Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"You know, they say that knowing when to give up is a skill," Mayuzumi said, as he wiped up yet another beer glass. He was at his part-time job as a bartender, and a brief solace to the drudgery of dealing with rude customers, the loud background noise, and messed up orders - was talking to his friend/previous upperclassman/informal editor - Kawaki.

"Maybe it's time I give up this damn book since it's not going anywhere," a sigh blew past Mayuzumi's lips as he stacked all the glasses up under the counter and leaned over it in defeat. 

Kawaki shook his dark brown hair disparagingly at him, "Look, Mayuzumi, I've read dozens of your drafts, and there's no denying that you've got something. You're definitely meant to be a writer, no doubt about it."

Then Kawaki took a swig of his beer (on the house, of course), then reached over and clapped Mayuzumi on the shoulder hearteningly, "So don't give up! Come on! Be more optimistic! Glass half-full, remember? I'm always telling you to see the glass as half-full!"

"Then what should I do? I haven't been able to get past this block for the past four months. And I've still got nothing," Mayuzumi said through a groan, resentful at his own lack of motivation and progress. Seriously, what was he doing with his life? In high school, he'd envisioned already having his first novel published by now. But nope, six years later since graduating university and he had basically nothing to show for it. Just a lot of debt, stress, and a pathetic attitude. 

"Writers all lose inspiration from time to time. It's part of our process. You can't force it to come back," Kawaki shook his head and tried to reassure him, but Mayuzumi's frown only deepened. Kawaki sent him a sympathetic look, and tried again, "I know you want to get your story out there, but rushing to the end and publishing something on a half-hearted effort won't do well for the audience or for you."

And yeah, Mayuzumi knew he was right. He knew, but that didn't mean he had to like it. 

"Take a break from it. Go get a full-time job if you're struggling to keep up with the bills," Kawaki said, throwing out ideas, "Who knows? The change of environment and new experience might reignite your spark and kickstart your creativity."

"Yeah, I'll wait until that happens," Mayuzumi rolled his eyes, and Kawaki chided him, but Mayuzumi actually thought it wasn't bad. 

Getting a full-time job could be the kick in the ass he needed to get back on track. 

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.

Mayuzumi detested the hustle and bustle of the general public in the mornings - ergo the reason why he was at a cafe at 4 AM. He was at one of his favourites, Sakura Cafe, and the cafe inside was gloriously empty. So, Mayuzumi could take his time, peruse the menu, and go up to the counter when he was ready - being rushed by pushy people was a surefire way to piss him off, so Mayuzumi was grateful for small wins. He could at least start his day in a good mood. He had brought his laptop along as well and set himself up at one of the tables with a charging port - ready to lock in and work on updating his resume. 

Once he was decided, Mayuzumi approached the counter and gave the barista his order - an iced Americano with orange zest. Large and with a double shot, of course. Mayuzumi stepped back and pulled out his phone to keep himself occupied while it was being made. After a few minutes, he vaguely heard the tinkle of the bell hanging over the entrance, signalling someone else had come inside the cafe. 

Then, Mayuzumi heard his name being called, stepped forward, and grabbed the drink. When he turned around though, he bumped into someone and almost dropped it - and would have if not for Mayuzumi's sharp reflexes he had honed over his entire life since he had a penchant for getting knocked into. 

"Oh, excuse me," a smooth voice said apologetically, and Mayuzumi was taken aback at the lack of shock coming from this guy. 

That was weird, he thought as he looked properly at the person. No one usually noticed Mayuzumi that easily in a public setting. Even when it was almost deserted like this. 

The first thing Mayuzumi noticed about the man in front of him was the shock of blood red hair he possessed, along with startlingly clear magenta eyes. He was wearing a cotton, cream-white long-sleeved shirt, and on top of that was a powder blue, knitted sweater-vest. He wore pale grey chinos pants matched with pristine white (designer) sneakers.

In direct contrast to Mayuzumi - who was wearing a plain white t-shirt, a dark blue flannel over the top with washed out jeans, and his worn-out black converse shoes. 

"Forgive me, but I believe that is my coffee order," the man said civilly, and Mayuzumi blinked dumbly at him. Then, the guy reached out and pointed a finger at the side of the disposable cup, "See the name, Shiori."

Crap, Mayuzumi cursed at himself, in his sleep-deprived state, his brain was still foggy and had misheard 'Shiori' as 'Chihiro'. He hadn't even given Chihiro as the name for his coffee order, what the fuck. The guy must have ordered it on the app and just arrived to pick it up, which explained why it was ready before Mayuzumi's order. 

"My bad. Here. I didn't take a sip yet, so don't toss it," Mayuzumi said, as he handed over the drink, not even paying any mind to the fact that Shiori was a female name. 

"Thank you," the guy nodded his head in a thankful little bow towards Mayuzumi, a small smile on his lips, as he turned around and left. At the same time, the barista called out his name - his last name and his real one this time - and Mayuzumi took the drink, taking a sip almost instantly because he was goddamn useless without caffeine in his system. 

Mayuzumi stayed inside the cafe to drink his coffee and stare at the draft of his story blankly (in the faint hope he'd write something, even a single paragraph). It seemed the other guy wasn't going to stay though and judging by how he was dressed and his aura of superiority, it made sense. People like that did not linger in regular and ordinary places like this - hence why Mayuzumi was still here. 

After half an hour, Mayuzumi finished both his coffee and tweaking his resume, so he left and started the walk back to the train station. On his way, he bypassed the overpass and bridge above the highway below. He was about to turn off down the alleyway in the direction of the train station, when something caught Mayuzumi's eye from the distance. 

Isn't that the guy from the cafe? Mayuzumi asked himself, and he stopped in place to get a better look. The shock of blood red hair was a dead giveaway, as well as the fact Mayuzumi recognised the clothes he was wearing too. 

What was puzzling, though, was the way the guy was just...standing there. In the middle of road. Not off to the side near the railing, but on the road. It seemed like he was on the pedestrian crossing, but Mayuzumi did not know any pedestrian in the world that would just stop and stand on the crossing. Mayuzumi glanced around and saw no traffic, which made sense given the time of day, but the guy wasn't even bothered by that. He was staring up at the sky, still and like he was...almost frozen in time. Or in a memory, Mayuzumi's mind supplied for him. 

Then, the sound of the distant air horn of the train shook Mayuzumi out of his musings, and he remembered he was on his way home. So, Mayuzumi cast one last glance up at the man, then shook his head as he looked away and started to walk again. 

"Sei-chan, don't be upset. Look, we did half of our yearly revenue in just one day," Mibuchi said cheerfully, as he showed the tablet to Akashi while they walked down the long, polished floors of the corridor. The headquarters of Rakuzan Collect were spotless and shining as usual, and many assistants and lower ranking employees stopped and bowed as Akashi and the others walked past. They had just exited out of the weekly meeting with the stakeholders and Akashi's mood was not terrible but not happy either. 

"Yeah, not to mention the stock price is going up too," Nebuya added with a side of optimism, and the others nodded along encouragingly. 

"I suppose that is good news," Akashi hummed, but the expression on his face remained flat and neutral as they stood in front of the elevator doors and waited. 

"Huh? You don't sound as pleased as I'd thought you'd be," Hayama turned to Akashi with a frown. 

"It is all happening accordingly, but at a far slower pace than I'd like," Akashi said, his arms crossed and fingers tapping impatiently against his long, cream-white sleeves as he stared up above at the elevator's gradual descent to ground level.

"Is that a bad thing?" Mibuchi queried, and Akashi's lips pursed for a moment. 

"I'm in a rush because I need to climb someplace," he replied, and the others exchanged puzzled looks as they failed to understand the meaning. 

Nebuya blinked and scratched under his chin, "'Climb'? Where?"

"High up," Akashi said, a cryptic smile sliding into place, as the elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Without delay he walked inside first, and the other three hastily filed in after him.  

"You're already in a high place, though. So, you mean, climb even higher?" Mibuchi clarified, as he pressed the button for the top floor and then fixed his hair in the reflective surface of the elevator walls. 

"Is that really possible? I mean, we're already the number 1 brand in Japan for sporting fashion, skin care, and the recent addition of the active footwear range. There's nowhere else to go except if we start all over in another country," Hayama hypothesised aloud with a laugh, clearly meaning it as a joke, but one look in Akashi's direction confirmed that it was the opposite. 

Then, Hayama's hazel eyes bulged and glimmered in anticipation, as he turned to face Akashi expectantly, "Wait, are we really-"

Akashi gave a single nod, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, "That's right. The next goal is for Rakuzan to go global."

"No way! Seriously!?" Nebuya exclaimed, a broad grin stretching across his face. 

"That's so exciting, though! Man, just think of all the possibilities!" Hayama was practically jumping up and down inside the elevator, and sprung out eagerly as the others followed after him. 

Akashi moved forward to the front once more, leading the way as they headed back towards his office, "Yes. Once we establish a foundation with the international market, we will become unstoppable."

"I'm absolutely keen for international expansion, I think it's a great idea. But are you sure now is the right time, Sei-chan?" Mibuchi asked with mild concern, and the other two likewise became more serious as Mibuchi continued, "The situation with your family, especially your father, is-"

"Mibuchi, why does the wind blow?" Akashi interrupted casually, as they rounded a corner. The glass door with the label reading Akashi Seijuurou, CEO of Rakuzan Collect embossed in silver lettering glimmered in the distance. 

"Well, I'm not sure," Mibuchi answered back with uncertainty, and Nebuya and Hayama were equally clueless. They had become somewhat used to Akashi's weirdly philosophical questions and existential attitude that showed up at random times - but that didn't mean they could answer him any better now. 

Akashi stopped in front of his office door, grabbed the handle, and paused, "It's blowing to move on, not to stay. The wind needs to keep moving for me to fly even further," then, he opened the door, with the others silently coming in behind him as they nodded in understanding. 

Once Akashi was settled and sitting behind his desk, he looked up at the other three, with his hands linked in front of him, "Have there been new applications for the personal assistant position?"

"Yes, we have over a hundred that we're currently screening through. There's a lot of promising ones this time, and we've culled all the flaky looking ones, so we won't waste any time," Mibuchi said reassuringly, and Akashi gave a hum, of approval. 

"Once you shortlist some suitable candidates, conduct the first-round interviews. Send me a list of those who move onto the second round, as I plan to conduct these myself. Though I have been busy with the sales reports and data from the last quarter, it was short-sighted of me to neglect the application process for my own assistant. This time, I intend to find someone who will not disappoint me," Akashi stated in a firm tone, and then glanced up at the three of them with a smile, "I need a strong team to help lift me up so I can catch those headwinds, after all. And I chose all of you, did I not?"

"That's true," Nebuya agreed proudly, and Mibuchi rolled his eyes but his eyes were lit up in agreeable mirth. 

"Okay! We'll get right on it, Akashi!" Hayamaa grinned, as he gave Akashi a thumbs-up, and Akashi's smile lingered as he dismissed them. 

Mayuzumi sighed as he looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror of his unit apartment. Getting ready for his 17th going on who-knows-how-many-more job interview, and definitely not feeling half as enthusiastic as he was three weeks ago. 

To his credit though, Mayuzumi was sort of proud of himself for securing so many interviews with his basic skills. Nevermind the fact he'd already received 7 rejections and awaiting the outcome for 9 more - 10 he supposed, after today's interview was complete. 

Not one to be picky - beggars can't be choosers, after all - Mayuzumi had been applying for basic admin, PA or receptionist level roles in all kinds of companies across Tokyo. Anywhere from car companies, to legal firms, and even in some hotels, Mayuzumi applied to them all. Basically they were all places that were an extrovert's dream and an introvert's (AKA Mayuzumi's) nightmare. But what could he do? He needed the money, and he needed even more for his parents to get off his back bombarding him with the endless stream of 'worst case scenarios' if he didn't get his shit together - no wonder Mayuzumi grew up to be a 'glass half empty' kinda guy. 

Today, he was interviewing for a huge company that was well-known throughout Japan - Rakuzan Collect. They had a clothing line, skin care, perfume and cologne products, as well as a footwear range. Mayuzumi was pretty sure he had some of their athleisure clothes shoved somewhere in the back of his closet - he also really needed to get back in shape and work on his fitness, but one crisis at a time. Anyway, the job was a personal assistant role - to the CEO of the company. So yeah, it was kind of a big deal - Mayuzumi was honestly shocked he'd been offered an interview, seeing as how he'd spontaneously filled out the application and sent through his resume just for shits and giggles. 

But here he was, getting ready for the interview, and god, he hoped he didn't mess this one up. 

Mayuzumi did not want this job. He needed this job. Badly. Because despite how people glorified the up and coming, struggling author trope – people often easily forgot the 'struggling' part was quite possibly the most accurate word to describe his current state of being. 

So, to continue living with a roof under his head, with enough food in his fridge and all the flashy utilities so he could write his stupid novel, he needed to hold down a stable, well-paying job from Monday to Friday for a consistent flow of income. 

His parents probably thought he was having a quarter life crisis or some shit like that. Well, he knew his father at least was confused as to why Mayuzumi could not simply use the degree he had put himself through four years at university to get the job he really wanted. His mother was absolutely stressed about his potential unemployment and was on his case to find some stability and move past his fear of commitment. He loved his parents like most children did, but damn, they sometimes made things even worse, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Mayuzumi took one last glance at himself in the mirror. Dressed in an old, pale grey dress shirt with a black tie, and black slacks with clean (but far from shiny) black lace-up leather shoes, Mayuzumi shifted his focus on giving his hair one last comb through and tidy-up. When he thought it looked halfway decent and professional, he forced himself to look away from the mirror and headed out the door to the train station - a 20-minute walk from his apartment. 

As soon as he arrived in the area, Mayuzumi could pick out the Rakuzan building straight away. It was a staggeringly tall and imposing glass encased monstrosity, over thirty stories high with people coming in and out of it like some revolving cycle of limitless prospects and crushing disappointments - depending on the expression each person had on their face. Not dwelling on it too much, Mayuzumi walked inside.

After a few predictable mishaps with people not sensing his presence, Mayuzumi eventually took the elevator to the designated floor he was having his interview on. When he approached the waiting room, he saw it was full of many other applicants - both men and women - who looked just as pristine and perfect as this building did. 

Mayuzumi took a seat in a corner of the room and kept to himself, tuning in and out of the short conversations the other candidates had with each other. He could tell by their mannerisms and overall positive outlook they were fresh out of school newbies to the workforce. The others in the room were probably early on in their career, so this would be the second or third job they were applying for. And then you had Mayuzumi, a 29-year-old doing this interview out of sheer stroke of luck. Mayuzumi knew their credentials would be far more impressive than anything he had to bring to the table - but he was here now, he'd dressed up for the damn thing, so he'd just go in, give it a shot, and get out. 

Candidates went in and came out, time passed, and before he knew it, Mayuzumi was up next. 

"Mayuzumi Chihiro-san?" the man with sweeping black hair called out, as he had been doing for all the candidates thus far. Mayuzumi raised a hand and stood up as he called out 'yes', but as expected, no one noticed him. 

"Is Mayuzumi-san here?" the man repeated the question, and the other guys started looking around as if expecting Mayuzumi to stand up. Mayuzumi sighed, walked over to where the man was standing, and said in a low voice:

"I'm here."

"Oh my-! You startled me!" the man took a step backwards, as he clutched his clipboard to his chest defensively and blinked his ridiculously long eyelashes at Mayuzumi in shock. Then, he cleared his throat and gathered himself, "You are Mayuzumi Chihiro-san?"

"Yeah, I'm here for the interview," Mayuzumi confirmed, and the guy nodded quickly as he flipped through his paperwork to find Mayuzumi's file. 

"Great. I'm Mibuchi Reo, I'll be conducting your interview, with two others sitting in as well. I'll introduce you to them once we get to the room. I'll just confirm a few details with you first," Mibichi said, as he confirmed Mayuzumi's date of birth and address. 

"Alright, perfect. We are ready for you to come through now," Mibuchi smiled at him dazzlingly as he held his arm out at the side, gesturing the direction of the room. Mayuzumi nodded and walked ahead of him. 

.

.

"I'm fucked," Mayuzumi exhaled as he lay down on the bench outside the Rakuzan Collect building. He looked up at the ceiling of leaves above him, the crab apple trees causing sunlight and shade to dapple through the gaps of those leaves and the blossoms. Mayuzumi really wished he'd brought one of his light novels with him, so he could read and try to cheer up and enjoy the ambience. It was a hopelessly optimistic cinematic scene - too bad Mayuzumi was a pessimist. 

"Ugh, what a loser. Seriously, what were you thinking?" he continued to talk to himself, secure in the fact that no one would notice him or give him any strange looks. 

The interview wasn't terrible, not even the worst one Mayuzumi had ever had. But he could tell from the looks on all those guys faces - Mibuchi, Nebuya and Hayama - that the way Mayuzumi answered questions was not typical or even conventional in terms of what fit into the corporate world. Mayuzumi was not a natural businessman, but he at least had some skills in terms of the role itself. Prioritising tasks, blending into the background and getting things done quickly without any notice, he excelled with that stuff. 

He just didn't know if he sold himself enough to those guys. They had recorded the interview with Mayuzumi's consent for their CEO to review if requested, so there was that. But...Mayuzumi was not holding out high hopes for this one. 

"You should have walked out once you saw those guys from the top universities in Japan. There's no way you can compete with guys like that. Get real, Chihiro," Mayuzumi sighed heavily, as he lifted himself up and sat on the bench instead of lying down. In doing so, he bumped his notepad (in which he'd brought with him to take notes to prepare for said interview he was almost certain he flopped) off the bench, and it landed at least an arm's length away from Mayuzumi. 

It also landed in the path of someone walking, as they stopped on the spot. They looked down at the notepad, then over to the direction it came from - to where Mayuzumi sat on the bench in his now wrinkled clothes and loosened tie. 

"Oh?" the man asked, and Mayuzumi's tired eyes widened as he sat up straighter in disbelief. 

"You," Mayuzumi said, because he didn't know the man's name, but he definitely recognised the face and the hair.

It was the same guy he'd run into a few weeks ago at the cafe that early morning. And yet again, he was dressed to the nines - wearing a slate grey button down with a black tie, tucked into black khakis with a sharp belt and matching black, glossy loafers that shone brighter than Mayuzumi's whole future. Topped off with a maroon blazer draped over his shoulders and briefcase in hand, he looked the very picture of 'successful' that Mayuzumi had been trying (and failed) to emulate with his own outfit. 

"I did not anticipate a second meeting with you. How perplexing," the guy said mysteriously, as wind rustled through the leaves in the trees towering above them. 

Mayuzumi actually scoffed a laugh at that, because it was just so bizarre but amusing at the same time, "What, are you a psychic? Can you see the future?"

"Yes, something like that. There is not much that I cannot foresee or predict," the man answered in a serious tone, and Mayuzumi raised an eyebrow at him, skeptical. 

"I guess you've never heard of a coincidence before," Mayuzumi muttered under his breath, then stretched his arms up over his head. He caught sight of the massive, impressive building again, then looked back to the man in front of him and put two and two together, "You work here, yeah?"

"That's right. But why are you here?" the guy asked, his head tipped the side as he regarded Mayuzumi with curiousity. 

"I'm one of those nobodies who are hopelessly trying to land a job here," Mayuzumi pronounced, as he waved an arm over at said building. Then, he slumped over, resting his elbows on his knees as he added, "Don't get used to seeing me though, I'm probably not gonna make it to the next round."

When it was still quiet for a few seconds too long, Mayuzumi figured the guy had probably already left, in no mood for some random's pity party. But when he glanced up, he was admittedly surprised to find the guy was still standing there - and was staring at Mayuzumi. It was an unusual gaze, as if he was analysing and picking apart Mayuzumi with his eyes alone. Yet somehow, Mayuzumi could not look away. 

The wind picked up around them, and knocked some of the white, crab apple blossoms off the branches. The white blossoms danced around the small, gardened area, and also swirled between the two of them. It was like watching snowflakes in spring flutter through the air, their sweet scent lingering as they let the wind carry them wherever it pleased. 

"Do you believe in destiny?" the man with the blood red hair and piercing gaze asked, his expression inscrutable.

"What?" Mayuzumi responded bluntly, thoroughly confused. 

The man's eyes narrowed, as he said in that same vague tone, "You heard me."

Mayuzumi looked back at him and frowned. It was the same guy from the cafe, Mayuzumi was certain. No one could mistake that face or that hair either.

But it was weird. His aura was...different to last time. Maybe he was just having an off day. Mayuzumi had those at least once a week, so he could relate. That was when Mayuzumi noticed that his left eye was a golden colour, and his right was magenta. 

Weren't they both the same colour last time? Mayuzumi pondered to himself and blinked in confusion as he remembered he had not answered the question. But in truth, Mayuzumi did not know how to answer that. What kind of person asks that kind of question to a virtual stranger anyway?

Then, the guy bent slightly at the knees, and reached down to pick up the notepad Mayuzumi had dropped earlier. He held onto it as he stepped closer, reducing the arm's length distance between them down to a single step.

"Who cares about destiny? If someone shows up when you need them, you call that destiny," he said, a cryptic smile on his face as he held Mayuzumi's gaze. Mayuzumi's eyes flickered at the unorthodox response. It was not exactly hopeful, but it wasn't untrue either. It was actually quite fitting for how Mayuzumi lived his life, and how others saw him. Mayuzumi didn't know whether he liked that or not. 

"As it is, may I borrow this? I am having a meeting in 10 minutes, and it would be very useful," the man asked him, as he held up Mayuzumi's notepad, switching from that deeply intense repose to this pleasant and genial demeanour. 

Mayuzumi blinked at him, and then waved him off as he stood up from the bench, "Just keep it. Not like there's gonna be a next time or we'll meet again."

"Anyway, you better go in before your boss gets pissed at you for being late. Go and seize the day and all that. Later," Mayuzumi bid the guy farewell as he picked up his leather satchel, turned and left. 

"See you later," the guy replied, and Mayuzumi missed the spark that passed through his eyes as he watched Mayuzumi leave. 

.

.

"How did the meeting go?" Mibuchi greeted him as soon as Akashi entered his office. 

"Better than I expected," Akashi replied, a slight upturn of his lips as he placed a notepad down on his desk and turned on his desktop computer and monitors.

"Would you like a short break, or may I go through the applicants with you now?" Mibuchi asked considerately, and it only took Akashi a second or two to decide.

"Let us go through them now. I would like to review the videos first."

And so, Mibuchi set up the videos on the projector screen that popped out of the ceiling of Akashi's office. Akashi watched them through quietly, and made passing comments here and there, checking the resumes of each candidate as he went. And then, the video for the last candidate played, and Akashi's eyes widened. 

"Stop," Akashi said abruptly, and Mibuchi hurriedly pressed pause on the video and turned to the CEO questioningly. Akashi stared at the paused screen, where the man with silvery-grey hair and eyes to match was sitting - the same one Akashi had seen sitting outside Rakuzan's building just hours earlier. 

"You interviewed this person?" Akashi asked, not taking his eyes away from the screen. 

"Ah, yes. Mayuzumi Chihiro. He graduated from Tokyo University with a Bachelor's Degree in Literature and Creative Writing, and has worked in multiple part-time jobs since graduating six years ago. He's had numerous administrative positions, though has no corporate experience," Mibuchi explained as he read through Mayuzumi's background.

Akashi recalled the man had said he was here for an interview, how thoughtless of me not to consider that he was interviewing for this position, he thought to himself. 

"Schedule him for a follow up interview."

"Sei-chan!?" Mibuchi audibly gasped, gobsmacked at the request. When Akashi looked over at him patiently, Mibuchi tried to elucidate on what was going through his head, but all that managed to come out was: "What, but...Why him!?"

Silence settled in the room, as Mibuchi awaited a response. He watched as Akashi's expression turned thoughtful. Then, a small, amused smile stretched across his lips, and that intrigued glimmer flashed through his mismatched eyes, as he simply said:

"He's interesting."

Well, that settled it. Mibuchi knew from that answer alone that questioning Akashi's decision or asking for further explanation would be pointless. If this Mayuzumi guy was interesting enough to Akashi that he wanted to meet him personally, then he must have something about him that was unique or different - even though Mibuchi had no idea what that was, because his impression of Mayuzumi was nothing less than absolutely ordinary. 

But, Mibuchi was not here to argue or judge, and simply nodded as he made a note on his tablet, "Alright, I'll contact him tomorrow and let him know. Anyone else?"

"These three as well seem suitable," Akashi picked out resumes from the small pile he had accumulated on his left, and handed them to Mibuchi, "Please schedule follow up interviews with these four and advise the remaining candidates they have been unsuccessful. Thank you, Reo."

Imagine Mayuzumi's surprise when he got the call from Mibuchi the next day asking him to come in for a second interview - this time with the CEO directly. Mayuzumi had to actually pinch himself before he answered to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Once he'd done that and confirmed it was in fact reality, Mayuzumi had asked for a day and time that same week, and Mibuchi had managed to set him up with one.

Fast forward to the day and time in question, and Mayuzumi had been escorted to the interview floor this time - by Nebuya, one of the guys who had been on the interview panel last time. So, Mayuzumi sat and waited in the cushy chairs in the lounge area just outside the CEO's office. 

Fifteen minutes later, the door opened, and the CEO walked out - except it wasn't some old man or a middle-aged woman, like Mayuzumi had imagined it might be. No, this person...was the same person Mayuzumi had bumped into twice now. Blood red hair, initimidating aura, and impeccably dressed - it was the guy from the cafe, and the guy that had taken Mayuzumi's notepad. Scratch that, the guy Mayuzumi had complained to about this very position.

And they met spontaneously again today, but this time, they weren't just two strangers. No way, there's no way this kind of thing happens in real life, Mayuzumi told himself, even as he stood from his chair and the guy walked over towards him. 

"Mayuzumi Chihiro. Here for the follow up interview for the personal assistant position. Thank you for coming in, I am the CEO you may potentially be working under. Apologies for the late introduction," the CEO said, polished and poised as he extended his hand out to shake Mayuzumi's in greeting. 

"Wait, just...hang on a second. You're the CEO?" Mayuzumi asked, dumbfounded as he reached out his hand on reflex and shook Akashi's. 

Then, Akashi cracked a slight smile, as he nodded, "Indeed, I am. Akashi Seijuurou. It is nice to finally put a name to your face, Mayuzumi Chihiro."

"I can't believe it. Seriously, I'm gonna need a minute," Mayuzumi said, as their handshake ended and Mayuzumi moved his other hand up to rub at his face to try and shake some sense into himself. 

"That is fine. Please, come in and make yourself comfortable. Help yourself to some water," Akashi said, as he opened his office door and gestured Mayuzumi inside. So, Mayuzumi did just that - he took a seat in the chair opposite Akashi's desk, poured himself a glass of cool water, and tried to calm the hell down. Did he call me back in just to mess with me? Or is he gonna warn me not to badmouth his company?

"I see that Mibuchi has already asked you the necessary problem-solving and scenario-based questions, which were all appropriate. So, I will not waste either of our time by asking the same things over again. Think of this interview as more of a discussion between the two of us where I can learn more about you. And likewise, you may ask me anything about Rakuzan Collect as a company, or about my own work," Akashi explained, as he sat in his luxurious chair on the other side of the desk, and picked up some papers which he briefly scanned through. 

"What would you say your personal motto is? Something you live by, or tell yourself on a day-to-day basis," Akashi asked him, his eyes on Mayuzumi as he awaited his response. 

Mayuzumi was silent for a bit, as he thought on it, then eventually said, "Farm on sunny days, read on rainy days."

"What made you choose this one?"

"You can't force yourself to do anything if the conditions aren't right. Not just the weather, but all kinds of conditions. Personal, emotional, anything. That's why you should reserve your energy and be prepared to go all out on those sunny days."

Is this legit? Does he actually want to hire me? Mayuzumi asked himself, even as he remained calm, cool and collected on the outside.

"I see you studied literature and creative writing extensively in university. You also mentioned about reading in your personal motto. Is it a hobby of yours?"

"Yeah, I read all the time. Fiction books mostly, but I've done freelance editing and proofreading for non-fiction stuff. Writing is a hobby of mine. I haven't been able to get into it as much lately, though," Mayuzumi clarified, trying not to overthink things. 

What's with these questions though? Seriously, he's kind of...strange, Mayuzumi then barely held back a wry laugh at himself, as he thought, but then again, it's not like I'm normal either. 

Akashi frowned and let out a sympathetic hum, "That's unfortunate to hear. Are you perhaps lacking inspiration?"

"You could say that again," Mayuzumi replied, not sure if he kept the bitterness out of his tone, and Akashi's face gave absolutely nothing away. Mayuzumi wasn't used to meeting someone who he couldn't read, but Akashi sure was giving him a run for his money. It was hard to know what this guy was thinking. 

"Any sports you currently play, or used to play?"

"Basketball."

Akashi raised an eyebrow, visibly intrigued, "Is that so?"

Mayuzumi was also interested in that response, so he nodded and elaborated, "Yeah, I played competitively in high school and then on the street courts in uni. Still do, occasionally."

"Why basketball?" Akashi prompted him, that intensity still gleaming in his eyes. 

"It's nothing special. The reason I started it was to improve my physical abilities and strength," Mayuzumi answered honestly, and surprisingly, Akashi shared something about himself. 

"I also played basketball competitively in high school, and I joined a community team whilst in university at Tokyo. I am surprised we did not cross paths in this way," Akashi observed, almost curious at how they did not meet earlier. 

But Mayuzumi was a realist, so he gave him the facts straight up, "In high school, I never made it off the bench. And no offense, but I find it hard to believe you'd be anywhere near the street courts in my neighbourhood."

"Fair enough," Akashi acquiesced with a nod, then asked, "Did you have any questions for me?"

"Your father is the CEO of Akashi Enterprises, right?" Mayuzumi asked, because even he had heard of that massive conglomerate. 

"That's correct," Akashi nodded. 

"What made you want to go off on your own and start from scratch, instead of working with him and getting a head start?"

Akashi blinked, then smiled, as he leaned back in his chair and said thoughtfully, "Not many people are aware, but I did complete a brief internship at my father's company during university. It was a test run, and it served its purpose. It showed me the type of company my father ran and the type of company I wanted to run were two different paths I could take. I chose to pursue my own start-up, even if it would take me longer, as I wished to achieve victory through my own means."

"Victory, huh? So, that means you constantly strive for being the best of the best. You haven't ever lost motivation to chase after your goals?"

"No, never," Akashi answered immediately, not missing a single beat.

"Wish I could say I relate, but that would be a lie. I guess that's why you're the CEO and I'm applying to work for you," Mayuzumi said, not beating around the bush.

Akashi let out a huff of amusement, as he nodded understandingly, "I appreciate your honesty, Mayuzumi-san."

"How old are you?"

"27 years old," Akashi replied. 

"So, I would have been your upperclassman in high school," Mayuzumi asserted, and wow, entertaining just the thought of attending high school with a guy like Akashi was wild. He was definitely the popular type, a rich young master. Same old story, Mayuzumi told himself. 

If Akashi thought the observation was odd in any way, he did a damn good job of not showing it. He just smiled amiably and gave an agreeable nod, "I suppose you would have been, yes."

"Cool. Also, do all CEOs frequent coffee houses at 4 AM? Is that where you all hang out or something?" Mayuzumi knew his questions were probably way off the mark for what was appropriate for an interview - but Akashi had asked him random shit too, so why not? 

It seemed Akashi wasn't going to answer this one as readily though, as he retorted, "You were out at that time too, as I recall. What's your reason?"

"I'm not a fan of crowded places, and cafes are always crowded during the day. But I need coffee, and cafes are the best place to go for that," Mayuzumi stated begrudgingly, because as much as Mayuzumi detested the presence of the general public, he still needed to go out and be in the public.

"I see. You can chalk my visit up to a random late-night caffeine craving, then," Akashi said, short and to the point. 

Mayuzumi gave a nod, "Makes sense, I get those too."

Mayuzumi didn't mention the other part, though. The part about how he had seen Akashi standing in the middle of the highway on the overpass, on the pedestrian crossing, as he stared up at the sky. Like he was waiting for someone to come, or for something to happen. Even though Akashi had been on the pedestrian crossing, there were virtually no cars around at that time and traffic was basically non-existent, Mayuzumi found it hard to ignore it. The chilling thought at the back of his head that there was something...off...with the way Akashi stood on the road that early morning. 

Forget it, Mayuzumi told himself yet again, it's probably some weird ritual he does or part of his daily routine. He read somewhere that rich people often had strange quirks like that, which were incomprehensible to the general public - after all, they didn't become that rich by being normal.

Akashi asked him a few more questions, just as random as the ones before, and then all of a sudden it was over.

"I'll be in touch with the outcome in the next few days. You can contact me or my office earlier if you have any questions or concerns though," Akashi said, going through the usual spiel that all interviewers did at the conclusion of the meeting. 

Mayuzumi took a deep breath, then stood up, and bowed his head towards Akashi, "Thanks for the opportunity. Making it to the final round of an interview was unexpected but did a whole lot for my confidence. Whatever the outcome, I appreciate being given a chance."

But just as Mayuzumi was about to turn around, he heard Akashi's voice call out to him:

"Wait a moment."

Mayuzumi stopped, and was surprised to see his notepad in Akashi's hands. Akashi stepped out from around the desk, and moved so he stood next to Mayuzumi instead. 

"Thank you for letting me borrow this the other day. I am glad I was able to return it to you," Akashi said, as he handed the notepad over to him. 

Mayuzumi looked at it, then looked up at Akashi, and couldn't suppress the groan that fell from his lips, "Why did you have to remember it? After I said we wouldn't meet again...tch, it just makes me look lame now," Mayuzumi grumbled, as he took the notepad and shoved it in his leather satchel. 

Akashi simply smiled in amusement and said, "Thank you for coming in Mayuzumi-san. Enjoy the rest of your day."

"Sure," Mayuzumi replied, as he headed out. 

.

.

Three days later, Mayuzumi received a phone call. Normally he didn't pick up phone calls from unknown numbers, but since he was applying for a lot of jobs recently, he knew it would be stupid not to answer his phone.

"Hello, Mayuzumi speaking," Mayuzumi answered, hoping this wouldn't take too long. He was just in the process of applying for another job when he got this call. 

"Mayuzumi-san, it is Akashi from Rakuzan Collect calling. How are you?" Akashi's smooth voice spoke through the phone, and well, Mayuzumi hadn't expected that. 

"Good. You?" he asked, trying to sound normal even though inwardly he was confused as hell. 

"Very well, thank you. Are you perhaps available for a quick chat with me right now?"

"Yeah, I'm free," Mayuzumi replied simply, as he saved his online application, closed his laptop and paid more attention to the call. 

“Wonderful. I have reviewed your application and discussed with my team, and we have reached a decision. I would like to formally offer you the position of personal assistant to the CEO with Rakuzan Collect, Mayuzumi-san,” Akashi told him in a cordial, polite tone.

And it took Mayuzumi about 6.3 seconds to absorb the fact that you actually got offered a job, idiot. 

He, Mayuzumi Chihiro, had just been offered the position of assistant to a C-suite level team leader - him, as opposed to all the other, far more qualified candidates that had applied. But Mayuzumi was not so humble enough to turn down the job because of that - no way in hell he was letting this opportunity pass him by. 

“Thanks, that’s great to hear. Would you be able to send through the offer letter for me to read through?” Mayuzumi asked, playing it cool even though he was freaking out on the inside. 

“Certainly. Mibuchi will send it through to you by the end of today. Please let me know if you have any questions and know that we are very excited to have you as a member of our team."

"Yeah, sure thing. I'll be in touch. Thanks again," Mayuzumi said, as he ended the call and stared into space for a few seconds. Then, he smiled to himself, got up, and headed into the kitchen to get himself a congratulatory snack for getting his first job offer after 17 interviews. Those honey butter chips will hit the spot just right, Mayuzumi reached for the full bag, then moved over to his couch - but not before grabbing the light novel he was currently reading off the counter on his way. 

A couple of hours later, Mayuzumi picked up the phone and decided to give his parents a call to let them know. 

Once they had finished going through the usual catch up, his mother asked anxiously, “Well? Did you have any luck with any of your interviews lately?”

“Yeah, I got an offer from that company, Rakuzan Collect. Came through just this afternoon,” Mayuzumi told her, still not believing it was real - but he had the call from Akashi in his call history to prove it. 

“Oh, that’s wonderful Chihiro! What is the position again?” his mother's excited voice chirped through the phone.

“Personal assistant to the CEO,” Mayuzumi stated, and even saying it out loud sounded just as ridiculous as it did in his head. 

“So, a secretary,” his father commented in the background, “well, it’s a stepping stone, at least. The work won’t be difficult, so you’ll be able to focus on your writing more. That was what you wanted, right?”

“That’s the plan," Mayuzumi affirmed, ignoring the sting of disappointment he felt from his dad's obvious lack of approval. Maybe it wasn't even totally the 'approval', but more the embarrassment of having your university graduate son work a 9-5 job as someone else's bitch. Whatever, it was Mayuzumi's life so he'd live it how he wanted. 

“What about the CEO? What’s he like? Oh, or she?” his mother corrected herself. 

Mayuzumi thought of how to describe Akashi, realised it would take way longer than a few sentences (and he wasn't in the mood for a long chat with his parents), and instead brushed it off with a simple, “He’s alright.”

“Is he much older than you, son?” his dad asked curiously. 

“No, he’s 27,” Mayuzumi said, and he had barely finished saying the number when he heard his mother let out a gasp that was both in disbelief and impressed. 

“What!? Wow, he’s so young! And already in such a demanding position!" she said appraisingly, and Mayuzumi stared blankly at the wall as she went on, "All that responsibility, he must be incredibly diligent and hardworking to be where he is now."

"He might have some marketing lessons he can teach you, Chihiro. Being able to sell yourself when you eventually finish that book will be just as important," his dad chimed in, and Mayuzumi turned his mouth away from the receiver to sigh so they wouldn't hear him, "Make sure you ask questions and learn what you can from him."

"Yeah, sure," Mayuzumi agreed, and this was one of the times he was glad his parents were in Kyoto and couldn't see the look on his face.

"Good. Well, we won't keep you any longer, honey. Congratulations again and we'll talk again soon, okay? Love you!" his mum told him warmly, and then urged Chihiro's dad to also say goodbye, which he did briefly. 

"Okay. Love you too. Bye."

Mayuzumi let out a sigh as he ended the call, a louder one this time now that no one could hear him. His parents meant well, he knew that, and he also knew he was lucky to have them both still supporting him like they did. But man, sometimes they really just didn't get it. They had trouble understanding Chihiro even from a young age, his parents being two people who had no difficulty expressing their emotions or being noticed, and they couldn't understand why Chihiro would prefer to be alone most of the time. 

But they didn't know the feeling of choosing to be alone, because when Mayuzumi had chosen to be around people in the past, they only noticed him or talked to him when he was useful. When he could do something for them. Then, he went back to being invisible. 

Pushing past the urge to go down a depressive rabbit hole about his upbringing and current situation, Mayuzumi got up and decided to make a start on a list of supplies he'd need to buy. If he got the job, he had to play the part well too. 

"Well, we have just finished going through the general orientation package. Did you need to clarify anything at this stage?" Akashi asked him, he and Mayuzumi sat in the CEO's office and addressing all the essentials on Mayuzumi's first day. 

"No, it's all pretty straightforward," Mayuzumi replied, the stiffness of his plain white dress shirt scratching against his collarbones, but Mayuzumi ignored it. I should have worn this before today to break it in, he cursed his laziness. 

“Then, I will introduce you to some other members of the team and give you a tour of the building. But first, there is something I wish to disclose to you, Mayuzumi-san. It is something I share with all my direct reporting employees once I hire them,” Akashi explained, as he closed the orientation binder and faced Mayuzumi across the desk, with his hands linked together in front of him. 

Mayuzumi nodded, “Okay, what is it?”

“I live with a certain condition. Have you heard of Dissociative Identity Disorder?” Akashi asked, and Mayuzumi's eyes squinted as he attempted to recall the general name of the condition. 

“Isn’t that when someone has multiple personalities?” Mayuzumi asked vaguely, and Akashi nodded, though his eyes sparked at the topic. 

“That is correct. I live with and manage this condition. You may notice from time to time that my temperament, my approach to situations, and even my way of speaking, are different to what you are seeing and hearing right now. When you notice this, it means you are speaking with my other self.”

Now it makes sense, Mayuzumi thought to himself, as he recalled the two instances he talked with Akashi before they had the interview - at the cafe, and outside Rakuzan Collect Headquarters, and Akashi had seemed like two different people on each of those occasions. 

“So, there’s two of you," Mayuzumi deduced, "Any others I should know about?” 

Akashi shook his head, “No, just the two. Will it make you uncomfortable working with me?”

“Not really. I kind of noticed you were different from when we met in the cafe, and then when I spoke to you outside the Rakuzan building," Mayuzumi admitted, and Akashi's face lit in recognition at mention of both meetings, "Might take me a while to figure out how each of you like things done, but I haven’t changed my mind. I still want the job.”

“That will also be natural that you learn each of our preferences as time goes on, so making use of your exceptional observation skills will benefit both of us. I am pleased to hear it won't cause you any discomfort. Please let me know if this changes at any time. Did you have any other questions?” 

Mayuzumi then remembered their age difference, and figured he should ask, “How do you want me to address you?”

“Just Akashi is fine. I am not one to fuss too much over formalities, except when necessary," Akashi explained, and then, with an amused lilt of his lips, added, "And as you mentioned, you would have been my upperclassman in high school. You calling me 'Akashi-san' would be strange, right?"

"I mean, I guess. It's up to you," Mayuzumi shrugged. 

"Then I will stick with my earlier request. Anything else?"

"No, I'm good," Mayuzumi shook his head.

"Well, if that is all, then there is one thing left I should say," Akashi pushed his chair back, stood up from his desk, and looked across at Mayuzumi. Then, a slight smile passed over his face as he extended his hand out and said, "That is, I look forward to working with you, Mayuzumi-san.”

Mayuzumi looked down at the hand, then back up at Akashi. While maintaining eye contact, he reached out his hand and joined it with Akashi's.

“Yeah, same here,” Mayuzumi nodded, as they shook hands. Akashi had an unsurprisingly firm grip, but Mayuzumi's grip was just as firm. He had made it through the door of this 30-story monster of a building, and that was no easy feat, so he was here to stay. At least, until Mayuzumi could get control of his finances, finish his draft novel, publish it, and become a successful author. 

Piece of cake, right?

Chapter Text

"I will introduce you to some members of the team," Akashi said, as he swept out of the elevator and Mayuzumi had to speed walk to keep up with him - and he was the taller one with longer legs. Akashi slowed down, though, when they approached a small group of three people.

"Here are some that you can meet right now," Akashi said, then stopped in front of them. They all looked at Akashi straight away, as if they were ready to receive any orders from him or do whatever needed to be done. It's like they're soldiers at attention, Mayuzumi mused. 

"Perfect timing. All of you, this is Mayuzumi Chihiro, my new assistant," Akashi said promptly, without any warmup introduction or beating around the bush with 'hello' and 'how are you?' But it seemed these three either didn't care or were used to it, as they barely batted an eye at the odd behaviour. 

The one with shiny, sweeping black hair stepped forward first, as he extended a hand elegantly towards Mayuzumi, "Pleasure to meet you again, Mayuzumi-san. Mibuchi Reo, Human Resources Manager. I conducted one of your interviews with you, if you remember?"

"Yeah, I do," Mayuzumi shook his hand with a nod, and Mibuchi seemed pleased. Well, obviously it wasn't difficult to remember someone so...exuberant, as Mibuchi appeared to be. 

"Nebuya Eikichi, Leader of the Security Division! Can you guess how I got the job?" Nebuya's voice boomed as he gave Mayuzumi's hand a hearty shake. Mayuzumi had to put his all into not being tugged forward from the sheer force of it, and was immensely grateful as soon as Nebuya let go.

"Because you've got a loud voice to scare off the trespassers?" Mayuzumi guessed, and Nebuya grinned for a few seconds before the words sunk in and he got offended. 

"HUH!? What'd you say!?"

Then, the third one stepped forward, and he was laughing as he clasped Mayuzumi's hands in an energetic handshake, "Hahaha! It's because of his muscles, and trust me, this won't be the last time you'll hear about it. I'm Hayama Kotarou, by the way! Head of Marketing & Networking."  

"Let's all work well together," Akashi stated with a satisfied smile. Then, he turned to Mayuzumi with an air of responsibility surrounding him once more, "Mayuzumi-san, let's go and I'll introduce you to some of the other C-suite members. Then we can kick off this week of your orientation training."

Mayuzumi nodded, and bid farewell to the other three as he followed Akashi. 

.

.

After the initial orientation week with Akashi, Mayuzumi imagined he would be a decent boss to work for and report to. He seemed reasonable and open to talk with his employees at any time. He went through all the processes with Mayuzumi, showed him how to do things properly, and gave him all the information he needed to learn and complete all the tasks assigned to him. Mayuzumi had thought that maybe it wouldn't be so bad working here, and Mayuzumi really thought it would be that easy. 

Hah, what a fool, he reflected.

How wrong he was. That assumption was Mayuzumi's first mistake. Because Akashi Seijuurou was the very definition of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

No, not a wolf. Something more bloodthirsty - more like a lion, Mayuzumi reflected, as he dropped down into his desk chair with an exhausted air about him. 

Akashi was, simply put...a monster.

Because from that second week, after his orientation was finished, Akashi did not expect any mistakes. And well...Mayuzumi made them.

A lot of them.

There were far too many for Mayuzumi to count, but a few memorable ones flashed through his mind...

Like one time when he ran the monthly reports for the first time by himself and did it incorrectly. Akashi had come to his small office, that was adjacent to Akashi's own, and had actually printed off all the reports to show Mayuzumi exactly where he had gone wrong. 

“Mayuzumi-san, I showed you how to run the reports earlier. However, these ones are still showing up with incorrect information. There is a how-to guide with accompanying pictures, if recalling the information is not effective enough for you," Akashi had said to him, and Mayuzumi had to grit his teeth because did Akashi think he was some child? Needing pictures to understand?

(As a matter of fact, Mayuzumi did need the pictures and had used them, but damn him if he ever told Akashi that to his face).

"Since I need to submit the reports first thing in the morning, they will need to be corrected before then. You don’t mind staying back to complete this again, do you?” Akashi asked, already halfway out the door as he looked back at Mayuzumi not for permission, but for confirmation. 

“No, that’s fine,” Mayuzumi said, making an effort to use a neutral tone and not to scowl in sheer annoyance. 

Another time, Mayuzumi made a mistake that resulted in Akashi's meeting with important stockholders being pushed back because the necessary documents weren't prepared properly. 

“I messed up. Sorry,” Mayuzumi admitted to his mistake, and Akashi nodded as he put all the documents through the shredder mercilessly. 

A whole two hours' worth of Mayuzumi's work now torn up into a million pieces. 

“You should revise the instructions for this process, remove the confidential details, and stay back 2 hours today, Mayuzumi-san. Then, I shall consider it resolved,” Akashi instructed, as he went back to typing away on his keyboard and that was Mayuzumi's cue to leave. 

Another memory came to mind, when Mayuzumi had failed to size the charts for one of Akashi's meetings properly. 

"These have not been completed correctly, the sizing is too small for the other members to read," Akashi said, as he showed Mayuzumi how the charts looked from the view of the table and well...he was right. They were too small. But damn it, Mayuzumi had actually measured this shit, and he was still wrong? 

"I would like you to redo them," Akashi stated simply. 

"All of them?" Mayuzumi felt the need to clarify, because there was over 30 graphs and accompanying statistics he would need to redo. He couldn't just do one, because they were all interrelated. Even with one small mistake, it could skew the data and Mayuzumi knew that. But he was really hoping Akashi would say otherwise. But alas, because what he said was...

"Yes," Akashi nodded with a smile, and Jesus, who the hell smiled while delivering such a piece of devastating news? 

...Okay, maybe 'devastating' was a bit dramatic. But damn, Mayuzumi actually felt like groaning out loud when he realised, he would have to redo every single graph.

And it wasn't just Mayuzumi who suffered under Akashi's sky-high standards. With each day he spent at the company, the more he realised how many employees were under Akashi's gaze - no matter what position they were in. The most recent example Mayuzumi could think of was when he and Akashi had returned from a meeting in the city the other day, and had come back to Rakuzan to prepare for the next one. Mayuzumi was of course, quietly scrambling to get all his shit sorted out before Akashi's next engagement - well it was really Akashi's shit, but obviously Akashi's whole schedule was Mayuzumi's responsibility so yeah.

Anyway, they had entered through the main reception on the ground floor, and Akashi stopped at the front reception desk. Which was strange, because usually Akashi just breezed past and walked in without acknowledging anyone like he owned the place - because well, he kind of did. But because he stopped, Mayuzumi had to stop too. 

One of the girls from the front desk stood up immediately and bowed, a bright smile on her face as she greeted Akashi, "Welcome back, Akashi-san! Is there anything we can help you with?"

"What is this?" Akashi asked, ignoring her question as he plucked a tube of hand cream off her desk to inspect it. 

