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「Anonymous」Chapter 11
A/N: Chapter 11 is here! What other decisions will Aiba have to face now? 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 and I hope you enjoy! I don't own them, sadly.
Chapter 11
Aiba Masaki stood in front of the private office. His hand tapped hesitatingly and almost inaudibly on the door. No response came from the other side, no matter how many times he knocked, and so he decided he had done enough waiting and he opened the door himself.
He came into the director’s office murmuring a small “Excuse me,” only to be welcomed by the absence of whom he waited to see. But he wasn’t surprised. After all, he was never there when he most expected him to be.
Even in his disappointment, Aiba stepped inside and shut the door behind him, realizing he no longer felt anxious nor insecure going into that room. Carefully, he looked through the room as if he hadn’t really been able to take it in before, and he came close enough to observe his messy desk. Immediately, it reminded him of that one night they had spent together working in that same spot. Just the thought of it made Aiba wonder how he must have made the other feel with just his presence, and why everything else couldn’t have been just like that moment.
His gaze followed his hand delicately gliding across his desk, examining the objects scattered on it. A newspaper, a planner, his laptop, an assortment of pens, until he came across a lonely snow globe in the middle of the clutter. Masaki couldn’t help but pick it up to observe closely. Inside it was a palm tree with particles of snow floating around. Just underneath it HAWAI’I was written in large letters. The object felt so out of place with the rest of his things it had managed to get the smallest smile out of Aiba, although he still regretted not seeing whom he really wanted to find.
His eyes kept looking everywhere as if he would somehow find him there, when suddenly he fixed on a bottle toppled beside his empty and dirty coffee mug. It looked familiar at first glance and it felt wrong to look, but the tag around the pill bottle was hard to miss as its large, black letters gave away a prescription to an anti-depressant.
“What are you doing?” A voice coming from the door snapped, making Aiba jump. Ohno looked at him startled and almost angered, closing the door behind him hurriedly. “You’re not supposed to be here,”
“Where is he?” Aiba quickly asked as to not lose time.
“You shouldn’t come in here without permission,” Ohno avoided his question.
“I need to see him. Where is he?”
Ohno sighed before moving towards Sakurai’s desk. “That is none of your concern.”
“You’re wrong, Ohno,” Aiba followed the secretary with his gaze. “You know it’s too late for you to say that. How do you expect me not to worry?”
“Aiba, we don’t have time to do this right now. Believe me… you don’t want to.” Ohno continued scavenging for documents on Sakurai’s desk as he tried to ignore the younger.
“You were with him all this time, right? You knew about us.” Aiba said, but Ohno pretended not to listen. “You lied. Is that why Nino is so upset with you?”
“What do you want me to say?” Ohno snapped at him, his anger getting the best of him. “Of course, I knew! I tried to convince him many times not to get close to you, but... When you both started texting I realized it was too late. He was so obsessed, and I wasn’t even capable of stopping him from doing something so stupid. And... honestly, part of me didn’t want to. At least… he seemed like himself while it lasted.”
Ohno sighed deeply, his shoulders slouching tiredly as his eyes filled with concern.
“I’m sorry,” Aiba said, regretting his words. “I know I cause you a lot of trouble…”
“Not as much as he caused himself.” Ohno responded.
“All this time… He spoke to me as if he were a whole other person, talking about the director… He even spoke badly of himself before... And I’m starting to think it was not just a way to fool me.”
“He would have said anything to please you.”
“But he meant it... didn’t he? Why would he harm himself that way?’
“I know it’s hard to believe but, he was in his best state whenever he spoke with you.” Ohno’s words didn’t settle well with Aiba.
“I’m… afraid. I’ve been beating myself up all this time, trying to figure out why I never saw it sooner and it makes me mad to think… he was there all along… but I guess it’s not something I wanted to see. For a moment, I came to wonder if… me being here was of my own doing and not because… of him.”
“I think you should ask him that yourself.”
“Then please, let me see him. If I could just talk with him-”
“I don’t’ think you should see him right now.” Ohno walked to the door while Aiba followed.
“Why? Because I’ll be in the way? If you’re so worried about him, why are you letting him cower away?”
Ohno stopped in his tracks at turned to the younger. “Aiba, you have to trust me-.”
“Give me one good reason I should.”
Ohno opened his mouth before closing it again. He struggled with himself before his hand reached for his blazer’s pocket, producing a folded piece of paper he handed to Aiba.
“I didn’t want to do this to you, but you leave me no choice.”
Aiba looked at the paper and back at Ohno before accepting it. A bad feeling grew in his stomach as he unfolded it, and he froze the second his eyes lay on the picture. A low gasp escaped his lips. It had to be a lie. He looked through it many times to confirm it and was only confused more when he couldn’t prove it wrong.
“It was faxed in this morning from an unknown address. They delivered it to every floor in the company. The board immediately ordered them to be recollected but it’s been spreading fast. The only place they didn’t sent it to was this office.” Said Ohno.
Aiba couldn’t turn his sight away from the picture. It was dark, clearly taken at night with just the right illumination to show director Sakurai helping someone into a cab. The face of who he carried was completely blurred and there was no way of telling who it was or what was going on, which only made it easier to infer what the scene portrayed. The text in bolded letters under the picture described the scandalous image of the director’s supposed private life.
‘HEAD OF OFFICE SLEEPING WITH EMPLOYEES. AFTER A DRUNK NIGHT OUT, THEIR ESCAPADE!’
“The boards been looking into this all morning and they think it was someone from our office,” Ohno added, as Aiba remained speechless. “They’ve been interrogating Sakurai since he came in this morning and they probably won’t let him come into the office. It won’t be long before they come here themselves.”
The more Aiba looked at the photo, the harder his gaze became, not studying the faceless identity which he recognized as himself in the picture, but at Sakurai carrying him into that cab as the fragments of that night came back to him. But if there was anything that infuriated him more it was knowing who had taken that picture.
“Aiba, listen to me. I don’t want to interfere between you two, but this concerns you just as much, whether you like it or not. I need to warn you, this is out of my hands as well as Sakurai’s, but one thing I know for sure is that you can’t be acting recklessly now. So please, promise me you won’t look for him!”
“When was he planning to come and tell me this?”
“He didn’t want me to show it to you… but it was wrong of me not to warn you before you found it yourself. Sakurai is not going to have much of a choice but to give the board your name. They’re going to ask to meet with you by the end of this week to interrogate you about this. At least you can rest assured Sakurai made the board agree everything will be undisclosed, so your name shouldn’t be mentioned beyond that meeting. The least you could do is not give yourself away so easily. If you value your job, no one should know about this. Lastly, when the time comes for them to interrogate you, you must make sure you answer everything they ask from you. And no matter what, you must blame it all on Sakurai.”
