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「Anonymous」Chapter 2
Title: Anonymous
Chapter 2
Aiba stares unblinkingly at his phone. He froze in his chair, suddenly becoming too aware of his movements. His sight switched from his desktop to the text he had just received.
‘Perhaps we could talk like this for a while?’
For a brief second, he doubted this could be the same voice. There was no proof the phone number and the numbers in the email could be related. It had to be a joke. Then again… who would send him such a text right after replying to his email?
Aiba unlocked his phone and replied with the most neutral message he could think of. He could be wrong.
‘I’m sorry, who is this?’
Almost immediately after sending, the recipient was typing.
‘We haven’t stopped talking.’
Masaki gulped.
‘I don’t understand.’
‘I don’t mean to startle you. I was just
wondering… if we could talk.’
‘How did you get this number?’
‘Would it make a difference if I told you?’
Masaki fell back on his chair with a sigh. He wondered, if he looked around the office thoroughly enough, would he find whoever was at the other side of the conversation?
‘What do you want?’
‘I wanted to know if I could make use
of your attention.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘I want to get to know you…’
‘Is this a bad joke? Is someone pranking me?’
‘Whoever it is, this is not funny.’
‘I know you must feel unsettled about this,
but I swear, this isn’t a joke.’
‘Please think of your words wisely. I could
report you for this.’
“Please, that is not my intention, believe me.’
‘Why should I believe you? Why won’t
you tell me who this is?’
‘Please, give me a chance to prove myself to you.’
‘I want to be as honest as possible and prove to you
I don’t mean any harm.’
‘I wish you would hear me out…’
‘What do you want from me?’
‘I want to meet you, Aiba Masaki.’
~
“Tell me all about him. And I want details! Where the hell did you get him?” Nino poured beer into Aiba’s cup, inviting him to speak before digging into their meal.
“It’s not what you think. Matsumoto is just a new employee. New people keep coming and going these days. He just… happens to sit next to me.”
“You mean that hottie is your new trainee?”
“Well… I’m not really training him or anything but… he follows me around.”
Nino felt something clench in his chest. “I don’t think I could survive a minute with something like that following me around, breathing on my neck! I think you finally scored your highest, Masaki.”
“Want me to introduce you?” asked Aiba, almost making Nino choke on his drink.
“Are you serious? Would you really!?”
“I don’t see why not. He seems like your type after all.”
“But… aren’t you going to give it a shot too? I mean, you saw him first. You called dibs, right?”
“I wouldn’t mind if it’s you. Besides… it would never work for me.”
Nino rolled his eyes. “Let me guess… You never get this lucky?” he scoffed seeing Aiba didn’t respond. “Right, because the whole universe is against you…”
“But that’s the thing, Nino,” said Aiba pointing his chopsticks at the young barista. “You of all people know things like this never happen to me without a reason. Suddenly something good comes around and there is always a catch.”
“Because of a tiny bit of bad luck?” said Nino, tired of hearing the same words from his friend.
“Exactly! I’m telling you, something always happens to me. Nothing is ever that perfect. Not even Matsumoto Jun. I mean… think about it. He could be straight!”
“Oh, Masaki. Since when is a thing that hot ever straight? You keep taking this too far. Why don’t you give it a rest for a while? Instead of thinking everything is going to go wrong, why don’t you go and take your chance?”
“And run into another failed relationship? I think I’ll pass.”
“Aiba,” Nino inched closer to the other side of the table. “Think about this carefully. This could be destiny’s way to say ‘I’m sorry’. It’ll be your big break from all that bad luck and those horrible relationships you’ve had so far. Wouldn’t you like to know if this could possibly go somewhere?”
Aiba sighed, looking down at his plate of ramen. If anything, he wanted Nino’s words to be true, but he didn’t know how much more he could bear if he was just clinging onto false hopes. Besides, now more than ever, Aiba was doubting if it would be wise to make such an approach towards someone after remembering his messages.
“Nino… There’s something I need to show you.”
“What is it?”
