309.. 311… 313 finally! Wearily Hajime pressed against the weighted pine door, his overnight case almost forgotten at his feet. After scrambling for a minute to get the room key to open the lock it swung inwards and he practically fell across the threshold. Sighing at how fitting this small irritant was with the rest of his day Hajime picked up his case and trugged in.

Shrugging his coat onto a hanger and loosening his tie Hajime tried to recall what had possessed him to apply for a position with Byakuya Togami's firm. Was he a masochist?
Flopping back onto the bed one arm covering his eyes Hajime felt he knew the answer even if he didn't want to admit it. It was the same burning desire to attend the most prestigious school money could buy, that inner cry to prove he could do what others couldn't or wouldn't. That he could succeed where others would shy away. He felt it like a moth to a flame. Except in this case the flame was a 7hr train journey followed by a 6hr batch of meetings, and that was just day one of this trip.
Frowning at the ceiling Hajime attempted to hold onto logic, long hours and hard work it may be, but the opportunity this trip presented was something many at the firm would trample their loved ones for.
Byakuya Togami rarely attended trips, but he was attending this one, alongside Hajimes boss Celestia Ludenburg, her collegue Kyoko Kirigiri, Chihiro Fujihiko, and Kiyotaka Ishimaru.
Truly it was great (albeit exhausting) opportunity.
Just as he was contemplating if he really needed food or could simply sleep with a groan, the room phone promptly rang.
Tawny eyes widened in alarm, the only people who could have his room number were his senior colleagues who had checked in alongside him. Almost diving off the bed to the phone Hajime grabbed the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Hello Hinata, we're going to be attending dinner in 30minutes. Meet in the lobby and I shall have a car taking everyone to the venue."
As always Togami's voice was clear and concise and brokered no disagreement. Hajime closed his eyes briefly and swallowed quietly.
"Excellent. I appreciate you informing me, I shall meet everyone then. Thank you Togami."
Hajimes cheeks burned as he realized that Togami had hung up half way through his sentence. Well that was… nothing unusual. Running his hand through his spikes with a sigh he shuffled to his case to get a change of clothes, trying to remember that positive hopeful thought he'd dredged up earlier to hold onto while he prepared for yet more time in their company.

Twenty minutes later a freshened and somewhat more energized (thanks in part to a shower, in part to a cup of decidedly good coffee) appeared in the lobby. Two of his four dinner companions were already present.
Kyoko Kirigiri sat demurely on the couch, gloved fingers flicking the screen of her smart phone. She was the firms top manager in research, although it was whispered in copy rooms and around coffee machines that the research she did was so detailed it was boarderline between sleuthing and espionage. Indeed Hajimes own boss Celestia Ludenburg had said that some deals been made and broken based on information gleaned by Kirigiri alone and that she was one of Togamis closest friends. Although Togami never seemed to look at her with fondness, Hajime himself had witnessed how the man stopped to listen to every contribution she would make in her quiet voice, hinting at some truth to Ludenburgs words. It might be understandable then why Hajime always felt a bit intimidated by her, despite her refined polite attitude.
Chihiro Fujisaki also sat nearby on a chair, dainty hands curled around a cup with the remains of tea showing she had been waiting longer than the others. Like Kirigiri the programmer was renouned in the company, not only responsible for Togami's network and IT development but who was allegedly able to create the software that could test the boundaries of science fiction. Looking at the diminutive profile she cut almost hidden in the chair it seemed an even more shocking truth. Greeting them both Hajime took a remaining seat and waited on the arrival of the others.
Kiyotaka Ishimaru arrived a moment later, and Hajime knew without checking a clock that it would be 30minutes since Togamis call on the dot. Ishimaru was in finance and had a very strong work ethic. Rigid in regards to punctuality and work quality he was the only person Hajime had ever encountered who could make Byakuya Togami seem relaxed.
It seemed he wouldn't have to wait long for the remainder of the group as at that precise moment the lift doors opened to reveal both an intrigued looking Togami and his boss Celestia Ludenburg with a small smile on her face. Hajime felt his stomach twist. Despite not having worked there long he knew that expression would lead to trouble. Usually trouble for him… but to see it after a conversation with Togami himself made Hajimes already frayed nerves take another hit.
Striding up to the small group who quickly arose from their seats to meet them Togami acknowledged them with a slight nod, folded his arms and addressed the group as a whole briskly.
"The car is waiting out front. The restaurant is expecting us. Afterwards Celestia has informed me an old friend of hers runs a nearby establishment that sounds like suitable entertainment for the evening."
With that he turned on his heel and strode toward the lobby door. Hajime felt himself pale further as the group soundlessly followed. His head swam, and he swallowed hard, dinner and entertainment? Dinner alone with this particular group would prove challenging for participation without seeming foolish – but entertainment too? Entertainment suggested by Ludenburg nonetheless? Glancing across at his boss who was playing idly with a strand of her long dark hair waiting to get into the limo, once again wearing that small smile, Hajime knew he would need his wits about him tonight.

It was over an hour later that the group left the restaurant. Mercifully for Hajime the meal had been uneventful. It mostly consisted of Togami and Kirigiri talking about other firms and deals with Ludenburg interjecting occasionally to give her opinion on odds. Hajime was largely silent listening so the meal certainly hadn't improved anyones perception of him but he felt content enough that he had refrained from any social gaffs. He yawned and stretched his thin limbs above his head as he sat at a round table in the building owned by Ludenburgs friend where they would be entertained for the night.

It was an impressive looking casino – not much surprise there given how Ludenburg liked to gamble, but it was far from run of the mill. Currently the exclusive guests were in a room to themselves with complementary drinks awaiting the arrival of the owner. It had been a ten minute wait so far, and Hajime cast another anxious glance towards Togami. With his blond head bowed and seemingly idly using his phone the man appeared relaxed but his demeanor only served to further exacerbate Hajimes nerves. The man was notorious for being short of patience and short tempered. Relaxed was dangerous territory – Hajime was certain.

Finally the door opened and a short sandy blond haired man entered. He smiled at them, and it was like a dagger had been unsheathed. Gleaming but dangerous. "Good evening. Im Fuyuhiko and this is my establishment. I apologize for my delay but I hope you will find that we have some interesting unique entertainment lined up for you all tonight." He'd looked at us each in turn, his gaze lingering on Togami but now it shifted to Ludenburg, and I tried to contain my shiver as I saw her small smile in had we let ourselves in for?