It had been years since Mitsuki graduated high school. She missed those days sometimes. Now she was single, but hardly notices it as her company, Celebrated, has become her life. She started her own event management firm after college, it took of so well that she now has a staff of 10 and takes on big conventions…like the upcoming week long event in Boston.
This her first truly international project. Although she is good at English, she has hired an English translator for this project. The event is for Boston hospital and their collaboration with their japanese couterparts. Mitsuki is visiting the hospital director and management. The directors admin is showing them around the hospital and they stop at the cafeteria to grab breakfast.
Admin, "so, we come to the last part of our tour…Our five star cafeteria" She said the last part with a hint of sarcasm. "Please help yourself to anything you like, on us. See you in half hour" .Mitsuki and Tina thanked her and got some coffee and bagels. As they sat down to eat, Mitsuki saw a familiar looking figure...a tall slim man with long hair. He was wearing scrubs, his back to Mitsuki, purchasing something at the counter. 'It couldn't possibly be him. What are the chances' she thought. Reina had mentioned Aya was in the Boston area, but Mitsuki did not get in touch. It was too bitter, if not painful. As the tall man turned, Mitsuki was staring at him in disbelief, and Aya noticed her right away. Aya seemed equally surprised, and smiling he walked over.
"Is that really you, Mitsuki?" Aya asked, and Mitsuki nodded as she smiled. "I barely recognized you with your business suit(she was wearing a grey jacket and skirt with pink blouse). It looks good! What are you doing here?!" he said. "Believe it or not, I am here on business." She replied.
Aya wrapped her in a hug. Mitsuki gave the same reaction as so many years ago, "Aya chan! You haven't changed a bit, hugging in public and everything".
"Seems like you have not either." Said Aya, as he let go of the hug and looked at Tina.
He extended his hand to Tina, "Hi there, I am Aya, Mitsuki's old friend". After plesantaries, and a little spiel about Celebrated, Tina went ahead to prepare for their next meeting, while Mitsuki and Aya stayed back to catchup.
Aya was a resident doctor in sports medicine at the hospital, having followed his father to the US and inheriting his mothers interest in medical science. He still looked the same, and received the same amount of attention from the females in the area, even in the cafeteria. But his attention was focused on Mitsuki. His smile had faded as he asked, "How is Towa doing?"….typical of Aya to get to the point, Mitsuki thought.
"I don't know, I havent seen him for almost two years." She replied.
"Oh! Wow!" Aya said, he couldn't bring himself to say he was sorry.
Not wanting more questions on the subject, Mitsuki quickly added, "How is Emily?" that was Aya's daughter. Aya had married Kate, who he met at university, they had Emily.
"She is doing good, she is almost three now. Talks a lot, he he."
"Wow she is three already? Time flies. It has been so long, last time we talked, I …", said Mitsuki, and stopped suddenly, a little embarrassed.
"It was before the funeral." Aya added. They talked over the phone when Kate passed way. She still felt guilty for not being there for Aya when Kate passed away…and she couldn't even share the reasons with him.
When Kate died, Mitsuki really wanted to come visit Aya, but Towa did not like the idea..that was the start of the end of Mitsuki and Towa's relationship.
"How long are you here for?" Aya changed the subject quickly.
"The project will go on for about six weeks and then I am treating my team to a couple of weeks of US sight seeing. So about three months."
"Are you going to be in the hospital a lot."
"Mostly for the first few weeks. They have setup some conference rooms for us on the first floor."
"Oh that's good. So we have time to catchup. I really have to go now. But we can meet up later, I am usually free around five."
They exchanged numbers, and went their ways.
Aya checked in on Mitsuki at the end of the day, and the day after that, and the day after that. He didn't stay for more that a few minute. He couldn't find a good time to talk more than pleasantries. Mitsuki looked very busy, and seemed to be running her team very well. On Thursday when they saw Aya coming towards them, Tina asks Mitsuki, "He stops by every day, I think he liiikes you". She started laughing, and Mitsuki rolled her eyes. Mitsuki didn't have time to pay attention to that; her translator had not shown up and she had her work cut out for her. "Hi Ladies, how is the project going?" said Aya, as he stopped at the door of their conference room.
Mitsuki took a moments break to look up and greet him, but Tina beat her to it.
"The usual, we are moving and matching schedules as we get the final RSVPs. Exciting stuff!" Said Tina, the last part a little sarcastically. "Did you miss us Aya san?" she added.
"I did!"Said Aya, his old flirty smile on. Mitsuki buried her head in her laptop again.
"Also, you are on my way to the parking garage!" "Oh!" Tina wiped the smirk off her face, and all her romantic notions shattered.
"Mitsuki, what's wrong?" asked Aya. He saw in her face the same expression of anxiety that he remembered from high school days.
