Author's Note: 08/27/18

University. Paperworks. And finally... love begins :blush: That and it's already 3 in the morning, haha.

Without further ado, here's the second chapter of HwM! Enjoy~


DISCLAIMER: Hataraku Saibou belongs to the one and only, Akane Shimizu-sensei~


Ai wished she could travel back in time and saved herself from humiliation as the red-haired intern held her phone against her ear. Or what she thought was hers. She face palmed at her own stupidity, her thoughts practically racing on that fateful meeting. Not only did she managed to make a commotion for the whole cafe to see, she accidentally exchanged her phone with the man. No wonder people kept asking her for a 'Yuuichi-san' whenever she picked up calls. One time, that one guy who called himself as 'Satou' even dubbed her as 'Yuuichi's secret girlfriend'- or whatever that meant. That and the unrest Ai felt when she never received one from neither Shiori or Keiko.

Keiko, though, seemed like she knew something she didn't. The nurse kept grinning deviously at her whenever they met, refusing to say anything except that she was glad the intern found someone so honorable and handsome(?) as him. Ai never got the chance to ask her properly when the woman received yet another call.

And have someone call her as 'Ani-ue' on the process.

Only then did Ai realized that she has been answering phone calls meant for the man named Shiro or Yuuichi formally. Ai screamed on her pillow that one night, blushing furiously while muttering apologies to the man. She has been preparing for their upcoming preliminaries, either too busy or sleep-deprived to notice that both phones has the same model. It was an easy mistake but still! Ai pressed her already red face against her rabbit plushie when heard a soft chuckle from the other line.

Shirogane Hisoka, as the caller addressed herself, seemed unperturbed when she told her side of the story. She could hear traces of surprise but amusement seemed far more prominent on her voice. [I apologize for my brother, Ai-san. You see, we recently came back from an investigation but if he noticed earlier, he would have given it back to you personally.]

"It's fine, Shirogane-san. You both were busy people, after all."

[Still, there's a fine line between diligent and a workaholic person.]

Ai blinked. Well, that was new. "Could it be that Shirogane-san-?"

[Ani-ue usually works 15-16 hours a day with his squad, sometimes 20 if we get nasty cases like before. I don't have any idea how he can even manage to work functionally with minimal rest.]

"If I have to say myself, Shirogane-san, you're doing the same thing as your brother." Ai chuckled when her gaze caught the blaring numbers on her digital clock. Past two in the morning and the female was working still. The red-haired intern could hear her typing, papers rustling and hushed whispers on the background.

Ai imagined her grinning when Hisoka replied. [I'll be great if Ani-ue rest once I told him that.]

"... Is he still out there?" The female Shirogane said nothing, merely humming to her query. The red-haired intern sighed. "I should be the one apologizing instead, though."

[Whatever for, Ai-san?]

"If only I realized sooner, I would have dropped his phone on your station. Or tried to contact you or someone among his ranks." The intern turned, her gaze finding purchase on the night sky through her window. Endless sea of stars seemed to twinkle at once while she spoke, silver moonlight passing through the aperture. "Still, he should pay attention to his health. Aside from stress, Shirogane-san may suffer from insomnia or any sleep-related health problems and burnout. Is he even eating right? Caffeine must be regulated and- Shirogane-san?"

Ai could hear the female bordering from a simple giggle to outright laughter in a second notice.

[Ah, I'm sorry. I just remembered something from this morning.] Hisoka snickered once more before she proceeded. It was never a secret to begin with. [You see, there had been a commotion among my brother's ranks when we arrived yesterday morning. I found their behavior normal considering that they're all childhood friends but Satou-san mentioned something about Ani-ue hiding a 'girlfriend' or something. Ani-ue seemed confused but I guess it warranted everyone's interest.]

"I-I'm sorry about that. I tried to explain but-" Yes, she could hear the man's excited holler from the receiver as he yelled that their beloved squad leader finally has a fucking girlfriend the first time he called. Ai, flushed red and embarrassed, tried but the line already cut off before she could say a thing.

[It's fine. Ani-ue will surely help you clearing that up.] The red-haired sighed, the invisible weight that she was carrying for the past few days disappearing. Keiko has been teasing her since it all happened; at least, she'll have help explaining the misunderstanding.

"Thank you very much! You don't know how much this will mean to me."

[Trust me, I know.] Ai beamed. The female Shirogane sounded like an intimidating person at first but she was sweet and kind behind the exterior, something that enlightened the young woman. "Ah! That reminded me, Shirogane-san-"

[Hisoka would be fine, Ai-san. You've been addressing me formally since earlier. Plus, there are two Shiroganes, Ani-ue being the other one.]

"T-Then, Hisoka-chan, about your brother's phone..."

