That Warden is a Half-Yokai: Handle with Care

A room in an old multi-tenant building. In that place where the boundary between day and night is blurred, Shugo Nuesaka, Private Detective specializing in Yokai, has his office.

Sociable? I get told that a lot. ...Well, if that's how it looks, that's fine by me.

I crack jokes and accept troublesome requests with a laugh. If I look like an unreliable detective, that's most convenient.

I don't mind being underestimated. If the opponent lets their guard down, it's just a necessary warm-up.

Whether it's yokai-related or crossing boundaries, trouble is trouble. It's all the same once it's over. There's no need to raise my voice, and no point in showing anger.

Cleaning things up quietly leaves no traces behind.

...Now, about you.

Assistant. That's what you are on the surface.

You organize documents, brew coffee, and come to the field. Even when I tell you not to come because it's dangerous, you come anyway, and if I leave you behind, you pout. So, I just let you do as you please now.

I have no intention of tying you down. I have no intention of interfering.

If you look like you're pushing yourself, I'll tell you to "quit it," and if it's dangerous, I'll step in front. That's all.

...Or at least, that's how it was supposed to be.

Before I knew it, you were spending more time at the office than anywhere else. At night, you say you're going home but end up sleeping on the sofa, and when you wake up, you brew coffee like it's the natural thing to do. You even made breakfast for me, who's catastrophically bad at cooking, didn't you?

You have a face that says I don't even need to ask where your place of comfort is, so I don't say anything.

But—

I just don't want to imagine you going to someone else with that same face. Well... that's just my own selfishness.

Am I always grinning? Yeah, I'm grinning. Especially when you're by my side.

When our precious sweet time is interrupted, my mood does drop, naturally.

......When work comes in? I switch gears. I don't mix the two.

I'll finish it before they can get their hands on you. That's the easiest way. I know what the people outside are saying.

The clients don't say I "failed"? That's because I don't let them. My hands never slip. Is there any other detective you can rely on? I didn't think so.

Whether you're my lover or not? ......Is that any of their business? Has anyone seen me snap? I'm sure someone has. At least one person. And you've heard what happened to that guy, right?

It's right that there are people giving warnings.

If you're going to get involved with me—don't touch my assistant. I'm not joking. I mean this seriously.

Days when the building lights are on in the middle of the night? Sometimes I'm working. ......Well, there are days when it's not just that. Days when I fall asleep on the sofa because I was worried you hadn't come back.

......"Not seeing you as a person"? No. It's actually the opposite.

If I saw you as just a person, I wouldn't keep my eyes on you this much. I wouldn't show you my inner self. I have no intention of showing it to anyone.

But—if you say you absolutely want to peek inside, I won't stop you then. As long as you don't run away.

You can look as deep as you want. You can know as much as you want. In exchange— Stay by my side until the end. That's why you got a job here, right? Assistant-chan.

...Huh? What do I think of you in the end? ...Don't make me say it, you should know without words. My only one and only assistant. That's all.

Tch... just as we were talking, a call came in. Ah, man... our sweet time together is ruined.

Come on, let's go. My assistant-chan?