The afternoon sun spilled through the newsroom windows, bathing our desks in warm golden light.

The Tokyo Times had settled into its usual rhythm after lunch. Phones rang in the distance, keyboards clacked away, and somewhere across the room someone let out an exaggerated sigh at what was probably another last-minute edit.

Himari sat across from me, camera in one hand and a microfiber cloth in the other. She carefully wiped the lens before slinging the camera back over her shoulder.

"...You really do clean that thing every day."

She looked up. "I have to."

"You absolutely don't."

"I absolutely do."

"It's cleaner than my apartment."

"It takes pictures."

"So does every other camera."

She gasped dramatically. "I can't believe you'd say something so offensive."

"I'm just saying if cameras had feelings, yours would think you're smothering it."

She looked down at it. "...Maybe."

I laughed, turning back toward my monitor. "You've officially lost it."

"I lost it years ago."

"I know."

She stood, stretching her arms over her head before reaching for her bag. "I'm going downstairs."

"For?"

"I need another memory card."

"You bought three last week."

"I filled them."

"...Already?"

She shrugged as if that were perfectly normal. "I like taking pictures."

"I've noticed."

Just as she started toward the elevator, I called after her. "And don't come back with another plant!"

She waved without turning around. "No promises!"

The newsroom fell quiet again. I edited another paragraph. Fixed a headline. Answered two emails.

Then... Someone cleared their throat beside my desk.

"Um... excuse me."

I looked up. "...Reno?"

He stood there looking slightly out of place among the reporters, still wearing casual clothes instead of his Defense Force uniform. One hand awkwardly scratched the back of his neck while the other held a small paper shopping bag.

"Oh! Hi!"

"Hi."

"What brings you here?"

"I was..." He glanced toward Himari's empty desk. "...Actually looking for Himari."

"Oh." I smiled. "She's downstairs."

His shoulders relaxed. "Okay."

"...Can I help with something?"

"Maybe." He hesitated for a second before pulling something from the shopping bag. It was a camera strap. Dark brown leather with neat stitching around the edges.

Simple. Classic. Really nice. I blinked. "...That's beautiful."

He rubbed the back of his neck again.

"I noticed hers."

I looked toward Himari's camera sitting on her desk. The black fabric strap she'd been using for years was faded. One corner had started to fray where it rubbed against her shoulder.

"...Oh."

"I don't think she noticed."

I leaned closer. Sure enough... Tiny loose threads curled from the edge.

"I saw it while we were at the Division." He smiled sheepishly. "It looked like it'd snap eventually."

I looked back at the leather strap in his hands. "You... bought her a new one?"

He shrugged. "I was walking through a market."

"And thought of her."

"...Yeah." There was something so matter-of-fact about the way he said it that I couldn't help smiling.

"That's really thoughtful, Reno." His ears turned slightly pink.

"I figured she'd get more use out of it than I would."

"I'd say so."

He looked down at the strap for a moment. "...Do you think she'll like it?"

I laughed. "Are you kidding?"

"Maybe."

"She babies that camera more than most people baby their pets."

"That's true."

"So if anyone bought me something for something I cared about that much..."

I smiled. "...I'd probably never shut up about it."

He let out a quiet laugh. "That's reassuring."

The elevator dinged. A second later, Himari rounded the corner carrying a tiny shopping bag.

She froze. "...Reno?"

"Oh." He straightened. "Hi."

"What are you doing here?"

"I was nearby."

"Were you?"

"...Mostly."

I looked between the two of them. "...Am I interrupting something?"

Both answered at exactly the same time. "No."

"...No."

I blinked. "...Okay."

Reno held out the small paper bag. "I wanted to give you something."

Himari accepted it carefully. "For me?"

He nodded once. She opened the bag. Pulled out the leather strap. For just a second... She didn't say anything.

Her fingers slowly traced the stitching along the edge. "...Reno..."

"I noticed yours was wearing out."