[Knowing Ani-ue, he'll either call you or send you a message in regards to that matter. Can you hold out until then?]

"You can trust me on that, Hisoka-chan." She replied, marking her journal about the prior meeting. If the female Shirogane forgot on a certain point (she's busy and she can't help it, she thought), Ai made a mental note to call her cell. It was high chance that Yuiichi had hers to begin with.

An hour and a half later and a promise to meet on their next day off, Hisoka finally bid goodnight. [It truly is nice talking with you, Ai-san.]

"And I to you, Hisoka-chan." The said female laughed softly.

[Honestly speaking, I finally get why Satou-san and the rest pester Ani-ue about you. At this point of time, I certainly believe that you'll be good for my brother, Ai-san.] Ai merely stared, her smile almost half-frozen as words sank slowly. The gentle shower that came over the city, soft humming from their fan and even Yui mumbling beside her- everything seemed to stop when the intern finally realized what the young officer implied. Ai stuttered, words trying to come out at once as she felt her face burning red.

[I should be going now. Have a good day ahead of you, Ai-san.]

"Wait-!" The line went dead. Her eyes never left the screen until it shut off itself. Yui turned as the female covered herself and trying to banish Hisoka's final words from her mind. And for once, Ai knew that sleep has already abandon the lost cause which was her.


"You're such a sly matchmaker, Shirogane." Hisoka merely leaned back, paper works all stacked up on one side accordingly as another female occupied the other half with her arms crossed. The female officer met the woman's gaze, a perfect eyebrow shooting up on her hairline suggestively before an accomplished smile graced her lips. The woman, Fujioka Fumio, tsk-ed disapprovingly despite the playful smirk donning her glossy lips. "Yuuichi won't be happy if he hears that you set him up."

Hisoka grabbed her mug of tea, sipping innocently as if nothing happened. "You've been gone for a while, Fumio-san. *Code 10-18?"

The female cursed. "The bastard's planning to cross the border. I gave my reports to the officials. It's up to Hasegawa-san now whether he mobilize *SAT for the operation or not. And speaking of SAT, what's this I hear from Satou? Your brother got himself a girlfriend?" The woman threw her arms on the air. "Fucking finally!"

"I don't think that's the case. Yet." Fumio looked thoughtful, her confound gaze falling on the blonde.

"So, they're not an item? Then, what the hell are you doing just now?" She asked, pertaining to the woman's conversation when she entered. The sniper waited for Hisoka to finish her tea before standing beside the desk while the female Shirogane arranged her table neatly, face almost neutral if not for the small smile decorating her lips.

"Ani-ue needed to get a life." Fumio chortled, wiping a fake tear from her eyelid while the blonde officer continued. "Mother's afraid that he'll eventually marry his work if he didn't settle soon."

"And now, your matchmaking him with someone he barely knows? You're evil." The sniper shook her head in disbelief. The woman enjoyed watching them 'cause why not? The Shirogane siblings were brilliant pranksters! And she never got bored when she had time to kill before her next assignment.

In her current case, chasing the most wanted criminal across the city.

Deciding to leave her the woman on her business, Fumio patted the female Shirogane's shoulder in support and strode towards the chief's room. Hiba Ryuuichi might be a workaholic meathead, strict and hasty for the others to see. Behind closed doors, however, he was a watchful boyfriend. Her matters, either personal ones or work-related, became his matters. The sniper chuckled to her person.

It was rather cute and rare for him. Ryuuichi's flushed face was worth the fight they have on the training area every single day-off they had. As she turned around the corner, Fumio called the female Shirogane's name and smirked.

"Remind me to never get on your bad side, you hear?!" She shouted , obviously pertaining to the female Shirogane's shenanigans. Hisoka sipped her tea in silence, a wide smile plastered on her lips as she waved. Meanwhile, officers who have been lingering sweatdropped, shaking their head when several newly-appointed newbies asked what was that about.

"Oh, that?" The policeman said, sipping on his own tea as well. "Just a normal day in a police station, don't mind them."


[Good morning, Akagawa-san.]

[I apologize for sending this message so early in the morning. But, may I ask if you are available today?]

[If so, can we meet at that shed five blocks away from Kanegawa Private?]

[I'll be waiting for your confirmation. - Shirogane Yuuichi]

Sent 5:40 am.


I'm sorry? :laughs hysterically:

Though to be fair, there'll be heavy interaction between the two soon so...

Dictionary:

1. SAT. pertaining to Special Assault Team. They are the police tactical units of the Japanese Police. They are established in some prefectural police departments supervised by the National Police Agency. They get called in when regular police are out of their depth. Since the 1960s, law enforcement agencies have trained small teams of officers for dangerous situations and outfitted them with military equipment.

2. Code 10-18. Police radio code for urgent situation/emergency situation.