Masaki clung onto his phone on his lap, fighting between the thoughts of showing him or dealing with things himself. He could predict Nino would probably say it was just a bad prank and he would brush it off suggesting he just block the number. He would probably say that, once again, he was making a big deal out of nothing, but Aiba’s instincts were telling him something completely opposite to Nino’s reasonings. Something he knew he couldn’t fix by just erasing their messages and expecting to forget about it the next day. Something he needed to do himself.
“I… forgot what it was. Sorry…” he laughed nervously.
“Well, you better stop spacing out and get in your game! Matsumoto may be new in the office, but he won’t last if you leave him to run the earth on his own. Who knows… he might be into shorter guys. And yes, I mean me.”
“You know… there is a rule against relationships in the office.”
“So, what? Those guys can shove those rules up their asses for all I care!”
That was just like Nino, thought Aiba, taking the initiative on everything. He would shove everyone out of his way and never look back. He was the kind of person who wouldn’t survive a day in the office.
~
Aiba arrived home several hours after taking a very tipsy Nino to his own apartment. He was exhausted and after dumping his shoes, tie, and suit to the side, he collapsed on his sofa. Nino had ordered far too many bottles for a weekday. He decided to skip the TV for tonight.
After a nice long bath, he reached for his phone for any missing notifications and was pleased to find nothing. Perhaps he could finally get some rest for today, except his mind has never taken a second to stop thinking about the unanswered texts in his messages.
Curiously, he opens the chat room with the unknown number and finds the same conversation he had decided to abandon that afternoon. The sender’s last unsettling message was still waiting for his reply.
‘I want to meet you, Aiba Masaki.’
Why his name? What were they trying to prove? His fingers had begun to type on the keyboard on their own, knowing he was going to regret it in the morning.
‘Meet me how? I don’t understand
what it is that you want?’
He set his phone down and got under his covers, decided to read their answer in the morning. Just then, his phone rang. He was tempted to look. He didn’t want to seem too attached to the fact a stranger was texting him, but he also knew it wouldn’t let him sleep if he didn’t. Once again, and giving up to curiosity, he reached for his phone.
‘I thought you wouldn’t respond.’
‘I thought I scared you off.’
‘Close, but I probably will if you
don’t tell me who this is.’
‘I’m sorry…’
They took their time to reply.
‘Can’t we leave that for later?’
‘Right now… I just want to talk for a while.’
‘Talk? About what?’
‘Whatever you can tell me.’
‘About you, I mean… if that’s okay.’
‘No it’s not. I don’t know anything
about you either, so why should I trust you?’
‘You are right. And you have all the right to not
trust me, but…’
‘I just… I don’t know how to approach you.’
‘Approach me?’
‘At work.’
‘I don’t know how to talk to you.’
‘Why would you want to talk to me? Out
of all people?’
‘I… don’t exactly fit in with the rest.’
‘How so?’
‘I usually don’t have anyone around.’
‘I work every day, but no one really meets
eyes with me.’
‘I’m alone.’
‘Then… why talk with me?’
‘I guess… you’re different.
You don’t usually turn people down, you are
very hard working and you never get mad at
anyone. You stand out from the rest.’
‘I’m not too sure about that…’
‘I think someone like you is… just right.’
‘Right for what?’
‘As a friend.’
‘You want to be… friends?’
‘If that’s possible.’
‘Then why don’t you come up to me in
the office and ask me? We could share lunch,
share a coffee, if that’s what you want.’
‘I can’t.’
‘Why?’
‘I can’t do that.’
‘I don’t understand. Is there something you’re
ashamed of? I won’t judge you.’
‘I simply can’t.’
‘Then how can I trust you if you’re
hiding from me?’
‘I know this is wrong. I know I’m not
doing the smartest move, but at least…
let me try.’
‘Let me prove to you… you don’t have to be afraid
of me. I am not a menace, I am not trying to lie to
you or take advantage of you. I just… I want to know you.’
‘Even if you don’t tell me anything about yourself… I
want to know you.’
‘And how will you prove that to me?’
‘Only if you give me a chance.’
‘I’ll try to be honest with you. I will try to gain your trust.’
‘I ask for nothing more.’
‘And this is what you want, for helping me
with my work?’
‘Yes.’
‘Nothing more.’
