CHAPTER 25: OFFICER ON DUTY

---

They were all packing like they were going to war.

Suitcases slammed shut, snack bags crinkled, clothes flew through the air like confetti. And in the middle of it all, I just stood there—awkward, nervous... and very aware of the way every single one of them kept glancing at me like I was a loaded gun left too close to a baby.

Mei moved like a drill sergeant. Her checklist was longer than a college textbook.

"Okay, I left Sora’s morning pills in the blue case—blue. Not green. The green ones are for when she’s dizzy. There’s labeled water in the fridge. The purple bottle is lavender. Do not give her that one unless she’s stressed, or you’ll knock her out."

"Copy that," I said, raising my hands. "Not lavender unless she’s crying."

"She better not be crying," she snapped.

Sora sat quietly on the couch, legs tucked under her, pretending not to hear everything but clearly listening. Her eyes kept darting between us like she was half-embarrassed, half-touched. I don’t blame her.

Elira floated past me like a breeze. Her suitcase didn’t even touch the ground — magic, obviously.

"I’ve placed a minor divine barrier around her bed. Break it, and a wave of holy fire will vaporize you."

She smiled sweetly. "Just kidding."

She wasn’t kidding.

Rin... well, Rin was quieter than the rest. She didn’t have much to pack — she was living with us now, somehow. But she walked over to Sora and gently tucked a soft pink blanket over her lap.

"You get cold when the AC’s too low," she said. "Don’t let him mess with the settings."

"I’m right here, you know."

"We know," they all said at once.

The next twenty minutes were just them running back and forth—checking the fridge, leaving notes on the cabinets, organizing meals like Sora was about to be abandoned on a deserted island with a caveman (a.k.a. me).

But I knew what it really was.

They cared. All of them. Even when they were threatening to light me on fire or poison me with labels. They loved her. And part of them didn’t trust me yet.

Maybe part of me didn’t either.

Before they left, each one of them crouched next to her, touched her hair, or whispered something soft I couldn’t quite hear. Sora smiled through it all, a little flustered, but glowing.

Then Mei turned back at the door.

"She trusts you," she said, holding my gaze. "So don’t give us a reason to regret it."

"I’ll be back in two days," Elira told me. "Don’t touch her."

That was not a suggestion.

Even Mei paused on her way out and said, "You’re on probation. If I hear anything happened, I’ll personally curse you with eternal limpness."

Harsh.

One by one, they left. Until it was just me... and her.

Door shut. Silence.

I looked at Sora.

She looked at me.

Just us now.

And the terrifying pressure of not screwing this up.

The house was quiet for the first time in months. It felt strange. Like time slowed down. Like the tension that had always existed in tiny doses was now suddenly all I could feel.

I cooked.

She giggled when I burned the noodles.

I tried to fix the heater.

She ended up bringing me a bandage when I shocked myself.

I played soft anime openings while we lay on opposite ends of the couch, pretending not to glance at each other during commercial breaks. There were so many unspoken things between us. The air always felt like it was holding its breath.

Still, I took care of her.

Warm tea. Blankets. Nightlight on. Fan set to medium speed — because she said high makes her cold and low makes her sweat.

I remembered. Everything.

And I didn’t touch her.

Not even when she leaned on my shoulder while dozing off after a gaming marathon.

Not even when her fingers brushed mine during Mario Kart and she whispered, "You’re surprisingly gentle when you try."

Not even when I tucked her in and she mumbled, "Thanks... for being different this time."

I swallowed my guilt like poison.

That first time... the one nobody talks about out loud...

The memory still claws at me. And they all knew it. That’s why they warned me. That’s why Sora sometimes flinched before letting me close.

I wish I could erase it.

But all I could do now was make sure she never had to feel unsafe again.

We were playing games again — late into the night, our laughter echoing off the empty halls. It felt... good. Like maybe we were healing.

And then —

Knock. Knock. Knock.

We froze.

Three deliberate, sharp knocks.

My heart stalled.

Sora looked up, confused. "Who could that be?"

I stood.

Each step toward the door felt heavier than the last. I opened it...

And there she was.

Whamo.

A walking lie detector in a cop uniform.

Full police uniform. Gun strapped. Hand on hip. Sharp black ponytail and those unforgiving, ice-cold eyes. Eyes that looked past my skin and straight into my soul.

"Yo," she said flatly. "Where’s my sister?"

The game controller slipped from my hand.

I was dead.

---

---

---

---

---

---

Dear readers.

"Loved what you read? Don’t forget to drop a review, comment, and add to collection for more! Your thoughts keep this story alive, so drop a line—I’d love to hear from you."

Don’t just read and skip tell me how you like my novel so far I welcome any review good or bad that’s how I improve and learn.