Vol 1 Chapter 7 (1/2)

Matsuoka heartily regretted sleeping with Hirosue But as time went by, he was able to convince his had ended this way There was no roo attachments in the way it had ended; the sex couldn’t be worse, and he was beyond unimpressed by the man’s insensitive attitude

Now that Matsuoka thought about it rationally, there was clearly so with him, too He had continued to meet up with the man dressed as a woman, and the more the h Hirosue was completely under the impression that he was a woman, Matsuoka had still believed that their roed that he was a h to know the difference between sos It didn’t taketo see that such a relationshi+p was bound to end badly

So down a slope, just like how there were ups and downs in hoell things went at work But s passed; he just had to wait it out Eventually, he would no longer be able to recall what happened, or even what had ory,Matsuoka thought I just have to wait for ti

A little past mid-April, a week after he had parted ith Hirosue, Matsuoka discarded all of his woether, it as Amidst a mixture of surprise and futility, Matsuoka son of his past from his apartment, he pressed his internal reset button to return to his normal life

Starting that day, Matsuoka began to throw himself into his work He made almost twice as many sales visits as his co-workers, and his perfornificantly He dashed about outside froht Matsuoka’s co-workers teased hi into a man who dedicated every drop of blood to his work “You’re working awfully hard Are you saving up for so lossed it over with a vague smile

He kneasn’t going to be that easy to get over Hirosue But he wished he could, and he wished he could get over him quickly He immersed himself in work in order to distract hioal Even if he worked himself to the bone and his body felt as heavy and lih to make him remember It usually came before he went to sleep, and once he fell into the rut of self-loathing, the night became an unbearably endless one

Golden Week came and went; the rainy season arrived; the newscasters on television celebrated its passing, and the dizzying rays of the sun glared down upon thee

One thing that did pay off was his work performance Matsuoka placed first in his department for the most sales contracts won for two months in a row His boss colad for it, but he could not give hi with his co-workers, he was always aware of the void in his feelings The draft always lowered his eh the hole in his heart

One day past mid-July, Hayama, an administrative staff for the sales departnment at Koishi+kawa Laboratory Headquarters had received the request from Koishi+kawa Laboratory at the end of April Torkers had resigned soon after starting work, and Koishi+kaas short-staffed They asked for one administrative staff to fill in for two months until a worker returned from maternity leave

Koishi+kawa asked for an administrator as not in their first year of work―soht away As a result, headquarters had sent Hayama, an experienced administrator and in Matsuoka’s cohort

“It’s so far,” Haya transferred, “and I know nothing about the place I feel like once they sendto be able to co about Koishi+kawa reminded Matsuoka of Hirosue, and made his spirits sink instantly

“Don’t worry, two months will pass by in a flash,” Matsuoka consoled her nonetheless, careful not to let his unhappiness show

That day, Matsuoka was out of the office fro to afternoon on sales visits He had planned to pay visits to a few ular clients, but the heat was so unbearable that he wrapped up partway and returned to the office In the cool, air-conditioned room, he immersed himself in the mountain of paperwork that he had amassed Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice that he had not heard in a while

“Matsuoka,” said the voice behind him

Matsuoka turned around to see a s there It had been almost two months since he last saw her

“Oh, you’re back”

“Yup You’re stuck with ain”

Her appearance had changed a little Before, her makeup had been a little more dynamic; now, it was softer

“What’s up with that?” Hayama pointed at Matsuoka’s chin

“Looks good, doesn’t it? I’ve alanted to try it out” Matsuoka stroked the short stubble on his chin

“Well, it does suit you, but…” Hayama trailed off in an unsatisfied way

“I cropped ed look for the su ood topic for conversation”

“I think I like how you looked before,” Hayaht disappointht?” she then asked, apparently in charge of preparing the beverages that day

“Yeah,” Matsuoka answered offhandedly before re coffee lately because his sto well Hayama was already nowhere to be seen on the floor Matsuoka went after her to the kitchenette at the end of the hallway Haya hot water fro his footsteps, she turned around before Matsuoka called out to her

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ll pass on the coffee Can you make it tea instead?”

“Sure thing,” Hayama said, then peered into Matsuoka’s face “You know, you don’t look very well”

“Huh? Really?” Matsuoka reflexively touched his cheek

“I didn’t notice at first because I was too distracted by your goatee, but you’ve lost weight haven’t you? I heard about how you got the highest number of new contracts for May and June Are you sure you’re not working too much?”