“…What?” Aiba asked shaken by Ohno’s suggestion.
“It’s the best we can do-”
“What makes you think that? When the board comes to decide, it’ll be stupid if they don’t choose their person of interest, and that is obviously not me.”
“That won’t happen.” Ohno answered. “If there is anything Sakurai is willing to put before himself it’s you.”
“What do you mean?” Aiba responded in disbelief. “What is he going to do?”
“You don’t have a choice. If you want to keep your job, you must let them know you were only a victim.”
Aiba was trying to understand what Sakurai intended to do, but he refused to think Sakurai would give himself away so easily. “Tell me… if I lie to save myself, would I even deserve to keep my job?”
“If you haven’t noticed, we’re running out of choices here, Aiba.”
“Then I just have to play stupid? Thank you, Ohno, I appreciate your advice, but I’m perfectly capable of admitting what I got myself into. He may not notice it, but all this time, I’ve only been trying to help him. I’m not going to become part of a lie just to tear him apart! I won’t betray him.” Aiba said, walking past Ohno and heading to the door first.
“Aiba, he is not going to agree with this!”
Aiba stopped, his hand holding firmly on the door knob. “Tell him you couldn’t change my mind and if he doesn’t like it, tell him to come up to me and say it himself.” With those last words, Aiba stormed out the room.
~
That night, when Masaki dined with Nino at their usual place, neither of them wanted to speak a word. Nino stared distractedly at his food, almost forgetting that Masaki was there, but Masaki couldn’t blame him as he didn’t have anything worth saying either. Moreover, he didn’t think Nino was ready to hear about the scandal that had been set loose on their company, nor did he think himself capable of explaining the picture that involved him and his boss.
“We should have gone home…” Aiba said with a sigh almost to himself. Nino looked up at him momentarily.
“Bad day?” Nino asked.
“I don’t think I have good days anymore, but it’ll get worse.”
“I’m guessing missing work didn’t help at all?”
“No… I think I just complicated things even more.”
“Between you two?” Nino asked, knowing Aiba wanted to avoid his name.
“Yes…”
“So, you didn’t see him?” Nino asked and the older just shook his head.
“He’s avoiding me... when I need him the most. I’m just trying to know for sure if following him is even worth the trouble, but… I don’t know why I even bother.”
Ninomiya saw the dueling feelings his friend wrestled with, although he decided it was not fair for him to say. “Maybe he’s scared,” He said instead. “Has he not always been?”
“He is sacred, just not for the reasons I thought he was.”
“Does that mean you can forgive him for it?” Nino asked, but Aiba didn’t know how to answer.
“I don’t know what to do. I think I want to talk to him, but I have no idea of what I want to say if I do. And if things keep going this way in the office, I don’t think I’ll have much of a choice but to stop trying altogether. I know I’ve been waiting to get fired all this time but, maybe it was me who should have quit a long time ago,” said Aiba. “It would have saved them the trouble anyways.”
“Maybe I should too.” Nino suddenly added, his words more surprising than Aiba’s. “Unlike you, I don’t think I’ll lose anything if I did.”
Aiba’s eyes widen, taken aback by the younger’s words. “You mean that?” he asked, but Nino only shrugged. “I mean… I’m not against you quitting at all, I actually think you should start your own career but… Ohno?” Aiba asked and Nino looked elsewhere. “Wouldn’t you lose him?”
Nino found that the words were hard to come across, but he finally answered. “I don’t think he would notice.”
“You haven’t spoken to him?” Aiba asked. Nino shook his head with a hard look.
“I told him I didn’t want to see him… So far, he’s been doing a great job.” Nino’s eyes glistened.
“I’m sorry,” It was all Aiba could say.
“You must have talked to him today, no?” Nino asked.
“I did. But he has too much on his shoulders. We only argued.”
“He didn’t even ask… about…?” Nino couldn’t finish his sentence, but Aiba understood him nonetheless.
“I mentioned you once and he snapped at me. I’m sure he’s thinking about you, there is just too much on his mind,” Aiba tried to justify it but the more he tried to convince the other, the less it worked.
“I tried texting him the other night,” Nino added avoiding Aiba’s gaze. “I sent him texts all night like an idiot. He didn’t even open them… That jerk. Why does he always… always do what I say?” The younger harshly bit his lower lip.
“Nino, he’ll come around.”
Nino shook his head. “He’s had quite enough of me, I’m sure.” He exhaled sharply, not giving in to the water pooling in his eyes. “And I had to be stupid enough to say that.” He chuckled nervously, not giving a chance for Aiba to say something back. Aiba felt useless for not being able to hearten his friend, but Nino needed his lover more than Aiba at that moment.
“We should have gone home.” Nino sighed taking another sip from his cup before placing it loudly on their table. The rest of their meal continued in silence.
~
That night, Aiba insisted Nino should stay at his place as to not leave him go home by himself. It took some convincing, but Nino obliged and had fallen asleep on one side of Masaki’s bed shortly after their arrival. As he let Nino rest, Masaki opened his phone to look at his contacts once again, cursing to himself when he still couldn’t find Anonymous’ chat or even his contact information anywhere. He hated himself, wondering how he could have been so stupid to try and get rid of him in such a way. All of their conversations, all those written moments, gone, but why? He had wanted to talk to Anon most of all that night, so why would he try to get rid of him? Remembering how dear those memories were to him, Aiba didn’t know how he would ever forgive himself for doing such a thing.
~
Masaki was too late on realizing the chaos he would encounter that next morning in the office. The moment he came in in, he could tell what was on everyone’s minds as their conversations overlapped one another. Every time he walked past another group of his co-workers, there was always two words that stood out from the rest: “The director”. It was as if their sentences couldn’t continue any other way.
“I don’t expect the director would be coming in here today. He didn’t even show his face yesterday. Can you believe that?”
“Who knew we had someone as pathetic as the director as head of this office! Guess now we know his ego was just part of his big act!”
“I’ve been working for the director for who knows how long! What am I going tell my wife!?”
Aiba couldn’t stand it. His hands were closed in firm fists, trying to resist the urge of slamming them against his desk. He wanted to silence the whole room. But no matter what, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. This time he was not brave enough. Afraid of what this would mean for him, or even for him. He remembered Ohno’s words to not act so recklessly, but just the strength it took to keep that anger sealed in was exhausting.
The commotion of the floor died down to murmurs when the secretary was spotted walking in, yet as expected, he was all alone.
“Hey, Ohno!” An employee by the end of the room called out suddenly. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Isn’t Sakurai coming in?” Another employee closer to Aiba’s desk added.
