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"Is this really a job that requires three people?"
Kenji scratched his head, looking at the patrol car. Even for "serving the people," this felt like overkill. Two elites of the Criminal Investigation Special Task Force plus a Kamen Rider—any Ethereal boss would see this lineup, pack up its Hollow, and move to another district overnight.
"It's because our Captain Zhu Yuan has a bit of a... difficult time dealing with fluffy things," Qingyi whispered with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
This was why they had brought him. The two women would handle the "negotiations" with the public, and the "heavy lifting"—in this case, the feline variety—would be left to Kenji.
"Oh, so she has a weakness after all," Kenji mused. He had always seen Zhu Yuan as an iron-willed, fearless leader. Knowing she was intimidated by a cat made her feel surprisingly human. Or perhaps it was just a severe allergy; plenty of tough officers were taken down by a bit of dander.
"It's not that I can't handle them," Zhu Yuan cut in, her voice a pitch higher than usual. "It's just... I prefer plants. They don't jump on you."
Kenji nodded, filing that away. Note to self: flowers for the Captain, no kittens.
They arrived at a modest private residence where a black cat was perched on the roof. The animal was less of a "kitty" and more of a "pig-cat"—a round, black ball of fur that seemed to have developed acrophobia the moment it realized how much it weighed.
"Are you sure that's a cat and not a gravity-defying pig?" Kenji asked, pointing at the shivering meatball.
"I had the same thought," Qingyi agreed.
While Zhu Yuan negotiated with the owner—who was wailing as if his biological son were about to fall to his death—Kenji prepared for his role.
"Kenji, I'll go up and coax it down. You catch it," Zhu Yuan commanded, her words filled with a level of trust that Kenji found slightly terrifying.
"Leave it to me," he replied. Even if catching a twenty-pound furry projectile from a second-story roof felt like a recipe for a scratched face, he wasn't about to back down in front of his Captain.
Zhu Yuan climbed the ladder. Normally, she could have scaled the building in seconds, but as she neared the roof, her movements became stiff.
"Kitty... kitty, come here," she said, offering a strained, professional smile. The pig-cat just stared at her, its entire body vibrating with fear.
Thinking the cat needed "stimulation" to move, Zhu Yuan raised her hands and made a sudden pouncing gesture. The cat, misinterpreting this as a hug, launched itself with surprising velocity—straight at Zhu Yuan's face.
"Ah!"
The ace officer, who hadn't flinched when facing a Durahan, let out a startled cry as she lost her footing. She tumbled backward off the ladder, more concerned with peeling the "fluff" off her eyes than the impending impact.
But the impact never came. Instead, she felt a pair of strong arms catch her, supporting her shoulders and knees. Qingyi darted in, skillfully plucking the pig-cat from Zhu Yuan's face.
"Caught you. Mission accomplished," Kenji said, looking down at the Captain in his arms with a grin.
He decided right then that he loved catching cats. This was the best "on-duty" accident he'd ever had.
"Put me down," Zhu Yuan whispered, her face flushing. She didn't struggle—partly because she was an officer of the law and partly because she didn't want to accidentally kick her savior.
Kenji reluctantly set her on her feet. Despite her combat prowess, she felt surprisingly light, and her uniform couldn't quite hide how soft she felt. He wondered, scientifically of course, where the explosive power she used to shatter Ethereals was actually stored.
After returning the "son" to the owner, they began a routine patrol. Kenji was still riding the high of the rescue, already plotting how to make "being held" a more regular part of Zhu Yuan's schedule.
"Senior Qingyi," Kenji whispered, leaning toward the android. "What's the Captain's favorite drink?"
"Fruit tea," Qingyi replied instantly.
A moment later, Kenji returned with two cups. He walked right past Qingyi and handed the first one to Zhu Yuan.
"Captain, something to quench your thirst."
Zhu Yuan blinked, surprised by the gesture. When she saw it was her favorite flavor, her smile turned genuinely warm. "Thank you, Kenji."
Qingyi, meanwhile, was staring at Kenji with a look that could have melted steel. "Hey, kid. Where's mine?"
"Uh... I wasn't sure," Kenji said, looking at Qingyi's mechanical joints with feigned concern. "I don't have much experience pouring liquid into high-end hardware. Where exactly does a Senior like you... excrete it? I didn't want you to short-circuit."
Qingyi's head practically hissed with steam. She agilely leaped onto Kenji's shoulders, straddling his neck and vigorously ruffling his hair.
"I don't care about excretion! You bought one for Zhu Yuan and ignored me! You are disloyal! Unjust! A traitor to the team!"
"I was wrong! Take mine!" Kenji laughed, dizzy from the assault, holding up his own cup as a peace offering.
Zhu Yuan, watching the comedic duo, almost choked on her tea. She had patrolled with Qingyi for years, but the atmosphere had never been this... alive.
Suddenly, the laughter died. Zhu Yuan's earpiece crackled. Her expression shifted instantly from "relaxed older sister" to "Elite Captain."
"Yes. Zhu Yuan here."
She listened for a moment, her gaze sharpening. "Understood. We're on our way." She hung up and looked at her team. "Urgent mission."
"Cats or dogs?" Kenji asked, his tone shifting to match hers.
"Subway workers trapped in a Temporary Hollow. It's a rescue op. Move out."
Zhu Yuan drained her tea in one gulp, crushed the cup, and sprinted toward the patrol car. Qingyi leaped off Kenji's shoulders, her playful demeanor replaced by cold, mechanical precision.
As they sped through the streets, invisible to the citizens of New Eridu, a crimson dragon swam through the reflections of the shop windows, keeping pace with the police car. Dragredder had sensed it too—the scent of a hunt.
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