Matsuoka s at everyone else so far

“There are ruirls, you know,” Haya the way you’re working these days Thereup for”

Matsuoka hunched his shoulders “If only I had soht now I enjoy getting these contracts”

Haya for aout with anyone right now?”

“Nope I don’t knohat these girls are thinking, letting a stud like le”

Hayairls in administration who have a crush on you, you know But they tell o away on your sales rounds and never come back”

Matsuoka could tell that sos towards hiirl approached him who seemed to have that kind of intent, he alor himself to date someone just yet

“Actually, I know a really nice girl She’s my friend”

Matsuoka had been careful to avoid turning the conversation to relationshi+ps, but he was unprepared for this ambush He swore inwardly

“She’s three years younger thancompany She’s cute and has a really nice personality, but she’s super shy She says she’s never even dated before” Hayaaze

“How do you feel aboutup with her, Matsuoka?”

It would be only natural for hi up until now That made it all the more difficult to cohts around desperately

“She and I are really close, so I didn’t want to introduce her to just anyone But I’ve always thought you’d be a good guy for her, Matsuoka”

“That’s a lot of pressure,” Matsuoka joked “Sure, I’m friendly, but I can be pretty careless And…” Matsuoka went on to voice all the shortcos he could think of, but Hayama was decisive in her words

“Matsuoka, you’re a nice guy You ht say stuff like that, but deep down, you’re sincere”

When Matsuoka was silent, Hayama hastily tacked on some words

“Oh, but if you don’t want to, I won’t force you It’s all just ether I haven’t told her anything”

The air between the it hard for him to say no

“Why don’t you just try , too, so we can go out to eat a couple of tiroup of friends”

As long as we’re not alone together The idea of a coht here, and if he agreed to ation He could always back out of it later, clai that they just didn’t hit it off

“Well, since you’ve suggested it, why not? I’ll meet up with her,” he murmured Hayama’s face lit up with joy

“Really?”

“Yeah Ask your friend for her schedule Let ood I’ll make sure I don’t work overtime that day”

Since they had reached a break in their conversation, Matsuoka left the kitchenette and returned to his desk In an unexpected turn of events, he was now going to be introduced to a girl His spirits sank at the result he had bestowed upon hian to think that it was nothing to be so serious about

It had been a while since he had shared a meal with someone No one had invited him to, and he had not been in the mood to himself

He had focused solely on working hard He had expected the extra strain he placed upon hi oblivion even a second sooner But he was not getting the results he had hoped for

Maybe he had no choice but to wait for the radually as it took its natural course Perhaps being introduced to a girl was one part of that Meeting and talking to soh to e of scene

Three days ago, Hayairl Apparently she had gotten in touch with the friend iot back to hiht, at seven o’clock

On the day of, Matsuoka finished all of his work at six-thirty, and left the office with Haya around them The absence of the sun made the heat a little more bearable, but the humidity stillto knock back a cold one

Theirspot was an Italian restaurant one station away from the office Red bricks made for a stylish interior decor and it was re woh it was crowded inside, they were immediately shown to a four-seat table since Hayama had a reservation

Hayalanced around “I don’t think she’s here yet,” she said, then exhaled shortly When her eyes lasses he earing

“What’s with those?”

“They’re fake,” Matsuoka answered “I needed solasses a little “Don’t I look better with them?”

“Hot a pretty face, so you look good in anything But that doesn’t seem like your style”

“Ahed out loud in response While they were talking, a waiter in black brought a long-haired girl to their table

“A irl wore a casual outfit of a si slung over her right shoulder If she had chosen to wear this, aware that she was going to meet with a man, she was either unconcerned with appearances, or was simply not interested in fashi+on

“I cae I’m sorry”

Matsuoka glanced at her face, but not obviously enough to irl did not evento Hayama

“Don’t worry about it,” Hayama said “Let me introduce you two This here across from me is Yosuke Matsuoka, who’s a salesman in the same department as me”

When the girl’s gaze finally turned on hi smile he usually reserved for his best clients

“Hi I’m Matsuoka”

The girl kept her eyes lowered and did not look at Matsuoka as she ducked her head slightly

“This is Mako Fujimoto She was an underclassman of mine at university”

“…hello” Her voice treaze to meet his She had a cute face, but her cheeks were oddly stiff froive a friendly sht inwardly Fujiently reprimanded

“Your spot’s on the other side, Mako,” said Hayama, and Fujimoto sat down beside Matsuoka

Just then, Haya, and she stood up “Excuse me for a bit,” she said as she answered it As soon as they were alone together, the tension became palpable as it radiated from Fujimoto’s body

“Are you nervous, by any chance?” Matsuoka said to her She kept her eyes ahead as she shook her head Matsuoka had never interacted with a girl as so unused to the opposite sex Her atteely pitiful to watch, and drew Matsuoka’s interest

“You know, I just went through a breakup” He caught the gaze that rinned sheepishly “Not that thatBut don’t worry abouthappy and having a good time, it lifts my mood, too”

He ale eyes as they watched him inquisitively Gradually, Matsuoka was overcoaze so as not to be unnatural

“Haya her attention “Why don’t we start choosing drinks? What do you like?”