“He’s not even going to make an apology, isn’t he?” A third voice added, before turmoil set loose amongst them.
Ohno had stop in his tracks to listen to what they had to express, but he did not back away. Instead he took in their rage and confusion as if it were his own.
“I will see that your complaints are delivered as they should,” Ohno didn’t even need to raise his voice for the rest of their voices to stop and listen to him. “In the meantime, I will appreciate if you would all return to work until further notice. If it’s anything urgent, you are welcome to send me an email and I will respond as soon as I can. I will inform you, nonetheless, that your work may seem interrupted momentarily this afternoon when management conducts its protocol interrogation with each of you,” There were complains heard across the room. “But right now, I will only ask for you to refrain yourselves from mentioning the director in a derogatory manner inside of this office. And while he is away, you will refer to me as ‘manager’ or ‘sir’ when you address me. If you still refuse to meet with these conditions, I recommend you show yourselves to the nearest exit.” Ohno walked out, harshly shutting the door to the private office as he’d left the floor of employees looking at one another, somehow feeling even more unsettled.
~
Everything began as Ohno had predicted it. Management sent down several of its officials into their conference room to conduct an interrogation of the employees on their floor. Although everyone had protested at first, now they cooperated to get things over with as soon as possible. It was expected for the interrogations to take more than a day to complete. Moreover, many suspected an email inspection was taking place simultaneously which only helped to feed Aiba’s apprehension as he waited to be called upon.
In the middle of that uncertainty, Masaki received a new email. It was from the company’s board, an address Aiba certainly never expected to receive an email from.
Along its lines, the note informed him of a meeting that had been arranged with the leaders of the board later that same day for an important conference to which they compelled him to attend. For this reason, they had decided to exclude him from the interrogations being conducted in his own office. Their meeting was to take place after office hours and it was to be kept solely between them, assuring him he would face severe consequences if he broke that condition. The email was signed off with a formal farewell by the second head of the board himself.
Aiba could already feel his palms sweating. Even when he had moved out from the office to look through the email over again, the fresh air of the terrace didn’t do much work to help his restiveness. According to their note, it only left him with a few hours to think about what he would do when he presented himself in front of the board, whom he thought of as far more threatening than Sakurai.
Aiba wasn’t too sure himself he even knew what they would ask from him. Ohno’s suggestion to lie was the last thing he would’ve thought of doing, so there was no other choice but telling the truth. But how much was he allowed to say? How could he be so sure that he had confessed everything to them? And what could Masaki even say about them if he wasn’t sure of the status of their relationship anymore?
Aiba felt lost again, when the answers he initially intended to find were just not a possibility anymore. Now, when he needed to hear him more than ever it was almost as if everything were preventing them from seeing each other again. And Masaki hated that he understood why he had to stay away, and he hated even more how he always managed to get away from him, but most of all, Masaki hated it was always him who was chasing after the other without a chance of reaching them.
Aiba wanted to close his eyes and forget about the day that was still left ahead. If only he could stay at the terrace and escape from his work to catch up on the sleep that had been neglecting him, maybe it would bring back the energy he needed to head back into the office. If only…
“Aiba?”
A gentle voice had jolted Aiba from his daze. His eyes widened to find Jun observing him closely.
“Jun…”
“Sorry, did I startle you?” Matsumoto said apologetically.
“N-No, I just… W-What are you doing here?” Aiba tried to look as awake as possible.
“I was just passing by,” Jun signals with his head a group of people behind them, engaged in chatter by a far side of the terrace. “They’re from my department, we just came out from a meeting and thought we’d get something to eat. Are you… on a lunch break right now?” Jun glanced at his watch.
“N-No, I… sort of sneaked out a little earlier, that’s all.” Aiba’s mind wondered elsewhere, not really wanting to talk as he could barely follow the younger’s words.
Jun nodded. He glanced a last time towards the group of people whom hadn’t even acknowledged his absence before he finally decided to sit next to Aiba on the bench. Just by feeling him coming closer, Aiba grew nervous.
“I bet you’re tired.” Jun began. “Been busy lately?”
Aiba avoided Jun’s eyes and fixed on the ground instead. “Yeah...”
“And the office? How are you holding up?”
“As usual…”
“I hear it’s a total mess over there with what’s been going around about… you know. It was quite a shock, even for me. But… I don’t think I expected any less from him.” Aiba shut his eyes. He did not want to hear this, and even less coming from Matsumoto.
“How’s your work?” Aiba quickly changed subjects, trying to hide the waver in his voice.
“It’s okay, not as exciting as yours I suppose,” said Jun, trying to lighten the mood but gradually realized he was only making it worse. He wished he could take his words back right after.
Jun waited for the other to say anything at all, but seeing how the silence only drew them apart, he understood perhaps he had spoken out of place. “I’m sorry.” Matsumoto said. “I would usually ask how you’ve been, but that’ll be stupid considering you’re clearly not okay. Is there… something you need to say?”
“Wouldn’t you rather be with your friends right now?” Aiba simply asked, afraid he would be forced to confess it all.
“I’m with them all day and I only get to see you by chance lately.”
“And you rather listen to whatever silly thing is bothering me?” Aiba said jokingly.
“Of course, I would.” Jun responded seriously. “Always.” His response reminded Aiba that Jun’s feelings were nothing to toy with. “I doubt it really is that silly, considering you’re feeling like this.”
Jun invited him to talk, but Aiba couldn’t do much but refuse. “I don’t think it’s all that important-”
“Lying doesn’t suit you, Aiba,” said Jun, not realizing how much he was pressuring the other. “Neither is looking so low.”
“Jun, I can’t do it.” Aiba confessed, trying to hide the guiltiness he felt. “I can’t talk about this with you.”
When he understood Aiba was not just avoiding his questions, Jun slowed down. The other could barely dissimulate the heaviness in his voice and it startled Jun to think it was something far more complicated than what he could handle himself, but it didn’t mean he would be backing down.
“You know… You can choose not to tell me anything, but that probably won’t get rid of me. After all you did for me… I can’t move away without at least trying to help you.”
“You don’t owe me anything, Jun.”
“You’re wrong.” The younger refuted. “You showed me it wasn’t wrong to fight for myself. That I could stand up for those I cared about. You made me realize that maybe it was not my mother who was afraid of being alone all this time… but me. That I didn’t want to go through this by myself… and I didn’t. Even if it was just during work, you were there for me too. You listened to me. You cared. And even though I hurt you, you forgave me nonetheless. You taught me to be true to myself. I understood what mattered the most for me. Even after being rejected I feel… like I gained a new strength just from knowing you. And there is nothing I would have wanted more.”
