Disclaimer: Not mine

Notes: Spoilers for Episode 37.

"He's going to break something if he keeps this up," Kruger said, his voice level.

"If not someone," Jasmine responded, her voice every bit as level. She leaned back in her chair next to her Boss, watching the scene with mild interest: after discovering Hoji was leaving (and had a girlfriend), Ban had… acted exactly the way she'd thought he would. He'd grabbed the messenger (poor Sen-chan) in a headlock, when that didn't ease his rage, he'd then started shaking Tetsu with his free hand (she highly doubted anyone could break his headlock on Sen right now). Umeko had tried placating him, offering him one of her snacks… and when he'd shouted back that he wasn't some girl who needed chocolate to feel better, she'd thrown it at him. Ban was now sporting a chocolate bar-shaped bruise on his forehead, but it hadn't slowed him down.

It had been about then that Jasmine had realized that the best thing to do was find a spot beside Kruger and wish that she'd brought some popcorn with her.

But seeing how she didn't have any popcorn, Jasmine stood up, stretching. "I guess I should do something before he breaks something or someone?"

"If you'd please."

Jasmine tossed Kruger a salute. "Roger." She then stepped into the chaos, weaving between Sen and Tetsu's flailing, ignoring Umeko's shouting, waiting for the right opening-- and then she grabbed Ban's face in her hands, bringing him down to her level.

"Ban. Is Hoji yours?"

Ban's face fell (although he kept his hold on Tetsu and Sen). "Well, no, but he should've--"

"Did you ever try to make him yours? Kiss him or anything like that?"

"No…"

"Does he even know that you like him?"

Ban hung his head mumbling something that sounded like "If only…".

Jasmine gave him a sympathetic pat on the cheek. "Then like it or not, you're just going to have to let him go."

Ban's arms fell to his sides-- Sen rubbed his neck and Tetsu tried to work out the soreness in his shoulder, but Ban remained perfectly still. "I'm gonna miss him so much, Jasmine…"

"I am too. But this is what's best for Hoji."

Ban glanced at her, trying to smile-- and then Tetsu spoke. "Still, it seems weird that Hoji would be so sneaky about it, don't you think, sempai?"

"Why couldn't he tell me in the first place?!" Ban was all fury again, throttling Tetsu, launching into a rant about how awful his partner really was under that cool façade of his.

As for Jasmine, she quietly ducked into the hallway. Ban was going to be at it for awhile; no one would notice if she made a quick stop for popcorn.