Teamwork

The day moved along normally, considering the circumstances. Second day without Shinpei in the office, I took the opportunity to catch up on all my overdue tasks: drafting reports, emails, budgets, guides, and memos.

I haven’t spoken to him since Monday…

I glanced at Isayama. He seemed more lost in thought than usual, getting up to talk to Carlos about some question he had.

Due to my stupidity and shyness, he’s having to handle all the dirty work alone…

I remembered the smell of his bed and his smile as he made me breakfast. Just thinking about living like that made my heart race…

N-never mind…

I slapped my cheeks and took a deep breath.

If I focus on work, things will naturally go back to normal. I’ll let things cool down a bit and talk to him again later… Focus…

“KAAAATYYY!” I was suddenly ambushed from behind.

Great…

“Katy, my love, how are you?” My friend screamed and rubbed her face into my hair. Today, she’d come alone.

“Rin, can’t you see I’m working?”

“Katy, don’t break my heart… I’ve been looking at blueprints and equations for hours. Do you know how boring being an engineer is?!” I turned in my chair to meet those ruby-red eyes.

“You also earn more… And your sister?”

“Hana is, unfortunately, sick… Stomach issues, to be specific.”

“You don’t have to say it so loud…!”

“Huh? And you? Haven’t you talked to your boyfriend today?”

“I told you not to yell!” I shouted, pulling her hair. “Can you please be a little more discreet?”

“What? Don’t tell me you haven’t even kissed him yet!” she whispered, giggling just inches from my face.

“Shh, shut up already… Isayama isn’t my…” I remembered the night I spent at his place.

“Oh, so there’s something to tell… Spill it, spill it…” For Rin, whispering didn’t mean lowering her intensity, as she soon pinched my cheeks again. “Have you gone on a date?”

In the chair next to us, Ryunosuke cursed the world in silence, forced to endure the conversation between two gossipers. Typing tiredly into his hologram, he pretended not to exist.

“T-the truth is…”

“Spill it!”

“M-Monday night, I slept a-at his place…” I stammered, blushing furiously.

“WHAT?!” She nearly tore my cheeks off with her outburst. “And why aren’t you two all lovey-dovey at work?!”

“I-it’s just that I’m…”

“Focus, woman!”

“I’m embarrassed…”

Rin won’t ever get it…

“What do you mean?” She raised her head like a meerkat, spotting Isayama chatting and laughing with Carlos a few meters away. “Leave it to me…”

“Huh? No, no, come back here!” I tried to stop her.

“Carlos!” She dashed toward them like a damsel in distress.

How does she even know Carlos’s name?!

Neither of them knew how to react to her sudden arrival.

“Carlos, I have something to tell you!”

“Katy’s friend?” Isayama seemed puzzled. I tried to hide behind my hologram as I watched the scene.

“Hi, n-nice to meet you…” Carlos said, clearly confused.

“Carlos, the truth is… I’ve been in love with you for months!” shouted my crazy friend.

“HUH?!” All four of us exclaimed in unison. Of course, Hiro wasted no time joining the gossip.

“I always knew you could breathe love in Cellos’ building…” Mentioned the poet before disappearing again.

“I’m not sure what to say,” Carlos admitted, clearly caught off guard. Little did he know, Rin’s show wasn’t over.

“That’s why I’d like to go on a date with you… to the aquarium,” she said, putting on her most innocent, adorable face.

“W-well…”

“Please, give me one chance…” She took his hand. Soon after, she also grabbed Isayama’s.

Why are you holding both of their hands?!

“The biggest problem,” she began, “is that my dear Katy was also supposed to come… Carlos, for our love to bloom, we’ll need to find a prince for my friend.” Suddenly, she tightened her grip on Isayama’s hand. “Could you visit the aquarium with Katy while my lover and I enjoy some privacy?!”

“W-what?”

Neither of them knew how to respond. It was the first time I’d seen Carlos sweat.

What a mess!

I ducked back into my desk fortress as Isayama tried to look my way.

This is the end… Damn you, Rin…

“Alright…” Carlos smiled. “If Isayama’s okay with it, the four of us can visit the aquarium together.”

“Well, if I’m the only available choice…” He muttered, his gaze drifting toward the window, lost in thought. It had been days since we’d last spoken…

I couldn’t see her face clearly, but I was certain that, after such a ridiculous spectacle, Carlos’s kindness and maturity had genuinely left an impression on Rin’s heart…

That was just how Rin was…