Chapter 110:

106 – This House in Queen Street

Rainbow of the Horizon

July.

Ryou Yugare boarded a plane and returned to Orio.

He was a little agonized and anxious on his flight. He mailed Yuzuri and the other Anew employees that he will be coming back to Orio a few weeks prior to his arrival in the foreign country. However, he has not heard anything from the three after a cold "Ok" coming from his partner of all people.

He may not show his much emotions at the right times in his work, but he is still a human. He woke up with his stomach turning clockwise inside him, he traveled to the airport with his legs shaking all the way through, and his heart raced for more than two hours whilst up on the air.

A small decrease from logical thinking is not absent to people like him. Ever since he heard that his co-workers—Kaizo and Ichika—announced their engagement, he has been on his toes. For the five to seven years he has been dating Yuzuri Kamichi, they both have reached an opinion that they are already at a proper time to get married, yet no plans have come out from him. And to top it all off, their co-workers who have been in a relationship for only a year or so already has rings on their fingers.

Needless to say, he got a little worried and pressured. He took Yuzuri's "Ok" as a foreshadowing that it might have affected their relationship, especially for the lady who by now probably hates him already (his opinion).

And so, his agony and anxiety.

But then he felt as if the weight of his luggage disappeared all of a sudden after seeing her. No one knows if it is the modern Japanese media's influence or just a writer's (perhaps not so) creative rendition of the environment, but Yuzuri on Ryou's eyes has a fluffy pink background with flowers behind her, and she appeared ten times more beautiful than the extent of her already great beauty.

Ryou-san, she'll get hit on if you don't get a move on from your delusions.

"**Good grief, I thought that no one's going to meet me here…"

"**Umm… who are you?" Yuzuri asked, in complete keigo.

From flesh, to stone, now crumbling to dust.

"**I think that was a mean remark. I was just joking. It's been a while since I last saw you, Ryou-kun."

"Yuzuri…"

"**But I think you're too old for someone to fetch you from the airport."

To stone again.

"**That, I think is not a mean remark."

"**So cruel… Even though I wanted to see you so badly…"

Yuzuri heard Ryou's statement of yearning, but she is not an expressive woman in nature either. She is not a blush bomb, and she is only minutely flustered inwardly.

"**Ryou-kun, are you hungry? Let's have lunch?"

"**Maybe once we get to Ginga. I had a light meal in the plane."

"**Then let's have lunch at Giotto's."

"**I guess the main branch would still be different."

~ ~ ~

As she was given permission, she had Ryou come with him through the back door of the restaurant.

"I'm back~"

"Oh, welcome back, Chef Yuzu," Gin coincidentally passed the hall, "you still have twenty minutes… of…

Bossman-! You didn't tell me about this."

"I-It's been a while, Sakato-san. Can you lend me a menu, firstly?"

"Head chef allowed him to stay in the staff room for a bit, Chef Gin."

"Man, I didn't expect a visitor to suddenly come… I guess you'll have a good time with Kaizo and Ichika-san later~" the sous chef wryly teased while Ryou decided to stay silent.

"Also, I'm not so kind to put your order on the house just because you're the boyfriend of a chef here. Be sure to pay later."

"Ehh…"

"He's like that with Ringo-chan too. The chef is just being fair."

"Then I'll have calzone…"

~ ~ ~

"It's nice to have escaped the summer at home… It really has gotten colder here in Orio, huh."

"But summer just ended last month. It seems that the leaves fall on the last month of season but it's cold steadily."

"I forgot that Orio doesn't have fireworks festivals."

"Oh, right. We used to come in one a lot."

"But I can't help but feel like something is weird. It's a weekday today, right? Why did I just see Sakato-san working?"

"I suppose you really didn't hear about it. Chef Gin and Chef Jean actually didn't go to college."

"Aren't those two surprises at once. You're saying that Ando-san is your co-worker?"

"They are both more than capable for their age. In my opinion, they can probably run this restaurant on their own five years from now."

