A/N: Written for the Anime and Manga Fanfiction Challenges forum, under the Diversity in Writing challenge. Section A, prompt 57.
Junko Kaname's dedication to her job makes her either a workaholic or incredibly ambitious, but not both for that would be too overwhelming of a description. People she encounters rarely find the time to pursue gray areas in the matter regarding her work ethic. This subject is something Junko isn't sure how to breach in common conversation, to be quite honest. Her work is a surprisingly broad topic. There is too much to cover when engaging in short, polite conversation. Manners trumps self defense, Junko notices in most cases. That, much like how many hours she works, is an indisputable fact.
Is it appropriate, Junko wonders, to jokingly call herself a workaholic? There are grains of truth to this comment. She admits to spending a lot and almost too much of her life toiling away at work. It is a truth that Junko acknowledges that she should be home more often, loving the family she chose to have with a man she adores with her fully functional heart with children who are bright and loving and fantastic and all of these beautiful adjectives.
Her heart sinks at the thought of her children, Madoka and Tatsuya. A part of Junko feels as if she doesn't know them as well as a mother should. But she knows this is irrational. Her children love her, and she loves her children. Junko takes Madoka to school; when she can, she helps with homework. She trusts Madoka to talk with Junko when Madoka's days turn rough. Their relationship does not include many words, but it is there. Tatsuya is still young, still malleable; Junko wonders if her distance towards her son will make him grow up wrong.
Junko banishes these thoughts. This is where her ambition kicks in. She knows that she works towards a goal that seems intangible to everyone but herself. Junko's fear of distance becomes real when Madoka's eyes reveal the truth of how she feels but doesn't ever truly vocalize. She grudgingly accepts the fact that success is so wildly subjective, so easy to overlook when one's own answer seems more convenient. Junko's brand of success is providing for her family. That means Junko must be ruthless, driven, cold. But this is not her nature. She radiates fire, warmth, compassion. Is it possible to mix hot and cold without making steam that floats away out of reach? Junko isn't sure. Junko will probably never be sure. This isn't a fact Junko can understand. Facts calm her down; they remind her that the world is concrete.
Another fact Junko knows: the ornate decadence of the house she lives in is too gaudy, but it's a visual reminder of her success. She has the money to look beautiful.
"You're too icy," Junko's boss says, and it hits her. She has let the cold overwhelm the heat within. Defrosting is more painful than she realizes. Junko requests more time at home. This is her ambition kicking in; she wants to keep the memories fresh.
