Parallel or How Art Imitates Life
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Yumi sighed happily as she closed her book and held it to her chest. "Hey, Miwako!" she said, waving over the detective as she walked into the break room. "You ought to read this book."
Sato took it curiously and began to read the back of the worn paperback. Yumi, with clasped hands and a dreamy look in her eyes, told her, "It's the story of female officer, Yumeko Kato, who is really popular among the department. One of her most ardent pursuers is a detective from a wealthy family. He tries to win her over gifts and nice meals but she only has eyes for her partner who is not wealthy and has no connections but has is good hearted and reliable."
Slowly, Sato looked up from the book and gave Yumi a look. "You're kidding me, right?"
"Nope!" Yumi replied happily.
"Should I ask how it ends?" Sato asked warily. "Oh, fine," Sato said, caving into Yumi's expression. "How does it end?"
"Well, they were working on a really dangerous case that had personal meaning to Yumeko since she lost her previous partner the same way. The same thing almost happens this time. Afterwards, she realizes how much her partner means to her and they confess to each other and retire to the back of their police cruiser."
Sato turned fire engine red, "Ah… thank you for the offer, Yumi, but I think I'll pass." She moved to hand the book back but Yumi ignored her efforts.
"What's wrong, Miwako?" said Yumi as she gave Sato a very sly look, "Do it hit too close to home?"
"Yumi!" said Sato, her voice started to edge into the panicked tonal range as the color of her face began to take on a purplish color.
"What are you so embarrassed about? That it might give you some ideas?" Yumi leered. A muffled cough caught her attention. She glanced over Sato's shoulder and laughed nervousle, "Heh. Look at the time! My break is over now. I'll see you later, Miwako," she quickly said and scuttled out of the room.
Sato turned enough to see who made Yumi run out of the room. To her horror, Takagi, and what seemed like half the department, stood in and around the doorway. They wore a variety of expressions. And many were trying to look anywhere but in her direction. Takagi, she noted, received more than a few glares.
Feeling like her face was hot enough to cook and egg, she made up a flimsy excuse and left the break room.
Sato could not say when she made it to her desk. One moment, it was as if she had been just walking out of the break room and the next, she was sitting at her desk, shuffling through papers with unseeing eyes.
Putting the papers down, she looked around and noticed that the room was strangely empty. Sticking out from under a pile of papers was The Book. Taking another glance around the room, she pulled the book out and just grinned. There was no harm in returning the book in a few days. No harm at all.
A few weeks later, Takagi found a wrapped gift the size of a paperback book tucked in his desk. On a little card taped to the top, was written, in what Takagi swore was Yumi's handwriting, "Read this!"