they will find each other again

Something bizarre happens when Fumito heads up the podium and slams the microphone against it to divert the crowd’s attention.

It’s not that he sees Koharu run out of the conference room.

It’s not that he sees her boytoy run out of the conference room.

It’s not that he sees them narrowly miss each other, knowing they will find each other again in his room.

It’s this strange, bitter feeling taking over him. Fumito doesn’t know what it is. He might have, years ago, and he may again someday.

For now, it’s time for a false announcement.

***

Koharu has to take her heels off to actually run. It sucks, especially because the door to Fumito’s room is open by the time she gets there, which means that Munetoshi won.

Still, while he got there first, he’s still catching his breath by the time she closes the door behind her. After the call and a few preparations—meaning Fumito’s lackeys clearing the way—they had to run. Any longer and those dreaded mosquitoes might’ve swarmed them.

After locking the door, she slips on her heels again.

Out of all the reactions Munetoshi could have when a gorgeous woman approaches him, he chooses to roll his eyes. “What did I tell you about those types of heels?”

It doesn’t help that Koharu is waddling again. Her leg itself might’ve healed, but her ankles are still a disaster. Atrophy and all of that. “I’m fine,” she says. “Now stand up straight. Come on. Next to me.”

Munetoshi just watches her, though. He was sitting on the bed when she walked in, and he still is. That suit looks great on him. That hairstyle looks great on him. Everything is great about him and she wants to sniff him. That was the very first thing she thought when she caught him amidst that sea of chairs, and it holds true to this moment.

He stands up. “There,” he says, right beside her. “You’re taller now.”

Barely.

But!

She is.

Koharu smirks, a manicured hand over her mouth. “You tiny manlet.”

“You giant amazoness.”

“How does it feel? How does it feel to be tiny?”

“You know I could just push you down the bed, right?” After a pause, Munetoshi says, “Not like… I mean…”

“Okay.”

“That’s not what—”

Koharu plops onto the bed.

“...oh.”

Koharu slams the spot next to her. She stops once he takes it. They lie beside each other now, staring at the ceiling, like two adults do when sharing a bed. To be fair, it is kind of…

Kind of…

…ridiculous.

“Six months,” she says.

“Mhm.”

“Every day.”

“Which reminds me. What time is it?”

“Not five.”

“Helpful.” Munetoshi checks his phone. “Ah… there goes my streak.”

Koharu turns to face him. “It was a while ago, yeah, but I forgive you because you were kidnapped. I had to take mine quickly, so it was out of focus anyway.”

He glances at her for a split-second before his eyes are back on the ceiling. Koharu’s primal urge to sniff him skyrockets. They’re close enough that she can do so very, very faintly.

“Mu. Ne. To. Shi.”

“Ko. Ha. Ru.”

“What are you thinking?”

“Nothing as dirty as you, I guarantee that.”

“Does that mean I can do something dirty?”

Now he looks at her, but it’s judgmental.

“Too soon?”

“No, I just… you haven’t changed at all, have you?”

“Neither have you. Let me guess. You’re all, ahh, no, this is wrong, she hasn’t been a patient for six months, but it’s still wrong, noo…”

He snorts. “Shut up.”

“Can I sniff you?”

“Oh, now you ask for permission.”

She does.

It’s as familiar as it isn’t—everything.

The first time he properly holds her.

The first time they kiss.

The first time they touch.

It’ll be the last time, too....

...for now.

Hopefully he’ll start answering his stupid DMs now.