"I heard that it's hard to get employed as a high school graduate in this country, but I kind of expected it already.

You hardly find young people like that…"

"I think it's about time for me to go back to work. You can leave your payment if you're going to head out now. I'll see you later."

"Is Ryuuya-san at home?"

"His work has gotten significantly lighter after he stepped down from his position. He's still busy though."

"I see… then I'll head there now. See you later. I'll make your favorite dinner later."

"Mhm. I've missed it."

~ ~ ~

Meanwhile in the complex house.

Since Orio's summer, two new rookie subject observers have been put under Kaizo who has gotten his position shifted as the unit head and advisor of the human relations and support department in the Cotona branch of Anew. Therefore, the two employees are also living in the same house as it is intended as a work residence.

Amidst that, Kaizo or even Ichika rarely leaves for work in the branch building while his juniors are. Ichika on the other hand has also retired from supervision work and transferred as an organizer in-charge to Facade's logistics and its preservation. After all, she was someone who has a degree in pharmacy. However, she still alternatively works side by side with Kaizo in management.

…

At that time, Kaizo felt a chill on his back.

"Mggghhhh… I feel like I'm going to get headlocked any time soon…"

"You're saying stupid things again, Kaizo-kun."

"I really hope that those were just my stupid ramblings…"

But from his desk situated near in the central, living space of the house, he heard the door open while he assumed that his junior suddenly came back.

BUT IT WAS ME, DI-

※ Please stand by.

Ryou unceremoniously dropped his bags on the foyer and hurried walked towards Kaizo whose head is just about to turn to look at the door.

He was right, he got headlocked.

"Oh, right, Ryuuya-san. I've never congratulated you on your engagement with Mitsumi-san."

"Urk…

I said that I'd propose after you two got engaged first but I deserve to have a bit of happiness after being put to great dangers… right…"

"Urk…?!" but unexpectedly, Ichika also locked her arms on Ryou's neck tightly.

"I give… I give…"

On that very same moment, Kaizo's junior at work actually came back to the complex house, wondering why the front door was left open. She saw the spectacle, strongly shut the door, and came back to the office with fear on her mind.

In the end, the three didn't notice her and the kouhai went to get a can of beer on the way home.

~ ~ ~

"Oh, right. You mailed us awhile back, but I think I just didn't have the energy to reply. Ohhh, I should reply now, I guess."

On that stretch of either stupidity or true sarcastic motives, Ryou slammed his right hand on Kaizo's shoulder.

"Too late for that, kouhai."

"I was just joking. Anyway, there is one more room so you can use it. Wait, how long are you going to stay here, Yugare-san?"

"Hmmm, I'm moving here for the time being. I think it's more appropriate to say that I will be the caretaker of the house for now."

"Huuuhhhh… We didn't hear anything about that."

"Well, I stepped down on my position as well."

"Wait, seriously?! Man, if you were going to say that you resigned, then I will gladly kick you out of this house. Sucks that I won't be able to do that."

"Ryuuya-san, you're being awfully rude, aren't you…"

"Aren't you like this too when I was still a subject? It's really surprising though, seriously."

"Yuzuri was the first one to hear about the demotion, but what I didn't tell her is that I'll propose to her and probably get married soon…?"

The couple then facepalmed.

"Yugare-san… I think you're just pressured because of our announcement…"

"Ahhh, I get what you mean, but it's not that."

"But I can definitely see me and Ichika attending your wedding before we even have ours…"

"Yes, that is very likely."

"And you say that with a straight face!"

Ichika however went to prepare tea so as to escape from the reality that is happening in the residence.

"Look here, Ryuuya-san. If my partner is someone who doesn't work at Anew, do you know the implications of that if I'm still working on supervision?"

Instead of a "what a pain," Kaizo thought that it was utterly difficult and stressful.

"I can imagine…

But please keep in mind that we'll move out after our wedding. Also, how about Kamichi-san? Is she going to resign from the company?"

"Looks like she'll focus on Giotto's now."

