[Shoko POV]

I let out a horrific and unbecoming cry, pushing back and turning around as the words from the ominous creature fell on top of me. A sense of relief washed over me as I saw it was that damned dog standing as if he were a statue and staring daggers into me.

W-What does he want now?

“W-What the… It’s just you, Mizushima.”

I took a breath of relief. I’m not sure who or what I expected but thankfully my mind wasn’t given time to run aimlessly.

“For now, anyways… Until you initiate your plan to get me fired.”

A bolt of lightning snapped against my conscious. I gasped as trepidation encapsulated me and I instinctively took a step back. My strength was fleeting. The advertising stand I had sought slipped from my grasp.

H-How did he know about that? Did Haru-san – No! He must have overheard us talking. Damn it!

“T-That was…”

Shit…! How was I going to explain this? I didn’t count on him finding out before I initiated my plan!

I raced to find a proper answer. Before I could find one, the dog took a step forward.

“You think you’re so smart…”

W-What is this aura?! I-I’ve never seen him this upset before.

Typically he’d growl and bark but that’s all it was; harmless noise. This was completely different. I took another step back but he followed, sinisterly matching my motions as he approached.

“Smart enough to sell every last product inside this building without me.”

The cold metal locker greeted me as I pressed my back onto it. There was no where left for me to go. I was trapped.

His hand slammed against the steel behind me. I winced, gasping for a moment to breath. Mizushima didn’t give me an inch. The predator loomed in ready to devour his prey.

“And cast me aside like I’m nothing!”

W-What did he say…?

The fear that enveloped me began melting from my body. I sulked, dropping my gaze and staring listlessly onto the floor as my mind devised a strategy.

He was upset on more of a personal level than a professional one. If this damned dog was half the salesman he claimed to be than any company would love to take him on as an employee.

Mizushima actually cared what I thought about him on a personal level. And that’s where I was able to sink my claws into him and fight back!

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“T-That’s right…!”

His gaze lightened. The growling beast had started to calm. This gave me plenty of room to give him a taste of his own medicine.

I snapped and looked him dead in the eyes. This animal thinks he has me cornered. How foolish. He’s got another thing coming.

“That’s right!”

I clenched my teeth as my entire body trembled. Adrenaline began pumping through my veins and gave me renewed vigor. If he wanted to get personal, I was happy to oblige.

“For the last two years all you’ve done is make my life a living hell!”

His eyebrows clenched. My words didn’t seem to resonate. No, they had only fueled his strife further.

“The feeling is mutual! Ever since I started here the only thing I’ve heard from you are demands and complaints! All you’ve done is work against me, not with me!”

I leaned back on instinct. His shouting was getting more ferocious. But, I refused to yield.

Is he truly an idiot?! How dare he say that to my face!

“Everything I do is to make your job easier. And yet, despite all of my hard work, you continue to ignore our efforts!”

He didn’t flinch. My words only made him angrier.

“I ignore them only because you ignore me! You’ve never stepped foot in front of a customer! You don’t know what it’s like to read a room and come up with a strategy on the fly based on how he looks or reacts to your product!”

I was undeterred. Belittling my experience or position would never sway me to agree with him.

“Our strategies are designed to assist you with that! You wouldn’t have to go through all of that trouble if you just listened to me!”

I could hear the enamel gnawing together as he grinded his teeth back and forth. I couldn’t back down here. Maybe if I push enough of his buttons, I could convince him to quit all on his own.

“How could I listen to someone who’s never sold one thing in her life?! You just sit behind a desk and type!”

I clicked my tongue. That bastard had done what I was planning to. I guess there’s no holding back now.

“I expect nothing less from someone with half a brain who does nothing but talk! You’re all bark and no bite!”

He flinched and clicked his tongue. Looks like I found his soft spot.

“And I’m surprised someone with glasses that thick can’t see how you’re over your head thinking you can replace me!”

My entire body cracked. He knew my weak points and was much more brutal about utilizing them than I was. I’ve had enough. There was no reasoning with this animal.

Y-You monster! How dare you?!

“Shut up… You stupid dog!”

“You first! You damned demon!”

Those words took the breath right out of my lungs. I slumped against the locker as he continued to loom over me. My gaze dropped and hands trembled as I fruitlessly continued to try and rationalize what was going on.

Is that all he could see me as? A demon? Someone so vile and evil. I’ve just been trying to help him… Work with him…

Tears welled in the corners of my eyes. There was really no turning back after this. I hated it. I didn’t want our relationship to be this way.

But, if he looked at me as if I was a devil then I’d show him what this devil was capable of. No more holding back!

“Y-You know what…?!”

Strength returned to my body. I clenched my left hand into a tight fist.

“I really…”

I don’t care what punishment awaited me after this. I just wanted to put him in his place.

My head snapped up and I raised my hand up high. I bore my clenched teeth like an animal. The animal this beast made me become in order to get him to finally understand.

“HATE YOUR GUTS!”

Like a crack of lighting, my open palm flew downwards ready to strike the maw of this stupid dog. Pain ignited in my entire arm. I barely came down a few centimeters before this boorish beast caught it in his hand.

I was completed trapped now, wincing as he had his prey right where he seemingly wanted.

Before I realized it, we were standing nose to nose against each other. His strong, muscular arms cradled me in a protective grip as he peered into me with those sharp, handsome eyes.

H-Handsome?! What was I thinking?!

The trembling rage that filled my body started to melt away. My vision was filled with nothing but Kyosuke: my archenemy, my rival, my nemesis. Or so I thought.

My face was flush and so incredibly warm. I could sense my heart beating rapidly that it felt like the entire room was shaking. The dog that I’ve been trying to tame for so very long to the point of wanting to put him down was not staring back at me. There was only a man; someone I had dismissed for as long as I could remember and now I was in his secure grip, trembling with emotions I could not even sort out at this point. But one stood out amongst them all: anticipation.

And yet, I couldn’t think about how incredible he was in this very moment.

I knew he was decent looking but up close, has he always been this handsome…?What have I been -

My body moved on sheer instinct. I pressed my legs upwards, standing on toes as I met his lips with mine. Illicit moans slipped from my mouth as it melded into his.

He released my hand from his grip. Without my command, it found its way to the back of his head as I held him tightly in our embrace.

What is this hot and indescribable feeling swelling over me? His protective frame cradled me so firm yet so delicately. My entire body warmed with blood flooding through my hastily beating heart. I couldn’t feel anything in that very moment and clung on the carnal desire that had befallen me. Only his powerful and passionate touch filled my thoughts.

Before I knew it my head started to feel light. Everything was starting to fade away when I realized I hadn’t been breathing. The gravity of what was happening finally struck me. I snapped back and broke off the kiss with an audible gasp. My heart was humming from beating so fast as I desperately tried to catch my breath.

W-What the hell did I just do?! Did I kiss Kyosuke the dog?!

My knees lost their strength. I couldn’t stand any longer but before I fell to the ground, the animal took off running. He completely left me behind as I collapsed in a head of confusion trying desperately to make sense of what I just did.