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「Anonymous」Chapter 6
A/N: Welcome to Chapter 6! We're already half way through our story. What new things will Anon reveal to us this time? A very special thanks to my rl friend Dhay for her support ^^ Right text is Aiba. MOBILE VIEW RECOMMENDED.As indicated above, this fanfiction is mystery genre. THE PAIRING WILL NOT BE SPECIFIED IN THE FANFICTION DESCRIPTION, EVER. If you want to know the mystery, you must read. I want you to have fun with it. Thanks! I hope you enjoy! I don't own them, sadly.
Chapter 6
“… The cables were cut. Someone down at maintenance saw them.”
“Scary… Who would even do such a thing?”
“It’s obvious. Only an employee would know their way around.”
“You think he had something to do with it?”
“I heard it wasn’t just him in there. Some people from marketing saw the director get off on their floor and they said he wasn’t alone.”
“He must have persuaded the director to use the elevator with him.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. He’s been breathing down the secretary’s neck for weeks.”
“He must have done it on purpose. Trying to make the director pity him.”
“He’s only trying to get on his good side.”
“If that’s the case, I can’t wait to see what the director will do-”
The groups of voices suddenly muted when Aiba stepped into the break room. Regardless of not feeling the least bit welcomed, Masaki slightly bowed his head as he greeted them “good morning”. Their eyes scanned him before moving away, engaging in murmured chatter as they returned to their desks. Masaki sighed for perhaps the eleventh time that morning before starting the coffee machine.
Returning to his desk had never felt like such a difficult task. As he tried to find some silence with his cup of coffee, another pair of his coworkers engaged in whispers, at least two cubicles down from his.
“I heard they found a camera in there too.”
“No way! What were they even trying to do?”
“Who knows? They couldn’t even find anyone in security, which means, it must have been someone from inside. Probably whoever used the elevator last.”
“Which means he…”
“…Right?”
“The director sure is lucky.”
Masaki thought of leaving his desk again if only he could go back to the break room and drink his coffee quietly yet walking down the office would only stir their talk more. He understood he had to stay in his seat, even if it meant he couldn't take out his phone. The last thing he wanted was to cause chaos with their speculations. He only wished time passed faster so he could finally get some fresh air, and possibly have someone to talk to.
Matsumoto witnessed Aiba’s twelfth sigh that morning. His coworker’s fingers worked loudly on his keyboard, as if he was trying to mute the sparse chatter around them. If it were Jun, he would have already spoken his mind to draw away their ridiculous assumptions, but he knew the last thing Aiba would want would be to bring more attention to himself. Jun resented being too much of a coward to do anything, but there was still something in him that couldn’t let it go.
~
‘Anon?’
‘I had a feeling you would come around.’
‘Hi. Sorry, I’ve been occupied.’
‘It’s only natural.’
‘You can text me first too, you know?’
‘I was wondering if you would.’
‘Why?’
‘Because of last night?’
‘…’
‘What? Are you going to bury your head
in the sand every time I mention it?’
‘Forget about it.’
‘Shy as always, I see.’
‘You’re going to mock me now?’
‘No, I think it’s refreshing.’
‘And don’t worry, Anon. Your secret
is safe with me.’
‘What are you up to? Heading for lunch?’
‘I don’t know. I thought of skipping lunch today.’
‘That’s strange. Last person who skipped a meal
around here had to go through quite an earful.’
‘Today is very… strange, I guess.’
‘I don’t see you around. Are you not in
the office?’
‘I stepped out a little early. I’m in the terrace,
trying to get some fresh air.’
‘Everything okay?’
‘A little suffocated.’
‘?’
‘Have you even been in the office
today, Anon?’
‘What?’
‘You’re not seriously listening to what’s
been going around, are you?’
‘How could I not? When they’ve been at it all day,
pretending I don’t know it’s me they’re talking about.’
‘They’re saying I was trying to trap the director?
Who would seriously believe that? What do they think
I would have gotten out of it, when I was all by
myself in there?’
‘All I did was ride an elevator with him and suddenly
I’m a suspect for attempted murder.’
‘Things seem to spread fast.’
‘Not faster than their stupid gossips.’
‘I just needed to get away from everyone for a while.’
‘Last thing I need is for administration to interrogate
me because of what they’re saying.’
‘Believe me, they won’t.’
‘How can you be so sure? If they hear I tried
to threaten the director, even if it’s just rumors,
I’ll lose my job for sure.’
‘They wouldn’t pay mind to a minor office rumor.’
‘Why wouldn’t they?’
‘Aiba, it’s just gossip. You wouldn’t believe the things
they would come up with just to get out of boredom.’
‘And this time it just happened to be me.’
‘Ignore them. They don’t deserve your concern.
Making you look guilty won’t make them any more
important. And if you show them it gets to you,
they’ll just keep going. So, forget about them and just
be glad that nothing too serious happened. At any case,
you were the only one who was there. Only your word counts.’
‘…’
‘You’re right.’
‘I’m letting this get to my head. I’m sorry.’
‘Besides, they’re probably just jealous because
you rode the elevator with the director.’
