The Self-Preservation Instinct

Miya heard Mukashi speak to her from her bedroom as she finished washing her face.
     "I will return." 
     The door to her bedroom closed.
     She looked at her reflection, then finished her nightly routine and got into bed. 
     She realized she'd forgotten to turn off the light, so she got out of her covers and went towards the switch. Once her finger was resting on the switch, she heard a slight rumbling outside her bedroom. She paused and listened closer.
     It was the rumbling of a janitorial cart. 
     Her eyes widened, she opened her bedroom door, and she stepped out.
     "E-excuse me, sir!" 
     The janitor flinched, then turned around. He was older than Mukashi, with definite gray hair and nearly shut eyes. He looked at Miya and bowed.
     "Yes? Do you need your bedroom cleaned young lady?"
     Miya recognized it as the same janitor she'd run into two weeks ago. 
     "N-no sir." She was nervous; the idea she'd had was impulsive. "I... I was wondering if you lived in Zygeist Media's offices?"
     The janitor shook his head politely. 
     She felt nervous. What she was about to do might violate her contract, and she felt a little bad about going behind Mukashi's back, but this was her only chance to keep reaching out to those siblings. 
     "Would you... s-sir, would you be willing to... deliver some letters for me?" Her chest felt empty. "Please?"
     The janitor tilted his head at her, confused by her request.
     "Young lady, I don't even know your name." He said gently. "Couldn't you deliver your letters yourself? My grandson can do that." He said politely.
     "No sir." She said, her voice weak. "I-I can't do that. I'm not even allowed to read my own letters." She looked at the janitor sincerely. "A-and my name is... Miya. Miya Min-Hee."
     The old janitor nodded considerately. 
     The space between them was small and claustrophobic in the hallway. 
     "You're an idol, correct?" He asked.
     Miya nodded nervously. 
     "Miss Min-Hee... If I do that for you, I could lose my job." He said gravely.
     Her heart sunk. 
     She forced a smile.
     "I-I understand, sir. Forget I said anything then." She bowed politely and turned back to her room. It had been foolish of her to expect a random stranger to help her.
     "Wait." 
     Miya froze.
     "Miss Min-Hee, do you have your letter with you?" 
     She turned around and beamed at him. 
     "N-no sir; but I'll have it tomorrow night, at this time! It'll just be on a slip of paper, but I'll write the address you need to mail it to on the paper, so you'll know where to send it!" The words rushed out. "A-and then, if you get a response, could you leave the letter under my pillow when you clean my bedroom? Do you clean my bedroom every day?"
     He nodded.
     She couldn't stop smiling. 
     "T-then I'll put my letter under my pillow, and when you get one, you can put it under mine." She said hesitantly. "P-please."
     The janitor sighed deeply.
     "As you wish, Miss Min-Hee." He bowed, then turned back around and started walking down the halls of Zygeist Media's third floor again. "But for now, I must return to cleaning. Have a good evening." 
     Miya stood in the hallway and watched the janitor and his cart rattle away. 
     She went back into her bedroom, turned off the light, and laid in bed. 
     It took her a while to fall asleep.
~~~
     Mukashi stepped into his boss' office on the ninth floor of Zygeist Media. 
     He bowed deeply as his boss stood behind his desk.
     "Director."
     His boss mirrored the bow, but it wasn't as deep. Once it was finished, he ushered Mukashi to sit on the other side of the desk. 
     Hwangbo Sang-Ki had been the director of idol managers for as long as Mukashi had been working for Zygeist Media. He was old and thin, with sharp eyes and high cheekbones. He made eye contact with Mukashi as he spoke calmly.
     "Il-Sun, I'll get straight to the point." 
     Mukashi maintained a professional posture.
     "Recently, there have been rumors appearing online that you have begun neglecting your duties with regards to Miracle Miya."
     Mukashi raised an eyebrow, confused, but didn't say anything.
