Yato had never actually asked Hiyori out on a date. He always, without fail, asked her to marry him. After the third proposal she started to give up hope he would ever stop and by the sixth she almost enjoyed his displays, they were very well put together after all. They were all well and good when she had no interest in him romantically, but now that she was planning on asking him out herself, she was worried that he might have planned proposal number seven for this year's holiday of love.

Was there a waiting period that needed to be waited out before asking someone out after turning them down? If there was did she need to observe it in this case, because Yato didn't genuinely expect her to say yes anymore, she knew perfectly well he just liked putting on the show and she was a victim of convenience. But still, if proposal number seven was coming soon it would make things more complicated, and she didn't want that.

Which is why her gut sank when she stepped off the elevator into the bullpen and noticed the dozen red roses sitting on her desk.

"Yato, it isn't until the day after tomorrow!" She said, glancing around the precinct to see if there were dancers hiding behind the filing cabinets. When she drew near her desk, however, she noticed Yato's sullen demeanor and heard his teeth grinding as he played half heartedly with Mickey. She almost sagged with relief.

"Oh, they're not from you?" She set her things down and plucked the card from the stand and read it out loud. "To Hiyori, thinking of you and hoping that you have a happy Valentines Day, Love Manabu." Yato huffed.

"Hiyori, did you get a boyfriend?" Yukine asked, looking at her roses.

"Don't be silly, of course not. Manabu is someone that I went on a couple of dates-"

"Three dates," Yato interjected.

"Three dates then, but I just wasn't in to him so I broke it off. Yato knows that and he's just being a child."

"If you only went on three dates why is he sending you flowers now?"

"He probably just doesn't want to spend Valentine's Day alone is all."

She shook her head and set the roses out of the way on a filing cabinet where they would be out of the way. She looked at Yato's expression and prayed that this wouldn't motivate him to propose again if he hadn't already been planning too.

"Yato my stapler is jammed again," Hiyori huffed.

"I keep telling you, you staple to aggressively," he said, picking up his stapler and trading it for hers.

"I have a lot of paper that I want to attach to each other! I can't finesse that kind of binding!" He chuckled as he used his pocket knife to pry the jam out of Hiyori's stapler before passing it back to her. "Here you go my love."

"Thanks." He looked up as she took back her stapler and saw the nervous flit of her eyes to the elevator as it chimed and let someone off, then the visible relief as a uniformed officer entered the room.

Curious he stopped working for a while to watch her. She jumped every time the elevator doors opened. What was that about? She cast him a suspicious glance when she thought he wasn't looking and he realized, could she be nervous that he was planning some big display? Usually she didn't mind- barring the first few- and she sat through his orchestrations with some good humor. What had changed?

He hadn't planned anything anyway, in all honesty Kazuma had gotten to him and he was starting to feel nervous about the prospect of her turning him down. It seemed much more high stakes now that Kazuma was encouraging him. However, as she did another suspicious scan of the precinct he knew what he would do. The displays made him happy, but what was that worth if they made Hiyori unhappy? Yato pulled a scrap of colored paper from his desk and got to work.

Once he finished his project he got to his feet and strode around their desks and extended his hand to Hiyori.

"Hiyori, can we talk in private a minute?"

"Oh dear."

He smiled patiently at her as she took his hand like she expected him to bite her. He led her by the hand to the evidence room and closed the door behind them.

"Usually I would do something loud and flashy and you would go along with it. I don't know what's changed this year, but you're clearly dreading that. I don't want to do something that will make you unhappy so here's my Valentine's Day gift to you this year-" he took her hands in his and leaned in close so he was murmuring in her ear, "I promise not to bother you this year, no flash mobs, or gifts, just some peace on a Hallmark holiday. He pressed a kiss to her temple and slipped the flower into her hand and then left her alone, heart pounding.

The door shutting snapped her out of her shock and she looked down at the small purple lotus that he had probably only just made. Her face broke into a smile.

"I love it."

Hiyori tucked the flower gently into her purse, still smiling, while Yato watched her out of the corner of his eye. She had obviously liked it, she looked so relieved and happy. He smiled and went back to work.