‘In other words, I probably rebelled against
everyone in the office.’
‘Probably.’
‘It makes sense. They’re just looking for
something to complain about.’
‘That’s right.’
‘Thank you, Anon. My mind’s been all over
the place this week.’
‘How come you always know what to say?’
‘I’ve gotten better at it I guess.’
‘I appreciate it, really.’
‘I have to admit, it was weird.’
‘What was?’
‘Standing next to him.’
‘The director?’
‘He looked like a statue. Rigid.
Except he smelled nice.’
‘You make odd observations.’
‘I get that a lot from Nino.’
‘Talk to you later.’
‘Sure.’
‘Oh, and sorry I ranted so much.’
‘What else am I here for?’
‘Because you like me.’
‘Stop.’
‘Nope.’
“Aiba?” Masaki jolted when Jun’s voice came from behind him. His attention left his phone, locking his screen as Jun came closer.
The expression the younger found in Aiba this time was somehow the opposite of what he witnessed inside the office. There was no longer a trace of resent in him, as if it had all been washed away.
“Are you okay?” Jun still asked.
“How did you know I was here?”
“Didn’t see you at the café. There aren’t many places you usually go to.” Although he was not wrong, Aiba couldn’t help but feel there was more to what he spoke. Still, he decided not to ponder on it now.
“You haven’t spoken much all day,” Jun shorten their distance. “You know you can tell me anything. It’s no good keeping it to yourself.”
“I know…” Said Aiba, becoming silent for a second. “But I can’t make them change their minds about it. No matter how wrong they are.”
“Aren’t you going to complain?”
“I wouldn’t give them the benefit. At any case, they’ll forget about it by tomorrow.” Aiba put away his phone in his pocket. “I’m getting kind of hungry.” He said as he got on his feet. Jun could see the moment Aiba’s frown eased into a smile. He wondered, still, if he could even take credit for helping his mood.
~
It was rather strange not seeing Nino in the café that afternoon. The latter hadn’t even texted Aiba of his whereabouts, although, if he was completely honest, the barista hadn’t been asking around for Aiba at all. If there was one thing for certain, his absence saved him the trouble of explaining the on-going rumors that would possibly bore him.
In the meantime, there was nothing wrong with sharing lunch with Jun. After lying his way out of his invitation the previous night, it was the least he could do. He needed to make things clear that he would have accepted his offer if it would have been any other day and any other time, although Jun didn’t seem particularly worried about it. He could tell by the way he appeared so calm and gentle, as if just their small chatter was enough to make up for lost time. Soon, Aiba began to feel the regret of not experiencing a night with just the two of them and was even imagining what a drunk Jun would be like.
Regardless of trying to convince Jun it was better if they weren’t seen together at the office to not drag himself in more unnecessary rumors, the younger had refused. Aiba resented it no matter how kind Jun made himself look, but even he had to admit that having Jun by his side was a lot more reassuring than coming into the office by himself.
“What’s the worst they can say? That I helped you shut down the elevator on yourself?”
“Probably that you forced the director to share the elevator with me.”
They both laughed. “As much as I would have liked to see him stuck in there and not you, I still consider disconnecting an elevator idiotic.”
They rode the elevator in silence until Aiba had tired himself of thinking on Jun’s words.
“What if that was it?” He said, giving no lead for Jun to follow on his train of thought. “What if whoever did it knows that was enough to get the director. What if they knew his weakness and tried to use that against him?”
“Then, you should be considered the guy who saved the director instead of the one who tried to give him a heart attack.”
The office was as vivid as the afternoon should be, as the morning had finally worn out. Employees resumed with their work, but not before receiving, expectantly, their director and secretary, who made an arrival after returning from their own lunch break with some members of the board as they usually did.
The usual bows and greetings were thrown across the room as director Sakurai headed to his office and his secretary held the door open for him, before Sakurai had decided to stop just by the door step. Most employees had not taken notice of Sakurai turning his attention over the crowd of desks to stare at the vast floor of his subordinates.
Slowly, as if calling them one by one, everyone’s attention was fixed on the director’s silence, as his eyes scavenged across the room.
“I have something to inform you of.” Sakurai said, the room falling in silence for him. “For those of you who may have thought yourself contributors to a solved cause, I have bad news. The divulgation of false information is prohibited inside of this office and can be punished if exploited. Spreading rumors is no different from this for those of you who are not aware. And don’t think that because I sit a wall away, these things don’t reach beyond that door. I’ve heard my name being mentioned more than once, and I expect it to end now. Yesterday’s happenings are nothing more than what you saw. Suggesting this incident as an attack on this office is utter insulting and further talk will not be tolerated. Is that understood?”
Their voices came together in response to their director, who shortly after throwing a keen glance across the room, retreated.
Jun and Aiba exchanged looks, their thoughts encountering half way. Someone must have really overdone it to get Sakurai to address them directly. But if he didn’t approach them sooner, who knew what other things could have spread out? It was the first time in a while that Aiba could acknowledge his leadership. Still, he wondered why Sakurai’s words made him doubt the circumstances even more.
