(n) comfort in sorrow or misfortune; consolation

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Y/n breathed slowly as he didn't make any sudden movements. His eyes were closed as he rested in the infirmary bed that the agency had. Next to him, in the other bed, Kyoka was also sleeping peacefully. Watching and monitoring the two, Yosano stood nearby Y/n.

Yosano placed the back of her hand against Y/n's forehead. She sighed in relief that Y/n hadn't caught a fever or cold from being in the water. She glances at Y/n's resting face as her brows furrowed up in concern. She wouldn't admit it to anyone, but for a second, she was scared that Y/n might not have made it.

Yosano remembers rushing out of the train, calling Kunikida or Ranpo, anyone she could get her hands on at the moment to get some help. She remembered how she ran as fast as she could in her painful heels just to get to Y/n and the two younger ones in time, and when she did, she was relieved to see them alive. Passed out, but they were alive nonetheless, Y/n was alive.

When Yosano, with the help of Kunikida and a few co-workers from the office, brought Y/n back to the infirmary, she immediately used her ability. She brought back Y/n's hearing and healed the burned and scarred marks on his arms and body. However, Y/n did not wake up. She estimated that Y/n wouldn't be waking up for a while now with how he exhausted his ability and was exposed to the light.

However, Yosano was still happy that Y/n was alright. Atsushi was the first to wake up, now being outside of the infirmary with Kunikida by his side. But the little girl that Atsushi saved with Y/n was still sleeping, closed eyed next to Y/n as they both breathed steadily, and almost in sync. That small moment slowly came to an end when Kyoka started to stir awake.

Yosano perked up at the sound of the bed blankets being moved. She looked up and noticed that Kyoka helped herself into sitting up in bed, looking down at her hands. Yosano, although stern and worried, slightly softened at the sight of a young girl with dull eyes such at Kyoka's.

"You're awake," Yosano called out, making Kyoka slightly glance at her. "Do you need anything?"

Kyoka's lips slightly parted but ultimately shut. She looked away from Yosano and went back to looking at her hands in her lap.

Yosano sighed, she stood up and made her way to the door. "Good luck, kid. We got some people who want to question you."

When Yosano opened the door, there Atsushi and Kunikida, with crossed arms, was waiting for her updates. She glanced behind her before looking back up at Kunikida and at Atsushi with a small nod.

"The kid is awake," Yosano stated, catching the full attention of the two men in front of her. "However, Y/n's still asleep."

"Will he be okay?" Atsushi stepped forwards slightly with a worried look in his eyes, genuinely fearful for Y/n's health.

Yosano nodded, slightly closing the door behind her as Kunikida and Atsushi approached her. "Y/n is just fine. However, if he does wake up, he will need to use his crutches."

Kunikida narrowed his eyes in thought. "Are his limbs stiff again?" He questioned.

"Stiff?" Atsushi muttered.

Kunikida pushed up his glasses while looking down. "Yes. This is part of Y/n's drawbacks due to him using his ability yesterday. Abilities don't usually come with drawbacks. However, that case is merely uncommon and is said to be only a myth. Y/n... just got unlucky."

"I see..."

"As to answer your question," Yosano started. "Y/n's legs are stiff. He won't be able to walk properly without those crutches. Running is definitely not an option, but after a few hours the stiffness should wear off and he'll be back to normal in no time."

Kunikida nodded at Yosano. "Alright then. Thank you Yosano for your time."

"Just doing my job."

Kunikida and Atsushi walked into the infirmary. There they can finally see that Kyoka was indeed awake and sitting up. Her eyes, however, were dully staring a Y/n's sleeping figure, almost like she was in deep thought. Y/n merely continued to sleep as Kunikida and Atsushi walked up to the end of Kyoka's bed.

"Are you okay?" Atsushi was the first to speak up as Kunikida only looked down at Kyoka. "Um... This is the doctor's office in our agency. How are you doing?"

Kyoka didn't answer Atsushi's soft questioning. She continued to look at Y/n before turning away and looking down at her lap. Not liking the silence, Kunikida couldn't help but scowl. He glared heavily at Kyoka. Besides, it was because of her that Y/n was in the current state he was in now.

"Girl, tell me whose bidding you're doing," Kunikida snapped. "The Mafia's forces are akin to a snake. Unless you smash the head, it'll never stop. So, answer me. Who's the person 'above' you?"

"K-Kunikida!" Atsushi stuttered at the sudden words laced in poison.

"Don't you think you're being a little harsh, Kuni?"

Kunikida's scowl immediately disappeared as it turned soft. He let in a small gasp as he turned to Y/n's bed. Atsushi's eyes widened slightly as he turned to a soft voice that he will always remember. There, Y/n was wide awake and helping himself up to a sitting position, slowly but steadily.

