Chapter: 5 "Beneath the Surface"

“Wait, it’s Habi-san. Why is Rafta going there? I have a bad feeling about this,” Haari thought, his brow furrowing in concern as he watched Rafta approach Oki, who was waiting in line at the food counter.

“Rafta, what are you going to do with this?” Haari’s voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing.

“Just you watch,” Rafta replied with a mischievous grin, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Rafta, don’t do anything weird; she might get angry with that,” Haari cautioned, his expression troubled as he observed from a distance.

Rafta moved closer to Oki, his footsteps silent on the marble floor. With a swift motion, he let a few drops of water fall onto the back of Oki’s neck.

Oki’s reaction was instant. She gasped, her shoulders tensing and her eyes widening in surprise. Her mouth opened in a startled scream. Rafta’s laughter erupted, shaking his shoulders as he reveled in the prank.

“See, didn’t I tell you not to do that?” Haari said, frustration clear in his voice. He stood in the corner of the cafeteria, his frown deepening.

“But it was fun! Just look at her,” Rafta laughed, still chuckling as he observed Oki’s furious reaction.

“What in the hell do you think you’re doing, Rafta?” Oki’s voice thundered, her face flushed and her anger palpable. She glared at Rafta, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

Rafta turned and sprinted towards the exit, his laughter fading as he ran.

“Thanks, Haari. You’re one great friend. Don’t worry, I won’t forget you until I die. May God rest your soul in peace,” Oki muttered, her voice tinged with frustration. She shot a piercing look at Haari as she stormed toward him.

“What?” Haari’s confusion was evident, his brows knitting together. He glanced nervously at Oki, who was closing in with an intimidating presence.

“What is this aura? It feels like a demon king has appeared in this company itself. I have to get out before she kills me,” Haari muttered, his gaze darting around the cafeteria as he made a hasty exit.

On the rooftop, the evening breeze ruffled Haari’s hair as he and Rafta stood by the railing. The city lights below twinkled in the distance.

“Did you want to slaughter me there like a goat?” Haari’s voice was sharp, his eyes flashing with irritation.

“Sorry, man,” Rafta said, his tone apologetic but with a hint of amusement as he leaned casually against the railing.

“Why did you do that in the first place?” Haari asked, his frustration evident. He stared out over the city, trying to regain his composure.

“I just wanted her to relax a little bit,” Rafta explained with a shrug. “She’s always so focused on her work that she forgets to take breaks. She needed a little distraction to get her mind off it.”

“Relax? You call that relaxing? You made her furious,” Haari said, disbelief evident in his tone.

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“This is how she relaxes. She always gets so caught up in her work that she needs a jolt to snap her out of it. Now she’s out looking for me and forgetting about her work,” Rafta said, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.

“You know a lot about Habi-san,” Haari said, his tone softening slightly as he leaned against the railing beside Rafta.

“Of course, I know a lot about her. It’s been five years since we’ve been working together, after all,” Rafta said, his eyes reflecting a hint of pride.

A few days later, the office was alive with activity. Papers were scattered across desks, and the rhythmic tapping of keyboards created a constant hum.

“Kichiro-san, could you take a look at these files for me?” Oki asked, standing near Haari’s desk. Her face was calm, but the fatigue in her eyes was unmistakable.

“Okay, but where is the data for these files?” Haari asked, his gaze scanning the documents.

“Oh, that. I gave it to Nicawa-san earlier,” Oki said, glancing toward Nicawa’s cluttered desk.

“Okay. Nicawa-san, can I have the data for these files?” Haari asked, directing his attention to Ashi’s desk.

“Umm, leave these files here. I’ll check them myself,” Ashi said, her tone clipped. She was seated at her desk, her face expressionless as she worked through a stack of paperwork.

“But Habi-san asked me to do that,” Haari said, confusion evident.

“Don’t worry. I’ll handle them later after I finish with this,” Ashi insisted, her eyes focused on her work.

Haari, standing by the printer, glanced over at the interaction. “Okay. If you need any help, you can call me. I’m free right now,” he offered, his voice sincere.

“No, I’m fine,” Ashi replied curtly, her attention fixed on her computer screen.

“Did you check those files?” Oki asked, concern evident in her tone.

“No, Nicawa-san said she’d handle them later,” Haari replied, his confusion growing.

“But didn’t she get that work assigned to her? She already has enough on her plate,” Oki said, her frustration rising.

“I tried to help her, but she said she could manage on her own,” Haari said, shrugging.

“Really? I don’t know why, but Nicawa-san has been acting strange lately,” Haari said, his tone filled with concern.

“Really? But I think she’s just focused on her work as always,” Rafta said, walking over from his desk. He sat down and began doodling with a pen.

“I know, but...” Haari began, his voice trailing off.

“If you’re that worried about her, why don’t you go and ask her?” Rafta suggested, glancing up.

“Hell, she was ready to tell me,” Haari said, his frustration evident as he joined the conversation.

Rafta returned to his desk, his expression thoughtful. “Whatever. If she’s going through something and doesn’t want to talk about it, then you should stop worrying her too. There’s no point in wasting your time like that. If you’re really concerned about her, find a way to help her. Simple as that.”

As the office emptied in the evening and everyone headed home, Haari approached Ashi by her desk. The office was quiet now, the hum of the cooling system the only sound.

“Nicawa-san,” Haari said gently, his face showing concern.

“Hm?” Ashi looked up from her paperwork, her expression guarded.

“Would you like to go out for a drink with me? There’s something I want to talk about,” Haari said, trying to keep his tone light.

Later that evening, in a dimly lit bar, the clinking of glasses and low murmur of conversations created a soothing backdrop. Haari sat across from Ashi at a small table, a glass of whiskey before him. The bar’s warm lighting and wooden furnishings lent a cozy atmosphere.

“So, what do you want to talk about, Kichiro-san?” Ashi asked, her tone cautious. She sipped her drink, her gaze steady.

“Let’s have some drinks first, then we’ll talk,” Haari suggested, trying to ease the tension.

Half an hour later, Haari looked at Ashi with concern. “Nicawa-san, is something troubling you?”

“Hm, no. I’m totally fine as always,” Ashi replied, her eyes meeting his with a serious expression.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve noticed you haven’t been yourself lately. You’re doing all the work by yourself, not talking to anyone, and sometimes you skip breaks just to finish your work. It’s not good for your health. If you’re struggling with something, you can come to me. I’ll help as much as I can,” Haari said, his voice earnest and his face reflecting genuine concern.

A serious expression crossed Ashi’s face, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and sadness. “Kichiro-san...”

“I’m sorry. I was just trying to help you,” Haari said, his voice softening.

“It’s getting late. We should go now,” Ashi said, standing up with an unreadable expression.

Haari nodded, his shoulders slumping slightly as he stood. “Yeah.”

As they left the bar, the night air was cool and crisp, and the city lights shimmered in the distance. The two walked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

To be continued...