Hayama came back just as they opened the menus

“Let’s go ahead and get started,” she said, taking a seat Even after they finished giving orders, Hayama constantly checked the restaurant entrance in a restless manner

“Who else is colance at the entrance

“You see…” she began, then made a small exclamation Her face instantly lit up in a smile “There he is”

When Matsuoka saw the ht in astonishot to blink as they fixed upon him

“Hirosue, over here” Hayama raised her hand and called the man over Why was Hirosue here? Why? Why? Question ure made Matsuoka’s heart haan to tremble, and he al cleanly forgotten about the horrible way they had ended

Hirosue threw a glance at Matsuoka, but only tipped his head slightly in an aloof manner

“I’m sorry I’m late The traffic was really bad”

“You were busy ork, weren’t you? I’ you out on such short notice Have a seat”

Hirosue sat beside Haya down at his feet

“Mako, I don’t think you’ve ood to me when I was temporarily transferred to Koishi+kawa Lab”

“Hi,” Hirosue s introduced by Hayama

“And she’s Mako Fujimoto She used to be my underclassman at university Beside her is Yosuke Matsuoka, orks in Sales at the same company as me”

“Huh?” Hirosue’s eyes widened as his voice cracked

“Do you know Matsuoka?”

“Oh… yeah… um, actually, well…”

Hayama tilted her head at his unclear answer Hirosue stopped even looking in his direction It wasto avoid Matsuoka’s eyes Matsuoka could almost see the words “oh no” written on the h

“Hi It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Matsuoka said slowly, enunciating each word clearly as he stared the man down Hirosue had not even realized that he was Yosuke Matsuoka until he was introduced by Hayama There was no way he could think that Hirosue had come to see him now No way at all

“Mr Hirosue used to be in General Affairs at headquarters I’m friends with someone else in his departe for him once, Hayama, remember?”

“Did I?” Hayama cocked her head Matsuoka neurotically rubbed the tips of his fingernails together under the table and feigned nonchalance as he asked a question

“Haya, by any chance?”

Hayama blushed sheepishly at Matsuoka’s question

“Well, I guess you can say we are”

Everything went dark before his eyes He kneasn’t possible, but it felt like all colour had vanished fros

“Oh, I see” His murmur died out at the end In front of hi beside her Hirosue hastily raised his head and looked at Matsuoka for a split instant before diverting his gaze again

Their beer was brought shortly afterwards, and the four of theave a toast Matsuoka whipped all the lad as he clinked glasses and said “cheers” He only took one gulp before putting his glass down He couldn’t control the shaking in his right hand, and he felt like he wouldn’t be able to hold his glass without spilling his drink

The girls picked which dishes to order Every time Matsuoka was asked “How’s this?” he answered, “Sure, why not?” without really thinking Once they finished giving orders, Hayaood talker; even if a topic was tossed at hi Matsuoka didn’t feel like talking, so he spoke in a way that an an ani the two unsociable azed at the hands of the ers around his elass with his head down, in a lost sort of way

Matsuoka was quite truthfully relieved when the food was brought He had an excuse not to talk if he pretended to be busy with eating He played along with the rest of the table as they raised their voices in awe at the colourful arrange, “Wow, that looks delicious” He took some food on his plate, but all he did was push it around with his fork He barely ate any

“Matsuoka” He looked up hastily at Hayama when his name was called

“Are you alright? You’re not eating much”

“I’irl beside ood,” he said as he grabbed a“So,” he said, “this restaurant has a really good ambiance How did you find out about it?”

“One of ood restaurant”

“Saito, isn’t it?”

Hayama widened her eyes in surprise “How did you know, Matsuoka?”

“She looks like she’d be fixated on anything to do with food”

“You’re horrible,” Haya “Saito is one of my juniors She’s a little on the chubby side She’s a foodie, and she knows a lot about restaurants”

Hayahly to Hirosue, who had no clue about their social circle Matsuoka felt an inexplicablebeside each other Feeling it surge up at once, he alot out of his seat Just then, Fujimoto asked Hayama a question