She liked being a senpai. She liked looking after her team and knowing they trusted her. She didn’t know how well that would translate into leading a team, but Genma had only recommended she audit the officer’s course. At the very least she could try it out.

“Thank you, fukuchou,” she said at last. “Do you have a pen? I’m ready to sign.”

Genma handed her one, smiling. "The next class starts in a week or so, I think, but check with the continuing ed office. I can lend you my books from when I took it, if you want."

And there was the catch. Homework. Katsuko thought she’d left homework behind when she’d graduated Academy. She’d stabbed a man to death with his own shinbone once; surely that showcased enough skill to get out of homework.

“I’d appreciate that, lieutenant,” Katsuko said, dashing off her signature. In the Agent Comments section she wrote Will be auditing the officers’ course. Then she set the pen down and straightened, meeting Genma’s eyes as he handed her a carbon copy.

“Is taichou really alright?” she asked, quietly.

Genma’s face softened in sympathy. "He's really alright. He's tired and a little overwhelmed, but he— I get the impression he actually impressed Shibata. Enough they're giving him time with Benihime-sama. They wouldn't waste her time if they didn't think he could get past this." He studied her expression for a moment before asking, just as quietly, "I finally got to read his mission report this morning. Are you holding up okay?"

Katsuko sat there and processed the fact that Raidou had managed to impress the head of T&I during an interview about how Raidou had accidentally destroyed part of a city. Then she examined the revelation that it was the head of T&I who’d gotten Raidou private lessons with the Crimson Eye of Konoha.

“He really is doing okay,” she said, with equal parts relief and incredulity. She propped her good elbow on the table and rubbed her mouth in an attempt to hide her smile. “I’m... feeling much better, now that you’ve told me that. Thank you, lieutenant.”

There was a plate of onigiri that had somehow managed to escape her ravenous rampage from earlier. Genma pushed it towards her. "If you need an ear. Or help with the rookies." He shrugged. "Or you just want an update on things, if I'm not at HQ someone there will know how to find me."

Katsuko dropped her hand and ducked her head, still smiling, and took a rice ball. “I’ll remember.”