When Jun finally found Aiba’s red and puffy eyes, he felt enraged for whomever had caused Aiba to feel such way, but he tried not to let it get to him. Clearly, it was something Aiba cared about.
Jun left Aiba’s side on the bench to pace instead. “You don’t need to tell me what’s bothering you, but you should know, if you don’t want to talk about it with me because it involves that guy you like, that’s not important. This isn’t about me. I just want to be there for you as well.”
Aiba sighed heavily to drive his tears away. He nodded understandingly to Jun before looking for his voice to speak again. “He’s really selfish… that guy,” Aiba spoke carefully. “We’ve both been stupid, but he is being an idiot… asking me to lie. There must be another way but it’s just… I can’t see it. And… I don’t know what I should do.”
Something stung in Jun’s chest just by listening to the other, but he didn’t let it keep him from responding to Aiba. “No one else should decide what you want to do. You more than anyone should know what is right. So, what’s holding you back?”
“Probably… I’m making everything harder on myself.”
“Then, don’t. Instead of overthinking things, have you even thought of what you wanted?”
What he wanted. It was such a vague question that the answer was nowhere near clear for Aiba, but he appreciated Jun’s words deeply as it gave his concerns something to work with.
Aiba wiped his eyes. “I’m sorry…”
“No, don’t be. It’s okay to feel upset. Be mad if you need to. As long as you do something about it.”
Aiba looked up to his friend as he tried to offer him a gesture of gratitude, but Jun would have preferred for him not to force his smile.
In the middle of their silence, Masaki’s phone suddenly rang. Both glanced at the device announcing the arrival of a new message and Jun could only observe Aiba hesitation before looking at the name of the sender. A thousand thoughts crossed Aiba’s mind at once before he dared to look, but with a single glimpse at his phone, his anxiety eased.
Aiba sighed. “It’s Nino,” he said almost disappointedly. Still, Aiba read the new message.
‘Come to the café. We need to talk.’
“It sounds urgent,” Aiba said to Jun. “I should go.”
Seeing Aiba still so discouraged, Jun couldn’t help but feel inept for not being able to help him. But even he had to agree there was only so much he could hear. After all, Jun was not able to predict just how much it would pain him to know the truth Aiba chose to hide from him.
~
“You must have heard… about the rumor.” Aiba inferred as to help him start.
Ninomiya’s brow rose. “You thought I wouldn’t hear?”
Aiba shook his head. “I didn’t know how to explain. I’m not sure what happened myself.” Nino sighed and Aiba was afraid he was upset. “Is that what you needed to talk to me about?”
“No,” he responded, unfortunately. “Although it’s not too far off.” Aiba leaned in, listening uneasily. “He came here… to the café.”
Aiba’s eyes widen. “What…?”
“Anon… He came to see me-”
“When?” Aiba quickly interrupted.
“That night before I met with you… and again this morning. I didn’t want to deal with him, so I told him to back off. He just kept insisting that I needed to hear him out, like he doesn’t know better…”
“Why would he go to you? Why didn’t he…” Aiba’s words are cut off as he cursed to himself. In his head, he only kept repeating he should have known.
“I suppose he came to me because he knew I would be harder to convince. But it’s not like I trust him any more now, it’s just…”
“He is hiding,” Aiba continued. “He doesn’t want to see me…”
“He is afraid to hurt you again.”
“No. He knows it’s too late for that…”
“Aiba…” Nino called him. “He’s going to quit.” His words provoked a small gasp from Aiba as everything he feared would happen started to align. “I don’t know why he wanted me to relay this to you, but he left me no choice. You needed to know. He said he would hand in his resignation letter before your meeting with the board. He hopes that can somehow influence in their final decision. I think… he is going to quit so you can keep your job.”
Aiba said nothing as it now made sense why Ohno had asked him to lie. He finally understood what Sakurai was trying to do, although Aiba couldn’t be so sure this was what he wanted. And even less, what either of them needed.
“I don’t think he wants you to interfere. And I sort of understand why. Though, I don’t know if I would’ve done the same,” said Ninomiya.
“What did you tell him?”
“I obviously questioned him, but he was convinced what he was doing was the right thing. I told him he would only be making you upset, but he didn’t listen. Said you would eventually understand. I sort of respected his decision after we talked, but… I can’t help but hate him for making you feel this way, without properly explaining to you why.”
“He won’t,” Aiba said. “He’s never been honest with me to begin with. Why should I expect anything from him now? It’s always me who must guess what he’s thinking. But he doesn’t realize… it was only just now that I understood who he was. Still… what made me think that was going to solve anything?”
Nino only wished he could say more to assure him it would be okay, but there was no reason for him to lie.
Aiba got up from his chair, pausing for a second as he thought of what he would do next. “I should be heading back. I don’t want to keep you for long.”
“Should I wait for you tonight?” Ninomiya asked.
Aiba thought about it for a long second before he looked back to his friend. “Don’t worry about me, you already have enough to deal with.” He responded to the younger to which Ninomiya could only nod, conveying him a silent “good luck” before he walked away.
~
The time finally approached when the rest of the employees began to leave one by one and the office emptied. Only a few remained last to finish their work before eventually they gathered their things and joined the rest in leaving the office, making Aiba wish he could do the same. Instead he was forced to wait another hour in the empty office, until Ohno would come down to inform him they were ready to see him.
He knew it wouldn’t be for long, but Ohno’s company gave him a sense of reassurance as they both waited for the elevator to come. Still, Aiba’s nerves were unsettling and his palms began sweating again the more the silence spread between them. Ohno must have seen through him, because the next second, he asked.
“How is he? Nino, I mean?” His question came so suddenly Aiba thought he may have mistaken what he said. “Is he… any better?”
“He’s been staying at my place.” Aiba answered. “I think it’s best if he’s not alone right now. I’m sorry… if that bothers you.”
Ohno shook his head. “I think he is better off with you. There is nothing I can say to fix it right now.” The vacant elevator arrived, and both men stepped in, one more hesitantly than the other. “He was right you know… I did help Sakurai. I did use him.”
“But you didn’t love him for that reason,” Aiba interjected. Ohno gave the younger his back, not giving Aiba a chance to read his expression and pretending to not have heard him. “He misses you, Ohno. He’s afraid he’s hurt you, that you won’t want to be with him again… That you hate him.”
“Isn’t that what he asked for?” Ohno suddenly said. “I’m merely doing what he said.”
“Then you’re a fool.”
The elevator ascended silently as they got closer to the top floors each second.
“… Does he really think I hate him?” Ohno asked.