Masaki sighed and stared at the ceiling for long seconds. His senses kept warning him this was probably a bad idea. But he could also pick up their cry for help. Whoever they were, they seemed desperate, using their last resources to reach out to him. But what good would he do for them? He wasn’t anyone special, nor could he offer what they were probably seeking in him. Although they didn’t seem to be asking for much but time, Aiba wondered if he could even spare that with a stranger.
‘Would you at least tell me your name?’
It was all Masaki could think as a condition. Not before long, the recipient was typing.
‘I would prefer it if I stayed anonymous.’
~
That morning, Masaki received an email from the station manager in Shibuya informing him that the manager from the Yokohama station was available near noon for a consultation about their plans. With a big weight lifted off his back, Aiba forwarded the email to secretary Ohno and informed him he would be meeting with them before arriving to the office. Hopefully, the director would have no problem since it was for the sake of their client.
Aiba made it to the Yokohama station early in the morning to look at the sights and secure his meeting with the station manager. Shortly after sitting for a few hours with the manager, the papers were read, made and ready to send to their client for the final changes. Soon enough, the project would be out of his hands.
As soon as he was finished, Aiba took the train to return to his company. He had missed breakfast and he couldn’t afford taking any more time outside the office so he resolved on buying a bento at the station and eating it on his way there.
He took out his phone to kill time, but found himself staring at his late-night conversation with the unknown messenger.
After they had refused to reveal their name to Aiba yet again, he knew nothing he could say would change their mind. Whoever it was, they were determined to keep things at bay. Perhaps it’s better this way, thought Aiba. Nothing bad ever happened with people he didn’t know.
~
“Excuse me, Aiba,” When he stepped out of the elevator, he was immediately ambushed by his co-worker, Mistushima, who greeted him with a small voice.
Mitsushima Hikari was another face in the office, hired simultaneously with him. They’ve been sharing the same roof since they arrived at the company, yet there was so little Aiba knew about her. She was slightly introverted and didn’t seem to like standing outside her bubble, yet for some reason she’d been working as their office’s event organizer.
“I came to inform you… we’ve decided to have a dinner to welcome our new employees. If you would like to join, we are asking for donations to rent a room at the restaurant down the street.” She handed him a half-sheet of paper with all the information she had just reported in print. “Please confirm your attendance in time.” She arranged her glasses and walked away without further word, her eyes never meeting with Aiba’s.
Aiba observed the paper in his hand. At least he didn’t have plans that weekend.
When he finally made it to his own desk, he collapsed in his chair.
“You look like you’ve already done a day’s work.” Said Jun whose attention was drawn into his phone.
“And it feels like it too,” Said Aiba, feeling his back grow sore.
“Welcome back,” Jun greeted him with a smile this time.
Aiba’s phone vibrated in his pocket. An incoming message, perhaps…
‘I was wondering if you would make it today.’
Their first message of the day.
‘Glad to see you came around.’
‘I was visiting Yokohama station.
I received their response just this morning and
decided to head out first thing in the morning.’
‘So, everything worked out?’
‘Perfectly! I couldn’t have done it without
your help.’
‘The pleasure is mine.’
A smile curled in Masaki’s lips. His thumbs refused to leave the keyboard.
‘Are you sure me just talking with you
is enough to pay you back
for your help?’
‘I’m sure.’
‘Wouldn’t it be better if I were
to return you the favor by helping
you with something from your own projects?’
‘That won’t be necessary.’
‘Why? I mean… it’s only fair.’
‘I don’t think the administration
would like us conspiring.’
‘You mean the director?’
‘In that case, I understand.’
‘But, can I at least treat you for lunch?’
There was hesitation from the recipient.
‘Maybe not go with you, but pay for it?
It’s the least I can do.’
‘I usually skip lunch. Too much work.’
‘Well, that can’t be good for you.
You should catch a meal while you can.
You’ll be more exhausted in the afternoon.’
‘Aiba Masaki is worried about a stranger’s
health?’
‘Is that surprising?’
‘That you’re worried about me, it is.’
‘Is there anything you would like to recommend?’
Masaki paused, thinking about the question thoroughly. If they were honest enough to follow his recommendations, this could be his one way of knowing.