"Don't forget it's may last full weekday here, I go back to school tomorrow," Yukine reminded Yato as he handed him a file.

"Remember not to vandalize anymore!" Hiyori suggested.

"Or just get better at not getting caught!" Kofuku added.

"No! No more vandalizing!"

"Hiyori is right! We don't want you ending up back here in the holding cell!" Yato interjected.

"Which isn't to say we don't want you to call us if you're in trouble!" Hiyori added hurriedly.

"That's right! If you need bail money we want you to call us, but we don't want you to need bail money!"

Kazuma looked at the two poor souls trying to find the right words to express their feelings to an increasingly embarrassed and annoyed Yukine and decided to have mercy on them.

"They're trying to tell you that you can count on them, and they want you to be good," he said.

"Yes!" The two of them exclaimed.

"I'll miss having you around!" Yato continued.

"At least the first day Yukine is back at school is tactical village day. We won't have to listen to Yato moaning about missing him." Bishamon said.

"What's tactical village day?" Yukine asked.

"It's the best day of the year!" Yato exclaimed. "It's a mandatory police training day where all the precincts go and test out cool new weapons and run through a training drill. Last year it was prison break and it got pretty messy."

"Bishamon and I have both won coolest kill! That's all the cops from all the precincts sending around their footage and everybody voting on it," Hiyori told him.

"And Yato has never won?"

"Nope," Bishamon said smugly.

"I'll win this year for sure!"

"Yeah right, coolest kill is mine!" Hiyori retorted.

"Are you guys this competitive about everything?"

"Yes, they are," Daikoku said. "The only reason I don't tell them to knock it off is because it keeps their arrest numbers up and makes the precinct look good, and when the precinct looks good the brass stay off my back."

Yato practically leapt out of his car, slamming the door and vibrating with excitement.

"It's tactical village day!"

"We know, Yato, we're at the tactical village," Kazuma replied, not looking up from his equipment. Yato spun grandly and extended a hand towards Hiyori, which she ignored.

"Happy tactical village day, my love!"

"Happy tactical village day, Yato. Prepare to be destroyed."

"You know you're so attractive when you're out for blood."

Hiyori snorted so hard she dropped her weapon. It went off and a paintball fired right into Kiun's chest.

"Oh my God I'm so sorry Kiun!" Hiyori called. He shot her a dirty look and left to get another vest.

Yato, still laughing hysterically, picked the paintball gun up and returned it to her. She took it from him, glaring at him without malice.

"Shut up."

"You've gotten off to a really great start already, Hiyori, too bad that wasn't on video or you'd already be a contender for coolest kill."

"Alright guys, we're fourth on the schedule to run the simulation today so until then roam the facility and feel free to try out new equipment," Daikoku said, "and behave. I don't want any complaints against the nine-nine!"

"Yes sir!" The replied together. Bishamon and Kazuma left Hiyori and Yato behind to do whatever it was crazy ladies and their glasses wearing friends did.

"So what's first, crowd control or firearms?"

"Fire arms, duh!"

"I knew you'd say that!"

"Kazuma stand over there!" Bishamon said.

"No."

"What do you mean no?"

"I mean you're obviously holding a net launcher and you want to fire it at me."

"I'll let you fire it at me next!"

"That won't change my mind. They literally have mannequins set up right there for you to fire at."

"But that's no fun!"

"Daikoku asked us to behave, remember?" Kazuma asked sternly. Bishamon made a pouty face and fired at the mannequins.

"You never let me shoot you," She said.

"And I never will."

"Kill joy."

"Why are you so determined to shoot me?"

"Maybe that's how I flirt." Kazuma choked.

"Come on, let's try these," he said, turning towards another table of tester weapons. Bishamon shook her head and followed. If he keeps holding his emotions in eventually he's going to break, she thought.

"So these are the service weapons they'll be issuing to new recruits?" Yato asked, turning the pistol over in his hands.

"Yes, and I think to any officers whose service weapons are damaged."

"Makes sense, I'm glad they aren't replacing ours. I'd miss my gun, Tomone!"

"Why did you name your gun after your ex girlfriend, Yato?"

"Because she's loud and hurts people."

"Oh my God."

"Also she's got a nasty bite," he added seriously.

