"I'm adding a fourth rule!" Kagari proclaimed, raising a hand into the air. "Dares must only be targeted at non-players!"

Akane felt herself smile sheepishly.

"Oh, it was because of yesterday, right?" she observed.

"That was a low blow, Akane-chan," he commented. "You were on the tip of violating rule three as well. Kunicchi pulled that one off surprisingly well."

"Surprisingly?" Yayoi echoed.

Kagari didn't bother elaborating and picked up the Dare Box for his new mission of the day.

Move every single one of your boss' plants to random places around the room. 1 point.

At that, Akane frowned.

"How did the Dare Box know Inspector Ginoza grew plants?" she inquired.

Kagari shrugged. "Maybe it's a stereotype. The big, mysterious, boss-man always having a potted plant in his office or something."

"I thought it was a cat."

"Close enough."

Akane was handed the cube next.

The first person who bids you good morning you must ask out on a date. 5 points.

"Why do you keep getting the big hitters?" Kagari exasperated. "Geez, this box plays favourites!"

Kunizuka glanced up from her work. "Inspector Ginoza'll arrive any moment now, so you'll probably be asking him out. Don't worry though, he'll turn you down for sure."

"I'm not sure whether I should feel offended or not," Akane deadpanned.

Kagari snatched the cube out of her hands and excitedly threw it at the final player's direction.

Sing happy birthday to boss. 1 point.
3 extra points if you get someone to join in with you.

There was a long silence.

"Looks like Gino-san is going to be popular today," Kagari remarked.

Just on cue, did the Inspector in subject finally step into the office with Masaoka following ensuite. They glanced at their three younger workmates who were huddled together as if watching something in the middle.

Ginoza regarded it with a slight crease in his brow. "What are you three doing?"

Kagari, Yayoi and Akane jerked back abruptly and made their way back to their desks with mumbles of 'good morning' left behind. Though Ginoza was slightly irked his question was ignored, Masaoka had brushed past with a casual smile.

"Morning, youngsters," he greeted.

Akane blinked at him.

"Oh, um, good morning, Masaoka-san."

The early part of the morning was transposing rather well. Ginoza was feeling in a rather good mood as well since the coffee he bought today tasted great. What he didn't know was the voiceless argument which had broken out between a particular trio.

Akane-chan. Masaoka-san said good morning to you. So go!

-Kagari

Does that really count? He didn't specify it to anyone in particular...

-Tsunemori

It doesn't matter anyway. Inspector Ginoza hasn't bothered to greet you. Karanomori is working downstairs. I don't think Kougami's shift starts until midday. Masaoka-san is the closest call to your dare.

-Kunizuka

Kunicchi, when did you start becoming so much fun?

-Kagari

Shut up, Kagari.

-Kunizuka

Resisting the urge to sigh, Akane pushed herself off the chair and slowly progressed her way towards Masaoka, who was logging onto his computer.

"Ma-Masaoka-san," Akane spluttered. "Can I -um- ask you something?"

Masaoka simply gave her a kind smile. "Of course, go ahead."

He waited patiently whilst Akane stood there in silence. She closed her eyes for a moment and breathed deeply, assuring herself it was just a joke and Masaoka-san was going to just laugh it off. Kagari might try tease her about it but that was nothing new. Nothing awkward was going to happen.

Besides the fact Inspector Ginoza was pretending to be ignoring them from his workstation and Kagari was holding back a snigger.

Determined to succeed her dare properly this time, Akane graciously bowed her head towards her senior.

"Will you go on a date with me?" she asked without a stumble.

Ginoza choked on his coffee, feeling half of it burning down the wrong part of his throat and the other half splattering against his lap. Whilst he violently hacked out his lungs, Kunizuka calmly approached him and began patting his back.

Equally calm, Masaoka turned to face Akane a little more directly.

"Ojou-chan, I think I'm a bit old to date you, not to mention it's rather unprofessional," he said gently, the smile unwavering on his face. "I thank-you for the offer though."

"I understand."

Ginoza continued to choke so intensely, Yayoi thought he was going to start foaming at the mouth.

"I'm sure a younger man your age will suit you better. You're a charming lady, so it won't be hard catching one of them."

"You praise me too much, Masaoka-san."

Their off-hand conversation was making it hard for Ginoza to breathe. Yayoi tried to remember the last time she had to resuscitate someone.

"Well then, I better start this paper."

"I better fix my draft report."

They both went back to work as if nothing happened.

Ginoza coughed hoarsely for a few times before finally being able to breathe normally again. Kunizuka wordlessly stepped away and back to her workstation without a single change in facial expression. The sound of typing and shuffling of papers was being drowned out by the tense atmosphere.

Then at last, Kagari threw his head back and began cackling.

After an awkwardly quiet hour; Ginoza left for the Analysis Department to discuss a case with Shion, everyone else went to get coffee, leaving Kagari to his own devices in the office.

There were two potted plants located on Ginoza's desk, one was a funky looking cactus and the other looked like a rip-off money plant. Kagari picked up one of the pots and surveyed the room for a hiding place. He decided to leave one on top of a bookshelf, and wedged another one between two books.

The moment he sat back down, Akane returned with three cups of coffee hugged to her chest. She instantly noticed the missing plants.

"Ginoza-san reacted more dramatically than I thought," she puzzled.

She placed one of the cups on Kagari's desk which he took into his palms without thanking her.

"Ah, well, you know, he and Masaoka-san have a tricky relationship," he quipped. "But really, does nothing faze the old dude out? Sure I wasn't expecting him to go into shock or anything, but it's not like anyone would've seen it coming."

"I guess Ginoza-san's reaction made up for it then," Akane concluded.

"My what?"

Akane turned round sharply to see the older Inspector back wearing a weary mask.