"Ohhhh…?" Kaizo suddenly loudly and wryly reacted. "Speaking of that guy… Nah, probably later when he's out from work."

"What's gotten into you suddenly…

Here, tea. You too, paisen."

"Thanks."

"Well, this chapter is overwhelmed with engagement and wedding stuff. I just happen to hear some weird rumor that I want to confirm. But let's wait until five!"

And then, around the seventeenth hour.

Kaizo had continued to omit for the rest of the afternoon while he continued with his work. Therefore, his senpai, and his fiancee still has no further idea on what he was talking about apart from hinting about marriage. But that is not to say that it did not interest the two. For the restless four or so hours, they have had their frowns as their curiosity was not satisfied.

"Ryuuya-san, you still have Gin's number, right? Can you try giving him a call right now?"

"For what reason?"

"Aren't you glad that you can announce to your former subject that you're proposing to Kamichi-san?"

"W-Well… I think that it would sound awkward. Anyways…"

The phone was put to loudspeaker as per Kaizo's request. It rang a couple of times, and the call got through.

But while not a sound has been heard from the other side of the line, Ryou pondered. When he first met Kaizo as a potential subject, he always wore a sour face, and was very distant. But now, he couldn't fathom that the former subject he worked so hard to obtain a change, is now his junior at work who is hinting something of mischief from his tone.

"Meeeeooooooowwwwww."

"A cat…?"

"Was that… what's his name again…

Haku?"

"Ohhh, thanks for answering the phone, Haku. Who was it on the call?" Gin's voice was heard, but perhaps far from his phone.

"Meow. (It says Yugare-san.)"

"Ehhhh?" his voice still from afar, "people of Anew rarely call me so I wonder what's up…

Hello, Yugare-san? It's been a while! Do you need something?"

"…"

"Uhhh, Yugare-san? Are you there? Ryou-san? Ryou-kun? Ryou-paiseeeeeennnn~"

"…"

"We were so distracted that we don't know what to say…

What in the world happened just now…"

Instead of Gin being surprised the most, the three were.

"G-Good afternoon, Sakato-san… There's something that I missed to tell you earlier, but I can't anyway since Yuzuri was there…"

"Uh-huh… So is it about you finally proposing to her? Oh, finally!"

"…"

They forgot how sharp the man is.

"Y-Yes. That was it…"

But then, they heard a heave that forced a deep shake on Gin's throat.

"Oh no, not this kind of topic again… Is there really no one in this neighborhood that won't remind me about marriage…?!"

Synchronously, they all thought that Gin might have snapped, as if their minds linked.

"Are you alright, Sakato-san…?"

"Talk to Haku for a sec…"

"Meow. (It's tiring to talk with people who won't understand me. I'm hanging up.)"

"W-W-Wait, Haku…! One sec!

Yugare-san, have you told this to Kyohei-san?"

"Of course, even before I came back here."

"Meow. (Okay, that's enough. It's not like cats can hold wedding ceremonies so we're out.)"

*bop*

*beep*

"Umm…" Ichika started, "I think paisen mentioned at some point about something her brother being able to talk to cats…"

"No, no. That's simply ridiculous."

"Y-Yeah…"

~ ~ ~

And at passed 7, the two men invited Gin for a drink in the complex house.

"Ah."

"Something up, Gin?"

"I really should've gone to the restaurant first to clean up before coming here…"

"Then please walk Yuzuri home," Ryou requested. "We'll wait."

And so they waited.

Meanwhile, the closing of the restaurant briskly came and Gin told Yuzuri that he would be crashing in for a table with the men of Anew. The head chef overheard, and dismissed the two early while sneaking in a wink on Gin.

He immediately knew that it was some kind of a message, although its meaning is unknown to the usually sharp sous chef.

They halted on the stroll as they found themselves in front of the complex house. But upon a slight opening from the door and seeing literally an inch of a silhouette of who he assumes was Ryou, he incontinently Stepped away from the scene and hid behind a wall.

At last, he had realized the reason for Hiro's act.