"Our translator is MIA." She held off telling him that she needed to translate about dozens of speeches and and 5 days agenda. She was using a translation app to do it, and it was taking for ever.
"Don't worry about that, we will manage." She added.
"We were headed for the sushi bar down the street in a few to join us?" Tina said, before Aya had a chance to prod further. Mitsuki kept her head down in her work, not looking at Aya. Aya thought, either Mitsuki had changed a lot or, she was the same Mitsuki who was super stressed and refused to ask for help. He couldn't decide, but he also didn't have time. It was almost 5:30,
"May be some other time. Thank you for asking though." Said Aya.
The next day, when Aya stopped by, it was just past lunch time. His said his afternoon appointment was canceled, so he had a lot of time. Mitsuki was hunched over her laptop, clearly worn out, dark circles under her eyes, hair unkempt.
"Everything ok?" Asked Aya.
He got a nod from Mitsuki. She didn't want to admit defeat. At this point Mitsuki's eyes were watering, from the eye fatigue and the mounting task. More than half of the work was still pending. If she didn't have the translation, all her efforts would look shoddy in her first international conference. A lot would be judged by both her Japanese and American clients.
"We still have a lot of translation to do." Is all she could say without breaking down.
Tina whispered to him, "Maybe you can tell her to stop. She is been at it since yesterday without sleep. We all tied up with our own tasks, and don't know much about translation either". They respected her too much to tell her to stop too.
He went over to Mitsuki and pushed her laptop a little away from her.
"Hey! Ayachan, give that back!"
"Can I have my laptop back please"
"Sure, but only if you take a break and let me help."
"No! I cant impose on you like that!"
"Mitsuki, I have all afternoon. You know my English is as good as my Japanese." He dropped his voice to a whisper, "And I don't want you to pass out, which you surely will, if you don't get some sleep!"
Mitsuki remembered her anemia episodes and how Aya helped, she didn't want him to bring it up again.
"OK fine!" she said.
Mitsuki showed him the list of translations left to do on her laptop. "Alright, I will take it from here, why don't you go to your hotel" said Aya.
Mitsuki responded in a whisper, "I cant go to the hotel in the middle of the day. What will the client think! And my staff moral!"
"I half expected you to say that. Come with me, you too Tina." He led them to the residents lounge and carried the laptop with him.
"At least lay down on the couch, it is empty most of the time anyways."
"But …"
"I will stay here with you while I translate."
"Still…"
"Perfect, I can handle the staff no probs!" said Tina. "I will check in soon! Bye now."
"You are my assistant, Tina, not his!" Mitsuki offered a weak argument, that Tina barely heard. Mitsuki was also really sleepy, so she crashed on the couch within minutes. She woke up to Aya sitting by her feet on the couch, typing away on her laptop. "How long was I asleep? What time is it?"
"Almost 5:30. You woke up just in time! I am almost done here."
"You are done with what?"
"the translation, of course."
"All of it?" she sat up shocked.
"Yes"
"I don't believe it. Show me!"
"See for your self. Here." Aya gave her the laptop.
Sure enough, only one speech was left. Mitsuki had barely gotten through half of the material as she slogged all night, and all morning. And Aya had finished the rest in hours.
Tears rolled down her eyes, her project was saved. She was so happy. Instinctively, she put her arms around Aya and pulled him in a hug.
"Mitsuki!" Aya was surprised, this was a first from Mitsuki.
"Thank you, Aya chan! You really saved me, and Celebrated. I was so worried! I thought the whole conference was going to fall apart" she said, sobbing.
"Its ok Mitsuki! I had a hunch, you were hiding something." Aya gently put one hand on her back, consoling her.
Why didn't you tell me yesterday how bad it was?"
"You had your own problems to worry about. I was trying not to cry yesterday, cause I knew if I did, you would go out of your way…" Mitsuki said burying her head in his shoulder.
"Ha ha ha. Mitsuki, you have not changed at all!" said Aya, putting his other arm around her and pulling her against him. "Now stop soaking my shoulder and cheer up!"
She liked his warmth, she liked his hand on her back. Blushing a little at the thought, she immediately pulled away.
Tina came up just then. She was also thrilled about the translation being done, and that Mitsuki got some sleep.
"I have to get going now. You can manage the last speech I think." Said Aya.
Mitsuki nodded.
"Ayachan, today you have to join us for dinner. My treat, for helping us, and for getting Mitsuki to sleep." Tina added with a wink.
"I cant today, some other time" said Aya.
"Got a hot date you ditching us for?" Tina teased him.
"I have to pickup Emily from daycare. But thanks for asking!"
As he left, Mitsuki realized how different it must be for him, raising Emily by himself. She couldn't even imagine.