Tohma's Mystery Lover

Chapter 1: Sakano!

Seguchi's office, NG Studios.

Tohma was deep in conversation on the phone when a timid knock sounded. Thinking it was his breakfast, he covered the mouthpiece and shouted "Come in!" To his dismay, it was Sakano. He gestured toward the couch, signaling Sakano to wait, but Sakano approached him at his desk instead. Raising an eyebrow, Tohma watched as Sakano bowed, hastily laid a plain white letter envelope on the table, bowed again, and scurried out the room. Curiosity getting the better of him, he tore open the envelope, all the while listening to the babble on the phone, and pulled out a piece of pale pink paper. Skimming it, he almost dropped the receiver in shock.

"Hello? Hello?" came the voice through the receiver. "Are you still there, Seguchi?"

"Ah…yes, sorry about that." Tohma made an attempt to focus on the conversation. "You were saying…?" In his head though, only one thought pulsed vividly: Sakano has a lot of explaining to do.

"Miori, please find Sakano and tell him to come to my office right now." Tohma released the intercom button and waited for his arrival.

The moment Sakano entered the office, Tohma wanted to pounce on him. He restrained the urge though, talking calmly into the phone, and gesturing for Sakano to seat himself. He didn't want to agitate the already nervous man. The letter seriously puzzled him, and he wanted answers.

After fifteen minutes of what he hoped was psychological torment on Sakano, Tohma replaced the receiver.

"All right, Sakano," Tohma began in a very businesslike tone. "I know things haven't been going well with K lately, but..." He was interrupted by a squeak of shock from Sakano. With wry amusement, Tohma noted the sudden pallor of the other man.

"How…how did you know, President?" Sakano stuttered out, wide-eyed with awe.

Tohma sighed dramatically. "'The walls have ears', to quote a great man. So things haven't been going well with him. Your personal life is none of my business, and I don't intend to make it mine. This doesn't apply when you start to hit on me." Tohma emphasized the last word by slamming the letter on the desk. Sakano's mouth dropped to his feet, and he visibly swayed in his chair.

"Wh-what-what are y-you saying, President?" Judging from his appearance, Tohma sensed that the man was about to drop dead on the floor.

"Sakano-san, sit up straight," Tohma ordered in his best "I-am-President-hear-me-roar!" voice. Sakano snapped upright, although fear was still etched on his face.

"I have no time for games." Tohma leaned over his desk and steepled his fingers under his chin. "I thank you for your show of admiration, really. But starting my day with such a shocking revelation is hardly the way to go about it. Now I'm distracted and I can't concentrate on my work. The nationwide tour of Bad Luck and Nittle Grasper starts in a week." Tohma narrowed his eyes. "You have extremely bad timing, Sakano."

Sakano's eyes darted around the room nervously. "I-I-don't know what you're talking about, sir." Tohma menacingly rose from his seat. Sakano stumbled away from his and backed away, waving his hands frantically in front of his. "Really! I don't! I mean, I do! No, I mean, I admire you but not in that way! Though you are very admirable in that way, I don't! I mean…"

"Sakano," Tohma warned him, approaching the trembling producer the way a lion might corner his prey.

"Ai-ya-I mean, I really don't know what the issue here is! You're my boss and I've always admired you! I don't see anything wrong with that!"

Tohma halted abruptly. "Really?" he said, raising a questioning eyebrow. "Nothing wrong? Nothing? Listen:

"In my dreams you are the epitome of sweetness.

Kisses and sweet nothings whispered into my ear bring me to new heights of ecstasy.

Your sun-kissed blond hair shines like the brightest sun! Soft like angel-skin! Oh, to touch it, I can die happily!

But that's just a dream. In reality, your eyes and heart are captivated by someone, and it's not me. Oh, the sorrow of unrequited love! Be mine, lovely Seguchi. I love you with all my heart!

P.S. I can give you all the chocolates you want!

The letter was unsigned.

Tohma finished reading the letter and gave a sidelong glance at Sakano. "If you find nothing disturbing with that, then you're frankly a bit deranged. Though I've received worse confessions of love in my fan mail, this letter is really…extreme. Especially the part about the chocolates. I DON'T eat chocolates. You ought to know better." He waved the pink sheet.

"Letter?" Sakano looked confused. "I didn't give you…oh!" Realization banished the fear in his eyes. "Oh, the letter!" he sounded as if he was about to burst into laughter.

"Yes, the letter. Explain this to me satisfactorily, orI'll eat you alive."

Tohma's grim mood didn't seem to affect the other man. On the contrary, he smiled. "That letter didn't come from me, President! I was only a messenger!"

The words hit Tohma like a bomb. "Hah! You expect me to believe that?" Tohma knew by the tone of Sakano that the man was telling the truth, but he wanted to make sure, nonetheless.

"Yes. Someone told me to give it to you."

"Who asked you to give this to me?"

"K did." The answer was totally off-the-wall that Tohma fainted.

TBC