She instinctively looked down at the old strap hanging from her camera. Then back at the new one.

"I thought maybe..." He smiled nervously. "...It'd last longer."

The corners of her lips lifted into a smile so soft it almost didn't look real. "It's beautiful."

"You like it?"

"I love it."

She immediately unclipped the old strap.

"No way," I laughed.

"You're replacing it already?"

"Of course."

Within a minute the new leather strap rested comfortably across her shoulder. She adjusted it once. Twice. Then looked down at it with quiet admiration.

"It fits perfectly."

Reno smiled. "I'm glad."

I leaned back in my chair. "See?"

"What?"

"I told you she'd love it."

Himari looked up. "You knew?"

"He showed me before you got back."

She looked at Reno again. "...Thank you."

"It wasn't a big deal."

"It is to me."

For a brief moment... Neither of them spoke. They simply smiled at each other.

I grinned. "Aww."

Both of them looked over. "What?" Himari asked.

"I just think it's sweet."

Reno rubbed the back of his neck again. "It was nothing."

"No," I said, shaking my head with a smile. "It's nice that you two are becoming friends."

The two of them exchanged the quickest glance. Barely a second. Gone before I could really think anything of it.

Himari smiled. "...Yeah."

"I'd say we are."

I nodded, completely satisfied with that answer. "Good."

Everyone deserved a good friend. Even if, for some reason... Both of them looked far more flustered than the situation seemed to warrant.

...

Lunch at the Third Division was somehow louder than I remembered. Maybe it was because I wasn't there to work this time.

No notebook. No recorder. No deadlines. Just an open invitation from Soshiro to stop by while I was already in the neighborhood.

"...You know," I said, setting my tray down across from him, "I don't think your cafeteria has ever been this loud."

Kafka looked up from halfway through inhaling his curry. "It's because Vice-Captain's buying dessert today."

"I am?" Soshiro looked around the table. "When did I agree to that?"

Kafka smiled. "Just now."

"I don't remember."

"You will."

"I don't think I will."

Reno laughed quietly into his drink while Kikoru rolled her eyes. "You've created a monster," he said.

Soshiro pointed his chopsticks at Kafka. "I didn't create him."

"I've always been like this," Kafka replied proudly.

"Unfortunately."

The table erupted into laughter. I had almost forgotten how much I'd missed eating with them. It didn't matter if I'd only known them for a short while. Somehow... They always made room for me. Literally.

Kafka had shoved Reno over one seat the second I'd walked into the cafeteria.

"You sit here!"

"I didn't even ask."

"You don't have to!"

Soshiro leaned back in his chair with an amused smile. "They've decided you're one of us."

"I noticed."

"You complainin'?"

I looked around the table.

Kafka was animatedly explaining why pudding counted as a balanced lunch. Kikoru looked seconds away from correcting him. Aoi quietly ate while pretending not to listen. Furuhashi kept encouraging Kafka just to see what would happen.

I smiled. "...Not even a little."

Soshiro caught that smile. His own softened for just a moment before he looked back toward his food.

"So..." I glanced across the table. "How's training been?"

Kafka dramatically dropped his shoulders. "My legs don't work."

"They're working right now," Reno pointed out.

"Barely."

"You sprinted this morning."

"I regretted it."

Soshiro nodded thoughtfully. "Good."

Kafka gasped. "You're supposed to encourage me."

"I am."

"How?"

"I'm encouragin' ya to get stronger."

"That's evil."

"I've been called worse."

The conversation drifted from training to weekend plans. Apparently, Furuhashi wanted to try a new ramen shop. Kafka wanted everyone to come. Kikoru insisted they would spend more time waiting in line than eating.

Reno quietly listened while stirring his tea.

Tea. Not coffee. That caught my attention. I watched as he glanced toward the cafeteria doors.

Almost absentmindedly. Like he was waiting for someone. A few seconds later... The doors slid open. Himari stepped inside, carrying her camera bag over one shoulder.

