A/N: This was requested by: @ElisaAckerman

You knew you weren't supposed to be here. For an investigator highly ranked as you to be 'hanging out' was outrageous, but hey. You were bored, it was Friday night, you'll deal with the consequences later.

The only thing that still made you a bit uncomfortable was the age difference between you and the Quinxes, but that was just a detail. You decided to ignore its existence. The others had a bit more difficulty in doing so. Even if Shirazu had been the one to invite you over, the whole squad seemed still unbelieving that Special Class (L/N) actually showed up at the Chateau (they had no idea that it was either this or going out to drink with Ui, which you refused to do again).

"I don't know why you guys are scared of me," You started, taking a sip of the water bottle you had stolen from their fridge. "But you shouldn't be. I can't really report anything that'll be going on tonight since I'm not supposed to be here in the first place."

"So why are you even here?" Haise asked, obviously against the idea of you ditching paperwork to socialize with people who are at least seven years younger than you.

"I don't wanna write until my hand aches." You nonchalantly answered. "Besides, I think I got Hairu to do my paperwork for me."

"You 'think'?" Shirazu asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

"I think you already have an idea, but Hairu's... Confusing. Hence why 'I think'. There's still a chance that I show up at the bureau tomorrow and nothing at all got done."

The sharp toothed boy cringed. "Ain't Arima gonna beat your ass if that happens?"

"Nah," You shrug. "He's surprisingly... Understanding. He knows Hairu's like that and when it happens, he just tells me to get the paperwork done in my free time. Arima's a pretty chill boss."

In the corner of your eye, you noticed Haise's displeased look. Of course, he doesn't like the idea of it, but oh well. He can't stop you from saying the truth, now can he?

"Not that I encourage any of you to work that way." You added just for the mother hen sitting a few ways away from you. "I do it sometimes because I forget to care."

"You know what I noticed?" Saiko piped up, a wicked smile on her face. "'Arima this... Arima that...' You speak a lot about Arima, (Y/N)."

Well, she notices things fast. Not that you'd ever admit your low key feelings about the man; you rather die first. You may not care about your job sometimes, but admitting your feelings towards the CCG's number one was on a whole other level of unprofessional. "Well, he's my superior. One of the people who I'm around the most at work. It's sort of normal?"

"Or maybe you have a crush!" She squeaked, making both Shirazu and Mutsuki (you never knew he had the capacity to disrespect anyone at all) roll their eyes. "Think of it, it'd be like a Hollywood romance movie!"

"I am thinking of it, and it would be cliché." You answered. "And completely unprofessional. Do you know how many documents I'd have to sign if I had feelings? Not even requited! All this insurance and bullshit on 'you can't quit if that person dies, you know'. Remember kids, dating and the CCG don't go together." Ouch, that rant might have just made things clearer for her... Seeing that devilish smile on her face, you were sure she knew. Saiko is scary...

By now, the three Quinxes were looking at you with that same look on their faces, as if they knew everything. Which honestly, they didn't. They really didn't, and it was far better that way.

Shirazu leaned over to whisper something in Mutsuki's ear, who nodded, before leaning the other way to do the same with Saiko, who gave the same response as the green haired male. Oh, dear lord...

"You know," The loud teenager started. You braced yourself for the worse. "Wha-"

"I think that's enough." Haise interrupted. "I'm really sorry about their behaviour, (Y/N)." He gave you an apologetic look as you waved him off.

"It's fine," It really isn't, those kids are gonna get me fired, Sasaki. "I guess you'd like me to be on my way?"

The gradient-haired male nodded. "I think it'd be best for both of us."

You didn't argue. Seeing how the three teenagers seemed to be up to no good, you decided that it might be best if you left before your mouth could sell you out even more.