"Oh, um. I-it was a gift. From my boyfriend," she explained in a timid voice, keeping her head bowed slightly. 

Akashi looked at the tube of hand cream for a few moments more, before his gaze moved towards the girl, "Image is very important for a company. Especially so when customers or clients walk through the front doors and make their first impressions. If they see Rakuzan's own employees do not use or cannot vouch for the very products they sell, it will cause many questions, right?"

The girl did not say anything, but Mayuzumi saw her bite her lip. Her colleagues behind the desk were continuing on with their work diligently, but he could see their postures had also stiffened.

Akashi continued, "It would make them skeptical if our products are even worthwhile. The damage to one's reputation means even the highest or best quality products can fall by the wayside. Can you understand my concerns?"

After that, the girl dropped into a deeper bow as she spoke, full of remorse, "I-I am so sorry, Akashi-san! I will take it home today and won't bring it in again!"

Akashi shook his head, "No need. Allow me to dispose of it for you right here and now."

And with that, Akashi stepped over and dropped the almost full tube of hand cream directly into the bin. 

"Use your employee discount to purchase a new one from our shop before you leave this evening," Akashi told her, his face flat as she nodded quickly.

"Y-Yes, I-I will do that. Thank you, Akashi-san. I'm sorry, it won't happen again," the girl bowed her head again apologetically, as Akashi nodded once and then walked off, with Mayuzumi following along behind. 

Mayuzumi almost felt bad for the girl, just with the way she looked on the verge of tears seeing the gift from her boyfriend thrown in the trash. He could see Akashi's point, but like...there was surely a less aggressive way to get it across than that. 

But Mayuzumi was quickly learning that 'subtle' wasn't really Akashi's style. 

Especially when it was this Akashi.

He was…different to the other Akashi. Colder, more distant, and constantly walking around with an air of superiority to everyone he came into contact with who had not earned his respect. Yet, it also seemed like he had his guard up all the time. One thing both Akashi's personalities had in common though was that they were both obsessed with being the best - one was just more intense about it than the other. 

They stepped into the elevator, the atmosphere silent as Akashi pressed the button for the top floor and the doors closed. 

"You think that was too far on my part," Akashi stated bluntly as the elevator ascended, and it took Mayuzumi a few seconds to realise he was the one Akashi was talking to. 

Mayuzumi looked back at him, and shook his head once, "I didn't say anything."

“Your demeanour said it for you. What do you suggest I should have done, then, Chihiro?” Akashi said, as he turned his body towards Mayuzumi expectantly, his arms crossed and expression unreadable. 

That was another thing. Whenever Akashi switched to this personality, he used Mayuzumi's first name. Unapologetically and naturally, as if he had the right to do so when Mayuzumi had never even given him permission. But, he'd noticed that it was something this Akashi just did - it was the same with Mibuchi, Hayama and Nebuya, and none of them ever said anything about it. Probably has something to do with the arrogant, overly entitled aura this one radiates, Mayuzumi thought sardonically. 

Honestly, even though he'd played it cool when he'd accepted the job, Mayuzumi had been kind of concerned about Akashi's whole split personality disorder thing. He didn't know if it would be unsettling or throw him off his work or whatever dealing with two separate people essentially. Like a whole Jekyll and Hyde deal. 

But colour Mayuzumi surprised, because believe it or not, both of Akashi's personalities were equally annoying and insufferable in different ways. So, it wasn't like dealing with two polar opposites - more like dealing with two different shades of grey. The lesser or greater of two evils, one could say. 

...Okay, maybe that was a little much. Akashi wasn't evil. Not really. Just...an extreme perfectionist with a heaping side of micro-management and a control freak to boot. 

Yet, at the end of the day, he was still the one that Mayuzumi reported to, and more importantly, the one signing off on his pay checks. 

So, he shrugged off his own moral values, and responded, "Nothing. It's not my place to give you suggestions or advice. People deal with situations differently, that's all I was thinking. Sorry if it was out of line," he tipped his head in Akashi's direction in a further show of apology, and Akashi stared at him. For a good while, he seemed to be observing Mayuzumi.

Then, Akashi showed a faint, frankly off-putting smile, and said cryptically, "You surely are an interesting one."

"No need to apologise. Get the teleconferencing room set up for my meeting with one of our stakeholders. It starts in 20 minutes," Akashi ordered, as the elevator doors dinged, opened, and Akashi strode out without a second glance back at Mayuzumi. 

"How is your job going, Chihiro? Are you enjoying it?"

"Yeah, it's fine," Mayuzumi said, short and to the point. He was lying down on the couch, staring up at the ceiling as he spoke on the phone to his parents. 

"Good. It pays you so well, so if you find you like it enough, maybe you can even stay there for longer than a year," his mother said, and he could see her eyes lighting up hopefully while she spoke and visualise his father nodding along in his mind's eye. 

"I still want to write," Mayuzumi felt the need to add, because there was no way he was considering this to be a long-term full-time job for him. No way in hell, he thought to himself. The idea of working for Rakuzan and Akashi for another five years or more sounded worse than torture. 

"You've been saying that since you graduated, son," his father helpfully reminded him, and Mayuzumi sighed through his nose. 

"Yeah, and I still mean it. Just because I haven't done it yet, doesn't mean that I've given up," Mayuzumi responded back forcefully, with a bit more bite than usual. 

"We never said you did. Come on, Chihiro, don't be like that. We're not trying to start a fight here," his mother said gently, trying to smooth things over. Mayuzumi could almost see her giving a look to his father, as if to say, "not now". 

"I know. Sorry, I'm just tired," Mayuzumi brushed it off, tried to sweep it under the rug - because that was all he knew and what he was good at doing. 

The rest of the phone call went on without any issue, with his mother talking about her home improvement projects and his dad chiming in occasionally to talk about how their family dog was doing. It was pleasant enough, though when it ended, Chihiro let out a long sigh. 

Chihiro was his parent's only son - and only child, for that matter - so that meant they were able to channel all of their focus and energy on him and his life. Which was great but also, yeah...not so great. He could get where they were coming from - they wanted him to have a stable career and income, so they wouldn't have to worry about him. His mother particularly had been angling for Chihiro to move back home to Kyoto, so he could get a job there and maybe buy a house or some shit. Probably because he'd finally turn 30 this year and his parents would expect him not to mess around anymore and get his life sorted. 

But Mayuzumi wouldn't be leaving Tokyo anytime soon. He liked the city, the anonymity was an obvious plus, and the opportunities were better too.  But as for buying a house and settling down, he was nowhere close to that, and he wasn't even sure if he wanted those things. Getting married and having kids...it didn't seem like a lifestyle that would fit the kind of person he was. The last relationship Chihiro had been in was a little over 3 years ago, and that had lasted a total of 8 months before it fizzled out and she'd dumped him. Of all the things on that so-called 'checklist for success' - being in a committed relationship, having kids, buying a house and building a career - having a relationship was the one thing Mayuzumi wouldn't mind pursuing. 

The problem with that one though, was that Mayuzumi was a chronic homebody and enjoyed spending time by himself. When he did go out in public, he typically kept to himself and wandered around, ruminating and daydreaming inside his head - like the light novel protagonist he secretly wished he could be. 

"If you just got off your ass and actually tried, you'd find someone. You did it before," he said out loud to himself, as he groaned and stretched, before he stood up and headed to the kitchen to get something to eat. 

But then, Mayuzumi could conveniently blame his lack of social life on his new, all-consuming job as a PA. As if he'd have time to develop a relationship while he was being worked to the bone over sales reports, data compilations, and pie graphs that haunted him in his sleep. 

I wonder if Akashi's in a relationship, the random thought came to Mayuzumi's head. Then, he snorted out loud at the very thought. He had no idea why that came to mind, but just the idea of someone so untouchable as Akashi being someone's partner was weirdly bizarre. The idea that Akashi would bring out his diary and schedule in dates with his girlfriend appeared in his head, like he was dealing with a client for one of his business deals. 

"I just don't know what to think about him," the sound of Mibuchi's confused voice was heard in the distance, and Mayuzumi didn't think much of it. 

He was in the printing room, preparing a stack of papers, putting them in binders, all that jazz - even preparing things like this was of the utmost importance to Akashi. He saw Mibuchi, Hayama and Nebuya loitering just outside the doorway, coffee cups in their hands and clearly on a break. 

A break, hah, Mayuzumi almost laughed aloud at the idea. He was definitely nowhere near their league. The fact that those three had more responsibility in each of their roles than Mayuzumi did and still managed to find time to stop working for a while was wild. Mayuzumi hadn't had a proper lunch break since he'd started working here. But hey, maybe he'd get there eventually. Not to the point of taking breaks whenever he wanted, but having his lunch uninterrupted was a good goal. 

"Wait, who are we talking about?" Nebuya asked, confused. 

“Sei-chan’s new assistant. Honestly, try to keep up, Eikichi," Mibuchi tsked at the bigger man, and while Nebuya grunted about the swipe at his intelligence, Mayuzumi stopped shuffling through the papers. 

Hayama was quick to jump onto the conversation, “You mean Mayuzumi-san? That invisible guy? He always scares the shit outta me when he suddenly appears!” Hayama shuddered, then quickly looked over his shoulder as if he expected Mayuzumi to be there. 

I'm over here, idiot, Mayuzumi seethed, from his spot behind the copier. 

“I bet he won’t pass his 6-month probationary period,” Mibuchi said dismissively, and if Mayuzumi felt slighted at that, he felt even more offended by what Nebuya said next. 

“6 months? There’s no way he’ll last that long, he’ll be gone before the review even happens!"

“Yeah, for sure! I give it 3 months tops!” Kotaro chimed in, sounding far too happy when talking about someone else potentially losing their job. 

“Poor Sei-chan is just having no luck with these candidates. I still don’t know why he doesn’t offer the position to me,” Mibuchi sighed in lament, and Kotaro grinned at him and nudged his side. 

“C’mon, Reo-nee, you know your job is way more important! Akashi said he couldn’t find anyone better than you for it, remember?”

“Hm, that’s true,” Mibuchi hummed, as he twirled a piece of his gloriously styled hair, “Sei-chan only picks the best for his team. So then, what’s that guy Mayuzumi doing here? He’s hardly better than average.”

Nebuya snorted and shrugged, as they began making their way out, but Mayuzumi heard him say, "Don't ask me, I don't understand Akashi's reasoning for why he does anything the majority of the time."

Two-faced bastards, Mayuzumi thought bitterly. They were nice to his face but talked shit behind his back. Well, Mayuzumi was used to people thinking so little of him anyway. It still pissed him off, though. 

He's a bastard too, but at least he doesn't bother to hide it, Mayuzumi mused. No, Akashi wasn't the gossiping type. Akashi would just talk shit about you straight to your face and he didn't care what you thought of him. Talk about speaking your mind, he's actually way too comfortable with doing it, spoiled brat.

But well, Mayuzumi could appreciate the bluntness since he was like that too. 

Truthfully, Mayuzumi was at his wit’s end. Sure, the overtime pay was great but…most nights he didn’t get back home until 8 or 9pm. Then, he had to be back in the office by 8am the next day.

The work hours were so gruelling, the concept of time became lost on Mayuzumi. But one thing was certain – he definitely believed those rumours now about how Akashi’s assistants never lasted the first 6 months. 

It made Mayuzumi question his sanity of how he could keep going back. But unemployment lurked around the corner, there to remind him what was waiting for him if he up and quit this job with no plan. Not like his novel was anywhere near finished or ready to launch his career as an instantly famous, best-selling author. 

If he didn’t pass the probation period…honestly, one half of Mayuzumi didn’t give a shit. But the other, more annoying half nagged at him to straighten up and fly right because holding down a job and providing himself with a liveable income was kind of essential. Damn this capitalistic world, Mayuzumi cursed on a day-to-day basis. 

After hearing those guys basically bet on when Mayuzumi would throw in the towel, though, Mayuzumi's stubbornness came out. If there was one thing Mayuzumi couldn't stand, it was when people underestimated him or looked down on him. So, even if he did want to quit this shitty job - badly - he would hang on for as long as he could until it became compeltely unbearable. Ah, the power of spite, Mayuzumi mused. 

But hey, whatever works to get you through, right?

"It's been a while since we went to a bar, and you weren't serving drinks. You miss the part-time bartender life?" Kawaki turned to him with a half-grin, and Mayuzumi could tell he was both yanking his chain, and also trying to cheer Mayuzumi up. 

Too bad Mayuzumi was not having it today. Even though it was a Friday night and the weekend was coming, he knew that soon enough, he'd be back on his hamster wheel of despair. Going to work, coming home, eating, waking up, and doing it all over again. 

"Not even a little," Mayuzumi answered straight away, then let out a weary sigh, "but it's not like this is my dream job either."

"It pays a lot better though. You're making, what, double than you were before?" Kawaki asked, as he raised his glass of beer to his lips and took a sip. 

"Almost triple," Mayuzumit muttered under his breath, and Kawaki choked slightly on his beer as he turned to Mayuzumi with wide eyes. 

"Damn, Mayuzumi! You're gonna catch up on those student loans before you know it! That's so good, man," Kawaki said encouragingly, his eyes sparkling. Mayuzumi wished he had even half of Kawaki's enthusiasm for life.

Kawaki then leaned over and nudged Mayuzumi in the side, "Hey, so how is it working for a CEO? Is it just like the movies tell us?"

"No, it's not half as glamorous or exciting. It's late hours, lots of stress, and running around like a madman all day," Mayuzumi sighed, as he loosened his tie (again). After being in jobs that required him to wear basically t-shirts and jeans most of his life, wearing pressed pants and ironed shirts every day was hard to adjust to. 

"Come on, it can't be that bad," Kawaki, ever the optimist to Mayuzumi's pessimist, tried to cheer him up.

Mayuzumi tapped at his fitbit, then raised his wrist so it faced Kawaki, "Look at how many steps I did today."

Kawaki set down his drink, grabbed Mayuzumi's wrist and gasped, "Wha-that's just for one day!? I thought it was a desk job!"

Mayuzumi pulled his wrist free and reached for his own glass of beer, as he shrugged, "PAs run heaps of errands, apparently. So, if I'm not tied to my desk, then I'm going back and forth doing this, that and whatever else for Akashi."

"He's a really proactive kind of boss, huh? Kind of like, his pace or no pace?"

Mayuzumi pointed his glass of beer in Kawaki's direction as he said, "Bingo," then pulled it back and took a long sip from it. 

"Hm, maybe that's good for you..." Kawai hummed, more to himself than Mayuzumi, but Mayuzumi had heard it and wasn't going to just ignore it. 

He set his glass down on the counter with distinct force, as he fixed Kawaki with a churlish glare, "Oi, Kawaki. Are you my friend, or Akashi's?"

"Agh, not the part about all the stress and overtime, obviously!" Kawaki waved his hands and tried to backtrack, "I just mean, being productive and having things to do. Forming that kind of attitude can do wonders for other aspects of your life. Like your writing, for instance."

Mayuzumi frowned, but didn't say anything else. Shooting Mayuzumi a sheepish smile, Kawaki continued, "Anyway, it's been a while since I've seen you this lively. For better or worse, this job's giving you something to do, huh?"

"I've never been busier in my life. I hate it," Mayuzumi stated, a deadpan look on his face as he stared ahead into the void. 

Kawaki then clapped a hand on Mayuzumi's back, and raised a determined fist supportively in Mayuzumi's direction, "Hang in there! I was there when you said you'd stick it out for a year, so I'm gonna hold you to it."

"Yeah, thanks," Mayuzumi at least had a decent friend that he could count on. Deciding to lighten the atmosphere, he changed topics, "What about you? How's the newspaper going?"

"Ah, well, I mean, the first 8 months have flown by so quick! It's a great team. Even though newspapers are kind of on the way out, they're still being printed and sold, and everyone does the best work that they can. I still can't believe I landed a job as an editor on their team," Kawaki grinned, and though he looked tired like Mayuzumi did, it was the good kind. Because he was doing a job he wanted to do and worked hard to get. 

So, Mayuzumi tried to support him the same way Kawaki often did to him, "I can. It's not an accident or dumb luck. You put in the effort, and that's why they wanted you on board."

Kawaki turned to him in surprise, then smiled and grabbed Mayuzumi in a playful chokehold, "Aww, Mayuzumi! Thanks! It took me a while, but I finally achieved one of my goals! That's why, if it can happen for me, it'll definitely happen for you too!"

Mayuzumi grunted as he shoved Kawaki off, who was laughing at his pissed off expression, "Yeah, yeah. I'll believe it when I get my first hardcover edition in my hands."

Most mornings, Akashi was in before anyone else. Mayuzumi knew this because he basically had to show up at the same time as Akashi did, and Akashi usually messaged him his ETA. Some mornings he did arrive late, but at the end of each day he was always the last to leave. Unless he had a meeting or conference offsite, but those kinds of things usually lasted for a few hours so even if he wasn't in the office, Akashi would still be working well into the evening. 

And just as predicted, when Mayuzumi glanced over at the CEO's office (not far from his own), the light was still on. 

It was annoying, Mayuzumi decided, because Akashi worked them all to the bone - but he worked himself far harder, so no one could even complain or say much against it. Plus, the work environment wasn't all that bad. Staff had access to free coffee from the cafe on the ground level, could purchase lunch from the attached cafe kitchen at a discounted price for employees, and there were a ton of other benefits, like access to health and wellness allowances for things like gym memberships, massages or even spa days.

Genuinely, Akashi seemed to care about and value the growth of his business, the performance of his employees, and was very involved in all aspects of Rakuzan Collect's overall functioning. Since Akashi was the first CEO Mayuzumi had met, there wasn't much he could draw on, but he could tell not all CEOs would go over and above like this. 

"Mayuzumi-san, how is it going?" Akashi addressed him before Mayuzumi even knocked or announced himself, not even looking away from his three computer screens he had in front of him.

It was still weird for Mayuzumi having someone acknowledge his presence and not get scared shitless whenever he appeared. 

"Yeah, I finished updating and correcting the spreadsheet. I'm good to go, yeah?" Mayuzumi asked, as his eyes caught sight of the clock up on the wall. 8:23 PM. Huh, earlier than I thought, maybe I am getting faster at this.

"Yes, that's all for today. Well done, I will review it and should everything be in order, I will compile the data for discussion with our accounts tomorrow," Akashi said, his fingers moving fast while he typed. 

Mayuzumi gave a nod and was about to leave, before he asked, "What about you?"

"I'll be off shortly," Akashi said, not giving too much away, but before Mayuzumi could ponder on it further, Akashi stopped working for a brief moment. He looked up from his screens, and sent a grateful nod in Mayuzumi's direction, "Thank you for your hard work. Enjoy the rest of your evening, and I shall see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you then," Mayuzumi said his farewell, and Akashi had already started typing like a madman again when he walked out of the room and began grabbing his things to leave. 

He remembered back to the first time he met Akashi, in the Sakura Cafe at 4 AM, and frowned. Mayuzumi had no idea what time Akashi actually left the office most nights, but it could have been as late as midnight for all he knew. And not only that, but it seemed Akashi was an early riser as well. When the hell does he sleep? Is he even human?

Mayuzumi sighed. He didn't know what to think anymore. On one hand, he very nearly despised Akashi. He was an arrogant, entitled perfectionist brat who likely grew up like a spoiled prince and had the world handed to him on a silver platter. His father was the CEO of Akashi Enterprises for goodness sakes', and hey, some people were just fortunate to be blessed with that kind of head start in life. 

But then, on the other hand, when Mayuzumi saw Akashi work so hard and give everything he had into bettering the business that he had grown himself...it was frustratedly admirable. It made Mayuzumi want to work hard too, which honestly, what the fuck? It was just a glorified admin job he was doing, it wasn't anything special. Why did Akashi insist on working Mayuzumi like a dog for a job that barely made an impact on anything to do with the business at all?

He's a victory-obsessed control freak, that's why, Mayuzumi thought to himself, as he cricked his neck and tried to shake off the stiffness and ache that was sinking into his bones. 

Chapter Text

“Our international launch is 8 months away. I do not have time to waste on ‘maybe’, Nao-san,” Akashi said, as he tapped a finger against the table in a slow, patient rhythm.

In one of the conference rooms, Akashi and a potential investor sat, while Mayuzumi was off to the side. Sitting on the edge of the room and typing notes on the meeting while simultaneously going through his inbox on his laptop and cleaning up what he could. He was getting better at multitasking with this job, that was for sure. The meeting had gone on for about 40 minutes now, and it was a pitch (one of many they had planned) to gain some backing for Rakuzan Collect for their upcoming global expansion. Akashi was trying to weed out the ones he liked and disliked, and Chihiro was getting the sense that Nao-san was about to fall into the 'dislike' pile.

"You cannot expect me to rush into a decision like this Akashi-kun. Your pitch and plans all seem well thought out and I admit the concept is intriguing," the guy, Nao-san, stated. He was a middle-aged guy, still had a head of black hair, but had lines of silver around his temples and nape of his neck. He was a bit round around the edges, but not overly so. Mayuzumi supposed that next to Akashi, anyone would look inadequate.

Then, Nao shook his head and sighed heavily, like he was some schoolteacher explaining the answer to an equation to one of his students, "Yet, I feel as though you should narrow down into a specific target market further. If you stay as broad as you currently are with your consumers, it will only make things more difficult down the line as you continue to cater to everybody."

“We do not discriminate who we market to, a sale is a sale. Rakuzan has become this successful because of that reason, I know this for a fact," Akashi replied, sharp and to the point. Mayuzumi looked up while typing and could almost see an intimidating aura looming around Akashi as he continued, "Moreover, there seems to be a mismatch in our company values, so now I am doubtful if this may be the best connection for both of our businesses moving forward.”

The corporate way of saying, this isn't gonna work because I don't like you, Chihiro internally observed. 

“You know, I would be keen to know what your father's perspective on the matter is and what he thinks of your plans,” Nao stated in response, as he crossed his arms and looked at Akashi expectantly. 

“My father is not a shareholder in my business, so that is irrelevant,” Akashi said in a clipped tone, and okay, that was different. Did Mayuzumi sense some tension there regarding Akashi and his relationship with his dad?

Nao chuckled dryly, a faint smirk on his lips as he shook his head and said, “No offence intended on my end, Akashi-kun, but Akashi-san has been dominating the market longer than you've been alive. Did he not teach you as well as he was taught?”

Yep, definitely tension, Mayuzumi concluded, as he noticed the intentional difference in the honourifics used for Akashi and his dad. On the surface, it was simply a polite means of differentiating between the two in conversation. But, Mayuzumi could also see it was a means to diminish Akashi's standing in comparison to his father. Basically, that he was just a kid at the adult's table. And he had a feeling Akashi would not take too well to that, because if there was one thing Mayuzumi had learnt Akashi could not stand - it was people underestimating him. 

“If surety is what you are seeking, then please continue to invest in all of my father's projects. There is no gain without risk, and I am willing to take the chance rather than remain comfortable and stay the same,” Akashi stated, poised and not shaken the slightest by the blow to his ego and clear preference for his father's way of doing things. Mayuzumi had to give him props for not faltering or losing his cool in front of this guy, who actually seemed more irritated while Akashi remained quite calm.

"You have all of your father's business sense yet seem to have very little of his caution," Nao sighed, as he stood up from his chair, straightened his suit jacket and made his way towards the door, "Not all risks are meant to be taken, and as such, this is one of those risks in my case. I will unfortunately need to decline at this stage, Akashi-kun."

"I understand. Thank you for taking the time, Nao-san. Have a good afternoon," Akashi bid him farewell, and Nao simply gave him a stiff nod mixed with a forced smile, as he left the room. 

About 30 seconds passed by, before Mayuzumi stopped typing, stood up, and stretched out his cramps, "That went well," he said, as he tried to get a read on Akashi's mood in response to the rejection. 

But to his surprise, Akashi flashed a smirk as he began gathering up his folders, “He will change his mind within a week."

"You think so? He looked pretty set on his decision," Chihiro said, puzzled because did he and Akashi listen to the same conversation just now?

"He did not like being challenged, but he would not have come all the way here if he had no intentions of getting involved. He will think it over tonight and reach out to us in a few days, and we will then re-evaluate whether it is still beneficial to have him on board," Akashi said all of this with a certainty about him, and Mayuzumi had no idea where it came from, but oddly enough - Mayuzumi believed him. How does he do that?

Then, Akashi shrugged, as he picked up his own laptop and Mayuzumi followed him towards the door, "And even if he does not, that is no huge loss. There will be many more investors, he is not special nor unique. Moreover, the focus groups will be another key determining factor in assessing our market readiness for the global launch.”

As they walked back, Akashi turned to him and asked, "Send me through the notes from the meeting and I will review them to see how I can better prepare for the next pitch we have scheduled."

"Sure thing," Mayuzumi nodded. 

Most days Akashi ate his lunch offsite, either having lunch meetings with various people, or simply taking himself off for a meal somewhere. But there were days when he would get Mayuzumi to go and pick up some food for him if he could not spare any time out of the office - this was one of those days.

When Mayuzumi had first started, to his surprise, Akashi had given him a pre-prepared list of restaurants within the area he frequented. He had also made a note of any intolerances or allergies he had.

.

"I have a histamine intolerance, so I avoid alcohol, aged meats and fermented foods. In particular for the fermented food, pickled wakame," Akashi said, and Mayuzumi could have sworn he saw the man's nose wrinkle in disgust at the mention of the food, "It is a common side dish at many restaurants, so please ensure you specifically ask for it not to be included when you order my meals."

Note to self, never give Akashi wakame unless I want to be tortured slowly and painfully, Mayuzumi thought wisely.

"Also, another thing worth mentioning is that I am allergic to sesame," Akashi added. 

Mayuzumi jotted down the notes on his trusty notepad, nodded, and then looked up, "How bad is your reaction?"

"I do not go into anaphylaxis, so it is not overly severe. My mouth and throat can swell up, which makes it difficult to swallow and can cause coughing fits. I can break out into hives and get very bad nausea. I keep medication in the top drawer of my desk in case I accidentally ingest it," Akashi explained, as he promptly pulled out the bottle from his desk and showed Mayuzumi for reference before he placed it back inside. 

"Good to know," Mayuzumi nodded, underlining 'sesame' in his notes. Prevention was better than cure, so Mayuzumi would make sure to remember that - because if Akashi ended up in the hospital because of his negligence, that was surely a pile of paperwork and many meetings with the HR department that he did not want to have to deal with. 

.

Cue Mayuzumi's re-entrance to the building, after his 40-minute round trip to pick up Akashi's lunch of choice for the day - prosciutto-wrapped chicken breasts with herbed goat cheese and a side salad of mixed-greens and vinaigrette. Sounded fancy and looked it too, from what Mayuzumi saw on the website since obviously he hadn't opened it up to look at it inside the container.

As he approached the front desk, Mayuzumi was mildly surprised to see it full of hydrangea flowers in shades of blue, pink and purple. With a gift basket behind the counter that two of the receptionists were looking at intently, beaming from ear to ear. The girl who Akashi had reprimanded (traumatised?) for having a different brand of hand cream was currently with two other receptionists, attending to clients and customers.

So, Mayuzumi had no choice but to go up to the two that were gushing over the flowers and gifts. Great, now he would have to interrupt them and with how much they were yapping, it seemed impossible to get a word in edgewise. 

"-and I can't believe he did all of this for us. I mean, what CEO even remembers something like Administrative Professionals' Day?" Kina, the one with shiny black hair tied back in a high ponytail, said excitedly, as she read through a card with a bright smile. 

“Akashi-sama is just so hard working. He even makes time to acknowledge days like this for us, even with how unbelievably busy he is,” Sayuri, the one with dark brown hair pulled back into a bun, said dazedly as she fingered the flowers, her cheeks slightly flushed. 

So that's what all this fuss is for, and that's who's responsible for said fuss, Chihiro thought to himself. He hadn't even known Akashi had been preparing all this for today, it wasn't something he'd asked Chihiro to take care of or handle - so it really must have all been Akashi's doing. How the hell does he fit in time to organise something like this when he's in back-to-back meetings most days and his email inbox is seemingly bottomless? Is he even human?

“Neh, doesn't he look especially handsome today?” Sayuri continued, as she looked over at Kina for confirmation. 

Kina hummed as she placed the card on the desk, "Is the sky blue? Honestly, I wonder, is there ever a day when Akashi-sama doesn't look gorgeous?"

‘Akashi-sama’? Mayuzumi thought, and scoffed, which of course the two girls did not seem to hear - they still hadn't even noticed Mayuzumi was standing right in front of them and listening to all this. Yeah, actually, he does kinda have that 'Young Master' type vibe.

Still, saying it out loud was a bit much. The girls were clearly infatuated with Akashi. Mayuzumi had come to see that most of the women who worked with Akashi were either enamoured with him or were polite and respectful yet maintained a certain level of fear towards him. Like hand cream girl - what was her name again? Ayumi, wasn't it?

But when the Sayuri and Kina started talking in depth about the clothes Akashi was wearing today and how well they suited him, Mayuzumi decided to end his eavesdropping and help them wrap it up. 

"Hey, can you scan me in already?"

Both of the women jumped in place when they heard Chihiro's voice.

"Oh! Goodness! Mayuzumi-san, when did you arrive?" Kina asked, with a hand pressed against her chest. Then, her gaze dropped down to the plastic bag hanging from Mayuzumi's hand, "Is that Akashi-san's meal?"

Sayuri perked up at this, and leaned closer next to Sayuri as she chirped at him, "Would you like us to deliver it for you?"

The women looked ready to bolt over the front desk and snatch up the meal the moment Mayuzumi said yes. And while that would be entertaining to see, Mayuzumi had made the mistake of getting someone else to drop off Akashi's lunch the other day, and the disdainful reprimand Akashi gave him for shirking off his duty to someone else still made him grimace in annoyance and unease. Akashi made it clear he expected Mayuzumi to pick up and deliver his food, to complete the job in its entirety, regardless of how busy Mayuzumi was or however many other jobs he had to get done before the end of the day. Not all of us can move mountains and shift the stars like you do, Akashi-sama, Mayuzumi thought resentfully to the haughty CEO. 

Also, today was his 3-month check in review, which he was to have with Akashi after he ate his lunch. So yeah, Chihiro wasn't looking to jeopardise that in any sort of way - even though he was certain Akashi had already made up his mind either way, Chihiro wouldn't push his luck. 

"Thanks, but no. Better get going before it gets cold," Chihiro tipped his head towards the elevator, and the two of them seemed to realise they were holding up Akashi's lunch. 

"Of course! Please go through!" Sayuri nodded, as she scanned his card and the turn-style opened. 

"Tell Akashi-san to enjoy his meal and take a break!" Kina called out after him as he walked off.

"Sure," Mayuzumi replied, but his sarcasm was clearly lost on them as they smiled and nodded appreciatively at him. Mayuzumi sighed as he got into the elevator and pressed the button to go up. 

Akashi had his headset on when Mayuzumi knocked and opened his office door, so Mayuzumi did not speak but simply placed the plastic bag containing the CEO's lunch on his desk. Akashi's eyes flicked away from the screen briefly as he gave a single nod of acknowledgement towards Mayuzumi, and then he focused back on his teleconference meeting. 

Mayuzumi had settled back at his own desk, stuffing half of a Subway sandwich into his mouth (one of his rare desk lunch days), when he heard a knock and his door and looked up.

Of course, it had to be Akashi. There he stood in the doorway, and Mayuzumi took note of his clothes because Kina and Sayuri clearly thought they were fantastic. Akashi was wearing a pale lavender dress shirt, with a blazer in a slightly darker shade of lilac sitting draped over his shoulders. He wore cream-coloured straight-cut corduroy trousers with pristine white loafers. Mayuzumi didn't know what the two of them had been on about. He looks like he's in the highest tax bracket, I can't see anything else except money all over him. 

Akashi waited until he had Mayuzumi's attention before he spoke, "Thank you for delivering my lunch, Mayuzumi-san. Apologies I am running slightly behind schedule, so I will take a short break to eat. Then, when I return, we can have your 3-month review check-in. Have you completed your paperwork in preparation for the meeting?"

After swallowing down all the food he had shoved into his mouth, Mayuzumi nodded and replied, "Yeah, it's good to go."

"Excellent. I will see you in approximately 20 minutes," Akashi said with a brief glance to his watch, then turned and left without waiting for a reply. Mayuzumi didn't have one anyway, but all he could think was, yay, can't wait. 

Honestly, Mayuzumi had no idea how the fuck this whole thing would go down. Just like how Akashi seemed to be able to sense him when everyone else couldn't, Mayuzumi couldn't tell what he was thinking. It was seriously odd, because Mayuzumi had become somewhat adept at reading and observing people over the years - a side effect of being ignored and simultaneously being able to blend into the background. So, for him not to be able to get a read on someone was kind of unsettling. 

Oh well, it'll be over and done with in one way or another in about 20 minutes. 

And sure enough, Akashi arrived back at his door, right on time. He had removed his jacket off his shoulders in the interim, and gestured to his office as Mayuzumi gathered his things, "Shall we get started?"

"Yeah, let's do it," Mayuzumi said, his paperwork in hand as he followed Akashi to his doom (office, Mayuzumi meant office). He took one of the seats opposite Akashi in front of his desk, and Akashi sat down behind his desk. He had moved all his screens to the side and had his own paperwork in front of him as he nodded to Mayuzumi, signalling they would begin. 

"Overall, I want to say from the outset that you have nothing to worry about in terms of your employment," Akashi began the discussion, and Mayuzumi let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding when he heard it, "You are tracking well and performing your duties as expected of you, and I would have reached out to you earlier if I had serious concerns about your adaptability to the role."

So far so good, Mayuzumi thought, and Akashi flashed him a mild smile as if he had read his mind, as he continued, "All of that to say, this is more of a formality than anything else. However, there are some areas for improvement which we will go through in depth more during your 6-month review. I will touch on them briefly now so you can identify them."

Akashi then went over some 'areas for improvement', some of which included Mayuzumi's time management, his ability to take initiative and perform tasks before being told to, and his effectiveness with completing reports accurately and promptly. Which were all...pretty much on point, actually. There was nothing weird or unusual in there, all the areas related directly to Mayuzumi's role and were areas Mayuzumi agreed with that he needed to do better in.

Mayuzumi was somewhat taken aback, since he'd expected Akashi to pick up on annoyingly obscure stuff since the man was a chronic perfectionist. Like the way Mayuzumi avoided phone calls with clients but ultimately found another way to contact them, either via email or directly transferring to Akashi. Or the anti-social and at times socially unprofessional behaviour Mayuzumi knew he was exhibiting, because since he had started here, Mayuzumi had not had a conversation with any of his co-workers that went beyond discussing the weather or plans for the weekend. 

But no, it seemed like none of those things bothered Akashi. Which was...good? Mayuzumi supposed that was the way to describe it, though he definitely felt like he was under a microscope while he was in this meeting with the CEO. 

He and Akashi went through their documentation together as the meeting progressed, as Akashi jotted down some of the responses Mayuzumi gave and Mayuzumi did likewise - as they would need to submit the forms to HR as part of the employment process. 

Then, Akashi went through some of the typical questions that Chihiro had answered many times in jobs he'd had. 

"What aspects of your work do you enjoy the most?"

"What skills are you looking to improve in your role?"

"What are some learning or professional goals you would like to achieve?"

Chihiro wasn't stupid enough to answer any of those honestly. He gave answers that were genuine but nothing extreme or special. He didn't outright lie for anything, just stated the facts as they were. He enjoyed scheduling, working in the background, and gathering all of the data together to get the desired results. He wanted to improve basically everything Akashi had listed for him, and had a basic goal or two around learning how to work with technology more effectively. 

"Did you have any questions or anything you wanted to bring up with me specifically?" Akashi asked, and Mayuzumi sensed they were nearing the conclusion of the review. He checked the clock and was relieved to see the half hour was almost up. 

Mayuzumi shook his head, "No, we pretty much addressed everything earlier. I've got a good idea of what I need to work on from here, and happy with how things are going. No questions or complaints."

Akashi gazed at him for a few seconds, then nodded as he shuffled his paperwork back into the correct order, "Alright, I believe that brings us to the end of our meeting. I will send you a copy of both of our forms and send it off to HR for our records. We will have a more thorough review once you reach your 6-month mark."

"Sounds good. I'll get back to it then," Mayuzumi said, as he stood up from the chair, bowed, and was keen to get the hell out of there so he could collapse at his desk in sheer relief. He wouldn't be jobless for a while yet, thank god. 

"And Mayuzumi-san, one last thing," Akashi's voice called out to him, and Mayuzumi was glad his back was facing the man so he wouldn't see the grimace that passed over his face.

Slowly, he turned back around to face him, "Yeah?"

Akashi stood up from his desk, walked around, and stepped over closer to Chihiro. He then said without preamble or warning, "You handle a lot and keep track of so many things, and I must acknowledge that you are doing an exceptional job. Continue on as you have been and reach out if you ever need any further support or assistance. It's been pleasurable working with you these past three months," Akashi finished, a close-lipped smile crossing over his face for a few brief seconds before it faded. Mayuzumi stared back at him, and hoped he didn't look as dumbfounded as he felt. 

Well...didn't see any of that coming, Chihiro thought, inwardly stunned at the unexpected yet oddly genuine words from Akashi. What was he supposed to do with all that? What should he even say in response? Mayuzumi had no idea, he almost wanted to pinch himself because surely this wasn't real. Yet, the silence stretched on, and Akashi continued to look at him, clearly waiting for some sort of response.

And ever the articulate, future author in the making that he was, Mayuzumi managed to return a thoughtful and sound reply:

"Thanks, Akashi," he said, and right then, Mayuzumi wished he could disappear. Like he usually did. But this was Akashi, so yeah, no chance of that happening. 

But it seemed to be enough, since Akashi nodded, then raised his chin towards the door as if he was reminding Mayuzumi he could leave now. Mayuzumi didn't need to be told twice, as he left the office and shut the door behind him as a chill ran down his spine.

What the hell was that? Can I really make it to my 6-month review? Is he testing my mental fortitude or what? 

Mayuzumi shook it off and sat back down at his desk, taking another five minutes to get his shit together before he could properly work again. 

"Oh, Mayuzumi-san! Congratulations!" Mibuchi called out to him, as he went into the large kitchen area to prepare himself a coffee. A huge plus working for a business like Rakuzan Collect was the access to state of the art facilities - and yes that included fancy coffee machines that Mayuzumi absolutely took full advantage of - because it would be rude not to, right?

Mayuzumi paused as the coffee machine continued grinding the beans. He was urprised that Mibuchi had noticed him (must have been the sound of the coffee machine turning on, he thought). Then, he glanced over and saw it wasn't only Mibuchi, but Hayama and Nebuya as well, who were walking towards him. Are those three always together or what? Aren't they in different departments?

"What?" Chihiro asked bluntly, feigning ignorance. But he knew what this was about. 

"Ahh, hasn't it been 3 months since you started?" Hayama observed innocently, but Chihiro knew better. 

"Surprised? Or disappointed?" Mayuzumi asked blandly, and the others all stiffened at the unexpected response. 

Hayama scrunched his face up, confused, "Eh? Why would we be-"

"Making bets on people's livelihoods is pretty low, just saying," Chihiro replied coldly, as he picked up his mug of steaming, hot coffee and prepared to walk out of the room. 

But the three of them were swift to get in his way and blocked him from leaving. Mibuchi held up his arms in surrender as he rushed to explain, "Mayuzumi-san, wait! Wait, wait! It wasn't like that! We don't have a betting pool or anything!"

Nebuya nodded, "Yeah, sorry you overheard that conversation. But to be honest, we're just used to it."

Mayuzumi raised an eyebrow, "Used to what?"

"The coming and going of Akashi's personal assistants. The thing is, they never last," Hayama said, his expression open but also frank, as he shrugged and the other two nodded in agreement. 

Well, if there was a time to assuage his curiosity, it would be now, Chihiro supposed. So, he placed his coffee back down on the bench, then leaned against it with his arms crossed, "What happened to the one before me?"

"Ah, Rina-san. Well, she resigned after 4 months. She was good, but she was still young, and I think the workload overwhelmed her. I'm pretty sure she moved to Osaka with her boyfriend and isn't working as a PA anymore," Mibuchi explained, and okay, that was a really short time in the role, but the reason for Rina leaving wasn't outrageous or strange. 

But then, Hayama decided to give another piece of information, "Then, before her there was Sota. Ugh, just thinking about him makes me cringe. He got fired after 5 months," Hayama shook his head as if he was disappointed just from working at the same place as this guy - and Mibuchi and Nebuya looked much the same. 

Now that was unexpected.

"Akashi fired him? Why?" Mayuzumi asked, trying not to sound overly curious. 

"It's not what you think. Sota started off great, really capable...but after the 2nd month he got really stressed and worked crazy hours to get everything done. Sei-chan noticed of course, and did a work plan with him to help support him to pass the probation period," Mibuchi explained, as he tucked some loose strands of his glossy black hair behind his ear and continued, "But Sota he accidentally leaked private and confidential client details to some of his friends when he was out drinking, and these details got back to our competitors. The client was so furious at the mishandling of his information that they pulled out as a stakeholder of Rakuzan, and Sei-chan had no choice but to let Sota go."

Mayuzumi blinked, then decided he might as well keep going, "Before him?"

Nebuya jumped into to give the brief on this one, "Arata. He seemed like he had it all together on the outside, but he ended up having a nervous breakdown and resigned after 8 months. There were some family issues he had going on as well that impacted him a lot."

So, there was someone who made it past the six-month mark. It was impressive given the track record for the role, but it made Mayuzumi's curiousity grow, and he decided to probe further. 

"Who's lasted the longest?"

Mibuchi hummed as he rubbed his chin, "Hmm. That would probably be Yuzuki-san. She worked with Sei-chan for a year. She was his first assistant."

Hayama brightened, "I remember her! She was awesome!"

"She quit because she wanted to move abroad and work in a ski resort to take a break from the corporate world," Mibuchi added, and honestly, Mayuzumi was amazed to know that anyone had lasted a year working for Akashi. And Chihiro could definitely understand why Yuzuki wanted to go work in the snow in some cozy ski resort after a year of the hustle and bustle of the crazy corporate with Rakuzan. There were definitely times he wanted to just pack up his life and retreat to the forest and live as a hermit away from all this craziness and noise. But then, that wouldn't pay the bills nor help his writing woes. 

"Man, she was cool! She was a few years older than Akashi too, so she wasn't that afraid of him. Not too much, anyway. But I mean, we're all a little afraid of Akashi, right? That's just normal!" Hayama joked, as he looked around at them all with a snaggle-toothed grin. 

"You're damn right," Nebuya snorted. 

"Sei-chan is undeniably gorgeous and excellent at what he does, but goodness , he can be terrifying," Mibuchi shivered. 

"What about you guys? How long have you all worked here?" Mayuzumi asked, as he looked at them all. 

"Three years. We came in around the time where Rakuzan was just starting to become a popular brand in Tokyo. It wasn't as big as it is now, since Akashi was still working on building it up and establishing it back then," Nebuya replied, and Hayama whistled in amazement as the three of them clearly reflected on how time had passed for them since then. 

"Now, Rakuzan Collect is known all over Japan. It's kind of crazy if you think about it," Hayama said, then nudged Mibuchi and Nebuya happily, "What a wild ride the past three years have been, huh?"

"So, all of this to say, good luck, Mayuzumi-san. However long it lasts for you here, just enjoy the ride!" Mibuchi told him with a dazzling grin, and Nebuya responded in kind with a hearty, way too heavy-handed slap on Mayuzumi's back. 

Hayama joined in, as he cheered Mayuzumi on as well, "Yeah, not many people can say they got a chance to work at such a top tier company - even if it is only for a few months!"

They're not as bad as I thought, but they're still assholes, Mayuzumi mused, as he picked up his coffee and headed out of the room while the other three started preparing their own. 

But maybe that was just a baseline requirement for anyone who worked with Akashi. You couldn't be meek or faint-hearted at Rakuzan Collect, that much was certain. 

"Oi, Mayuzumi!" Nebuya's loud voice could be heard across the room, and Mayuzumi cringed as he looked up to see him and the other two Uncrowned Kings (Mayuzumi made the nicknames for them since they acted like royalty without actually owning the place), coming towards him. The one day Mayuzumi had actually considered staying down in the dining hall to eat, and he gets interrupted by these guys. Some things just aren't meant to be, Chihiro lamented. 

"Can we sit here?" Nebuya asked, as he placed his tray with a bowl full of steaming katsudon down on the table with unnecessary force. 

Mayuzumi nodded as he started to gather his things, "Yeah, I was just leaving."

"No way, you've got a full plate!" Hayama pointed out astutely, as he shot a glance at Mayuzumi's full bowl of chicken katsu. 

"I'm gonna eat at my desk," Mayuzumi dismissed them, but before he could stand up, Mibuchi grabbed hold of his wrist to hold him still. 

"Oh, don't do that. Listen, we get it, we know what it's like. The work is never-ending and you feel like you'll fall behind if you stop, but you should at least make one day a week where you eat away from your desk. It's good for your health," Mibuchi said, chastising him like some mother-hen, and Chihiro pulled a face at him because honestly, what the fuck? Were these guys trying to be his friends now that he'd stood up to them? Bunch of weirdos, Chihiro thought. 

"Yeah, besides we all have to go and meet with Akashi soon anyway. So stay and chat with us for a while! Okay?" Hayama said, as he leaned over to look at Mayuzumi with demanding, glittering eyes - the guy was way too hyperactive for his own good. 

Chihiro was seeing some looks getting thrown in their direction, and he hated drawing attention to himself. So, he gave in and stayed, "Alright, whatever. Stop yelling already."

"Fantastic! So, did anyone have any fun stories from the weekend?"

And then the three of them went into various stories and recounts of their weekend and what happened - Mayuzumi didn't even have to talk, he just sat there and listened, which was more than fine with him.

Apparently Nebuya smashed a record at some random noodle hut for the most number of bowls ordered and eaten in a single sitting, and they'd taken his photo and autograph to put up on their 'wall of fame'. Hayama participated in a competition at the gym he attended and was preparing for the next round this coming weekend, already having an idea of the 'rivals' (as he called them) he wanted to beat and crush with PRs. Then Mibuchi went on about how he went on a shopping trip with his sisters because one of them was getting married in the next few months, and they spent the whole two days looking at wedding and bridesmaid dresses - in between eating out at luxurious restaurants in Tokyo that Mayuzumi hadn't even heard of before. 

“Ohh, that reminds me! I'm gonna go shopping with Miki-chan tonight,” Nebuya grinned happily as he dug into his third helping of katsudon from the on-site restaurant. 

Hayama covered his mouth as he leaned over closer to Mayuzumi, “That’s Ei-chan’s girlfriend,” Hayama said in a hushed voice that wasn’t really all that hushed. Mayuzumi paused his eating for a moment. He lowered his chopsticks slowly, narrowed his eyes as he squinted at Nebuya, with his brow furrowed and his head tipped to the side. 

“Oi, what’s that look for?” Nebuya frowned at Mayuzumi when he noticed the stare.

Mayuzumi blinked and shrugged, “Nothing, just didn’t expect you’d have a relationship with someone more important than your relationship with your muscles,” he said casually, as he picked up the last few pieces of chicken to finish his lunch. 

“Pfft–!” Mibuchi quickly tried to stifle his laughter, and Hayama didn’t, bursting out laughing, while Nebuya went off on Mayuzumi.

“Oi, shut up! My muscles are awesome, but that's not all I've got goin' for me! We've been dating for 7 months and it's goin' great!”

“Good for you," Mayuzumi nodded with a blank expression, his voice deadpan as he turned and looked at Hayama and Mibuchi, "What about you two?”

Hayama didn't hesitate for a second once the attention was placed on him, as he answered jovially, “I’m single! But I’m on the dating apps and all that, sometimes I’m with a girl for more than a few months, which is nice. A lot of the time though, it’s just for hook-ups!”

“Kotaro, for god’s sake, lower your voice. You and Eikichi have terrible volume control,” Mibuchi griped at them, as he covered his ear and rubbed it with an annoyed grimace. Then, he turned to look at Chihiro before the other man could ask him, and said with a wink, “I don’t have a partner either, but I’m always in the market and looking.”

Mayuzumi nodded, and then asked the question that had been (annoyingly) on his mind for some time, “And Akashi?”

The three of them actually stopped still, as if they were frozen, and looked at Mayuzumi like a bunch of deer caught in the headlights. 

“Mayuzumi-san, you’re trying to make a joke, right?” Kotaro asked, flashing the other a nervous grin as an awkward laugh fell from his lips. 

"No, I'm not big on jokes. Surprising, I know," Mayuzumi said in a flat tone of voice, and they all sighed or rolled their eyes at his sarcasm. 

“For as long as we’ve known him, Sei-chan has never been in a relationship. He’s been on the odd date here and there, but they were more of an obligation set up by his father when sorting out business deals with potential clients and their daughters. Sei-chan soon put a stop to them once his own business was up and running,” Mibuchi explained matter-of-factly, meanwhile Mayuzumi was astounded that arranged dates and the like actually still happened in rich, upper-class families. Does that mean arranged marriages are part of it too?

