The Break Room

The following morning, Shinichi stumbled his way into the office, the effects of his drinking the night before were evident with each shaky step. 

With a groan, Shinichi dropped his head on his desk. "Hey Miyo. How did I get home last night?"

Miyo hesitantly placed a hangover drink on Shinichi's desk. "I-I took you home on the bus."

Shinichi took the drink with a strained smile. "Thanks. Did I do anything... Out of the ordinary?"

Miyo tilted her head, unsure of what he meant. "I-I don't think so."

"Sorry if I troubled you. I'm usually a better drinker."

"Now that's a big fat lie." Kenta had overheard their conversation and chimed in.

Kenta approached with an easy smile and placed his hand on Shinichi's shoulder. "You know you're a lightweight, but you still drink like there's no tomorrow." He glanced at Miyo. "Was he a hassle?"

"N-No. Not at all." Miyo avoided their gazes. At least not any hassle for me...

Shinichi sighed. "Well, thank you for taking me home. I appreciate it, Miyo."

Kenta looked over Miyo, eyebrow raised. "You took him home? How did you get up all those stairs?"

"Huh?" Miyo froze. Akio told me not to mention him, but he didn't tell me what to say instead...

Her mind scrambled for something. Anything. I'm not good with coming up with things on the spot.

"I uh... H-He walked most of the stairs himself." Miyo said awkwardly.

Kenta's eyebrow lifted higher. "Shinichi walking up all those stairs while drunk?"

Shinichi glanced at her, noticing how she fiddled with her fingers, though he said nothing.

"H-He wasn't that drunk. H-He still managed to walk quite a bit." Miyo's voice came out thinner than she would've liked. Smooth Miyo. Real Smooth.

Kenta's gaze turned to Shinichi with an awkward smile. "Well I guess there's a first for everything."

Shinichi returned the smile. "I guess there is."

-

Later that day, Miyo found herself on the balcony, her phone and a small plastic bag in hand.

A few minutes later, Akio joined her. "You know there's more than one balcony on this floor. Would be nice if you specified next time."

Miyo jumped slightly, startled by his arrival. "Oh. Sorry."

"It's fine. I'm only teasing." He rubbed his shoulder. "So, what did you want to see me for?"

Miyo handed the plastic bag to Akio. "Here."

"What's this?"

She avoided his gaze. "You're sore from last night, aren't you? This is the least I can do for your help."

Akio took the bag, looking inside to see a pack of pain relief patches. "You didn't have to." A small smile crept to his face as he gently patted her head. "But thank you."

Miyo's face warmed slightly at the sudden touch. What the- 

She quickly backed away. "I have to get back to work now."

"Okay. Thanks again for these." Akio waved her off as she hurried inside.

For a moment, Akio stayed on the balcony, looking at the pain relief patches. She's kind of cute when she's flustered.

"Woah." He shook the thought away. "Where did that come from...?"

-

Miyo made her way back to her desk, burying herself in her work. Why did he pat my head like that?

She started typing on her computer, trying to be productive. But her fingers soon stilled. Why did I react like that?

"You okay?" Shinichi asked, getting up from his desk.

Miyo startled slightly. "Huh? Y-Yeah."

"I'm going to the break room for some coffee. Want me to bring you back some?"

"S-Sure."

"Alright. Be right back."

As Shinichi left the room, Miyo stared at her screen, but the words in front of her blurred together. Why did I agree to coffee again? How am I supposed to tell him I don't like coffee if I keep agreeing to it?

-

Shinichi made his way into the break room, joining Kenta who was already there.

Kenta slid a mug towards Shinichi. "You know she didn't bring you home by herself."

"Why does it matter?" Shinichi grabbed the coffee supplies. "Hand me another mug."

Kenta got another mug from the cabinet, setting it down a little harder than necessary. "It matters because we don't know who else was there. And with you being such a lightweight, who knows what happened last night."

"You're overthinking it."

"Am I?"

Shinichi finally glanced at him. "Miyo is trustworthy."

Kenta leaned back against the counter, arms crossed. "Does she know?"

Shinichi slowly poured the coffee. "She does."

Kenta let out a deep exhale. "Still don't see why she didn't say who brought you home. If she's so trustworthy then she should've said."

Shinichi stirred the coffee. "She's probably embarrassed. She's shy like that." He sighed. "Plus it's also possible I did something to offend her last night."

Kenta raised an eyebrow. "And is that coffee supposed to make up for whatever it was?"

Shinichi chuckled. "No. I always get her coffee. It's just something I do for her."

"She must really like coffee for you to always get her some."

Shinichi and Kenta continued to make small talk in the break room. But out in the hall, Akio had been listening to their entire exchange while he was on his way back from the balcony.

Akio noticed the conversation coming to an end and promptly left before he was noticed. The conversation lingered in his mind more than he would've liked. Somehow it didn't sit right with him. Does she know what?