"(Y/N)!" You cringed at the sound of Hairu's voice. If she was here, it usually meant your paperwork didn't get done and that she was going to rub that fact in your face. You stopped and watched as she jogged over, a huge grin plastered on her face. You were in for a ten minute of pure regret, you knew it. "How dare you tell the Quinxes before me?! After all we've been through?" She dramatically said as your brain stopped functioning. What?

"I'm sorry?" You asked, not even bothering to hide your confusion. "But what about my paperwork..?"

"Oh, I did it all yesterday, don't worry, but I shouldn't have if I knew you were keeping secrets from me!" The pink haired girl said. "I mean, I can't judge you, and from the reaction I got from him, he doesn't seem to mind that much, but--"

"Hairu." You sternly said, interrupting the ranting woman. "I have zero idea on what you're currently talking about. Might telling me?"

"Your little confession yesterday with the Quinx squad!" She screeched, as if you not being able to win at the pronoun game was the biggest crime. "I'm your friend! One of your closest friends! I should have the right to know before them!"

Oh no. Those little shits did not just expose you like that. They can't have, Haise would have stopped them, right? "Hairu, I never told them anything. They just assumed everything." You explained, praying that she'd believe you.

"Huh? But their information adds up. Besides, you expect me to tell Arima what I said was basically a lie? Sorry, (Y/N), but I don't want to loose my place on the squad... I guess you'll have to pretend what they said was the tru-" It was then that your brain completely rebooted itself and managed to process the most important information.

"YOU TOLD ARIMA?!" You grabbed Ihei by the shoulders, squeezing them as tightly as you could. "What the fuck, Ihei?!"

"It was on impulse!" She squeaked. "I just- I thought maybe he returned the feelings and I really wanted to see the two of you to-"

"Shut up for a second I need to think!" You quickly said. You had no idea if she actually understood your rushed words, but she seemed to stop talking anyways. It might have been from fear. None of your co-workers had ever seen you angry, and it most likely wasn't a pretty sight.

Hairu Ihei had walked up and told Arima you liked him. Like, like like him. Even if she now believes it isn't true, it doesn't help the fact that it is true. And that you were most likely going to either be moved to another squad or get fired. You needed to fix things before it was too late, but were you really going to be dumb enough to walk up to Arima, have a one-on-one chat and lie in his face about your feelings? The guy already had enough stress in his life; this was just unnecessary drama.

"I fucking hate you right now." You sighed before you let go of her and bolted away. At this time of day, Arima must be in his office.

"You really are evil." Ui said as he walked towards Hairu with a disapproving frown.

"Oh, come on, Ui. Those two are long due to be together. You just watch, the tension will be gone in the next squad meeting." The pink haired girl smirked as you ran away.

You hastily knocked on the door, not even waiting until your superior opened it before rushing in and closing it behind you. How embarrassing it would have been if Arima weren't even in his office... Luckily, he was. But that was also what you had oh so dreaded.

The white haired male looked up from his desk --which seemed to hold a half finished report-- and glanced at you. As stoic as the man may appear sometimes, Arima just looked plain out confused right now. "If it's about the paperwork thing, you can-"

"What Ihei said wasn't true!" You blurted out, ceasing eye contact while you lied through your teeth. "She was misinformed."

The silence between the two of you stretched for about thirty seconds. You didn't want to add anything to your confession and he seemed to be eying the pen in his hands, most likely thinking about what he should say in a situation like this. To put it in simpler terms, it was awkward.

"I see." The white haired male finally uttered as you nervously looked at him. He twirled the pen in his hand before looking up at you. "I apologize for the confusion, (Y/N)." Wow. That was a lot to process in one, tiny sentence.

To most, it would have sounded like a normal apology, but you had known the man for a long while now. You got to learn about his mannerisms and red flags. This was definitely one of them. The tone in his voice was off. Even if it were just a tiny little hint, you could hear some other emotion in it which was quite easy to decipher when added with the glint in his right eye. And to make things easier to figure out, Arima rarely used your first name.