“Akashi’s true love is his business. Legitimately. I’ve seen guys less devoted to their girls than Akashi is to Rakuzan,” Nebuya said, a serious tone in his voice, sounding half-impressed and half-unsettled by Akashi's unwavering dedication to the company. 

“Well, that’s only natural. Sei-chan built it from the ground-up, all by himself. From a small business to a massive conglomerate company, that kind of transformation doesn’t happen if you don’t have more than a little obsession to your work. I have heard him say more than once that he does not have the time nor desire to find a relationship, though sometimes I wonder if that's really true or just a cover so he can keep working as hard as he does,” Mibuchi said, both admiration and slight sympathy in his tone, as he and the rest of them got up from the table. They put their empty bowls and trays on the end counter where other employees had theirs stacked, then left the dining hall to head back up to their office level. 

"Or people are just too scared of Akashi to even breathe a word or glance in his general direction," Kotaro muttered under his breath in the elevator so only Nebuya could hear (and Mayuzumi, but Hayama had probably forgotten Mayuzumi was standing next to him). Nebuya bobbed his head in an enthusiastic nod to Hayama's words but stopped when Mibuchi turned around and fixed his gaze on Mayuzumi.

“And what about you, Mayuzumi-san?” Mibuchi asked, as his eyes glinted impishly at the personal assistant. 

Chihiro blinked as the elevator dinged and the doors opened, “Huh?”

“Yeah!" Nebuya stepped around Hayama and pointed at Mayuzumi accusingly as they exited the elevator, "You’re interrogating all of us, but are you dating anyone?”

Hayama grabbed Nebuya's arm and leaned around, swinging off it as he leaned in closer to Mayuzumi, “Do you have a girlfriend? Is she cute? Can I see?”

“As if,” Mayuzumi scoffed, as they entered one of the conference rooms that Akashi had booked for their meeting. The CEO was not in there yet, and the four of them had already arrived roughly five minutes late. Must not be finished yet, Mayuzumi internally mused, as they all took their seats and sat around the conference table.  

Mibuchi's eyes bugged wider, as he said incredulously, “So you are dating!?”

“I’m not, but if I was, like I’d ever tell any of you guys about it,” Mayuzumi shrugged as he leaned back in the chair and looked out the window boredly and wondered how much longer they'd have to wait.

Did Akashi get held up with that client again? She does this every time, Mayuzumi resisted the urge to groan. This client was an important one, but she also made it obvious she was interested in more than Rakuzan Collect's sales. Nevermind the fact she was middle-aged, and Akashi was in his twenties, which, gross. But Akashi could definitely handle it himself, Mayuzumi believed that much. He was a smooth talker even when he was letting people down, ah, the mark of a true businessman. 

Hayama rubbed at his hair frustratedly, as he pulled a grumpy face at Mayuzumi, “Argh, but then, how do we know you’re actually telling the truth and not lying right now?”

“You don’t,” and then, Mayuzumi smirked at them all, which made the three of them seem to reel as if they had been physically assaulted. 

Nebuya banged a fist on the table, affronted as he growled at Mayuzumi, “You bastard! Quit messing with us! We’re your colleagues, you should share more about yourself and stop being such a mystery!”

“Nah, I’m good,” Mayuzumi brushed him off. 

They continued on arguing with Mayuzumi in that fashion for another ten minutes, until a familiar voice entered the fray:

"The four of you seem to be getting along well. I am glad to see it."

They all turned around to be greeted with the sight of Akashi walking through the door and shutting it behind him. 

"Akashi!"

"Sei-chan!"

Akashi bowed his head as he took a seat at the head of the table and set down his laptop, "Apologies for my lateness, unexpected occurrences came up and had to be dealt with promptly."

"Did something happen? How can we help?" Hayama asked, and for someone so light-hearted and carefree, the man was surprisingly sharp when he wanted to be. 

Akashi then went on to tell them that the client had just been speaking with had concerns about the launch for Rakuzan Collect's global debut potentially at risk of being sabotaged by one of their competitor's. Apparently, there was a rumour that one of their promotion campaigns had gotten leaked, and they would need to come up with a completely new idea and ensure the other plans remain completely confidential. They would also need to investigate how the leak occurred, so the Uncrowned Kings had a lot of digging and investigation work ahead of them. To their credit, they looked undaunted and ready to tackle this problem for Akashi, and Mayuzumi was somewhat impressed by their swiftness and readiness to act.

Was it just part of their job obligations that Akashi expected of them, or was there a deeper sense of loyalty there?

For his part, Mayuzumi was required to make sure any sensitive information was not given to anyone else without going through Akashi and would need to do his own audit on his end for any suspicious emails that might have come through. He would also need to find out if the rumour was just that - a baseless rumour to instil panic in them, or if there was any truth to it. 

Akashi then concluded the meeting as everyone had their own directives to carry through and promptly left the room to return to his torture chamber (office, Mayuzumi meant office. He really had to stop making those mistakes).

"Shit, I can't get used to how cut-throat and ruthless he is when it's that Akashi we're dealing with," Nebuya muttered, a slight shiver passing through his muscled and bulky frame. 

"I know, right? Man, I hope it's just a rumour. If it's actually legit, I don't wanna imagine how pissed he's gonna be," Hayama said in a whiny yet apprehensive tone. 

“Mayuzumi-san, are you really not bothered by speaking to the other Sei-chan?” Mibuchi asked, tipping his head to the side as he looked at Mayuzumi curiously. 

“None of you guys are bothered either,” Mayuzumi deflected easily. 

"Well, yeah. But we've known him way longer than you have, so we're used to it by now," Nebuya waved him off, which yeah, that was fair enough. If they weren't comfortable with Akashi's condition after three years, then that would definitely be concerning. 

"It's not a big deal. He's open about it and made it clear to me when I started how it worked, so I would've backed out then and there if it bothered me," Mayuzumi clarified, and he thought he saw them all gain a little more respect in their gazes for him after he said that. Moving on, Mayuzumi asked another question, “By the way, do you know any of his triggers for when he’s about to switch?”

“Not a lot. They’re very indistinct and hard to tell. It's unpredictable a lot of the time. I’ve even seen it happen in front of my eyes, where one minute it’s the regular Akashi, and then suddenly the other one is speaking to me. But I couldn’t even pinpoint what it was that made him change,” Hayama explained, his words coming out in a rush, but that just seemed to be his general pace whenever he spoke - he didn't really have a 'go slow mode'. 

“Didn’t he go to see his father recently?” Nebuya asked, after he finished chugging down half of his bottle of peach iced tea in one go. The man always seemed to have food or drink on him or in close proximity should he need it. Which seemed to be often. 

Mibuchi hummed and tapped the table as he watched Akashi walking off, “He did. It must not have gone well. I’m guessing they got into a huge argument about something.”

So, Mayuzumi was right in his assumption earlier in the week - that Akashi and his dad weren't exactly close. Yet, they seemed to keep in regular contact, so the relationship was probably complicated. 

“That’s one trigger we’ve figured out at least. When things are tense with Akashi and his dad, the other Akashi usually comes out for a while,” Hayama added helpfully as he crossed his arms behind his head, and Mayuzumi frowned at the information. 

Was it a protective or defensive response? This other Akashi was certainly more assertive and controlling than the other one. Perhaps that personality took over when Akashi felt he was under pressure or if he was facing a challenging situation. 

“How long does it last?” was Mayuzumi's next question, and Nebuya shrugged. 

“Depends. The longest we’ve seen is probably three months. Akashi told us in highschool, his other self was his main personality for two years. But he said it switches more fluidly now,” Nebuya finished, and the other two nodded in agreement. 

That night, after he got back home just after 8 PM, Mayuzumi did online research (AKA googling) about Dissociative Identity Disorder. He looked at health articles and websites obviously, and the more he read, the more Mayuzumi wanted to know.

And why was he doing this?

Because he was curious.

So what? Sue him. 

When he got to the section about treatments, Mayuzumi was mildly surprised to find out there was no medication specifically formulated for DID. It did say that a doctor could prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds and antipsychotic meds to help improve mental health for someone living with DID. Mayuzumi knew what medications Akashi was on since he often got the prescription filled for him, and Akashi took all of those. Mayuzumi also knew he saw a therapist, due to the scheduling work he did for Akashi. 

He wondered what it was that made Akashi develop this condition. Mayuzumi already knew it was something that developed due to one or multiple traumatic events a person had gone through. How long had he lived this way?

Akashi was so calm, composed and put together all the time. But obviously, Mayuzumi knew this couldn't be true. Not completely. An image of Akashi from that very early morning, standing all alone, flashed across his mind. It wasn't his business to pry into it anyway, but Mayuzumi just couldn't stop thinking about it. 

Not that he'd ever entertain the idea of asking Akashi about it directly (Mayuzumi didn't have a death wish), but even if he did ask him, Mayuzumi couldn't imagine Akashi would give him a straightforward response, if one at all. The guy portrayed himself as seemingly an open book, mostly because of how clearly and concisely he communicated, but Mayuzumi wasn't fooled. Akashi was actually more secretive than he let on, and more reserved than he appeared. 

Well, Mayuzumi had no place to judge, since he was just as closed off - perhaps even moreso. Besides, it wasn't his job to get to know Akashi on a personal level. All he had to do was take care of his Akashi's schedule and all of his work-related tasks. That was it. Don't overcomplicate things for yourself, Chihiro, he told himself as he closed out of the research tabs and started getting ready for bed. 

It was just after 4 AM, and the streets were so quiet, basically deserted. The sky was still dark, not quite pitch black but just about, as the remnants of stars still burned faintly above. Seijuurou stood on the overpass and closed his eyes for a moment as the wind blew past him. When he opened his eyes again, he took in a deep breath, then slowly let it out. He did that a few more times, as he listened to the occasional, infrequent sounds of a car driving by on the road down below him. 

Sometimes, when it was completely empty, Seijuurou would take a few steps forward, away from the pedestrian barrier to stand on the road where traffic travelled in both directions. It was a strangely unsettling yet freeing feeling to stand in the middle of a road. Eventually, cars would come in either direction, and Seijuurou would unhurriedly move out of the way as they got closer to him. 

His therapist had called it 'passive suicidal ideation' when he had last spoken about this past-time with her. Seijuurou personally thought she was overexaggerating, but then, he supposed the whole point of therapy was to get an unbiased, objective sounding board for your thoughts in order to perceive and understand them more clearly. 

Yet, almost in an effort to disprove those thoughts, Seijuurou stepped forward and stood on the road. No cars were coming, and he looked up to gaze at the stars that were still left behind, before the morning light would eventually come and mask them until the next night fall. It was not as if he wanted to end his life. He did not have any 'escape plans' nor was actively trying to kill himself. It was just, sometimes the thought would pass through his mind that Seijuurou felt like he did not want to exist anymore. 

Like if he died, things wouldn't matter anymore. He wouldn't have to wake up again and face the potential (inevitable?) failure that loomed over him at every twist and turn. He would not need to constantly work on, and address, and relive his own pain that he'd gone through over the years. He could just forget everything, and disappear knowing that all he is now is all that he would ever be.

But then, all that he was now had not achieved even half of what he wanted to before he died. As of right now, Seijuurou was perhaps the best in some aspects of his life and career. But overall, he was just...average. 

Are you satisfied with an average life?

No. Average was simply never an option for Seijuurou. To be average was to be ordinary, and to be ordinary was a step above being a failure. 

The desire to be the best that he possibly could be kept him going. And until he reached a point where he could no longer achieve anything else, he would force himself to keep living and try to forget these daydreams of non-existence. He wanted to be the best, to constantly improve, and if anything, he could thank his father for instilling that into him from a young age. 

His father. The thought called back memories of their most recent interaction a few days earlier...

.

.

"I heard you caused quite a bit of friction with Nao Ryuji from Ryu's Choice Ltd when you met with him the other day. Did you not consider that this puts me in a difficult position as well? Or were you caught up in your ego on some power trip to intimidate the man just because he questioned you?" his father asked, the accusation evident in his tone as he eyed Seijuurou critically. 

The two had chosen to meet up at the top level of the multi-story carpark right next to Akashi Enterprises. They stood away from the cars, near the balcony and viewing station of the top-level carpark. It was just after 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and the sun was beginning to set. There was no wind blowing and the air was not cold, but the atmosphere still somehow felt frosty and off-putting. 

Seijuurou crossed his arms, his crisp white dress shirt rolled up slightly to mid-forearm on both sides. His light grey button up vest, paired with matching grey slacks, wrinkled across his chest with the movement, but Seijuurou was unbothered as he tipped his head towards his father and replied, "It seems you have no interest in hearing my recount of events, which is fine. I expected that. I did not expect Nao-san to come and complain to you about it though. He has less backbone than I thought," Seijuurou finished disparagingly. 

"Seijuurou, that's enough," his father stated crossly, his eyebrows drawn together in irritation, "You are fortunate I was able to smooth things over with him. But, what do you expect me to do about the gossip that will inevitably spread? I cannot have people thinking I am favouring you over anyone else in the market. This is an ongoing issue we both must face as relatives actively engaging in the market."

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Seijuurou instead chose to narrow his eyes as he replied with a forced detachment in his tone, "I think you made it clear that you are not affiliated or biased towards Rakuzan Collect and myself in any way whatsoever, when you openly discouraged your stockholders from investing in my company. Not only when it was a start-up three years ago, but even now, you still act the same. Even when Rakuzan is growing ever more successful each year, you refuse to invest in it, let alone advise others to do so."

"That is because I saw you as capable enough to become competition for me eventually. I did not doubt you would successfully break into the market, and I was right. You should consider it a compliment, Seijuurou," his father told him, as if that was some sort of consolation or reassurance of Seijuurou's worth and value. 

Seijuurou's eyebrows rose, as he asked tersely, "A compliment? Is that better than having your own father's open encouragement and support?"

"I see I am dealing with your oversensitive side today, since you're making such inane comments," Masaomi sighed, as he glanced down at his wrist to check the time on his rolex, the black and gold watch shimmering in the afternoon sunlight, "How irritating, especially when I do not have the time to pander to you right now. My plane leaves for Germany in 12 hours and I still have things to take care of before I head off for a week."

Akashi refrained from showing any change in his facial expression, despite the annoyance that bubbled up within him. That was how his father acknowledged his condition. He would say Akashi had his 'oversensitive side' and his 'conceited side'. It made Seijuurou feel like his father viewed the condition as some sort of childish joke that Seijuurou had made up for attention.

But it wasn't. It was real. In every sense of the word. And it had taken Seijuurou a long time to come to terms with that. So, he did not appreciate whenever his father brought it up in this way. 

"Have I ever asked you to comfort me? I have no need for that, so why would I?" Seijuurou asked back, his arms uncrossing to fall by his sides. His voice was sharper than the edge of a knife, and twice as cutting. 

His father rolled his eyes and looked at him with disappointment, "Do not victimise yourself, Seijuurou. You walked into an internship with Akashi Enterprises straight after you graduated university, and you know full well that I would have offered you a starting position with us. You were the one who chose to separate yourself from me, but then you get upset because I decline being involved with Rakuzan? It is your business, not mine."

"I hold my own number of shares in Akashi Enterprises and am an active participant in stockholder meetings. You surely know how important it is to me, and that I truly care about the future of your company. I am only expressing that I wish you would do the same for me," Seijuurou responded, doing his all to keep the emotion he felt out of his voice, because his father would only see it as a weakness or not take him seriously. 

"You can sell those shares anytime, do not feel as though you need to hold onto them for my sake. Or to use as some cheap bargaining chip," his father quipped back, quick and cold. 

A short silence stretched between them after that, where neither said a word but also did not look away from each other.

Then, eventually, the corners of Seijuurou's lips tugged up as he let out an amused chuckle, "Honestly, it is actually funny that it took me this long to realise it."

Masaomi cocked an eyebrow at him, "Realise what exactly?"

Seijuurou glanced out across the skyline, taking in the setting sun and the sprawling cityscape below them, as he said, "That if I were to fail, I would not have your support. I have known that to be true since I was a child. Yet when I succeed, I have now realised I also do not have your support."

Akashi's smile suddenly dropped, as he looked back at his father with a hard, piercing expression., "If that is the case, then I will keep winning. Not for your sake, but for my own. I want to be the best for myself, not for you or anyone else."

Masaomi stared back at him with an equally stony gaze, then gave a single, approving nod, "Good. You should know by now that the only person you can truly count on is yourself. That is how you remain strong and survive in this world."

"Then, I'll leave first. Have a safe trip to Germany and I will see you when you return, father," Seijuurou bowed his head, then spun on his heel and walked off without looking back once. He got inside the rear passenger seat of his car and asked the driver to leave and head back to Rakuzan Collect's main building.

.

.

I know exactly what I want and who I want to be, Seijuurou nodded to himself, as he turned and slowly walked off the road just as a car approached. He then headed across the pedestrian crossing and off the overpass. From there, he began walking back down the main street towards his apartment building. Residing in the heart of Tokyo was truly convenient and beneficial seeing as how Seijuurou could walk anytime he did not want his driver to escort him somewhere, or if he simply wanted to try to blend in with the crowd.

He returned back to his penthouse apartment and began his routine of preparing himself for an early morning session at the private gym attached to his apartment. An hour later after a productive workout, he showered and then began getting himself ready for another day of work. 

It was just after 7 AM when his phone buzzed, and after buttoning the cuffs of his shirt, he picked it up to check the message. 

> Mayuzumi Chihiro: Did you eat already or want me to get your breakfast on my way in?

Mayuzumi was starting to take more initiative now, Seijuurou had noticed. Whereas before he would wait for Seijuurou to tell him what to do and when to do it, he was now imprving his ability to prioritise his time and problem-solve. Rather than come all the way into the office and then be told to pick up his breakfast, Mayuzumi was planning ahead. 

> I have not eaten. If you could purchase the below order on the company card and bring it on your way to the office, it would be much appreciated.

Seijuurou had just finished getting dressed completely and was combing his hair when his phone buzzed with Mayuzumi's reply. He stopped to quickly read it:

> Mayuzumi Chihiro: No problem. See you in about 45 mins.

Akashi didn't bother to reply and continued with his morning routine. Once he had all of his belongings gathered, he slipped his shoes on and exited his apartment. When he descended down to the carpark level, his car and driver were there waiting for him. Despite living in central Tokyo, Rakuzan Collect was located in a separate area which was quickest to get to by car.

Then, since Akashi still had his door open, he saw Mayuzumi come into the office area all the way down the end of the hall.

Seijuurou watched him for a moment. Mayuzumi was dressed in grey slacks paired with a white, long-sleeve business shirt. He rotated this shirt with others of the same design but different colours, navy blue and grey, through the week, with the same black tie every time. And they were the same clothes Mayuzumi had been wearing since he started working at Rakuzan Collect. He did not appear fazed or easily influenced to change himself or to portray himself a certain way, no matter what environment he was in.

Mayuzumi just looked like a typical office worker, but there was still something unique about him. The way Mayuzumi carried himself was different in the sense that although he had no distinguishable or privileged background behind him, Mayuzumi maintained a certain level of self-assured confidence about himself - to the point it could almost be called arrogance. Even when people did not notice him or were put off by his presence, Mayuzumi acted like it was their problem, not his. 

He reminded Seijuurou of his old friend, Kuroko Tetsuya. But, only in regards to their low presence, whereas their personalities seemed quite opposite. Then, there was the fact that Mayuzumi spoke to Seijuurou with little to no filter. 

He was respectful, which of course he was. Seijuurou would not hire nor tolerate someone who disrespected him. Seijuurou loathed it when people belittled him in any capacity.

Yet, Mayuzumi did not look down on him either. It was strange to describe, but he spoke to Seijuurou like he would to anyone else. Again, it was similar to the way Mayuzumi dressed himself. He did not change how he spoke no matter who he was talking to, that was simply just his personality. Mayuzumi had a sense of duty and understood where he stood, and he took instruction surprisingly well. He used sarcasm most of the time during his conversations with others, which made people uneasy at times, since Japan was well-known for its polite culture and sarcasm did not really fit into the definition of 'polite'.

But there was no veil of politeness that Mayuzumi wore - what you saw was what you got. 

And Seijuurou appreciated the blunt, straight-forwardness nature he possessed. It was similar to his own. 

"One turmeric latte topped with cinnamon, and vegetable fritters with poached eggs and a side salad. Need any salt and pepper with that?" Mayuzumi asked as he walked through the door, obviously doing a mocking impression of a table runner at a cafe.

"If you wouldn't mind," Seijuurou requested, both because he wanted the condiments and because he wanted to see Mayuzumi's response. 

Then, Mayuzumi pulled out sachets of salt and pepper from the plastic bag in his hand and dropped them on the table in front of Seijuurou.

"Here, I prepared these ones earlier," Mayuzumi delivered the line so dryly with that deadpan expression and flat tone of voice, Seijuurou had to smile amusedly at him. 

"Thank you, Chihiro," Seijuurou nodded at him, as he reached out to take a sip from his latte, "I am not leaving the office today. Continue with your daily tasks and we will connect again mid-morning. I will find you sooner if anything urgent comes up."

"You got it, I'll be here," Mayuzumi tipped his head to his office adjacent to Akashi's, then bowed briefly before he left. 

Mayuzumi was frankly a novelty. Something new, something unfamiliar. Which was one of many reasons why Seijuurou chose to hire him as his personal assistant. Aside from their serendipitous meetings prior to Mayuzumi's job interview that seemed to almost hint at their future involvement, Seijuurou knew that working with him would bring interesting and unexpected things his way. 

Chapter Text

"-as it is, we have quite a few investors involved already. I am afraid your original offer might need to be reviewed. Would you be open to this, or a discussion to negotiate?"

When he noticed Akashi was still on the phone, Chihiro did a detour back to his office and busy himself with other tasks until Akashi was free. He put the giftbags on his desk and returned to sit behind his computer screens. 

Mayuzumi couldn't believe Akashi had been right about that investor that had turned them down not even a week ago, Nao Ryuji, who Akashi was on the phone to this very second. “He will change his mind within a week," those had been Akashi's words and here they were, seeing it play out right before their eyes at this moment. Akashi had been on the phone with him for the past 20 minutes, after explaining that unfortunately now Rakuzan Collect had a number of stockholders and was attempting to get a new, higher offer out of the man - a smart tactic, Mayuzumi couldn't deny. 

About 10 minutes later, he glanced over to Akashi's office and saw the man had removed his headset, having finished with the call. So Mayuzumi picked up the giftbags he had been carrying earlier and headed over to knock on his door.

"Chihiro, come in," Akashi greeted him with a nod, and Chihiro entered the room. 

"How'd it end up?" Chihiro asked, cocking his head over to the headset then back to Akashi questioningly. 

"Very well. We successfully gained a 10% increase in the offer from Nao. He is now part of our investors," Akashi seemed rather pleased with himself and the outcome, and Mayuzumi could respect the hustle even if he could never understand it or do it himself. 

“That's great," he stated, then extended the three giftbags towards Akashi, "By the way, Gato sent you this. Just arrived earlier.”

Gato was the manager of Basil & Beverages - one of the suppliers they utilised for their fundraising, PR and marketing events. Rakuzan held a promotion event in the city the other day and had used Gato's company to provide food and drink for the day for everyone. It was a small business, as were all of the providers Akashi sourced externally when he needed them for events or training days at the company. 

"Oh?" Akashi accepted the bags with mild curiousity, as he set them down off to the side of his desk and looked inside. He pulled out a recognisably shaped bottle, “Ah, a collection of his most popular wines. How thoughtful. I must send him a thank you note.”

"Send me the message and I'll do up a card and gift basket this afternoon," Chihiro stated, pre-empting a task coming his way - it was always better to assume it was his responsibility if Akashi brought it up around him unless Akashi said otherwise. 

The assumption was correct, as Akashi sent him a grateful nod, “Thank you, I will email it through shortly."

Then, Mayuzumi was about to turn and leave, before Akashi addressed him again, "Chihiro, what are your feelings on re-gifting something you have received?”

Confused at the random question, Mayuzumi narrowed his eyes and considered it, “Huh? I mean, I haven’t thought about it too much. Doesn’t really bother me. Once you get the gift, it’s yours, so you can do what you want with it. If that means giving it to someone else, I don’t see what the issue is with that,” he shrugged, weird question to ask, but hey, it was Akashi after all. Chihiro was getting used to his sporadic bouts of randomness and seemingly out-of-nowhere questions or comments. 

And Akashi seemed satisfied with the response, as he nodded affirmatively at Chihiro, “I agree. On that note, would you like any or all of these?” he said, as he gestured to the various bottles of wine he had just received. 

Chihiro blinked, thoroughly befuddled, as he shook his head, “What? But you literally just got those. Why are you offering them to me?"

"I did tell you about my histamine intolerance, did I not? You are not experiencing a sudden case of short-term memory loss, I hope,” Akashi stated, a mask of consternation on his face. But hidden beneath was surely a look of mocking amusement and disdain for Mayuzumi's lack of attention to detail to what Akashi had told him. 

Smart-assed bastard, Mayuzumi thought, internally seething at Akashi's response. But that's right, he reminded himself, Akashi's histamine intolerance meant he didn't eat aged meat or fermented foods and avoided alochol as well. 

"You did tell me. Sorry, must've slipped my mind," Chihiro forced the apology through his teeth, blatantly lying because no way in hell was he actually sorry, but look, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, Mayuzumi repeated that mantra to himself a lot more often these days just to get through. 

“I hope there will not be next time," Akashi said dismissively, then waved a hand through the air as he continued, "Regardless, this will go to waste if it stays in my possession, so I always try to re-gift any alcohol I receive. Oh," then, his mismatched eyes widened and Mayuzumi wondered, what now?

"Sorry, I just realised I made an assumption earlier. Do you drink alcohol, Chihiro?” Akashi asked, remembering his manners all of a sudden.

Chihiro barely held back a scoff, but he did manage to suppress it, as he said instead, “Yeah, I do."

“Then would you like some?”

Chihiro paused, then narrowed his eyes, “Are you sure?”

“Of course. If you would like to take some for yourself, or to give to your family or friends, feel more than welcome to do so," Akashi said encouragingly, as he stepped back as if to give Mayuzumi space to peruse the bottles. 

So, Mayuzumi did - he wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. And hey, this would save him money instead of buying overpriced drinks at a bar or even from the bottle shop. After browsing through the different flavours, Chihiro had picked out two that sounded appealing. 

"Then, I'll take these two. Thanks," he said, as he pulled the two bottles out and briefly bowed his head in gratitude towards Akashi. 

"Think nothing of it," Akashi said, then asked another question, "Also, did you receive the reminder email brief I sent through regarding the charity event on Thursday?"

"Yeah, I've almost finished organising travel for the day and making a list of the people we know are gonna be there," Chihiro confirmed. The event was an opportunity for representatives of different charities to come and speak with various businesses in the industry. It opened up the potential to partner with some of them and donate a percentage of the company's earnings towards their designated charity. The whole thing was a pretty big deal and an important time for them to make an impression - and a significant one, since they wouldn't be the only company there trying to network and find the most ideal charity to partner with. 

Akashi gave a satisfactory nod, "Excellent. If you can have it all completed by the end of today, that will be sufficient." 

"Sure thing," Chihiro replied, then left with his new 'gifts' in hand, to get to work on the tasks he needed to complete before the end of today. 

Thursday arrived, and it was just after 11 AM when he, Akashi and the other high-level execs prepared to go. Since there was at least 12 of them attending, Chihiro had organised the cars for their transport there, as it was being held at one of the fancy event halls on the outskirts of Tokyo. Most of the others had already left to get there early and make an impression, as Rakuzan was never caught slacking or late - so currently left behind and waiting to leave was Akashi, Mayuzumi, Mibuchi, Nebuya and Hayama. 

And currently Mayuzumi was regretting not calling out sick today, because this was the first time he was getting chewed out by Mibuchi of all people, and he was just not in the mood for it. At all. He and the Uncrowned Kings were loitering around near Akashi's office, waiting for him to finalise everything so they could go. 

"For God's sake, Mayuzumi, can't you at least try and put in a bit of effort? Is that seriously what you're wearing!?" Mibuchi complained, as he gestured up and down at Mayuzumi's appearance in mortification. 

Mayuzumi frowned as he looked down at himself then back at Mibuchi, annoyed, "There's nothing wrong with this, it's formal and within the dress code so what's the big deal?"

He was wearing his black slacks, his white business shirt (the sleeves kept at full length, not rolled up to his elbows like he usually did - and he even ironed it especially for today), along with his black lace-up leather shoes and black tie. He also brought along his black trench coat in case it got chilly indoors. 

Mibuchi looked on the verge of tearing his very glossy and neatly styled hair out of his head, as he scowled at Mayuzumi in exasperation, "You look the same as you do every day! And this is not just another day at the office! Ugh, just, wait a minute-"

Then, Mibuchi suddenly dashed off and turned around the corridor to who-knows-where. 

"Rookie mistake, Mayuzumi," Nebuya chuckled as he adjusted his cufflinks, and the man was surprisingly more dressed up than Chihiro himself was, having apparently gotten the memo to come in his 'best dressed', "Mibuchi might be in the HR department, but his hobby outside of work is fashion and he gets real damn serious about appearance at important events like this one."

"Thanks for the warning," Mayuzumi responded sarcastically, and Hayama flashed him a mischievous grin. 

"Oh, come on! It wouldn't be funny if we gave you the head's up for every little thing! You should go into some of it blind, just like we did!" Hayama said jovially, also dressed better than usual, as he slapped Mayuzumi on the back, making the man grumble at him, "Besides, learning on the job is part of the fun!"

Then, just as suddenly as he had left, Mibuchi reappeared. 

"Here, put this on. It's the best I can do on such short notice," Mibuchi pushed a belt at his chest with more force than Mayuzumi anticipated - he almost stumbled back but managed to balance himself. The guy was stronger than he looked. But he didn't let it show, of course, as he took the belt and looked at it blandly.

"You're lucky I found it in my office! And fix your hair!" Mibuchi added, as he pointed at Mayuzumi's hair accusingly. 

Chihiro rolled his eyes but put the belt on nonetheless, then he stepped over to the nearby window on the side to look at his reflection. He combed his fingers through his hair and pushed his fringe back off his face, not sure what difference it would make. But Mibuchi seemed pacified and even gave him a nod of approval when he turned back around to show him. If that got the man off his back, then Chihiro would make sure to keep his hair like that the rest of the day. 

Akashi's office door opened, and he stepped out, "The executives and other C-suite members have already left. Are we all ready to go?"

Naturally, Akashi was dressed to impress. As he was every day, but today even more so - which was clearly possible, it seemed. The CEO was wearing a suit combo of a deep blue cotton business shirt underneath a black and grey checkered vest with matching suit jacket and slacks. His tie and matching handkerchief in his chest pocket were a darker shade of red than his hair, and a silver collar chain was clipped across his front as well. 

"Yep! Let's do this thing!" Hayama punched the air eagerly, practically bursting at the seams to get going and be a part of the buzz. A true extrovert in his element, Mayuzumi mused. 

"I'll go bring the car around," Nebuya added with a grin, because something Mayuzumi had learned about the man was that he sure loved his cars. He had basically told Mayuzumi he would be one of the drivers if they were taking the company's Rolls Royce's or Mercedez Benz's.

It was an amiable drive over there, Mayuzumi just kept his mouth shut while the other three chattered on. Akashi occasionally interjected into the conversation every now and then, but he was quiet for the most part too. 

When they arrived, Hayama jumped out of the car which led to Mibuchi rushing after him trying to get him to 'act proper!' and Nebuya not far behind them with his stomach grumbling (because the event was catered and the man was always starving).

Which left him and Akashi following along after them. Just before they were about to walk up to the entrance of the hall, Akashi spoke, “Wait,” and Akashi then stood in front of him, effectively stopping Chihiro in his tracks. Chihiro stood still, paused, and looked at him with his trademark neutral expression.

Chihiro levelled him with a deadpan expression, “What?”

Then, Akashi raised his own chin, then extended his pointer finger out towards Mayuzumi's face, "You are not facing forward. Why are your eyes on the ground?"

Akashi then turned his hand, so it was facing palm-up, and lifted it up while raising his own chin. As if Chihiro was 5 years old and Akashi was demonstrating to him how to lift his head up.

“Keep your head held high. Confidence is first seen and felt in one's facial expression, the position of their head, and where their line-of-sight is directed," Akashi explained, in that strict and deprecating manner, like some sort of drillmaster, "As such, I will not have any of my people lowering their heads.”

For his part, Chihiro didn't see the point of all this, not the belt or his head position or whatever else. Because it wasn't like he was someone important, like Akashi or the Uncrowned Kings. It didn't really matter all that much if he looked the part or not - he was just Akashi's assistant. The role was easily replaceable, and Chihiro had the receipts for that (see: his conversation with the three idiots).

“Is all that really necessary? It's not like anyone will see me. Literally," Chihiro said matter-of-factly, as he frowned slightly at Akashi and shook his head, "I kind of fade into the background, if you hadn't noticed.”

“I am aware, and my answer is yes. It is absolutely necessary, Mayuzumi-san,” those magenta eyes shone bright and sharp as they looked at Mayuzumi. 

And then, Akashi walked behind him, arms crossed, and lips pursed, as he inspected Chihiro's hunched shoulders and slouched position, “That goes for your posture too. You should aim to keep your shoulders squared, and your back straight,” Akashi ordered him, and reflexively Chihiro stood tall and did exactly as Akashi said. Chihiro was disgusted with himself. What the hell was that? Why'd you listen to him straight away? Oi, are you a dog, Chihiro?

Akashi walked around him, so he was now face to face with Chihiro again. He looked at Chihiro with those piercing eyes, so sharp and clear, it felt like they were seeing straight through Chihiro. Safe to say, it made Chihiro uncomfortable whenever it happened - because people did not stare at him. And that suited Chihiro just fine. But as it had become obvious to Chihiro over the past four months at Rakuzan, Akashi was not like other people. He was a whole other calibre and frankly, Chihiro wasn't quite sure how to categorise him just yet. Feels like the energy of an alien or robot, but he definitely isn't one. I've seen him eat and sneeze, plus he's got allergies and intolerances, and those are human traits, right? 

Then, Akashi finally spoke, his voice firm and imploring as he addressed Chihiro directly, “Do not underestimate your importance. You are a representative of Rakuzan Collect. Whether people look at you or not is irrelevant. Carry yourself with the confidence that comes from being part of the best.”

“Whatever you say, Young Master,” Chihiro muttered under his breath, and if Akashi heard it, he clearly didn't care. Since he said nothing and turned to stride towards the large entrance doors. Chihiro inhaled a deep breath, then let it out slowly as he promptly followed him inside. 

.

.

About two hours into the afternoon, and it was progressing along as well as could be expected. Rakuzan Collect had a presence before they arrived, but once Akashi walked through the door it was like a magnifying effect. Akashi had already spoken to at least five different vendors from various charities, and not counting the other ones his executives were talking to as well. For his part, all Mayuzumi really had to do was follow Akashi around, cross-check things when Akashi asked him, and have something to eat and drink occasionally. Beats another day of slave labour in the monstrous high-rise glass tower of doom, Mayuzumi thought. 

They were currently in a brief lull, with Akashi not speaking to anyone as he was taking a moment to survey the area and see whom he would approach next. But it seemed the choice would be made for him, as Mayuzumi noticed a man with dark, chestnut brown hair and a strapping physique, dressed in a well-tailored navy blue suit, heading their way. Specifically, he had his eyes on Akashi.

"It is so good to see you again, Akashi-san. You have not attended the last couple of charity events, and your presence was dearly missed by everyone. Especially so for me," The man shook Akashi's hand, a bright and warm smile in place. But then his other hand came up and wrapped around it from the other side - so now Akashi's hand was encased by his two.

"Thank you, Minato-san. It is nice to see you too," Akashi greeted him cordially, a friendly smile in place as they shook hands. After a few seconds longer than what was considered conventionally appropriate, Minato released Akashi's hand and continued smiling at him. There was something about his smile though, that seemed a bit beyond the typical professional smile people at these events gave. This one seemed more personal and...intentional.

Chihiro had seen dozens of women swoon over Akashi - it was almost a daily occurrence at this point. So, he'd gotten somewhat used to it and now it was annoying to Chihiro more than anything else. He hadn't really considered it could work this way too. Mayuzumi thought it was rare, but he somehow knew this wasn't the first time this kind of thing happened.

But it was the first time for Mayuzumi to see a man approach Akashi in such a way. Mayuzumi was more used to seeing the guys who tried to intimidate or act superior to Akashi, or they outright hated Akashi's guts. Not guys who were...interested in Akashi, the way this guy seemed to be. Whether it was romantic or sexual or whatever - he was clearly trying to flirt and god, Chihiro wished he could slip away into the crowd right now and disappear. Talk about awkward, he lamented. 

Yet, unlike the Uncrowned Kings, the executives and C-suite members who were also here tonight, Chihiro's job was centred solely around assisting Akashi - so why the hell would he have a reason to go somewhere else right now? Fuck my life, now Chihiro had to stand here and listen to this shit. It wasn't like he was homophobic or anything like that, he's not actually a terrible person. But he was a self-proclaimed, anti-social introvert who preferred reading about this kind of thing in a novel than actually living through it himself. But oh well, sometimes you can't always get what you want. 

Mayuzumi had a vague remembrance of who this guy was - some C-suite member of a rival company, not the CEO but still one of the key players. What was it called, Arena & Co? Mayuzumi couldn't quite recall, but he did remember from his notes they were on the rise. Not anywhere close to Rakuzan of course, but they still had their own presence and popularity. 

For a while, the two of them caught up and talked business, so that was all well and good. Yet, the inevitable change of topic came on, brought about by Minato - of course. 

“Akashi-san, have you heard the latest composition by Alice Sara Ott?” Minato asked, a curious glimmer in his eyes as he looked over at Akashi expectantly. 

Mayuzumi had no idea who that was, but obviously Akashi did. He inclined his head in a nod, his tone pleasant as he replied, “Yes, just the other day. It was stunning."

“Indeed, it was. Ah, I remember you mentioned you play the piano. I just so happen to play the cello myself,” Minato admitted, his eyes eager but there was a slight bashfulness in his smile and yeah - that definitely gave off the 'trying to impress my crush' vibe that Mayuzumi had sensed earlier. 

It seemed to pique Akashi's interest, as his eyes widened slightly and he looked at Minato with renewed appraisal, "Oh, the cello? How interesting. Though I knew of your love for listening to many piano scores, I was not aware you too played an instrument."

“Perhaps we could talk even more about it over brunch? Or a trip to the vineyards?” Minato offered, a charming expression in place as he tilted his head to side. 

Not even over coffee but going to the vineyards. The rich take it to a whole other level, even for dating, Mayuzumi thought amusedly.

“That is a tempting offer, Minato-san. Unfortunately, I am tied up at the moment preparing for our global launch. All my focus is on that, so my down time is quite limited. I am sure you would understand that I do not wish to have any distractions at this time,” Akashi said respectfully, and even bowed his head apologetically to the man.

Ah, it's a one-sided thing, well now, that made sense. Mayuzumi didn't know this for a fact, but after those three had basically laughed at the idea of Akashi being in a relationship, he highly, highly doubted that Akashi even entertained the idea of romance in his life. 

Minato seemed slightly disappointed at the polite brush off but did not let it deter him from trying again, “I appreciate that you are a busy man, Akashi-san. That is why I would be more than happy to reschedule with you later down the track when your schedule is more open–”

“No, thank you. I would rather not,” Akashi answered, firmer this time, and his eyes hardened with a glimmer of that cold, unrelenting attitude.

Better walk away now Minato-san, before you incite Akashi-sama’s wrath, Mayuzumi thought to himself, mildly entertained but also mildly concerned for the man's safety.

But Minato must have missed that alarming glimmer in Akashi's eyes, and did not hear Mayuzumi's silent warning, as he persevered, "Are you sure? Perhaps if you take some time to think it over, you might-"

Too late, was Mayuzumi's last thought before said wrath appeared to be unlocked. Akashi took a step closer to Minato and addressed him in quiet voice, his tone scarily even and calm, "Persistence is admirable up until a certain point, before it comes dangerously close to being an unsightly show of desperation. I would not want to have to make you seem unsightly to everyone here, Minato-san." 

Basically, it was Akashi saying, 'back off or I can and will humiliate you by rejecting you in a way you won't misunderstand'.

“Ah. R-Right. Of course. I completely understand, Akashi-san,” Minato backpedalled so hard Mayuzumi thought he almost saw the literal wheels spinning in the man’s head. He then made some vague excuse about needing to leave and briskly walked off.

To think, this was the mild version, Chihiro mused. He could practically envision that if it was the other Akashi they were dealing with right now, Minato would have been on his knees already and apologising, saying he was wrong and begging for forgiveness. 

"You play the piano?" Mayuzumi asked as he sidled over closer to the CEO, as a means to break the ice after that awkward interaction. Because that look on Akashi's face and the intimidating aura he was radiating was seriously unnerving - it was making Mayuzumi uneasy. And he wasn't even the one Akashi was pissed at.

When he caught Akashi's attention, and he saw Akashi nod, Mayuzumi shrugged and added, "Huh, I would've taken you for the violin type." 

Akashi blinked once then shook his head, "No, you are correct. I also play the violin."

Of course you do, Mayuzumi thought snidely, but refrained from saying it out loud - because they were in public and he didn't feel like getting strips torn off him like what had just happened to good old Minato-san. 

"Do you play any instruments?" Akashi asked him, his head cocked to the side, and thankfully that scary expression from before was now replaced with slight curiousity. 

Mayuzumi gave a nod, "Pretty sure I remember how to play Chopsticks on the piano from school, but other than that, nope."

"I see. I take it you were not fond of it that much as you did not continue with it," Akashi presumed as he reached for a champagne flute full of sparkling water, and Chihiro let out a huff of amusement through his nose. 

"I took the lessons because the teacher gave everyone chocolate afterwards, so yeah, I wasn't going there for the music. Once I didn't have to take the classes anymore as part of the curriculum, I dropped it. Preferred writing," Chihiro explained, and not feeling comfortable having the conversation centre around himself for too long, he changed the subject slightly, "How long have you been playing?"

"I started the piano at 7 years old, and the violin when I was 8. Since then, I have been playing and learning both on a consistent basis," Akashi replied, and Mayuzumi shouldn't have been surprised as he was that Akashi still kept up with both instruments even now, well into his twenties. 

Mayuzumi raised an eyebrow as he asked, "You have time to do that still?"

Akashi tipped his head to the side, and seemed to find the question odd yet answered with natural ease, "I make the time as I consider it a non-negotiable in my weekly schedule. It is important for me to keep up the skills to continually better myself."

Well, that settled it. If Chihiro had not been sure before, he was certain of it now. Akashi was the busiest person Mayuzumi had met in his life. And he'd wager that even 50 years from now, Mayuzumi would never know anyone with a schedule as utterly jam-packed and crammed to the brim as Akashi Seijuurou. If Chihiro were to describe it, you would visualise everyone as a cup that was full to different levels depending on how much they had going on in their life. Akashi's cup was not even overflowing - it was a somehow bottomless cup that always seemed to find room for more. 

“Mayuzumi-san, I am going to the bathroom for a moment. Do you mind?” Akashi handed his champagne flute (full of sparkling water) towards Chihiro, who accepted it.

Chihiro nodded, “Sure, I’ll hold down the fort.”

For a few minutes, Chihiro enjoyed the blissful peace that came from being in his own presence and not needing to interact with anyone else. He could just people watch without the pressure of analysing or taking notes. It was almost nice...

...Until someone knocked into him from behind and Mayuzumi stumbled forward. The champagne flute moved with him, and though he didn't drop it, he spilled all the sparkling water over the floor and himself. Mayuzumi let out a frustrated sigh. Great, now I’m gonna have to get him a new one and explain why, because Akashi would absolutely notice it was a different glass. Not to mention the dampness of Mayuzumi’s shirt. 

When Mayuzumi turned around, he got a look at the guy who had bumped into him. The man had golden-blond hair and a double piercing in his left ear. Chihiro noticed a tribal tattoo on the left side of his neck that was crawling up from under his shirt collar. He was dressed in a silk burgundy shirt, with a white suit jacket and matching pants. His shoes were shiny, brown leather loafers. 

“What?” Chihiro asked, since the guy was staring at him and had an expectant look on his face.

One of his golden eyebrows rose critically, as he stared down his nose at Mayuzumi, “You going to apologise or just stare at me with those lifeless fish-eyes?”

Chihiro blinked once, twice, then said in a flat voice, “Think I’ll stick with the staring, thanks.”

"Ever heard of a rhetorical question, you idiot?" the man snapped back at him, his eyes flashing and brows drawn down in a muted anger - like he was holding back the aggressiveness that was just dying to come out, "Now stop messing around and give me your shitty, snivelling apology, or you'll see something you don't want to see."

"I'm already looking at it. But don't worry, I'll leave first and save us both the trouble," Chihiro remarked sardonically, as he made to leave. He wasn't going to waste any more time or energy on this obnoxious bastard. 

But Chihiro had only taken one step when he felt a hand shoot out and grab hold of his collar discreetly as he stepped closer to Chihiro, so very few people would notice it was an altercation and easily mistake it for a conversation between the two. Chihiro stopped on the spot at the unexpected physical force, and side-eyed the man who was glaring at him viciously.

"Hold on a minute, you piece of trash. I'm not done with you yet," the man threatened in a venemous hiss, and Chihiro was about to respond when he heard a familiar voice beat him to it.

“Accosting people at a charity event? As usual, your decorum is lacking, Nash.”

They both looked in the direction of said voice, and there was Akashi, standing about an arm's width away from them with an unreadable expression.

Then, the man's - Nash, was apparently his name - grin became sharp and slightly feral as he turned his gaze towards him, his grip slightly loosening on Mayuzumi, “Akashi. There you are. I've been looking for you. Is this one of your monkeys?”

“It’s Mayuzumi,” Chihiro stated coldly before Akashi could answer, as he threw Nash's hand away, dislodging the grip it had on his shirt as he took a step back to stand beside Akashi. 

Nash's teal eyes flicked over to him critically, then lit up with mirth as they looked back to Akashi, “Oh, he's a bold one. Better watch out Akashi, it might get him into trouble one day,” he said, and his voice lost some of its jest at the end, almost as if he was making an indirect threat. 

“Aside from berating and physically assaulting my assistant, is there any point to this interaction? If not, we will take our leave,” Akashi asked in a cold tone, and he appeared ready to walk off any second now regardless of Nash's response. Still, time and place seemed to hold him to his courteous manner. 

Nash's upper lip curled, and he sucked his teeth before he overtly made a show of looking around the room, “Attending this one without daddy dearest, I see. Where is he anyway? I was looking forward to seeing the show of the pathetic son continuing to try and garner his uncaring dad's favour. You two play it so perfectly," Nash finished, a crooked smirk in place as he stared Akashi down challengingly. 

Akashi barely blinked, as he answered in a neutral tone, "He is away on a business trip in Germany. He sends his apologies and regards for missing this event. Not that it is any of your business."

"Well, I s'pose you have to stop riding his coattails at some stage and join the big boys. It must have been nice that he could lay the groundwork for you and you found success so early on in your life. Good for you, Akashi,” Nash told him, his tone sickly sweet and clearly fake as all hell. 

“I am privileged, yes. But do not be so conceited to think you made it where you are all on your own either, Nash. Family is not the only privilege or head start we can have in life. You should know that,” Akashi replied, and the words seemed to strike a serious nerve in Nash, since his whole demeanour changed in seconds. 

Then, Nash took a step closer to Akashi. Then he leaned down and murmured in a voice that was only low enough for Akashi and Chihiro to hear. That voice was oozing resentment and hostility, as he said, “I have put in a hell of a lot more blood, sweat and tears into my brand than you could dream of, you entitled motherfucker.”

Mayuzumi himself was admittedly thrown off by the callous remark, because it was the first time he had seen someone so openly disrespect, degrade and speak down to Akashi. A lot of firsts happening tonight, the entertainment and suspense almost makes coming here worth it, Mayuzumi thought to himself. Nash clearly despised Akashi, even the way he looked at him dripped with disgust and loathing. 

But despite the clear attempt to initiate further argument, Akashi let the words roll right off his back, remaining calm and collected as he casually asked, “Are you perhaps aggravated because you heard about Rakuzan's pending international debut?”

Nash barked out a laugh as he stepped back, but it held no amusement or warmth as his smile dropped and he eyed Akashi like some sort of predator, “That's nothing short of a joke. You seriously think you can go global?" then, Nash scoffed, as threw his hand out towards Akashi mockingly, as if inviting him to speak, "Tell me how. Go ahead, Akashi. I could use a good laugh."

“Rather than tell you, I will show you soon enough,” Akashi responded smoothly, but his eyes flashed with pure intent and resolve.

Nash rolled his eyes and looked at Akashi with a dark grin, "If it doesn't fail before it even begins, that is."

"We won't fail. No matter what obstacles stand in my way, I will not lose," Akashi stated the words in a hard, decisive manner - like they were a well-known fact, and not up for debate. 

"I won't hold my breath," Nash said, as he knocked back a flute of champagne in one go. Then, he emitted a refreshed 'ahh', as he set the flute down on the nearby table and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He smirked as he half-turned around, "Well, this was fun. Let's do it again next time, Akashi."