~
“Say, Nino?” Aiba sat up on his sofa clutching a pillow.
“Mhm?” Nino responded from the floor, his attention drawn to his phone.
“Do you think he was lying?”
“Who was lying?”
“Weren’t you even listening? I was just telling you about the director.”
“What about him?”
“He called it an accident. That means there was no break-in like everyone thought. But then why did they find the system damaged?”
“Wasn’t this supposed to be just a dirty rumor to make you look bad?”
“I don’t know…” Aiba fell back on the sofa. “It doesn’t seem that easy. It sounded so filtered to me...”
“What, you wanted it to be a scandal?”
“It’s not that… but how everything happened is making me doubt more of it. It wouldn’t be odd if someone was really trying to do something. It’s not the first time someone has directed their hate towards the company.”
“Then? What do you think whoever did it wanted?”
“Probably get back on the director?”
“You think Jun would have done it?” asked Nino.
“What? No! What are you saying?” Said Masaki, indignant with Nino’s suggestion.
“Well he did seem pretty mad at Sakurai the other day and, correct me if I’m wrong, but we did just meet him.”
“I am not going to assume Jun is some two-faced psychopath. Besides, if you think he would go against the director for something like that, imagine all the other employees who have been enduring him for years.”
“Well, it doesn’t get any easier when the guy is such an ass. Who said it had to be him anyway?”
“It would be obvious. He is the only one important who was there. I just happened to be caught up in the middle of it.”
“So, you’re just going to let everyone else decide that for you?”
“What?”
Nino rolled his eyes. “They just said those things because they wanted to victimize their precious director when, in fact, you were the one who was actually there. Now, what do you really think happened?”
Aiba frowned as his thoughts wandered. “You mean… What if, whoever did it was aiming at someone else?”
“Someone who totally fell in their trap.”
Aiba sat back up on his sofa, his gaze fixed on Nino. “You don’t actually believe someone was going after me, do you?”
Nino shrugged. “I’m only trying to make sense of what happened.”
“Well, it’s dumb. So, stop trying to creep me out.” Aiba resumed to lay on the sofa, his body shifting to find a comfortable spot where he could rest his eyes for a second.
“Have you gotten involved with an unsatisfied client recently?” Nino continued.
“No.” Aiba brushed him off.
“Another employee you may have gotten in a fight with?”
“The office may hate my guts, but I have no reason to argue with anyone.”
“Hm…” The room felt silent as Nino thought, his attention fixed on his phone with great concentration. “What about Anon?”
Aiba’s eyes shot open gazing at Nino with a frown. “Nino…”
“Where was he all that time you spent closed up in that box?”
“Don’t.”
“You said it yourself, Aiba. I’m just trying to make sense out of it.”
“By accusing him and assuming what? That he kidnapped me?”
“Well someone has too, considering you see nothing wrong with befriending a stalker.”
“And you know him so well to say that.” Said Aiba under his breath.
Nino scoffed, putting away his phone and picking himself up from the floor. Aiba followed him with his gaze while the younger picked up the things he had scattered in Aiba’s apartment.
“You’re leaving already?” Asked Aiba.
“Yeah… I just remembered I have to get home. I think I can still catch the train.” Nino spoke without turning back to Aiba, making himself busy while putting on his shoes.
Nino uttered a small “See ya.” before closing the door behind him abruptly, leaving Aiba looking perplexedly at the door. After realizing how quiet his room had become, he regretted ever saying a word.
~
‘I think my friend is mad at me.’
‘Nino?’
‘Why is he mad?’
‘It’s complicated.’
‘I understand his worry, but I just think he is focused on
the wrong aspect of things. He probably thinks I’m weak
and I can’t do things for myself. I just wish he could trust
in my conviction more.’
‘Sounds like he cares about you.’
‘And I appreciate it, but….’
‘I want his support, but I can’t change his mind.’
‘Maybe he needs a little time to understand that.’
‘And if it is the right choice you made,
he would see it eventually.’
‘I really hope it is the right choice.’
~
Shortly after the day had started to roll in, the office was informed of Ohno’s absence. The director gave the statement on his arrival, ordering the tasks to be divided among all employees. After his announcement, he retreated into the solitude of his office to not be disturbed for the rest of the morning.
Aiba expected no less when he was handed a large number of boxes and documents that needed filing, but before he was sent out to the task, Jun had stepped in, offering his help with the promise to get the job done faster. At least now they could spend some time away from the office with each other.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” Said Masaki to the younger. The two men dumped the boxes filled with documents on the floor of the storage room.
“I don’t see why they would come up with a lame excuse to make you do this by yourself.”
“Guess they’ll do anything at this point to get rid of me,” said Aiba jokingly, but in Jun’s mind it was nothing to laugh at.
Both men started scattering papers around to divide their tasks as they began to assemble the documents and file them away. Aiba was surprised at how easy it was to work alongside Jun. In no time, they had found a good pace while the other offered small chatter to get them through the work.
“Does the secretary tend to miss work often?” Jun Asked.
