The female officer's fingers paused mid-typing as Irielle leaned a little too close to Kana again, her voice dropping to a tone that made even the air feel heavier.
"You really do look good in that robe."
Irielle whispered, eyes half-lidded, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.
The officer visibly shuddered.
"Ugh."
She muttered under her breath and made a face of clear disgust. It lasted only a second, quickly masked with the practiced expression of indifference she wore at work.
But it was too late. Irielle had already noticed.
Their eyes met.
The officer immediately looked away, her fingers flying across the terminal with renewed urgency.
"Here!"
She said curtly, sliding a small, polished card across the table.
"Your ID's set up. Standard citizen registration. Registered under city code seventy-two. You lose it, and you're out of luck—I'm not registering a second one, no matter how many favors she"—
she glanced at Irielle
—"tries to pull."
Kana picked up the ID with both hands, nodding politely.
"Thank you."
The moment she scanned it, a small notification blinked in the corner of her vision.
[Citizen Identification Card acquired. Eligible for system storage. Add to Inventory?]
She mentally confirmed the option, and the card vanished from her hand, absorbed neatly into her system inventory. With a practiced motion, she pretended to slip it into her pocket.
Irielle clapped her hands together, her smile wide and genuine this time.
"There! Now you're a proper citizen! No more lectures from Lysera about being an 'unregistered stray!'"
She punctuated the moment with a tight, sudden hug.
Kana stiffened. Her arms stayed at her sides as Irielle's warmth pressed against her. The reaction was automatic—her mind halting, breath caught. Too much touch. Too sudden. Too public.
The female officer gave them a long, unimpressed look. Her lips curled at the edges in equal parts disgust and… envy?
Kana caught her gaze and flinched before quickly looking away. Her stomach churned. She didn't like being looked at during moments like this. She didn't like being in moments like this.
She tried to play it off, squirming slightly as she said.
"I—I think that's enough hugging now…"
Irielle didn't budge.
"But I'm happy for you. You should enjoy this moment. It's special!"
Kana forced a small smile, gently patting Irielle's back in an effort to signal the end of the embrace. But Irielle was nothing if not persistent.
Finally, the officer pushed her chair back with a loud scrape.
"Alright, alright. Take your romance outside. This is still a government office."
Kana blinked in surprise at the casual tone. There wasn't any harsh judgment, no threats, no slurs. Just annoyance and a weary tone, like she'd dealt with this too many times before.
Irielle pouted, finally letting go of Kana with a dramatic sigh.
"You're so mean. Why can't I express my love in peace?"
"Because this isn't your damn lounge. Or one of your themed rooms."
The officer muttered.
Kana smoothed her robes, grateful for the space.
"It's probably for the best."
She said softly.
Irielle turned to her with raised brows.
"You really think hiding your feelings is a good idea?"
Kana hesitated.
"I just… think it's safer sometimes."
"That's not living. You bottle that up long enough, and it'll crush you from the inside. That's how people lose themselves. They pretend for so long, they forget who they were."
Irielle said, her tone firm but not unkind. Her words hit something deep in Kana's chest, something raw and heavy.
Irielle stepped closer, voice gentler now.
"I don't mean you should shout from rooftops. But you should be honest. With yourself, at least. Even if it's scary."
Kana looked down at her feet, hands curling loosely at her sides.
"I understand what you're saying… I do. But I'm not like you."
Irielle tilted her head.
"No?"
Kana shook her head, eyes unfocused.
"I've… spent so long hiding. Blending in. Keeping quiet. Because when I didn't, people got angry. Or worse."
She swallowed hard, her voice quieter now.
"There were consequences."
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then Irielle gave a soft hum.
"That's fair. But you're not there anymore. You're here. And you've got me. And Lysera. And others who don't want to hurt you."
She said, placing a hand gently on Kana's shoulder.
Kana met her gaze and was surprised by how earnest it was. Warm, but not pitying.
"I'm not saying you have to change overnight. Just… don't let fear be the only voice in your head."
Irielle continued.
The words made Kana's throat tighten.
Behind them, the officer loudly cleared her throat.
"This is touching and all, but I do still have a job. So unless you want me to charge you for therapy hours, I suggest you move along."
Irielle laughed and stepped back.
"See? Told you she's no fun."
Kana gave the officer a quick bow.
"Thank you again for helping."
The woman waved her off.
"Yeah, yeah. Just don't bring her back here unless it's urgent."
Irielle grinned.
"No promises."
As they exited the room, Kana walked a little closer to Irielle, the warmth of her words lingering like sunlight breaking through thick clouds.
Maybe she wasn't ready to be open yet. Maybe she'd never be like Irielle.
But for the first time in a long while, she wondered… maybe one day, she could be.
They stepped back into Irielle's shop just as the sun began to dip behind the city skyline.
Kana had barely closed the door when Lysera stood from one of the lounge chairs near the counter, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Irielle waved at her with a lazy grin.
"Work's done. Our darling has an identity now~"
Lysera didn't smile. Her eyes flicked from Irielle to Kana with a flat, pointed stare.
"Good," she said coolly.
Then, without warning, Lysera stepped forward, grabbed Kana's wrist, and turned to leave.
Kana blinked.
"Wait—?"
Before she could even take a step, Irielle's hand shot out and grabbed her other wrist.
Lysera stopped mid-stride and looked back, surprised.
"Let go."
Irielle's smile didn't waver, but her tone lost its playful edge.
"Why are you dragging her off like that?"
"She may have an ID now, but she's still under surveillance. You know why."
Lysera said, her eyes narrowing,
Irielle's fingers tightened slightly.
"She hasn't done anything wrong."
"Yet."
Lysera replied.
"She's not a prisoner. So unless you want a scene, I suggest you explain what you're really trying to do."
Irielle said flatly.
Kana stood frozen between them, heart pounding, as the tension in the room thickened like fog.
Kana stood frozen between the two women, each holding one of her wrists. The tension felt like it might snap her in half.
She opened her mouth to say something—anything—but no words came out. Irielle's grip was firm, protective. Lysera's was tight, demanding. Caught between them, Kana felt completely stuck.
Then Lysera let out a long sigh and released Kana's hand.
"Fine. If you're both this stubborn, then come with me."
She muttered.
Kana blinked.
Lysera turned, already walking.
"If you're so worried about her, I'll show you why I am too. But no complaints when you see it."