“Ask him yourself. He’s been waiting for you all this time. Sending you messages you won’t even reply to.”
“You wouldn’t understand. He doesn’t simply display his feelings to anyone like he does with you. The moment I get too close, he’ll hide and I… I just don’t know what he really thinks of me…” Ohno said in a lower voice. “I guess I’ll simply never known...”
“Even if I knew, it wouldn’t be my place to say. But that’s just how he’s always been. He is complex and intimate. He never really admits what he feels even if he says otherwise. I guess… that’s all because of what he’s been through. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything. Sometimes… it’s your turn to reach out to them, as hard as it may seem.”
As Aiba had lost himself in a thought, he almost failed to notice Ohno’s sudden chuckle. “You know, this is stupid to say but… it’s been on my mind,” The elevator began to decelerate. “Lately, it seems like I’m only surrounded by people that love you. And, I’m not going to lie, it’s a real pain in the ass, but… you also make it hard for me to hate you.”
The elevator opened its doors to a large waiting area as the reception on the floor to the board’s office, which was down a narrow hall. Ohno held the doors to allow Aiba to step out and didn’t seem to have plans to follow him any further.
“This is as far as I’ll go.” Ohno said to him. “You’ll wait here until they allow you inside. Once you’re there… I hope you know what to do.”
Aiba observed him briefly before nodding in understanding, allowing Ohno to let go of the door and letting the elevator close on him.
Aiba grew restless with the thought of waiting for the moment he would be showed inside the board’s office. He hadn’t thought this much ahead into what he was going to do, because he was sick of thinking and meditating over every little thing. Perhaps it was better if he trusted in his instincts for once and decided on what he was going to do when the time came. After all, he didn’t know what they wanted from him.
When a young woman came up to Aiba, she asked him to follow her. Aiba stood from his seat shakily, drying his sweaty hands on his pants and straightening his tie before following her through a glass door.
Aiba had never come to this side of their company and he never thought he would ever find the necessity to. He began to question himself on what he had done and wondered if he knew it would have taken him this far, would he had dared to do it in the first place. But because there was so much he still didn’t understand he decided not to answer. In any case, he had already made his decision and there was no going back now.
The young woman opened the door for him and Aiba took a deep breath before he finally stepped inside. A vast room was spread before him with a long table in which several men were already sat at, in a manner that wasn’t exactly welcoming. The men chatted behind their large table, noticing Aiba’s presence in the room one by one. Aiba couldn’t stop and count them as his heart raced and the blood pumped in his ears, but they must have been at least seven of them. A framed picture of the company’s president hung behind the one who sat in the middle, so Aiba inferred he must be the head of the board.
Aiba was taken out of his thoughts when he heard the door close behind him and he swallowed hard when he realized all their eyes fell on him.
“Please take a seat, Mr. Aiba.” It was the man on the right side who spoke. The second in command, perhaps, and the one who wrote the email.
Aiba did as he was asked, excusing himself before he sat in the solitary chair in the middle of the room, dumping his things beside him. He sat straight as to make himself look more confident and tried hiding his shaking legs. It felt much like the first time he came in for an interview to the company, except there were different faces in the room and he was not there among them.
“Please state your full name as well as your position in this company and your respective supervisor.” The man on the right ordered him.
Aiba exhaled and his voice came out fearful. “My name is Aiba Masaki. I work as an advisor under director… S-Sakurai Sho.”
“Mr. Aiba, you are aware the board has decided to keep this meeting in confidentiality to continue carrying this company’s best interests in order, so we ask you to do the same. In addition, and because of these conditions, you will not be granted complete liberty in the subject, meaning we are in no obligation to answer you. Is that clear?”
Aiba hesitated at first, not knowing what it would imply, yet he answered firmly. “Yes, sir.”
“Very well. We’ll begin right away then. Tell us, Mr. Aiba, you’ve been working in this company for five years, is that correct?”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
“And how many of those years exactly have you personally known director Sakurai?”
Aiba thought back on his chats and found it hard to believe there were things that qualified as ‘personally knowing the director’. “Four months.”
The secretary whom asked the question raised his sight to Aiba. “Months?” he verified.
“Yes, sir. I only came to know him 4 months ago.”
The members of the board exchanged looks. “And in this period, how regularly would you meet with director Sakurai?”
Aiba paused for a long moment. After realizing they all waited for him, Aiba had no choice but to answer. “Never… sir.”
The board leader, who spoke to him directly now, frowned at Aiba. “I’m sorry, would you give us a clear answer, Mr. Aiba.”
“Besides working together in the office and perhaps sharing an elevator a few times… we didn’t meet, sir. Not willingly at least...”
“What about our topic under evaluation? Can you confirm this is you along with director Sakurai?” The board member flailed the photograph in his hand for Aiba to see.
“Y-Yes, sir, that is-”
“So, you in fact confirm director Sakurai had asked for you to meet after office hours?”
“N-No, that was… He was only trying to help-”
“Mr. Aiba, would you report director Sakurai has, in any occasion, forced you into any situation?” A different member by the far left asked this time.
“What?”
“Has direct Sakurai approach you in a way that has made you feel anything but comfortable? Or perhaps could you describe it as suggestive behavior?”
“I-I’m sorry? What does this have to do with what we’re discussing?”
The members of the board exchange murmurs before they could return to the baffled man in the middle of the room.
“Mr. Aiba, we are only but helping you recollect your evidence. You must know a lawsuit must be contain facts as nothing should be left out,” said the head of the board this time.
“Lawsuit? For what?”
“Why, director Sakurai, of course. After your experience, it is only fair that we should file a formal lawsuit. We are merely helping you through the process.”
“I never said I was going to report.”
“That is understandable, Mr. Aiba, but please rest assured, because this meeting is confidential, the details of this lawsuit will not be disclosed to the director himself or anyone else who is not present.”
“I don’t think you’re understanding me, sir. I am not going to report.”
The head of the board paused briefly, taking off his glasses to stare at Masaki’s stern expression. “I’m sorry, Mr. Aiba, I must be misunderstanding-”
“You’re not, sir. With all due respect, I would appreciate if you didn’t make that decision for me.”
“Again, Mr. Aiba, we are only trying to help you-”
“I appreciate it, sir, but I don’t need it.”
The head of the board sighed before his attention was draw back to the papers in front of him.
“Very well,” The member by the right side carried on. “You’ve confirmed that you’ve shared an intimate relationship with director Sakurai over the course of 4 months, correct?”
“No.” Aiba responded firmly. “I said I came to know him 4 months ago. I didn’t say we were in any sort of relationship.”
“Has director Sakurai influenced you in any way to believe that?”
