[Check Out My P4treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/talkfictome]
===
"Reporting, Captain. I'm just... feeling a bit sleepy."
Kenji stood up from the steps, dusting off his uniform. Zhu Yuan's expression was one of mild amusement. In her eyes, there was no harm in being a little dazed before the clock started; it was normal to be in "standby mode" before a long shift.
"What's that beside you?"
Zhu Yuan pointed to a brown paper bag resting on the step. Kenji looked down, momentarily confused. Then, the fragmented memories of his Zero-Two dash flooded back. He'd forgotten that the belt hadn't just moved him; it had curated his entire morning.
"Oh, this? It's breakfast. I picked it up on the way. Want to share?"
Kenji held out the bag. The aroma of freshly baked bread and the rich, nutty scent of high-grade coffee immediately caught the Captain's attention. A strange, appreciative glint flashed in her orange eyes.
"May I? That would actually be a lifesaver. I stayed up far too late finishing reports last night and didn't have time to prep anything before rushing out."
Zhu Yuan accepted the offering naturally. She noticed the bag contained exactly two portions—perfectly measured. Although she didn't know why he had bought a double order, she wasn't about to turn down caffeine in her hour of need.
"Is that so? What a coincidence," Kenji said with a polite smile, though internally, he was reeling. 02, you are incredible. How many millions of timelines did the AI have to simulate to discover the exact breakfast Zhu Yuan needed today?
However, a secondary thought made him pause: Did I transform into 02 just to hit a bakery? He imagined the shop owner's face seeing a neon-green cyborg snatching a croissant. He figured the most likely scenario was that Zero-Two had moved with such speed that it was effectively a ghost, leaving a pile of Dennies on the counter before anyone could blink.
He also had a flickering memory of an ordinary sewer manhole cover. He was baffled. What was the deal with the manhole cover? Was there a case hidden underneath? Was I supposed to be a detective today? He decided to ignore it. Surely, his destiny couldn't be linked to urban plumbing.
They headed into the Special Task Force office and split the breakfast. It was Zhu Yuan's favorite flavor of bread and her preferred roast of coffee. By the time she finished, she looked completely revitalized.
"Thank you for the breakfast, Kenji. I'll be energized all morning now."
She nodded with genuine satisfaction. There was something about a surprise treat from a colleague that made the meal taste better than anything she could have made herself.
"Actually, I'd be happy to bring you breakfast every day," Kenji blurted out.
The words were out before he could filter them. He wanted to slap himself. It wasn't his mouth; it was as if the 02 system's "optimal solution" logic was still puppeteering his vocal cords to maximize favorability.
"Ah... um. You don't have to go to such trouble," Zhu Yuan said, her expression shifting to one of mild surprise. She tucked a stray strand of black hair behind her ear and smiled. "But... I'll bring you some next time."
Kenji expected his female superior to be annoyed by such a bold, borderline-flirtatious remark. Instead, her reaction was... warm? His thoughts began to slide into dangerous territory.
My goodness, this actually worked? The favorability bar just went up?02... you aren't just a belt. You are my father.
"It seems I've come at the exactly wrong time."
Qingyi's voice cut through the tension. Zhu Yuan and Kenji both jumped, suddenly becoming very busy with random paperwork as if they hadn't seen her enter.
"Youth is truly a wonderful, chaotic thing," Qingyi muttered, pouring herself a cup of tea like a weary old man. She sat down, enjoying the awkward silence. Zhu Yuan hadn't initially viewed the moment as "romantic," but Qingyi's teasing made her think about it in spite of herself.
She looked at Kenji. He was diligent, brave, and had no obvious vices. As a colleague, he was impeccable. As a man... well, she wasn't planning on dating anyone, so there was no point in over-analyzing a bagel.
The morning at the PSB passed in a blur of administrative work. After lunch, the office cleared out for the standard break. Most officers went home for a nap, but Zhu Yuan stayed behind to finish her tasks. Kenji, of course, stayed too.
"Kenji, we'll head to the training room once I wrap this up," she said, organizing her files.
"I don't mind, but are you sure you don't need a rest? You've been a machine all morning."
He looked at Qingyi, who was currently lying in a reclining chair with an eye mask on, her systems powered down to a low-energy state. He had no idea how an android could look so "exhausted."
"Being energetic has always been my strong suit," Zhu Yuan smiled.
Kenji confirmed it once more: she was the New Eridu Superwoman. If she ever got a Kamen Rider belt, she would be the type to fight 24/7, burning through her life force just to keep the streets clean.
They eventually made their way to the training center.
"This is to improve your survival rate, but it's still taking up your free time," Zhu Yuan said. "If you get tired, let me know." She was a superhuman, but she assumed Kenji was just an "exceptionally sturdy" ordinary person. In this world, Ether-Aptitude determined your ceiling, and she wanted to make sure he didn't hit his.
"Understood, Captain!"
They entered the changing rooms. Training in full combat gear was inefficient and dangerous, so Kenji swapped into basic sportswear. When he stepped out, he found Zhu Yuan waiting, and his heart nearly skipped a beat.
She had opted for standard gym attire to maximize mobility. She wore a beige, short-sleeved crop top that revealed the fit, toned outline of her midriff and navel. Below, she wore blue leggings—so tight they were practically a second skin, mirroring her usual combat silhouette but without the utility belts and holsters.
Kenji found himself suddenly very interested in the floor tiling. It wasn't that his mind was "dirty," but the sheer athleticism of her form was hard to ignore. He cleared his throat, trying to focus on the "survival" part of the training.
===
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 50 on my patreon, go check it out
exclusive 18+ character images, and early chapters, please visit my Patreon. Thanks for your support!
p4treon.com/talkfictome
if you want more updates == supports with power stones
Every 10 Power Stones == Bonus Chapter
every three 5-star reviews == Bonus Chapter