Hey hey! So I decided to write more about Mino. The personality is something that I had thought about myself. I feel he is the most undeveloped character in Sekaiichi. Him and Yuu. Hm... Maybe I should put both of them together. This happened on the last day of Hell week. Sorry Kisa...
"Bang!" Kisa's head hit the table loudly, shocking everyone in the Emerald Department. Sure, Kisa's head hitting the table was not an uncommon thing but this time, it was LOUD. Onodera glanced over at his colleague worriedly.
"Kisa-san, are you alright?" Onodera asked anxiously. No reply. He shook Kisa's shoulder gently. Still no reply. Figuring that his colleague had fainted, Onodera lifted Kisa's head and inspected his forehead. Luckily there weren't any cuts but a big bruise was slowly forming. Onodera mentally tutted.
"Oi, Onodera! How's Kisa?" Takano called out. Onodera lifted his gaze and looked at his boss, catching a hint of jealousy in his eyes. Usually, Onodera would have either blushed or smirked but he was too concerned about Kisa right now.
"Not good. He passed out again and a bruise is forming on his head," Onodera replied, his attention already back to Kisa. Takano clicked his tongue impatiently.
"This is the 3rd time he fainted. Go take an ice pack quick. Come back to your work as soon as your are done. IF I FIND YOU LINGERING AROUND, I WILL DOUBLE YOUR WORKLOAD. GO!" Takano barked. Onodera scrambled out of his seat and went to get the ice pack. It has been about six months working with Takano but he has not gotten over how scary Takano can be during hell week.
When he got back, he found Mino on his seat.
"Mino-san, please excuse me," Onodera said. Mino turned around and gave Onodera his infamous smile, though now it just looked creepy. Imagine a person with eyebags and skin so pale it looked like paper itself, smiling at you. How would you feel?
"Sorry Onodera. I was just looking over Kisa," Mino explained while getting out of Onodera's seat. "Do you want me to help you with Kisa? I am almost finished with my work but I cannot say the same for you," Mino continued while gesturing to Onodera's piled of work. Onodera was just about to refuse Mino's offer when Takano butted in.
"Just let Mino handle it. Don't think you are capable enough to take care of Kisa AND finish doing your work in the same night. You will have to stay here 'till 7 in the morning to finish up your work while all of us are already home asleep. But then again, you are a slowpoke. WELL, WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR?" Takano thundered. Sighing, Onodera muttered a quick thanks to Mino and continued doing his work at Mino's table.
"Takano," Onodera mused, "sometimes have worse mood swings than girls. And that came from a guy who had to endure An-chan when she was a teenager."
An hour passed and Kisa was still not conscious. Mino, who had just recently finished his work, stayed behind to help Kisa with his. Takano had offered his help but Mino rejected it. Onodera was surprised at that time. If it was up to him, he would already accepted Takano's help without a second thought. He couldn't believe just how kind Mino was, going as far as to help Kisa finish his work so when Kisa woke up, he could head home straight. He was also amazed that not only did Takano not complain about Kisa fainting, he had also offered his help. Offering your help when you have twice the workload of other editors and sacrificing your sleep when you have not even taken a break for the whole night to just help another editor was something one would consider as incredibly nice.
"Both of them are amazing. I wished I was a little like them. Takano and his editing power and Mino's ability to be nice no matter the occasion. Though I wouldn't want to smile all the time like Mino but I guess that makes Mino Mino. And I definitely do NOT want to become Takano the wolf. Wait, why did I even think of that? GAH! Get out, get out. No, stop thinking about Takano," Onodera mentally berated himself and felt his face heating up.
"Your face is really red. Do you feel ill?" Mino questioned. Onodera blushed even harder and shook his head.
"See what you made me do, Takano..." Onodera thought angrily while continuing with his work, aware of Takano's glare.
Hatori was the one to go back first, though he did left looking a bit guilty leaving everyone still in the warzone while he get to go back home. It was about 3am then. Now, it is already 3.30am. How time flies past.