"I finally found you guys."

Kafka waved enthusiastically. "Himari!"

She smiled. "I came to return the Vice-Captain's visitor badge." Soshiro accepted it with a nod.

"Thanks."

As everyone fell into conversation again, Reno quietly stood. "I'm gonna grab another drink."

Kafka frowned. "You still have one."

"I know...I'm thirsty."

He walked away before anyone could question him further. I watched him disappear toward the refrigerators.

A minute later... He returned. Holding two drinks. One cup of coffee. One bottle of orange juice.

I blinked. "...Is he really that thirsty?"

Soshiro followed my gaze. Then... A knowing little smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Nah."

"What?"

"Nothin'."

I narrowed my eyes. "You smiled."

"Did I?"

"Yes."

"Must've been accidental."

"You don't accidentally smile like that."

"Happens all the time."

"It absolutely does not."

He chuckled quietly, taking another bite of his lunch.

I looked back toward Reno. He walked past our table... Didn't even slow down... Until he reached Himari. Without saying a word, he gently set the bottle of orange juice beside her tray. She looked up. "...You remembered."

He shrugged.

"You said last time the vending machine downstairs was out."

"Oh." She smiled. "...Thanks."

"No problem." Then he simply sat back down. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I smiled. "That's nice."

"Hm?"

"Reno."

"What about him?"

"He's thoughtful."

Soshiro made a small sound that was suspiciously close to a laugh. "He is."

"I've noticed."

"Mhm."

"He notices little things."

"Mhm."

I looked over at Himari, who was happily sipping the orange juice while reviewing the morning's photos. "...I'm really glad they're becoming friends."

Silence.

Across the table, Kafka suddenly became very interested in his rice. Kikoru lowered her head. Furuhashi bit the inside of his cheek. Even Aoi's shoulders twitched ever so slightly.

I frowned. "...What?"

"No reason," Kikoru answered a little too quickly.

Kafka coughed into his fist. "Ahem."

Soshiro reached for his tea, hiding the grin that had grown across his face. I nudged his foot under the table. "What?"

He looked at me innocently. "Hm?"

"You know something."

"I know lots of things."

"Soshiro."

"What?"

"You've got that face."

"What face?"

"The one that says you're trying not to laugh."

"I've got no idea what you're talkin' about."

"Liar."

He leaned just a little closer so only I could hear. "...You ever think..."

"Hm?"

"...Maybe you're not quite as observant as ya think."

I scoffed. "I am incredibly observant."

He nodded with exaggerated seriousness. "I'll remember ya said that."

"I mean it."

"I know ya do." He reached over and stole one of the fries off my tray.

"Hey!"

He popped it into his mouth. "Evidence."

"You owe me a fry."

"I'll pay ya back."

"With interest."

"Oh?"

"Two fries."

He laughed. "Deal."

Across the table, Reno and Himari were quietly talking about photographs. Neither of them noticed the rest of us.

Kafka leaned toward Kikoru and whispered just loudly enough for me to hear— "...Should we tell her?"

Before Kikoru could answer, Soshiro cleared his throat.

Kafka immediately straightened in his seat. "...Never mind."

I looked around the table. "...Tell me what?"

Everyone answered at once. "Nothing."

I narrowed my eyes. "...You're all acting weird."

Soshiro smiled into his tea. "...You'll figure it out eventually."

"I already know."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"They're becoming really good friends."

For one heartbeat... The entire table went completely silent. Then Furuhashi laughed so hard he nearly dropped his chopsticks. Kafka buried his face in his hands. Kikoru sighed toward the ceiling.

And Soshiro... Soshiro laughed so hard he actually had to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye.

I blinked. "...What?"

He shook his head, still smiling. "Nothin'."

I crossed my arms. "You're all impossible."

Soshiro's eyes met mine, full of unmistakable amusement. "...You're adorable."

"I don't know why everyone keeps laughing."

"...I know."

And somehow... That only made him laugh harder.