"WHAT?"

Yato turned away from her like he'd said nothing out of the ordinary, biting his lips to keep from smiling. Okay so Tomone had never actually bitten him, but Hiyori's reaction was amazing.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, you can't just say something like that! I need context!"

"Some things are best left unsaid."

"You never leave anything unsaid! That's your whole thing!"

"Not my whole thing."

"Ninety percent of your thing!"

"Well this is the last ten percent." Yato had to fight hard to keep the smile off his face because Hiyori's expression was priceless.

"You're seriously not going to tell me?"

"Seriously," he said, smiling mischievously at her gaping mouth.

"You are unbelievable." Yato fired three shots, each one landing square on the bullseye. Hiyori rolled her eyes and did the same, aim equally impeccable.

Kazuma had disappeared to somewhere when Bishamon came across the sound canon on the second floor of the building, with poor innocent Yato standing alone downstairs looking closely at the net canon she'd already played with.

Bishamon grinned as she flipped the sound on and directed it towards Yato, and turned the volume all the way up. She laughed maniacally as he hit the deck, shouting profanities and writhing around on the ground with nobody even looking his direction.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING TO MEEE? I CAN TASTE MY THOUGHTS!"

"Viina!" Kazuma snapped, flipping the canon off. Below them Yato's shouts stopped as Kazuma glared at her. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Just messing around!"

"You shouldn't behave that way, it will look bad on the precinct!"

"Come on, no one was even looking, and Yato would have done the same to me!"

"That's not the point, you shouldn't abuse police resources to feed this childish rivalry you have with him. It's not the proper way for a detective to behave!"

"Okay okay I get it!" She snapped.

"Good! I'd hate to see you slander the good name you've accrued over the years by being petty."

"I said okay! You can stop it with the eyebrow crease of intense disapproval!" Kazuma sighed heavily.

"What's the eyebrow crease of intense disapproval, Viina?"

"It's the look you get when me or Yato does something you really don't like. We named it in first grade."

"It's comforting that the two of you at least got along long enough to name an expression, I guess."

The one oh two exited the training course, grinning and high fiving as the nine nine prepared their weapons and equipment for their run through. When Manabu caught sight of Hiyori he split off from the group to greet her.

"Hey, Hiyori!"

"Hey, Manabu, haven't seen you in a while."

"Yeah, it has been a while. Hey, did you get the roses I sent you?"

"I did, they were lovely. By the way, your precinct looks pretty happy, did you guys do a good job?"

"Oh yeah! We had a perfect run and I think we broke the course record!"

"What? That's amazing!"

"Yeah! I gotta go, but I'll call you later!" He jogged to catch up with his coworkers and Yato spun around to the nine nine.

"Okay, new plan, we're going for a perfect run and to break that course record!"

"Wow I wonder if that has anything to do with Manabu literally just telling you that he did that exact thing," Kiun asked sarcastically.

"Shut up Kiun, it'll look good on the nine nine!"

"I'm not saying that I believe that this isn't a jealous thing, but I think it's a good idea," Daikoku said.

"I think it's a good idea too," said Kazuma.

"Alright then, nine nine on three! One, two, three!"

"Nine nine!" They broke out of their hype huddle and Daikoku left to be briefed on the simulation.

Hiyori took in Yato's determined expression and thought back to the little purple flower he had given her. Maybe he really is ready.

"Hey, Yato," Hiyori said, pulling him to the side. "How about a bet? Whoever gets the most kills wins and loser buys dinner."

"Dinner? Like, tonight?" She nodded. He blinked a few times, then nodded slowly. It's probably just a bet, relax. It was just one dinner. With Hiyori.

"You're on. Prepare for the most expensive date of your life!" He said, making an attempt at his usual bravado.

"That's fine, because I won't be the one paying for it!" She quipped back. She hadn't corrected him on the date thing. She probably expected me to know it's not a real date.

"Okay I've got the details for this years simulation. A group of armed men have broken into the embassy and taken hostages."

"Is the ambassador safe?" Kazuma asked.

"Unknown. This is an active shooter situation, you are cleared for maximum engagement."

