Dikara

Redfield found herself staring blankly at her computer screen, her mind drifting far from the documents in front of her. Her thoughts are trapped in her cubicle mind, unable to anchor themselves in the mundane.

Inside her heart, something burst open, filling her with an explosion of rose petals and tingling voices. The voice she adored for the past six months has echoed in her mind, ever since she arrived here.

It had been about six months since she started working at the Tokyo Police Department. Though she was initially annoyed by the sudden transfer, she seized the opportunity to climb the ranks within the department.

Initially, Redfield found herself bored and isolated in Japan. Her colleagues often ostracized her, possibly due to the language barrier or a general reluctance to engage with foreigners. They were polite, but something always felt off.

This left her frustrated, as she frequently needed assistance. Yet, despite this treatment, there was one person who stood out.

Gojo Satoru, a senior colleague from a different department. He often reached out with a warm smile, offering Redfield invaluable advice, suggesting delicious culinary spots in Tokyo, and occasionally slipping her a ticket to enjoy a solo movie night.

He enthusiastically shared Japan's rich culture and the intricacies of their work at the police station, always ready to lend a helping hand. His unwavering support and friendly demeanor were a constant source of encouragement for Redfield. Sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder if Gojo's friendliness was overly affectionate.

Despite his friendly and easygoing behavior, Gojo had a penchant for making jokes, some of which fell flat and odd, but Redfield always tried her best to laugh, hoping to brighten his day with her response.

She had always believed that Gojo was the only one who truly understood her, offering kindness, encouragement, and unwavering support. In her eyes, he was the epitome of goodness, and everything about him radiated warmth.

But then, an angel descended, bringing love and affection straight from the heavens. In an instant, her world was turned upside down.

Redfield still remembers that day—the day her life changed entirely. Whenever she thinks about it, she feels like a teenager in love: her cheeks flush, her heart races, she breaks into a sweat, floating in the atmosphere, and she feels breathless.

It's as if everything around her sparkles like stars in the soft glow of moonlight. The memory is sweet and tender, overflowing with love almost too immense to bear.

Though she's 23 now, love still makes her feel like a giddy teenager.

One evening, marked by rain and howling wind, she found herself alone at the police station. Everyone else had gone home, leaving her to sit at her computer, diligently typing up reports and fighting off sleep.

Her lack of sleep was her weakness, and she often found herself nearly falling out of her chair. Things took a turn for the worse when a critical error deleted her data, erasing almost all of her progress. Frustrated and exhausted, she broke down in tears, feeling that all her hard work had been undone by a simple mistake.

In her broken heart and despair, an unexpected angel appeared. It wasn't Gojo or any of the familiar faces she regularly saw at the police station. This was someone new, someone who approached her in the stillness of that night.

He asked. "You're not home yet?"

He was a stranger to Redfield, a man she had neither seen nor heard of before.

He was young, tall but not as tall as Gojo's, and striking in a suit and tie. He seemed to be around Redfield's age, with honeyed brown eyes and silver hair framing a face that was almost too handsome.

Redfield tilted her head just to see that man more clearly. "Oh, I need to finish my documents."

He smiled, so charming that it could make you melt, his eyes shimmering with a mysterious elegance. "I see. You've been at your desk for about four hours since your coworkers left. Are you alright?"

"Uh, actually, I'm not sure. Maybe it's because of the virus. All the data seems to have been deleted and—"

"Virus?" he interjected, stepping closer to Redfield's desk with an air of authority. "Let me take a look."

Before Redfield could respond, he was already behind her, closing the gap between them. His hand reached for the mouse, his fingers moving deftly over the keyboard.

Redfield couldn't help but notice his impeccably groomed nails—not a speck of dirt in sight. His long eyelashes framed piercing eyes, complemented by beautiful silvery hair and lips that seemed kissable.

How could she have met a man this stunning? Was he a police officer?

His palm was broad and strong, capable of cupping Redfield's face with ease. As she tried to focus on the screen, her gaze kept drifting back to him. Oh... it's so bad.

She froze, her cheeks flushing, and she nearly caught a whiff of his refreshing cologne. It was intoxicating; his very presence cast a spell that left Redfield utterly captivated.

"It's done! Now you never have to worry about it again."

"Oh... thank you." Redfield turned to her computer, her eyes widening, sparkling like a moonlight as she saw all her data restored.

Her face lit up, a radiant smile spreading on her small lips as she gazed at the screen.

"But how did you fix it? I couldn't find a solution—I must be too tired to focus."

The man chuckled, a hint of smugness curling his lips. He seemed proud, eager to show off his skills, but Redfield didn't mind. If Redfield had that man's talent, she'd probably be a bit arrogant too.

"Oh, just a few tricks of the trade. I'll show you tomorrow, not tonight. You look exhausted, and I wouldn't want to disturb you."

Redfield smiled again, locking that man's face into her blue eyes, cheeks still flushed, hoping he hadn't noticed. "Umm... just one thing: what's your name? I think this is the first time we've met."

"Akechi Kengo," he replied. "And you are?"

"Velocity Redfield."

"What's up with you? You've been smiling all morning. It's strange, given how moody you've been lately."

"Well, someone fixed the virus on my computer, and all my data is back! Thanks to his help, I'm finally at ease."

Gojo's playful expression shifted to one of confusion. He paused mid-bite of his red velvet cake, gazing across the table.

"Who do you mean? I need a name," he asked, curiosity glinting in his eyes as he bit his fork.

"I mean, someone helped me fix it. Now I don't have to worry about the lost data any more."

"Ooh... so he helped you because you looked stressed? Maybe he was just afraid you'd burn down the police station from stress," Gojo laughed, punching the table. But inside, he couldn't stop wondering about this mysterious man Redfield mentioned.

"I still need a name. Don't tell me he was a ghost or just your hallucination."

"Hmm... his name is Akechi Kengo."

Gojo nearly choked on his coffee. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Redfield might be clumsy at times, but she wasn't an idiot. She was a good police officer, every bit as competent as Gojo Satoru himself, perhaps even the best in the precinct.

Biting his lower lip, he responded, "What? Are you serious? Akechi Kengo? I know he loves helping people but for something so trivial like that... it's just strange. Maybe you misread his kanji name."

"Why are you so surprised?" Redfield shot back. "I'm sure he said his name was Akechi Kengo. There's no other Akechi in this station, is there?"

Gojo blinked rapidly, his expression transforming into one of sheer disbelief. He stared at Redfield, then at his coffee, and scoffed.

"Well, if you told someone about that, they'd be just as shocked as me. Everyone avoids talking to him. You know—he's a bit... annoying, and—he's my boss! How does someone my age get a position like that? It's annoying, you know."

"WHAT?"

"Don't tell me you only know me in this police station. That's bad, Redfield-san. Hah! But he didn't do anything to you, right? Are you alright after talking to him?"

"I'm... I'm fine... B-but... It means that... he is..."

"Yeah, he's our superintendent. He was in London when you arrived last week." Gojo paused and then continued. "Well, he is still young, isn't he? But annoying as hell."