"Wah, where am I?" Kisa groaned while trying to sit up, only to lay his head back on the table, clutching his head.
"Kisa, you finally woke up! How are you feeling? You have been out for about 2 hours now," Mino said while supporting Kisa.
"Eh? Mino-chan? What are you doing here at Ricchan's seat? And why do I have a bruise on my forehead and a migraine?" Kisa enquired softly, depleted of all energy to even sit up properly.
"I was taking care of you when you were unconscious. You banged your forehead really hard on the table. " Mino explained patiently.
"Wah so that is what happened? I'm sorry for causing all of you trouble. Thank you Mino. Man, I thought all these was merely a nightmare," Kisa sighed while smiling weakly around him. Takano merely nodded. Onodera returned his smile. Mino, well, Mino beamed at Kisa.
Kisa hunched at his table, groping around for his stack of work. He looked perplexed when he could not find his pile.
"Eh, where is my work? Don't tell me it disappeared..." Kisa left his words hanging as he continued fruitlessly to search for his work.
"Don't worry, Kisa. I got it all under control," Mino lifted up the manuscript he was currently editing.
"EH? Wah Mino, you didn't have to," Kisa said while choking back tears. He was really touched that Mino had done this for him. He never knew anyone so kind before. Well, except for Yukina. Kisa was truly indebted to Mino. He was so kind and Kisa did not even have the chance to repay him back.
"One day, just you wait," Kisa vowed. "Mino, you have done enough for me. I thank you. I really appreciate what you are doing. Here, give me back my manuscripts. You go home now. You had done a lot for me," Kisa thanked Mino while holding out his hand to take his manuscript back.
Onodera was shocked. He rarely hear this tone in Kisa's voice but if he does, it means that Kisa was really really grateful to the person. The only other time he heard this tone was when Kisa was talking to another man at the Marimo bookstore.
"Oh no. Please allow me to continue. I am nearly finished with this one. You go home first Kisa. Anyway, you look like you have a fever. No, actually you look like you have difficulty even sitting up," Mino declined the offer easily and continued with his editing.
Kisa was torn between arguing with Mino about the manuscripts and going home. His migraine was really murderous. He chose the former and was about to argue when Takano butted in.
"Listen to Mino. You can't even lift your head up. Go home, get some rest, take a day off if you need to. But make sure when you come back, you take Mino's workload. Mino, no arguing here. Accept it. And also, you sure you don't need me and Onodera's help in anything?" Takano asked, his voice gentle. Again, Onodera was shocked at Takano's tone. During hell week, he rarely spoke gently. All he heard from Takano was always a series of barks and orders during hell week. Mino's actions must have soften his heart.
"Mino is amazing," Onodera thought. He found himself thinking of the same things again and again tonight. Too much that even he got annoyed with himself.
"Would a request for a cup of tea be too much?" Mini addressed both Takano and Onodera. Quickly, Onodera stood up and rushed to get Mino the requested cup of tea. Mino does not drink coffee as he claimed that coffee makes him dizzy.
Kisa, feeling guilty and wrong if he just leave Mino working on his manuscripts decided to at least stay at the office and observe Mino doing the work. Soon, when the migraine got too painful for him, he dozed off.
Everything was finished after another hour or so. Timecheck, 6am. Onodera sighed heavily as soon as Takano said everyone was free to go. Everyone stood up, except Kisa of course, to pack their bags. When Takano was ready, he sauntered (attempted to. He was almost staggering) towards Kisa's seat and proceeded to wake him up.
Kisa started when he realized that Takano was the one waking him up. Taking a glance at Takano's face was appearently too much for Kisa. He broke down, saying how sorry he was and how useless he was during the period. Takano was startled and it took Onodera, Mino and Takano a while before Kisa calmed down again.