He and Akashi watched Nash as he walked off, his switch flipped as he became effortlessly charming to a group of ladies he passed by. Only when he was out of earshot completely did Mayuzumi finally decide to speak. 

“Who was that? One of your sworn enemies?” Mayuzumi asked, to satiate his own curiousity for one thing, but to also break through the heavy and tense atmosphere Nash had left behind. 

Akashi crossed his arms as he continued to observe Nash while he moved around the room, back to his group of cronies (business associates, Mayuzumi corrected himself).

“That was Nash Gold, the CEO of Jabberwock Limited.”

“Jabberwock?”

Akashi's eyes flicked back over to him, “You’ve heard of them, I assume.”

“Pretty sure I own a couple of their shirts," Mayuzumi nodded, then looked over at Akashi with a stoic expression, "Looks like they're gonna find a new home in my garbage bin tonight.”

And Chihiro was dead serious, he was already trying to remember where he kept them for when he got home that night. And no, it wasn't because of his loyalty to Akashi or Rakuzan - come on, he'd only been there just over 4 months now, he wasn't that dedicated. But it was more that if Nash was the guy behind the brand, a certified lowlife douchebag like that, there was no way in hell Chihiro would be seen wearing their shit anymore. 

Akashi also looked like he knew Mayuzumi wasn't joking and emitted a quiet huff of amusement. Then, he eyed Mayuzumi's appearance and the empty champagne flute still in his hand, “I am guessing Nash is the reason your clothes are ruined and why most of my drink is on the floor,” he assumed, as he picked up one of the napkins (a quality material one made from linen, not the cheap reusable ones Mayuzumi bought at the shops), and handed it to Mayuzumi. 

“That’s some sharp detective skills you’ve got there, Akashi,” Chihiro confirmed, as he accepted the napkin and wiped away the liquid from where it had spilled onto his neck and dabbed at his shirt too. 

“That guy seems to seriously have it out for you. I can come up with plenty of reasons why, but wanna enlighten me?” Chihiro asked, and though he certainly could come up with a number of his own theories as to why Nash seemed to hate Akashi - somehow, he thought he wouldn't get any of them right. Only asking Akashi would guarantee him the whole, correct story. 

But it seemed that would have to wait, because Akashi lightly shook his head, “Perhaps another time. It is a long and troublesome story.”

And then, before Chihiro had a chance to ask any follow up questions - the three musketeers came ambling over towards them. Chihiro had seen them moving around the room quite a lot since they'd arrived and had lost track of them at some point. But, seemed they were back, their timing sure is something.

Immediately, Mibuchi seemed to sense there was something wrong, "Sei-chan, is everything alright? You look tense," he frowned, worried. 

Akashi nodded, his arms still crossed as he responded, "Yes. We just had a rather unpleasant conversation with Nash."

And Mayuzumi noticed how instantly, the other three looked a mixture of angry and apprehensive.

"What!? Nash is here!?" Mibuchi asked, visibly disturbed and irritated as he stepped closer to Akashi. 

"Where is that bastard!?" Nebuya growled, his voice fierce as his eyes shot all over the room, "he didn't try anything shady, right? Shit, sorry, I should have been here," then, he glanced back at Akashi apologetically, as he lowered his eyes remorsefully. 

"He couldn't have done anything extreme in this kind of setting anyway. Do not beat yourself up over something that did not happen, Nebuya," Akashi said pragmatically, though it seemed to do the job as Nebuya looked up again, the guilt less visible on his face.

"There they are! And that creep Silver is with him too," Hayama gestured over to a corner of the room where Nash and the others were. Then, he scowled and shook his head, "Ugh, they're seriously the worst. My mood's totally ruined now!"

"He wasn't on the guest list Mayuzumi-san prepared for us, but I guess that's his habit of turning up unnannounced. What did he want?" Mibuchi asked, as his eyes flew back to Akashi in concern. 

"I can guess that Nash must have bumped into Mayuzumi-san and took it personally when he did not apologise. Things almost became physical but thankfully Mayuzumi-san and I were able to de-escalate the situation. It was more of a status check than anything else, to put his feelers out and see where we're at. Nash is aware of our pending international launch and is clearly threatened by it," Akashi explained concisely. 

"That jerk needs to get over it. Like, it's been a year since it all went down, and he's still like this. Seriously, he's got issues," Hayama growled, an unkind glint flashing in his eyes as he shook his head whilst looking over in Nash's direction.

Well, now Mayuzumi was even more intrigued after seeing these three react to Nash's presence here. It seemed there was history and bad blood not only between Nash and Akashi, but the Uncrowned Kings as well. If he couldn't get the story out of Akashi, then maybe he could try and find out from them instead - though that ran the risk of pissing Akashi off when (not if, when) he found out Mayuzumi went behind his back to get the information after he had explicitly told Mayuzumi to wait. Ah, what to do? Guess I'll have to think on it, Chihiro decided. 

"Oi, you all good, Mayuzumi?"

Nebuya's voice pulled him out of his internal debate, and he glanced over to find the man looking at him with mild concern - probably worried Nash had done something during their little conflict. 

Mayuzumi nodded and shrugged, "Yeah, pretty much. Just pissed off."

Nebuya snorted and nodded heartily, "You got that right. Props for not apologising to him, though. That bastard is the last person who deserves an apology for anything," he ended the sentence with a touch more spite than what he started it with. 

"Should we end the night here, Sei-chan?" Mibuchi asked, as his eyes flicked from Nash back over to Akashi warily. 

But not that surprisingly, Akashi shook his head, "No, we will not let an unpleasant occurrence interfere with our plans. We will stay until the event is over, there are still other people I wish to speak to and network with."

And so, as per Akashi's wishes, they continued on with the evening just like that. No more notable confrontations or memorable conversations came up, it was just as Akashi said - him networking with a bunch of people, and Mayuzumi staying near him to run any errands or jot down any notes Akashi might have needed. 

Seijuurou emitted a frustrated sigh, irritated with himself, as he took his hands off the keys and stepped away from the piano - before he lost his temper and considered doing something childish, like slamming the lid down forcefully and storming out of the room. He walked across the room and stood in front of the large, floor length glass window, his posture stiff and shoulders tense as he gazed down at the crawling cityscape below him. It was as bustling as ever on this Friday evening, with the bright lights from the nearby buildings and cars on the road glittering over the dark night sky. 

This was going on his 5th week of practising the composition Le Gibet from Ravel, and Seijuurou was still having trouble with it. Le Gibet was known to be technically simple because of the slow tempo and the mostly simple chords, but it was notoriously difficult to play with the correct phrasing and dynamics. The piece was a slow moving one that makes you painfully aware of the eerie feeling that must be conveyed along with the multiple voices that need to be balanced to keep the melody on top.

His inability to learn the song after this long was surely vexing, but Seijuurou would admit he was also vexed about something else. His altercation with Nash at the charity dinner was still unpleasantly weighing on his mind. He had not expected the man to stay quiet once he heard of their global launch, though for Nash to confront him at such a public event without any regard surely spoke volumes of his continual hostility. Now, the rest of his team was unsettled, and Seijuurou would need to get them back on course so as not to lose their focus or calm. 

His phone vibrated, and Seijuurou picked it up off the nearby coffee table to check his messages:

> Father: I have just arrived home from the airport. The trip went as well as expected. We shall meet later in the week to discuss. 

Seijuurou stared down at his phone screen for a few seconds. He wasn't surprised. For his father to act normally and message him as if they had not had an argument a week ago, and having barely spoken since then, was nothing out of the ordinary. In all his life, Seijuurou had not heard his father apologise or admit he was wrong. He expected he never would. 

> I will need to check my schedule first before we make any plans. Thank you for letting me know you arrived. Enjoy your evening, father.

Yet, as it currently was, Seijuurou was not going to let another falling out with his father affect him. Clearly, it did not affect his father that much, if at all. Seijuurou too would move past it, but he would also not apologise either. All while he tried to ignore the nagging feeling that each time it happened, the distance between him and his father grew a little more. 

His mind felt cluttered with too many thoughts circling around all at once. The conflict with his father, Nash, the mounting pressure at work, and the inability to practice this song without making a mistake. Seijuurou needed to change something right now before he either lost his temper or spiralled and wasted the rest of his evening because his emotions got the best of him.

Should I cut piano practice short today and move onto violin earlier? 

The question prompted an unexpected memory from earlier in the week, at the charity event. It was during a conversation with Mayuzumi where the man had been surprised Seijuurou played the piano, and the violin. The conversation led to Mayuzumi revealing he knew how to play something on the piano, but only one song.

"Chopsticks, huh?" Seijuurou asked, recalling the specific (and only) song Mayuzumi had mentioned that he knew how to play on the piano. 

Such a basic and simple song, Seijuurou thought. He had not played it since he was a child, one of the first he'd practised when he started learning the piano. It was one he could play without even looking at the keys. No, he could practically play it in his sleep.

Even so, he walked back over to the piano and sat back down on the bench. Then, he settled his hands above the keys and started to play. The tone was fast-paced and the movements were quick, a stark contrast to the concentration and slowness Seijuurou had used for Le Gibet. The energetic feeling was almost infectious, but before Seijuurou knew it, the song had finished and his hands were still. Of course, since it was barely a minute long. It was not a ballad or sonet. 

Seijuurou smiled and let out a soft huff of amusement, as he thought to himself, anyone could learn how to play this, it's not impressive or complicated to achieve. And somehow, the fact that Mayuzumi only knew how to play this song on the piano seemed to fit the man's personality like a glove. Mayuzumi could have easily brushed off the question and said he didn't play any instruments, yet the fact he made a point to tell Seijuurou he knew how to play this one basic song truly encapsulated the amount of pride and self-importance Mayuzumi possessed.

He is one who does not enjoy being in the centre of the spotlight, but dislikes having his efforts overlooked or ignored. Like he wants to catch glimpses of the light but then inevitably returns to the comfort of the shadows. 

Seijuurou then played Chopsticks once more, and after that, he recalled some other familiar, easy songs he knew by heart in the back of his mind - but had not played nor thought of in years. The common ones, like Happy Birthday, Twinkle Twinkle, Jingle Bells - even Fur Elise. 

To Seijuurou's surprise, his focus was sharper when he returned to practising Le Gibet after the brief interlude in which he played the childish and familiar songs. He had not completed the piece perfectly with no mistakes - but he had gotten further along in his progression of the song before he made his first mistake. Seijuurou paused for a moment, his fingertips resting featherlight on top of the keys, as he realised that even though he viewed the songs as simple now, they had once been a challenge to him. Something new that he did not know, yet he had learned them and now they were easy for him.

That's right, he had to keep reminding himself, just like his therapist reminded him too - growth of any kind was not a straight line. Even if he failed sometimes, it was okay, because that meant he was getting closer to becoming better. To become the best. 

"I see. Simplicity truly is the ultimate sophistication," Seijuurou said aloud to himself, a slight upward curve in his lips, as his shoulders and posture relaxed and he resumed his practice. 

Chapter Text

Mibuchi was on annual leave this whole week helping out and attending his sister’s wedding. Though the person who was covering Mibuchi’s work as Chief of HR while he was away was surely competent - Nakamura Yuna, General Manager for the HR department - she wasn’t as good as Mibuchi, obviously. 

Mayuzumi could tell by the way Akashi was slightly more irritated when he was dealing with anything involving her, as she did things differently to how he preferred. 

Even though Mayuzumi knew Mibuchi would have left detailed, explicit instructions on what to do and how to do it (because duh that was just something you do when Akashi Seijuurou was your direct manager and boss), she still struggled at times, made mistakes, and worked at a slower pace than usual.

On one Wednesday morning around 8:30am, Mayuzumi came across Nakamura on his way back from the bathroom. He had been clocked in since 7:45 this morning, since Akashi had a slew of meetings lined up for the day and wanted to get a headstart on his schedule for the day so that everything was in order. 

Mayuzumi had greeted him when he arrived, but aside from that he hadn’t seen much of Akashi since the man had his first meeting booked in for 8:30am. 

Anyway, he came across Nakamura and noticed that she seemed slightly…stressed. She seemed to be pacing around in circles, and Chihiro got dizzy just from looking at her.

So, he decided to intervene, “Everything okay, Nakamura?”

“Hm? Ah!” she startled at his ‘sudden’ appearance, clutching her clipboard full of papers to her chest. Then, when she recognised him, she relaxed, “Oh, it’s you, Mayuzumi-san. Sorry! Good morning!”

“Morning,” Chihiro nodded back, and then Nakamura seemed to remember he had asked her a question.

“Yes, um, everything is fine! It’s just, I’ve come across a minor hiccup,” she said, as she pursed her lips together and looked down at her papers again in consternation.

“What is it?” Chihiro questioned, and Nakamura looked up at him. 

“Well, we have new starters coming in this morning at 9am for their orientation presentation and tour. But it seems that there has been a schedule clash that I was unaware of, and I have a meeting with another employee for a performance review at the same time.”

Then, she lifted her thumb and finger up to grip her chin thoughtfully while she explained, “And the rest of my team is busy either in meetings with our staff or with clients, so there’s really no one else except me who can do both of these tasks.”

Well, shit , that sure did sound like a big problem. Mayuzumi frowned, and Nakamura continued to explain. 

“We're short-staffed as well since a few other team members have taken sick leave unexpectedly today, and despite Mibuchi-san's excellent foresight and planning, some things happen unexpectedly!" Nakamura smiled at him with a grin that seemed half-forced and sort of anxious, but then waved her clipboard through the air without a care, "But don't worry, I will sort it out. There's a way around it!"

Chihiro knitted his brows together, "How?"

“Um, well. I can give the new starters lots of reading material to keep them busy for a while! Or maybe find one of our orientation videos they can watch!” Nakamura suggested, and though Chihiro knew she was trying to figure it out, he also knew she was grasping at straws. 

Rakuzan Collect was known for its reputation, and especially so when welcoming new members of staff to the company. No matter their rank or position or job title, they were all valued and treated as an important part of the team from their first day. 

If word got back to Akashi about this, the CEO would surely not be happy. Akashi put a lot of time and effort into staff retention and worked closely with the HR department to ensure this was upheld continuously. 

And if Akashi wasn’t happy or displeased with something in his company, then Mayuzumi’s life became harder by default. 

"Forget it. Give me the orientation packs. I'll do the tour of the building," Chihiro suggested before he could overthink it, as he held out his hand towards her.

Nakamura’s eyes grew as wide as saucers, and she then shook her head rapidly, "Eh!? No, no! I can't ask you to do that Mayuzumi-san! You have your own work you need to focus on!"

And well, that sure was true. Chihiro was hesitant to do this for obvious reasons - the most overt one being that Akashi had chewed him out last time he passed his work onto someone else or neglected it. 

But if something like this was overlooked, then surely Akashi would be even more pissed about it? And if he found out that Chihiro could have intervened or offered assistance and didn’t – well Chihiro had no desire to find out what Akashi would say or do then. 

“This stuff is more important. I’m sure Akashi would agree, but if he doesn’t, I’ll talk to him about it later. He’s in a meeting right now so I can’t ask him. I’ll just do it,” Chihiro asserted, and though he really would rather stay in his lane and do his own work, he also had to remember he was part of a team. 

“Oh my–thank you so much Mayuzumi-san! Seriously, you’re a lifesaver!” Nakamura beamed up at him gratefully, as she turned and gestured for Mayuzumi to follow her, “come with me to my office! I’ll give you the orientation packs and a quick runover of everything you need to cover!”

So, from 9 AM until just before 10 AM, Chihiro welcomed the new staff that was starting with them today. Thankfully it was only a small group of about three people, and they were all starting in the sales department which made things way easier. 

He didn’t think he was necessarily the best first impression you got of an employee at Rakuzan, but the new starters didn’t seem to mind. They were all pretty young and still in awe that they had actually landed a job at such a prestigious company. 

He finished right on time when Nakamura came rushing over, having finished the performance review and ready to take the reins back from Chihiro. More than happy to hand them over, Chihiro took the elevator back up to Akashi’s office level. 

“Chihiro, there you are,” Akashi’s voice drifted over to him as soon as Chihiro sat down at his desk. He was about to get up, but Akashi held up his hand, signalling him to remain seated as he stepped further into Chihiro’s office. 

“I heard about your efforts this morning in assisting the HR department. Nakamura was very thankful for your assistance,” Akashi said lightly, and Chihiro really wasn’t surprised that he knew what had happened already. 

“Yeah. That reminds me, sorry I didn’t ask you first. I just figured that helping out new employees came first before my work. You can redo a report, but you can’t undo a first impression. You get what I mean?” Chihiro said, and Akashi chuckled lightly as he nodded. 

“I do. That was quick thinking on your part. I commend you for readily taking action. Such clashes can happen on a daily basis here, and it was your first time encountering such a situation but you kept your wits about you, as I expected you would,” Akashi stated, an undertone of satisfaction in his voice as he looked at Mayuzumi. 

And it was at that moment that Chihiro realised he was an idiot. Because the way Akashi was responding to this was neither surprised nor curious, but calm and collected. Because Akashi had known this would happen from the start. 

Or rather, Akashi was the one that made it happen.

"It was a test, wasn't it?" Chihiro asked him astutely, his eyes narrowed shrewdly. 

Akashi blinked, and then smiled at him, "I prefer to think of it as a team-building and problem-solving exercise."

That confirmed it. The whole ‘schedule clash’ was done on purpose by Nakamura, and she intentionally must have gone to where Mayuzumi was so she would ‘bump’ into him. 

"I hope you will not hold it against Nakamura, as she was following my instructions," Akashi stated, and Chihiro realised that she was in on it as well. 

So, Akashi acting irritated with Nakamura up until now was all an act, too. Seriously, Chihiro couldn’t believe someone could be so strategically manipulative – yet it wasn’t like Akashi used it badly, he was using it to better his staff and company. But still, it felt kinda weird he had been doing everything Akashi planned without knowing until now. 

"Shifting your work onto others is one thing, but taking the initiative to assist a colleague when they are struggling is something else entirely. You did well, Chihiro," Akashi praised him sincerely, and Chihiro willingly ignored and pushed down the part of him that appreciated the acknowledgement.

"Once you complete your non-negotiables and priorities you had scheduled for today, you may finish early today. Do not worry, you will still be paid for a full day of work, no matter what time you finish," Akashi explained, and Chihiro’s eyes widened as the CEO turned, closed the door and left.

He couldn’t believe his ears. Holy shit, an early mark? Is this real?  

Chihiro might actually get home by 5 or 6 PM tonight. If being semi-manipulated meant he could leave early for being able to pass his boss’s weird tests, then Chihiro would welcome it every time. 

So, he powered through all his work, and managed to get all the priority tasks done by 4:51 PM. He let Akashi know he was heading out, and Akashi merely nodded, thanked him for his hard work, and wished him a good evening.

When Chihiro got back to his apartment around 5:42 PM, he actually had spare time up his sleeve. Once he got home, he got in his exercise clothes and went to the gym for a workout. Then, he ate dinner when he got back, and once he was sitting down on his couch, his eyes wandered over to his laptop. 

And for the first time in a long while, more than a few months, he got the urge to look at his draft and maybe even...write? Wild, he knows, but the feeling was there. That itching and niggling feeling in the back of his mind, that if he had the screen in front of him then the rest would flow.

And it did. He only wrote about 700 words, but that was better than he'd done in way too long. 

Chihiro stared at the screen and a small smile curved around his lips. His inspiration was coming back to him, slowly but surely. 

He even thought he might actually finish this damn book one day. And he only thought that with about 50% sarcasm this time. Progress is progress, he told himself. 

"Sorry to interrupt, but there's a delivery for you," Chihiro said as he stood in the doorway of Akashi’s office.

Akashi looked up from his three computer screens curiously, as he pushed back from his chair and stood up, "Oh? Who is it from?"

"One of your clients. Must be for that deal you recently signed for them. There's a card," Mayuzumi explained as Akashi walked over to the doorway. He handed the unopened envelope to Akashi, who took it and opened it up to read. 

Then, he followed Mayuzumi outside his office where a small coffee table was set up right beside it. They both glanced at the table in front of them which held the aforementioned gift. 

The table was covered in bouquets of beautiful white flowers. So many of them are in different kinds – chrysanthemums, lilies and roses. All the purest shades of white.

But when Chihiro looked over at Akashi, his reaction was not what he’d expected. Akashi stared at the flowers blankly, but it was different to the usual blank expression Akashi showed when he felt neutral or impassive about something. Though his face remained blank, this time, his eyes seemed to be clouded over with some sort of feeling.  

“Please distribute these around the offices. They should not be kept away only in mine,” Akashi said to him, and though the words held seemingly from good intentions behind them, Chihiro caught sight of the tense lines around Akashi’s mouth when he smiled. 

It gave him the feeling that rather than being generous, Akashi did not want the flowers anywhere near him. 

So, Chihiro decided to test that theory, “You want me to keep any in here?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. They will be much more appreciated by other members of staff than myself,” Akashi brushed him off smoothly, but his eyes still held that strange look in them. Nevertheless, Chihiro did as he was told and went to work delivering the many bouquets of flowers to different offices and floors of the Rakuzan Collect building. 

What was even weirder after that, though, was that Akashi seemed...distracted? For most of the day, actually. Chihiro had seen it a few times, and it was more than a little confusing and definitely uncomfortable. Akashi was not one to be distracted by anything unless a literal fire hit the building - at least, that's what Chihiro would have said before today. 

Chihiro came to knock on Akashi's office door, waited to be invited in, and then said, "Hey, the focus group teleconference is starting in 15 minutes. I've got the room set up and it's all good to go. Did you need anything else?"

And Akashi actually looked mildly startled at the question. His eyes flicked down on his computer screen, likely checking the time, and when he confirmed it was in fact what Chihiro had told him, he seemed more alert than before. Not quite flustered - because Akashi never looked flustered - but his movements were quicker and almost rushed. 

"Thank you, Mayuzumi-san. I will head in now and let you know if I need anything further," Akashi told him, as he gathered some of his papers together for the focus group and pulled out some folders and binders he needed as well. 

Mayuzumi nodded, then left him to it. He caught Akashi walking inside the teleconference room with one minute to spare before the meeting started, which was odd since Akashi always made sure he was at least 5-10 minutes early where possible for his meetings. 

Then later, it reached midday, and Mayuzumi waited for Akashi to let him know when he was taking lunch. Akashi didn't have a set time he ate at, but it generally fell anywhere between 12:00-1:30pm depending on how busy of a day he had in front of him. He didn't eat any later than that, and when Chihiro noticed the time was already 1:34, he couldn't wait anymore and decided to ask Akashi himself (Chihiro had scoffed down his lunch at his desk earlier so luckily, he had already eaten or else he'd have starved by now waiting for Akashi to eat first).

Chihiro knocked again, waited to enter, then asked, "What are you doing for lunch? Do I need to go and get something or you're going out?"

Akashi looked at him, blinked, then tipped his head to the side as he asked, "Isn't it a bit early to be asking me that, Mayuzumi-san?"

Chihiro furrowed his brows together, "It's just after 1:30, if anything isn't it kinda late?"

Akashi's eyes widened slightly, as he glanced at his computer ( again , checking the time which Chihiro had never seen him do until today).

Now that was definitely weird. Because Akashi was never one to lose track of time. Sure, he had moments where his meetings went overtime, or things would get pushed back, but this was due to other people changing plans and Akashi was able to adapt to this accordingly. Even the fact that Mayuzumi had to come and personally remind him and Akashi genuinely had forgotten was strange, because although Mayuzumi reminded him of things he needed to do throughout the day, it was more of a courtesy than anything else. Akashi knew his own schedule inside and out, like the back of his own hand, and usually had already moved onto the next task when Mayuzumi came to remind him, though appreciated Mayuzumi keeping him accountable all the same. 

"I did not realise that was the time. I have a meeting at 2 o'clock, so I will not have time to go out. I do not think I will leave my office the remainder of the afternoon," Akashi stated, and his lips downturned slightly which gave away how much that thought displeased him. 

So Chihiro took the initiative and offered, "Then I'll go bring you something. Where should I go?"

"Maple Corner. Get me an Americano iced coffee and choose anything from my recent orders," Akashi said decisively, as he pulled out his credit card from his desk and handed it over to Mayuzumi across the desk, "I am not overly fussed on eating today, but I should replenish my energy for this afternoon."

Mayuzumi nodded as he got his phone out and tapped into the app for Maple Corner to make an online order. He checked the order history and clicked on the first item at the top of the list - a roast pumpkin, haloumi and bacon croissant with a side salad. Since Akashi didn't ask for anything specifically and said he wasn't that hungry, Mayuzumi wasn't about to waste energy trying to figure out what to get him. Then he added the iced Americano and after putting through the credit card details, the order went through, and the app said it would be ready in about 15 minutes. Mayuzumi headed out to start walking so he would get there just on time for it to be ready for pick up. 

By the time he got back Akashi was already in the online meeting, so Mayuzumi dropped the food and drink on his desk. Akashi glanced away for the briefest second to nod at him in gratitude, then returned his attention to the screen. 

Mayuzumi then went to grab a drink from the dining hall, and of course got ambushed to join the Uncrowned Kings yet again. How are they always here whenever I go to the dining hall? Chihiro thought in annoyance.

"Glad to hear you passed Sei-chan's tick of approval, Mayuzumi-san," Mibuchi said, as the three of them crowded around the vending machine Chihiro was currently in front of and putting his money into. The man had returned back from his leave yesterday. 

"You knew about that, huh?" Chihiro asked, eyebrow raised, as he tapped on an iced green tea and watched as it fell.  

"Naturally. Sei-chan ran it by me and Nakamura-san before I left,” Mibuchi said as he scrolled through his phone, and yeah , Chihiro should have seen that one coming. 

“Aha! Here it is, Eikichi. This is the cake they ordered for the wedding," Mibuchi then held his phone over towards Nebuya, and Mayuzumi leaned down to pick up his green tea out of the vending machine. 

Nebuya stared down at the picture on the phone with wide, sparkling eyes, like a kid in a dessert shop, "Damn, that looks good! Can you send me the name of the bakery? Miki-chan's birthday is coming up so I wanna get her a real nice one!"

“Not a worry, I can do that,” Mibuchi nodded.

"Whoa, the bouquet's nice! Did you catch it Reo-nee?" Hayama commented, as he leaned on Nebuya to get a glimpse of the photo.

"I joined in with the ladies but unfortunately they were all far keener to catch it than I was. It was so intense!" Mibuchi shivered at the memory of it, and though Chihiro had never been to a wedding, he knew the girls could get serious when it came to bouquet throwing. 

Personally, he didn’t understand the hype himself. But he also wasn’t a girl, so maybe that had something to do with it. 

Then, Hayama tapped at his head as if he recalled something, and he looked up at Mayuzumi curiously, "Ah, that reminds me, I've seen white flowers all over the building this morning. Akashi must have gotten a delivery of them, huh?"

Chihiro paused, mildly surprised, then nodded, "Yeah, actually. Wait, how did you know they were delivered to Akashi?"

"'Cause Akashi never orders white flowers for the building. Not even any of the pot plants have flowers that are white. Whenever they're here, it's always 'cause someone else sent them to Rakuzan," Hayama revealed, and Chihiro was sort of satisfied to know his hunch had been right and Akashi had a problem with the flowers. 

"What's with that? Does he think they're bad luck or something?" Chihiro asked, as he tried to come up with some sort of explanation. Hopefully, the three musketeers would have some answers for him. 

Mibuchi leaned forward eagerly, as if the very same question had plagued his mind, as he responded to Chihiro, "We don't know, it's so puzzling! Sei-chan has never given us an explanation, no matter how many times we ask. It's still a mystery to us unfortunately."

"Yeah, we just know he really doesn't like them. Like, he won't throw them away since they're usually gifts from his clients or investors. But he refuses to have any in his office or within his common areas. That's why they end up all over the building. Kinda works out anyway, since the clients or investor who gifted them can see them when they come in," Nebuya told him, and what he was saying tracked because that was basically what happened this morning when the flowers showed up. 

Hayama nodded and hummed, "It's super weird for sure, but I mean, it is Akashi. We've just chalked it up to another one of his unusual quirks, since he's got a few of those."

"You mean how he plays Shogi by himself if he can't find an opponent?" Nebuya asked with a snort, and Mibuchi nodded. 

"Mhm, and how Sei-chan is unable to make any jokes yet will look one up if he hears it in a meeting just so he can understand the context and meaning behind it," Mibuchi sighed, a fond exasperation in his voice as he clicked his tongue in concern like a worried elder sister. 

"Or how he can maintain eye contact with you while doing something completely different! That one kind of creeps me out," Kotaro pulled a face as his shoulders bunched up in a wince, "One time he stared at me and held a whole conversation while he was shuffling papers and putting them into separate trays at his desk. Like, how did he know which tray was for which paper!?"

"Long story short, we don't know why he does it. Just add it to the long list of things Akashi does 'just because'," Nebuya shrugged at Mayuzumi, and that was pretty much all the information they seemed to have on the subject.

Chihiro's eyebrows knit together, as the other three changed topics and he tuned out. Was it really just another one of Akashi's quirks? Something he disliked because of some vague or bizarre reason? Maybe he'd had a bad experience, and the white flowers were part of that, so he had a negative connotation with them.

Either way, the flowers' presence clearly threw Akashi off, so Chihiro made a mental note to remember it for next time. He didn't think Akashi would fire him over something trivial like flowers, but he could never be 100% sure. Now that he knew, he had no excuse – which is probably why Akashi went easy on him this time. 

It would be better for Chihiro to take care of it himself and make sure Akashi didn't see them if any white flowers got delivered to Rakuzan again in the future. 

.

.

As Seijuurou left the office that evening, his eyes fell on the sight of the white flowers he had been delivered around the ground level of the building. He stopped walking, standing still in the middle of the ground floor of the building. He had avoided looking at them like the plague today since they'd first arrived that morning, but now he had no choice but to see them. And looking at them like this called back a particular memory he tried not to think of too often...

It was a wall of flowers. Seijuurou had never seen such a thing before. It was so beautiful to look at, they were so delicate and lovely. In the centre of it all was something even prettier - a picture of his mother, smiling. Seijuurou stared up at the wall with wide, trembling eyes, his lips parted as he stared at his mother's picture. At 11 years old, he was still trying to understand that for the rest of his life, this was the only way he could ever see his mother - in a photograph.   

Seijuurou turned to look up at his father and asked, "Father, why do we only have white flowers?" 

His father continued looking ahead at the memorial wall, as he answered Seijuurou in a stoic, inscrutable tone, "Because white flowers symbolise sympathy and remembrance. They are typically seen at funerals, and that is why they are here," he explained, and Seijuurou blinked as he absorbed the information. And the answer made sense, logically, but it didn't feel right to Seijuurou. 

So, he shook his head and asked innocently, "But mother liked pink and red flowers the most. Why don't we have her favourite flowers?"

He didn't understand why they couldn't have the white flowers and the red and pink ones. If his mother could see them right now, wherever she was, Seijuurou wanted her to be able to see things she liked.

Could she see them? Could she hear them? Even if they couldn't see or hear her anymore? Seijuurou didn't know if such a thing was even possible. But on the chance that it was, he felt like they should do their best to make her smile and feel happy, since she wasn't alive and next to them. 

His father, however, seemed to feel entirely the opposite. His expression hardened, as he turned to look down at Seijuurou with a stern expression, "She is not here, Seijuurou. It does not matter what the flowers look like, whether they are her favourite or not. The ones I chose are adequate enough.”

“Also, we are to be respectful and grateful for the fact so many people have left additional ones at her memorial as well," his father added, as he fixed Seijuurou with an expectant gaze, as if he was waiting for his response. So, Seijuurou gave it to him. 

“Yes, father,” Seijuurou nodded, and for a brief moment, he thought about reaching out to hold his father’s hand. It was hanging by his side, right next to Seijuurou. He didn’t think his father would give him a hug like his mother did, but maybe just holding his hand for a little while would be okay.

But just as Seijuurou was about to lift his own hand, his father was approached by a relative, and his attention left Seijuurou. He turned away from his son and spoke to Seijuurou’s aunt, while Seijuurou stood there and looked at his father’s back. 

Then, when his heart started to hurt, he looked back over at his mother and the flowers. It still hurt, but at least in the picture she was smiling at Seijuurou. It was almost like she was really there.

But she wasn’t, and never would be again. 

Seijuurou blinked as the memory faded, and he stared at the vase of white chrysanthemums, roses and lilies. He reflected on his performance at work today and frowned in disappointment for his lack of time management and absent-mindedness. 

How embarrassing for my staff to see me in such a state, Seijuurou reprimanded himself. Particularly for Mayuzumi, who had suffered the most from Seijuurou’s poor focus today. Though Mayuzumi had not complained nor confronted Seijuurou about it, Seijuurou could tell that the man had noticed. He had caught a few times the puzzled expressions Mayuzumi showed when he thought no one was looking at him. Yet, unlike everyone else, Seijuurou always noticed him whenever he came into a room, so he had seen how confused Mayuzumi was by his strange behaviour.

It had been some time since the company had been gifted white flowers, so Seijuurou assumed he would have had a different reaction this time. But unfortunately, it seemed that it was still the same. 

He let out a soft, quiet sigh that he would have stifled if there were people around. But given the late hour, he was thankfully alone. Seijuurou then went around to set the alarm for the building, turned off all the lights, and headed out the front door. 

“Sei-chan’s father will be visiting next week. Mayuzumi-san, do you know what that means?” Mibuchi asked, his eyebrows raised expectantly. 

Chihiro had no idea, but decided to hazard a guess anyway, “Time to roll out the welcome mat and get him the ‘best dad ever’ mug?” he asked, his expression flat and his voice deadpan.  

“See! That! That is exactly what I mean!” Mibuchi said, exasperated as he pointed at Mayuzumi accusingly. 

Mayuzumi leaned back in his chair, his face screwed up in irritation, “What?”

Chihiro really had to try and change up the times he went to go and get coffee from the large, on-site kitchenette. Why? Because the three musketeers had seemingly figured out his patterns of when he came for his caffeine fix and used it against him to ambush him - like right now. All Chihiro wanted was to make a nice, large cappuccino with the flash coffee machine he wouldn't be able to afford for another year but no. He had to deal with this instead.

This being the apparent drama of Akashi Masaomi - AKA the CEO of Akashi Enterprises - AKA Akashi's dad - coming to visit Rakuzan Collect.

“Listen, you can’t act like yourself when Akashi-san visits. No sarcasm or back-talk allowed! It will be hard enough having him here for a whole day, maybe more if he changes his mind while he's here. So, I’m just telling you. Don’t make things harder on Sei-chan,” Mibuchi warned him, his eyes narrowed at Mayuzumi critically. Nebuya and Hayama didn't say anything, but in the background they also held serious expressions, which told Mayuzumi that this wasn't something Mibuchi was overexaggerating or being dramatic about. 

So, Chihiro rolled his eyes and gave a nod to show he understood, “Whatever. I’m literally just here to get my hours in and go home, and I know how to shut my mouth. It’s my job to disappear into the background, remember?”

“Maybe, but your pride doesn’t match your presence. Honestly, you’re pretty arrogant sometimes,” Hayama said, as he crossed his arms up behind his head light-heartedly, with the other two heartily agreeing in the background. 

Says you guys, Chihiro wanted to respond abrasively. But as much as he wanted to snap back, Chihiro also was not in the mood for a confrontation.

So instead, he changed topics, “What’s Akashi’s dad like?”

“Eh, how to put it? Akashi and his dad are so similar, yet totally different. Does that make sense?” Nebuya asked, as he scratched the back of his head and looked at Mayuzumi expectantly. 

Chihiro furrowed his brows, as he bluntly replied, “No.”

"Well, he's a CEO and an obsessed workaholic too, but he's way more intense and intimidating. Like, you can feel his presence before he even sets foot in a room," Hayama explained, shuddering slightly at the mere mention of the man. 

Nebuya nodded as he chugged back a large gulp of his protein shake, "Yeah. You think Akashi's a hardliner? Just spend five minutes with his old man and then you'll be saying Akashi's got the patience of a saint."

"I swear, last year one of the new graduates almost quit when Akashi’s dad criticised them for their work ethic and not acting professionally in the office. You wanna know what they did?” Hayama paused as he reached for one of the flavoured mochi in the sweets jar on the table. Then, he looked at Mayuzumi with a grimace, “They smiled when they greeted the receptionist and made a joke with her. Akashi-san didn’t like that. At all."

"The poor boy, I saw it happen, and he turned white as a ghost," Mibuchi shook his head and sighed sympathetically, "It was only his second week working here. I felt so awful for him when I walked in on him crying in the bathroom later on,"

"For real, dude is next level scary and treats everyone who's below his tax bracket like dirt. But hey, when you're worth what Akashi Masaomi is worth, you can get away with a hell of a lot," Nebuya said with a frown as he shook his head. 

"Akashi hates it when he comes to visit, just FYI. So, if he's more on edge than usual, that's why," Hayama added helpfully.

"They don't get along?" Chihiro asked, though he already thought he knew the answer to it. 

“Not really. It's difficult to explain, but you'll understand when you see Sei-chan with his father," Mibuchi stated, stirring his coffee with a spoon and then taking a sip, "Things have always been tricky between them from what we’ve gathered over the years. But it got worse after Sei-chan turned down his dad’s offer to work for Akashi Enterprises and started his own company.”

Nebuya nodded, as he reached for the sweets jar and shoved about five pieces of mochi into his mouth and spoke while chewing, “Dunno if the old man felt betrayed or what, but he refused to help Akashi with the start-up at all. His father doesn’t even own any shares in Rakuzan Collect, and limits his professional association with Akashi as much as possible."

“At that charity thing, Nash was going on about how Akashi was riding his dad’s coat tails and wouldn’t shut up about the two of them,” Chihiro explained, recalling how Nash implied Akashi had only made it to where he is now because of his privilege and his father's connections in the industry. It seemed like this wasn't the case, though. 

“That’s because Nash is a crude, unintelligible neanderthal who doesn’t know anything about anything. It’s just one of the infuriating ways he looks down on Sei-chan, and Rakuzan," Mibuchi responded, frustration leaking through his tone. Then, he scowled and set his coffee cup down on the bench with a hard thud, "Honestly, the nerve! Just because Nash's own parents don’t want anything to do with him and he thinks he 'made it' all on his own. Don't make me laugh! He's the worst!”

“Don’t get mad Reo-nee! Remember, you told me to stop you anytime you frown since you’ll get wrinkles,” Hayama hastily reminded him, as he tapped on his own forehead then pointed Mibuchi's in concern. 

Mibuchi gasped, breathed in, then let it out slowly, “Ah, that’s right. Thank you, Kotaro,” he said, as he forcibly relaxed his face. 

Chihiro shook his head, confused, "If he doesn't have any stakes in Rakuzan, then why is he coming for an on-site visit?"

"Because he's a psycho control freak who micromanages literally everyone including his own son?" Hayama pitched the idea randomly, then blew a sigh past his lips and grimaced, "I don't know, we think it's his whacky way of showing interest in Akashi and his business, but the guy sure has a bizzarro way of showing how he cares."

“Okay, so Akashi and his dad aren't close. Got it. What about his mom?” Chihiro asked, not expecting the collective panic when he said those four words. 

“Shh! Lower your voice!” Hayama shushed him, as he raised both his hands up and waved them around as if that would quieten Chihiro. 

"Why?" Chihiro asked, deliberately not whispering because he never did anything without a reason. 

“Sei-chan’s mother passed away from an illness when he was a child," Mibuchi whispered, as he covered his mouth and leaned in closer so Mayuzumi could hear him, "And he doesn’t like talking about it, so do not bring her up or mention her carelessly, even in passing.”

“It’s just not a topic you should bring up in conversation around him, full stop,” Nebuya reinforced for him, and the stern gleam in his eyes were mirrored in Hayama's and Mibuchi's. 

"Anyway, we thought we'd do you a solid since visits from Akashi's dad are no joke. It's for our benefit too, so don't screw anything up for us, 'kay?" Hayama turned to him with a smile that was both friendly and threatening. He could tell these three had learnt by experience that messing with Akashi's dad in any way, shape or form spelled nothing but trouble for everyone else. 

"Any questions?" Mibuchi turned to him, and Mayuzumi paused. Since these guys were in a sharing mood, now could be his chance to find out the full story of what was going on with Nash. They were bound to cross paths again, and Chihiro didn't want to be the only one in the dark about his beef with Akashi next time they encountered him. 

"Actually, there was something else. About Nash, what's his deal? Like, what actually happ-"

But Chihiro didn't get to finish his question, when they were interrupted by the sound of someone stumbling and tripping back the clear glass walls of the kitchenette. It was a young man, in his early twenties (most likely a new grad or intern) who looked seconds away from bursting into tears. He was rushing with his arms full of papers and folders and clipboards and headed towards the Marketing department.

"Oh my-what's going on!?" Mibuchi gasped, as he pushed back from his chair and got to his feet, worried, "Did he come from the board room? Isn't Sei-chan hosting a seminar in there for the newly hired marketing interns?"

"Uh-oh. Looks like Akashi just scared the shit outta your newest intern, Kotaro. Poor kid looks like a frightened rabbit," Nebuya shot him a look, and Hayama's face dropped so fast it was damn near comical. His expression looked like he had just missed the last train for the night and had to take a taxi home instead. 

He leapt to his feet, his back facing the open doorway of the kitchenette as he gripped at his blonde hair anxiously, "Gah, are you kidding me!? It's only his third day here! What am I gonna d-"

And like an apparition, Akashi suddenly appeared in the doorway of the kitchenette, as he said, "Hayama, do you have a moment?"

Hayama barely hid his flinch, as he turned around and greeted his boss with a sheepish smile, "A-Akashi! Hey! What's up?"

"I need to speak to you. Come into the hallway, we'll talk in the printing room," Akashi did not wait for a response as he turned, with the expectation that Hayama would follow him. 

"Ah, no worries," Hayama answered back, as he hastily exited the kitchenette and caught up with Akashi. 

"It's started already. Damn, Kotaro's always the first one he targets. I sorta feel bad for him," Nebuya muttered, a frown on his face as he watched Hayama step inside the printing room with Akashi and close the door with a cringe. 

Mibuchi scoffed and flicked his hair out of his face, back to being unbothered now that the situation had been handled, "It's because he gets carried away and loses his focus too easily."

Then, Nebuya leaned over closer to Chihiro and lowered his voice, "Watch out, Mayuzumi. Proximity makes you the biggest target by default, so you might be next."

"Like you're one to talk, Eikichi. You're no better than Kotaro with how brash and impulsive you can be!" Mibuchi criticised him, and obviously Nebuya didn't like that since he moved away from Mayuzumi and glared at Mibuchi aggravatedly. 

"Oh yeah? Well, you're not perfect either! You're way too uptight and critical about literally everything!"

"Excuse me!? Well, someone has to maintain a certain standard around here! And we both know that's not going to be you or Kotaro!"

They're all idiots, Chihiro thought. Because despite their immense skills and high-ranking positions, the Uncrowned Kings were all equally odd in their own ways. 

Then, Mibuchi sighed and turned to Mayuzumi, seemingly ending his argument with Nebuya to focus back on the issue at hand, "But he's right, Mayuzumi-san. If anything, Sei-chan will double down and work even harder to cope with the stress, which means he'll expect us all to match that and work just as hard. Don't expect any more early marks."

"I'm convinced I imagined that day anyway. Besides, I'm not the type to have unrealistic expectations," Chihiro stated, a realist down to his very core. That's why he liked to escape reality sometimes, when he read his light novels or whenever he wrote, because being a realist 24/7 could be really fucking depressing if you let it. But for his work, Chihiro had no choice but to accept the reality in front of him. 

"Let's just hang in there until the end of next week. Then it'll go back to normal," Nebuya said as he raised a loosely clenched fist with some determination. 

What's classified as normal around here? Chihiro asked himself, because he really thought the term 'normal' and this workplace were not synonymous. 

Thanks to the collective efforts of his team and himself, Seijuurou had discovered where the leak in information had occurred. Zack Thompson, one of Team Leaders in the marketing division, who was the one that almost leaked one of their promotion campaigns for Rakuzan Collect’s impending global debut. 

Fortunately, Hayama and his team were extremely competent and had come up with a completely new idea and ensured the other plans remained completely confidential. 

Hayama along with Mibuchi, Nebuya and Mayuzumi were able to narrow it down to Zack being the sole person who had access to the campaign and the right permissions to be able to move and potentially expose it to Jabberwock Limited. Seijuurou had wasted no time in stripping the man of his employment and intended to take action to make sure Zack understood the consequences of playing with fire. 

At that moment, Seijuurou's phone began buzzing, and he picked it up. When he saw his assistant's name, he accepted the call and pressed the phone to his ear, "Chihiro. Why are you calling?"

"Hey, I was just coming back from running an errand and the reception told me there's someone here to see you. I checked but it's not in your calendar,” Chihiro told him, and Seijuurou realised who it was that was here to see him. Though, he did not let anything on, and continued with the conversation.

"So, they have shown up unannounced?" Seijuurou deduced, his eyes squinting as he began saving his spreadsheets and documents on his computer before closing them one by one. 

"Yeah, what do you want to do?”

"Who is it?" Seijuurou asked out of courtesy, since he already knew the answer. 

"That guy you fired, Zack Thompson," Mayuzumi clarified, and when the line was silent, he added, "Should I call Mibuchi and see if he's free to handle it?"

"I see," Seijuurou remarked, his voice steady and even, as he got to his feet and headed out of his office and down the hallway, "No need to notify Reo about it, send him in to meet me in Conference Room C on Level 16."

"Sure thing," Mayuzumi replied, and the call ended. 

About 20 minutes later, Zack showed up in front of Conference Room C, and Seijuurou was already sitting inside waiting for him. 

“Akashi-san, good afternoon,” Zack bowed towards him as he stepped inside the room.

Akashi remained seated as he responded back coolly, “Let’s not waste time on pleasantries. Sit and we shall talk.”

So, Zack closed the door and sat down at the opposite end of the conference table. It was just the two of them in this room, which was exactly how Seijuurou had planned it to be. 

“I appreciate you meeting with me, Akashi-san. I thought it would be best if I told you everything from my side from the beginning, so there won’t be any misunderstandings. I want to assure you that I am not affiliated in any way whatsoever with Jabberwock,” Zack told him, perfectly rehearsed and polite to a fault. 

Seijuurou saw right through his lies and had no intention of entertaining them. He was not in the mood to play around today.

"Then, I shall go through all the information I have from my end first,” Seijuurou stated, as he linked his hands together in front of himself on the table and stared Zack down.

“You have maintained an acquaintanceship of sorts with a man named Jason Silver. The same man that is working at Jabberwock and has been for a very long time. Isn't that right?”

Zack’s body stiffened at the words, but he said nothing. Unshaken, Seijuurou went on, not intent on sparing him even a little, “Though I must say, the company you keep seems very questionable. Especially considering how Silver grew up and the kind of environment he was in."

"What!? Just what are you implying?" then, the man emitted a shocked laugh as he shook his head, "I did not think you were the kind of person to bring race into an employee's performance, Akashi-san-"

Then, Akashi’s chair scraped harshly against the tiled floor as he stood in one fluid motion, "Do not even try me. You are in no position to be acting the victim, nor pretending to make false allegations of racism against this workplace or myself when no such thing ever occurred," he said, because the very idea that he fired Zack because of the colour of his skin was nonsensical. 

Seijuurou knew he was an extremely difficult person to deal with, but he was not that kind of person. He was not someone to be full of prejudice and discrimination, and he would not stand for anyone trying to slander his name or paint him as someone he was not. 

Slowly, Seijuurou walked around the table, like a lion on the prowl, "You attended high school together and still keep in contact now. Which is why when he offered you the chance of finding a position at Jabberwock, you seized the chance for a higher salary and increased benefits."

He stopped when he was standing right in front of Zack, who remained seated and looked up at Akashi warily. Seijuurou could see the sweat beading on his forehead and he knew the man was about to crack any second now.

"As such, from this second right now, you are no longer an employee of Rakuzan Collect. You will sign this non-disclosure statement as a guarantee that you will not say anything further about our global launch or any other confidential information. If you do, we will pursue legal action. Consider this a warning," Seijuurou ordered, as he slammed a thick pile of paper and a pen down on the table in front of Zack.

Then, Seijuurou crossed his arms and waited. 

.

"Just picked up the office stationery order. Distribute these to your offices," Mayuzumi announced as he walked into Mibuchi’s office and dropped three bags on his desk (he had no idea why Nebuya and Hayama were here right now, but honestly, he wondered how these three got anything done half the time).

"Cool! Thanks, Mayuzumi!" Nebuya grinned as he looked through his bag eagerly and Hayama and Mibuchi also took theirs with thanks.

"Anyway, I can't believe that guy Zack was in league with Jabberwock. What a bastard!" Hayama growled with a frustrated edge to his voice. 

Ah, so that’s why the three of them are here, they were talking about the recent traitor they had discovered. Zack, who had gotten an immediate dismissal from his role at Rakuzan the second they found out and let Akashi know. 

Chihiro was there when Akashi found out and the CEO took the news well. Scarily well, which was troubling in and of itself. But, the situation was under control now, and that was the main thing. 

