn, walking over to the window beside her. They stood there in silence for a moment, the golden morning light casting a quiet calm between them.]
Shirou: Want to help? Or are you just going to watch me work magic again?
Shizuka: playfully I think I'll supervise. Make sure you don't burn the toast again.
Shirou: mock-offended That was one time!
Shizuka: Sure, sure. One time. Just like the 'one time' you mistook sugar for salt.
[He groaned, rubbing his face, but he was smiling. This kind of banter-they were getting used to it.]
[As they left the room, Shizuka trailing just behind him, her expression softened. Watching him move so naturally, leading the way like always, she felt a warmth in her chest.]
[She wasn't sure what it was yet.]
[But it felt good.]
[As Shirou and Shizuka made their way down the stairs, the scent of coffee and toasted bread drifted through the house. Laughter echoed from the living room. Kei, Ryokou, and Mio were already awake, sitting cross-legged around a small stack of playing cards on the floor.]
Kei: not looking up Finally! The chef awakens.
Ryokou: grinning And the supervisor too, huh?
Shizuka: calmly Just making sure he didn't oversleep again.
Shirou: Okay, okay. Everyone's a comedian today.
[Then, Mio peeked up from her cards with a sly smirk tugging at her lips.]
Mio: Hmm... speaking of waking up-together-should we ask why the two of you came down from the same room this morning?
Shirou: immediately flustered Oi-! It's not like that!
Shizuka: hands behind her back, composed My room was full. I didn't really have a choice.
Mio: playfully Uh-huh. I'm sure the bed was just so tiny that you had no choice but to sleep right next to each other, huh?
Ryokou: teasing Did Shirou snore? Or did he talk in his sleep about saving the world again?
Kei: Or maybe she's the one who talks in her sleep. The mystery deepens.
Shirou: waving his hands Okay, okay! That's enough conspiracy theories for one morning.
Shizuka: with a tiny, amused smirk Let them talk. We know the truth.
Mio: leaning back dramatically Ugh, you're both no fun. At least blush a little, you two!
Shirou: I did! You just missed it!
[They all laughed, the usual morning chaos warming the space more than the sunlight ever could. Shirou slipped into the kitchen with practiced ease, already pulling out pans and ingredients, while Shizuka poured herself some tea, pretending not to smile too much.]
[In this small moment, everything felt... peaceful. And maybe, just maybe, a little closer than yesterday.]