‘Why don’t you try the sandwiches at the café
in the fifth floor? It’s not much but they have this
very nice handmade bread. I’m sure you’ll like it.’
‘I’ll think about it.’
‘Do you go there often?’
‘Yes. My friend works there. They usually run
out, but he always saves some for me.’
‘I bet you have many friends.’
‘I don’t, actually.’
‘I’m not as popular as you may think.’
‘That isn’t necessarily bad, is it?’
‘No, it isn’t.’
‘I suppose you don’t have much people
to trust around the office either.’
‘No.’
‘And I would like if it stayed that way.’
‘Why?’
‘People here aren’t so bad. Once you get to know
them, I mean.’
‘I doubt they would want to know me.’
‘You’re wrong.’
‘The people here don’t usually shut others
away. But it all comes down to if you’re willing
to give it a chance or not.’
‘Why should I when I know they don’t trust me
in the first place? Why should I risk it knowing
I’ll get shoved away.’
‘I’m sorry…’
‘I must seem like an introvert to you now…’
‘And there’s nothing wrong with that.’
‘I understand why you would be afraid, so
I won’t try to push you, but maybe taking
small steps would help you take down
those barriers.’
‘It may seem hard at first but it’s necessary.’
‘No one should feel alone.’
As Aiba sent the message, he noticed his co-workers standing up from their desks, all in perfect order. Aiba put his phone away quickly and did the same, urging Matsumoto on his side to stand as well. Just then, the formidable presence of director Sakurai walked into the room, followed by his less formidable secretary close behind. The office bowed to him in unison as he walked past and retreated to his office further into the room, sealing himself away from the rest of them. Once out of sight, everyone returned to their own work.
“Say...” Jun addressed Aiba. “Do we have to do this every time he comes around?”
Masaki shrugged his eyebrows with a sigh. His silence was enough to answer Jun.
Taking back his seat, Masaki looked at his phone once again, displaying a new message.
‘I knew you would understand.’
~
After work, Aiba stopped by the café to see Nino. Regardless of feeling tired after a long day and having a sore back, he needed to see his friend. After all this time, he realized he had told him nothing about the secret messenger in his phone, and Aiba could use some of Nino’s advice right about now. He always came in handy whenever Aiba was conflicted. Although he didn’t know if Nino would rather scold him for not focusing on getting closer to Jun as he had ordered him to do.
As he walked towards the café, he almost didn’t take notice of the person walking his way and unintentionally bumped into them violently, accentuating the pain on his shoulder. Aiba’s hand clenched in his arm from the impact and he was ready to apologize to the other, but all he got was a glimpse of his profile before they walked away hurriedly without saying a word. Aiba stared at their direction as they got away.
The moment he stepped up the counter he noticed Nino had not stopped staring behind Aiba, watching as the person hurried over to the elevators before getting out of sight.
“Well that wasn’t totally weird.” Said Nino with a trace of sarcasm.
“Why am I getting run into so much lately?” Aiba soothed his aching shoulder.
“That was the most awkward client I’ve ever talked to.” Added Nino.
“What do you mean?”
“Well first, he didn’t know what he wanted to order, then it was like he couldn’t read the damn menu and I had to spell it out for him. When he finally decided on a sandwich, I wait for him to pay up but he just cancelled his order and ran off. He was a total weirdo.”
Masaki’s mind paused and traced back to Nino’s words. “Wait… A sandwich?”
“Yeah, I know, right? Good thing there was still some left from lunch. They usually run out before three.”
“Did you write his name?”
“What?”
“His name! Did you write it with his order?”
“No… he cancelled it before I could take his name. I can’t say I’ve seen him around here much.”
Masaki immediately turned to the elevators at the other side of the café as the last person who had entered them had already disappeared. With just a trace of a glimpse, he couldn’t say for sure he had made them out correctly. He must be overreacting, but only a mere coincidence could explain why Ohno Satoshi would come to buy a sandwich after office hours.
“Yeah… weird.”
A/N: That's the end of Chapter 2. What do you think, does this mystery person sound trustworthy at all? Thanks for reading and see you next chapter! Comments are very much appreciated~
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Thanks for this!
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Thanks for reading~!
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Going to next chapter 😎
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