"Yeah, we're lucky we caught him as early as we did, or it could've been trouble for us," Nebuya said through a sigh of relief. 

Mibuchi nodded vigorously as Mayuzumi turned around and was about to leave without anyone noticing, "Thankfully he has packed up his things and already left the office. Now, I just need to set a date so I can be there to mediate when he comes in for our legal briefing-"

That made Mayuzumi pause. He stopped, then turned and looked at Mibuchi slowly, "You haven't set the date yet?"

"No, there are still some documents I need to prepare. Wait, why are you asking me that, Mayuzumi-san?" Mibuchi questioned, then a look of dread passed over his face as he braced himself for bad news, "Please don't tell me he called Sei-chan's office to speak to him."

Mayuzumi shook his head, "No, he didn't call."

The other three sighed in relief, and then, Mayuzumi continued, "He's here in person seeing Akashi. Right now."

"...WHAT!?" They all exclaimed, as they gaped at Mayuzumi in pure shock and horror. 

"He's in the building!? How did he make it past security!?" Reo exclaimed, then he whirled on Nebuya with fiery eyes, "Eikichi!"

Nebuya bristled as he growled back, frustrated and shell-shocked, "Huh!? Don't look at me! None of my boys flagged this with me! But I swear, I'm gonna be on all their asses for this major screw up-!"

"That...might be because I told them to let him through," Chihiro interrupted, and though his tone was neutral he got the feeling he was the one that had majorly screwed up.

Nebuya rounded on Chihiro, expression severely pissed as he yelled, "Mayuzumi!? Why the hell would you do that!?"

"Because he said he was here to see Akashi and I figured it was for this meeting you're going on about. I thought it was all organised for today, and Akashi didn't say anything different," Chihiro responded in a terse manner, as his own unease prickled under his skin. 

"Of course he didn't!" Mibuchi hissed at him, and then slapped a hand to his forehead as he let out a harsh sigh, "Ugh, Zack wasn't supposed to come into the office until we organised a specific time to meet, with myself being present! You're saying he's gone to meet with Sei-chan right now, just the two of them!?"

Chihiro asked skeptically, "Yeah. Is that bad?"

"Hell yeah, it's bad!" Hayama affirmed instantly, as he rubbed the back of his head, nervous and irritated. 

"This could very well turn into a HR nightmare! And we are not going to let that happen! I don't need that kind of stress right now!" Mibuchi declared, as he tried to pull himself back from the brink of a potential meltdown. 

Sick of being the odd one out, Chihiro just asked them bluntly, "Why are you guys freaking out? What's going on?"

"Argh! Did you forget what we told you!? Akashi's patience is paper thin, and his fuse is way shorter than usual!” Hayama reminded him, as he shot Mayuzumi an agitated look, “What do you think he's gonna do when he confronts Zack!?"

"Exactly. Sei-chan will get mad. And it's not the type of mad you see on an average day. Like when you hand in a report late or make a simple mistake," Mibuchi said, then his voice lowered and was full of foreboding as he uttered, "It's unpredictable and merciless.”

Then, Mibuchi snapped into ‘Chief of HR’ mode and went into action, "Mayuzumi-san, you go back and do damage control! Hopefully things won't have escalated yet and you can intervene!"

"How the hell should I do that?" Chihiro asked through gritted teeth, his annoyance rising as did his own stress and panic. Because seriously, what the hell was this kind of crazy situation? Was this normal? Surely not, it couldn't be, so then why did Chihiro have to end up in these stupidly abnormal situations he never asked to be in?

"Run interference! Use your low presence to slip in unnoticed and catch them off guard! I don't know, but figure it out!" Mibuchi ordered him, as he turned back and started talking about the next steps for Hayama and Nebuya. 

Meanwhile, Chihiro silently spiralled and was wondering if anyone would notice if he just booked it out of the building. What in the world was he about to walk into? Was he going to get fired and blacklisted after this? What if it became a scandal? What if he-

But then, Mibuchi seemingly noticed he was still there and went off on him. 

"What are you standing around for!? Go! Now!" Mibuchi pointed towards the door urgently as he gave Chihiro a none too gentle nudge in that direction, and Chihiro didn't need to be told twice. He ran out of the room and headed over to the elevator, to get to Level 16. 

.

"Are you trying to intimidate me? Don't pull that high and mighty act,” Zack scoffed, as he abruptly stood and walked out of the confined space in the conference room. Seijuurou followed him, quick on his heels. 

Zack stopped when he reached the winding staircase nearby that took you between Conference rooms A through to G on Level 16. He took one step down, while Akashi stood at the top of the stairs, the height difference between them now equal.

Zack then turned and looked at Akashi with malice, all earlier pretenses now dropped, “Nash told me all about you, and I know what to expect. You can't pull anything on me."

Seijuurou tipped his head to the side, his face stony as he stared down at the man in repugnance, "Is that so? Then I guess you also know what I'm going to do next."

Zack sneered at Seijuurou’s threat, "Don't mess with me. I can destroy your little launch at a moment's notice. All I need is just a few words to the right journalist," Zack declared with a smug smirk sliding into place. 

He looked down his nose at Akashi with superiority and underestimation as he continued, "The famously young and successful CEO of Rakuzan Collect turned out to have Dissociative Identity Disorder? What do you think will happen when people find out?"

Seijuurou's facial muscles went slack at the words that came out of the man's mouth, as he realised that Zack intended to blackmail him if Seijuurou didn't go along with whatever it was that he wanted. As he took a moment to observe the man, Seijuurou eyed the fountain pen clipped in the man's chest pocket on his left side. His eyes lingered on the object for only a brief few seconds before they flicked back to look at Zack. 

"What do you want?" Seijuurou asked calmly. 

"If you're firing me, then you need to give me something more. I can't go back to Nash and Silver with nothing," Zack dictated crudely, though there was sick pleasure in his eyes derived from forcing someone untouchable like Seijuurou to bend to his will. 

Or so Zack thought. 

It was at that moment Mayuzumi arrived at the bottom of the metal staircase, at Conference Room A. He paused and looked up, and took a moment to observe and assess what was happening. He saw Akashi at the top of the staircase with Zack just a step below him, just outside Conference Room C. The situation seemed tense even from a distance, but it didn't seem overly dramatic or bad. 

"I want compensation. Pay me out the rest of my salary for this year and I might consider leaving you and your little business alone," Zack demanded, his hands in his pockets as he continued smirking up at Akashi arrogantly. 

Akashi hummed as he gave a single nod, "That's easy. However, I feel as though you have forgotten something very important, so allow me to remind you."

Zack raised his chin, overly confident and arrogant as he asked, "Oh yeah? What's that?"

Akashi lifted his hand slowly, and ever so casually reached forward and plucked the fountain pen out of Zack's pocket with ease. "That I, too, can attack you at a moment's notice."

Zack raised his eyebrows at Akashi, not quite following along with what he meant, but almost challenging him to give it a try. 

Then, Akashi's arm shot out like a viper, strong and sharp, as he thrust the pen forward, tip first, towards Zack's eyes. Zack let out a startled shout as he reflexively leaned backwards to avoid the attack. Chihiro had watched it all unfold in front of his eyes, shocked speechless, but then the warning from the others earlier sounded off in his head and kickstarted him into action. Gritting his teeth, he raced up the staircase, grabbing onto the railing to help propel himself upwards at a faster rate. 

Meanwhile, Akashi stood there with the pen in that same position, while Zack flailed and struggled to maintain his grip on the railing. He had almost tripped backwards since he was standing at the top of the stairs but had managed to catch himself and pulled himself back up. 

"Lower your head," Akashi said in a cold, ruthless tone, as he lowered the pen and glowered at the man. And though Akashi did not move or take a single step, Zack panicked when Akashi's eyes glinted at him with ill intent.

That panic made him lose his grip on the railing, then slip and lose his footing. Chihiro was still racing up the winding square-shaped staircase, in the hopes of somehow stopping this catastrophe from worsening even more. But then, Zack was tumbling down the stairs. Thankfully, he only fell down on flight as he crashed into the wall at the landing and stopped falling any further. Chihiro arrived at that same landing in that moment, and all he could do was look down at Zack - who was not bleeding anywhere, thank god, but looked a hell of a lot worse for wear than he did when Chihiro saw him last. 

Mibuchi's gonna kill me, was all Chihiro could think, as he looked at Zack groaning in pain on the ground at his feet.

He looked up at Akashi, a mixture of shock, unease and chagrin showing on his usually blank and neutral face. Akashi looked down at him from the top of the stairs and twirled the pen around between his fingers before tucking it in the crook of his elbow as he crossed his arms. Then, a small, satisfied smirk could be seen on Akashi's face as he observed Zack's fallen form and bruised ego. 

.

.

"I told you to do damage control! Instead, we got nothing but damage!" Mibuchi fumed at Chihiro, furious. He looked seconds away from either shaking Chihiro like a ragdoll or collapsing in a heap on the floor and despairing. 

The four of them were in Mibuchi’s office debriefing in the aftermath. Akashi wasn’t there yet, but Chihiro was sure he’d show up any minute now. 

"What did you even do!? Stand there and watch!? Did ya grab some popcorn while you were at it, huh!?" Nebuya growled in between orders he barked into his walkie-talkie to his team to log the unauthorised entry into the system and follow up with a report on what exactly happened. 

"Yeah, Mayuzumi! Your lack of presence was supposed to help us. Did you even try!?" Hayama griped at him with a frustrated expression. 

"By the time I got there, he already had the guy flailing on the edge of the staircase with the pen inches from his face. What the hell was I supposed to do?" Chihiro snapped back at them with a scowl. These guys are all friendly until someone slips up, then they turn into vultures, Mayuzumi thought, annoyed.  

"Urgh, whatever! It doesn't matter! I can yell at you to my heart's content later!” Mibuchi waved him off, then huffed as he gathered himself, “The mess has been made, all that matters now is cleaning it up."

At that moment, the door to Mibuchi’s office opened and ah, there he is. The man of the hour, Chihiro thought sardonically.

"Oh, good. You are all here. I appreciate your patience," Akashi greeted them, as he closed the door behind himself and stepped further inside the room. 

"Sei-chan, what happened?" Mibuchi asked as he rushed to Akashi's side, and he had the gall to even sound concerned when he addressed Akashi. A stark contrast to the way he'd just gone off on Chihiro like some kind of night demon. 

"He refused to sign the non-disclosure statement and threatened to blackmail myself and the company if I did not adhere to his demands. He defied me,” Akashi explained to them all, and that look in his eyes was so…unforgiving. It was almost chilling to witness.

“It was not enough to merely cast him out. He needed to be knocked down to the level where he belongs. Rock bottom," Akashi clarified, his arms crossed over his chest and his face unsympathetic. 

Nebuya nodded, as he spoke up and asked, "Yeah, we get it. He was a traitor. But you're saying you needed to use force to do that?"

Akashi’s gaze sharpened and he answered without hesitation, "He disrespected me and this company and expressed no remorse for what he had done. I will not tolerate such behaviour. I am absolute," he concluded with certainty, and the four of them were silent. Chihiro honestly didn’t know what to make of the situation, and if you’d asked him beforehand if he’d expected to walk in on something like that, he would have definitely thought it was made up. 

But nope, this was nothing less than real, unfortunately. 

"Also, I knew he would be able to dodge the attack. I was merely testing his reflexes. It was his own fault that he slipped and fell. I did not touch him," Akashi added for clarification, and Chihiro had to resist the urge to scoff out loud because what the fuck? Testing his reflexes? What were you trying to do, a physical? Are you a doctor or a CEO? 

Akashi then turned his gaze to Mibuchi, "Reo, how long will it take you to resolve this?"

"It will depend on how open he is to negotiation. I cannot guarantee it will be a quick or easy fix," Mibuchi answered honestly as he shook his head, and he seemed more despondent about the whole situation than Akashi did.

Akashi on the other hand seemed to take it in his stride, not allowing his own actions to get in the way of a resolution, "Then we should take precautions and put countermeasures in place.”

He looked at Nebuya and instructed him, “Eikichi, have your team perform a thorough examination of the area and increase security for the next few days."

Then, his gaze switched over to where Hayama stood, as he addressed him, "Kotaro, that new advertisement for our latest skin care range? Release it tomorrow morning on our social media pages. It will be beneficial if we have something to distract from this issue."

Lastly, Akashi turned to face him, "Chihiro, you will assist Reo as he requests it and support him to diffuse the situation."

"I will go and meet with the ethics committee now to see their instructions regarding an incident report," Akashi stated, and with that, he excused himself and left the room, closing the clear glass door behind him gently. 

People talked a lot about the calm before the storm, but what about the calm that settled in after the storm had passed? That was eerie in a whole different kind of way. 

"Man, his dad isn't even in the building yet. Next week is gonna be a nightmare," Nebuya groaned, as he pushed the heel of his palms into his eyes and rested his elbows on the table. 

"I mean, to be fair, that Zack guy was an asshole. I can understand why Akashi got so angry at him," Kotaro shrugged casually, as if Akashi's whole response to the situation was even partially reasonable. 

"Asshole or not, he was an employee of this company until an hour ago. If he decides to sue us it's going to be a real pain getting him to keep quiet," Mibuchi lamented as he rubbed circles into his temples to try and curb his headache. 

The others continued bickering and thinking out loud, but Chihiro stopped paying attention. He watched Akashi as he walked away. He headed down the hallway, then rounded the corner to head in the direction of the ethics committee. 

Seeing Akashi like that earlier, it opened Chihiro’s eyes even more to the fact that Akashi was not as calm and collected as he presented himself to be. The fact Akashi had developed a personality disorder was becoming less of an oddity to Mayuzumi, and he was seeing it in a clearer light with each passing day. A light which showed it as the mental health condition and coping mechanism that it really was. Though it did seem that Akashi had it managed to an extent, as evidenced by his prescriptions and therapy sessions, it didn't seem stable on a consistent basis. 

Why am I thinking about it so much anyway? It's not my business, so I'm not gonna waste any more energy on it, Chihiro told himself. 

Yet somehow, Chihiro knew this would not be the last time he thought about it. 

Chapter Text

It was finally here. Today was the big day. The day where the powerhouse monster of a CEO himself, Akashi Masaomi, would arrive for a 'friendly visit'. And not just for an hour or so. He would be at Rakuzan for the whole day.

Chihiro could feel the tension buzzing in the air the second he stepped foot inside the building at 6:45 in the morning. Everyone was working even harder than usual, and the day had barely even begun. But that was true for Chihiro, too. It was his job to ensure that Masaomi's entry to the building went smoothly, and he was not unnecessarily stopped by needless things like checking into reception, getting a day pass for the building - the receptionist already knew, of course, but Chihiro had to make sure nothing was missed. Everyone was extremely understanding and cooperative, and it just drove home to Chihiro the weight of the visit. 

Nobody wanted to be the reason to give Masaomi an excuse to tear shreds off them. Or worse, get anyone else into trouble. Rakuzan as a company was so huge, it was hard to feel united or like a true team sometimes - but for this, Chihiro felt a genuine camaraderie between them all to get through the fuckery of this visit. 

The only hiccup that might pose a problem would be the security screening, which Chihiro and Nebuya had talked about with Akashi. But Akashi was firm when he told them, "Do not change any processes or do anything different. Just advise the staff to get through it as quickly as they can. He might be my father, but he is not above such basic and essential safety procedures." 

That was what Akashi said, and though he and Nebuya had many, many doubts, that didn't matter. Whatever Akashi says, goes. End of story.

As for Akashi, he was quietly calm, but there was a sharp edge and distinct urgency and overextension in his interactions and daily communications. It was clear that Akashi also felt the strong, weighty pull of the expectations his father had for him and the company, and the aggressiveness of such scrutiny would make anyone tense or stressed. Despite a few minor overreactions from Akashi about simple mistakes (from other peopole, thank god, Mayuzumi wasn't in the firing line this time), he was otherwise handling it...sort of well? 

God, Chihiro could not wait for this day to be over, and things would go back to normal. 

Or well, as normal as they could be at Rakuzan Collect and working under Akashi Seijuurou. 

Mibuchi strode into the common area not far from Akashi's office, where Mayuzumi, Hayama and Nebuya were sitting as they took a moment to calm the fuck down before Hurricane Masaomi hit. Hayama and Nebuya greeted Mibuchi with confusion, but Mibuchi said nothing as he made a beeline to the office phone on the nearest desk. He picked it up, and Mayuzumi noticed he dialled the number for ground floor reception.

When the receptionist on the other end picked up, all Mibuchi said was, "He's on his way. Tell everyone, now!"

Even Mayuzumi didn't need clarification to know what he meant. Akashi Masaomi was enroute to Rakuzan Collect and would be here probably in the next few minutes or so. Except that-

"What!? You kidding me? He's not supposed to be here until 10!" Nebuya burst out as he jumped to his feet, also finishing Mayuzumi's internal thoughts. It was a rare instance in which Mayuzumi saw Nebuya look mildly panicked and almost nervous. 

That sure threw a massive spanner in the works.

Mibuchi slammed the phone down on the receiver and the three of them followed him as he headed out of the common room and down the long hallway, "His driver just text messaged Sei-chan and his father's acupuncturist cancelled since he apparently caught the flu. So, forget any hopes of him being in a good mood!"

Hayama cursed under his breath but then tried to put a positive spin on the situation, "Don't worry, Akashi knew something like this would happen, so everything has already been prepared for ages."

It was true. It was nearly 9 o'clock, and the office had been pretty much prepared since around 8 in the morning. There was nothing to fear or stress about, really. It was just the unexpectedness of it all was really annoying and off-putting. 

Meanwhile, on the ground level of the building, a sleek car had just pulled up in front of Rakuzan Collect. The driver got out and opened the rear passenger door, and out walked Akashi Masaomi. He did not stop to thank the driver or even close the car door. He continued walking towards the building, and people either got out of his way or parted like the Red Sea when they saw him approaching the doors. He was wearing a three-piece navy suit, with a silver Rolex shimmering on his wrist and sunglasses on his face. 

He was about to walk through security, but was stopped to perform the necessary checks, though the men in charge did not ask Masaomi overly obvious questions and simply went through the motions as fast as they possibly could.

Once that was finished and Masaomi was cleared to go through, he strode past the reception desk and was not questioned or stopped. Rather, the receptionists bowed respectfully as he passed by. He approached the elevator, and a well-dressed woman, likely one of the higher-ranking employees had just stepped inside. But as soon as Masaomi set foot inside the elevator and inclined his head ever so slightly in her direction, she was quick to move. 

"My apologies, Akashi-san," the lady apologised with a deep bow as she left the elevator so as not to be in the man's way. 

"Clear the hallway! Everyone at your stations!" Mibuchi ordered, and Mayuzumi went to be on stand-by at his desk. Just as he stood behind it, he saw Akashi step out from his office and straighten his tie. Then, those magenta eyes flicked over to Chihiro, and a silent understanding of sorts passed between them, as Akashi raised his head questioningly, and Chihiro gave a subtle but certain nod in return.

Then, the sound of the elevator dinged, and Akashi's gaze faced forward again. He then walked towards the open doors of the elevator, where Akashi Masaomi had just stepped out.

"Hello, father," he faintly heard Akashi greet the man as he reached the end of the hallway. 

"Seijuurou, I don't understand why it is so difficult for your security staff to be efficient," Chihiro could hear Masaomi's voice, and it was just as hard and cold as he'd imagined it would be - even when speaking to his own son, "I was stopped for more than a minute while they performed their checks. Honestly, were they dropped on their heads at some stage in their early development?"

"My apologies. I have instructed my security personnel to be stricter than usual since the workplace incident that occurred a week ago," Akashi explained, his tone light and placid, nothing like his father's intimidating low timbre. 

“Oh, yes. I have been well informed about the conflict surrounding one of your so-called employees,” Masaomi responded, and the dryness in his tone was so cutting it felt like sandpaper scratching against your skin. 

“Former employee. He has since been fired," Akashi was swift to clarify with a mild smile.

Masaomi gave the briefest hum of acknowledgement that Chihiro had ever heard in his life, before he continued, "And what of the progress with this former employee? Has it been dealt with yet?"

“Mibuchi is handling it along with the rest of the HR team. If needed, we are fully prepared to involve our legal team as well,” Akashi stated, not panicked or flustered. But it was odd, because Akashi wasn't his usual self either. He was somehow more...rigid, than normal. Like, the fluidity and ease with which he handled himself had faltered and wasn't coming out quite right when he spoke to his father. 

“You would not need to go to all these lengths if you had handled his dismissal more effectively. You do realise this?” Masaomi asked point blank, and Chihiro could safely say that the only person with enough balls to speak to Akashi like that could surely only be his father, because what the fuck was that? Seeing someone speak with such blatant disrespect towards Akashi and talk down to him like he was a child was unreal, in the most unsettling way. Because you don't do that to Akashi Seijuurou. 

But apparently, Akashi Masaomi was the exception to this unspoken, universally accepted rule. 

Akashi's smile looked like it was copied and pasted onto his face, as he replied with a pleasant neutrality that was surely much harder to acheive than it looked, “Yes, however it was my prerogative to deal with his poor conduct how I saw fit. This is my business so I hope you can appreciate that I make my own choices and consequently, deal with the consequences of those choices.”

Then, having finally reached the end of the hallway, he held his hand out and gestured towards his office, "Let's talk further in my office. Shall we sit?” 

Masaomi entered without a word, and did not acknowledge Chihiro at all. And honestly, Chihiro didn't mind that at all. Akashi flashed a quick look in his direction before he followed his father inside his office and shut the doors. 

And they stayed like that for the next forty-three minutes or so. Not that Chihiro was counting or anything. Hayama, Mibuchi and Nebuya were all rushing in, out, and around the office, attending to any issues that popped up in Akashi's stead since he was pre-occupied with his father. Chihiro was on stand-by in case Akashi needed him for anything, while he continued his regular work as per his daily schedule. 

Eventually, Chihiro heard that tell-tale jingle from his phone - the one he had customised to alert him whenever Akashi had texted him. Opening it in seconds, Chihiro noticed it was a request to bring in a refill of sparkling spring water. So, Chihiro got his ass straight to doing that, moving far quicker than he normally did. 

He knocked and waited for the approval to enter, which was given momentarily. And as soon as he walked in, Mayuzumi barely had time to set the water down on the desk and Akashi wasn't even given a chance to introduce Mayuzumi, when Masaomi spoke. 

“You there.” 

Masaomi was apparently talking to Mayuzumi, and as soon as Mayuzumi had put the water down and he looked over at him, Masaomi had walked over to him and tossed his coat into Mayuzumi. Not handing it to him or even tossing it over his arms but basically throwing it at Mayuzumi's face.

And oh, first impressions sure do set the tone. Mayuzumi knew within 3.4 seconds of being in the same room with him and not even exchanging any words with Masaomi that he was not going to like this guy. 

“I’ll have a coffee. Long black, no sugars or milk. Do ensure that the brew is not ridiculously bitter, but not pitifully weak either," Masaomi ordered, as if Mayuzumi was some barista at attention just waiting to serve him and give him platinum level customer service. 

Mayuzumi did not respond. He just stood there, motionless and silent, with Masaomi's coat hanging limply in his arms. He literally had no idea what to say. 

Well. No. Actually, there were several things he wanted to say - but saying those things would probably (definitely) get him fired on the spot. 

Fortunately, it seemed today would not be that day. Because unexpectedly, Akashi was the one to speak first and offer a stunning alternative, “Father, shall we go for a coffee break? There is a new cafe in the plaza I have yet to try, and I have heard many good things. Now seems like a perfect opportunity for it.”

“Why? Do you not have adequate coffee machines here?" Masaomi asked, eyebrow raised as he gestured around the building with one arm, "Why can’t he do it? It’s his job, is it not?”

It's not my job to wait on you hand and foot or get you your damn coffee, old man, Mayuzumi internally seethed. 

Again, Akashi spoke on Chihiro's behalf, as he shook his head and addressed his father with a cool patience that could only be gained through years of practice, “Mayuzumi-san has other urgent errands he must attend to in my stead, my apologies. And besides, I thought it would be beneficial to stretch our legs and have a change of scenery.”

“I suppose I would appreciate a walk. However I will not be going to whatever new establishment you have found. I am not in the mood, nor do I have the patience today for any mistakes, and as such, I would like a coffee that I am assured tastes good. We shall go to Cardinal Climber,” Masaomi said definitively, and with that, he fluidly rose to his feet and did not wait for Akashi as he turned to leave the room. 

On his way out, Masaomi yanked his coat out of Mayuzumi's arms as he walked past him. Like Mayuzumi was some inanimate coat rack rather than, you know, an actual living and breathing person just like him.  

Akashi had risen and was exiting the room as well. As he walked by Mayuzumi, he could have sworn Akashi sent him a mildly apologetic look. And his eyes, they almost seemed...grateful, in a sense. For what, Mayuzumi had no idea. Maybe grateful that Mayuzumi had kept his composure and was still standing there despite Masaomi's utter lack of respect towards him?

It wasn't until Akashi and his father had entered the elevator and were gone that the thought came to Chihiro. Had Akashi just...saved his ass?

And the answer was yes. Yes, he had. 

Damn, I really don’t want to thank him, Mayuzumi thought, conflicted. But, he was relieved he did not have to deal with the man’s father. He almost felt bad that Akashi had to go off with him by himself - because as Mayuzumi had become very well aware of by this point, Akashi was not his father's biggest fan either. Not by a long shot.  

.

.

Two hours later saw Akashi walking back towards his office.

Chihiro glanced up and greeted him as he walked past, “You're back," And alone, Chihiro thought, but did not say. And call him crazy, but Chihiro had never been so goddamn relieved at the sight of Akashi, and only Akashi, walking into the office. 

Akashi stopped in front of Mayuzumi's desk, and nodded his own little greeting towards Chihiro, "I am. How did you go with the spreadsheets and datasets? No issues with anything?"

"None at all, I got heaps done. I'm actually onto the audits now," Chihiro stated, and he was actually thankful for the solitude he'd been granted for the past two hours. It distracted him from going over that god-awful interaction with Masaomi in his head, because that would only piss him off and ruin his focus. 

"I see, I'm glad to hear it," Akashi nodded, his face relaxed with relief and approval at Mayuzumi's efforts, "I should add that you needn't worry about tending to my father. He is now on the lower levels and speaking to my executives. He will let me know when he is finished and I will then meet him for lunch, after which I will give him a brief run through of Rakuzan floor by floor to see the daily operations."

So, it seemed that Chihiro wouldn't need to mentally prepare himself to literally hold his tongue when Masaomi returned. Small miracles, he supposed. 

"Oh. Cool. I still haven't perfected my ability to catch coats flying at me mid-air, so it's good to know I'll get more chances to practice that skill," Chihiro quipped back sarcastically, then added with a more serious undertone, "By the way, I just wanna say this, and feel free to go off on me for being too outspoken. But your old man’s a real piece of work.”

And to his utter surprise, Akashi's lips curled into a wry smile as he shook his head, “I have no intentions of 'going off on you', at all. Rather, I would like to say that I am sorry you had to deal with him and his arrogance, Mayuzumi-san,” Akashi said, and colour Chihiro surprised because the CEO actually looked apologetic about it?

Weird. Not at all what Chihiro expected. It was even sort of uncomfortable hearing his own boss apologise to him, really. 

To fight off the weirdness, Chihiro shrugged it off and tried to act cool, “It wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I mean, you probably got the worst of it.”

Akashi huffed a silent laugh through his nose, “I prefer it that way, rather than have my father browbeat and look down on all my employees. It’s better if I handle him myself as much as possible,” he said resolutely. 

There was a pause, a lull in the air, and Chihiro couldn't help himself as the question fell out of his mouth before he could stop it: "You guys don't get along either, huh?"

"It is...a complicated relationship the two of us share. We are not enemies, though I am unsure whether we could be called allies," Akashi admitted, slightly reluctant, but not unwilling to share as he took off his own blazer and draped it over his shoulders, in the way he often did with his jackets.

"My father says we are to an extent, aside from our clearly competitive careers. I indulge him occasionally by having visits to Rakuzan, meeting up with him and the like, but otherwise I manage things alone," Akashi finished, and for a minute, Chihiro saw more humanity in Akashi now than he ever had before. Something raw, and honest, and well...real. 

"Nothing wrong with being independent. If anything, that's more impressive. It's wild just how much of Rakuzan you manage all on your own, honestly. I don't know how you do it all, but you do a damn good job," Chihiro said, and whoa, where did that come from? What was he thinking and doing right now? Complimenting your boss and praising him? Certified strange-as-fuck behaviour. God, he hoped Akashi didn't think he was trying to condescend him or some shit. Chihiro had an unfortunate tendency to sound sarcastic even when he was being genuinely sincere. He blamed his stupid, bland and boring monotone voice. 

Akashi's magenta eyes lit up with utter surprise at the words, and Chihiro couldn't remember if he had ever seen them get so wide before.

Then, they shone with a newfound brightness, as he shook his head and said, "I could say the same for you, Mayuzumi-san. You also handle yourself extremely well and are very adept at acting independently and taking initiaive when it needs to be done. I feel we are both similar in that regard," Akashi commended him, with a small yet oddly sincere smile. There was nothing fake or performative about it in that moment, not like the smile he had seen Akashi put on when he spoke to his father earlier. When it was just Akashi and Mayuzumi alone like this, his smile was real. 

And in the face of that pure sincerity, Chihiro could only bob his head in an agreeable nod, as he looked at Akashi with a weird, unexplainable unity.

"Yeah, I guess we are."

It was quiet between them after that, before Chihiro broke that silence and added in his typical devil-may-care disposition, "I know you can handle him yourself, but let us know if we can, like, run interference for you or anything. If you need it, which you probably won't. But hey, that's what you pay us for, right?" he said blithely, in an attempt to move on from whatever-the-fuck that moment was.

"It is indeed," Akashi continued to smile that genuine smile at him, and a soft, short chuckle tumbled past his lips as he said, "Thank you, Mayuzumi-san. I truly appreciate that."

And then, Akashi turned, headed back inside his office, and shut the doors. Meanwhile, Mayuzumi stared at his three computer screens for the next three minutes and then had to double-check all the work he did in that time because literally nothing was sinking into his brain. He pushed the memory of Akashi's smile out of the way to make room for audit numbers instead. 

That night, on the train ride home, Chihiro thought about Akashi and his dad. He thought about how Akashi only had his father, and how strained their bond was. How Masaomi treated Akashi either like a business associate, distant and cold – or like a child, reprimanding Akashi and dismissing him over every little thing. 

Chihiro thought about what Mibuchi said, that Akashi’s mother died when he was a kid, and that he didn’t like talking about it.

Against his will, the feeling of being an ungrateful son who didn’t appreciate his parents began slowly creeping in. 

By the time he got home, Chihiro sat down on the couch and tapped on his mother’s number – easily located in his recent calls list. Another thing he overlooked on a daily basis, having the option to call his mom whenever he felt like it. Ugh, this sucks. Make it go away, Chihiro groaned internally, as he waited while the phone rang on the other end.

“Hello, sweetie. How are you?” his mother's cheery voice greeted him on the other end, and Chihiro answered with the usual 'good. How are you?'

“Who is it?”

That was his dad's voice, and he had likely just walked into the living room to see his mother was on the phone.

“It’s Chihiro!”

“It is? What’s going on, son?” his dad asked, mildly concerned as he tuned into the conversation, likely surprised at Chihiro's unexpected call and imagining something was wrong or Chihiro needed something from them. 

Chihiro brushed past the uncomfortable feeling of guilt that settled in the pit of his stomach, and said, “Nothing, just thought I’d call to check in since it’s been a while. Is that alright? I mean, are you free right now?”

“Of course we are! You can call us anytime, Chihiro. So, how was your day?” his mother asked happily.

"It was busy, and long. The CEO's dad came in to visit today," Chihiro told them, and his mother hummed in amazement at the news. 

"Ohh, how did it go? He is also a pretty big deal, right? Isn't he a CEO too?"

"Yeah, for Akashi Enterprises," Chihiro confirmed. 

"Wow! What was he like?"

Chihiro hummed for a few seconds, then said it outright: "He was a jerk, no two ways about it."

"Chihiro!" his mother instantly scolded him for his language and disrespect to his elders, while his father chortled in amusement. 

"I'm not a people person, but even I was surprised the way I instantly despised this uppity old man," Chihiro continued through an exhausted sigh, and his mother tutted at his words. 

"Chihiro, you shouldn't judge people so quickly! At least give them the benefit of the doubt, and, oh-stop laughing, would you!? Don't encourage him!" she hissed at his father, who was still chuckling in the background. 

"Come on, you know what he's like. You never sugar coat things, do you, son?" his father asked knowingly, because he and his dad didn't always see eye-to-eye, but he was his father's son when it came to his blank-faced, straightforward way of communicating to others.

Chihiro smiled as he shook his head and responded with a sigh, "Nah, not my style."

Even though he couldn't see her, Chihiro could visualise his mother shaking her head and rubbing at her temples as she said through a forcibly patient voice, "Honestly, manners have never been your strongest point. It makes me worried. I hope you don't say any of this to your co-workers! You never know if it might get back to your boss!" 

Chihiro snorted and shook his head, as lay back down on the couch to relax a bit more, "As if. Besides, they say a lot worse, and I really don't think Akashi would care that much if he found ou-"

"That doesn't matter! He is still your boss so make sure you be respectful and professional about his father-"

He rolled his eyes as his mother lectured him, but for once Chihiro didn't tune it out. He listened, even though his mother was nagging him when Chihiro was literally a fully grown adult. He listened even when his mother eventually changed the topic and went on to talk about her day, what she did, what friends she was catching up with soon. He listened as his dad talked about how work was going for him, even though it was brief and his dad wasn't the greatest conversationalist to begin with. 

And though the conversation with his parents eased the annoying guilt that niggled at him, Chihiro found himself still lingering on the thought of Akashi and his father when he bid his parents goodnight and hung up the phone. He frowned as he stared across the room. It bothered him, and that in itself bothered Chihiro, because other people’s problems usually didn’t faze him. 

Perhaps it was because he saw it with his own eyes, just how abysmally Akashi’s father treated his own son. Akashi, who Chihiro had only really seen as someone extremely successful, powerful and strong, was seen as not good enough in his father’s eyes. The sheer level of perfectionism Masaomi exuded and the success he expected from those around him, especially Akashi, seemed almost…not human. The Uncrowned Kings were right, because compared to his father, Akashi was similar, but also very different. 

It made him wonder stupidly, for an unknown reason…would Akashi turn out like that one day, too?

You’re thinking about it too much, Chihiro. It’s none of your business in the first place. You’re only working for him for a year, remember?

Chihiro shook his head and stood up, deciding to have a shower to distract himself from those thoughts. 

“You made it through your boss's nightmare of a father's visit! See, it wasn't that bad, right?" Kawaki cheered, as they strolled through the grocery shop on Friday night to grab some snacks and essentials.

Well, Mayuzumi was buying that stuff, Kawaki had just met Chihiro there after his evening run and was only buying a sports drink - but he had kindly taken it upon himself to accompany Chihiro until he was finished shopping. Which was fine, but Chihiro's social battery was dead by the end of the day, so he wasn't the greatest company - not that Kawaki seemed to care. 

"Flowers that were fine before he walked in the building were basically wilting by the time he left," Chihiro deadpanned, the basket hanging limply by his side full of energy drinks, instant noodles and protein bars. 

"Oh c'mon, cheer up! At least it's over now!" Kawaki grinned as he slapped Chihiro on the back, and Chihiro shot him a mild glare as he walked towards the frozen food aisle.

"Hey, you should come and hang out with us this weekend to relax! We’re gonna do dinner and then karaoke Saturday night! You in?” Kawaki asked eagerly, tapping on his phone at the same time - likely texting the group chat and organising shit. Kawaki was frustratingly proactive, which was weird since Chihiro was the complete opposite so it shouldn't make sense for them to be friends - yet here they were. 

“Pass,” Mayuzumi answered as he chucked a bunch of frozen onigiris into his basket. 

Kawaki dropped his head back and groaned in disappointment, “Aw, come on, Mayuzumi. You can’t use the excuse you can’t afford it anymore, you make more than almost all of us combined now!”

“Then my excuse is that I’m gonna use the time to work on my novel,” Chihiro countered, unbothered as he scanned the freezers for the brand of mochi ice cream that he liked. He found the label, but the shelf was empty. Of fucking course, Mayuzumi repressed the urge to slam the freezer door shut as he settled instead on the knock off brand because he had a sugar craving that wasn't about to go away on its own. 

“Yeah, right. What actually is gonna happen is you’re gonna stay at home all day, get food delivered and start a new light novel, or finish the one you’re already reading. Or, you’re gonna binge watch one of your Netlfix dramas for ‘inspiration’, and maybe you’ll look at your novel and write a few lines here or there,” Kawaki stated matter-of-factly, and Mayuzumi actually stopped in place. Am I that predictable? Chihiro questioned himself. Because yeah, either of those options sounded like a damn good way to spend his weekend. 

“Calling me out so bluntly? Rude, Kawaki,” Chihiro shook his head at his friend, “Also, you left out the part where I aim to go to the gym for an hour, but bail after 30 minutes, 45 tops. And you call yourself my friend.”

“Mayuzuuumiii! Don’t be a jerk and just come out with us!" Kawaki whined at him, as he tugged on Chihiro's jacket sleeve like some sort of overgrown toddler. Chihiro grimaced at him and tried to shake him off, but that only made Kawaki hold tighter, "I know you always end up enjoying yourself once you’re out, it’s just the getting out of the house part that you suck at.”

“I like my alone time,” Chihiro grunted, finally dislodging Kawaki as he rounded a corner quickly and Kawaki had to let go of him or risk crashing into a standee shelf full of tinned fruit and vegetables.

“Yeah I know, but socialising does you good too! Plus, we’re going to Hanbok Table. Are you really gonna turn that down?”

Damn Kawaki. He knew that Hanbok Table was one of Chihiro’s favourite restaurants. 

“I’ll just order it in,” Chihiro shrugged non-chalant. 

“Yeah, but aren’t you the one that says the tteokbokki and hotpot tastes way better in the restaurant instead of in plastic containers?” Kawaki asked him, wiggling his eyebrows in a way he only did when he knew he had the upper hand. 

And well, he did, because how could Chihiro argue with good food?

So, with that, Chihiro caved, “Alright, alright. I’ll go. Can’t guarantee I’m gonna last the whole night, though.”

Kawaki practically jumped for joy as he nodded vigorously, “Hey, that doesn’t matter! I’m just glad you’re coming to hang out! Work gets pretty hectic for you, so you should loosen up when you get the chance!”

.

.

Saturday night rolled around, and Chihiro left his apartment with an empty stomach and a mildly optimistic attitude because hey, it wasn't the worst way he could spend his night. Plus, all the guys were pretty cool. They had been friends since University days and despite how they weren't as close now with their own lives and careers, they still caught up whenever they got the chance. Not to mention the way Chihiro was going to stuff his face full of food because it had been a while since he'd eaten out and had decent food. 

He walked into Hanbok Table, spotted the guys, and walked over. Just as he sat down, he was greeted with-

"Yo, Mayuzumi-san! It's been a while!"

Mayuzumi's eyes widened at the familiar face sitting opposite him at the table.

Takao Kazunari. He used to work at the bar with Takao. 

Takao was (and still is) the senior bartender at the bar and he'd been working there for about four years. Two years ago Chihiro had been hired and had worked with Takao lots of times, since their schedules often lined up and Mayuzumi was one of the longer term employees - up until recently when he'd quit to go and work full time at Rakuzan. He'd also integrated himself into his and Kawaki's friend group, since Kawaki and the other guys would come visit Chihiro at the bar, and naturally Takao would chat with them too. Takao was also a naturally friendly and talkative person, so that meant he could make friends with damn near anyone. 

Chihiro stared at him for a few seconds. Then, his head swung over in Kawaki's direction as he asked bluntly, "Kawaki, you didn't say he was coming. Why'd you invite him?"

"Oof, so harsh, Mayuzumi-san! C'mon, don't pretend you're not happy to see me," Takao said teasingly, as Mayuzumi sighed and he settled himself into the vacant seat and greeted the others that were there, "You know I've missed your bad attitude and blank stares! It's just not the same without you behind the bar!"

Mayuzumi rolled his eyes and shook his head, "So, how's it been at work?"

"Eh, about the same, really. Just training up the newbie who replaced you, he's a little inexperienced but he'll get there," Takao waved it off with a breezy grin, then turned to Chihiro and Kawaki as if he suddenly remembered something, "I heard you guys dropped in one night while I was off the roster. I'm so offended. Your new corporate job's definitely given you a complex, Mayuzumi-san. Are you and Kawaki-san ditching me for bigger and better things?"

Kawaki clapped his hands together in front of his face apologetically and said, "Sorry, Takao. Mayuzumi was down bad in the dumps that day, so it wasn't planned!"

"Haha, I'm just kidding. All good, I totally get it," Takao held his hands up innocently as he messed with them, and said in a joking tone, "We can't have our dear Mayuzumi-san get any gloomier than he already is! Maybe next time we can make it a guy's catch up though!"

"As long as you give us free refills, I'm in," Chihiro replied, monotonal as he saw a waiter coming their way, and Kawaki nodded in agreement. 

Takao smiled and winked at Chihiro, "Of course~"

And so, they ordered a massive spread of food, going for a banquet style dinner where they all shared the dishes and helped themselves to whatever they wanted in the middle of the table. Chihiro helped himself to more than a few servings of tteokbokki and hotpot and ate some of the barbequed meat and kimchi fried rice as well. Then, about two hours later, they went for a short walk down the main street towards the karaoke place. Kawaki had booked them their own room, so they didn't have to wait too long (thank fuck, because Chihiro hated long lines and standing in crowds). 

Once they were all inside and checking out the songs on the register, Takao stood up and had his phone at the ready as he called out, "Alright, everyone gimme me your drink orders and I'll go up to the bar to order now!" 

They all rattled off their orders and Takao slipped out to grab them. Barely five minutes later, the door opened, and Mayuzumi wondered what kind of magic Takao had worked to get the drinks so fast, until - 

"Oh, sorry, wrong room - Mayuzumi?"

It wasn't Takao. It was Hironaka. This guy's a real pain in the ass, Chihiro thought sourly.

Pushing back his dirty blonde hair (clearly dyed and a home job because it looked shitty, but that was just Chihiro's opinion), Hironaka stepped further into the room and stood around the booth and table, "It's really you. Didn't expect to see you here. Decided to crawl out of your hole and make an appearance in the real world, huh?"

Chihiro ground his teeth in irritation before he cleared his throat to reply, "You sound disappointed Hironaka. Same here, I was actually kind of enjoying the night before I saw your face."

Hironaka glared at him but then moved past it, leaning both elbows on the table as he changed the subject, "Heard you started working with some big shot company and you're a PA to the CEO. Is it even a publishing company?"

"No, it's Rakuzan Collect," Chihiro clarified in a cold, concise tone.  

"Some corporate company? Are you serious? I knew you were all talk, but I didn't think you'd sell out this early," Hironaka sneered, and the other guys at the table looked either annoyed or fed up with Hironaka already. They hadn't been in the same class as Hironaka and Mayuzumi, but they knew all about the guy since he'd made a point of making himself known on campus - the type who cared about popularity and status and being 'the golden boy'. He needed to grow the hell up, but hey, you can't force people to be actual functioning and tolerable adults in society. 

"Did you finally give up on becoming an author, Mayuzumi? It's okay to admit it, no one's gonna judge you," Hironaka told him, a feigned look of consolation on his face as he patted Chihiro on the shoulder with nothing but condescension, "Maybe you've found your calling in being someone's errand boy, getting coffee and pushing papers?"

"Hironaka, cut it out. A job's a job, and we've all gotta pay our bills," Kawaki frowned at him, and Chihiro could tell he was annoyed. Kawaki was a pretty easy-going guy, so if he got pissed off at you, then more than likely you were the problem. 

"It's fine. I'm not in a rush to get there. But don't worry," Chihiro paused, then sent Hironaka a self-assured smirk as he continued, "You'll be the first to know when my first novel is out, since you clearly have nothing better to do with your time than keep tabs on me," he finished with a shrug, and the way Hironaka's face transformed from bored to furious surely was a treat to witness. 

Just as Hironaka was about to open his mouth to respond, the door burst open, with Takao standing in the doorway. He was balancing an insanely full drink tray in one hand and had just opened the door with another. Perks of being a bartender, Chihiro supposed, his attention momentarily diverted from the giant douche bag in the room. 

"Okay, I've got the drinks!" Takao announced jovially as he approached the table. Then, he looked at Hironaka with a confused but not unfriendly curiosity, "Ah, hey. Could you move over? Sorry, I just need to like, put this down. You don't mind, yeah?"

God bless Takao and his personable yet straightforward demeanour. Since he dealt with drunk and obnoxious people on a daily basis, Takao was basically a pro at handling jerks like this with ease. 

"Right. Sorry. I was leaving anyway," Hironaka replied stiffly, as he stepped back and gave Takao the room to put down the tray of drinks on the table. 

"Cool! See ya!" Takao sent him off with a wave and a smile, and Hironaka had no choice but to awkwardly leave after that. 

Then, as soon as he was out of ear shot and the door closed, Takao spun back around and faced them all with a mischievous sort of intrigue, "Sooo, who was that guy and why do we hate him?"

One annoying thing about Takao (one of many, Chihiro could vouch for that), was that he was infuriatingly perceptive and observant. There wasn't much that Takao missed or didn't pick up on, whether it be in conversations, people's body language, or even in writing. 

"That was Hironaki. The guy's just a jerk, really. He's got some stupid vendetta against Mayuzumi just because he kept to himself in university and didn't want to hang out with Hironaka, like everyone else did," Kawaki explained, summing up four years of rivalry in a nutshell. 

Takao hummed and nodded, as he reached for his own drink on the tray, "So basically you were a loner who did your own thing and that pissed him off?"

Chihiro nodded, "Pretty much."

Takao pulled a face then shook his head in disapproval, "Man, what a tool. Sounds like he's compensating for something if he needs to feed his ego that bad."

"Some people just can't handle when someone doesn't talk 24/7. Seriously, he always tried to provoke Mayuzumi back in university, and even now he's not over it," Kawaki scowled. 

"But like, why don't we ask extroverts why they talk so much? It's okay to ask introverts why they're so quiet but not the other way around? That's discrimination," Chihiro stated, and Takao sniggered at him while nodding, as did the rest of the group. 

Eventually the unpleasant interaction with Hironaka became a faint memory in the background, as they went on with enjoying their night as they had intended. They all sang their chosen songs, and even Chihiro got up to do a number (after he had a few drinks in him, naturally). An hour and a half passed by like that, and yeah, okay, Chihiro could admit he was glad he dragged himself out of the house for this. Aside from the Hironaka encounter, it wasn't that bad. 

"Alright, I'm gonna head off now guys," Takao said after they just finished a group song. He tapped on his phone screen for a few seconds, likely sending a message before he stood up from his seat and slipped his phone inside his pocket. 

Collective groans and 'boos' were heard around the table, as one of the guys piped up, "Already? C'mon, man, one more round!"

"Ah, sorry, sorry. I really can't stay. It's almost 10 and I promised Shin-chan I'd be home by 10:30. He gets all worried if I'm late and waits up til I get home. Honestly, it's so cute," Takao fawned over said boyfriend with a stupid smile on his face. Then, he shook his head and sighed in defeat as he threw some Yen on the table to contribute to the drinks, "but even if seeing it would be cute, I really don't wanna make him mad at me before we go to bed. That's like, an essential rule for couples, y'know?"

'Shin-chan' was Takao's boyfriend. Mayuzumi had never met the guy and had no plans to - he didn't even know his proper name, Mayuzumi only knew him as 'Shin-chan' since that was all Takao ever called him. And Mayuzumi wasn't the type to get in other people's business so he hadn't seen any pictures of Takao's boyfriend or could even point him out in a crowd. But the way Takao went on and on about how cute, sweet and sensitive 'Shin-chan' was, Mayuzumi just imagined some small, soft-looking guy that was shy but also feisty because he was 'kind of a huge tsundere' - at least according to Takao.

"Aw, really? Not even 5 more minutes?" Kawaki asked hopefully, his cheeks flushed red with all the alcohol going through his system. 

Takao shook his head cheerfully, "Nope! Not even 5 seconds! Not when I've got Shin-chan waiting for me at home!"

"Seriously? Dude, you're so whipped," another one of the guys rolled his eyes at Takao but was smirking at him because it was all in good fun. 

"Ahahah, yep! I sure am! Totally lame, right?" Takao grinned at them all shamelessly, not looking bothered in the slightest by the fact he was a huge simp for his boyfriend. And honestly? Good for him, Chihiro thought as he took another swig of his beer, because he could respect people who owned what they were and didn't try and put on a front. 

"Let's hang out again soon! See ya!" Takao waved as he headed out the door, and they all shouted out their goodbyes and waved back. 

Takao and his boyfriend had been together for about 3 years. When he and Takao used to work together at the bar, Mayuzumi had felt occasional, tiny flickers of jealousy every now and then whenever Takao brought up their 'couple plans' or just talked about his boyfriend in general. Takao seemed genuinely happy, and it made Mayuzumi wonder and almost wish that he could feel that kind of happiness with a partner of his own. Like he was missing out on something special. 

