The pair embraced as if pulled together. Kissing. My husband and another woman.
MC: "..."
???: "Was that man just now your husband?"
MC: "...I-I beg your pardon?"
???: "Yikes, I nailed it, huh? That's a hell of a turn of events. Here."
The young man offered me a handkerchief without a word.
(I... When did...)
I touched my cheek and noticed the tears on it for the first time. I slumped the rest of the way to the ground weakly.
???: "Aw, geez."
The man stowed the milk and egg carton back in the shopping bag.
???: "...If you can't stand, want me to carry you?"
(What's this guy's deal? He's grinning...)
MC: "..."
???: "Hey, are you listening? I'm offering to console you here."
MC: "That's quite alright."
I felt like I was being mocked. I rose to my feet, unamused.
MC: "I don't know who you are, but I'm sorry if I've bothered you."
I bowed and reached to pick up my bag.
???: "It ain't free."
MC: "What?"
He suddenly grabbed my arms and pulled me close.
MC: "Hey, what are you doing?!"
???: "It's just a joke, MC."
MC: "?! What... How do you know my name?!"
???: "You're the reason I'm here."
MC: "?!"
???: "I tended the bar you were at earlier tonight. Name's Kiyoto Makimura. Nice to meet you."
MC: "..."
I was floored.
MC: "..."Kiyoto: "And the next plot twist will be even more dramatic..."
He squeezed me tightly against himself.
(A-A kiss?!)
I flinched at the feel of soft lips upon mine and found myself momentarily immobilized.
MC: "...Stop it!"
I shoved the young man back. He took it in stride.
Kiyoto: "You're cute when you're angry, too."
I snatched the bag with my milk and eggs out of his hand.
MC: "Grow up and stop picking on adults."
Kiyoto: "Hey, I'm an adult too. I turned 20 not too long ago."
(20?! I can't believe I'm letting a man 11 years younger than me bother me, ugh.)
MC: "Anyway, you've been a great help. Goodbye."
I ran from the scene, wanting to flee.
MC: *huff* (Please, just let this all have been a dream...)
Koichi: "Good morning. Something smells nice."
MC: "Koichi... Good morning."
Koichi eagerly devoured the omelet and toast I had prepared. As we ate together, I stole a glance at Koichi's face. Koichi, kissing that woman. The scene from last night replayed itself in my head, clouding my mind.
MC: "..."
Koichi: "Something wrong?"
MC: "No, nothing..." (Was it really Koichi I saw last night...? Maybe I got the wrong guy...)
Koichi: "Your cooking is really fantastic. I always stuff myself before I even start the day."
MC: "Um, Koichi, about yesterday..."
Koichi: "Whoops, look at the time. I'd better get going."
MC: "..."
Koichi: "Well, I'm off."
MC: "Be safe."
Koichi: "...You look tired. Are you all right?"
MC: "...I'm all right. I just had a few too many drinks last night..."
Koichi: "Oh... Well, don't be late for work."
MC: "Right. I'll be careful. Take care."
Koichi walked right past the garbage bag sitting near the door and headed for the elevator hall.
MC: "..."
My eyes fell of the garbage bag, and I gave a sigh.
(Koichi... Is he a nice guy, or just cold? ...It's so hard to tell.)
MC: "Good morning."
I stepped in. No one else had come into work yet. I looked around the room and grew mortified. The trashcan was overflowing with garbage. Stacked documents were teetering on the verge of collapse. Half-empty coffee cups were strewn all over the office.
MC: "This place is filthy!" (At least Mr. Ebihara's workspace is clean. Just goes to show the difference of a competent man.)
I rolled up my sleeves and started cleaning.
MC: *huff*
A sigh escaped me. I found my mind drifting back to Koichi.
Shohei: "Hmm...? You're here early today."
MC: "Good morning, Aiba."
Shohei: "Good morning. Are you cleaning up everyone's desks?"
MC: "I'm not useful for anything else around here. Besides, a messy environment's bad for getting work done."
Shohei: "It's because yesterday was the deadline for an event proposal. It's not normally this bad. Mr. Ebihara was getting on our case to clean up before we left, too. I'll help."
MC: "Thanks."
Shohei: "You don't look too chipper today."
MC: "...I'm fine, really."
Shohei: "Mr. Ebihara's strict on himself and just as strict on others. It's really rough. But it's thanks to working under him that I worked my ass off and became a team lead."
MC: "...Oh, yeah?"
Shohei: "Remember that. No matter what Mr. Ebihara tells you, just throw your heart into it."
MC: "Thanks. I will."
Shohei: "You might even catch up to me and take my team leader spot by next year..."
MC: "I could see it happening."
Shohei: "Hey, easy there."
(I feel a little better after talking to Aiba. And this is a new position for me. I shouldn't let my personal issues drag my work down.)
Kippei: "MC. I'm going to visit a client. Come with me."
MC: "Yes, sir..."
Aiba mouthed, "you can do it."
MC: "..." (Will I be alright...? I'm going out alone with Mr. Ebihara... I don't know what I'll do if I make him mad at me again...)
