Disclaimer: Deka is not mine

Notes: Spoilers for the end of the series

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Ban's still a little amazed at how much Tetsu has grown in these past few days. Yes, he had the gold badge and was trained by the likes of Numa O and Lisa Teagle, but the person behind that badge was... well, even Ban thought of him as a kid. He was even younger than Umeko and always surprised by the twists and turns of investigation. He spat out his coffee when he was finally clued in that Jasmine and Umeko were more than just good friends, and spent a week's worth of free time sulking in his quarters when it became apparent that his schoolboy crush on Swan-san was doomed to remain just that. So when Tetsu told him it'd be all right if he left to join the Fire Squad because he'd be there to keep the other four members of their team from falling into complacency, he thought it was a nice gesture, but nothing more than that.

But... Tetsu kept his promise to him after all. He did what had to be done, what the others couldn't bring themselves to do, proving himself through a trial by fire that the team would be in good hands.

He went with Tetsu when he asked to be re-assigned as leader of the Earth branch Deka, since Akaza Banban was transferring off planet. The officer they'd spoken with was a middle-aged man who looked as if he and his desk were a single entity told Tetsu in no uncertain terms that wasn't going to happen, his skills as a Tokkyou were being wasted and he had no idea what Teagle was thinking when she let him stay in the first place, and the only way he'd get the assignment was if he turned in his gold badge for a silver one. Ban was more than ready to knock some sense into the mandesk monster but Tetsu held him back.

"Very well. I'll go ahead and fill out the necessary paperwork. Thank you for your time."

He tried getting him to change his mind, but Tetsu would have nothing of that, reminding him he still had a promise to keep. So here Ban was now, able to pursue his career and his dreams, and he had Tetsu to thank for that. He's done so much for him, and grown so much. He doesn't think he'll be calling him kouhai again anytime soon.

He's not quite sure what to make of that yet.

"There you are!" It's daybreak now, and he can see Tetsu clearly as he rushes up to him. He points to the different colored badge he wears now, proudly displaying the symbol of his lowered ranking in SPD. "Silver looks better with white and blue than gold, don't you think?"

Ban smiles at that. "Still think you're up to keeping my old teammate on their toes? They can be pretty damn stubborn when they want."

The new leader of the Earth Branch wags a finger good-naturedly. "Nonsense. I'm doing what I love; I'll be all right. We'll all be."

"... You really have grown up, haven't you?"

"Hm?"

"Oh, nothing. C'mon, I wanna say good-bye to the others. Partner will probably cry if he doesn't see my face one last time."

They leave together, ready to face the day.

Author's Note Kouhai means underclassman, IIRC. If I'm wrong, please tell me and I'll correct it.