Oh, well. That's just the way it is, Mayuzumi told himself it didn't matter all that much. He didn't need a partner to be happy. Besides, who needed romance when you had a 6-figure job and friends you could hang out with on the weekends? 

.

.

Chihiro stayed for another half hour after Takao left, and then he felt the tug of exhaustion and knew it was time for him to bail out. He told Kawaki he was leaving since the other guys were in a heated debate about what flavour of Coca Cola was superior, and Kawaki had just nodded and bid him goodnight. He was on his way out of the karaoke place, when he saw a familiar figure on their way back from the bathroom, heading towards a room where raucous laughter and off-key singing could be heard. 

“Eh? Mayuzumi-san?”

It was Hayama. Ugh, Chihiro cursed his carelessness. If he had just waited a couple more seconds, then his low presence wouldn't have been noticed by Hayama at all. 

“Hey! Didn't expect to see you here!” Hayama greeted him as he waltzed over, and Chihiro stopped to entertain a brief conversation with him. 

“Yeah well, neither did I,” Chihiro huffed, because what the hell was this? First Hironaka and now Hayama? Though he would admit Hayama was a much more welcome inconvenience than Hironaka at least. 

Hayama tipped his head to the side curiously, as he looked at Mayuzumi and then around the place in confusion, “Wait, you like karaoke?” 

“It's fine,” Chihiro shrugged. 

"You heading out? Stay and we can sing together! You can meet some of my pals!" Hayama suggested, and though he didn't look as drunk as Mayuzumi's friends did, he was certainly tipsy. 

Chihiro held up a hand to decline, "No thanks, I'm heading home. I'm done socialising for today."

"Aww, really? Not even one song?" Hayama asked, as he looked at Chihiro with some sorry attempt of 'puppy dog eyes'. 

"Have a good weekend, Hayama," Chihiro stated with a note of finality in his tone, as he sidestepped the man and continued forward towards the exit. 

“Yeah, you too! I'll see ya Monday!” Hayama called out loudly as he waved at Mayuzumi's retreating back. 

All Chihiro could do was pray that Hayama would forget about it come Monday. 

"So, how was the party, Kotaro?" Mibuchi asked, as he unfolded his napkin and placed it on his lap neatly. His table manners were present even when they ate in the work restaurant for lunch - in complete contrast to Nebuya who wolfed down his food and was lucky to use his utensils half the time. 

"Awesome! We went for Vietnamese at The Dragon Bowl and did like a banquet style meal! It was soo good!" Hayama basically drooled over the mere memory of the dinner, and of course, since food was involved, Nebuya was quick to jump on the bandwagon. 

"The food there is bomb, now you're makin' me wanna go there for dinner tonight!" Nebuya pat his stomach hungrily - nevermind the fact he had just finished his 5th serving of Pork Katsudon.

"And guess what! We went to do karaoke afterwards, and Mayuzumi-san was there!"

"Ehh? You do karaoke, Mayuzumi? Didn't peg you for the type," Nebuya smirked at him (like the big jerk he was) and nudged Chihiro's arm way too hard. Chihiro wobbled in his chair but thankfully did not fall on his ass - he did not need that kind of humiliation today. 

"My friend dragged me along with him and some other friends. It was a last-minute thing, I don't do that stuff on the regular," Chihiro grumbled with reluctance, because he absolutely did not need these chuckle-fucks to make this a thing. 

"Hmm, now it makes me wonder if you can sing or not," Mibuchi hummed as he looked at him.

"We should do karaoke one time! As like a work event! Maybe we could suggest it as one of the events at our Christmas party?" Kotaro piped up, all bright eyed and bushy tailed. 

Nebuya grinned and gave a nod, "Oh, sounds fun! I'm down!"

Great. Just great, Chihiro lamented his life choices for what had to be the 11th time this morning, and only emitted a low sigh as he elected to stay silent. Maybe if he didn't bring it up again then magically by the end of the year, they'd forget all about it.

Then, Chihiro noticed a flash of red hair in his peripheral vision and looked to his left to confirm his suspicions that yes, it was Akashi that had just walked into the vicinity. It was creepy how Chihiro was starting to sense his presence now - then again, how could you not sense it when someone like Akashi Seijuurou entered a room?

The thing was, Akashi was not alone. There was someone with him. A very tall man with dark green hair parted to the left. His eyes were green as well and he had super prominent lower eyelashes, with black-framed glasses that were framed on all sides except the top that sat on the bridge of his nose. He was dressed in a sharp and trim black suit, with a white dress shirt underneath the black blazer with a black tie to match. Mayuzumi had not seen this guy around before, which meant clearly he was here for something important. 

"Hey, who's that with Akashi?" Chihiro asked to the others, as he watched the man walk in step with Akashi. It was rare to see anyone walk beside Akashi, most people followed along behind him, but this guy kept pace with him and likewise Akashi had no issue with it. 

"That is Midorima Shintarou. He's a top corporate laywer. But to be specific, he's the head of the legal team that provides services to Rakuzan."

So, that's Akashi's lawyer, huh? Chihiro thought to himself, and looking at the guy, it made sense. His aura was certainly strong and intimidating - not as much as Akashi's (Chihiro wasn't sure if anyone could match that level of presence - oh wait, except perhaps Masaomi). 

"Oh, man. That's not good. Looks like that thing with Zack isn't going away anytime soon," Nebuya groaned as he dropped his head back and massaged the place between his neck and shoulder - as if the tension that had bled away after Masaomi's visit was building back up again. And damn, Chihiro could relate to that. 

"Yes, Sei-chan and I agreed it was best to get the legal team's aid. We need all cylinders firing to get rid of this pest," Mibuchi muttered under his breath, as his nose crinkled in disgust at the mention of Zack and Jabberwock. 

"Well, if Midorima's getting involved, it's gotta be a straight shot, right? He never does anything halfway," Hayama stated with a shrug, and the others agreed. 

But Chihiro was not about to ignore the elephant in the room. Or rather, he should say, penguin. Because, seriously-

"What's with the toy he's carrying?" Chihiro voiced the rest of his thought out loud. The other three glanced at Chihiro before they looked over to Midorima - who was indeed carrying a pink plush toy, a penguin to be exact, under one arm. With his brief case clasped in his other hand. Looking for all intents and purposes both incredibly serious and absurdly ridiculous. 

"Oh. That. Well, uh, Midorima Shintarou is known for being an excellent lawyer, for sure. But he's also known for being kind of...odd. Eccentric, even," Mibuchi explained, his voice hushed as he shot a brief glance over his shoulder in Midorima's direction before turning back. 

Hayama then leaned in close, a twinkle in his eyes that always appeared whenever there was juicy gossip to be had, "It's his lucky item. You know that broadcast show, Oha Asa? He listens to it on a daily basis and carries the lucky item for his zodiac sign every single day. Crazy, right!?"

Nebuya nodded and of course chimed in with his own two cents' worth, "He and Akashi go way back to like high school, apparently. They had a falling out back then, but they're pretty much over it these days."

Well, if he was friends with Akashi, makes sense if he's an oddball too, Chihiro reasoned with himself. 

He was sure that Akashi would debrief them all about what he and Midorima discussed very soon. 

Chapter Text

Once they entered inside Midorima's (temporary, as he did not work in Rakuzan all the time), Seijuurou occupied himself with surveying the space. Midorima set down his Lucky Item first and foremost and went about setting his things down in a methodical order while muttering to himself - his usual routine for when he was about to start working. Seijuurou had known him long enough to know this ritual took at least ten minutes, so he had some time up his sleeve. 

Eventually, his eyes snagged on a flash of silver on Midorima's desk. Seijuurou stepped closer and confirmed that it was a pair of scissors inside a small, desk-sized stationery set. So, Seijuurou waited until Midorima had finished the last part of his routine, before he spoke up. 

"Shintarou, may I borrow these?" he asked, as he pointed his finger down at the glimmering, silver scissors. 

Midorima paused halfway through turning his computer screens on, then scrutinised Akashi with a stern gaze as he asked, "What are you going to use them for? Keep in mind they are my stationery scissors, intended only for stationery specific purposes."

"I feel as though you are trying to tell me something," Seijuurou hummed, as he guessed the answer before Midorima said it. 

Midorima stared at him with that same, firm expression, as he reminded Seijuurou, "Don't you feel it too? Deja vu."

A few seconds passed, and then a small smile twitched at the edges of Seijuurou's lips as he caught on, "Are you referring to when I borrowed your scissors in high school? They were your lucky item at the time, correct?"

"Yes, they were. And aside from cutting your own hair, you also used them to attack Kagami," Midorima added with a disapproving frown and shake of his head, as his computer screens lit up before him and he started logging into his account and email inbox.  

"I did apologise to Kagami about that, I'll have you know," Seijuurou informed him, the tip of his pointer finger now tracing over the handle of the scissors idly, "Besides, I was not actually trying to attack him. I was merely testing his reflexes."

"Yes, I believe that is why I am here in the first place, because you decided to test Zack's reflexes too," Midorima stated, his tone decidedly frigid and his lips pressed in a tight line, "If you must constantly test and assess others physical abilities for whatever reason you have, I would suggest finding a less direct approach, and I insist you choose one that is not as harmful."

"You're funny, Shintarou," Seijuurou remarked, as a slow smirk took over his mouth. Then, it disappeared as he reassured the man of his intentions, "Though I assure you, today I only intend to use them for only the haircut. My hair has grown too long again, and I simply cannot tolerate when it gets in my eyes like this,"

Midorima frowned, as he corrected him, "I just told you they are stationery scissors-"

Seijuurou plucked the scissors out from their compartment, sliding his fingers inside the rings and opening them up to inspect them. His eyes were sharp and attentive, as he ran his finger lightly across the edge of one of the blades.

"A blade is still a blade. No matter what it's 'intended purpose' is, its basic function will always stay the same. To cut away the useless parts we have no need for," he stated, then brought the scissors up to his forehead. He pinched his finger between his first two fingers of his left hand, and used his right hand to begin trimming the edges of his hair off. 

"I see your penchant for using symbolic metaphors in basic conversation has not waned. I cannot say I missed it all that much," Midorima told him, disparaging as he typed away on his keyboard as it was now his turn to busy himself whilst Seijuurou tidied up his hair.

"You do have an appreciation for the succinct and straightforward approach. Even as children, you were the same," Seijuurou chuckled. 

"As opposed to your light-hearted and carefree nature?" Midorima quipped back sarcastically, and a slow, amused smile spread over Akashi's lips as he finished off cutting the last few stray stands of hair that hung over his eyes. 

"There was a reason I spent more time with you than the others. We both acted overly mature for our age. Isn't it funny to look back on those days when we were under the notion we knew it all?"

Midorima quirked an eyebrow at the question, and considered it for a moment before answering, "Funny? I haven't really considered it, but I suppose it is comical. I know far more now than I did at sixteen, yet I still feel as if I have much to learn."

"Simply coming to that realisation on its own is the sign of true growth, Shintarou," Seijuurou said, finished and satisfied with his fringe length. He gestured to an intern to alert the cleaner to come and tidy the mess, and the intern gave a passionate nod and was gone before Akashi could say a word to find said cleaner. 

"I suppose you realised it far earlier," Midorima said stiffly from his place at his desk. 

"Naturally," Seijuurou confirmed, as he returned the scissors to Midorima's stationery set neatly, in the exact same position from which he'd taken them. 

Midorima scoffed lightly at that, "Though your arrogance has improved over the years, your condescension never ceases to amaze me, Akashi," he said, and Seijuurou looked over to him with a certain sort of eminence. 

"Not condescension. Merely astute observation. Apologies if it came off as anything other than constructive," Seijuurou said, and Midorima rolled his eyes. 

"Right. With that tangent seemingly at its end, may we please circle back to the more pressing matter at hand?"

"Of course, we can," Seijuurou agreed easily, as he settled himself into the plush office chair opposite Midorima's desk. His hands were folded in his lap as he looked at the man expectantly, "What updates do you have for me?"

"I have been in negotiation with Zack Thompson's attorney throughout this week, attempting to mitigate and see if a potential meeting could be organised. I have not had much success, until I called him back this morning from a missed call from him last night. It seems as though Zack is willing to meet with Rakuzan once more and sign the non-disclosure statement-"

"Oh? Has he finally come to his senses?" Seijuurou queried, his mood lightening at the prospect this might blow over quicker than he had anticipated. 

But Midorima was not finished and continued where he left off before Seijuurou had interrupted him, "-however, there is a condition. He has requested an apology."

Seijuurou huffed a laugh through his nose, "How petty, but easy enough. I will have Chihiro write up one-"

"You misunderstand, Akashi. Though he has requested a formal apology from Rakuzan, he also requested something more. He has requested a direct, verbal apology from you," Midorima said, as he stared at Akashi in a serious sort of anticipation. 

Seijuurou paused for a moment, turned the words over in his mind, and let himself ponder why. Within a few seconds, he had his answer, and sighed as he readjusted himself in the chair with an unmoved sort of condemnation, "No. He has not requested that. Nash will have been in his ear this whole week, and I can guarantee he too will be present at this proposed meeting since he is Zack's new, current employer. It is a poorly disguised humiliation ritual designed specifically for me for Nash's entertainment. I refuse to indulge it."

"I figured you would say as much. But I would be remiss if I did not implore you, Akashi, to highly reconsider it. Because this will not go away otherwise. Zack's attorney made it quite clear they are prepared to take it to the next level if we cannot commit to this olive branch," Midorima said, his matter-of-fact tone of voice never failing to drive through hard truths. 

"Olive branch? What a laughable concept. If anything, it is a double-edged sword masked inside that olive branch," Seijuurou murmured, a defiant glint passing through his eyes. 

"Akashi," Midorima sighed, reigning in his patience as he closed his eyes briefly. There were rings under his eyes, and his nose appeared redder than usual, irritated almost. Seijuurou presumed the man was feeling run down and perhaps even under the weather due to the hard work and endless hours he'd been putting in this week trying to rectify the issue. Seijuurou felt some of the responsibility for that, so he pulled back slightly and composed himself. 

"There is nothing more you can do on your end, Shintarou?" Seijuurou sought to confirm it, though he was almost certain of the answer. 

Midorima shook his head with a resigned finality, "I have reached the end of the negotiation stage. His attorney wants an answer in 48 hours. We are at the point where we either accept this request, or we officially take it to court. I am aware it is not the first court case you would have, but in light of what you have told me about your pending global launch, it would be a potential barrier to success in the sense it would damage Rakuzan's reputation. Whether you are successful in the case or not."

"Indeed, there is a lot to consider," Seijuurou thought out loud, and he knew that what he wanted to do and what he should do were at odds, which was something that caused him great levels of displeasure. Nevertheless, he would need more time to dissect what to do, and said as such to his lawyer, "Very well. I will give you my formal answer before the deadline. If I have any questions, I will contact you to follow up before we meet."

"Yes, please do," Midorima encouraged him, and his shoulders seemed looser now that Akashi's answer had moved from a firm no to a tentative one. 

Seijuurou stood and readied himself to leave, but not before he remembered to ask something that would lighten the atmosphere, "By the way, how is Takao keeping?"

Midorima paused, slightly thrown off by the sudden personal question. But, he recovered and sent Akashi a courteous nod, his gaze not as hard and serious as before as he said, "He is well, as he always is."

Seijuurou nodded, a slight uptick at the corner of his lips, "That is excellent to hear, as always. When things settle down, it would be nice to get together with you both, for a drink or a meal." 

"Perhaps, if all our schedules line up accordingly, we could do that," Midorima said, not committing but not saying no either, which was ultimately a sign that he agreed. Clearing his throat in an attempt to mask his suddenly abashed state, Midorima turned the focus towards Akashi instead, "What about you?"

"Hm?" Seijuurou tipped his head to the side, curious. 

Midorima exhaled through his nose, as if he knew Akashi was being intentionally evasive to get him to say it outright. But, to Midorima's credit, he did, "Anyone to speak of? Romantically?"

"No," Seijuurou smiled at him pleasantly, unfazed. 

Midorima's expression did not change, and if anything, Seijuurou was sure he was unsurprised and even expected his answer. It was the same one Seijuurou gave him each time Midorima asked, "I see. No one worthwhile, at all?"

Though if Seijuurou asked him, Midorima would surely claim he only asked the question out of politeness as Seijuurou showed an interest in his own relationship. But he was almost certain the man was actually showing care and concern for him in his own odd way. 

So, Seijuurou called him out on it, his head tipped to the side thoughtfully as he looked at his long time friend, "Shintarou, you sound as if you are worried about me. Perhaps you fear I may be lonely?"

Within an instant, Midorima bristled and was up in arms as he denied it, "Tch, what an absurd notion. I was merely being cordial, in fact-"

"While that is touching, it is unnecessary. I am exactly where I want to be and I follow my own timeline. If someone else appears and happens to align with that, then it would be a welcome venture that I may consider exploring. However, it is not something I am actively seeking out," Seijuurou told him, and it was the truth, plain and simple. Seijuurou at times felt the occasional tug of longing for someone to be by his side, to eat his meals with him, to spend time with him for no other reason except the pure enjoyment of Seijuurou's company.

But it was a feeling he could brush off and ignore more often than not. It was far easier to focus on his career, and the business, and the many other ventures he was involved in. 

Midorima was silent for a few moments, then nodded, as he spoke, "Just to clarify, I was not trying to pry or imply that you need a partner for happiness, in fact."

"Yes, I know," Seijuurou smiled, a touch softer, "like I said, I am thankful for the concern, Shintarou. You are a true friend. I appreciate your efforts to help me, both professionally and personally."

"It was not concern, it was a simple question. Do not be so overly sentimental," Midorima muttered in an attempt to brush it off, though it was obvious to Seijuurou that he was flustered due to his averted gaze and the way he fiddled with his glasses. Shintarou never did like having his moments of affection towards his friends called out so plainly by others, Seijuurou mused silently to himself, as he bid the man farewell and left his office.  

.

.

Chihiro was, quite frankly, on a roll this morning. He was on top of all his tasks and actually even a little ahead of his own schedule. Probably due to the fact that Akashi was currently out of the building attending meetings offsite, which meant he wasn't around to pull Chihiro out of tasks he was in the middle of, to do something else urgently for him. It was great, actually, getting to finish whatever the fuck he started before going onto the next thing and not losing track somewhere along the way.

He had not seen much at all of the Uncrowned Kings, either, which was always a cause for celebration. Those guys were alright, Chihiro would admit, but they could be really damn bad at getting sidetracked and dragging Mayuzumi into their shit somehow. 

So, Chihiro was actually feeling pretty good about the day. That was, until around 11 AM, when he was on his way down to the reception area to pick up Akashi's mail from the front desk mailbox. Just as Chihiro exited the elevator and rounded the corner to make his way before said mailbox, he noticed a couple standing not too far away from him, off to the side of the massive line of elevators in the reception hall.  

"You did not need to come all the way in to give me this. I told you that I would go to the pharmacy during my break time," a stern and haughty voice that sounded familiar said, as Chihiro took a moment to really look at the two people across from him. 

And Chihiro wondered if all the hours of sleep he had lost since starting this job had finally caught up to him and were finally messing with his head, and his concept of reality and dreaming. Because there was no way that Takao Kazunari was standing in the reception lobby of Rakuzan Collect - standing opposite one Midorima Shintarou with a bag of what appeared to be...medicine?

What the fuck.  

"Yeah, yeah, you might've said that, but I wanted to do it for you. Gives you one less thing to worry about, I know how hectic this week has been for you. Plus, I didn't want you to wait any longer than you had to for some relief," Takao said, his voice low and calm in a way that Chihiro had never heard from him - didn't think was possible, to be honest, given Takao's loud and boisterous nature. 

"You should not have gone out of your way like this, especially when the bar is in the opposite direction," Midorima insisted, then rose his chin higher as he cleared his throat and said, "The symptoms are not that bad, I could've endured it just fine for another hour more. As it is, I feel they have settled for the mome-"

Then, Midorima sneezed. Twice. Then, pulled out a packet of tissues from his pocket and plucked two of them out to blow his nose. 

"You were saying?" Takao asked with raised brows, smug that he was the one in the right. Meanwhile, Chihiro was still reeling in the background and grappling with the fact that these two people knew each other.

It wasn't like Chihiro had had that many interactions with Midorima since he'd arrived, but he'd spoken with him a handful of times and he seemed...completely opposite to Takao, in every way that was probably possible. And not to mention, they were standing...kind of close. Chihiro had an inkling as to why, but he refused to let the thought fully form. Don't assume or you'll make an ass out of you and me, he told himself, over and over. 

"Shut up," Midorima scowled at him as he snatched the plastic bag out of Takao's hands, but then his face did something odd. Something Mayuzumi hadn't seen it do since he'd met the guy. It softened and looked almost warm as he murmured in a quiet, sincere tone, "...Thank you, Kazunari."

Then Takao's face split into a big, dreamy smile as he wrapped a hand around Midorima's wrist, in a discreet yet intimate, gesture of affection "Aww, anything for you, angel."

And Chihiro still didn't want to assume or even entertain the idea that these two were involved in that way, but the proof was sort of proof-ing right in front of him. In a way that was pretty damn hard to refute. Chihiro was still struggling to process it all. He was struggling hard, because nothing about that made sense at all. There's just no way, right? Like, how is that...why is that...what?

Chihiro could see how Midorima suddenly looked down, an unusual act for him since he was for sure the 'high and mighty' type. So, he likely guessed that Midorima was either feeling awkward or embarrassed - or both.

Takao definitely noticed and this seemed to spur him on if anything. He leaned in closer, eyes sparkling as he earnestly suggested, "Hey, since I'm here, how about we grab you a quick cup of coffee? There's heaps of cafes close-by, and I don't wanna leave just yet."

"Your shift is starting soon, isn't it? You won't have time," Midorima replied, shooting a quick glance down to his wristwatch - the wrist currently not being held captive by Takao's insistent yet gentle grip. 

"Blasphemy. I always have time for you, Shin-chan," Takao continued to grin, and then winked up at Midorima and yeah, Chihiro had seen all he needed to see. For like, ever. Right now, he was focused on making a smooth and swift exit without being seen by anyone, but especially those two. He'd done it a thousand times before with no issue because of his low presence and misdirection, so should be an easy, task right?

But of course, the universe liked to screw things up for him at the worst possible time and play in Chihiro's face for fun. 

Because some wide-eyed visitor who was clearly setting foot inside Rakuzan for the first time, didn't watch where they were going, and bumped into Chihiro. The man yelped, startled and immediately apologised, and Chihiro sighed and said it was fine. 

"Eh - Mayuzumi-san!?"

Takao was the one to notice him first, because of course he was. 

His hand slipped away from Midorima's wrist, and a smile emerged on his lips as he stepped closer towards Chihiro, "No way! Do you work here? That's wild! Can't believe I didn't know! Actually, I don't think I got the name of your new work in the first place, so that's kinda on me, right?"

"You two know each other?" Midorima asked, his brow furrowed in confusion as he looked between them both. 

"Yeah! I've talked about him to you heaps of times! Were you even listening?" Takao asked, eyebrow raised and tone dropping to one unimpressed.

Midorima cleared his throat, and attempted to recover from his own fumble, "Of course I was, do not compare me to you."

But before the two could go on bickering, Mayuzumi had to say it. He had to make sure he was seeing exactly what he thought he was seeing.

“Wait, wait. Hold on. This…is ‘Shin-chan’?” Chihiro asked slowly, his eyes going from Takao and then landing on Midorima, the name and the person still not lining up in his head even though he was literally right in front of Chihiro and he heard Takao call him that. 

Takao grinned and nodded, meanwhile Midorima looked far less amused by the whole situation.

He readjusted his glasses, shot Takao an icy glare, and then looked back at Mayuzumi as he professionally responded, “Please do not call me by that name, Mayuzumi-san. It is far too familiar and not at all appropriate in the workplace. Or any setting, in fact,” he clarified. 

“Right. Sorry. Takao never said your real name when he talked about you, so I was just...confirming who you were,” Chihiro explained, his brain starting to hurt from trying to remember all the times Takao had talked about his boyfriend and trying to reconcile the fact that said boyfriend was a lawyer for his boss. The CEO of Rakuzan Collect. Takao had literally told him and Kawaki what his boyfriend's weirdest superstitions were, but had never mentioned before where he worked before. 

“I see. So, this is your fault," Midorima deduced, turning his disgruntled expression towards Takao, and said expression became much more annoyed and disappointed than when he was looking at Mayuzumi, "I should have known."

“Ehh? What do you mean? I’ve just been calling you how I normally do. Like I’d use anything else,” Takao explained with a shrug, as if it was incomprehensible to expect such a thing out of him like calling his boyfriend by his actual proper name. 

“If you’re talking about me to people who have not met me before, then you should use my full name in the first instance and introduce me properly. That way, these kinds of awkward situations would not happen!” Midorima hissed at him, as his green eyes flashed with irritation. 

Takao's face fell from unbothered into a guilty-looking pout, “Aww, don’t be mad. It’s not that awkward, it’s just a little misunderstanding!" he tried to explain, but Midorima's sternness was unwavering. Takao was quick on his feet though, and quickly changed gears, "Besides, you could have introduced yourself properly to Mayuzumi-san when you met him earlier! Didn't you realise he was the same guy I used to work with?”

"...I do not recall you mentioning his name in the past," Miodrima muttered under his breath, and Takao scoffed in disbelief and then shot a brief glance towards Mayuzumi, as if to say, 'can you believe him?'

"What? I did! He used to work at the bar with me, remember? He was the reserved but straightforward one! Like Kuroko, but meaner!"

Chihiro raised an eyebrow, his annoyance dialled up another notch. He had no idea who this Kuroko guy was, and Chihiro didn't like being compared to other people at the best of times. 

However, this seemed to help Midorima recall Mayuzumi for whatever reason, as he pursed his lips and nodded, "Oh, yes. I do recall you speaking about him. I simply never took the time to remember his name as I thought there was no point since we would not meet."

Takao sighed at him as if he was used to such behaviour, then his eyes widened as he remembered the two were not alone, and Mayuzumi had heard what was said. He turned to Midorima with a look of both disbelief and poorly hidden amusement, "Wow, that's so cold, Shin-chan. At least don't say it right in front of him! Sorry, Mayuzumi-san!"

"I'm used to being forgotten. I literally don't care," Chihiro replied bluntly, because he really couldn't give a shit that the guy who carried Lucky Items around with him did not remember Chihiro's name. It was probably for the best, really. 

Takao's grin returned, and he spun back around to Midorima, triumphant, "Sweet! See? He's cool with it. No harm done!"

“We will talk about this later,” Midorima huffed, as he turned and bowed briefly towards Mayuzumi, then spun on his heel and walked off without another word to Takao. 

“Huh? Hey, wait! What about having coffee with me? Shin-chan!” Takao called out to him loudly, his hands cupped around his mouth and uncaring of the looks that employees and visitors shot him.

Except for Midorima, who did not even stop walking or look back at Takao. Seemed like he was going to take the stairs back up to his office rather than wait another minute there with Takao, and honestly, Chihiro thought that was a smart move. Definitely what Chihiro should have done, but his reflexes and usual mental acuity was all delayed because he still just couldn't believe those two were a couple. 

“Damn, he’s definitely mad. I’m gonna get an earful later on," Takao's voice dropped lower in defeat, and he dropped his head back and groaned, "Ugh, it’s not even a huge deal! Right, Mayuzumi-san?”

“You kidding me? You’re really telling me that guy is your boyfriend? He’s your 'cute little tsundere' Shin-chan?” Chihiro asked, still incredulous about the fact Akashi's high-powered, all-star, top lawyer was in fact Takao's boyfriend. His 'Shin-chan'. Ugh, what the fuck kind of timeline am I living in right now for this to be happening?

Takao brightened, a renewed enthusiasm fresh on his face as he nodded, “Yeah, of course he is!”

Mayuzumi deadpanned, his voice flatter than ever as he stared at Takao and pointed in the direction that Midorima had walked off in, “That is a 6-foot 5 man who has the most aggressively serious face I’ve ever seen. Like, if looks could kill, you’d be dead. Five times over. The way you talked about him made me think he was some short, soft and baby-faced guy with bambi eyes or something with a feisty personality.”

“Hahaha, really?" Takao asked through a laugh, genuinely surprised. Mayuzumi saw his face scrunch up for a few seconds before Takao grinned and shook his head, "Nah, not my type. I couldn’t imagine Shin-chan any other way. I mean, that just makes him even cuter! Don’t ya think? Like, the contrast between his stoic looks and his adorable tsundere personality?”

Mayuzumi sent the bartender the most overtly shocked face he had shown in quite some time. 

“...You’re a fucking weirdo, Takao.” 

And because he was absolutely not normal at all, Takao only burst out laughing in response, “Pfft ahahah–hey, I’m not fighting you on that!”

“But I think I’m more shocked by the fact Akashi is your boss. Like, I’ve only met him a couple of times, and he was nice and all, but Akashi is a whole different kind of intense," Takao said, grimacing slightly - probably at some concerning memory involving Akashi, because Chihiro definitely had a few of those up his sleeve too and he hadn't even known the guy for six months yet.

Takao then clapped a hand on Chihiro's shoulder, as if to commend him for his guts, "Can’t believe you’re working for someone with such high standards and expectations. I would’ve thought you’d have flaked out before now. No offence, Mayuzumi-san!”

"None taken. Everyone pretty much thought the same thing, me included," Chihiro admitted frankly, and Takao chuckled some more as he let his hand fall away from Mayuzumi's shoulder.

"You and Akashi working together, huh? Man, I wanna know what that first meeting was like. Not to mention the initial interview, your first week, oh! And definitely your 3-month performance review-" Takao babbled on, then stopped himself, shook his head, and began again, "Scratch that, I wanna know everything! All the drama, rumours and gossip!" 

Chihiro snorted at him and crossed his arms, "Is my life some sort of lame reality TV show for you or what?"

"Hahaha! Of course not! Yours is the real deal, Mayuzumi-san! You can't make this sort of thing up!" Takao smiled at him toothily as he punched Chihiro in the arm, light-hearted and friendly, "Let's catch up one night at the bar and you can tell me all about it, yeah? First round's on me!"

"The whole night better be on you if you want even a sliver of a chance to get anything outta me about my very important job that I take very seriously," Chihiro stated in his best monotone voice, as he pushed Takao's arm away from where he punched him jokingly and Takao barely held back another laugh. 

"You drive a hard bargain! The very important PA Mayuzumi-san isn't persuaded so easily huh?"

"Better believe it. This mail isn't gonna pick itself up, y'know," Chihiro said as he walked forward, signalling that their little interacftion was at its end. Thank God for the mail, Chihiro thought, and then he realised how he was basically another man's errand boy and felt pathetic all over again. Ah, well, so much for the great day I had going. The other shoe was bound to drop sooner or later, though. 

Takao took the hint and made to leave as well, but not before calling out to him and waving goodbye, "Catch ya around, Mayuzumi-san! Don't work too hard now!"

His 'good day' (more like good half-of-a-day, if Chihiro was honest) was surely some stroke of luck that had already run its course. Because after lunch time, the Uncrowned Kings found their way to harrassing him in the printer room. Wonderful.

All Chihiro wanted to do was print off these reports for Akashi to proofread over and have them ready for when he came back to the office - which would be soon, since he'd texted Mayuzumi earlier to advise he was finishing up his last meeting. They had gone longer than he expected, but they always did. 

And now, here he was, still trying to print while also being forced to listen to these three gossip about how the whole building was still on eggshells even after Masaomi's visit had ended. Because the incident with Zack had become an open secret among the whole office. At least, it hadn't made its way outside the walls to the tabloids - probably because everyone was scared shitless that they'd get sued to hell and back by Akashi for breaching their strict and air-tight confidentiality policies. 

"-and I'm so over the tension lingering around here, you blink and someone flinches! I feel so on edge, it's not healthy!" Hayama whined, his head thudding as it fell back against the wall tiredly. 

Mibuchi nodded, his arms crossed over his lean chest as he rested his shoulder against the doorframe, "Like, I love drama, but this isn't it. It's too much, and Sei-chan is probably feeling it the most even if he'll never show it. He was just starting to settle after the last time when Nash-"

"Wait, Mayuzumi," Nebuya interrupted, and suddenly all eyes were on Chihiro, as if they just remembered he was here, "how much do you know about...this thing?"

Chihiro didn't look up from where he was sectioning off and stapling together the paperwork. More was coming off the printer as he gave his response, “By 'this thing', you mean how Nash has a grudge against Akashi, right?”

Mibuchi quirked an eyebrow, “Oh? Seems like Sei-chan told you what happened."

"I mean, vaguely. He didn't really get into it, said it was a long story," Chihiro shrugged, as he set down the stapled papers and turned to look at them all. 

"Oh, well, that's fine. That means we can fill you in on the fallout,” Mibuchi said, conspiratory as he stepped closer inside the room with an overly eccentric, thinly veiled enthusiasm. The HR guy is a shameless gossip, what a twist, Chihiro thought to himself wryly, but he was also secretly hoping to hear what Mibuchi had to say. He had kind of been hoping to hear about this for a while now, and wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth. 

Still, Chihiro was wary of the sensitive topic, “Can you do that? I mean, won’t he figure out that you’ve told me?”

“Oh, he definitely will," Nebuya snorted, as he waved off Mayuzumi's question, "But if he didn’t want us to say anything to you, he would have warned us way earlier."

"We probably don't have long until Akashi gets back, so what's the main thing you wanna know?" Hayama asked him, also somewhat eager as they waited to hear Mayuzumi's response. 

Chihiro didn't have to think too hard or too long, as he asked the question he'd pondered over the most since he'd met the CEO of Jabberwock, "What happened to make Nash hate Akashi so much?"

"Sei-chan was right when he told you it's a long story," Mibuchi sighed, as he tucked his glossy black bangs behind his ear and continued, "But to make it a bit shorter, what you should know is that Sei-chan and Nash started off on the wrong foot and since then, have never once been able to move past that. First impressions die hard, right?"

"When they first met, Nash already looked down on Akashi for being a nepo baby. Nash built Jabberwock from the ground up, by himself, and started with practically nothing and no one. His parents don't really give a fuck about him, don't know why but can't say I blame them. He's a certified psycho for sure, and we don't even know him on a personal level. Must be hell for his family to deal with a guy like that," Nebuya sneered at the end, and the others had similar looks of disgust and disdain on their faces. 

"Jabberwock was established back in the United States, but before they went global their first successful international launch was in Japan, since Nash has roots here on his mother's side of the family. Looped in some of his old friends into his business and wanted to see what the competition was like here, and that's when he heard about Rakuzan Collect and how he met Akashi," Hayama told him, and there was another new fact Chihiro didn't know - apparently Nash was part-Japanese. The innate politeness was obviously not instilled in him before he left for the States. 

Mibuchi chimed in then, "Rakuzan and Jabberwock are similar companies in the sense they produce a lot of similar products and lines. Sporting fashion, skin care, and the more recent addition of the active footwear range. And Nash didn't like how Rakuzan was pretty much the number 1 brand in Japan for this market. This was about four years into Rakuzan's entry to the market, so it happened last year."

"Jabberwock got popular quick because of their reputability back in the States, but they still couldn't quite get ahead of us. Nash was mad pissed about it and made a point of antagonising us, especially Akashi, whenever there were networking events or joint business meetings," Hayama scowled and shook his head, and it was rare to see him genuinely angry like that. 

"But it all came to a head eventually. You remember when Jabberwock launched their active footwear range?" Mibuchi asked, and Chihiro frowned as he attempted to recall such a thing. 

Ultimately, he couldn't, and said as much, "Uh, not really, no."

Mibuchi snapped his fingers together, making Chihiro startle slightly, as he nodded, "Exactly. Because not long afterwards, Rakuzan did the same thing, but we did it bigger and better. Jabberwock's footwear range ended up being a massive flop. And that, well...that was the last straw for Nash."

.

.

"Didn't peg you for a thief, Akashi. Thought you would have been above that kind of low-ball shit," Nash said, as he walked out to accost Akashi on the balcony of the 15th floor of Rakuzan Collect. Seijuurou had just stepped out of a laboriously long meeting with networking for a charity event sponsored by Rakuzan. Nash was there too, but he had hoped the man had already left and wouldn't force a confrontation. It seemed that was wishful thinking on Seijuurou's part. 

"Excuse me?" Seijuurou asked as he turned around to face Nash, unafraid despite the hostility rolling off the Jabberwock CEO in waves. 

"Playing dumb doesn't suit you, bastard. Are you gonna make me spell it out for you like you're 5 years old?" Nash jeered at him, his hands in his pockets and a foul look on his face aimed solely at Seijuurou, "The active footwear launch? Ring any bells for you?"

"So, you have seen it," Seijuurou deduced. Rakuzan's launch went public earlier that week, so it really was only a matter of time until Nash found out about it. 

Nash's teal eyes twitched in rage, as he took quick, angered steps forward towards Akashi and thrust his phone in the other's face, "Don't mess with me! You stole it! Our sales are dropping by the minute!"

"Stole it? What, specifically? An idea? That's just business, Nash," Seijuurou replied coldly, unbothered as he went on in a detached, aloof manner, "Though some of the items are similar, our range is actually quite different to Jabberwock's."

But Nash shook his head, shaking with rancour as he shoved his phone back into his suit pocket forcefully and emitted a livid laugh, "You intentionally held off, waited it out to see how ours was received, and dissected every miniscule piece of data you could find to make sure Rakuzan's would be flawless. You have a fucking mole, don't you?"

"Please do not insult me by making such an outrageous accusation," Seijuurou rolled his eyes at the man, taking a step closer as well to show he was not intimidated, as he responded firmly, "It may be hard for you to accept this, Nash, but you are not as original as you like to believe."

Nash's face contorted angrily, in a way that was almost frighteningly unhuman, his hands curled into tight fists that trembled at his sides. Undeterred, Seijuurou continued, as he lifted his chin in an unmistakeable demonstration of superiority, "You may think you are above it all, but really, we are all at the mercy of the market trends. What is popular, what is in demand, what will be in demand next. We analyse all of it, and to go against that is practically illogical."

Then, a satisfied smirk pulled across Seijuurou's mouth, as he dealt the final blow, "It is hardly our fault if we offer quality merchandise in comparison to what you offer. If anything, it was an oversight on your part."

Nash looked as if he wanted to spit in Akashi's face. He didn't but opted instead to spit on the ground right near Akashi's feet, with some of it splashing onto his polished black leather lace-up shoes.

"You didn't just cross the line. You waltzed over it like it was your fucking right. I don't appreciate that kind of attitude, kid," Nash seethed at him, then unfurled one of his fists and lifted his hand to jab Seijuurou harshly in the chest. 

“You really think you're something, huh?" Nash taunted, and stepped closer, at the same time jabbing Seijuurou roughly in the chest, "But you're not. You're nothing but dirt beneath my shoe."

Seijuurou held his ground, but Nash did not care and continued crowding him, forcing Seijuurou to take a single step back, "Do you know why? Hmm?"

Then, he reached out and started to twist and play with the corner of Seijuurou's pressed and ironed shirt collar, as he leaned in and whispered, "The reason is simple…”

Seijjuurou was still as Nash's eyes bulged wildly, like an animal that had gone completely out of its mind, “We’re on different levels!” Nash claimed, brash and arrogant, as he shoved Seijuurou down to the ground with a terrifyingly strong force that he could not fight back against. 

And Seijuurou…Seijuurou stumbled. He lost his balance, tripped and fell. He landed hard on the cold cement ground, his back colliding painfully with the glass barrier at the edge of the balcony and making it shake from the impact. Nash loomed over him, like a predator viciously staring down at its prey. Seijuurou sat with his back pressed against the glass barrier that was the only thing separating him from the safety of the balcony and a long fall onto hard concrete and heavy traffic. He looked up at Nash, the shock plain on his pale face, and he could not stop the trembling that took hold over his arms and legs. 

Then, Nash leaned down, his hand grabbing Akashi’s shoulder and squeezing it painfully, “Don’t you dare cross me again, you hear me?”

“AKASHI!”

At that moment, Nebuya and his team of subordinate security guards came rushing forward. Nash instantly released his hold on Akashi and stepped back before the guards could manhandle him.

“Back off! Stay your distance, bastard!” Nebuya barked at Nash and was quick to place himself directly in front of Seijuurou, acting as a barrier between him and Nash. His subordinates moved to promptly stand on either side of Akashi, who was still in a heap on the balcony floor. 

"Akashi! Oh my god! What the hell's happening!?" Hayama cried out as he too came rushing onto the scene and the guards let him through to go to Akashi's side. They did the same for Mibuchi, who was practically running over to Seijuurou. 

"Sei-chan! Sei-chan, are you okay?" Mibuchi asked him, his face awash with concern as he kneeled beside him and placed a grounding hand on his arm to help soothe him. Hayama crouched on his other side, angled protectively in front of him and glaring furiously straight at Nash. 

"It's alright, Nebuya. I simply lost my balance and fell, everything is fine," Seijuurou spoke up, attempting to diffuse the situation as smoothly as he could. 

But Nebuya was not having it, as he yelled back incredulously, "That's bullshit and we all know it!"

Seijjurou's gaze shaprened as he pushed himself off the glass barrier, with Mibuchi's arms hovering as he fussed over him, That is irrelevant. Do as I say, before we well and truly cause a scene. There is no threat here," he said, and heard Hayama growl and curse under his breath. He saw Nebuya grit his teeth, holding out for a few seconds more, before he seemingly calmed down and gave the signal to his men to stand down. 

"Yeah, that's right. There's no threat. For now, at least," Nash grinned maliciously at all of them, smug. Then, his eyes zeroed in on Seijuurou and shone with pure, unbridled hatred as he spat at him, "You better not get in my way, Akashi."

Then, he lowered his voice to a volume just loud enough for Seijuurou and the Uncrowned Kings to hear, "Or I'll gut you like a fucking fish and leave you as a broken, worthless piece of shit no good to anyone. More than you already are, anyway."

And before anyone could say or do anything, Nash spun on his heel and left the balcony just as quickly as he had appeared. 

.

.

“So, now you know what happened. That’s why we’re so extreme when it comes to Nash, because the guy can fly off the handle at the drop of a hat,” Hayama finished, his usual playful demeanour diminished in the face of Nash's history of being totally corrupt and unhinged. 

Nebuya nodded along, as he shot Chihiro a similar look of seriousness, “And if he can even make Akashi falter, he’s not just a nuisance. He’s dangerous.”

Chihiro couldn’t say he was surprised that Nash was the violent type. He had definitely gotten an aggressive vibe from the man after their confrontation at the charity event. Nash was surely one to throw his weight around. Yet, the fact Akashi had been on the receiving end of that violent aggression and even had his life threatened like that...it felt like someone hitting Mayuzumi with a tonne of bricks. The shock and unexpectedness of it left him almost speechless. 

Even so, Chihiro wanted to ask more questions. He wanted to know more. Every single detail, actually, and yeah, he knew that was nosy and stupid and totally overstepping his bounds. But he really didn't give a damn when his curiousity was this high and a bad feeling about this whole thing lingered at the back of his mind. There was more to the story, he knew that much.

And with that lull in the conversation, in walked Akashi, like some comically timed entrance of a main character in a TV drama after the group had just finished speaking about his tragic backstory. 

"I've returned," Akashi greeted with his briefcase in hand, as the others all straightened their posture when he walked in the room, "What are you four doing?"

None of them had seen Akashi since the start of the day before he disappeared off with Midorima. And since then, something had changed about Akashi. It was...

“S-Sei-chan…your hair…” Mibuchi stumbled over his words, speaking aloud what they were all thinking, and it was clear he was trying to minimise his own shock, but Chihiro could tell the man was utterly flabbergasted at what he was seeing. 

“What's with the new look?” Nebuya asked, hastily covering for Mibuchi's less than positive reaction. 

“Hm? Oh, it was annoying me," Akashi answered, unbothered as he brushed his newly cut (and barely there) fringe with his fingertips.

Hayama blinked very hard, and Chihiro could see the gears trying to shift in his mind as he spoke his thoughts aloud, “So…you cut it yourself?”

Akashi nodded, “I’ve been wanting to trim it for a while, and Shintarou let me borrow his scissors,” he replied, as if that was a perfectly acceptable response.

Nevermind the fact that Midorima had willingly handed over his scissors to someone like Akashi. And nevermind the fact that Akashi had literally only cut the front of his hair and didn't even touch the back, making the whole thing look like some deranged gardener had hacked at his hair like it was a head of weeds and Akashi had made a very narrow escape before he could finish the job. 

"So, none of you answered my question. What are you doing?" Akashi asked again, as he eyed them all intently. 

"A-Ah! We were just-we just had to check something with Mayuzumi-san!" Kotaro blurted out with a half-hearted grin that had a nervous edge to it. 

Nebuya jumped onto the bandwagon of the hastily scraped together lie, and added, "Yeah! The-the printer wasn't working and he was the only one we could track down to fix it! But it's working now!" he gestured to the printer, where a stack of freshly printed paper was indeed sitting (the pile that Chihiro had not yet gotten around to stapling, and thank god he hadn't). 

Akashi's eyes slid over to the printer, stared for a few moments, before they flicked back over to the four of them, "I see. What a relief. Well, since that has been resolved, let's all get back to work, shall we?"

They all nodded vigorously (Chihiro not so much but he nodded all the same), and Akashi gave a curt nod of his own before he turned and left the printing room, heading towards his office. 

“Yikes, what was that?” Hayama whispered shouted as soon as the elevator doors dinged shut, his hands flying to his own hair in dismay as he looked over his shoulder where Akashi had just stood. 

“Why? Why would he go and do something so–so rash!?” Mibuchi bemoaned, as if he was facing the biggest crisis of the week - and that was including the ongoing Zack drama. 

“I guess even Akashi isn’t immune to getting a bad haircut,” Nebuya snorted, then held his hands up in surrender when Mibuchi shot him a sour glare.

“He wouldn’t have one if he’d been booked in at his usual salon!" Mibuchi said in a whiny voice, clearly in mourning at the loss of Akashi's previous hairstyle. Then, he turned around so fast to face Chihiro it was a wonder the man didn't sprain his neck, "Speaking of, what the hell were you doing Mayuzumi!? Isn’t it your job to book him all of his appointments!?”

And oh hell no, Mayuzumi was not going to cop the blame for this. Even if he maybe, might have, potentially...forgot to book said hair appointment when Akashi asked him. It was the week before Masaomi had visited and it had gotten pushed down the list of his priorities, alright? And then it just...kinda disappeared from the list all together. But Mibuchi didn't need to know that. 

“Hold up, you’re saying it’s my fault? Newsflash, but Akashi’s the all-seeing and all-knowing mind-reader, not me. How was I supposed to know he'd do something like this?” Chihiro asked with a frown, and Mibuchi just shook his head and sighed dramatically as he placed the back of his hand against his forehead. 

“Ugh, this is a catastrophe! Sei-chan’s bangs were so gorgeous and suited him so well! I can't believe he went out in public like that!” Mibuchi despaired with his head in his hands, and Mayuzumi uncomfortably wondered if he was on the verge of tears, and he felt the need to tell Mibuchi it was actually not that serious. But doing so would not end well for Chihiro, so he did what he typically chose to do - he kept his mouth shut. 

Thankfully, Hayama seemed to have less self-preservation than Chihiro did, as he swung an arm around Mibuchi and rubbed his back reassuringly, “It’ll grow back Reo-nee! Besides, I don’t think it’s that bad! Akashi’s hair looks kinda similar to mine now, dont’cha think?”

“...I have no comment about that, Kotaro,” Mibuchi replied after a very pregnant pause that pretty much spoke for itself as he looked up from his hands at the younger man. 

“And you!” Mibuchi suddenly pointed at Mayuzumi who looked back at him, expressionless, “Make sure you schedule a salon appointment to get that hair tidied up properly! He can’t go around looking like that, we’re meeting with our big investors the day after tomorrow!”

"Yeah, whatever," Chihiro mumbled under his breath, already mentally preparing for the whole saga of convincing Akashi the appointment was necessary even after he'd just cut his own hair. It wasn't going to be easy. Chihiro wondered if he could just go home and no one would notice. It was so tempting to just disappear and remove himself from this unnecessary drama. 

Sadly, those precious days were long behind him. 

.

.

“Here are these papers you asked for," Chihiro announced as he slid inside Akashi's office. 

Akashi glanced briefly away from his laptop screen to nod towards a free space on his desk, "You may leave them there."

"And you’ve got an appointment tomorrow at The Paper Crane Salon, 10am. With Tamako-san. She’s your preferred hairdresser, right?”

And as expected, Akashi's piercing gaze rose from his laptop screen and settled on Chihiro instead. His fingers stilled on the keyboard and he gave a single nod, “That’s right. But why has that been booked? I cut my hair myself, which you already know, so an appointment is unnecessary.”

Chihiro narrowed his eyes, but he was prepared for this, and had his rebuttal ready and waiting, “You didn’t cut it at the back."

Akashi blinked, processed the words, then shook his head once, “I did not."