     "It appears someone may have released information and photographs about your relationship with Miracle Miya, saying that you have fallen in love with her. I know these claims are false; in your years of working with Zygeist Media, you have not acted out of selfish ambition or impulse once." Sang-Ki glanced away briefly. "The identity of the man who took those photos is currently being investigated carefully."
     There was a brief silence as the two men sat in their chairs, facing each other from across the director's desk. Sang-Ki spoke again.
     "Il-Sun, reputation is very important to our company."
     Mukashi felt his stomach begin to tighten.
     "For that reason, it is advisable that any of Miracle Miya's upcoming public appearances do not feature your presence."
      Mukashi breathed deeply and calmly.
      "This does not mean that you are being moved to a different idol. However, from this point on until we find the man who is responsible for taking those photographs of you and spreading that information online, any appearances Miracle Miya makes will deliberately hide your existence. Currently, the short, soundless video of you ordering yakgwa and a few scattered photographs of you working on the sidelines during Miya's performances are all that exist. None of them are extremely damaging in and of themselves, but it would be prudent to avoid any potentially compromising situations or positions."
     There was another moment of silence, and after it lingered, Mukashi spoke.
     "Yes director. I appreciate this information and will follow your advice."
     Sang-Ki nodded.
     "I knew that you would understand. The idea of Il-Sun falling in love with his charge is untenable and unrealistic, but the public is unaware of your personality and dedication to this company. Your professionalism in this matter is appreciated."
     Mukashi had a strange thought enter his mind. Before he could stifle it, it opened his lips and used his voice.
     "Director, what would be the correct course of action if a manager did fall for his idol?" He said coolly.
     Sang-Ki considered Mukashi's words for a moment.
     "I'll have to get back to you on that, Il-Sun."  
     Mukashi was somewhat relieved that he didn't have to hear the answer.
     "Yes, director."
     There was another pause.
     "That is all for now, Il-Sun."
     Mukashi slowly stood, then bowed towards his superior deeply.
     "Thank you, director."
     Mukashi ended the bow, then turned around and respectfully walked out of Sang-Ki's office. 
     Once his hand was on the doorknob, he heard Sang-Ki say something calmly.
     "Do not falter in your professionalism, Il-Sun. The example that it has set for others in the company has been inspiring. Though, I have no doubts that it would shine no matter which idol you managed."
     "Yes, director."
     Mukashi waited a moment longer, then left the director's office. 
     He stepped through the halls of Zygeist Media's ninth floor slowly and thoughtfully. As he considered what the information he'd been given by his superior implied, his expression hardened. 
     Mukashi wanted to keep managing Miya. However, if he wanted to keep doing so to the best of his ability, he would need to find the man who'd taken those photographs and posted misinformation about him online. Until that man was apprehended, Mukashi wouldn't be allowed to do his work optimally. 
     As he passed by some of the other managers, he began to question the idea of managing Miya from a distance. The improvements he'd seen in her had all happened while he'd been close to her and carefully watching over her. 
     He caught himself. 
     He didn't need to be close to Miya. 
     His heart pounded.
     He stifled it. 
     He didn't need to be close to her to do his job well. He could manage her just as effectively from a few steps back. Those strange feelings flared up as he thought that.
     He didn't want to manage anyone else; he didn't want to stop managing Miya; he wanted to stay close and watch her succeed. 
     His fist tightened. He pressed the button of the elevator and stepped inside. There was an office woman around his age who looked extremely disheveled. He gave her a little more space on the elevator. 
     He tried to kill the desire to stay near Miya, but he couldn't do it. Every time he got close, he would rationalize that without being in close proximity to her, he wouldn't be able to manage her as efficiently. After racing in circles in his mind for several minutes, he exhaled sharply.
     The office woman jumped slightly.
     He resolved to stick to his original plan; he'd follow his director's orders, and at the same time he would do his best to find the man who'd jeopardized his situation with Miya. 
     He stepped off the elevator and began following his schedule once more.