You started heading for the agency quite early today. The sun had just risen, the birds were lightly chirping, and the morning breeze was passing through as you could feel it against your face and exposed skin.
By the time you have arrived at the agency, the door was still locked, you arrived pretty early after all. You stretched your arms and yawned as you looked up at the sky.
"Maybe I should buy myself coffee first.. Might take a while for them to arrive.." You muttered to yourself as you walked off to see if Kiminami Restaurant is open.
Tough luck for you, the restaurant is still closed. You sighed to yourself and went to find at least a small stall that is currently open. You soon found Tomoki's stall up ahead and approached him.
"Tomoki! One Dango milk please!" You chirped as he noticed you coming and nodded with a smile. "Alright" He responded as he went to start preparing the beverage.
"Actually, make that two please" A voice suddenly spoke behind you and you didn't even bother to turn around to see who it is. You already knew whose voice it belongs to.
"Early in the morning aren't you, Detective Shikanoin?" You sweatdropped and sheepishly smiled.
"Oh, what a coincidence y/n~" The redhead detective acted as if he just realized your presence. "Also, what's with the sudden formality? Have I done something wrong?" You could hear the sheepish tone from his words.
"Cut the act, Heizou" You sighed. "You followed me, didn't you?"
"I wouldn't really put it that way" He chuckled. "Also, I already told you, didn't I? That I would meet up with you when the opportunity arises. It seems neither of us are currently busy, so why don't we hang out for a bit?"
You don't really see anything wrong with hanging out with him, you thought. You then sighed in defeat and shrugged your shoulders. It didn't take long before Tomoki came back to serve your orders.
You walked on the streets of Inazuma with the detective as you both enjoyed your Dango milks.
"Don't you have duty today at the police station?" You raised an eyebrow as you looked at him and sipped. He took a sip on his as he glanced at you.
"Not really, I don't often idle around there for various reasons. Staying in one place won't take me anywhere that would satisfy my intuitive skills"
"Uh huh.." You then finished your Dango milk. "Don't you get in trouble with the general if you keep slacking off?"
"For the nth time, I am not slacking off" He lightly pouted before sipping. "There are just some things I'm better-suited for rather than those menial tasks"
"Tenryou Doushin, Shikanoin Heizou: A very picky genius detective" You stretched your arms forward and slowly spread both hands apart as if you're making an imaginary headline.
He then scoffed with a light smirk. "Making fun of me now, aren't you? Well, not that you can outwit me either way~"
Ouch, you sure backed into a corner right there.
You just gave a close-eyed smile with your eyebrows slightly twitching in annoyance. "Ah, yes.. says the detective who needed my help to solve two cases in a row~"
He let out a light laugh. "You know, even without your help, I have various ways of solving a case. Solving one with you just feels more interesting" Then followed by a wink as he looked at you.
"W-What does that even mean?!" You couldn't find any good comebacks and that wink he added just made you even more flustered. You then suddenly remembered the events that had occurred at Uyuu Restaurant and had your arms crossed over your stomach.
"Hm? Are you alright? You don't look too good.. Is it because of the Dango milk?" He suddenly leaned forward towards you, your face had gotten even more heated as you were lost in a trance over seeing his face up close. "I think you should take a day off from work" He then leaned back and you finally snapped out of the trance.
"I-I'm fine! Really!" You immediately turned around and covered your flustered face, you began to feel your heart racing as well and you were hoping that he won't be able to hear it.
"y/n, I don't think it's wise to push yourself. If you're feeling unwell, it's alright. We can always hang out when you're feeling better" He paused as he went in front of you and reached his hand out to you. "Or... I could take care of you since you're probably too sick to do anything by yourself" You froze as you try to comprehend what he meant. "I mean, with your consent, of course" He added.
'H-Heizou... Taking care of me???' You thought as you could feel your heart about to burst. You start to breathe heavily and due to your uncontrollably racing heart, you ended up fainting from getting overwhelmed.
"y-y/n???" You could hear Heizou's confused reaction as he had caught you. You couldn't think straight anymore and your vision started to black out.
***
You slowly opened your eyes and find yourself tucked in your futon, feeling a damp towel over your forehead, and the lingering aroma of soup over your nose. As your vision starts to get better, you slowly tried to sit up and look around your room. You realized that your whole room is tidier than you remembered and someone left the door open. You began to wonder who brought you here.
You soon heard footsteps coming, then a certain redhead was revealed by the door. He was carrying a tray table and he was wearing an apron over his clothes. "Ah y/n, you're awake just in time~" He chirped as he went inside your room and brought the tray table to you. "You suddenly fainted while we were walking. I was worried that you weren't feeling too good, luckily you just had a mild fever. Nothing too serious, but it still needs to be treated" He then grabbed a spoon to scoop up some of the soup as he lifted the utensil in front of you. "Ahh.." He implied that he wanted you to open your mouth to eat. Definitely nothing wrong in this context.
You start to blush again in embarrassment but you can't allow yourself to be overwhelmed and faint again so you just close your eyes and opened your mouth, waiting to be fed with the soup-filled spoon.
He then fed the soup to you and continued until you finished up everything from the bowl. He then handed you a glass of water and a small piece of paper with powdered medicine. As much as you hate these bitter medicines, you have no choice but to take them. You immediately poured the medicine into your mouth, followed by the water. You nearly threw up but you had to keep it in or that medicine will go to waste. After fighting the urge to vomit, you then slightly panted to catch your breath.
"Did you take anything or did something happen recently that makes you sick?" He slightly tilted his head as he grabbed and put away the tray table from your lap.
"I'm... not sure.." You glanced down for a moment. When you looked back at Heizou, you could see he's not really satisfied with the answer. "W-Well... It's not that I have any proof of it but... I somehow would feel nauseous when I feel flustered and overwhelmed with something... I think"
"Hm.. I see" He leaned close, his hand removing the damp towel and brushing your bangs out of the way as he leaned his forehead on yours and closed his eyes. You froze up and slightly blushed while looking at him.
"Hmm.. It seems that your fever has gone down a bit" He leaned away and slightly smiled. "You should continue resting. I also sent a letter to your agency that your sick, though I didn't write my name on it~" He slyly grinned before he got up, grabbed the tray and walked out of your room.
You plopped back down on your futon with a sigh as you covered your reddened face with both of your hands.
"I can't sleep..." You muttered to yourself, and so you ended up reading novels for the rest of the day to keep yourself distracted until you feel your body getting tired.
[Heizou's POV]
After I had given y/n her food and medicine, I decided to go and clean the dishes on her sink. Man alive, she should at least keep her utensils and plates organized here. As I was washing the dishes, I then remembered what she had said earlier, it kinda puts a smile on my face.
"So she was flustered huh.."
I ended up shaking the thought out of my head. I shouldn't assume something immediately without solid evidence. After all, I doubt y/n would suddenly grow feelings for me after using her in our last case together, and after talking negatively about her senior.
"But I guess even if that's the case..." I then put away the last plate to dry off on the dish rack.
"I'll keep protecting her.."