Summertime Rendezvous: Cocoon of Life

01:00 PM.

"..."

"Fuwha!" 

"It's finally lunchtime baby!"

Tanaka's eyes welled up with tears in relief.

GROWL.

"Yup, it's definitely lunchtime alright!"

I replied in agreement.

"Ehehe, shall we begin lunch then everyone?"

Sato-san inquired.

"Yes!"

A unanimous decision was made.

"..."

"Today's special is, a homemade ham and cheese sandwich!"

"Oh, a staple dish today huh?"

"That's correct Mr Kobayashi."

"What about you guys?"

"Katsu don!"

Yamamoto replied with confidence.

"Ah, the one from 5-Eleven?"

"Yes, Tanaka-dono."

"Good choice, I used to love getting that until I got a girlfriend to cook for me."

"But good for you Yamamoto, at least you are not eating SFC or WcDonalds every day like you used to."

"Yes, Tanaka-dono."

"I got inspired."

"By some anime, where the main characters are girls who start eating healthy and workout!"

"Oh! Isn't that the anime 'How Heavy Are the Ricebags You Lift?' that aired around a few years ago?"

"Yes, that's the one! Kobayashi-dono!"

"Ah, that's good, happy for you man. Keep it up!"

"Thank you Kobayashi-dono!"

"Oh, never seen that, is it a good watch, Mr Kobayashi?"

"Uhm it's not bad, give it a try if you have time."

"Hmmm, I'll take your work then."

"What about you Ms Sato?"

"Do you watch anything?"

"Argh." 

"Uh-uh-uh, me?"

"Tanaka-kun?"

Sato-san was retrieving her lunch, but the sudden question from Tanaka caught her off-guard, causing a hint of panic to flicker. 

"Yes, Ms Sato!"

"Well..."

"I am not really a watcher, but I did love the Sailor Luna series as a kid."

"Oh, classic."

"I did not expect Sato-dono to have such good taste in anime, sasuga Kobayashi-dono's wife!"

"Wa-wa-wa-wife!"

A rosy blush crept upon Sato-san's cheeks, as she instinctively covered her face in embarrassment. 

"Yamamoto!"

I raised my voice.

"Is there anything you are watching right now Ms Sato?"

"Uhm, not really. But I am excited for the new season of the Satsume Yuujinchou TV series."

"Sato-san you watch it too?"

I inquired with excitement.

"Kobayashi-kun, you too?"

Satsume Yuujinchou, is an anime where an adolescent female protagonist lives a secluded life because of her ability to see youkai. Although this ability may sound amazing at first glance, however, for the protagonist, this ability has caused nothing but, misery. But this all changes, when she moves to the countryside to live with an elderly old couple. And there, she comes across an old notebook, which once belonged to her grandfather. 

A notebook containing names of many youkai. 

Little did she know, it would change the course of her life. 

She begins to befriend, youkai, whom she believed, was the cause of her miseries, all her life. But through it, she receives warmth, warmth of companionship, which she had yearned for, for a very long time.

As each season passes by, the protagonist develops, she develops as a person, overcoming her fears, letting go of the past, and being able to converse with her classmates. 

Like a butterfly, breaking out of its cocoon. 

Something, that we all wish to do as well.

"..."

"Yes, I watch it too. I was very happy when they announced the new season."

"It felt almost like, nostalgia was flowing through me again."

"Right?"

"I felt a sense of happiness too, because, I grew up, watching the show."

"And now, it's nice to know there is another Satsume fan in the office."

"Yeah."

"But, it's been long hasn't it?"

"It has..."

"It has, hasn't it Kobayashi-kun?"

"..."

"Psst. Yamamoto, do you know what they are reminiscing about?"

"Negative."

"I have only seen the cover, and all I know is that it has many seasons."

"I see."

"Well, they are husband and wife for a reason, Tanaka-dono."

"Agreed."

"Agreed, Yamamoto."

Tanaka and Yamamoto murmured in the background.

"What are you two whispering about?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Well..."

"You two looked like an old couple reminiscing good old times." 

"Well, you can't blame us, it really has been many years."

"Sato-san?"

"Hehe, yes, it has been a while."

"You should watch it too Tanaka-kun, Yamamoto-kun."

"Yes, I agree with Sato-san. Watch it, you won't regret it!"

"Emotional anime!"

"First season is slow but each season gets better."

"Completely agree with you Kobayashi-kun."

"Alright, alright. I'll bookmark it for the future."

A weary sigh escaped Tanaka.

But it was nice to find a similar interest that Sato-san and I shared. And it was an interest in the anime, Satsume Yuujinchou out of everything.

"..."

"Back to lunch, what did you guys bring?"

"I presume Sato-san has brought another box full of delicacies." 

"Aha... Not today Tanaka-kun. I woke up a bit late, so didn't have much time to prepare."

Overtime on her first day must have tired her out.

"Ah, exhausting first day huh Ms Sato?"

"Yeah. Ehehe."

"I brought leftover Tonkatsu curry for today."

"Ohhh, still good thought."

"Yes."

"And what about you Mr Kobayashi?"

BOOM. 

I slammed my three-layered bento box on the table.

"Feast your eyes!"

"Did..."

"Did you..."

"Force Ms Sato to make you lunch from yesterday and make her eat the leftovers...?"

"How despicable!"

"No, my mom made it!"

"Ah, Mama Kobayashi did."

"Lucky aren't you, still having your mother cook for you."

"Well, nothing I can do."

"Free food I guess."

"It is indeed Mr Kobayashi!"

"Well then help yourself guys."

I opened the lid and separated the bento boxes.

"Wow, Kobayashi-kun. Your mother seems like an amazing cook."

"Sasuga Kobayashi-dono's mother."

"No no, Ms Sato."

"She will be your mother soon too!"

"Waaah!"

"Geez, what are you saying Tanaka-kun!"

Sato-san responded in panic.

"Tanaka!"

SIGH.

"Help yourselves guys."

I shared my food, and within a matter of minutes, the bento boxes were completely empty, everything, devoured. 

"Hah!"

"That was very good, send my regards to Mama Kobayashi."

"Would've been even better with beer."

"Beer!"

"Relax Tanaka, you can't drink in the office!"

"Thank you very much Kobayashi-dono. My hunger has been satiated."

"Thank you Kobayashi-kun, your ma-ma-mother cooking was amazing."

"Would love to have it again."

"Oho."

"What's this Ms Sato?"

"Tanaka! Leave her alone."

"Okay, okay."

Tanaka surrenders his hands, up in the air. 

"Right then, let's push through the second half of the day!"

"Fighting!"