"Bishamon and Kazuma you're perimeter security. Yato and Hiyori you're the assault team." The two high fived. "I'll be in the command center. Kiun, I want you escorting any hostages or civilians that the command and perimeter teams rescue."

"Yes Sarge!"

"You've got eighteen minutes and forty one seconds to beat this course record starting now!"

The five of them ran up the stairs on the balls of their feet to minimize noise and separated at the first intersection, Yato and Hiyori turning to head deeper into the 'embassy.'

They walked single file down the hall, turning to face every room they passed, guns held out in front of them at the ready. They turned into another hallway and saw someone with their chest pressed up against a wall.

"Turn around!" She commanded. The actor turned around and revealed a t shirt proclaiming him to be a bystander.

"Kiun," she said. He strode around her and approached the bystander.

"Come with me, I'll get you out of here."

Yato and Hiyori moved on, eventually coming upon two door right across from each other, Yato went left and Hiyori right, clearing the rooms at the same town. Hiyori took out two hostiles and returned to the hallway to be smug at Yato until he informed her that there had been three perps in his room.

"Whatever, I'll still win this," Hiyori said.

"You're dreaming."

"Yato, Hiyori, I've got intel that there is a room full of hostiles up ahead, no hostages."

They proceeded with much caution until they came to the last room in the hallway where the hostiles had to be. Yato held up his fingers, silently counting down.

Three, two, one!

Yato went high and Hiyori went low, her four fired paintballs splattered across four gunman shirts, leaving Yato with the last two.

"Tie," she said simply before leaving the room.

"Do you want to get some dinner with me after this?" Bishamon asked. Kazuma gave her a strange look.

"You usually just tell me where we're going."

"Tonight I thought I'd let you choose."

"I actually have some hamburger meat that's about to spoil-"

"Kind of you to cook for me." Kazuma smiled.

"How is seven?"

"Sounds great." She smiled.

"Kazuma gripped her arm and yanked her out of the way when a shooter came around the corner and fired at her. Kazuma shot him twice before scanning her quickly to be sure she hadn't been hit.

"Looks like you're still in the game. The perfect run lives."

"No thanks to me, what would I do without you?"

"I'm more worried about what I'd do without you," he said, releasing her. She felt a faint heat grow in her cheeks.

"Probably be fine."

"I somehow don't think so."

"Let's just get back to the simulation then, and I'll try to watch my back."

"Don't worry about that, I'll do it for you." She suppressed a smile.

"Kazuma, Bishamon, your floor has been cleared, Yato and Hiyori have closed in on the location of the ambassador and have been instructed not to breech without backup."

"Yes sir."

As soon as Yato laid eyes on Kazuma he briefed him.

"At least eight hostiles in this room, four hostages, one is the ambassador. It's unknown if there are any other points of entry."

"Got it, ideally we would check for other entrances but we don't have much time to beat the course record. We have to do a hard entry. Yato and I go low, Hiyori and Bishamon go high."

"Got it."

"Viina you're first through the door."

"Right."

Kazuma stood back, weapon at the ready, and counted down quietly. "One, two, three!" Bishamon charged in, followed by Yato and Hiyori, then himself, but all the perps were already paint splattered by the time he made it through the door.

A door behind Kazuma creaked and all their heads snapped in that direction, but Hiyori reacted fastest, spinning and firing three shots before Kazuma had even lifted his weapon.

"Yes!" She cried, "I win!"

"Eighteen minutes and twenty seconds! You did it!" Daikoku said. The four of them cheered.

"So where am I taking you tonight?" Yato asked bemused. Kazuma opened his mouth to reply that he already had plans when he realized Yato hadn't been talking to him.

"I'm thinking Italian."

"Great, so Pizza Hut."

"No! Good italian food! I seem to recall being promised the most expensive date of my life!"

"You remember that, huh?"

"What?" Bishamon asked.

"A date?" Kazuma added.

"Yato and I made a bet on who would kill more hostiles today, and he said it would be the most expensive date of my life."

"You're regretting that already."

"To be fair I thought I would win."

"That makes one of us." Yato opened his mouth to retort, then closed it, the corners of his mouth pulling up into an evil smile.

"What's going on, why do you have mischief face?"

"You know, I can pull a lot together with a big budget and a short time frame."

