Took 11 hours 30 mins and 16 seconds

:’)

Turning away from the stars, Chikage smiles at Izumi. “And to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Smiling back, Izumi steps up next to him and looks up at the stars he loves, one hand on the railing. “Don’t you think it’s time?”

His smile falters slightly, but he keeps it on. “Time for what?”

“To be like that.” Izumi vaguely gestures with her chin, but Chikage knows that she’s referring to the stars. She laughs. “You’re always so hellbent on being unnoticed but there for the others when they need you. You need us too, y’know.”

A certain kind of warmth fills him at that. He knows that he needs them and that they need him. He knows that now, he’s lived here long enough with a family he thought he didn’t deserve—a family he needed to protect with his life. “I know, Director, thank you. But I’m not sure I quite get what you mean about ‘to be like that’.”

Humming, Izumi finally shifts her gaze back to Chikage and shrugs. “Being in the shadows. Always supporting others. Never letting yourself… be you. It’s so you, but…” Izumi’s smile turns sad. “Well, it’s frustrating. I think it’s your time to shine. You can allow yourself that just this once, right?”

Chikage doesn’t answer for a moment, eyes gazing up at the stars. Be like one of them huh… Maybe. “I wonder~”

Izumi punches his arm as Chikage laughs. “Don’t be like that, I’m being genuine!”

Chikage rubs the spot she hit even though it doesn’t hurt. “I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t think about it! Just let it happen, you deserve it!”

He still doubts that. Doubts deserving something as nice and warm as something like this. Just a little. Chikage smiles at her. “Alright. Thank you. Again.”

“You’re allowed happiness too, Chikage-san. Just as much as any of us. Lean on us a little more, yeah?”

I’ll wait.