Prompt: diligence

Set prior to the Spooky Boogie case, if you want specific timing!

Akane tapped at her compact, switching to the holo of her work uniform. Her real outfit wasn't that unprofessional, but still more relaxed than her usual. Karanomori and Kunizuka had recommended as much, saying third shift was much easier if she was comfortable.

She looked ahead to the familiar path to the tower, illuminating the way now that night had fallen. Her steps echoed in the corridors, and in the workroom, the lights were on. Her only coworker for the next eight hours was already there – where else could he possibly go? – and he was staring at his computer with a focused intensity. His side profile was impassive, no trace of the fierce hunter she'd witnessed only a week ago.

Despite his words of affirmation to her, she still couldn't figure him out yet.

"Good evening, Kougami-san." She greeted.

"Inspector." He swiveled to face her, the screen blocked behind him. "We're on until seven. Gino said you've never worked overnight?"

"No, I haven't. How is it?"

He shrugged. "You endure. Respond to alerts, but they're not frequent. Catch up on the day's work, and rest when you can."

"I see. Is that what everyone does?"

"Everyone except Kagari. He games until three in the morning, then passes out and wakes up at six to do everything at the last minute." Nevertheless, this was relayed with amusement and his smile then turned to her. "I have a feeling you won't do the same."

"Well, we're still on the clock…" She trailed off, embarrassment settling upon her. Was she being too rigid? "Um, where do we sleep?"

The question caught him off guard, because he blinked in surprise and suddenly averted eye contact. "…here, or the meditation lounge. Let me know what you prefer, and I'll take the other place." He returned to his computer, and she hurried to her own.

She typed her login info and fervently watched her monitor. It was going to be a long night.

It was actually easy to lose herself in work. Her inbox was full of tasks: reports to write, necessary edits, data checks, the occasional survey. Each completion was accompanied with a little rush of satisfaction, enough to buoy her through the next item. And when midnight was signaled by a soft chime, she stretched her arms above her head.

"Sounds like it's time for a break." Kougami stood, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Midnight snack. Do you want to come to the cafeteria?"

"Sure. I'm at a good stopping place, only five more to go."

He raised his eyebrows at that, holding the door open for her. "You'll be done early."

"I was going to work on pending tasks, the ones that won't be active until next week. I might as well get a head start on them."

"You should teach the others a thing or two about efficiency."

"Not you?"

"I always settle my business." He said with finality, jamming a thumb against the elevator button. "But you have an admirable work ethic, and as a detective, it'll pay off."

As a detective. It was a distant image, a more confident woman who knew to make the right calls and judgment. But compared to her first day, it wasn't as intimidating of a possibility. Slowly yet surely, she was getting there.

The cafeteria was eerily empty with just the idle drones, so she bought a single bottle of lemon tea and a cream bun. Kougami impatiently waited for his burger combo and agreed on eating in the workroom. Akane caught a glimpse of his screen, the black window of a video that had finished playing. She was curious but didn't bring it up, plunging into her inbox once more.

By two, her eyelids started to falter. An uncontrollable shiver overcame her. Oh. So this was the grueling part of third shift. She blearily looked to Kougami, who was still typing. His gaze slid to her.

"If you're tired, you should log off." He said.

However, that meant either of them had to leave, and the vacant unlit hallway made her inexplicably nervous. She hedged. "I'll rest my eyes." And she really did try.

It didn't last. The clanging of the alarm was so loud, Akane could feel it in her teeth. A noise escaped her, a half-scream of panic. "What's going on?!"

"Psycho-Hazard." Kougami was pulling on his fur-lined jacket. "Damn it. Why does something always happen at four in the morning?"

They stumbled out to the garage, boarding the paddy wagon. The ride was thankfully short; she would have fallen asleep if the teenagers had been any further away. A petty dispute had unfolded, messy romantic drama between three members of the group. It took multiple attempts with the Komissa mascots plus Kougami's threatening lift of the Dominator, before they agreed to go to mental care without fuss.

And Akane had to write the report.

However, Kougami offered. "I can help with the sections that are duplicated in the Enforcer version. I'll write them up and send the info."

Then, it was silent except for the keys under their fingertips. She was making typing errors, which was embarrassing. Somehow, she powered through. Not her best, but all of the information was there in some way. She duplicated the text Kougami provided, and he rolled his chair towards hers.

"Let me read it over." He was fast yet thorough, pointing out a clarification here and there. He must have read many Inspector reports, to be this experienced. Their sleeves were touching; she dimly noticed how his forearm was solidly muscled. At last, he nodded. "It looks great."

"Thank you, Kougami-san. I couldn't have done it without you." She smiled, delirious with relief.

"You did most of the work, Inspector." But his expression was approving, and he clapped her shoulder before rolling away. "You should sleep some more."

"Okay." Too exhausted to move any further, she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She was anticipating his departing footsteps but they never came.

He's staying here, I guess. That's nice-

"Tsunemori."

Akane jolted. "Huh?" Her mouth was dry, and she hastily sat up. Kougami's hand slipped off her shoulder, which quickly cooled.

"It's the end of our shift. You can rest at home."

"O-oh. Okay. Did you need anything else, Kougami-san?" Her eyes felt swollen, and she rubbed them vigorously.

"No, I'm fine, about to head out. Good work, Inspector." His voice was very low. This close, he smelled like cigarette smoke and coffee. Was he planning to continue working…and why?

But she could think about it when she was fully awake. Traveling to her apartment was a haze, and she didn't even bother activating Candy for once. Instead, she collapsed on her bed and sank into warm dreamless sleep.

In the future, she wouldn't mind working third shift again, if it was with him.