“I don’t remember him ever missing work. Although he has gone on several business trips over the years, but they would usually tell us beforehand.”
“Do you think it’s something Sakurai would fire him for?”
“Fire Ohno? He’d be cutting his own arm if he did. I don’t think there is anyone capable of taking his place in the office.”
“I guess he has his favorites then.” Jun became silent, looking through the papers with a lost gaze.
“I almost forgot to ask… how is your mother?” Aiba’s question brought Jun back from his thoughts.
“We’re still waiting for a surgery date so not much has happened.” Aiba could distinguish the forced smile in Jun’s lips while his eyes looked distracted elsewhere.
“I really hope she gets better soon.” Aiba tried again and after receiving no response from Jun he understood it wasn’t the right moment to ask after all. “I think I didn’t say this before,” Aiba spoke to get rid of the silence between them. “But I wanted to apologize. That other day you invited me for a drink. I wasn’t feeling like myself and I didn’t want you to misunderstand me.”
“You shouldn’t worry about that. It was bad timing. I should have been more considerate.”
“B-But I’ll make it up to you, I promise,” said Aiba.
“You don’t have to-”
“I mean it, Jun. It’s the least I can do.”
The younger stared at him with wide eyes before he turned away, a small chuckle escaping his lips. Although Aiba was confused as to why he smiled, he was glad the worry in his eyes was gone.
“What’s so funny?” Aiba asked while the younger hid his laugh with the back of his hand.
“Nothing it’s just… It’s the first time I hear you using my name.”
Aiba stared unblinking at Jun before the realization hit him and his hand fell over his mouth in a gasp. “I-I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to sound rude.”
“It’s fine. I really don’t mind.” Aiba tried to hide his embarrassment from Jun’s gaze, but by just the sight of his lips curling, Aiba’s cheeks heated violently.
Jun returned to filing as he let the other regain himself. After a moment of silence, a thought made him smile to himself again. “I really admire you.” Jun said out of the sudden. If he was trying to make Aiba feel flushed, he was doing a good job at it. “I don’t think anyone in the office works as hard as you, and yet they underappreciate you, talking about you when you can hear them, taking advantage of you. But you don’t say a thing and you come the next day, put on your best face and deal with it all over again. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone as strong as you.”
It was Aiba’s turn to let escape a chuckle. “It’s not as easy as you make it sound. As you said, I do hear them, and it bothers me just like it would bother anyone. I just try to not let it get to me.”
“That alone makes you stronger than me. I can’t get mad without opening my mouth.”
“Maybe… Speaking your mind doesn’t make you a bad person. I think it shows you’re passionate for your work and you shouldn’t be afraid of that. Of course, it brings consequences, but letting others know how you feel is better than never speaking your mind at all. I’m always thinking of what would happen and I think it has made me cowardly… I don’t know if that’s something worth admiring.”
“It must be your commitment,” said Jun gaining a frown from Aiba. “Even when you don’t speak your mind, you commit to what you know and that is what helps you get through it.”
“My commitment, huh?” Aiba repeated, reminiscing about the times he may have thought he understood that word. Yet, if it meant something to Jun, maybe it wasn’t such a bad word after all.
“I just meant to say that… Regardless of the things that’ve been going around, you don’t get discouraged easily and that makes you far better than anyone. Somehow… that has made me feel very lucky, and… I’m glad it’s you… who I met.” This time, when Jun’s gaze fixed on Aiba, the storage room had become a lot smaller, or was it Jun who had managed to shorten the distance between them? He couldn’t tell. Only when the other was able to resume with his work was when Aiba was able to pounder on his words and make his own come through.
“Speaking of meeting… can I make a weird question?” Aiba asked. Jun agreed, inviting him to go on. “What if… hypothetically speaking, you like someone, but you’re afraid to approach them for whatever reason, will it make it any easier for you to hide yourself from them, but still let them know you like them?”
After giving him a strange look, Jun thought to himself for a long second. “Any specific circumstance?”
“For instance, you write a note saying you like them, but you don’t sign it.”
Jun thought quietly while he placed another group of files into their shelves. “I think it makes sense, but wouldn’t it feel lonely?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, if I confessed to someone, it will at least make me feel good once I’ve said it. But on the other hand, the person receiving the note wouldn’t feel the same way. Maybe they’ll feel confused because they don’t know who it is from and they can’t really answer the note since they don’t even know who they’re addressing.”
“Exactly…” Aiba said more to himself than to Jun.
“But at the same time…. I kind of understand whoever wrote the letter. Maybe they just wanted things to be said rather than having them acted on. Maybe they’re trying to avoid facing something they don’t want to see. If you know you’re going to be rejected, then it’s better to stay with the satisfaction of just confessing your feelings.”
“But if you don’t face that rejection, you’ll never know the possibility of it being an approval. It’ll be the same as running away. That will make you a coward.”
Jun didn’t reply. His attention kept fixed on the documents he put away, making his expression unreadable to Masaki, before he realized what he’d said.