Kippei: "The client bought this cafe and everything in it. They've requested a proposal from us for a new cafe and appropriate renovations."
MC: "..."
We opened the door and stepped inside.
Mr. Ebihara set the proposal on the table.
Kippei: "This is our proposal. The concept for this renewal is a book cafe."
Client: "I'm not so sure about the book cafe idea... These days, everything's about the Internet and DVDs. Books are pretty stale."
Kippei: "Certainly. It might seem stale at a glance. But how many spaces can you find where you can go in by yourself and just kick back and relax with some coffee? There aren't any."
MC: "..."
Kippei: "Manga cafes and fast food joints are popular hangout spots for high schoolers. They're noisy. There are a lot of adults who wish they had a study in their house. And it's boring for women to go to a restaurant or bar by themselves."
MC: "..." (I think he might be right.)
The client looked at me.
Client: "What do you think?"
MC: "Err... You mean me?"
Client: "I'd like to hear your honest view on it as an adult female."
Kippei: "Go ahead, be honest with him."
MC: "Okay. Well, I got married 3 months ago, and I haven't bought many books since then. Books take up a lot of space, and new ones are expensive... I have a housewife friend who checks books out from the library a lot. But popular books always have a flood of reservations. She has to wait 3 or 4 months for those."
Kippei: "..."
MC: "I'd love it if I could read a book for the price of some coffee. You could even give housewives more incentive to come if you include picture books they could read to children. A bakery with fresh-baked bread next to the cafe would make it even better. Then I could buy bread on the way out, and people who came to buy bread could see what the cafe is like. That could draw them in as potential customers."
The client nodded readily to my words.
Client: "What's your name?"
MC: "Oh... It's MC. Sorry, I don't have a business card yet..."
Kippei: "She's a new transfer in my division. I brought her with me today for the experience."
Client: "All right, Ebihara. I'd like you and Ms. MC to take charge of this cafe."MC: "?!"
Kippei: "Thank you very much. I'll look forward to working with you."
MC: "Thank you very much!"
We exchanged farewells with the client and departed the cafe. I couldn't help but smile as I walked behind Mr. Ebihara.
(I'm so happy. He wants me in charge of a cafe. It's like a dream.)
Suddenly, a can of juice was being held out in front of me.
MC: "Huh...?"
Kippei: "That was well done for your first time."
MC: "Oh... Thank you very much, sir."
I accepted the proffered can of juice.
Kippei: "Just don't let it go to your head."
MC: "..."
Kippei: "I have one more stop to make. You go on back without me."
MC: "Yes, sir."
Kippei: "Also, I want you to deliver this envelope straight to the location listed here on Monday."
Mr. Ebihara handed me an envelope and a memo, then turned away and started walking off at a brusque pace. I was left standing there, holding an envelope, a memo, and a can of juice.
MC: "..."
MC: "I'm back."
I stepped in and returned to my desk, and Aiba came right up to join me.
Shohei: "How'd it go?"
MC: "...The client asked to put me in charge."
Shohei: "What?! You're kidding."
MC: "No, it's true. He liked my opinions, Mr. Aiba."
Shohei: "...Well, I'll be."
I put away the envelope and memo Mr. Ebihara had left in my care and picked up an interior design magazine.
MC: "Well, time to hit the books. I'd better study up so I can create quality proposals."
Akiko: "MC, you done working yet? Weekend's coming up. Want to get a drink on the way home?"
MC: "...Sorry, I'll be a little while longer here. There's so much I don't know. I need to learn my work fast, even if it means overtime."
Akiko: "Oh... All right. See you next week, then."
MC: "Have a nice weekend."
Drip, drip.
MC: "Hmm? Rain? Well, it doesn't seem too bad."
suddenly turned into a torrential downpour.
MC: "Ack!"
I fled at full tilt to take shelter under the awning of the nearest building.
MC: "Geez... What a mess..." (My hair and clothes are totally drenched now...)
something black gently covered my head.
MC: "Whoa, what the?!" (A gym towel?!)
MC: "Genji?!"
Genji: "I saw you from the second floor. You should've seen the look on your face when you were running."
Genji grinned widely, unabashed.
MC: "..." (Ugh, I can't believe he saw me! I must look so dumb.) What are you doing here anyway, Genji?"
Genji: "Weight training on the second floor gym! And you?"
MC: "I was on my way home from work. It's not even a 10 minute walk from here."
Genji: "Oh, yeah? Guess that means we might be seeing more of each other."
MC: "Huh?"
Genji: "I'll shower off and drive you home. Just wait here."
MC: "No, no, I don't want to impose."
Genji: "Don't be shy."
MC: "But..."
Genji: "Do you have the guts to brave that downpour again?"
I looked outside and saw that the rain had gotten even worse.
MC: "...Nope."
Genji: "See? We're going, then."
Genji then jogged up to the second floor.
MC: "...I can't believe myself."
My white shirt was soaked and see-through, leaving my bra exposed to the world.
MC: "?!" (Did Genji see...?)
I hid my chest with my arms, my head still wrapped in Genji's gym towel.
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