“No, and I think I’m capable of thinking for myself!”
“So, you deny you ever exchanged personal information amongst yourselves.”
Aiba hesitated. Was this really what they wanted to know? “No…”
“Then you must be aware of director Sakurai’s condition and the treatments he’s been receiving for the last several years.”
“Is this not a little too personal, sir?”
“We would appreciate if you would give us an honest answer, Mr. Aiba. Are you familiar with Sakurai’s history of mental diagnosis?”
Aiba’s hands closed into fists. “I am aware.”
“Would you say his behavior towards you is justified or related to his mental issue? In other words, would you describe his regular behavior as compulsive or obsessive, perhaps to a certain extent that has made you feel unsafe around your work place?”
“What are you getting at with this?”
“Please answer our question, Mr. Aiba. Would you describe his drug prescription to control this behavior as ‘ineffective’?”
“No.”
“No, it is not entirely effective?”
“No, I won’t answer your questions.”
The head of the board took word. “It is necessary that you cooperate so that we can get to a proper conclusion Mr. Aiba-”
“Conclusion? Conclusion of what? All you’re doing is talking down on Sakurai! Is that really what I was called here for?”
“May I remind you that if you refuse to cooperate-”
“I am cooperating, sir, at least to what is relevant. Otherwise, I didn’t agree on coming here and accusing Sakurai with these… these overstatements!”
“By denying a clear answer, are you agreeing with these facts and, as some may have described, his abuse of authority?”
“I’ve already explained myself, sir. I will not answer.”
“Mr. Aiba, we do not intend to start any sort of conflict with you. It is only fair on our part that we look through these faults to help your situation, in which case you’ve been most affected and could help as witness.”
“But-”
“We understand these circumstances have been much problematic to you more than anyone, but we assure you, you carry no fault here.”
“What do you mean? Who has decided that?”
“It is not our obligation to answer, but in order for you to keep your position in this company, it is imminent for someone else to assume responsibility for harming our image.”
Aiba knew. He understood clearly what was going on now. Even so, he wanted to hear it for himself. “And who, under the board’s criteria, should take that responsibility?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Aiba, it is not our obligation to answer. For this meeting’s best interest, they must remain anonymous.”
Aiba understood now how far they were willing to go, how they would not stop until they were pleased. In that moment he found something within himself as well. That it was not confusion he had been feeling all this time, nor was he feeling saddened or upset. He was angry. That same anger he was unable to show Sakurai as he kept running away from him, he now felt towards the members of the board, as they kept coming at him with lies he understood were part of some bigger hate. But now he knew how to express what he’d been keeping to himself all this time.
“Is there anything else you would like to state?” The head of the board asked. And as Aiba looked upon the men behind their table, he understood what he had to do.
“Yes.”
The members of the board pause as they were clearly not expecting Aiba’s answer. “Very well,” They invited him to talk, but Aiba took his time before the proper words reached him.
“I don’t understand how Sakurai would have fallen for your manipulations. But now I know he wanted to quit in my stead, because he probably didn’t want me to deal with all of you.”
“Excuse me-”
“I’m not done,” Aiba interrupted him immediately. “I may not understand why you’re all against him but, you can’t expect me to sit here are listen to you making up these lies to degrade him. And I’m sorry if you can’t accept you’re wrong about him, but if you really knew who he was… If you truly knew him as I’ve known him… you wouldn’t be trying to convince me by putting words in my mouth. Considering you’re the face of this company, that leaves a lot to say about you. You’ve judged me wrongly if you thought I would be so stupid as to betray him. Sakurai… he is my friend… And even though he’s lied to me, he’s cared for me all this time. It’s only fair that I do something for him as well.”
Aiba took a deep breath. Seeing they gave him the space to talk, he continued without a second thought. “Haven’t you even thought of studying that photograph you’re holding?” Aiba asked. “Has it really not occurred to you to ask who took that picture?”
The head of the board squinted his eyes at Aiba. “And how do you expect us to know?”
“You wouldn’t know, because you don’t want to see it… But I may be able to tell.” The attention of all the members was granted to him. “I know who was following us that night. I knew the second I saw it, but I was afraid… that I were betraying a friend if I said something. I realized that didn’t mean anything now since he clearly did nothing for me by taking that photograph. But at least I know for sure it wasn’t just him. There were others, a group of them, I can’t exactly say how many, but they worked together. Sakurai’s ex-employees, the ones he fired himself. It explains why this was directed at him. But this wasn’t the first time, the elevator as well. Because I got stuck in Sakurai’s stead, they decided to approach me, asking for my help for their next attack on Sakurai. But I refused to betray him. I suppose they suspected… That I’ve always been a bit too forgiving when it came to Sakurai. I guess… I hadn’t even noticed it before but… it may be true…”
Aiba’s voice lowered as he approached the end of his thoughts. He found himself against an answer he hadn’t seen before, yet he understood it had always been there. When he found himself again inside that room, he realized he was still granted the silence of the board, as if they waited for him to finish, but there was nothing else to mention that would be worth for them to hear.
“That is all I’ll say.” Aiba finished.
~
A side of the room was already piled with boxes. With his papers put away and his belongings set aside, his desk finally looked arranged for once. His office became empty, compared to the rest of the deserted floor at the late hours of the night. A silence spread through the room as he contemplated his office all alone. It was the first time in what seemed like such a while that he could come into his office in peace, yet it was also the last time he would be able to do so.
The lights across the office had already been turned off, expecting no one to come in, yet the familiar sound of the elevator coming up to the floor emerged down the hall. This was not enough to alarm him, as he could recognize the footsteps that came up behind him shortly after. He expected no one else.
“You’re still around?” Sakurai asked as Ohno stood by the door of what was no longer his office.
“They asked me to stay until the meeting was over.” Ohno responded.
“I see,” Sakurai continued putting things away as Ohno received his friend’s inexpressive words in return. “It must have finished late, then.”
“It was extended, yes.”
Sakurai didn’t stop to face Ohno, almost detaching himself from the secretary’s words, although the other waited for him to grant him his attention.
“I know you told me not to bother coming but… I thought you would want to hear about it after all,” Ohno was ignored, but carried on. “It seems… things got way more side tracked than expected. Their interrogation was delayed, the members of the board were too divided to make a decision, so… they had to call in the CEO,” Sakurai had stopped carrying things across the room, which was enough of an indicator for Ohno to continue. “Apparently, during the meeting… certain information about the identities of the culprits was disclosed.”
This time it was inevitable to miss the confusion in Sakurai’s eyes trying to internalize what Ohno said. “…What?” he voiced in a whisper.