“This is… hypothetical, of course.” Aiba repeated while Jun simply nodded. Suddenly, he felt the urge to bang his head against the wall. One day without speaking to Nino and he still couldn’t control how casually the words came out of him. If only he was there to break the tension that had built in the room.
“Ouch!” Aiba's hand shook when he felt a stinging pain. A too thin piece of paper having scraped his palm, tracing a reddish mark that soon began to palpitate. Before a complaint of his clumsiness would even escape Aiba, Jun had grabbed his hand. Searching in his pocket, he took out a neatly folded handkerchief which he wrapped around Aiba’s hand. “Ah, you don’t have to… You’ll stain it-”
“You can return it later.” His hands pressed on Masaki’s palm, securing his wound under the fabric. Aiba could feel the warmth of Jun’s hand pressing against his when their fingers found each other in a delicate brush. Although his hand didn’t sting as badly anymore, Jun didn’t seem willing to let go.
~
Their task was a little more than half way done by the time noon approached. Aiba had gone to wash his bleeding hand and find some bandages before returning to help Jun finish the job. Other than the documents he still had to take care of, they both had to manage their own work waiting for them back at their desks. It was going to be a long day for sure.
When Aiba returned to the storage room, Jun was gone. There was no sign of him by the hall nor had he seen him on his way out of the bathroom. Masaki headed down the corridor, back into the office right before his feet stopped. A collision of voices echoed down the hall. Aiba wished his ears were failing him, but a bad feeling in his gut wouldn’t let him think otherwise. Cursing under his breath, his feet hurried towards the office.
“Please, Sir! They just called me from the hospital, if I go now, I could get there in time-”
“I am not responsible for your loss of hours. If you don’t finish your schedule-”
“I’ll work for the rest of the week, as many hours as you ask just… please. I have to-”
“You know they will be no excuse if you can’t pass our evaluation.” Sakurai’s words sounded more of a threat than a warning. But the anger pooling in Jun’s eyes was vivid, staring back at Sakurai as if it were about to burst.
“Sir!” A third voice manifested between the two office men when Aiba pushed himself through the crowd of on-looking employees, their eyes falling on him. “Please, let him go. I’ve been working all day with him and watching over his performance. He’ll be loyal to his promise. I understand it is indeed of bad timing, but this is important to him and I believe he won’t be able to keep performing throughout the day if you forbid him to go. If it’s of any consolation, I will take responsibility for the work left.” Aiba’s head bowed low to Sakurai, regardless of how many gestures Matsumoto had made to try to prevent it. But Aiba was not going to back away after seeing the fear in Jun’s eyes and how anxiously his trembling hand held on to his phone. No matter what, he was going to make sure Sakurai would understand the degree of his worry.
Eventually, Matsumoto’s head had also bowed to their director as they begged for his response. The number of his subordinates watching on had increased dramatically, bringing unwanted attention and a bad taste in Sakurai’s mouth. Sakurai sighed profoundly, looking away from the two of them.
“Go.” The director’s voice finally came through, making both coworkers raise their heads to confirm it. This time, he didn’t bother to repeat himself, his head gesturing towards the elevators to Matsumoto.
The relieve in Jun’s face was unmeasurable. He bowed once again gratefully before heading towards the elevator.
The rest of the employees returned to their desk once Sakurai gave the order, all except for Aiba who had stopped to observe the director walking back into his office. For a short moment, Aiba thought he had seen something wavering in his eyes that he somehow couldn’t trace. But just the idea of seeing the understanding that was always missing in him had shaken his thoughts. Whatever it may have been, he couldn’t be more grateful than what he was at that moment. Masaki bowed his head once again while the door to his office closed behind Sakurai.
~
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t go to lunch today. I’m really busy.
I’ll have to explain later. Let’s just hope
I’m still employed by then.’
‘Did the café stop doing the delivery service? I would kill for
some coffee right about now.’
‘Don’t wait for me today. I don’t know when I’ll be done.’
‘Nino? You alive?’
‘I left early.’
‘Oh… alright.’
~
‘The way you stood up for that guy was very
admirable.’
‘You mean Jun?’
‘I’m sure he feels very lucky to have you as a friend.’
‘It’s the least I could do. He is a good person,
and I couldn’t sit back and watch. I let it happen
once before and I didn’t want to make the same
mistake again. I just hope everything is okay.’
‘What do you mean by “make the same mistake”?’
‘The last person who got in an argument with
the director was my friend. We’d been close for years
until he got fired and I lost contact with him suddenly.
I still don’t know what he is up to.’
‘Somehow, I felt guilty for not stepping up for him.
I was so afraid that it would cause trouble for the both of us.
It was selfish of me. I still wonder if he’s mad about it.’
‘If he’s truly your friend, he wouldn’t blame you
for something like that.’
‘I guess not.’
‘Speaking of being mad, is everything okay with Nino?’
‘No… I’ve been texting him all day but he’s
not really answering.’
‘And I know he’s been reading my messages,
so I don’t get it.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘At least we’re finished for the day. Are you going
out for dinner or a drink?’
‘Speak for yourself. I still have work to do.’