"Wait- no! Remember your promise!"

"Damn! I wouldn't have made that promise if I knew this bet was coming, I already had such good plans!"

"How! You lost the bet sixteen seconds ago!"

"I always have good date ideas for a date with you!"

"Yeah that tracks."

"I'll pick you up at eight?"

"Seven is better!"

"Yeah you know where she lives," Bishamon said, taking Hiyori by the arm and dragging her out of the room. She waited until they were out of earshot of the boys before asking.

"Um? What happened to waiting for the right moment?"

"I think I found it."

"What makes you say that?"

"Well, yesterday when he dragged me into the evidence room he gave me this little origami flower he said my gift this year was that he wouldn't do anything outlandish and make me uncomfortable. And he was really nice to Manabu today and I really think he's matured."

"Can't believe you're finally dating him."

"What about you and Kazuma?"

"He's cooking for me tonight." Hiyori raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Oh really? You'll be in his apartment," she said suggestively.

"Shut up."

"Are you finally going to tell Kazuma that you're dating?"

"Maybe." Hiyori made a frustrated sighed and dragged Bishamon forward.

"So do you think we should totally dress up and freak them out?"

"Absolutely I do."

"Did I hear what I think I heard or did I have a small stroke? You got a date with Hiyori and didn't tell me?"

"No! I'm not even sure it's a real date."

"She literally called it a date like two minutes ago you were standing right there."

"Yeah, but it was the prize for a bet, I think she just called it a date because she expects me to know she doesn't mean it."

"You sound so stupid right now."

"That's mean!"

"It's true. Whose idea was the bet?"

"Hers." Kazuma gave him a meaningful look.

"Oh yeah well what about you and Bishamon?"

"She...decided she's coming to my place tonight."

"WHAT?" Yato cried. The girls turned around and gave them confused looks before returning to whatever evil they were plotting.

"Yeah, I'm kinda freaked out."

"You should have lead with that! What if she's gaining access into your home to murder you?"

"She's not going to kill me, Yato, be serious."

"Okay, sorry. Maybe she's planning to make her move tonight since you're a scaredy cat piss baby."

"Am not!"

"So we both have maybe dates tonight?"

"Maybe."

Hiyori looked at herself in the mirror and spun around a little bit, biting her lip. Maybe she should change. She looked really nice, and she'd feel awkward if Yato wasn't as dressed up as she was. She snapped a picture of her outfit and sent it to Bishamon.

H: Too much?

B: OH MY GOD KILL HIM

H: Are you saying I look good or requesting that I murder him

B: yes

Hiyori sighed and put her phone away, yet again considering changing her outfit when a knock came at her door. Since when does he knock?

"Coming!"

Yato shifted from foot to foot while he waited for Hiyori to answer the door. What if I'm too dressed up? What if she thinks I think it's a date? Then the door opened and Yato stopped thinking all together.

"He-oooh Hiyori, holy shit." She grinned, her cheeks heating up.

"You look nice too." She closed the door behind herself and locked the door, then looked at the now red faced Yato. "Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah. Let's go." He seemed to come back to his senses.

"So the best italian in town is booked, being that it's the day before Valentine's day."

"Should have seen that one coming."

"I got a reservation at a mid range restaurant that only takes walk ins by crying loudly and telling them it was my last chance to convince you not to dump me."

"Oh my god."

"So when we get there you have to be in character as my almost had it girlfriend."

"An undercover mission, how exciting," she joked.

"Should we stage a big argument?"

"Can I throw my drink in your face?"

"White wine then, I think."

"Good call."

"But maybe we shouldn't ruin everyone else's night?" Hiyori added thoughtfully as they waited for the elevator.

"You're right, fake fight is a bad idea, unless it just gives them a funny story to tell their future grandkids."

"Oh you drive a hard bargain."

"We might just have to read the room."

"Good plan."

Kazuma was stirring his beef stroganoff when a knock came at his door.

"It's open," He called. He didn't turn as the door opened and closed again, or when he heard her pause at the door and take her shoes off.

"It smells good."

"You're just in time, it's almost done."

"Perfect! Oh the table looks nice."