“It may be inaccurate and they’re still looking into it, but an investigation is being conducted right now. They’re looking into a great amount of evidence and could be confirming it at any moment. It’s only a matter of time…”
Sakurai let himself lean back on his desk, his eyes scanned the floor as he tried to understand what this meant.
“Still I’m no one to say what will happen to you now. I doubt they’ll let you stay here or even let you keep your office, but the CEO asked to meet you tomorrow morning to let you know. Although…” Ohno’s hand searched inside his blazer as he walked closer to Sakurai. “They sent me to return this,” Ohno set the folded piece of paper on Sakurai’s desk, from which the latter recognized the word ‘Resignation’ in his own hand writing. “They didn’t need it anymore. Though, I can’t say the board was too happy about the CEO’s decision, this is what he agreed to after consulting it with Aiba himself. I have no idea how, but… Sho… he gave you your job back.”
“Why?” Sakurai asked in disbelief. “Why did he do it?”
“I wouldn’t know myself, but… maybe is not too late to ask.”
Sakurai glanced at Ohno, bewildered by his suggestion.
“Sho… I am not here to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do, but you will never know if you don’t take these risks.” Ohno spoke harshly this time. “For once… you should be the person you promised him you would be.”
Sakurai didn’t need to hear another word, as it had already been decided in his mind what he had to do. For so long he had been trying to get away, it was the first time he felt he had to look for something.
“Where is he?”
~
Aiba became still in the middle of the empty lobby. He still hadn’t taken in the voice of whom called his name, but the rest of his body felt it all over him. He almost remembering what it felt to hear a voice that did so much to him with so little effort.
He wanted to turn around, but he realized he didn’t know how. Almost as if he were afraid of what he would find when he did. Yet, feeling his hurrying steps come closer and stop behind him, he had no choice but to look, acknowledging Sakurai standing before him. Something about that sight alone was enough to make Aiba’s heart race.
Aiba froze in the other’s gaze and the air became harder to take in. After all, Aiba didn’t know what to do in his presence, confused about who he was looking at anymore. All he knew was that he wanted to hear his name being called by that voice once again.
Because no words came out of Sakurai for a long moment, Aiba stepped up first to bow his head, as it was the most natural thing to do whenever Sakurai stood before him.
“No,” Sakurai’s voice finally emerges, stopping Aiba’s formal greeting. “Please… don’t.”
Aiba recollects himself, this time noticing the words that struggled out of Sakurai. “I think… I owe you an explanation.” He begins. Aiba finds his voice so much different than before when he gave out orders or tried to display authority. It felt real for once, no longer hiding behind formalities. “I’ve been hiding from you for so long, I’m… it is not fair-”
“Stop,” Aiba raised a hand before Sakurai could go on. “I don’t need another apology.”
If Aiba really meant there was nothing else worth apologizing for, Sakurai would’ve proved him wrong.
“I-I’m sorry, I…” Sakurai stopped himself, realizing he was doing it again. He cursed to himself under his breath. “I’m not… very good at this.” Sakurai said instead, not knowing where to pose his eyes.
Aiba noticed the other’s stammering and couldn’t help but add. “You were always shy.” There was a small yet noticeable reaction in Sakurai as he recognized those familiar words, but unlike those times, he didn’t try to fight it or prove Aiba wrong.
A silence spread between them, their eyes were unable to stay still on one another. After all, it was hard to come across the words when they were no longer a phone line apart.
“I guess I should say,” Aiba finally spoke. “I overreacted earlier, at the elevator. I was not in the right mind to say those things to you. You would understand, no? Maybe we could… forget about it.”
“It’s in the past.” Sakurai said.
“A-And what I said at the bar… I wish I could say it wasn’t me talking.”
Sakurai nodded although troubled. “Then… while we’re at it, perhaps I should clear up what happened that night. I didn’t mean to let it get out of hand.”
Aiba stared at him confusedly before the memory came back to him, leaving a hint of color in his cheeks with the reminder.
“Oh…” Aiba looked away, to not let himself be caught in Sakurai’s gaze. “About that… I’m not sure I can recall exactly…”
“You… don’t remember?” Sakurai asked.
“Not everything,” Aiba shook his head, hiding from Sakurai’s gaze. “Did we get to…?”
“N-No!” Sakurai answered quickly, preventing his bashfulness from getting in his way.
Aiba’s look fell, although Sakurai wasn’t too sure why. Aiba chuckled nervously. “We’ve done some stupid things haven’t we?” Aiba said suddenly, and Sakurai wasn’t too sure what to answer. “It’s like we haven’t learned a thing.”
“I know,” Sakurai said. “This is my fault after all.”
“Fault?” Aiba asked a little surprised. “Are you saying it was wrong?”
“Was it not?” Sakurai asked.
Aiba thought by himself before a smile peeked from his lips. “I had fun,” his words gained a wide stare from Sakurai. “Meeting Anon… getting to know him… It’s the most fun I had in all my time working here.”
“I don’t think I’m capable of living up to someone like that.” Sakurai said, a pain engraved in his voice.
“But he is you,” Aiba said. “And you are him.” He took a step closer, searching for Sakurai’s eyes which had fallen and now were finding their way back to Aiba’s glistening ones. “He is here too, isn’t he? In that ‘O’ that your names share. ‘O’ as in Sho, isn’t it? That’s your name. I was right after all. About knowing your name. Though I don’t think I’m capable of understanding why. Why did you like someone… like me? I mean you’re my boss, and I… I don’t exactly stand out from the rest.”
“I know I’m not what you imagined.” Sakurai avoided his question. “And I wish I could have had the guts to do this differently, where I didn’t end up hurting you or disappointing you. I wonder if there even was a possibility where everything would have worked out.”
“Me too.” Aiba responded to Sakurai’s surprise. “Though I really do wonder if anything would have worked any other way. After all, it’s because of how you opened up to me that I decided to believe you.”
“Why are you doing this?” Sakurai asked. “You’re supposed to be mad at me. Why do you talk as if I had a choice to make it better? When all I’ve done is hurt you. Why do you insist on making everything right?”
“I don’t know.” Aiba looked confused himself. “I’m trying to imagine if I would have done the same thing as you, but I can’t think of a way anyone would be the kind of fool I was.”
“We both were.” Sakurai added.
The hint of a smile curled on Aiba’s lips. “That explains it.”
“About the meeting…” Sakurai began. “How did you do it?”
“I asked for them to give you a second chance. After all, it was my own fault we were caught like that, when I could have prevented it sooner. The CEO seemed like an easy person to convince, though I can’t say the same about the rest of them. It may not be much, but at least the CEO promised a fair punishment without the need of drastic measures. Though… they may decide on a transfer after all.”