‘Damn… I didn’t see the time. It’s getting late.’
‘What do you mean? You’re not home?’
‘Remember when I told the director I would take responsibility?
Big mistake. I have a deadline coming up and I still need to
prepare some things before meeting a client.’
‘You’re still at the office?’
‘It’s nothing I haven’t done before.’
‘Is there anyone else there?’
‘Miss Mitsushima left probably half an hour ago.
But since then, it’s just me.’
‘You shouldn’t stay there so late.’
‘I know, but I had to do this. I promised Jun I would take care of it.
I don’t want him to get fired.’
‘That doesn’t depend on you.’
‘I know, but what else could I have told the director?
I was afraid he would say something harsh. If this is the price
I must pay for everything to work out for him, I’ll take it.’
‘You would do that for him?’
‘I would do it for anyone that proves themselves
worth helping.’
‘Like Matsumoto.’
‘He’s been through so much lately,
it hurts me to see him so hurt.’
‘Do you pity him?’
‘No! It’s nothing like that.’
‘He seems to trust in me so much, like he has no one
else to lean on, but I’m more than glad to help him.
He is an amazing person, so easy to open up to.
He deserves better, I only hope I can do enough for him.’
‘Aiba?’
‘Do you like him?’
‘Do I… like Jun?’
‘Why would you think that?’
‘It seems likely.’
‘I guess… it does seem like I think about him often.’
‘Then, do you?’
‘If I’m completely honest with you… I can’t deny
he is very attractive.’
‘Is that all?’
‘Well, maybe in a certain scenario where there is a
possibility that he likes me, it wouldn’t be so bad.’
‘Would you go out with him if he asked you?’
‘You’re asking a lot about Jun, why is that?’
‘You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll stop.’
‘Is there something you want to tell me, Anon?’
‘It’s fine.’
‘I never really took you as a jealous person.’
‘It isn’t… Forget it.’
‘Will it bother you?’
‘If I went out with Jun?’
‘…’
‘You really are acting weird tonight.’
‘Or am I just really high on caffeine right now?’
‘Probably the latter.’
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to corner you.’
‘It’s fine. I made a bunch of stupid questions too.’
‘We’ll call it truce.’
‘Agreed.’
‘I really wish I could go home.’
‘I don’t think anyone would notice if you go.
Can’t you just do it in the morning?’
‘At this rate, I don’t think I’ll be able to feel
my hands tomorrow.’
‘Wait. A light’s still on.’
‘I think the director is here.’
‘That’s weird. I thought he should have
left by now.’
‘Maybe it’s just his office light that’s on.
I haven’t see him come out.’
‘Just leave it alone. Someone from maintenance
will probably turn it off.’
‘I think I saw him. He is definitely in there.’
‘I wonder what he is up to.’
‘Probably busy as you are, heading home.’
‘Anon, give me a second. I’ll be right back.’
‘Go home, Aiba.’
‘I’ll text you when I’m out.’
~
Masaki moved across the dim lit office towards the end, where a door emitted light from the gaps of its frame. You don’t even know what to say, he told himself, his hands grasping the cold door knob, making excuses in his head to not go in.
Soon enough, he stepped back from the door. Yet, no matter what may have crossed his mind, there was something that wouldn’t permit him to go, and the impulse became greater when Jun’s empty desk stared back at him.
When he finally knocked on the director’s door, there was no response from the other side. The door was unlocked, and he proceeded to open it slowly, in case his knock had not been enough. The lights from inside were blinding compared to the rest of the office at that time of the night, but they didn’t seem to disturb the director. It was not until the door creaked that his sight rose from the papers on his desk to Aiba by the door.
“Excuse me, sir? I hope I’m not bothering you.” Aiba said timidly at first, holding a small tray in his hands carrying a soothing and warm aroma that now traveled inside the private office. “I noticed you were here and… I made some tea. I was wondering if you would like… some?”
Aiba wasn’t sure if it was the effects of the late night, but Sakurai looked lost, almost disturbed. His features questioning Aiba’s presence from across the room. Masaki concluded it was probably a bad idea to have come so suddenly after all, but before he was ready to apologize, Sakurai finally spoke.
“Come in.” he said without another choice.
Given his permission, Aiba moved deeper into the room, hoping the rattling of the cups wouldn’t give away his nerves. He settled down the tray on a coffee table across his desk, making sure he was still in a secure distance from the director’s threatening presence, which seemed ironically toned down at that time of the night.
“Thank you,” said Sakurai, his attention turning to his laptop screen, as if refusing to address Masaki directly, leaving the latter evidently unsatisfied.
His silence and the lonely clatter of his keyboard was not enough to turn Masaki around. He remained vigilant in the middle of the room, waiting until the uncomfortable silence forced Sakurai to fix on him.
“Can I help you with anything?”
Masaki’s hands tightened their grip as he gained air to speak. “Actually, sir… I think I own you an apology.” Masaki stared straight at him, his throat becoming dry, but he couldn’t afford to lose Sakurai’s attention.
