[Kyosuke POV]

I laid back in my chair and let out a big sigh. Barely half an hour into our day had passed and I was already feeling like I’d been here a week. Mondays were always a drag. My true work didn’t begin until I was standing before a client but there was so much other stuff that had to be done before they’d let me do that.

Honestly, it felt like a lot of red tape. I’ve been telling my boss for months to let me do my job in the most effective manner possible but he always hesitated and deflected. Maybe he has a soft spot for demons.

“Mizushima-senpai, do you have any One-Piece pins?”

That was an odd question especially coming from Furukawa-san. And it was weird for her to be distracted this early in the day. Typically I was the laziest member of our team. That was by design.

“Can’t say that I do. I’m sure Makino-san might if you’re looking to collect.”

“Don’t lump me in with children.”

Typical cold response from my subordinate. He may have been a gaming maniac but that was about as far as his addiction spread.

“No, no. That’s not it. One of the members of the purchasing team at the client we’re meeting with this week is a big fan of the franchise. That’s all they’ve been posing about on their Insta account since they opened it a few years ago. I think it would be an ideal icebreaker if you wore a pin on your jacket.”

A smile formed along my lips.

“Now we’re talking. I’ll try and pick one up during my lunch break this afternoon.”

“Don’t bother. I’ve placed the order at Amazon. It’ll be here by tomorrow afternoon.”

My smile widened.

What a team! They always take such good care of me.

“Nice work Makino-san.”

I extended my fist towards him and he casually responded in kind bumping our knuckles softly together. This is about as much affection as I could coax from him. He was typically reserved and calm like any proper employee should be.

Another sigh left my body as I leaned forward staring blankly at my computer screen and sat my chin atop my awaiting and open palms.

“I can’t believe we have to wait two days. We could close this deal tonight if they gave us the chance.”

“You can seriously do that? That’s impressive Mizushima-senpai!”

I was awoken from my listless gaze by the surprising praise of the marketing department’s newest member. Okamoto-san was still carrying several documents under his arm. He must have just finished scanning everything and was on his way back.

“You’d be surprised what I could do around here if they let me off the chain.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I smirked, folding my fingers together and cradling the back of my head as I laid back plenty satisfied with myself.

“Oh? Now it makes sense why Abukara-senpai refers to you as a dog.”

My body jolted nearly spilling out of my chair at that remark. Furukawa-san let out a soft but painful laugh.

What is that monster teaching him?!

“No, no! I didn’t mean it like that.”

Okamoto-kun put the documents down on a nearby table and was frantically flailing trying to defend his previous actions so as not to offend. I knew better. There’s no point in blaming the student when the teacher is the one who is giving poor lessons.

“Don’t worry about it.”

I shook my head and sat up properly in my chair.

“There’s no such thing as a bad student. Only a bad teacher. Students always do what their teacher says.”

That profound line of wisdom I picked up from some popular American film in the 80s featuring a Japanese actor whose performance was so compelling, he was nominated for a major award. But, it’s not like any of these kids knew that so it made me look and sound a bit smarter in their eyes.

“That makes a lot of sense. Wow, you are very wise Mizushima-senpai!”

I nodded with a short smile.

“It’s unfortunate Okamoto-kun. I can’t imagine what it’s like being taught by an actual –“

The elevator chimed and the doors opened.

“Speak of the devil.”

A shiver ran down my spine as Makino-sans foreboding words hung in the air.

Crap... I’ve summoned her again.

Shoko Abukara, team lead of the marketing department stepped out of the elevator. An eerie cloud of black and purple energy loomed all around her.

The demon marched towards the sales area with slow and calculated steps. She let out a grunt through her gritted teeth after each foot slapped the ground upon her approach.

“She looks pissed boss.”

“I image so. I did go and speak with Fumi-chan this morning about how things were going with the new product.”

“Mizushima-senpai! You know Abukara-sempai hates it when you do that.”

“Eh…! What’s happening?”

That’s right. I forgot Okamoto-kun was new here and hadn’t been privileged to bear witness to our regular Monday morning argument. I sighed and before I could think of a proper way of explaining it, Makino-san chimed it.

“You’re about to witness the eruption of Mt. Kashima.”

“M-Mt. Kashima?!”

Okamoto-kun glanced over towards the windows which provided a view of other buildings around Tokyo and little else. Certainly no mountains or volcanoes.

“It’s kind of a saying we have around the office.”

Furukawa-san painfully laughed. I don’t blame her. It’s not like I came up with that.

“I still don’t –“

Makino-san cut off the newbie before he could finish.

“Take the ka out of Abukara-san’s name and the shima from our boss’ name and you get Kashima, the product of mixing oil and water.”

“Oooooooh!”

A chipper Okamoto-san smashed his fist into his open palm.

“Now I get it. That’s actually quite clever.”

I clicked my tongue. Yea it was true. My family name without the shima on the end meant water and the devil’s family name without the ka meant oil. I don’t remember who came up with it at first but they certainly had way too much time on their hands to meddle in our affairs.

After letting out a sigh I stood up from my chair and steeled myself. This was obviously not going to be a pleasant conversation. She was only a few steps away when her newest subordinate was about to make a dreaded mistake and approached her.

“Abukara-san. What seems to be the –“

“Move.”

Her words were sharp and filled with poison. Okamoto-kun did what any new employee would have done and yelped before obeying and then cowering behind her.

“My, my. What did Mizushima-san do this time?”

Oh great, Sakai-san is here too. Now we’re going to have a department battle right here in front of everyone else. As a team lead, I had to set a proper example. Fortunately my employees were well versed in situations like these. Makino-san and Fukuhara-san stood beside me as the six of us prepared to do battle.

“Mizushima. A word.”

Shoko spoke carefully and was obviously holding back. Everyone in our vicinity could see the ominous black aura resonating around her body at this very moment.

“What can I do for you Abukara?”

I shrugged feigning ignorance. Most people would consider this a de-escalation tactic but anyone who had experience dealing with Shoko as well as I did knew she hated to be patronized.

“I thought I made it very clear. You are not to be sticking your nose in and sniffing around the research & development department.”

My eye twitched as I could feel a vein ready to explode along the corner of my forehead. She was talking to me as if I were her lowly subordinate instead of her senior. We may have been hired on the same day but I started fifteen minutes earlier. That should totally count!

“Did someone say something just now? It sounded a lot like something a boss would say but I don’t see Oshiro-san anywhere?”

I rubbed my pinky inside of my ear and casually looked away for added effect. Out of the corner of my eye I caught her brow twitching and furrowing.

Go on… Break that smug demeanor of yours and show your newbie the devil within…

“What was that? I thought dogs were known for having incredibly good hearing.”

The daggers of her word struck me right in the heart and my body twitched on instinct. I let the first round slip through my fingers. Though I was down, I was not out of the fight just yet.

“There are no dogs around here. I’m surprised. With glasses that thick you should be able to see them from space. Maybe’s time for a new prescription.”

Shoko’s body cracked at that comment and stumbled to remain firm. She hated being teased about her sight. It’s only a matter of time before she’ll be dragged through the mud.

Your move demon…

“Regardless about how you feel. The marketing department is directly linked to research and development. Stay out of affairs that do not concern you!”

And that’s how our Monday morning argument started.