“Then, maybe we should make things right once and for all.” Sakurai said. Although Aiba was afraid of what he meant, he listened. “The truth is… I’m your superior. It was stupid of me to think that you would see me as anything else. Therefore, I don’t see a reason why we should lie to ourselves.”
Aiba’s look fell, wondering who was really lying then and there.
“That promise you made to me, about your answer… forget about it. It doesn’t matter anymore.” Sakurai said instead, taking Aiba aback. “Besides, it was unfair of me to pressure you in such a way. It was clearly not what you wanted. You’ve already given me enough. If anything, I am grateful that you would’ve allowed me this time, for as short as it may have seemed, to know you so closely.”
“Are you saying… it won’t be like that anymore?” Aiba questioned him. “And then? What good would it be that you knew me?”
“Maybe… If we could remain as friends, even if you don’t forgive me, perhaps it wouldn’t have been in vain.” Sakurai could see the unsettlement in Aiba’s expression, but before the younger could say anything, Sakurai tried to reason. “Aiba… You know we can’t-”
“I know,” Aiba interrupted, afraid to hear it coming from Sakurai’s mouth. “It’s sort of unfair… you got to see me this whole time, but I only get this memory of you. The real you. It should have lasted longer.”
“You’re right,” said Sakurai. “It should have.”
“And now I’m supposed to see you go?” Aiba sighed.
“Perhaps it would be less unfair if we both left.” Sakurai suggested, not knowing the younger would take him seriously.
“Before that, would you let me say goodbye?”
Although Sakurai appeared hesitant to go along with Aiba’s suggestion, he nodded firmly, inviting Aiba to say all he needed. Though Sakurai was stunned when he felt Aiba’s body approaching him unannounced. It barely gave Sakurai time to acknowledge Aiba’s hands tug on his blazer and the proximity of the younger’s eyes in which he became lost in.
From the moment Sakurai felt his parted lips being watched and his heart race, he allowed the sensations run through him. When instead he felt Aiba’s tight embrace trap him, Sakurai held his breath. His arms remained on his sides, scared of reacting at all. He’d made it so far determined to fix everything he did wrong, but now, surrounded by the younger’s warmth, he admitted he never would have expected to feel so at ease in his arms again. And it made him wonder how something so wrong could be in any way right.
Aiba’s arms curled around Sakurai’s neck, he could feel Aiba’s breath ease against his skin and his embrace tighten, as if almost afraid to let go. Eventually, Aiba’s voice came around whispering the words close to Sakurai’s ear. “I'm glad I found you.”
Sakurai wondered when his own breath began to quiver. His body gave in and his arms returned Aiba’s embrace, holding him tightly as to not let it end.
They had forgotten to count the seconds it took for them to break apart, and even when they did, it felt as if they had lost part of themselves. But they had decided it would have worked no other way.
Aiba wished to leave his uncertainty behind, so he wiped his cheek with his sleeve before the other would notice, yet his attempt was in vain. When Sakurai saw the younger’s effort to hide his sentiments, he couldn’t help but feel guilty all over again.
It was then when Aiba felt Sakurai’s touch. His familiar and gentle hand resting on the side of his cheek, lifting Aiba’s head ever so slightly and capturing his gaze. His thumb wiped a tear off Aiba’s cheek the latter hadn’t realize was there before.
Aiba became lost in the eyes that stared into his, feeling vulnerable by his overflowing feelings but secure with just a brush of Sakurai’s hand. And in that certainty Sakurai conveyed to him, Aiba found a way to soothe his own wavering feelings. It was the first time Aiba had stared at him so closely with his eyes opened and realized it was still him.
In their silence, Sakurai’s touch left Aiba’s skin. Unsure of the exchange of good byes, they looked into one another before turning away and leaving each other’s sides. It was only when the distance grew between them that a smile became apparent in their lips. Along with an unspoken promise to not forget, they walked away without looking back, afraid that if they tried they would regret it all.
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But omg the last broke my heart 😢 I am soothing myself that we will have another chapter, but it was so bitter sweet...
Thank you for writing this again and again 🙇♀️
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It was a good thing that he listened to Jun's advice. He finally did what he wanted to do/ what he thinks is right.
Can't wait for the next chapter. Looking forward to how this ends! ^^
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Hope you enjoy the next one too!
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Now, back to real business: can I just love Sho since he put Aiba before himself because he is the most important person for him and he wants him to be happy and and- *cries* And can I just love Aiba because, despite all that happened, he stood up for him with those people and asked the CEO to give him a second chance because after all he cares for him and doesn't want him to being treated unfairly and badly and and and- *cries even more*
Aiba's thoughts are starting to change or, better, to become clearer. He is gradually understanding himself and his feelings and I like it. Because if Aiba and Sho are going to be apart, at least I want that their thoughts are clear and that they are not confused. But even so, that damn last scene was really hard to read. When they hugged my heart was like "asdfghjkl" but then the pain came because they went on their own ways. I was even afraid that it was the end and I was like "ARAARI DON'T LET THIS END LIKE THIS". But fortunately you're a really good writer and a good person who cares about people's feelings and gave us another chapter.
Regarding that, I'm so sad that this fic is coming to an end but, after all, the true stories are the ones who at some point end so, can't wait to see the end of this awesome fic!
Thanks for writing this and see you on the last *starts to being moved to tears* <333
P.S: Above everything I already wrote, what made my heart clench were also Ohno and Nino. They're suffering too and the fact that Nino still wants Ohno to come up to him, even when he said the contrary, and the fact that Ohno is really doing what Nino wants is...*sigh* my heart's tears are running out.
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Yes I can't believe it ending either, but I hope you enjoyed the journey because I certainly did ^^
See you in the last one!
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I want to hug and kiss Aibachan for stand up for Sho. Love the way he defend him. And Sho protected him and took all the blame too. These two are idiots!!! Love them so much. Their unspoken promise in the end💓... they will be together one day.
Sho is taking pills.😣
Ohmiya need to talk! They really need to! Ohchan have to do something. Go chase him, say sorry...just do something and go get him back! Dont let my neen wait for too long. He dont meant it when he said dont see him anymore!
Ohchan character here is kinda heavy ne~ Have to deal with all mess in the office and it effect his love life too~ (my bias heart worrying too much for him)
Jun... he is a very good friend. He made Aiba realised what he have to do~
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Thanks for reading and commenting~! I'm going to miss this story too..
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See you in the next one then!
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Looking forward to the last chapter <3
(I realized I havent read the previous one, so I read the chapter 10 and 11 in a rush and now i'm going to re-read it again)
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See you in the next one! and thanks for re-reading!