Disclaimer: Not mine
Notes: Post series, spoilers apply
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It was amazing how much of Ban Hoji had taken for granted. How he had no concept of indoor voices-- or personal space. How he would charge in without thinking and leave the others (i.e. Hoji) to save his ass when he got in over his head. How he would come into his room without even knocking and start prattling on about the day as if Hoji had invited him to spend the night.
How he could inspire their team to do the impossible. How he could find the clue that solved the case while the rest of them couldn't get past the little details. How he had made sure he could finally meet his sister's fiancé.
... And how he had always let Ban stay the night, no matter how annoyingly cheerful he was in the mornings.
"And then Akayama falls all over Akane-chan! He says it was an accident, but anyone with eyes can tell that he likes her. Poor guy, he's so desperate at this point he'll find any excuse to have her in his arms." Ban grinned at Hoji over his shoulder. "Don'tcha think so?"
"Just because he's uncoordinated doesn't mean he's in love with her." Hoji rolled his eyes, but he grinned back. Moments like this were just one of the countless things about Ban he had taken for granted-- until Ban was gone.
Not too long ago, he would have 'conveniently' remembered that he needed to do some paperwork. Today, he listened as Ban went back to the torrid love affairs of his Fire Squad teammates.
Because he will never take anything about Ban for granted again.