“I have great respect for you, sir, and I hope you don’t misunderstand my actions. I was, in no way, intending to go against you and I perfectly understand your reasons to keep the office meeting with the company’s demand, and, for that same reason, I asked for you to spare Matsumoto. I’ve been worried of his well-being and I believed he wouldn’t have met with your expectations if you forbade him to go. I recognize I stepped in as a friend, rather than an employee and for my poor judgement, I apologize. But, at the same time… I don’t seem to regret doing it. As unprofessional as I may have been, I wanted to say that… you made the right thing, sir, and I thank you for that. Not just for Matsumoto, but for myself as well.”
“That day, when you addressed the rumors about the accident, I felt relief. Since then, I haven’t been feeling the most welcomed in the office. I’ve been called a liar, a schemer, two-faced, all sorts of things that I’m obviously not. Matsumoto says I’m strong for not letting them manipulate me, but I don’t think that’s the right word to describe it when I can’t do anything about it. And I don’t know if you did this consciously, but I am very thankful. When you displayed your authority in such circumstances, your words… saved me, and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.”
Sakurai’s arms were crossed over his chest once Masaki was finished. The younger took a deep breath to compose himself while he waited for the most minimal reaction from Sakurai when the latter sighed.
“Are you finished?” Sakurai asked, his words pressuring Aiba. “… With your work, I mean?” he clarified.
“Y-Yes, sir.” Aiba responded weakly.
Sakurai began looking through his desk, moving the piles of papers and documents from one side to another in an effort to arrange his mess with little success. There were papers without labeling scattered everywhere, and it was almost impossible to tell there was a table underneath. Masaki began to suspect it could have been of Ohno’s doing that his desk was so well arranged most of the time.
Sakurai placed a pile of papers and folders by the edge of his desk. “Would you arrange those?” he said to Aiba, but what came out as a request seemed more like a command.
Aiba paused hesitantly, waiting to confirm Sakurai’s order, but with just a look from the other, Aiba complied, pulling a chair closer to Sakurai’s desk where he had made space for him.
Sakurai was still shuffling papers around when Aiba’s curiosity laid on a small bottle toppled over his desk. He barely even noticed the label before Sakurai reached towards what he observed. The pill bottle rattled as Sakurai tossed it into the back of his desk drawer and out of sight. Noticing his actions alluded to seeing something he shouldn’t have, Aiba decided not to question it and proceeded with his assignment.
Just like that time at the elevator, the two of them shared a profound silence. Aiba had to make an effort to respect the stillness surrounding them, afraid the most minimal sound would trigger the director’s impatience, but it wasn’t enough to make Aiba particularly uncomfortable. On the contrary, it gave him the space to work carefully on his task. Although an eventual distraction would always come to bother him watching how the director worked across from him with great diligence.
He would peek up from his papers to notice the way he had pulled up the sleeves of his shirt, or how he bit on his lower lip in concentration. Yet the moment Sakurai discovered his staring, he would jolt back into his own work, cursing at himself for getting too carried away.
“You said you brought tea?” Sakurai was the first to speak to Aiba’s surprise. The younger nodded, and following his leads, he brought the tray with the single cup of tea, closer to his desk.
“Is it cold already? I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t even notice. I must have rambled for too long. I’ll heat it up right away-” Sakurai raised a hand to Aiba before he continued.
“It’s fine.” Sakurai said.
“Are you sure, sir?”
“It’s good.” Sakurai added, as if trying to ease Aiba, but the latter could barely take in his compliment. Aiba shrunk in his chair, Sakurai’s hard expression feeding on his insecurity.
“What are you doing here so late?” Sakurai asked not looking up from his computer. If Masaki didn’t know better, he would have thought the director was trying to converse with him.
“I said I would be responsible for today’s pending work.”
“I see…” A vast silence spread between them. After all, he wasn’t very good at small talk. “You seem close with our new employee.”
“Yeah…” Said Masaki, before realizing what he’d suggested. “I mean… we work well together.” Aiba added gaining a look from Sakurai. “He has adapted quite quickly, and he is of much help. It’ll take him some time to loosen up around the office, in that sense he usually leans towards me for advice, but I’m sure you’ll find potential in him when you judge his performance.”
“In the least, he is not lacking,” Sakurai’s attention was drawn away. “That much I’ve heard.”
“So far the way we work together is complementing. Much like you and the secretary. Except, of course, he doesn’t respond to me and… you’ve been working together for longer…” Masaki paused getting the feeling he was not being listened to any more from the lack of response from the director. “Is… the secretary okay?” he tried again, changing the subject.
“Yes.” Sakurai responded almost brushing off his question.
“Will he be returning tomorrow?”
“Yes.” He said again, with the same abrupt tone. Perhaps he was tired of the small talk. It was impossible to read him when he didn’t even meet eyes with him. “It was a minor cold.” Sakurai finally spoke words of his own. “I told him not to come in.”
“That’s good to know.”
“Did you have some business with him?” asked Sakurai.
“What?”
“Did you needed to see Ohno?”
