Chapter 8: A Gesture of Friendship

Ashi raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. “You’re not very good at lying, Kichiro-san,” she whispered quietly.

Haari’s face turned red, but he quickly recovered. “Oh? What makes you say that?”

Just then, Haari’s phone buzzed with a text message. He glanced at it and then stood up. “I have to take this,” he said, stepping away to take the call.

A Week Later

In the office break room, sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting a warm glow over the space. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint aroma of pastries from the vending machine. Rafta stood at Ashi’s desk, guiding her through the new software.

“Densi-san, could you tell me how to enter the data in this software? It’s my first time using it,” Ashi asked, leaning closer to the screen.

Rafta smiled reassuringly, pointing at various sections. “Sure. You need to fill out these fields and then this part.”

An hour later, Rafta was still by her side, patiently walking her through the final steps.

“And like this,” he said, indicating the last section. “Double-check these values before you save.”

“Thanks, Densi-san,” Ashi said, relaxing as she looked up at him. “I would have been in big trouble if it weren’t for you.”

“No problem at all. You can ask me for help anytime,” Rafta said with a broad smile.

Ashi hesitated, her eyes lingering on Rafta. “By the way, how did work go when I was absent the other day?”

Rafta tilted his head. “Actually, I don’t know.”

“Why? Didn’t you come to the office that day?” Ashi asked, her curiosity piqued.

“I did,” Rafta explained. “But I have to go in the meeting with Oki that day, Haari handled everything while we were out. By the time we returned, he’d already gone home, having finished all the work by himself.”

Ashi’s eyes widened. “Kichiro-san did all that alone?”

“Yeah,” Rafta said, shaking his head slightly. “He really pulled through.”

After Haari’s unexpected help getting her to the hospital, Ashi had spent the following week recovering from her illness. The days were filled with a whirlwind of office tasks as she caught up on work, but she couldn’t shake the sense of gratitude for the kindness Haari had shown her. Unexpected support from colleagues, especially Haari, made her recovery smoother and more bearable.

The rooftop garden was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, casting long shadows and creating a tranquil atmosphere.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Oh, you’re here too, Kichiro-san,” Ashi said.

“Uhm, Nicawa-san, are you here to eat your lunch again?” Haari asked, surprised.

“Yeah,” Ashi replied with a smile.

“Then I should go downstairs and eat your lunch before the break time is over,” Haari said, walking toward the stairs.

“Kichiro-san, let’s eat together,” she said, taking a seat at a small table.

“Huh? But it’s yours,” he protested.

“Don’t worry, I have plenty to share,” Ashi insisted, pushing the container toward him.

“But!” Haari began, a mix of reluctance and curiosity on his face. "Oh, are you sure? I didn’t want to intrude.”

“Of course, it’s more fun to share lunch with a friend. Come on!”Ashi said.

" But still" Haari hesitate to join Ashi.

“Why can you hang out with friends and go to parties but not share lunch with me?” Ashi asked playfully.

Haari shifted uncomfortably. “It’s not that. I just didn’t want to be a burden during your lunch time.”

“Are we not friends?” Ashi’s question was earnest.

Haari’s face softened. “Friends,” he agreed with a nod.

“Kichiro-san,” Ashi’s voice.

“Hm?” Haari said, turning his full attention to her.

“Are you alright?” Ashi asked, genuine concern in her voice.

“Yeah, I’m okay. So, about being friends—of course, we are friends,” Haari affirmed.

“So let’s eat lunch before the break time is over,” Ashi said, pushing the container closer.

As they began to eat, Ashi said, “I heard from my aunt that someone from the office helped me when I was sick. Since you were one of the people who knew I was absent, I thought it might have been you.”

Haari adjusted his glasses. “Did your aunt tell you that, it was me?”

“No, it was Densi-san,” Ashi said. “He mentioned you took care of everything while everyone else was out.”

Haari’s expression softened. “Ah, When Habi-san said that you weren’t answering your phone and hadn’t notified her that you are taking the day off, So I was worried if something is wrong with you because you never take the off without telling ti Habi-san, It wasn't like you. So I just came by to check on you.”

Ashi nodded with relief. “Thank you. I really appreciate it. I didn’t get a chance to say this earlier, but your thoughtfulness meant a lot to me.”

Ashi smiled warmly as she watched Haari’s hesitant but sincere response. “You know,” she began, “it really meant a lot to me that you stepped up when I needed help.

Haari’s smile warmed. “I’m glad to hear that. I hope you’re feeling better now.”

“I am, thanks to people like you,” Ashi said with a grateful smile.

As Ashi watched Haari’s genuine smile, she felt a surge of gratitude. The past week had been tough, but Haari’s kindness had made it bearable. She realized just how much his support had meant to her.

Evening

As the office day wound down, the room was filled with the soft rustling of papers and the distant murmur of colleagues finishing their tasks. Oki stood by the exit, her coat draped over her arm.

“Good work today, everyone. I have something to attend to, so goodbye. Let’s meet tomorrow,” she said cheerfully.

“Haari, I had some important work to do too, so see you later,” Rafta added, heading toward the door with a wave.

“Okay, be safe on your way home, guys,” Haari responded, adjusting his coat.

Ashi, holding her handbag and ready to leave, approached Haari. “So, I’ll be on my way too. See you tomorrow, Kichiro-san,” she said.

“Ah, Nicawa-san,” Haari said, reflecting genuine appreciation. “Thanks for the food you shared with me today. It was really good. I’d like to return the favor.”

“Don’t worry about it. It was token of appreciation from me,because you saved me that day” Ashi replied with a warm smile.

“Yeah, but I still want to repay you, so tell me if I can help you with anything,” Haari offered, his tone earnest

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind,” Ashi said with a nod, her expression thoughtful.

“As the office emptied, Haari and Ashi exchanged a final, lingering smile that spoke volumes. It was a moment of mutual understanding and warmth, a silent promise of deeper connection. Each left the office with a renewed sense of optimism and an appreciation for their growing friendship.”