“It looks like it needs a trim as well, and it’s easier if someone else does it when it’s in that tricky spot. And bonus, she can tidy up the front,” Chihiro said, trying to sell the idea as best he could. If he didn't get Akashi to this appointment, he feared Mibuchi might pop a few blood vessels with the stress it was causing him. 

“I don’t believe there is anything wrong with the front,” Akashi stated simply, completely unaware or unbothered by his DIY haircut. 

Chihiro shrugged and tried to walk the fine line between being casually helpful versus being outright annoyingly persistent, as he said, “Yeah, well, everyone’s free to have their own opinions. But let’s wait and see what she thinks about it. She’s a hairdresser, so she knows better than us what looks good,”

Akashi seemed to be listening, and getting his attention was half the battle honestly, but he still did not seem overly convinced. He needed something else, something more to really convince him of this. And Chihiro internally sighed in defeat, because he knew he'd have to throw himself under the bus and involve himself in another one of Akashi's personal matters yet again. 

"Also...you wouldn't have had to cut it yourself if I had done my job and booked you in earlier."

Both of Akashi's eyebrows raised at him questioningly, "Oh?"

Chihiro nodded, and elaborated, "I'm pretty sure you mentioned it in conversation a couple weeks back, and I must have registered it at the time but like, it got pushed to the bottom of my priority list. And I kind of forgot about it, so I'm guessing that's why you just decided to handle it yourself."

"Is that so? I do not recall explicitly telling you I needed a trim," Akashi blinked, then knitted his eyebrows together in a thoughtful expression, as if he was trying to force his mind to recall the moment. Chihiro was mildly alarmed and slightly amused by the fact that Akashi even went so far as to intimidate his own sub-consciousness into doing as he wished.

Seemed to be unsuccessful though, as Akashi let out a quiet sigh and looked back up at Chihiro, "Then again, I do make numerous requests of you every hour throughout the day, so it is inevitable that - even though it irks me to admit - I may forget something I've said at some point. Though, if you say that I did request it, I have no reason to doubt you. If anything, I appreciate your honesty admitting your fault."

Chihiro tipped his head forward, his own version of an apologetic bow, "Guess you can say I feel bad for slacking off on my duties, so even if it's late, I want to try and make up for it now and got you that appointment."

Then, he lifted his head and glanced at Akashi with a carefully neutral expression, "So, could you maybe go to it? Then on my next performance review, I can put that I like, self-reflected on my errors and actively problem-solved in the moment. I could really use that to bolster my skills and to show my growth, y'know." 

And against all odds, it seemed like Chihiro didn't fuck this one up. Because a small, mirthful smile appeared on Akashi's face as he looked back at Chihiro.

“Very well. I will go to it tomorrow. Thank you for scheduling it, Chihiro. Belated and needless though it may be,” Akashi added, and that last line seemed almost teasing in that bratty, entitled Akashi-specific way that it made Chihiro want to clap back with his own mocking retort.

But he was not one to bite the hand that fed him. Or to be precise, the hand that signed off on his paycheck. So instead, Chihiro bit the inside of his cheek to stay quiet, nodded his head, and made a prompt exit. But truth be told, he was kind of surprised.

That was…shockingly easy. Chihiro had expected some push back or an outright refusal from Akashi, but he was actually going along with what Chihiro had planned. Well, a win is a win, and Chihiro wasn't going to question it, even if it confused the hell out of him. He sent Mibuchi a message to let him know the appointment was booked to get the guy off his back, and he was greeted with a crying face emoji and a prayer hand emoji in response along with a ‘thank you Mayuzumi-san’ that felt sincere even through the screen.

Chapter Text

“Is Midorima still pissed at you?” Chihiro asked, as a glass of beer was slid over the counter towards him. It was Friday night, and Chihiro had been peer-pressured by the constant stream of spam messages from Takao to come and see him at the bar one night to catch up and have drinks. Well, Chihiro would have the drinks, and Takao would talk his ear off while pretending to work. It was just after 7 PM (Chihiro had gotten to finish at 6 today by the grace of god) and the bar was still pretty quiet, but would amp up more the later it got. 

Takao quirked an eyebrow at him, “Oh, about the whole name thing? Nah, not at all. He got over it in like a day or two."

"Really? Seems like the grudge-holding type," Chihiro muttered under his breath. 

"He is," Takao smirked, whilst unloading freshly-washed glasses out of the dishwasher, and wiped off some that still had water droplets clinging to them, "But even though I annoy the hell out of him sometimes and do some dumb shit, I’m really good at making it up to him. I can make him completely forget why he was even mad in the first place. Wanna know how I do it?” Takao asked, and his smirk turned lop-sided and sly in a way that made Chihiro's expression twist like he'd just sucked on a lemon. He knew exactly what the bartender was implying, and ugh, way too much information. 

“Fuck off, you dirty bastard. I’m sorry I asked," Chihiro cursed at him, as he picked up his glass and took a swig. 

“Hahaha! Oi, oi, what are you assuming, Mayuzumi-san?" Takao cackled at him, grinning over his shoulder as he stacked the glasses back on the shelves, "I was only going to say that I buy all of his lucky items for however long is enough for him to forgive me. On top of that, I cook for him, take charge of the chores for a while, and dote on him even more than usual. That’s all I was gonna say, I swear,” he said, as he held a hand over his heart like the fool he was. 

“Right. Sure you were,” Chihiro scoffed at him, then shook his head, mildly impressed, “Never knew you could be so diligent, though. Sounds like being his partner is a full-time job."

Takao let out a short laugh, and waved at the patrons who'd just walked in, as he answered back, “No joke! It literally is!”

“Best job I’ve ever had, though. Wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” Takao finished with a disgustingly cheesy grin that made Chihiro simultaneously want to roll his eyes and stew in feelings of jealousy. He didn't mind most of the time, but during moments like these, Chihiro and his chronically single ass felt the longing for something more in his own life. For someone to be his, to hold and just...to have them by his side, on his good days and his shitty ones. 

“Get away from me before I get cavities listening to such sugary sweet bullshit,” Chihiro grumbled instead as he set his glass down with more force than necessary, and Takao looked over at him and chuckled again. 

“Yeah, I know. I even get the ick from all the lovey dovey crap that comes out of my mouth sometimes," Takao cringed and made a fake-gagging noise, but then shrugged it off and smiled, "Can’t help it though, that’s what happens when you’re in love."

Chihiro scoffed, “What? You turn into a rambling, sappy idiot?”

“Pretty much!” Takao said, then went over to help the other bartender, Miyaji, since more people had come up to get drinks. Chihiro sat in silence while he tended to them, enjoying the stillness of just sitting and observing the people around him. Chihiro wished he could be objective about it, but he was a judgy motherfucker, and kind of always assumed the worst in people.

The group of guys in suits sitting in the booth that were laughing obnoxiously loud and talking even louder? They were probably some douchebags who thought they were important in their day jobs but were actually more likely to be intern accountants or low-ranking finance officers. The couple at the end of the bar where Chihiro was sitting? They were either a 'socmed couple' or had been together way too long to the point they lost interest talking to each other, because they were both literally on their phones with their drinks in front of them, and Chihiro didn't think he'd heard them exchange more than a few words since he sat down half an hour ago. It wasn't like Chihiro tried to see things or people in a bad light - it's just that most people didn't always notice the bad light, even when it was already there. It just came to Chihiro naturally. 

A few minutes later, after the drinks were poured and the bar was quiet again, Takao moved back over to him. 

"Midorima doesn't act like a lovesick idiot," Chihiro pointed out when Takao came back, resuming their previous conversation right where they left off, and now it was Takao's turn to laugh. 

"He'd be so happy to hear you think he covers it well, but nah, he's actually so obvious about it. Probably worse than me," Takao hummed with a smug grin, and at Chihiro's blatant disbelief, he shook his head and elaborated, "You just don't know him well enough yet. But don't worry, we can change that! We should organise a hangout sometime so you guys can get to know each other better!"

"A hangout?" Chihiro repeated slowly, "With you, me and Midorima?"

"Yeah!" Takao chirped, then his eyebrows shot up as if he just remembered something important, "Oh, right. We should probably invite Akashi too, huh?"

Chihiro gave him the flattest stare on earth, deadpan as he said, "...You're fucking with me, aren't you?"

Right on cue, Takao burst out in laughter, "Hahaha! Aww, come on. It would be fun! You spend most of your time with Akashi anyway, so you guys must be like besties by now," Takao, ever the optimist he was, assumed - but unluckily for him, Chihro was a natural born pessimist who was more than ready to rain on his parade. 

"That's so not how that works," Chihiro muttered, then shook his head with a grimace, "and who wants to hang out with their boss outside payable work hours anyway?"

"Hey, I hang out with Ootsubo-san sometimes on our off days!" Takao protested cheerfully, and Chihiro rolled his eyes as said man walked out of the stockroom supply area, arms full of containers of lime and lemon wedges. Ootsubo was the manager of the bar, so Chihiro knew him and what is was like to work with him. And it was like hearing Takao compare an inflatable beach ball with a cinderblock. 

"Yeah, 'cause Ootsubo's a chill dude. Relatable and friendly but still gives manager vibes," Chihiro explained, his glass in hand as it hovered near his mouth, "Akashi is next level. Times like...a thousand," he shivered at the thought of doing anything not work-related with Akashi, and took a large gulp of his beer. 

"C'mon, you see him five days a week. You guys must have gotten more comfortable with each other by now," Takao reasoned, as he shuffled around and help Oostsubo restocking the fruit wedges in the cooler. Chihiro raised a brow at the concept of Akashi and comfort being in the same sentence to describe how Chihiro felt around him. Not my first choice for a descriptor, that's for sure.  

"I mean, sure. Comfortable as in, I don't feel like he's gonna skin me alive when I mess up now. I feel like now, he'd just torture me a little, but I'd still make it out alright," Chihiro responded, and yeah, that seemed about right. At this stage in their relationship, he was at least of some value to Akashi now, so Akashi would make him suffer but still want to keep him around. 

"But you guys must chit chat, right? It wouldn't be work 24/7, all the time. Like when you have lunch or coffee," Takao assumed. 

Chihiro shrugged and reached for a handful of trail mix in the bowl in front of him, "We don't eat together. If we have our breaks at the same time, we just eat at our own desks."

Takao paused, then lifted his head up from where he was crouched down behind the bar, putting the lemon wedges away, and gaped at him, "No way! You haven't even shared a meal with him? That's like, a key thing when you're starting at a new workplace!"

"It's been nearly five months and I've integrated just fine, so I'll keep going like this," Chihiro stated uncaringly, and the long-suffering sigh and disappointed expression Takao gave him in return was, in Chihiro's opinion, over-dramatic and unnecessary. 

"Mayuzumi-san, you're so boring sometimes," Takao chided him, and before Chihiro could clap back with a scathing remark, Takao became animated as he leaned over the counter with shining eyes full of an nenergetic glaze Chihiro just didn't possess, "Don't you know what hundreds of people would give to be in your position for even a day? You're the PA to one of the most successful young CEOs in Japan! All the opportunities, connections and knowledge Akashi has is literally elite, second to none!"

Chihiro frowned and watched the condensation slide down the side of his glass. Takao changed gears and suddenly asked a question, "How many people interviewed to be his PA roughly?"

Chihiro thought for a moment, then frowned and shook his head, "I don't know, close to a thousand or something like that. Mibuchi said almost half of them were scrapped just at the initial resume submission."

"And out of all those people, he chose you," Takao emphasised, sounding incredulous at the mere idea of it. If Chihiro gave more of a fuck, he might be offended by that. But given his general lack of fucks about most things in life, particularly with his job, he let it pass.

"Dude, don't you think that means he sees some kind of potential in you?" Takao's hand moved in a circular motion, as if encouraging Chihiro to turn the cogs in his own mind and come to whatever exciting conclusion Takao had found. 

But Chihiro's cogs had cob webs on them, and he was tired, and didn't really care so he just bobbed his head in a nod and answered sardonically, "Potential to run reports, write emails and answer phone calls, plus a bunch of other random shit? Yeah. Sure."

"Hey, I'm serious! Just hear me out for a bit!" Takao protested, and he wasn't smiling but rather seemed earnest, as he finished off depositing the lime wedges below and wiped down the mess on counter. So, Chihiro didn't speak, but looked at him to indicate he was actually listening and wouldn't be a piece of shit if Takao actually had something he wanted Chihiro to hear. 

"Look, let's be real, I know you're not looking to stay there long-term. You wanna get your novel off the ground and have your finances sorted before you go out on a limb and try to publish it, I get that. But who said that you only had to focus on making money while you're at Rakuzan? And writing's only half the deal, right? You're gonna need to be able to sell and promote your book, know how to market it and yourself, basically."

And see, it pissed Chihiro off because Takao wasn't wrong. Chihiro knew that was a reality he would have to consider and eventually face if he was serious about becoming a published writer. And he was serious about it, more than probably anything in his dumpster-fire of a life.

"Akashi is like the best person you could talk to for advice about shit like that. I'm sure tons of his employees have their own side hustle businesses, that's just what the sales world is like, so he wouldn't take it personally. But like, maybe don't mention the whole planning to quit in a year thing until you're actually leaving," Takao added hastily on the end, with a crooked grin and mischievous eyes glinting under the bar spotlights. 

Chihiro snorted and rolled his eyes, as he took a sip from his drink, "Yeah, you're right. What could go wrong?"

Takao took his tea towel and snapped it against Chihiro's shoulder scoldingly, "I'm just saying, it couldn't hurt to get to know him more. A little understanding can go a long way."

Then, Takao placed a hand on his own chest, as if to show his genuity, "And this is me speaking from experience! I wasn't Akashi's biggest fan, y'know, when we first met. Since Shin-chan and I had some bad history with him. Not that kind of history, don't get the wrong idea! It was basketball related, high school things, oh the drama of it all! I'll tell ya about it one day," Takao reminisced, and yeah, Chihiro would not be requesting that story any time soon. He was sure Takao would work in how he and Midorima got together, and Chihiro just wasn't a romantic like that.

"Point is, once I got past the insanely high sense of inadequacy and ego death that literally every guy goes through when they meet Akashi, he wasn't that bad," Takao reasoned, then added, "Or intimidating. Or ruthless. Or, like-"

"Absolute?" Chihiro asked, eyebrow raised. 

Takao blinked at him, surprised, then chuckled knowingly, "You've heard that one before, huh?"

His laughter faded but Takao's smile lingered as he continued, "Yeah, that's right. His dad's piece of shit, but Akashi isn't like him. And he's not trying to be either, I think that's the last thing he wants. He definitely slips up sometimes though, as you've probably seen by now."

And yeah, Chihiro had seen that. The image of Akashi being a hair-width's away from stabbing Zack's eyes out with a fountain pen was definitely one that didn't fade easily. 

Takao clocked that Chihiro was recalling one of said 'slip up's' and grinned before he sighed wistfully and shook his head, "Ah, daddy issues. One of the cornerstones for being a young business mogul, am I right?"

Chihiro glared at him, then rubbed his forehead tiredly, like he was some middle-aged balding salaryman that was sick of his subordinates' incompetence, "Just when I hoped you were all out of bullshit and finally talking like the adult you biologically are, but alas, my dreams were too strong."

Predictably, his words made Takao laugh, because if nothing else, Takao was a guy with an insanely broad and good sense of humour. Then, Takao cleared his throat, and nodded to some customers that had just approached the bar.

"I'm sure he'd help you out and give you some advice, Mayuzumi-san. But you'll never know if you never ask!" He said with a wink, as he turned his flair towards the giggly group of girls who were looking at the menu and trying to decide what to order. 

At most, Chihiro would think about it. If he asked...well, Chihiro would cross that bridge when he came to it. 

It was a Saturday morning, and it was probably the day that Chihiro looked forward to most out of the whole week. No responsibilities, no need to get up and do anything, go anywhere or see anyone. Plus, he had a whole other day off to look forward to, and he was convinced that Saturday morning sleep-in's were vastly superior to Sunday morning ones. Which was what he was currently doing right now. Chihiro had woken up just before 8 AM, and currently he was lying in bed, awake but just lightly dozing.

He'd probably get up soon, make himself a coffee and have breakfast, then maybe head down to the library and take a stab at writing some more of his novel. He might even treat himself with Vietnamese for lunch, since he'd been craving some Pho for a couple of weeks now. Yeah, that sounded great. All was right with the world.

That was, until his phone lit up on his bedside table and started vibrating. 

Chihiro's eyes peeled open and he glanced over at it. He paused for a moment, wondering if he was imagining it, because he literally never got calls on a Saturday morning like...ever. Not even from his parents. 

Curious to confirm whether it was real or not, he reached over and picked it up. As soon as he saw the caller ID, a sigh punched out of Chihiro with great disappointment and an oncoming sense of dread. 

The name Akashi Seijuurou flashed on his screen, big and bold and bright, as if it were mocking Chihiro. Because of course Akashi would be the one calling him at - Chihiro checked the time on his phone and huffed - 9:18 AM. 

Exhaling another long and heavy sigh, Chihiro rose up from his bed like a vampire rising from the crypt. He sat, slumped against his headboard, as he tapped to answer the call, and pressed the phone to his ear with a distinct sense of defeat. 

"Hello," he answered, in his dull and typical monotone. 

"Good morning, Mayuzumi-san. I am terribly sorry to disturb your weekend like this, however there is an urgent matter I must discuss with you. Are you free to talk now?"

As if Chihiro could give any other answer except 'yes'.

He suppressed a sigh and instead answered back, "Free as a bird. Shoot."

Me. Shoot me. Fuck my life. 

Because the thing was, Chihiro was pissed - of course he was, his weekend was getting interrupted for work - but he was even more pissed about the fact he couldn't truly blame Akashi for it. Why? Because when he'd signed his contract, one of the terms and conditions had stated was that weekend work may be required and requested of him, with very short notice. So, he'd known this could potentially happen at some point when he'd started working at Rakuzan. Chihiro had just had the fortune of not being called in for any - until now, it seemed, since his luck had apparently run out. 

Basically, Akashi had called him up because he had received an email (because naturally Akashi kept an eye on his emails 24/7) from one of their investors, a big name in the skin care product area - Miyano Mei. Apparently, she was in Tokyo on business, since she was based in Boston over in the U.S. And while she was here, she had requested a meeting with Akashi, to 'catch up' as Akashi had put it over the phone. Chihiro knew some background on this lady, she was in her late 50's and she had been in the game a while - about as long as Akashi's father, and while she wasn't as powerful as Masaomi, she was definitely one of the big dogs. Like, a make-or-break-you, kind of big dog.

Which meant that Akashi absolutely had to entertain her for dinner tonight before she returned to Boston, and as such, he would require Mayuzumi's back up. And Mayuzumi, the dutiful employee that he was, (un)graciously agreed when Akashi asked if could help him prepare for it.

"Excellent. Thank you, I am very much grateful for your assistance on such short notice, Mayuzumi-san," Akashi thanked him, and to his credit, it sounded genuinely sincere. Then he asked, "Would you be available to meet at the office in an hour? No need to dress up, as we will be the only ones in the office."

"Yeah, that's doable. I'll just get ready and leave in about 15 minutes," Chihiro said, as he stood up from the bed and headed towards the bathroom so he could freshen up. 

"Alright, I won't keep you any longer. I'll see you shortly," Akashi said, and before Mayuzumi could even consider saying goodbye, Akashi had hung up. Chihiro pulled his phone down and stared at the 'call ended' screen. Well, there goes his plans for a chill Saturday. He turned on the shower and proceeded to get ready for the day. He pulled on a pair of jeans, his sneakers, and one of his clean (damn laundry, ugh, he'd have to do that at some point), white t-shirts. 

Chihiro skipped his wistful plans of a coffee and breakfast and instead ran down to the train station so he could catch the next train that was coming because it was a 30-minute commute. Chihiro sagged against the train seat, thankfully snagging a window seat, and made sure to put his backpack in his lap so that the inevitable awkward moment someone sat on him (mistaking it for an empty seat) would be...well, less awkward. It happened only once this time, which Chihiro counted as a small miracle. 

Once he got off the train, Akashi had texted him that he was already there, and the security alarms were all turned off and the doors unlocked, so Chihiro would be fine to come straight up. And Chihiro did, but he made a quick detour since he still had 10 minutes left (Akashi had said to meet in an hour, and Chihiro would make the most of every minute until then). He grabbed a coffee from one of the cafes on the street, extra-large with no sugar and pumped with a double shot of caffeine to get him through this day. 

Chihiro then entered Rakuzan Collect and took the first elevator he saw, as he made his way up to Akashi's office. It was a weird sensation to be inside the usually busy and bustling hub when it was practically deserted and so quiet you could hear a pin drop. 

The elevator stopped at Akashi's floor, and he stepped out. As he made his way down the hallway, he caught sight of a familiar head of red hair in the print room, so he stopped.

"Hello, Mayuzumi-san. Thank you for coming in, I hope the commute was not too ghastly?" Akashi said, as the printer hummed and spat out page after page of paper. 

How the hell Akashi sensed his presence with his back turned to Chihiro was beyond him, because Chihiro didn't think he had loud footsteps or particularly heavy breathing either. Just another weird Akashi-ism, he thought. 

"Yeah, wasn't too bad. Too many kids, though," Chihiro grumbled, flashbacks of screaming toddlers, fussy babies, and whiny school-children on the train enough to make him wince. 

"You aren't fond of children?" Akashi asked, as the printer finished and he shuffled his papers together before stapling them. 

"I like kids. Just from a distance, though. Observing them is great. Would recommend," Chihiro replied, and Akashi turned around, his lips faintly quirked up in amusement. 

"I'll keep that in mind. Here, a list of restaurants in the area that Miyano-san likes. It does not matter which one you choose, so long as the seating is good and we secure a table by a window. Also, some recommendations of wine that Miyano-san enjoys. Please purchase some and charge it to my card. I also have a message prepared for you to write on a gift card, if you wouldn't mind," Akashi spewed so much information all at once it was hard to absorb, but thankfully he handed Mayuzumi the pages of paper he had just printed which would surely guide Mayuzumi down the path of success. Or whatever.  

How the hell does he have so much prepared already? I thought he only found out about this whole thing this morning. Does he actually secretly live here? Chihiro had entertained the thought many times, even though he knew it was false. Akashi was just scarily efficient and wasted no time when it came to his work. 

It was at that moment that Chihiro realised, with a half-drunk coffee still in his hands, that Akashi had taken his own words 'no need to dress up' quite literally. Akashi was dressed in black leggings that stopped below his knee, with black sports shorts over the top. He also wore a baggy, black t-shirt (though clearly designer, like everything else the CEO wore, obviously) with white trimming around the sleeves and hems with running shoes. Which meant that Akashi had been training at the gym prior to coming here. If Chihiro looked closely enough, he could still see faint glimmers of sweat along Akashi's hairline, yet his face showed no signs of exertion and actually seemed to be glowing.

And honestly, Chihiro found that a little rude. The hell? Who actually looks better after they've worked out? I look like a trainwreck after I go for a run, but he looks better than I do on a good day after he's been sweating it out in a gym? What kind of sick joke is this?

Akashi glanced over his shoulder at Chihiro then, and tipped his head to the side, “Is there something wrong, Mayuzumi-san?”

Chihiro blinked, then shook his head, “Nothing. Just realised you’re not wearing your fancy CEO clothes,” Chihiro's slate grey eyes ran up and down Akashi's figure, as he tried to wrap his head around the fact that Akashi lived a life outside the walls of Rakuzan and did something as normal as working out in a gym. Granted it was his own private gym, but that was beside the point. 

“Did you imagine I would exercise in a three-piece suit?” Akashi asked, as he also looked down at himself, then regarded Chihiro with a quizzical expression. 

“I mean, it is you. Anything is possible, right? You could probably turn it into a trend if you started doing it,” Chihiro observed as he took a sip of his coffee. It was getting warm now, not as hot as before. 

Oddly enough, Akashi's lips tugged into a light smile at the comment, “Shall it be Rakuzan’s new and exciting sports line? I can envision the taglines. 'Look your best and feel even better'. Or perhaps, ‘Who said exercise isn’t a black-tie event?’”

Did he just…try to crack a joke?

“Formal fitness wear has a ring to it, doesn’t it?” Akashi added, and then he looked at Mayuzumi expectantly, which is how Mayuzumi knew-

He did. That was a joke. Man, Mibuchi was right, his sense of humour sucks so bad. And cue the internal panic, because Chihiro had no idea what the fuck to do next. 

Should I laugh? Nah, he'd see through it in ten seconds' flat.

Unfortunately, Akashi was just as observant as Chihiro, so he obviously picked up on Chihiro's mild distress, as he waved a hand through the air dismissively, "You needn't look so alarmed, Mayuzumi-san. I will not fire you for not laughing at my jokes, my ego is not that fragile."

Oh, thank god for that, Chihiro could only think, as his shoulders literally sagged with relief. 

"Pro tip, but I'd say don't use me as a baseline. I'm a tough crowd. I don't even know the last time I laughed at an actual joke," Chihiro said, and when Akashi just stared at him questioningly, he tried to explain it further, "I'm more like, that jerk who laughs at other people's misfortunes. But like, people who deserve to be laughed at, y'know?"

"I see. It seems we both have unusual tastes when it comes to humour," Akashi hummed and nodded understandingly, then inclined his head in Chihiro's direction apologetically, "Forgive me for forcing it on you, I am simply practising in advance for the dinner."

Chihiro recalled something else Mibuchi said, about how Akashi would need to look up jokes he had heard or research ones he could use with potential clients, investors, etc. whenever he knew he had a high stakes meeting with them coming up. He wondered if Akashi was nervous about it, but that thought didn't linger because immediately after Chihiro felt like slapping himself. As if Akashi Seijuurou felt something so banal like nervousness.

"I will be in my office should you need anything. Thank you again," Akashi said, as he turned and headed down the hall. 

"Yeah, no problem. I'll go get started," Chihiro said, then walked over to his own desk and sat down. He cracked his knuckles while he waited for his computer and headset to turn on. He'd be making a shit load of phone calls and emails, better get settled in. 

Chihiro had finished organising everything for Akashi just after 3 PM, which Akashi had praised him for and then promptly sent him home to get ready and properly dressed for the dinner later that evening. The dinner was booked for 7 PM, and Akashi asked for Mayuzumi to meet him at the restaurant half an hour beforehand just to make sure everything was in place ready for Miyano's arrival. So, Chihiro took the train back home, doomscrolled on his phone for about 45 minutes, and then had a shower before he started seriously getting himself ready.

He chose to keep it simple but classy tonight, not keen to stand out nor take the focus off Akashi - which honestly, Chihiro didn't really have to worry about anyway, so he didn't know why he was bothering with dressing plain, but whatever. Low effort was his goal. He went for his light grey cotton slacks and matching suit jacket, with a white button-up shirt underneath. He threw on a dark grey tie and a black belt as well, Mibuchi's annoying voice in his ear about how he needed to 'dress the part even if no one looks at your plain Jane face'.

He turned up at the restaurant 40 minutes beforehand, because being early was better than being late. Akashi was already there, again. Chihiro would wager he had been there at least an hour beforehand. And there was a stark difference in Akashi's clothing choice from this morning. Now, he was back in one of his CEO fits. An aqua blue button up was paired with a cream suit jacket over the top, and Akashi was actually wearing this jacket properly, not letting it sit atop his shoulders as he usually did, so he was more locked in than usual. His dress pants were off-white with faint grey lines creating a fine checkered pattern across them, and his loafers were crisp white with not a speck of dirt on them. 

They both greeted each other and went over the menu, with Mayuzumi checking with the chef and waitstaff that everything was in fact being served tonight and there was nothing that was 'out of stock' or not being served. That was the last thing they needed when this old lady turned up, because she was not the easily forgiving type. What a surprise, Mayuzumi sneered inwardly but didn't say a word about it. Thankfully, everything was available, and the table itself was exactly the one they had requested, near the window with a glorious view of the city at night. 

All that was left, was-

"Seijuurou-kun!"

-for Miyano to show up. And seems like they didn't have to wait much longer. The woman came rushing out of her car, with her assistant running along behind her. She was dressed in a fuschia pink pant suit, a large pearl necklace with matching earrings popping agaisnt her skin. Her black curly hair was tied back into an elegant bun. 

"There you are! Would you believe it? We got stuck in a traffic jam, it was horrendous! I hope you were not waiting long for me?" she beamed at him, her crow's feet wrinkling around her eyes as she clutched Akashi's hands, a bit too tightly and intimately for a woman of her age. 

She was 15 minutes late and didn't even give them an apology, but god forbid Chihiro open his mouth and say that lest he wanted to be castrated by Akashi right then and there. So, he kept his mouth shut and let Akashi do the talking. 

"Not at all, Miyano-san. We just arrived, actually," Akashi replied smoothly. Nice save, Chihiro thought, always glad he was the supporting character and not the main attraction. 

"Oh, thank goodness," she sighed with relief, as she released Akashi's hands. 

Akashi then introduced Chihiro, and Miyano nodded and hummed, so Chihiro was like, 98% certain she would forget about him within the next 5 minutes. Miyano then hooked her arm through Akashi's, and allowed him to lead her into the restaurant while Mayuzumi followed along behind. 

And against all odds, there Mayuzumi was, about to sit down and have a goddamn meal with Akashi. And Miyano, but like, that part didn't matter so much. All Chihiro knew was that Takao - the annoying, meddlesome bastard he was - absolutely manifested this somehow into existence and he was cursing him for it right now.

But thankfully, life seemed to have cut him a break, since as soon as they sat down, Miyano's attention was on Akashi solely, and likewise Akashi was engaged in conversation with her. Which, of course he was, because this lady was a seriously important investor that they needed to keep on their good side, so she would be on board for their international launch. So luckily, Chihiro's only job was to basically sit there, attend to any errands Akashi asked him to during the night, and when he wasn't doing that, responding to emails on his work phone or prepping things for Monday. 

Not the ideal way he'd spend his Saturday night, but hey, he was getting paid overtime and a weekend rate to sit here. Plus he got a free dinner out of it, which, score. 

Chihiro tried to tune out their conversation for the most part, but paid attention whenever important parts came up, and he would make notes on his phone because Akashi would surely want to review them later. But a couple of hours in, most of the business talk had faded, and Miyano had clearly had too much to drink, since she started talking about random things - and trying to pry more into Akashi's private life, which, uh, weird. Akashi was obviously just placating her and giving vague answers until she had her fill and was ready to go back to her hotel. But damn, was she dragging it out. 

"You know, Seijuurou-kun, we've been talking all night, you even gifted me such gorgeous wine, but you haven't had a single drink!" she complained at him, her voice annoyingly high-pitched and on the slurred side, with her cheeks flushed from the alcohol she already consumed. 

"I mentioned earlier that I wouldn't be drinking tonight, Miyano-san. My apologies," Akashi apologised, polite and eloquent to a fault. Chihiro didn't know how he put up with it, because personally he'd rather claw his own eyes out than smile and be fake-nice to someone he didn't give a shit about other than from a business perspective.  

This did not sit well with Miyano, though, as she whined - literally whined - at Akashi and shook her head. 

But Akashi wasn’t being rude or insulting, he literally couldn’t drink any of it because of his alcohol intolerance. He hadn't told Miyano about it, but he shouldn't have to because if someone doesn't want to drink you accept the no and that's the end of that. But this drunk old woman kept insisting on it, Mayuzumi’s eyes hardened as he watched her lean closer to Akashi. The woman was in her fifties at least, and had no business being that close to someone two decades younger than her.

"Here, come on, just one drink. Let's do a love shot, hm?" she crooned at Akashi, pouring a shot for him and pushing it into Akashi's hand insistently. Akashi blinked and did not move, and it was perhaps the most conflicted Chihiro had seen him look for a while.

The more she went on about it, babbling with her alcohol-ridden breath wafting in Akashi's face and trying to persuade him to drink, the more uncomfortable Akashi looked. Usually, the man was quite adept at masking his feelings and maintaining a pleasant, professional demeanour in all situations. But this woman was not logical right now, and none of what Akashi was saying was sinking into her empty head. 

And it was all just so annoying to watch, Chihiro couldn't stand it anymore. So, impulsively, he reached out and grabbed the shot glass out of Akashi's hand. He held it in his own instead and leaned in closer to get the older woman's attention. 

“I’m drinking instead of him.” Chihiro kept his eyes on Miyano, but he could feel Akashi's stare on him without even having to look over. It was a shame too that Chihiro couldn't look at him, because he was sure that Akashi looked something like a startled cat right now, completely taken aback by Chihiro's actions. 

The woman blinked rapidly, as her eyes flicked over from Akashi to Mayuzumi, and she tilted her head to the side, “Hm? Oh my, I didn’t notice you there, my dear. Have you been with us all evening?”

Classic, Chihiro thought, and was personally impressed with himself for the way he held back a snort of laughter. 

"I'm a background character most of the time, but now is my time to shine," he said cryptically, which seemed to amuse Miyano if her entertained smile was any indication, "Sorry for the late introduction. Mayuzyumi Chihiro, his assistant."

He reached out a hand, and Miyano eyed it for a second before she slid hers inside his, and they shook hands. 

"Ahh, I see," she hummed understandingly, “Whilst it is so sweet of you to want to share a drink with me," she reached and patted Chihiro's hand, her crimson-painted nails long and shiny, "I had my heart set on sharing a drink with Seijuurou-kun,” Miyano drawled, as her gaze slid back over towards Akashi. 

Chihiro bobbed his head in an understanding nod, “Sorry, I know it’s disappointing. Since I’m his assistant, this is part of the job description.”

“Really? This is part of your role?" Miyano questioned, and her eyes shone with renewed interest towards the man in front of her, "What kind of assistant are you exactly, Mayuzumi-kun?”

“One you won’t find anywhere else,” Mayuzumi responded without missing a beat, in a voice so smooth even he was surprised it had come out of him. 

And it seemed to do the trick, because the twinkle was back in Miyano's eyes as she looked at Chihiro intently.

“The mysterious type, hm? I like that too. Alright honey, I’ll drink with you instead,” she purred, her voice so saccharine sweet that Chihiro would have pulled a face if he had less self-control, because gross. 

"The love shot, right?" Chihiro clarified, as he raised his arm with the full shot glass in hand, and Miyano brightened as she did the same. 

"That's right," she beamed. He then linked his left arm with Miyano's right arm, and they drank from their own glasses simultaneously, knocking their shots back in one mouthful. When he pulled back, she was grinning coyly at him and giggled, and Chihiro tried for a smile but at most mustered a twitch of his lips. Whatever, it probably just added to his 'cool and mysterious' aura. 

"Oh, you are fun, Mayuzumi-kun. Shall we do another, opposite hands this time?" Miyano offered through a laugh, and Chihiro nodded as he took off his suit jacket and let her pour more into their shot glasses.

"Say when," Chihiro nodded, and they did another love shot with their opposite arms linked this time. 

Out of the corner of his eye, Chihiro noticed the way Akashi had relaxed back into his seat and was glad they had navigated around a moment of potential awkwardness. Miyano's interest turned to conversing with Mayuzumi for a short while after that, and about twenty minutes later, the night came to a close as Miyano's assistant reminded her she needed to get some rest before her flight home tomorrow afternoon. God bless that assistant, was all Mayuzumi could think, and he couldn't wait to get the hell out of that restaurant. 

.

.

“I appreciate what you did back there, Mayuzumi-san,” Akashi said, completely unprompted and it caught Mayuzumi off guard. He almost tripped but didn't, thank god. He didn't need a sprained ankle or some injury on top of all the other shit he had to deal with. They were walking down the street, having finished the godforsaken dinner and finally, finally, free for the night. The night air was nice and crisp against Chihiro's flushed cheeks. He wasn't drunk, not really, just a bit tipsy. The alcohol had warmed him up from the inside out. 

“Don’t even mention it. Seriously, like, ever," Chihiro said, then frowned as he shook his head, "That old woman was way too bold for her age. Gives me the creeps."

Akashi gave a soft hum, neither of agreement nor disagreement. Just a hum, like he was accepting Mayuzumi's words as they were, "You do come across a lot of that sort in this business, unfortunately."

“Hey," Chihiro called to get Akashi's attention, "do people do that sort of stuff to you a lot?”

Akashi looked over at him, blinked, then inclined his head forward slightly as they continued to walk, “If they are older than me, which is very often the case, they do. It is usually an attempt to control me due to their inferiority complex being triggered. Typically, I can shut them down or make them concede after a conversation or two, when they realise I am not so easily intimidated. However, Miyano-san was both persistent and incoherent that my efforts were not effective enough this evening,”

"Yeah, she definitely had a screw loose. Or like, a dozen," Chihiro agreed, his eyebrows narrowed at the memory of the bizarre woman. It was becoming increasingly clear to Mayuzumi the longer he worked in this corporate world that Akashi was seemingly the most normal of all the big dogs he'd met so far...and that was both a hilarious and unsettling truth. He wondered how the hell Akashi dealt with it all day in, day out. 

When Akashi wasn’t being harassed by creeps or psychos (see: Nash and his ongoing bullshit), he was being criticised and dragged into other people's ego trips. Or looked down on by old buzzards who thought they were still at the top of their game when reality said they should have been put back on the shelf already. 

“That is why I am glad you were with me this time, Mayuzumi-san. Though I already had another means of diffusing the situation, it was quicker and less problematic having you step in to help,” Akashi stated, and that made Chihiro pause. 

“So basically, if I wasn’t there, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference,” in other words, you would have been more than fine, Chihiro thought, and suddenly felt like a loser for stepping in and thinking he saved the day. Hah, idiot. 

Akashi nodded, blissfully unaware of Mayuzumi's internal beat down on his own inadequacy, “Essentially, yes. In anything I face, whether it be work-related or personal, I always have more than one way of solving a problem," then, Akashi paused, and sent a meaningful, pointed look in Mayuzumi's direction, "But that doesn’t mean I would have preferred not having you here tonight. Even if I am competent by myself, I like the feeling of being on a team with others too. I cannot experience that kind of support alone."

Chihiro's eyes squinted over at Akashi shrewdly, “You saying that we’re like a team?”

“I suppose I am,” Akashi smiled at him. It was small, but it reached his eyes. That was something Mayuzumi had realised, that Akashi smiled a lot - but more often than not, the smile was just a smile. It was there for the sake of the situation, to indulge others and maintain niceties. It was rare that Akashi's smile was genuine. Right now was one of those rare occasions. It reminded Chihiro of the day Akashi truly smiled at him after his father had visited Rakuzan. 

Ugh, Chihiro suppressed a grimace at the sudden pang in his chest. And with it, there was an annoying feeling that appeared at that moment. A stupid, nonsensical feeling that was suspiciously sounding like he wanted to…help Akashi. What the hell? Akashi was fine on his own – better, even – and Akashi himself said he could handle whatever he faced no matter how challenging.

Yet, because Akashi was so capable, no one ever looked back at him. 

Which had caused a puzzling question to settle in Chihiro's mind a while ago, that he still did not know the answer to. 

That question being that, if against all the impossible odds, Akashi was in trouble, how would anyone know?

“Don’t you feel the same?” Akashi's voice drifted to his ears, and Chihiro looked over to find two bright magenta orbs glancing at him expectantly. 

It took Chihiro a moment to remember what he and Akashi were talking about. Oh yeah, he thinks we're a dynamic duo, he recalled.

Chihiro shrugged, as the wind picked up and his hands dug deeper into his coat pockets, “I guess. You definitely give off main character captain-like vibes, so I suppose that makes me the secret weapon."

Akashi considered it for a moment, then gave a nod of approval, “That suits you quite well, actually.”

“Right? Those kinds of characters are usually more popular than the protagonist. Just saying,” Chihiro bragged, as if he hadn't grown up as the kid in school who got picked last for teams or group tasks, or forgotten about on trips, or other people just straight up ignored and disliked him. 

Akashi huffed a delicate laugh through his nose, “When did this turn into a popularity contest, Mayuzumi-san?”

Chihiro's eyes moved over to glance at him passively, “Why not? You’re up for a challenge more than anyone else I know."

"That I will not deny. We were both basketball players in high school as I recall, so I suppose competitiveness runs through our veins," Akashi conceded with a faint smile, and silence settled between them the rest of the walk. Thankfully, Akashi had his driver waiting not too far from the train station. When they approached closer to where the Rolls Royce was parked, the streetlights illuminated the street and made it shine out amongst all the other cars parked curbside. 

Chihiro peered down at his watch, pressed his lips together firmly, then gave a nod, "It's gonna be close, but I think I'll make the last train if I run. If your driver can just make sure to drop me as close as possible, then I'll be fine."

"The train?" Akashi turned to him, perplexed as his eyebrows rose questioningly at him. Then, he shook his head once, definitively, "Mayuzumi-san, you are not catching the train home at this hour. I will not allow it."

"Uh, okay. Then riddle me this. How am I gonna get home?" Chihiro asked, more than a little pissed at how easily he just acquiesced to Akashi's orders. Technically I'm still on the clock, so saying no would be like defiance, or something, he tried to reassure himself that he did in fact have a backbone that he would have used had he not been on the clock.

"We will take you home, of course," Akashi gestured naturally towards the Rolls Royce, "It is the least I can do seeing as how you worked overtime and gave up your evening as well. You don't mind, yes?"

"Don't mind? I couldn't ask for more. If my social battery hadn't died like an hour ago, I'd be smiling up a storm right now," Chihiro replied with a painfully bland expression, because yes, while he was annoyed at himself for constantly following Akashi's whims - it didn't mean he couldn't also be grateful for them, especially at times like these. 

"Excellent. Then, let's go, shall we?" Akashi didn't wait and started to walk towards the car. The driver had already gotten out and attempted to open the door for him, but Akashi waved him off politely and opened it for himself. Chihiro followed and went around to get in the other side - because apparently Akashi was sitting in the back too and not up front for some reason, so yeah, that's great. 

It was going to be about a 30-minute drive from the city to Mayuzumi's apartment, so he settled in against the cushiony seats and relaxed. He was so drained after a full day of work, plus the event in the evening.

Not Akashi, though. He was sitting upright, his legs crossed neatly, with his phone in his hand. He had it turned off during the dinner, so it had been off for a couple of hours. As soon as it powered on, the phone started buzzing and vibrating in a continuous stream. Notifications littered all over Akashi's screen in the form of texts and missed calls.

Mayuzumi let his curiousity get the better of him, "Damn, look at all those notifications. Who died?"

Akashi pressed his lips together, and he replied without looking up as he scanned through the notifications on the phone, "Midorima is restless. He tends to be the persistent type when something is bothering him."

Chihiro's eyebrows shot up, high on his forehead, "You're kidding. All those messages are from Midorima?"

"Not all of them, but the vast majority. He is not fond of the uncertain, which is why he is pressing for me to answer him so he can do all the necessary preparations," Akashi sighed as he continued swiping through all the missed calls, deleting them from his call log, and ignoring the obnoxious amount of text message notifications, "Even so, we were given 48 hours to respond to Zack and his attorney, so I intend to use as much of that time as needed until I come to an answer I am satisfied with."

"You still don't know?" The question was out before Chihiro could stop it or filter himself, but Akashi paid his boldness no mind as he exhaled softly and shook his head twice. 

"It is not that I don't know, Mayuzumi-san. I feel as though it is the opposite," Akashi set his phone face down in his lap, as he glanced out the window, the lights on the highway flickering by them as they drove along, "With everything I do know, all the information and conclusions I can draw make it all the more difficult. Overthinking is the catalyst of indecision. even though I realise that I find it very challenging to stop."

Chihiro nods, because he could relate to that feeling, "Yeah, been there. You start seeing things from too many sides, and all of a sudden, it's like you're in a room full of mirrors. The way out is a maze, and you just end up stuck for a while."

"Hearing you phrase it in such a way makes me realise it does feel exactly like that. What do you do when you become...stuck?" Akashi asked and glanced over at him, as his eyebrows knitted together in mild conflict at the thought of not progressing.

"Basically, just tell myself that no matter what bullshit my mind's come up with, there is a way out. There is an answer and I need to face it to move forward. Even if that means it's not the answer I want," Chihiro shrugged, nonchalant, and Akashi seemed displeased at the response.

His brows knitted together and he gave the smallest shake of his head, "I am not used to accepting an answer I do not want. Even in the past, there have only been answers I want, and answers I want less than the preferred one. To have to choose an answer I absolutely do not want at all is just..."

"A colossal pain in the ass?" Chihiro finished for him, knowing full well that that was not what Akashi would have said or would ever say in a million years. But hey, judging by the ay Akashi's expression lightened up some, Chihiro was at least sort of on the money. 

"...I was going to say egregiously unfair, but your response is equally fitting, Mayuzumi-san. Perhaps even more so," Akashi stated astutely, and Chihiro emitted a short, wry chuckle as he stretched his legs out in the back (the leg room was insanely spacious that Chihiro could probably fit a mini fridge down there). 

"Yeah, life sucks like that. Being forced to accept reality, especially when it's a shitty reality, is a universal experience," Chihiro said, and Akashi hummed in agreement. 

"Yes, I suppose no matter who you are or where you stand, life is not that easy for anyone," Akashi concurred, his voice softer than Chihiro expected. There was a gloom that seemed to linger somewhere behind his magenta eyes, but it was gone almost as soon as Chihiro had noticed it. 

After that, their conversation pretty much ended. Akashi returned his attention to his phone, likely responding to his many text messages, and Chihiro tried not to fall asleep in the most comfortable car he had ever been in. And sooner than he expected, the driver pulled up to the side of the road, and Chihiro recognised apartment building nearby.

"We're here," the driver announced, and once the car stopped, Chihiro unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car. He walked around to the side closest to the footpath - where Akashi was sitting - and before he could say anything Akashi had rolled down his window and they were looking at each other.

"Hey. Thanks. For the ride," Chihiro said, and wow, no one would ever guess he was an aspiring writer with that mind-blowing vocabulary. 

"You are welcome," Akashi replied graciously with a small smile and a nod, "Thank you for all your hard work today and tonight, Mayuzumi-san. Enjoy your evening, or what is left of it."

True enough, Chihiro thought, as he had checked the time on his phone before stepping out of the car and it was already 10:48 PM. Chihiro would be having the quickest shower of his life, get himself a cold glass of water, and head to bed. He wouldn't even doomscroll tonight, that's how tired he was.

"Right back at you. See you tomorrow," he said, as he stepped back from the car and gave the driver an appreciative nod as well. 

"See you then," Akashi bid him farewell, then leaned back in his seat as the passenger window rolled up, and the driver turned back onto the road. Chihiro turned around to head towards his apartment building at the same time the car drove off. 

What a weird night. Can't wait for Monday. 

Chapter Text

"I do not appreciate you leaving me there to clean up your mess by myself," was Midorima's greeting as he waltzed into Akashi's office - as Seijuurou had expected. He had let Mayuzumi know beforehand to allow the man to come straight through to see him. 

Seijuurou's eyes flicked away from his three screens in front of him, and landed on Midorima with a coy glint shining through, "Come now, Shintarou, isn't that what I pay you for?"

"You do not pay me nearly enough for all I do, in fact," Midorima grumbled under his breath, as he closed the door and sat in the chair opposite Akashi's desk, setting his briefcase down with a worn-out sigh. 

"Well, I assume you resolved it all? There is nothing for them to be upset about as I did everything that was stipulated in our agreement," Seijuurou stated, certainty dripping from his tone and painted all over his face as well. 

Midorima nodded, even though his expression gave away he was clearly unhappy about it, "Objectively, yes, that's correct. Zack and Nash were obviously displeased about your actions, and that is putting it lightly."

Seijuurou felt a smile of triumph coming on, as Midorima went on, "However, their attorney appeared to have some sense as he reminded them that you fulfilled all that they requested and the deal was thereby closed. Truthfully, I believe the attorney was also blindsided as we were by Nash's irrational request of you. It did not seem planned."

"Another one of Nash's non-sensical power plays. I pity his attorney," Seijuurou commented, lackadaisical and repulsed by the man's boorish attempts to establish dominance. Nash behaved like he was some sort of primitive animal trying to claim the title of supreme alpha. Truly pathetic.

"It has been resolved and closed as of today, but this is nothing but a bandage over the issue. A truce has theoretically been reached. However," here, Midorima paused, and his demeanour turned cautious and wary, "you will need to tread lightly from here on, Akashi. Nash is a powder keg at this point and antagonising him further beyond this would be very unwise, in fact."

"Did you want to know something interesting? Powder kegs are prone to sudden, violent explosions," Seijuurou explained, then leaned closer over his desk to fix Midorima with an inscrutable glimmer in his eyes, "If Nash is a powder keg, then what do you think I am, Shintarou?"

Midorima's shoulders slumped at the question, and the sour, silently-suffering expression that crossed his face almost made Seijuurou chuckle at him, "Must you ask me a riddle right now? I am not in the mood to answer or even indulge you," Midorima responded curtly, as he rubbed at one of his temples tiredly. 

"I am a bomb. I only detonate under very specific conditions," Seijuurou stated, a cold defensiveness coming over his features like a mask, "And if I should, the impact is far greater and much more devastating. That is why I will not lose to Nash, or anyone who dares to look down on me."