"Hey Kisa. Look. It wasn't your fault alright? You can't help being sick. Don't say you are useless because you are not. Everbody in Emerald is precious to the company and to me, okay? So cheer up. Anyway, you are going to pay by doing some of Mino's work so its ok. We all help each other in times of need. I am not going to be cheesy here and say we are all family but we are friends and that is what friends do. Help one another," Takano said gently, one hand on Kisa's head. The speech was touching to Onodera but he did find that gesture somewhat... Irritating.
"Oh that reminds me. I brought my car over. Onodera you are most definitely coming with me. Mino, Kisa, I suggest you take my offer on this unless you have another person fetching you," Takano offered. Onodera turned bright red at Takano's words but he does suppose that turning down a nice cozy ride back home was stupid. And Takano is not going out of his way to send Onodera home. Come on, they live next to each other!
"Alright. I'll take up your offer," Mino agreed.
"Just drop me off at the train station please. I have someone waiting for me," Kisa then gave a thumbs up, who knows for what. He took out his phone and started tapping away, only to put his phone away when he got a confirmation.
"Urm not to be rude or anything but are you sure you are good enough to drive? I mean, looking tired and everything," Onodera asked Takano. Takano smirked.
"Of course. Don't worry about me. You know, your cute when you are worried about me," the last part was whispered beside Onodera's ear. He tried hard not to feel flustered but failed.
When everyone was ready, they all stumbled out of the building. All looking like zombies. The early birds coming into the office stayed away from them, some with disgusted looks(the newbies), others frightened. The only people who dared come close to them are the other editors from other teams.
Once they reached Takano's car, they had a small argument of where they should seat. Well, Takano and Onodera did anyway. Takano wanted Onodera to sit at the front but Onodera refused and wanted to sit at the back. Mino and Kisa just watched their small fight with amusement. In the end, Takano won. Onodera grumbled and somehow manage to position his body so he was facing away from Takano in the seat.
They dropped Kisa off first. Mino supported him and helped him to a bench outside the station.
"Kisa-san! Are you okay?" Someone called out and rushed towards Kisa. Takano and Onodera, who was witnessing the scene in the car, recognised the person. Who wouldn't recognize Yukina Kou, the one who sold most of their mangas?
Yukina then turned towards them and thanked all of them, looking absolutely grateful. They left the place and dropped Mino off 4 blocks away from the station.
After that, the atmosphere became really quiet and peaceful in the car. Onodera had shifted himself so that he was sitting normally. Gazing out of the window, he thought about the events that had happened. Kisa fainting, Mino kindness...
"Takano, you know what? I feel very grateful that I stayed in the manga division. Grateful that I met people like Mino, Kisa, Hatori..." Onodera trailed off.
"Don't stop there. You are forgetting someone," Takano grunted. Onodera looked confused. He did not miss anyone, did he? Takano, sensing that Onodera was puzzled, sighed heavily.
"I was talking about myself. Unless you don't feel grateful that you have met me," Takano said, sounding really hurt.
"No no no! I did not mean that. I meant that it should be obvious that I was, AM, grateful to meet you!" Flustered, Onodera spouted, desperate to make Takano feel better. Takano's eyes widen. He did NOT expect that.
"Onodera... I am driving. Please don't make me have the urge to kiss you," Takano mumbled, his grip tightened around the steering wheel.
"Wha... NO I DID NOT SAY THAT. FORGET I SAY THAT," Onodera yelled, flushed.
"You mean that was a random statement?" Takano answered, sounding even worse than before.
"No it wasn't... ARGH I GIVE UP!" Onodera threw his hands up and shifted his body away from Takano again. Hearing Onodera's grumblings, Takano grinned.
Author's notes: Man that was a long chapter... I did not know where to end... AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT MINO but I ended up putting some details about Takano and Onodera... I hope you did not mind. Was it draggy? Is my language okay? The paragraphing, sentence structure, grammar and the words I used? Do I need any improvements? Please review! Thanks guys for reading my story! Love you guys! (^人^)
