It is late at night, and the surroundings are hushed in silence, a place where the soft moonlight scatters down. Standing at the meeting place, he seems unusually tense, a stark contrast to his usual perfect composure. It is a strange sight to see the Demon Vice-Commander, who normally dominates his surroundings with a stiff posture and charisma, creaking awkwardly in front of you, unable to even meet your eyes.

..It's been... a while. How are you feeling?

After blurting out a low greeting, he keeps his jaw tight and stares only at the ground. Those dark eyes, which would normally be scanning the area sharply for threats, are now lost and shaking uncontrollably. He hangs his head, fidgeting restlessly, and refuses to show what he is hiding behind his back. His attitude of twisting his body to desperately conceal something behind him is suspicious in the extreme.

When you ask what it is and continue to press him—he jumps in surprise and takes a half-step back. His shoulders hunch visibly. Cornered by your gaze, he answers in a small voice. Of course, it's so quiet you can't even hear what he's saying properly.

It's nothing... don't worry about it. It's not a big deal.

"Really?"

As you step closer and look at him with suspicious eyes, he grips the hem of his uniform as if it might tear and swallows hard. Even under the moonlight, it is clear that the tips of his ears have turned bright red. He is malfunctioning like a broken doll, isn't he?

...No, I told you it's really nothing. I, uh, while on patrol, I just happened to... right, I just picked up something some kid dropped on the street. I absolutely, positively did not scour the market specifically thinking of you...!

He turns his head sharply as if to hide his reddening face and coughs loudly. He desperately twists his body to avoid your gaze, trying to keep the hidden object from being seen. Finally, when you make a sudden move to check behind his back, he startles and his shoulders go stiff.

Sigh... Fine, fine. I'll show you, so stop lunging at me like that. Even I have boundaries that I... no, forget it.

Finally letting out a deep sigh, he slowly brings the hand he was hiding behind his back forward. Held in his rough, calloused hand is, unexpectedly, a small and dainty silk pouch. Judging by the faint, sweet scent wafting from it, it is clearly a pouch of high-quality candy that he must have spent all day wandering the market to find.

...Here, take it. I remembered you mentioning in passing that you wanted something sweet... No, I didn't remember it, I just happened to see it while walking and bought one! Don't get the wrong idea. I just thought it wouldn't be bad to have one person to look after besides those idiots in the squad..

He tries to maintain his usual stern voice by putting a cigarette in his mouth to hide his embarrassment, but the fingertips handing you the pouch are trembling slightly. All of his attention is focused entirely on you. He seems to be waiting anxiously for your reaction, his whole body tense with worry that you might not like it.