Midorima looked at him for a few seconds, then cast his glance off to the side as a slight smirk curled at his lips, "Your obsession with winning is not like it was in high school, but still remains a part of you, I see."

Seijuurou smiled, "But of course. I can accept losses now, this is true, but I will always strive to be the best. My ambition will never be satisfied so easily."

Before either of them could say anything else, the distinct sound of Akashi's phone vibrating on his desk rung out around the room. Akashi did not even pick up the phone, merely glanced over at the caller ID before glancing back to his computers. 

"Your father?" Midorima guessed, and when Akashi looked up, he took it as a silent confirmation. 

"Has he heard already? Does he have some sort of surveillance system set up for you?" Midorima scoffed as he readjusted his glasses. 

Seijuurou nodded, his attention divided between Midorima and the report he was reading through on his computer screen in prep for his next meeting, as he let the phone continue to ring, "He has had people tail me in the past, so I would not be surprised. I had a feeling I felt eyes on us at Jabberwock, but thought I was just overthinking the situation. Clearly not. I surmise it was probably a random person with a visitor pass who got the details and then passed them onto my father," he finished, and made a mental note to confront his father about it. Seijuurou had let it slide one too many times in the past, but no more. 

When he received no response from Midorima, Seijuurou glanced up at him only to find a shocked and mildly concerned look on his face. Seijuurou's eyebrows rose higher, as he realised what the problem was, "Oh, you were not expecting me to answer your question. You likely meant it rhetorically, and my serious response has thrown you off," Seijuurou frowned, then tried to rectify his error, "Have I made the conversation awkward?"

Midorima sighed heavily instead of answering, and shook his head as he stood from the chair, grabbed his briefcase and turned to leave, "I will leave you to attend to your phone call and finalise things on my end. Let's speak again later."

With that, Midorima closed the door behind himself, and Seijuurou's eyes flicked down to his phone that was still vibrating, the name 'Father' lighting up the screen. With a barely repressed sigh, Akashi rose from his desk chair, crossed the room, and answered the call. 

"Hello, father," Seijuurou greeted the man as he moved to sit down on his office couch and crossed one leg over the other. 

"Is what I heard true? Did you show such a poor performance of yourself at Jabberwock this morning?" his father demanded through the phone, not even bothering to greet him first. 

"I do not know what you are implying by that. I followed their terms and conditions to the letter, apologised to my ex-employee personally, and maintained my dignity while doing so. It was what they asked for, and I did not give them any less or any more than they deserved," Seijuurou told him bluntly, as he gazed out of his large office window at the city skyline. The day had started off clear with blue skies, but clouds were slowly rolling in and dulling the sunlight that had soaked the hustling and bustling city all morning.

He could hear his father's harsh sigh on the other end, "You continue to make a spectacle of yourself, Seijuurou. Do you not tire of engaging in such trivial theatrics?"

"No, I don't. Rather, I quite enjoy it," Seijuurou responded back easily, as he leaned his back against the plush couch, more than used to his father's micro-criticisms by now. 

"A childish response, as expected. You are in your late twenties' yet continue playing foolish games with your business like it is your entertainment," his father scorned him with no regard, and Seijuurou's hackles rose at the jab against his company. His father knew he took such words personally and used it against him on purpose at times like this. 

"Rakuzan is not a game to me, father. It is my own business that I cultivated from the ground up. I deal with the running of it how I see fit, and I believe I handled the situation well," Seijuurou could hear the venom in his own voice and did not care one bit. He would stand up for himself and fight back, even against his own family. 

But of course, since it was his father, he did not take anything Seijuurou said seriously, "If you have time to praise yourself, you should be bettering yourself instead."

"And you should stop sending your people on ridiculous fools' errands, like spying on your own son," Seijuurou snarled at him viciously, and stood up abruptly from the couch as he paced the room to stand in front of the window, "I will warn you once, father, that if it happens again in the future, I will approach the police and file a complaint about harassment and stalking. I may even consider a restraining order."

"Your arrogant side is in full force today, I see. Do not overreact, Seijuurou. I was merely concerned and did not want to wait for you to tell me what happened on your own," his father chided him again, downplaying his own actions and belitting Seijuurou's emotional response. Seijuurou's other hand clenched into a tight fist at his side, his eyes narrowed dangerously as he glared out at the grey cityscape below him, "Or rather, your version of what happened, which never quite captures the complete story. You and I and our family have a certain image to maintain."

Seijuurou emitted a sharp laugh, as he shook his head, "I will not disgrace your precious legacy, father. I know that is all you care about, so I would not be so cruel as to destroy the only thing of meaning to you," he finished, his previous good mood from demolishing Nash's ego earlier evaporating into thin air. His father just could not let him enjoy any victor he had, it was never enough. He had to constantly look ahead to the next challenge, the next milestone, the next victory. 

His father scoffed at him, his tone aloof as he replied, "You are speaking nonsense, and you are clearly still worked up from your visit to Jabberwock. I will hang up now and speak to you in a few days once you have cooled your head. Goodbye."

The call ended as soon as the word was out of his father's mouth, and Seijuurou continued to stand there, staring out the window. He let his arm fall down, and it hung by his side, his phone still clutched in his hand loosely. 

.

.

Perhaps it was the relief and the fact his body was finally able to stop and slow down after the whole Nash and Zack showdown, plus the hectic weekend with Miyano, but Chihiro wasn't feeling too great. When he got home from work that day, he'd heated up some leftover Thai food and ate about half of it before he chucked it out, took the quickest shower on earth before changing into his pyjamas and crashing in bed. Literally fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. But oh, it wasn't a restful sleep. Not at all.

He woke with stinging eyes and head pounding, and internally dreaded the fact that morning had already come to greet him. But, then he realised, it was actually still dark in his room. Blearily, he glanced over to his digital clock by his bed, which read 12:17 AM. Great, so I've been asleep for what? 2 hours?

With a grumble and pathetic stagger that he'd only ever do in the solitude of his own apartment where no one could see him, Chihiro meandered to the kitchen and popped two pills of ibuprofen. Then, he dragged himself back to his bed, lay down, and within about 20 minutes he fell back asleep again. 

Then, about 3 or 4 hours later, he woke up again, shivering with a cold sweat on his face and body. It wasn't even winter yet so how the fuck was he cold right now? Chihiro groaned in agony, his head still aching despite the ibuprofen he'd taken, and his body felt sore as well. In his foggy mindscape, Chihiro recognised what all these symptoms meant - it was either a case of the cold, the flu, COVID-19. Ugh, great, just fucking perfect. 

Being the responsible adult he was, Chihiro peeled himself away from the comfort of his bed and got up to do a COVID-19 self-test. Waited 15 minutes, checked it, and it was negative. But he'd need to keep testing over the next couple of days because the stupid virus sometimes took a while to catch on, but he hoped it was either a bad cold or the flu. If he could snag an appointment with his doctor for tomorrow or the day after and get some antibiotics, he'd be right as rain.

Until then, though, he'd have to make do with what he had in his cupboard. And what a surprise, he didn't have any cold and flu medication. Like, none at all. Aside from some expired cough syrup which he had promptly thrown out when the liquid didn't even move after he shook the bottle. 

So, Chihiro was out and about at the ripe old time of - 4:21 AM. Fuck his life, honestly. But the cool early morning air actually felt kind of good against his flushed and sweaty cheeks. He was actively ignoring how being out in the cold air would likely worsen his symptoms, because right now he actually felt like a person and not a sack of rotten potatoes. The trains started up at 5 AM, so he would get there with a good amount of time to spare which meant he could take his time walking - which was good because he didn't know if he could actually go any faster than the snail's pace he was currently moving at. 

The walk to the train station - good. The ride on the train - not good. Chihiro was getting motion sickness from the train moving in the same old straight direction it always went in - so yeah, more proof that his immune system was taking some serious hits. He had to go into the city to get to a 24-hour pharmacy, since there was none open in his neighbourhood which was on the outskirts of Tokyo. 

As soon as he saw the central station stop coming up, Chihiro stood from the hard plastic train seat and trudged towards the doors. He was wearing a face mask because he actually cared about not spreading his germs to the population (same couldn't be said for vast majority of same population) and started the 20-minute walk towards the nearest pharmacy. Chihiro grabbed the cold and flu tablets, a nasal spray to help with his blocked nose, and stocked up on more ibuprofen just to be on the safe side. The endeavour took him a grand total of 17 minutes, by the time the cashier had scanned all his medication and Chihiro walked out the doors with a heavy plastic bag swinging by his side. 

Right, now straight back home we go, Chihiro told himself, and if he was lucky, he'd get maybe another hour or two of sleep before he had to show up at work later today.

He started the trudge back to the train station. On his way, he bypassed the overpass and bridge above the highway below, and a faint glimmer of a memory came to mind of the day he had seen Akashi standing up there. Hadn't known it was Akashi at the time, obviously, but yeah. Mayuzumi still recalled that memory from time to time, which was probably a sign that it bothered him more than it should. A sign that Chihiro was pretending he couldn't see like a champ. Ignorance was bliss, and Chihiro was a firm believer of that. His business was his business, and he didn't stick his nose in other people's business, especially where it wasn't wanted or needed. 

He was about to turn off down the alleyway in the direction of the train station, when he decided to look up there, just for the sake of it. Just to confirm that nothing and no one would be there...

And Mayuzumi wished he had just kept walking. Because as soon as he looked up, he recognised him. 

Blood red hair, designer clothes, and the aura of someone far superior to almost anyone he met. 

It was Akashi. 

Chihiro stopped, his feet glued to the ground. Akashi was up there on the overpass. Again. Standing up there, like he had done the last time, almost five months ago. Alone, standing on the pedestrian crossing in the middle of road. There wasn't much traffic, but cars still passed by and Akashi seemed to pay them no mind. His head was tilted back and he was staring up at the sky, as the early morning wind ruffled through his hair. Sunrise was on the verge of breaking out across the horizon, but wasn't quite there yet, the cloak of darkness still lingering around them and enveloping them in this moment in time. 

Chihiro rubbed his eyes and blinked very hard, because he had to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating. But no matter how much his vision cleared or how hard he stared up at the overpass, Akashi did not disappear. He remained, which meant he truly was there.

Why? Chihiro asked the question knowing he had no answers. Why are you up there? What are you thinking about right now?

It didn't make sense. He had gotten to know Akashi far better now, and liked to live under the slightly dubious narrative that he understood Akashi more. Who he was as a person, why he did the things he did and the way he went about doing them. But this...moments like this reinforced that Chihiro did not really know him at all. Akashi held many cards close to his chest, and Chihiro had been privy to seeing what was on many of those cards. But this one...this one remained a mystery. Akashi had his secrets, which he was entitled to have, just as everyone did. 

Yet he couldn't explain it, but it sent a chill of dread down Chihiro's spine to see him standing up there like that. 

The distant sound of the train station announcements jolted him out of his reverie, and Chihiro glanced down at his phone to check the time. Shit, he'd just missed the next train to his suburb. Now he'd have to wait another 14 minutes for the next one. Chihiro groaned and shoved his phone back inside his pocket, the plastic bag crinkling at his side as began to walk off. 

But not before he cast one last look upwards. And he almost stumbled over his own two feet, but not because Akashi was gone. 

It was because Chihiro could have sworn that he saw those piercing eyes looing down, right back at him. 

Chihiro held the contact for only a few seconds before he casually averted his gaze and paced towards the train station. He tried to put it out of his mind, but the image of Akashi looking at him was burned behind his eyes. Even by the time he got home, Chihiro was still thinking about that moment. It wasn't until he took his meds and some sleeping pills as well, that the memory faded into the background of his mind for now as he lay down in bed and sleep pulled him under. 

The actual morning (not the 4 AM morning) arrived all too quickly, and Mayuzumi was not vibing it at all. He'd almost missed the train this morning, forgotten to bring his lunch, and couldn't get in to see his doctor until tomorrow at 12pm. Which reminded him, he'd have to ask Akashi for some time off to go do that without actually telling him he was sick. Ugh, too much brain power, I can't think about that right now, Chihiro's eyes squinted in pain as he shut them, closing out the bright, flurorescent lights for a few blissful seconds.

His head was killing him, It pounded like the inside of an empty drum. His body felt way too hot and unsteady, like he was some weak little baby deer that had no energy or strength built up yet. He was sweating like a motherfucker and his cheeks felt flushed in a very uncomfortable way. Like, he wanted to dunk his whole head under the sink and let the water run down his face - or the urge to stick his head inside the freezer in the office kitchenette.

He thought he would shake it off as the day went on, but it just got worse. 

“Chihiro, come here."

Chihiro forced himself to stand up from his chair and shuffled into Akashi's office, "I'm here. Need something?" Chihiro asked as he stood opposite his desk, and when he walked inside Akashi grabbed a stack of paperwork nearby.

Neither he nor Akashi had mentioned...whatever the hell that was that had happened last night. Or this morning, technically? God, Mayuzumi was so beyond tired, he couldn't even get his timeline right. Not talking about it was fine with him, though Mayuzumi had told himself when he had more wits about himself, he'd work up some non-existent courage and ask Akashi what he was doing. 

But, that day wouldn't be today, so Chihiro was content in leaving it alone and doing as he was told. 

“These have been incorrectly ordered. Were you aware of this mistake?” Akashi asked, as he held out the large booklet that Chihiro had bound together not even an hour ago. Chihiro took it, flicked through the pages, and sure enough Akashi was right (as if he would be wrong). The pages were back to front and out of order. Dumbass, what were you thinking? he chastised himself. 

“Shit. Sorry. I’ll redo them right now,” he apologised, and Chihiro rubbed at one of his eyes to try and clear his vision so he could read the print. It's too damn small, ugh. 

He sensed Akashi's eyes on him and deliberately did not meet his gaze, “It is unlike you to make a simple mistake like this. Is there something on your mind, or anything I should be aware of? Can I assist you in any way?” Akashi asked directly, and though his tone and expression was decidedly neutral, Chihiro knew the offer was genuine. He had learnt Akashi did not make offers if he had no intention of following through on them.

“No, that was my bad. It won’t happen again, Akashi," Chihiro assured him, and bowed his head longer than he usually would. Honestly, Akashi should've been more pissed about it, because Chihiro shouldn't be messing up something basic like this after spending nearly half a year doing this shit. Then, he lifted his head and made to leave. 

“Hold on."

Chihiro stopped in his tracks, as he turned back around to face his boss. 

And then, Akashi was up from his desk, walking around it, and suddenly in front of him, "Lift up your hand."

If Mayuzumi were of sounder mind, he would have given back a snappy or sarcastic retort about how that wasn't in his job description to follow instructions from Akashi that weren't related to the role. But Mayuzumi's head felt like it was stuffed with cotton wool so he didn't even bother fighting it, "Uh, okay. Yeah, fine," he said, and raised his right hand and held it out like he was going to give a handshake to someone. 

Akashi reached out and wrapped his hand around Mayuzumi's wrist, with his fingers pressing on the underside of his wrist and a focused expression on his face. Mayuzumi didn't say anything, just stared into space and waited for whatever the fuck Akashi was doing to be over. Then, Akashi released him and let his own hand settle gracefully by his side once more. 

“Why are you lying to me?” he asked simply. 

Chihiro blinked slowly, absorbed the words, then shook his head, “Huh? What do you mean? When did I–”

“You said there was nothing going on, but your heart rate is over 100 BPM which indicates you are running a fever. Not to mention your eyes are glazed and unfocused, you are sweating a lot, and your general presentation is much less tidy and put together than usual. To sum up, you are unwell,” Akashi concluded, not a drop of doubt or question about it as he listed off Chihiro's symptoms with swift accuracy. 

Well, shit. There goes any dumb notion he had of Akashi not noticing anything was wrong.

Chihiro still denied it though, because he wanted to and he could, “It’s nothing. I can push through it, besides, it’s not that bad–”

“No. People should not work when they are ill," Akashi interrupted, his mismatched eyes firm and his gaze steady on Mayuzumi's face, "That is why employees have sick leave, which they are entitled to take at any time.”

Chihiro sighed and ran a hand through his hair, exhaustion tugging at him, but he ignored it, "Yeah, but I'm already here anyway, so may as well stick it out and-"

“Also, you will only continue to make mistakes as the day goes on, which will be a detriment to my and everyone else’s productivity. It would also be problematic if your symptoms are contagious and spread to others in the office," Akashi interjected again, and wow, okay, he really was going to argue about Chihiro's health with him like some fussy nurse. It was unforeseen, honestly.

Before this, Chihiro would have made an assumption that Akashi would just tell him to persevere through the day, go to the doctor and if he were unwell, he would obtain a doctor's certificate with the dates he required sick leave signed off by a doctor. But apparently, he couldn't be more wrong, because Akashi was practically pushing him out the door just because Chihiro had ordered some paperwork incorrectly and ordering him to rest. 

For some reason, it irked Chihiro, and he let out a frustrated sigh as he insisted on staying, "I said it's fine, I can stay and wear a mask-" 

Chihiro was interrupted once more, but this time the offender was not Akashi, but Mibuchi. He breezed in through the door with a tablet in hand, swiping on it as he spoke, “Sei-chan, I was just looking for you. That meeting - " then, Mibuchi paused, cast a glance between Mayuzumi and Akashi, then furrowed his finely trimmed brows in confusion, "Wait, is something wrong?"

“Chihiro is going home as he is unwell and not fit to work,” Akashi spoke so fast Chihiro didn't even have a chance to get the first syllable of the word 'no' out of his own mouth. 

He turned to the CEO with a glare that lacked his usual spark, “Oi–” 

"What's going on?"

Hayama's voice chimed in, as he waltzed through the door, with Nebuya in tow behind him.

"Mayuzyumi-san is sick and needs to go home ASAP," Mibuchi replied, as he sent an empathetic gaze in Mayuzumi's direction. 

“Oh no! That’s no good, Mayuzumi-san" Hayama said, a sad frown on his face that almost made him look worried. 

"Yeah! Getting sick is the worst! But you do look like shit, I just didn't wanna say anything in case you slept bad or somethin'," Nebuya gave his two cents' worth, grimacing in sympathy as he took in Mayuzumi's haphazard appearance. 

"What was it you came to see me for, Reo?" Akashi asked, and Mibuchi's eyes widened as he remembered his original purpose for barging in here. 

"Oh, right. That meeting you had scheduled for the new recruit at 12 has asked if they can bump it up to 10:30 instead,” he said, and Akashi's eyes narrowed at the unexpected change to his scheduled. 

"I see."

“Wahh, that’s fifteen minutes from now!" Hayama said with a panicked glance down at his watch, then looked up with urgency, "Wait, but who's going to take Mayuzumi home?"

Chihiro rolled his eyes and huffed with exasperation, “Seriously, don’t turn it into a whole thing. I can just stay for the rest of the day and tomorrow I've got a doctor's–”

“Eikichi, you do it. Take that beast of a car of yours out for a spin and give Mayuzumi a lift back home,” Mibuchi ordered swiftly, and this was one of those times where Chihiro resented his low presence because no one had heard a freaking word he just said, and now he'd have to endure a car ride home with Nebuya. Fantastic. 

“Hell yeah, that’s fine with me!" Nebuya grinned, jumping at the excuse to drive his 'baby' as he called it. He turned to Akashi like a huge, overexcited dog, "Akashi, that’s all good with you, yeah?”

“Hm? Oh. Yes. I suppose that is the best alternative," Akashi affirmed with a nod, then turned his eyes on the assistant, and they seemed less sharp than before, "Go collect your things Chihiro, we shall take care of the rest."

And with that, Chihiro was practically ushered out of Akashi's office by Hayama and Nebuya, while Mibuchi walked over to Akashi and started making arrangements for the impending meeting. 

Chihiro felt like death warmed up. He had spent basically the rest of yesterday passed out in his bed and forced down some chicken soup in a cup he had fished out of his cupboard. Today, he woke up at 8 AM specifically to text Akashi that he wouldn't be in again, then promptly fell back asleep and slept in until 10 AM. Then dragged himself up to stand pathetically under the shower before he made himself leave the house to get to his doctor's appointment at 12 PM.

Sure enough, he had the flu. Chihiro supposed he was grateful it wasn't COVID-19 at least, but still, having the flu was, simply put, fucking horrendous. The chills, the fever, the lack of appetite and inability to feel comfortable. His doctor had prescribed him antibiotics which Chihiro had taken as soon as he got home. But damn, he hated that medication didn't just fix everything in a single day. Why did it need 3 to 5 days to work its magic?

He had emailed through his medical certificate to Akashi's work email advising he take the remainder of the week off work and had since been brooding in a heap on his couch. He'd been browsing Netflix and put on some shoujo anime for some background noise while he scrolled social media on his phone and fell in and out of micro-naps. Chihiro was just about to doze off again when he heard a sharp, solid set of 3 knocks to his door. Inhaling deeply, Chihiro reached up to rub the sleep and crust out of his eyes and cleared his throat in a vain attempt to make himself look and sound presentable. He then hauled his ass up off the couch and over to his front door, as he swung it open to reprimand whoever the hell decided to disturb him during his self-imposed pity-party. 

But said reprimand died in his throat when his eyes landed on the person on the other side of his door. 

“Akashi?” Chihiro blinked once. Twice. Three goddamn times to really make sure, and yep, he was still there, “What are you doing here?”

“I am performing a welfare check," Akashi responded back, as if it was nothing out of the ordinary for him to show up at Mayuzumi's place unannounced. 

“It’s only been a day. And I texted you this morning to let you know I couldn't come in,” Chihiro reminded him, and Akashi nodded at the information. 

“Yes, I received it. Still, as you live alone, I found it necessary to check on you in person. May I come in?” he asked, though it didn't feel like a question. 

Chihiro shifted from foot to foot, then cast a glance back at his living room before looking at Akashi doubtfully, “I mean, I’ve been inside all day and haven’t been wearing my mask since it’s just me. You’ll probably catch whatever it is too if you come in,” he warned, as if hoping Akashi would immediately retreat and leave him in peace. But no such luck would strike him, it appeared. 

“Not to worry, I bought my own with me,” Akashi said, as he whipped out a face mask and promptly put it on, "Also, I may not have mentioned it, but it is extremely rare that I fall ill. I believe the last time I was sick was during high school.”

“Okay, enter at your own risk, then,” Chihiro surrendered, as he opened the door wider and turned around to walk back inside. Out of courtesy, he fished a clean disposable face mask out of the box on his kitchen counter and put it on his face. 

“Pardon my intrusion,” Akashi's voice was soft as he stepped inside, slipped off his shoes in the genkan, and then entered the living room of the apartment where Mayuzumi was in. 

Chihiro plopped himself back down on the couch, while Akashi moved over to him, and it was only just now that Chihiro realised he was carrying something. 

“We had this hamper prepared for you. As everyone else was busy, and the person who usually runs my errands is the one who is unwell, I delivered it myself,” Akashi set down said hamper on the floor next to where Chihiro sat on the couch, then moved and sat down on the armchair opposite where Chihiro was sitting. 

“Well, aren’t I lucky?” Chihiro retorted, his usual sardonic tone dulled by his blocked nasal passages. He eyed the basket near his feet like it might explode, even though it was clearly full of food, drinks and medicine, "But what gives? I’ve worked in a ton of places before, and this is the first time I’ve gotten a get-well gift from my boss.”

“It is standard at Rakuzan across all of the departments. Without my employees, my company would not be where it is now. I recognise their value and worth and remind myself to see them as the people they are and not just numbers filling positions. That is why whenever they become sick, I wish for their speedy recovery, and if I can help in that process then it is the least I could do,” Akashi told him, and it was the most bizarrely nice thing Chihiro had heard from him in a while. Even when he was saying something decent, Akashi could never say it nor express it in a normal way, which checked out given his stellar personality. 

“Are you for real? Like, is this really happening right now? Or am I dreaming this up?” Chihiro queried, as he rubbed at his forehead and felt that typical sickness-induced sweat along his hairline. Gross, he should really have a shower and wash his hair. 

“I can confirm I am absolutely real and sitting in front of you right now, Mayuzumi-san. Shall I pinch you next to prove it?” Akashi asked, and was it just Chihiro's exceptionally bad (or, worse than usual) mood because he was sick, or was Akashi being a little shit just now? On purpose? 

“Don’t even think about it, you brat,” Chihiro bristled, reflexively pulling his arms closer to himself. 

Akashi blinked. He stared at Chihiro for a few seconds, then blinked again, before he finally spoke, “Sorry, what did you call me?”

“A brat. What? Hard of hearing?” Chihiro asked, his tone just skirting the edge of mocking but maintaining the thinnest layer of civility over it.

“You have even less of a filter when you are unwell, I see,” Akashi remarked with a quirked eyebrow. 

“Yeah, with how shitty I feel, you could probably fire me and I wouldn’t even care," Chihiro said through his blocked nose, then added, "When I get better, that’s when I’ll come crawling to you on hands and knees begging for my job back. But one problem at a time, right?”

“There will be no need for that, as I have no intention of firing you. I merely find it amusing to see you even more honest than usual,” Akashi clarified, and though Mayuzumi had no way to tell since the man was wearing a mask, he suspected Akashi was smirking at his expense. Wouldn't be the first time, Chihiro reflected, self-piteous. 

Akashi then straightened his posture and moved fluidly back into conversation, “I received your medical certificate in your email. As per your doctor’s instructions, take tomorrow and Friday off as well. Then after the weekend, see how you feel by Monday.”

"Uh...okay," Chihiro said as he warily looked around the room, half-suspecting a candid camera to appear out of nowhere to catch his reaction at his boss's random act of kindness. 

“If you need more time off, just let me know. Do not rush your recovery, we will manage until you can return to work healthy,” Akashi continued in a placating tone, and that was about as much as Mayuzumi could take.

After hearing that, Chihiro frowned and held up a hand as if to stop Akashi from saying anymore, “Listen, can you quit being so nice and understanding?"

Akashi leaned back slightly, thrown off kilter by the question, "Excuse me?"

"I'm just saying, if you keep being this generous with me, I might get used to it. Then I’ll be screwed when I get back to the office and get slapped with the reality check of crushing deadlines and endless overtime,” Chihiro stated with a numb acceptance.

Akashi certainly wasn't the worst boss he'd ever had, but he wasn't exactly the best either. He could be full throttle at the best of times, and beyond intense and relentlessly demanding at the worst. But now, Akashi was here with his get-well hamper and assuring words and messing with Chihiro's view of him. Chihiro couldn't have that, it would skew his perspective and throw everything out of whack.  

Wordlessly, Akashi considered the request, then tipped his head to the side, “What should I say instead?”

“Tell me to get my ass back to the office by Monday, no exceptions,” Chihiro said, hoping Akashi would say it - y'know, to restore the balance of the universe and all that. But damn, his head was starting to hurt again. He should probably be lying down, maybe he should go back to bed after Akashi leaves. 

“Very well. If that helps your recovery happen faster, then I will expect to see you on Monday, Mayuzumi-san. Bright and early, and don’t be late," Akashi instructed in his strict, no-room-for-your-bullshit-excuses tone. 

“That’s more like it,” Chihiro nodded with relief, but the movement made his head swim, and he felt a wave of dizziness come over him. He lost his bearings for a moment, and almost face-planted into the coffee table. Luckily, Chihiro managed to move his hand to grip the edge of the couch and steady himself. 

“Mayuzumi-san, are you alright?” Akashi asked, as he placed a steadying hand against Mayuzumi’s arm that was still gripping the couch edge for support. 

“Shit, just a head spin. Ugh, these are the worst,” Chihiro winced as he pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes tightly, in an attempt to block out the light and stop the room from swirling. 

Akashi's hand fell away from his arm, as he stared at Chihiro with those all-seeing eyes, “When did you last take medication?” 

“Uh, not sure. Probably before lunch?” Mayuzumi guessed with a vague shrug, as he unlocked his phone and noticed a text message from his mum checking in on him. He missed the unimpressed look Akashi sent his way at the lacklustre response.

“That was hours ago. You would be due for another dose. Please allow me to borrow your phone for a moment,” Akashi said, and that was all the warning Chihiro got before his phone was deftly taken out of his hands.

"Oi, hang on-" Chihiro protested, and blamed his slow reaction time on his sickness. But before he could launch into a speech threatening to talk to HR about mishandling of his personal property, Akashi had finished and placed the phone back into Chihiro's hands. 

“There. I set alarms every four hours to remind you when to take your next dose of medication, so you will not miss it from here on.”

Chihiro stared down at his phone, and there they were. Alarms set for him in four-hour increments. It somehow felt like he was being scolded, which, what the hell? He was sick goddamn it, why did it feel like he was getting in trouble for not being...a better sick person?

“I was gonna take it, I just got distracted–” he tried to defend his actions but didn't even get to make a proper case for himself before Akashi cut him off. Rude. 

“Yes, that is why I set the alarms. To help you remember so you won’t get distracted."

“Guess I better take ‘em now then," Chihiro sighed in defeat, as he made to stand up, but did not get very far because surprise, surprise - Akashi was speaking over him again. 

"Standing up is unwise given you said your head was spinning earlier. I will fetch it for you. Where do you keep it?” Akashi queried, already up on his feet with his eyes expectant and waiting for Chihiro's answer. 

“In the cupboard above the fridge,” Chihiro replied, because fuck it, why not? Dream or not, what are the chances of Akashi Seijuurou offering to do an errand for him like this completely unprompted, and requesting nothing in return? The shoe was on the other foot for a change and Chihiro might as well make the most of this while he could. 

When Mayuzumi looked over, he noticed Akashi had pulled out his small kitchen stool and was standing on it. Since he couldn’t reach the cupboard by standing alone. 

“Oh, yeah. My bad, I forgot you aren't as tall as me,” Chihiro apologised, and though he still felt like crap, he could hear the smirk in his own tone. And if he could hear it, odds were Akashi did too. 

Sure enough, when Akashi walked over to him, Chihiro could have sworn the expression on his face was annoyed. Not in an angry or upset way, but like a normal way. Almost…childish, in a sense, like when a friend teased another friend and they got all grumpy and huffed about it. 

“I feel as though you are mocking me, Mayuzumi-san," he said, disgruntled as he handed the medication to Chihiro along with a glass of water. Chihiro took both with a nod of thanks. 

"I mentioned to you that I used to play basketball, as you might recall. Just so you’re aware, I can perform a dunk on a basketball hoop. It is not a skill exclusively for taller players,” Akashi stated, but it was more like he was stressing the point he was capable of such a badass move to Mayuzumi. It was almost as if Akashi was bragging to him, 'I have mastered a skill that I know you cannot do and you are the one that has the supposed height advantage, so how does that feel?' 

Such a brat, Chihiro thought but didn't say aloud this time, as he swallowed the pills and washed it down with a sip of water. 

“Wow, really? I’d love to see that,” he said instead in a dry, flat tone that conveyed he didn't believe Akashi (he did, he just wanted to stir the man up some more because quite honestly, it was funny as hell and Chihiro was bored). 

“Then I’ll gladly show you one day. Once you are better, name a time and place and we will organise it,” Akashi's gaze was set in a steadfast look of determination. He was utterly serious about it, and that was just way too amusing because what kind of billionaire CEO would even care about something like this? Akashi would, obviously, his mind supplied the answer for him. 

Chihiro was surprised when he heard himself chuckle, the sound low and scratchy, but genuine and natural as it fell from his lips with ease. Thankfully his mask hid the amused half-smile that had fallen into place.

“Sounds like a plan, Young Master,” he agreed, the half-smile lingering longer than it would have if he was not wearing a mask. 

"Very well. I shall leave you to rest and recuperate now," Akashi said, as he rose to his feet and smoothed down the slight creases on the front of his suit pants, already back in his 'CEO professional businessman' mode, "I am terribly sorry for intruding whilst you are unwell. There will be no further disruptions, however I would appreciate if you checked in via text message with me once a day, excluding the weekend."

"Sure, I can do that," Chihiro nodded, then, a memory from the night before he got sick suddenly pushed to the surface, and he quickly tacked on, "Hey. Wait a sec. I had a question."

Akashi settled back down on the couch, as he nodded encouragingly, "Of course. What is it?"

"I might be imagining things, but did I see you the other morning?" Chihiro asked, keeping his eyes steady on Akashi's. There was nowhere to run or hide, and even though Chihiro wasn't fond of confrontation, his urge to know was stronger than his need to avoid. 

"Hm? You say you saw me? When was this exactly?" Akashi asked curiously. 

Not expecting the innocently curious tone, Chihiro blinked and shrugged, "Tuesday morning, like, I dunno what time it was, something ridiculous like 4 or 5 AM. I was out getting medication, and could have sworn I saw you," he said, and looked at Akashi again, trying to catch him out. 

But Akashi gave nothing away, as he shook his head and placed his hands in his lap, "I believe you have me confused for someone else, Mayuzumi-san. Though I do have the occasional caffeine craving I like to satiate just before sunrise, I did not have one on that particular Tuesday morning. I have not seen you that early in the day since that very first morning we met, all those months ago," he clarified, and if Akashi was lying, he was an expert at the art of it, because he had no tells. No flickering eye contact, no fidgeting in his hands or legs, no uncertainty in his words, his tone or his body language. For all intents and purposes, it seemed like Akashi was telling him the absolute truth.

So why did it feel like he was just fed a bunch of bullshit?

They looked across at each other, neither speaking for a short while. Then, Chihiro exhaled and gave a short nod, as he ran a hand through his tangled hair and looked away, "Right. Guess I was too sleep-deprived and must have been seeing things. Either that or I'm finally going crazy."

"You said you were getting medication for yourself, so you were likely starting to fall ill at that point and not functioning at full capacity. It is understandable if you mistook my likeness for someone else in a cafe," Akashi reassured him, but that in itself just made Chihiro more suspicious. 

I didn't say that I saw you at a cafe, though, Chihiro couldn't help but think to himself. If he had more guts, he might have said it outright to Akashi, I saw you standing at that overpass and it wasn't even the first time so like, what's up with that?

But as it was, Chihiro was not that stupid to push it when it seemed clear Akashi was putting an end to the conversation. In his mind, though, Chihiro still couldn't let go of the person he saw standing there. And he knew it was Akashi. He didn't know how to explain it but just...he knew, okay? After working for him for so long, Chihiro would be able to recognise him and pick Akashi out of a crowd anywhere now. It had definitely been Akashi on the overpass, and he was roughly 93% certain that Akashi had seen him too. 

He just wasn't admitting it. For what reason, Mayuzumi had no clue. But he was too sick to probe more into it now. That was a problem for future, not-sick Chihiro to solve. 

"If that was all, then I shall take my leave," Akashi stood once more, and this time Chihiro joined him. 

“Yeah, sure. Thanks for stopping by,” Chihiro said as he walked Akashi to the door. 

The CEO put his shoes back on, then turned so he was face to face with Chihiro, “I hope you feel better soon, Mayuzumi-san. Take care,” he said sincerely, as he stepped over the threshold of the doorway, back out into the corridor. 

Chihiro nodded and waved him off, “Yeah, see ya,” then closed the door behind him once Akashi rounded the corner. 

Chihiro turned and made his way back over to the living room slowly, and his mind was moving just as slowly, if not more so. Because he was seriously having trouble wrapping his head around the fact Akashi was just inside his apartment.

I can’t believe Akashi Seijuurou of all people came over to drop off a get-well hamper for me. Is this real life or am I in a simulation?

Against his better judgement, Chihiro reached over and pinched his forearm hard.

“Ow, fuck," Chihiro grumbled at the burning, stinging sensation and glared down at the reddened skin, “What the hell? Was it really not a dream?”

Well, Chihiro supposed stranger things had happened. He sat back down in his previous position, pulled out his phone, and went back to replying to his mother's text message from before. And once he was done with that, he was so going to raid that food basket and find anything soft, or that he could warm up, or anything sweet he could have. 

.

.

"Hey. I might be imagining things, but did I see you the other morning?"

Seijuurou pursed his lips and tightened his crossed arms in a self-defence mechanism over his seatbelt, even though there was no imminent threat at all. He pressed himself back against the cream leather upholstery of the rear passenger seat and took a few moments to inhale and exhale slowly to regulate his breathing. So, it really had been him, just as he'd suspected. It actually was Mayuzumi he had seen that morning. It was undeniable now.

Mayuzumi had seen him standing on the overpass.

It was the first time that someone Seijuurou knew had seen him in that state. Just how much Mayuzumi had seen, Seijuurou was not all too sure. But it made Seijuurou's skin itch and he felt strangely exposed, which was why he had denied it when Mayuzumi had asked if it was him that he had seen. 

Seijuurou was not in the habit of blatantly lying, but he was certainly no stranger to omissions of truth.

Yet somehow, Seijuurou could not help the niggle of curiousity he felt as he wondered - what would Mayuzumi have done if Akashi had said yes? What would Mayuzumi say if Akashi told him he was right, that it in fact was Akashi he had seen? 

Would he be concerned and pry too much into it? Would he be nonchalant and unbothered, merely curious about what Akashi was doing out so early? Or would he be judgemental and dismissive of it, disgusted with Akashi for doing something so abnormal?

Try as he might, Seijuurou could not predict what reaction Mayuzumi would have he had answered yes. His assistant was quite different to most other people Akashi knew. Seijuurou considered himself a good judge of other people and could read others exceedingly well. Mayuzumi was somewhat...a contradiction. In the sense that his reactions were common and expected in some situations, but uncommon and unpredictable in others.

An example that came to mind was the recent Saturday evening dinner with Miyano, just this weekend. The way in which Mayuzumi had stepped in and silently supported Seijuurou while also endearing himself to Miyano without making it too obvious it was all an act was certainly a surprise. He had anticipated that Mayuzumi would have stayed quiet and blended into the background, choosing not to get himself involved, as Seijuurou was aware how the man seemed to avoid conflict where possible.

Yet, Mayuzumi had interjected and spoken up, through no prompting from anyone else. He had willingly done so, seemingly out of his own inclination to aid Seijuurou in that moment. Which meant he had recognised Seijuurou had not been at ease when Miyano was almost forcing him to drink. Seijuurou could not recall the last time someone had actually picked up on his discomfort, as Seijuurou typically held his emotions back effortlessly, so well that no one ever picked up on his true feelings.

Seijuurou had known Mayuzumi's observation and people watching skills were good, but with each month they had spent working together, Seijuurou had realised more and more just how exceptional he was. Mayuzumi was almost on par with Seijuurou himself in terms of reading situations and people. 

The point of all this reflection being that it was not easy for him to place how Mayuzumi would respond to certain situations. Seijuurou did not like the unknown, because to him, everything was always known. That was how it had been for as long as he could remember, and though he knew logically it just was not true and there were many things he did not know nor could he ever know fully, the concept still made him uneasy. 

And perhaps it was because of that, that Seijuurou had decided to hold back and hide the truth. 

That's right, he nodded, there was no need to ever share that side of himself with anyone. Least of all Mayuzumi. It was a side for Seijuurou only, others could not see or know about it. All Seijuurou would get would be questions he did not want to answer, comments he did not care for, and judgement - which he had more than enough of already. Even if Seijuurou explained why he did such a thing, he knew it would be a useless effort to even try. No one else would understand. No one would see him the way he wanted to be seen. That was why they could never find out.

From here on, Seijuurou was resolved to be more vigilant in the future. Mayuzumi would not see him on the overpass again. That night was a mere slip up, because I was too careless. It was the first and the last time, Seijuurou nodded to himself convincingly.

As they drove past an area with street basketball courts, Seijuurou's mind was drawn back again to his earlier conversation with Mayuzumi. Seijuurou recalled his comment about being able to perform a dunk, Mayuzumi's caustic response, and Seijuurou's vehement insistence on a match with Mayuzumi so he could demonstrate the skill himself. And, there was also...

“Oh. I just realised," Seijuurou commented aloud to himself, voice quiet as he hooked a finger over the top of his lips in a thoughtful pose, "That was my first time hearing it.”

Seijuurou replayed the sound in his head. The real sound of Mayuzumi's proper laugh, full and complete. Not a sarcastic chuckle or wry snort of laughter that Akashi had heard from him before. It was low and husky, slightly hoarse due to Mayuzumi being sick and his sinuses being clogged up. It made Seijuurou casually ponder how his laugh sounded when Mayuzumi was at full health. 

What did Mayuzumi’s genuine laugh really sound like?

He would have to keep it in mind once Mayuzumi recovered. After all, Seijuurou had already made him laugh before, so who was to say he could not do it again? Odd, Seijuurou thought, as he gazed out the car window. He was not used to making other people genuinely laugh. Others laughed around him, but it was often forced or fake, either to placate him or an attempt to curry favour with Seijuurou. He hadn't even been actively trying to make Mayuzumi laugh, but Seijuurou would take it as a win regardless. He felt his mood brighten. 

Perhaps his sense of humour was improving after all of his research and consistent practice. 

“Did you see the size of that hamper Akashi took to Mayuzumi?" Nebuya asked after swallowing a huge chunk of his Subway sandwich (that was way too big for any regular person), "Che, talk about favouritism! Last time I was off sick I didn’t get any of that kind of special treatment!” he complained grumpily, and Mibuchi turned to him with a look of disbelief. 

“What are you talking about, you gorilla?" he asked, as he looked up from his phone to blast Nebuya with the full force of his judgemental gaze, "Last year when you were off sick with the flu, Sei-chan gave you not just one but three massive hampers full of food, vitamins and a bunch of other things. I remember because I was the one who delivered it to you!”

“...Oh yeah. I forgot. Actually, he’s pretty attentive when his direct reporting staff are unwell, giving us all this stuff to get better,” Nebuya admitted sheepishly as he scratched at his nose and put his sandwich down for a bit.

“But still, I don’t think any of them had a personal visit from the CEO to deliver it himself. That’s definitely…something else,” Mibuchi conceded, his sharp eyes narrowed as he tapped his finger on the table, seemingly analysing the thought of Akashi going out of his way for someone as he had done for Mayuzumi. He easily could have delegated the task to one of them, or an eager-to-please intern, or literally anyone else. 

“I mean, Mayuzumi is his assistant. He probably spends the most time with Akashi out of anyone else, so makes sense they've gotten close,” Hayama pointed out, as he stirred his caramel macchiato and blew on it before taking a sip. 

“Just because people spend a lot of time together doesn’t make them friends, Kotaro,” Mibuchi rolled his eyes at him, sounding like a parent scolding their child for not knowing the workings of social interactions just yet. 

Kotaro hummed and nodded along, easily agreeing, “True. I don’t know if they’re friends. But, don’t they kind of get along surprisingly well?”

“Yeah, we thought he’d be long gone by now, but he’s lasting way longer than any of us thought. End of next month, he'll have been here 6 months, half a year. Whatever he’s doing that makes him different from the others, it’s working," Nebuya observed, as he reached for his protein shake and downed half the bottle in one go. 

“Akashi never complains about him. At least, I’ve never heard him say anything bad about Mayuzumi-san,” Kotaro said, then looked at the other two quizzically as if to see if they had heard otherwise. 

“Nah, me either,” Nebuya shook his head. 

“Neither have I,” Mibuchi admitted with a soft, thoughtful look in his eyes. 

It was silent for a few moments between them, the realisation that Mayuzumi was now a solid part of Rakuzan and someone Akashi could rely on really sinking in on them all. Mayuzumi was distant, unfreindly, and moped about his work on any given day of the week. He seemed to resent his general existence and never smiled, always grumbling about his never-ending to-do list, and his endless overtime. Yet despite all of that, Mayuzumi seemed to come in clutch for them every time there was an issue or problem. For Akashi, most of all. 

"Do you think Akashi misses him since he's been off sick?" Hayama pitched the idea and broke the quiet atmosphere, but Mibuchi shot him down with a scoff of disbelief instantly. 

"Oh, please. Sei-chan isn't the needlessly sentimental type when it comes to things like that," he waved a hand through the air dismissively, but Nebuya was not so quick to agree this time. 

"I dunno, Mibuchi. This week, hasn't Akashi seemed kinda..." Nebuya trailed off, his face scrunched up as he struggled to put a name to Akashi's behaviour.

"What?" Mibuchi prompted, curiousity peaked. 

"...Hyperfocused? The way he does when he, y'know, is trying to keep busy. Like when his dad came to visit a while back. He worked like a madman and barely sat still. He's been like that, sorta. Not as intense but still just...busier than usual," Nebuya explained, and once he said it, the other two played back Akashi's behaviour over the past two days and...they couldn't deny that Nebuya had a point. 

"But I mean, it's also the end of month, right? Plus, it's the end of a quarter, so all the quarterly reporting is due which is always like, super stressful," Hayama added, which was true, because Akashi did get more high-strung than usual at the end of each quarter. 

"Maybe we're just reading too much into it," Mibuchi shook his head, then tucked his sleek, shiny bangs behind his ear, "Sei-chan probably just misses Mayuzumi's usefulness more than anything else."

"Yeah, well, I'd miss Mayuzumi too if I had some fresh-out-of-university new grad trying to be my PA. Not that I blame the kid, he looks like he's gonna keel over any time Akashi looks his way," Nebuya shivered at the thought of the new grad, that looked like a frightened rabbit earlier while he was fielding all of the phone calls to Akashi's office, answering his emails, and trying to figure out which restaurant Akashi wanted his lunch from today. 

"It really puts into perspective how Mayuzumi can like, actually do his job. He's an invisible guy, but he gets a lot of shit done around here. You just don't realise until he's not around to take care of it all. He's unexpectedly reliable!" Hayama stated with a snaggle-toothed grin, and Nebuya let out a short chuckle while Reo's lips quirked in amusement. 

During the break in their conversation, Akashi himself strolled into the breakroom, "Hello, I've returned. Please do not mind me, I just came to get something to drink as I am quite parched," Akashi greeted them all with a nod and a smile, as he approached one of the two fridges in the room and pulled out a plastic bottle of water. They kept fresh bottled water in stock on each department level for the staff at Rakuzan. 

"Oh, Sei-chan! You're back!" Mibuchi smiled at him as he hastily stood, then his expression shifted to one of mild concern as he asked, "How was Mayuzumi-san?"

Akashi approached their table with bottled water in hand as he nodded, and unscrewed the cap, "His symptoms are still prevalent, but he said the medication has been helping. He expects to be back at work by Monday next week, so we shall hopefully see him then," he finished, then took a sip of the cool water. 

"Oh, that's awesome! Was he like, in good spirits and stuff?" Kotaro asked eagerly over his cup of steaming coffee.  

Nebuya snorted, as he reached for the rest of his sandwich, "When is he ever? Even when that guy is at full health, he's not really a basket of sunshine."

"You mean 'a ball of sunshine', you idiot," Mibuchi sighed at him, disappointed.

"Or, or, wait! Ei-chan, did you actually mean he's not a basket of roses?" Hayama sought to clarify, and Nebuya furrowed his brow as he chewed on a mouthful of his Subway sandwich, as if in deep thought. 

"That's not even a saying, Kotaro!" Mibuchi turned and snapped at him, frustrated at the both of them now. 

But Kotaro shook his head as he jovially rebutted, "Nah, it could be! I feel like I've heard something similar before!"

"Yeah! Y'know, like, a basket of roses smells and looks amazing! So, it could be like, 'wow, you're a basket of roses this morning!'" Nebuya theorised, and Kotaro's eyes lit up in excitedly as he pointed at Nebuya like he cracked the mysterious code of the day. 

"Oh my god, stop it. I'm getting a headache," Mibuchi bemoaned, as he rubbed circles around his temples and closed his eyes as if hoping the other two would spontaneously disappear. 

Akashi looked at the three of them, mildly bemused at their bickering. Then he cleared his throat and steered the conversation back on track, "Mayuzumi-san's spirits were fine, neither good nor bad. He was well enough to have a conversation with me, and made his usual sarcastic remarks, so I consider that a positive sign," he said, and they all hummed and nodded in relief. They were doing okay without Mayuzumi, but damn, they couldn't wait for him to be back. For the massive workload he carried, but also because he was a great target for the three of them to tease. 

"Is there anything we can do to help you out, Akashi?" Hayama asked, and the other two looked at the CEO as well to show their willingness to help wherever needed. 

"Everything is under control at the moment. However, I will reach out to any of you if I do require assistance. Thank you," Akashi told them, a grateful undertone in his words, as he excused himself and exited the break room to return to his office. 

Nebuya looked off in the direction Akashi had left, and frowned, "Wait. Did you guys just see what I saw?"

"What, what? What was it, Ei-chan!?" Hayama gripped Nebuya's arm and tugged on it urgently, begging him to spill the beans. 

"I could've sworn I saw Akashi smile just now," Nebuya said as he stared after Akashi's retreating figure, and the other two mimicked him - as if they were trying to see through the back of Akashi's head to check that he was, in fact, smiling. 

But Mibuchi was the first to come to his senses, as he chuckled lightly and crossed his arms, "Because of Mayuzumi-san? Is that what you're implying? Don't be ridiculous, Eikichi. That makes no sense at all. Are we talking about the same Mayuzumi-san who sings the happy birthday song with a completely straight face at every staff birthday party? Unironically?"

"Hahaha, I totally get what Reo-nee's saying! As if someone as gloomy as Mayuzumi-san could make anyone smile, right?" Hayama joked as he laughed and shook his head. 

"Yeah, must've been a trick of the light or somethin'," Nebuya conceded, shaking his head as if to shake off the phantom sight of Akashi's smile.