"Y/n," Kunikida said with furrowed brows. He was made his way to Y/n's side and helped him sit up properly. "Careful, you must steady yourself."

Y/n's chuckled softly. His hair messy and tangled as his delicate eyes were being shown purely because of how messy his hair was. "I'm okay, Kuni, no need to worry. Actually, I am more worried for Atsushi and Kyoka at the moment. Are they alright?"

Kunikida blinked for a moment before sighing. "Yes. They are fine, Y/n." His hand made its way to meet Y/n's, holding it tightly and for comfort.

"Ah, you two," Y/n said as he turned to face Kyoka and Atsushi, smiling warmly. "I'm glad that you're both okay now. I was worried that I was too late." He let out a sigh. "I thought that the explosion underwater might have hurt you two, I'm so happy that it didn't."

Kyoka stared at Y/n with dull eyes. "My name..." She breathed out. "You..."

Y/n gave Kyoka a closed eyed smile. "Yes, dear. I might have been half deaf when I first met you, but I was still able to catch your name. Say, you must be hungry, yes? We should all get something to eat, my treat, I promise."

"Absolutely not, Y/n," Kunikida shut down immediately, squeezing Y/n's hand as a warning. "All we need is information. We don't need to get close with an... assassin."

Kyoka flinched at the way that Kunikida said her title. Y/n seemed to have taken notice of Kyoka's reaction and how Atsushi's nerves were starting to spike at Kunikida's aggression. He carefully looks at Kunikida before looking at Atsushi with a knowing and understanding smile.

"Atsushi, go get yourself and Kyoka ready to go," Y/n said as he squeezed Kunikida's hand back. "I'll meet you both at the exit."

Kyoka didn't hesitate to take up on Y/n's offer. She hopped out of bed and was already making a beeline to the exit. Atsushi was more hesitant to do so, but he only nodded, trusting the look that Y/n had gave him. He followed Kyoka out the door before slowly and carefully closing it behind him. This left with Kunikida and Y/n in the infirmary by themselves as they held each other's hands close to them.

"...You can't keep doing this, Y/n," Kunikida said, his voice, for once, is hushed and ridged, almost as if Kunikida had been yelling his whole life and was finally being able to whisper for once.

"Kyoka is a child, Kuni," Y/n whispered looking at Kunikida who had his head down. "She doesn't deserve the title assassin at such a young age, when she could be having a real childhood."

Kunikida shook his head and his brows furrowed. He looked up at Y/n with a look that could be called 'desperation'. "You can't keep doing this, Y/n. I'm... I'm worried for your health, worried for you. With your unnecessary 'sacrifices' being more frequent now, how am I or anyone else not supposed to worry about you?!"

Y/n smiled, chuckling a little at Kunikida's anxious behavior. "I will be fine, my Kuni. I will always manage to come back to the agency one way or another. Even if I'm on the other side of the world, I will always come back to my home."

Kunikida took in a breath as he began to stutter and stumble over his words. "That's... That's not... I meant that... I just..." He sighed, looking down as he played with Y/n's hands. "I'm really... really worried for your health, Y/n."

Y/n stared at Kunikida's defeated look, a look that wasn't shown in public and only between the two of them. He examined Kunikida's eyes, how they would shift and how Kunikida was already getting faint wrinkles on his brows from scowling so much. However, the more he examined, the more that Y/n understood Kunikida's worries, letting his small smile turn into a soft frown.

"My dear Kuni..." Y/n said softly as he cupped Kunikida's face with his free hand. Kunikida looked up as he melted in Y/n's touch. "I will be fine, perfectly fine, Kuni. You don't need to worry about me, just worry about yourself for now, okay?" He chuckles. "I promise you that I am taking care of myself in every way I can. All I need from you is to be a dear and be safe. As long as you're safe, I'm safe and happy. You got that?"

Kunikida sighs as he holds onto Y/n's hand before standing up and holding it. "Okay," he gave in. "Let's get you ready then."

Y/n smiles happily as his smile reaches his eyes. Kunikida handed him a forearm crutch as he carefully helped Y/n to stand up properly. They did some walking practices and Y/n was all ready to go. He relied heavily on the crutch to help him walk but it was better than not being able to walk at all, in Y/n's eyes.

"Thank you, Kuni," Y/n said as Kunikida opened the door for him.

"Please be careful?" Kunikida pleaded.

Y/n nodded with a smile; his hair fixed so now his eyes were hiding behind his hair once again. "Of course. I will be fine, Kuni." He chuckled once more.

Kunikida sighed with a soft smile. "Alright then. I have no power to stop you. Have fun."

"Yes. Thank you, Kunikida."

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A/n: Kenji has been removed at a love interest, like Tanizaki, he will be platonic

Words: 1885