章 25: Out of the Blue

'This is not a date.'

'I will just be accompanying her for the day. If anything, I'm more of a personal bodyguard right now rather than a partner candidate. Besides, she hates me. There's no way she's not doing this on purpose. Tsk, why did I have to spill her coffee?'

Hajime's thoughts went rampant in the depths of his mind like the tempest of the sea that battered against a ship's hull. He had mixed emotions when he agreed to Megumi's request. In retrospect, he really didn't have any choice but to say yes.

"You sure you're up for this?" Hajime began, hoping that Megumi would bite the bait he set up. "I mean, what if someone were to see us together? They might misunderstand, you know?"

It was hard for Hajime to suppress his smile. Megumi was sure to drive him away if he were to say something like that. 'It wouldn't be long now. How will she react this time?' He said to himself with full confidence.

"And you? I thought you were used to misunderstandings?" Megumi returned, her lips curving upwards as if she had just won the exchange. She started leading the way without saying another word, fully knowing that Hajime was trailing right behind her.

'I guess that's how it is, huh, let's see who'll get the short end of the stick here.' Hajime thought to himself before catching up, walking side by side with Megumi, so it would look like an actual date if anything.

Unfortunately for Megumi, Hajime doesn't care about misunderstandings at all. He had been in a vortex of rumors for the past year and somehow grew resistant to it. Some would find rumors especially life-ruining and would do anything to put an end to it, and there were some who would get into gossiping themselves, just to get back at the people who ruined their lives due to false information. It is a terrible loop that Hajime claimed no part in. With the number of problems he has on his plate, there was no leeway for him to engage in such wasteful activities.

"You still didn't answer my question." Hajime sighed. Women really are hard to understand, and Hajime was receiving the full brunt of that fact.

"Just follow me," Megumi waved her hand in front of her, gesturing that Hajime had nothing to worry about. This made Hajime feel more anxious, however, since he doesn't know where Megumi was taking him.

.....

"Just the right temperature and taste," A man took a whiff of his coffee, and a satisfied smile spread across his face as he took a sip from his cup. He glanced towards his secretary, who gulped at his gaze. She had failed to brew the coffee three times already and the man went out of his way to make his own. It was such a simple task and yet she couldn't do it. The man sighed. Even though his secretary was the cream of the crop who managed to get into the company despite hundreds of competitors, she couldn't do her job right in brewing his coffee. He had already specifically instructed his assistant, but she just wouldn't get it.

The secretary, on the other hand, remained quiet. She just stood there, fidgeting, while waiting for her boss to give her a new set of instructions.

Ring!

Another gulp came out of the secretary's mouth as she returned to her seat and grabbed the telephone. "Hello... oh... ah, yes." She muttered. "Sir, Mr. Schwarz wants to speak with you."

"Transfer the line." Mr. Kikuchi cleared his throat. "Hello?"

"Greetings, sir." Even though Franz wasn't at the moment in front of his employer, he still slightly bowed as he greeted.

"Oh, is there something wrong? Why did you call?" Mr. Kikuchi raised an eyebrow, wondering if a mishap occurred to his daughter while she was on Franz's watch.

"No, sir, nothing of the sort. It's just, I thought it best to inform you that Megumi is out on a date." Franz went straight to the point, a punch in the gut— or at least that's what Mr. Kikuchi felt when he heard the report.

Pause.

"Are you absolutely sure about this? My daughter? Going on a date? My daughter, who never left home because she needed to study?" Mr. Kikuchi couldn't believe the report. It's as if he didn't even know his daughter in the first place. And where did she meet the young man in question? It's not like she spent any time before or after school. Usually, she just goes straight home, and only spends her weekends coffee shop-hopping. This was a first for both him and Franz, and that's probably why Franz felt the need to report it.

"Affirmative, sir,"

"What's the name of the young man?" Mr. Kikuchi felt his throat constricting as nervousness filled his system. He had hoped that the young man would at least have a good background and character. That's the least he could ask for, for his daughter.

"His name is Sasajima Hajime, a fourth-year high school student in Dai Yama High School. Based on his school records, he's ranked last in his year. He's also missed most of his morning classes. I don't know if he willingly skips it, but I doubt such is the case. I've seen his abode, and he could barely keep it together. He lives alone, no signs of his parents living with him nor visiting him whatsoever."

"What did you say his name again?"

Franz was surprised that Mr. Kikuchi's voice toned down a little bit after he gave all the information he knew about Hajime. He didn't know why, but at least he wouldn't take the full blast of Mr. Kikuchi's anger through the phone. Something about what he said calmed Mr. Kikuchi down and he was relieved by it. As to what he said specifically, he could only wonder.

"Sasajima Hajime, sir," He repeated.

"I see," Mr. Kikuchi seemed to quiet down for a few seconds, much to Franz's anxiety. Had he been in the room, he'd have seen his employer grin for a split second before clearing his throat. "Update me about their date and watch them from afar. Don't intervene and make sure Megumi doesn't notice you."

"Yes, sir," Franz responded.

"I"ll be hanging up now. Thank you for the update, Franz, great work so far."

"Thank you, sir," He responded, slightly bowing down once again since he wasn't used to his employer giving him compliments.

Beep!

Mr. Kikuchi leaned on his chair, sipping on his coffee. "It's been a year, huh. I guess the world sure is small, after all." He said to himself, chuckling.