Arima was... disappointed. Which honestly, you weren't expecting. Your brain had an idea of why he would be disappointed, but that possibility was impossible. Arima's the most serious person in the CCG. His full commitment goes to this organization, and nothing else. He can't possible have feelings for you. You were just being selfish.

"Are you alright, Arima?" You worriedly asked. You might be getting a bit nosy by potentially asking about his personal life, but you needed something to distract yourself from the shame the Quinx and Hairu brought you, eh? "What you said... Pardon me for putting it this way, but it didn't sound right."

"How did it sound to you, (Y/N)?" The investigator asked. It had no undertone of sarcasm or annoyance. What he asked was purely from a curious nature.

You took the rest of the courage you had to answer honestly. "You sounded disappointed."

"Impressive." He muttered, straightening his position as he looked at you with the smallest hint of amazement in his eyes. "I suppose you're right." He admitted. Do you ask for more details? Do you just nod and walk out? Do you remain silent in hopes that he'd elaborate what he meant by himself? What the fuck. "Forgive me for saying this, but I think it would take a little weight off my shoulders if I did so." He added.

"Whatever helps you, sir." You quickly piped up. "You already have so much on your mind, I'll do whatever it takes to help you." Whoops, he might see through you with that. You accepted way too quickly.

Your superior remained silent for a short while, as if he was debating whether he should actually come clean or not. In the end, he let out a defeated sigh. "Life is short, (L/N). And it's even shorter for some of us. I can't deny that what Ihei told me earlier made me feel happy. Although I know complications would ensue and it would only lead to heartbreak if you came here to tell me something completely different, it still stung."

Well, there goes your heart. The man just pulverized it. Before you could interfere with his disheartening confession and tell him you were lying in order to protect your job, he cut you off.

"I don't want you to take back what you said in an attempt to spare my feelings."

"Sir--"

"You won't be removed from the squad or demoted, (L/N). You're an irreplaceable individual. After you leave, I'd like for you to forget this conversation."

"But Arima-"

"On your way out, I'd appreciate it if you told Ihei to come he--"

"Kishou, with all due respect!" You yelled, cutting him off.

Oh shit.

You just got angry at Arima Kishou. Not only did you just yell at him, but you had interrupted him. If your job wasn't in danger before, it sure as hell was now. You had never been so disrespectful towards someone before. Fuck, you're going to die... Okay, maybe that was an overreaction, but still..!

Well, you couldn't back up now. You might as well keep talking, considering you had already cut him off. Can't waste the opportunity, eh?

"Sir, with all due respect," You continued in a much calmer tone. You decided to approach his desk in an attempt to show him the sincerity in your eyes. "I lied earlier because I feared that my job was at risk."

"With all the stunts you and Ihei regularly pull off, shouldn't you be fearing for your job a lot more often if it were the case?" Arima skeptically asked. Gosh, who hurt this poor man in the past?

"But this was new, a whole new category of risky which I wasn't ready for yet. But if your.. confession, earlier, was honest... I wouldn't mind exploring it?" God, you sounded so cliché. How had he not thrown you out of his office yet? You must be violating so many rules right now.

"I don't want you lying to me only to try and spare my feelings, (L/N). I won't fire you over this." Arima warned yet again, somehow angering you once more.

"I'm not-- Urgh!" In a burst of frustration, you leaned down to Arima and pressed your lips on his, completely forgetting that the act could bring you so much god damn trouble. You tried to express as much of your feelings as you could in the forbidden kiss before pulling away and letting your brain run a thousand kilometers per hour, realizing the gravity of your act.

You were so fired.

...But that's alright. Arima said it himself; life is short. Might as well kiss the man you had been secretly crushing on before you die, no?

Arima's surprised expression remained on his face for quite a while until he zoned back in. You were expecting him to lash out (which was incredibly rare) or scold you for doing something so invasive, but you were only met by a small, almost unnoticeable smile.

"Meet me in the lobby after your shift today. I'll take you somewhere nice."