Before she said anything, Kagari dangled his own coffee cup in the air. "Akane-chan's giving out fuel for us. She forgot you had some this morning, but you still look like you need one anyway."

"Oh, thank-you," Ginoza noted and accepted the cup. "And also, Inspector Tsunemori..."

He muted himself before he finished the sentence.

Akane stood there with unblinking eyes, expecting him to pick it up again.

Whilst Ginoza maintained a cool facade, inside he was actually wracking nerves. Should he really ask? Or was it nothing serious? They both sorted out the issue quickly so was there any reason for Ginoza to pursue further? But it just biting Ginoza to why Inspector Tsunemori would ask out his dad. Maybe she was simply being nice and wanted to thank him for always showing her the ropes around the job. Ginoza noticed Masaoka was always offering advice to the rookie Inspector. Maybe she was talking about a 'father-daughter' kind of date, not that kind of date. Oh god a headache was coming. Though Tsunemori Akane did thoughtless things time to time, Ginoza thought she had common sense. Masaoka was everything against common sense; being probably older than her own father, a latent criminal, and technically her underling. So Ginoza wanted to know why. Just WHY. It shouldn't be bothering him since she is only a colleague of the same status and he had nothing to do with Masaoka anymore. BUT STILL...

"Are you alright, Ginoza-san?" Akane asked.

No reaction.

Kagari squinted at the frozen Inspector. "Gino-san, Akane-chan just asked you a question. Gino-san, can you hear us? Hey, Gino-san!"

Grey eyes blinked dumbly.

"Oh, um, nevermind," Ginoza muttered hastily and marched past them.

Akane began to a nugget of worry creep up her heart. "Kagari, maybe hiding Ginoza-san's plants was not good timing for him today."

"He'll be fine. He's our Gino afterall."

By some miracle, Kagari had ended his work for today without much mischief- or any mischief he was aware of. Kunizuka was acting less odd than yesterday, also had disappeared for an extra break which he was fine with. On the other hand, the whole Inspector Tsunemori business was giving him something new to have a headache.

It was time for some therapeutic watering for his plants.

Only to find both of his plants were missing. Mizuchi and Tou- no, he hadn't named them. He's not a child.

With a water spray in hand, Ginoza began scanning the office for the two little plants, but everyone's desks were cluttered with all sorts of junk and paperwork that he knew it was going to be easily missed. Grumbling to himself, Ginoza got onto the floor and made sure none of the plants had fallen over/were tipped over and hidden away.

"What are you doing, Gino?" Kougami asked flatly, craning his neck over the desk.

"Nothing."

"What are you looking for?"

"I said it's nothing."

The Enforcer paused. "Where are your plants?"

"Mind your own business, Kougami."

"You could just ask if anyone has seen them."

"Have you seen them?"

"No."

"Asking people is so useful."

Feeling partially guilty for the missing plants; Akane briskly gathered a stack of folders to carry into the filing room where she'd feel less flustered with the entire ordeal. Masaoka raised his head from his work and watched her heave past.

"Need a hand, ojou-chan?" he asked.

"That would be greatly appreciated."

They both disappeared into the filing room, oblivious to Ginoza's frozen mask of horror. Kougami, however, did notice. He raised his eyebrows, waiting for some explanation to the apparent anxiety written across said colleague's face.

"Say, Kougami," Ginoza said hesitantly. "About Inspector Tsunemori..."

"What about her?"

Ginoza rubbed his temples. "Does... Inspector Tsunemori get along with Masaoka?"

Kougami looked nonchalant.

"He's always mentoring her at field work," he briefed. "I'm no good at talking so whenever it's needed, the old man will speak with her; whether it's specifically work-related or to reassure her about something. They get along fine, why ask?"

Ginoza tapped a finger nervously on his desk.

"It's nothing."

"You usually aren't the type to ask about others, so something is up."

The response started with a long, deep sigh. "It's just been a long day, that's all."

"Rare for you to complain about workload as well," Kougami pointed out. "Has something happened today?"

"Nothing for you to stick your nose in," came the snappy reply. There was more Ginoza wanted to say but the two in the filing room finally returned, empty handed and ready to continue with whatever work was left.

The conversation thus staled.

Until Yayoi entered the office and advanced towards her boss' desk.

"Inspector," Yayoi directed to Ginoza.

"What now?"

"There's something important I must tell you," she informed smoothly. "It'll take just a minute."

Ginoza put aside his worries for the moment. "Make it quick."

She cleared her throat and sank into silence for a few seconds. Her eyes then snapped up to meet his and she straightened her back a little as if bracing for impact.

"Happy Birthday to you," she sang. "Happy Birthday to you."

Ginoza couldn't even bring himself to face-palm.

Yayoi elbowed a blank-faced Kougami who was hoping not to be in any part of the scene.

"Join in," she whispered loudly.

"Why?"

"Just do it."

"It's not even his bir-"

"Just do it."

There was a slight pause.

"Happy Birthday to Ginoza," Yayoi went on singing, with Kougami only just managing to add an unsure 'Gino.' "Happy Birthday to you."

Silence crashed onto them in rolling waves, each wave making Ginoza's headache worse and worse.

He missed his plants already.

Kunizuka Yayoi- 5 points

Shuusei Kagari- 4 points

Tsunemori Akane- 15 points

So to conclude:

Dares brings friends together. Kagari is mean. Ginoza's plants are missing. Ginoza is taking everything way too seriously. Akane isn't helping. Masaoka is being totally chill bro. Yayoi can sing in perfect key. Kougami can't. Kougami has no idea what in the name of pancakes is going on.

Speaking of whom, I think I'll make him more active next chapter lol probably focus a dare on him or something.

Thank-you exile-wrath for the plant dare!

I'm still behind with replying to everyone's reviews aggh bare with me

Pie.