“N-No, I was worried it was something serious, but I’m relieved.” Sakurai’s fingers stopped over his keyboard to look questioningly at Aiba. “He works around here so much, I didn’t realize how much we depend on him until today. And, if I’m honest, people seemed quite stressed without him, including you, sir. I was afraid, if he didn’t come soon, you wouldn’t be able to take a break.”
“You’re right, you know,” said Sakurai. “He’s usually the one who tells me to stop.”
“Is that why you’re here so late too?”
“Maybe.” The cup rested on his lips before taking another swig of tea.
“Have you been working together for long?”
Sakurai took his time to answer, questioning the origin of his curiosity. “You could say we have. Since we studied together.”
“Really? You were partners since back then?”
Sakurai nodded. “Until I came to the company and I appointed him for the post. I’ve never met anyone more qualified.”
“In that case, it’s no wonder you work well together. It’s not something many acknowledge but, the management you've carried throughout the office is notably respectable.”
“Are you patronizing me?”
“N-No! That’s not what I meant… I didn’t mean to sound rude, I …” Masaki he bowed his head bashfully after he couldn’t find the right words. His apologies died down with the singular sound of Sakurai’s chuckle. His eyes looked on to the man across from him, whom he’d never met eyes with, before he’d felt a subtle rush of color on his cheeks. Masaki quickly looked away trying not to be unrespectable.
“It’s not something I’m told very often, but…. I’m flattered,” said Sakurai. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s no news I’m not the most admired around here, but it’s a change of pace to hear there are exceptions. That is… if you truly mean it.”
“I do, sir. I’ve always considered myself very lucky to be working here,” said Masaki genuinely.
“At least I’m doing something right.”
By the way the other had become silent again, Masaki felt he must have said something out of place, but he didn’t regret anything he spoke. Masaki’s words were anything but dishonest.
They each proceeded with their work, the occasional chatter making time much worthwhile, letting the serene night settle. Other than the occasional question from Aiba regarding the documents he assembled, the rest of the evening seemed to roll away with time.
“I don’t have a particular preference. The tea was fine.”
“Fine doesn’t mean good, does it?”
“I’m more use to the coffee here rather than the tea.” Sakurai admitted.
“Should I have made coffee instead?”
“No. The thought was enough.”
“I didn’t know how you would prefer it, since it’s always the secretary who makes it.”
“His way of making it is nothing special.”
“Then… have you tried the café here at the company?” Sakurai rose a brow at Masaki. “My friend works there, he makes great coffee. I’m sure he’ll deliver it here if you asked. They even have a special with his name on it. He still says my coffee taste better than his though. Says it’s not fair because I lived in a restaurant.”
“Restaurant?” Sakurai asked.
Aiba flushed dimly, realizing he’d gotten carried away, almost forgetting who was sitting across from him. “Y-Yeah… both my parents are cooks.”
“I would have never known.”
Masaki covered his mouth to drive away a yawn, trying not to seem rude in front of Sakurai. He glanced at his wrist watch momentarily having noticed for several minutes how late it had become, yet the director made no effort to be finishing any sooner. “It’s getting really late,” Masaki hinted. “We should be finishing.”
“You’re right.” Sakurai glazed at his wall clock. “I shouldn’t be keeping you, either.”
“It is no bother. This is usually the time I get home.” Masaki tapped his papers straight over the table and put them away before he caught Sakurai’s pensive look.
He was distracted, bothered by a thought. “I only said the truth.” His words came slowly, feeding on Aiba’s confusion. “About the accident, I said what was necessary.”
“You did, sir,” Aiba assured him.
“Everything that is said and done is solely for the good of this office. I would never compromise the safety of my employment.”
Aiba nodded in understanding. “I agree things got out of control, to a point… even I was doubting it myself.”
Sakurai was about to say something before he decided to think of his words more carefully. “If there’s anything you want to say,” his voice lowered. “Anything you may have seen…”
Aiba eyes widened before he shook his head. Sakurai lay back on his chair, his gaze turning away. Perhaps he had said too much after all. For a long moment, Aiba didn’t know where to rest his eyes, having no words to hearten Sakurai.
“I’m sorry.” The words came from the director instead, unsettling at first. Aiba thought he would be the last person he needed to hear an apology from, almost wishing he would take it back. “You may go.”
Aiba regretted having nothing to say, but he didn’t fight his order. He got on his feet and bowed before he walked towards the door. Aiba stopped shortly to direct himself towards him a last time. “I hope you return safely, sir.” Aiba walked out the office, hoping his words didn’t just last for that one night.
~
‘Anon, I’m back. On my way home.’
‘It’s really late.’
‘I know. I’m not far, I promise.’
‘Everything okay?’
‘I’m not sure, but…’
‘I think someone is attacking the director.’
A/N: End of Chapter 6. We finally got to see some of Sakurai, but what will be his role to play in the conflicts arising? As Aiba and Anon grow closer, Nino seems to be growing further apart, but why? We begin to see a strengthening connection between Jun and Aiba. What will this bring for them? Is Anon ready to take a next step in his and Aiba's acquaintanceship? We'll see on the next chapter. Thanks for reading~!