"Yato is apparently an expert on formal table settings, he demanded pictures and then made me arrange it 'properly' whatever that means."

"He goes to too many of those classes at the community center." Kazuma laughed.

"He's their best customer," He turned finally to see her standing next to the counter, looking at the case file he'd had open and looking over while he cooked. Thankfully she was distracted and didn't notice his reaction. He turned back to his cooking and hoped that if she noticed the heat in his face she'd attribute it to the heat from his stove.

"I remember this case, you briefed us on it last week, Yato is your second on it, right?"

"Yeah," he took the food off the heat and reached around her with his other hand to point to an image stapled in. "We think that this guy is the ring leader of this new drug ring, but we haven't been able to get close to him. He seems to have come out of nowhere and this is the only picture of him we have."

"And none of the people you caught are willing to flip on him?"

"No, and anyone we get too close too disappears."

"So he's dangerous."

"Very."

"But he's also another day's problem," She said, closing the case file.

"Ah, right."

"You should feed me now." He grinned and nodded before dishing out some beef stroganoff for the two of them. He handed her a plate and they sat across from each other at the table and started eating.

"You look nice," Kazuma ventured.

"Thank you, you look nice too. The food is good, I never would have guessed that it was made with almost spoiled meat." She beamed at him and he felt his chest swell.

"Did you see the look she gave you when she realized you were the guy with the reservation?" Hiyori murmured as they were seated.

"Yeah, remember you're supposed to be mad at me, this is a begrudging dinner."

"Of course, how's my face?"

"As beautiful as all your other faces!" Hiyori giggled.

"Don't make me laugh I'm pretending to be mad!" The waitress came and took their drink orders, and Hiyori held herself appropriately away from him while they ordered.

"I think it would be inappropriate to stage a big fight here, it looks like a bunch of people are here on dates."

"You're probably right, that sucks, I was looking forward to throwing a drink in your face, I ordered water and everything."

"What a shame."

"Actually I'm surprised that you didn't drive up to Hiiro's school after work to see her."

"I wanted too but she said it's lame to go out to eat with your brother on Valentine's Day."

"You better look out, she's turning into a teenager." Yato dragged his hands down his face in despair.

"I know and I don't want her too! I remember what I was like when I was a teenager! I was a nightmare!" Hiyori giggled.

"Oh don't worry, I'm sure she won't be nearly as bad as you, she's got someone really great looking out for her, after all." Yato beamed at her.

"Besides, you already got through that whole cult thing."

"God, don't remind me." Hiyori reached out and took Yato's hand, smiling comfortingly.

"Everything is going to be okay, she's got a cop older brother who loves her and a whole precinct full of people who would do anything for her." Yato squeezed her hand back and raised it to his lips to kiss her knuckles, surprised when she didn't pull away.

The waiter brought their food and set it in front of them before rushing off again, since the place was packed out he was probably feeling very overworked.

"Her mandatory probation is up in a few months, and outside the one incident with the poster she's been doing well and I haven't said anything because I didn't want to jinx it, but I think she might be home for the next semester of school."

"Yato that's great!" Hiyori cried, drawing the attention of a few nearby diners. She shrugged in apology before resuming more quietly. "I'm so happy for you! It'll be great to get to see her more often!" Yato grinned brightly.

"I didn't want to get my hopes up but… she's been on her best behaviour and, well, my hopes are up."

"I don't blame you, it's been forever since the two of you were able to live under the same roof." Yato nodded and squeezed Hiyori's hand, he was glad that he had told her now.

As they began cleaning up their dinner Bishamon decided that it was time to deal with the elephant in the room, and to stop letting Kazuma run from his feelings. She stood beside him at the sink and helped him wash dishes.

"You've been avoiding me."

"What do you mean?" He asked, taking a plate from her and rinsing it off.

"I mean earlier, when I said I was flirting, you ran away." The plate in his hand slipped and he barely caught it before it crashed into the other dishes in the sink.

"You know I can do this, you don't have to-" He started. Bishamon, aggravated, decided that enough was enough and seized him by the shirt collar and dragged his face down to hers. He stiffened for a moment before reaching out slowly to rest his hands on her hips, the soapy dish water soaking into her dress.

"You really need to stop running."