"Oh, Ryou-kun?"

The door has opened whole with the presence of Ryou in front of her, standing silently with a ring between the thumb and index finger of his right hand. A few moments later, still not a word has been uttered.

Yuzuri titled her head very slightly, and a smile arched from her lips.

"Yes, gladly."

And suddenly, the house then filled with applause within the greetings of congratulations in Japanese.

~ ~ ~

"Blimey, Yugare-san…! Even you surprised me there. Well, congratulations again!"

"T-Thanks… Sakato-san…"

"But I didn't even see you on the other side of the door, Gin," Kaizo expressed his share of awe.

"I quickly hid when I saw Yugare-san… I realized what was going on in the last minute."

"Alright, Ryuuya-san. Please tell us what you're meaning to say for a while now."

"But before that, Yugare-san, can we at least introduce my kouhai?"

There is indeed another person in their table.

"He's Tanaka Kogarashi—he's under the support department."

"**Pleased to meet you."

"**Likewise.

**Then I'm Gin Sakato. I was the second observation subject of this branch. Say, Kogarashi-san, are you going to be a supervisor too?"

"**I will be under Ryuuya-san's work first before being one. But I hope to be on the field next year."

Unbeknownst if Kaizo has told his dangerous experience as a supervisor or not, Gin let go of the topic as the junior was having an encouraged look.

"With that said… There's a rumor that I've heard, and I want to confirm it," Kaizo started.

"Just to make it clear… from whom did you hear this, Kaizo…?"

"L-Let's just say that I heard it from J-san."

"Did Jean slip…?"

"Hahh… Are you here just to tease me, Yugare-san?"

"Uhh, I still don't know what it is at this moment…"

"…

Hahh…"

Gin took a very deep breath while his body stayed stiff. And so he began his narrative.

"I was drinking with Rin's father at one point in my yard, and… Just so you know we were both sober at that time, then I kind of told him that I'm set to marry her daughter in the future."

In a flick, Kaizo and Ryou's expression change to an uninterested one.

"At least don't show it in your face…

You know, we were so loud that time that Rin herself heard it."

"Ohhhh…!!!!! Now we're talking!"

In the end, they only wanted the goof of the situation.

"And then when the Facade was still affecting her, she talked about it with me."

"Ahhh, I'm really sorry about my mistake, Gin…"

"If you're going to apologize now, at least prostrate in front of Yugare-san."

"Ahhhh… shoot."

"Alright then, Ryuuya-san…" Ryou's visage darkened, "let's hear what you have to say."

Meow.

"Do you have high tolerance, Sakato-san?"

"Ummm… Any kind only warms me up and that's it. I drink even below moderate, though."

"Ehhh, good for you."

"Anyway, is it actually the first time you saw the other side of Facade, Sakato-san?"

"Yeah, she appeared to be 22 and…"

"And…?"

"I fell for her more."

"He wasn't like this three years ago…"

"Well, away from that; let me emote a bit.

We're only missing Kaminari-san aren't we?"

They realized—the last time they all got together was at that time when they held a small send-off party for Gin, Rin and Jean on their last night in Kyoto. On their own imagery, they imagined the scene as things have greatly changed from when they were all in the appearance of fourth year students. They thought, that time felt like ways away in the past, when it was only three years since then.

"Even if it's just another experience for you, Yugare-san, it was very different for me and Kaizo. We essentially changed for the good, just like the company's objective."

"I'm glad that I am of help to you two."

"So with that… Kogarashi-san!"

"**Y-Yes…?!"

"Don't scare him, Gin."

"**If you need insights from a different perspective apart from supervisors, here's my card."

"**Umm… how old are you exactly, Sakato-san…?"

"**I'll be 21 in a few months.

Man… now I feel old."

"**A sous chef at the age of 21… sous chef…"

"So, are you going to be next in five years' time now that you're 21?"

"I'd like to attend my brother's first, you know…

And she'll hate me if I told her that now that she's busy in CCI! I'll let her do what she wants!"