Hi guys! Here's another chapter. I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: Gakuen Alice does not belong to Zen Ayuri. ^_^
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Chapter 2: Secretary Like No Other
"This isn't some sick joke, right? I do not find this amusing," the raven-haired man said, his lips slightly twitching.
"No, sir. I believe this is not. I assure you that I am capable of any task you should ask of me," the red-head replied, seriousness evident on his face.
The CEO of Aether, Natsume Hyuuga, still sitting on his desk, contemplated on the situation. Perhaps he could give this boy a chance. His manners are well off and his disposition isn't half bad. He stands with confidence despite being smaller than most men in this business.
"Which school were you from?" Hyuuga asked. He was testing him already, to see whether he was fit for this position.
"Gakuen Alice, sir," the younger boy replied without a hint of doubt or hesitation.
He answered correctly. Even though he knew that his employee was from Gakuen Alice, having read his application paper before Ruka came barging in, he asked the question. Why? To test him. If he had answered him that he should look at his application form, then he would've been kicked out of this company. He wanted employees who follow orders quickly. He isn't in need of people who talk back at him.
"Why do you want to enter Aether and what makes you think you have the qualifications to be our employee?"
"I have always been a supporting role. I do not like appearing in public as the initiator of the project. I entered Aether for the reason that I think I could better my skills here and I would also wish to help you reach higher," he answered all with a calm face.
Correct answer. An employee must be honest at all times. Aether has no room for dirty liars. Hyuuga could already tell this boy's sincere answer.
"What would you like to accomplish in your stay here?"
"Like I said before, I wish to help you achieve more," the boy said.
"You are brave for saying that. How great do you think you are for having the guts to say that to me?" The Hyuuga was annoyed. The kid's got guts.
"With all due respect, sir, I believe in my capabilities as much as you do yours. Some call me a fool for saying this but I am not afraid. I am not afraid to tell you wrong if you are," he answered, eyes gleaming with the intensity of a lion.
"How old are you?" Hyuuga asked.
"I'm eighteen, sir," replied the young man.
"You are still young," remarked by Hyuuga.
"That is true. But I don't think I am inferior to others in terms of skill," the boy answered confidently.
The raven-haired man smirked. He had found a good secretary, or at least someone who will stay longer than the others. The boy is strong willed and can fight for his belief. At the same time, he also knows his place and where his loyalties lie.
"You're hired," Hyuuga said and turned his chair around, "Also, I do not believe that you are foolish because even a fool knows not to mess with me." Technically speaking, he meant that the boy is not a fool but a courageous man.
"Of course, sir." The red-head bowed in respect.
An awestruck blonde stood in the sidelines, confused and baffled, at the same time, with the previous exchange of words that had occurred. His best friend had accepted an assistant, a secretary for that matter. That conversation was already a test for the young red-head. Nogi thought that the younger boy already knew that it was a test, an oral interview. The boy was witty and smart. Nogi knew there was something unique about this kid, something you don't normally see in most people.
"Your first order, Toshiki, is to arrange me a schedule for next week. All the people I have appointments with are to be called for finalization and confirmation. I expect it to be here by tomorrow," Hyuuga ordered, spoken like a true president.
"Yes, sir. I shall take my leave now. Call me if you need anything, sir," Toshiki left and headed towards the receptionist for the appointments.
"He's an interesting one, isn't he, Nat?" the blonde asked.
"You're still here, Ruka? I thought you left after the newbie introduced himself," Hyuuga joked, half-heartedly.
"I never left this room. You were just preoccupied with Toshiki-san," Nogi exclaimed, later pointing a finger to Hyuuga as an accusation.
"I know. I was just messing with you, Ruka," deadpanned the raven-head.
"Well, you accepted him. And that's a first."
"Hn." A common nonchalant answer came from the raven-head.
"Well, I still have errands to run and people to meet. See ya, Nat!" and the blonde strode away and exited his office.
The strangest thing that day was Hyuuga actually looked contented because of two people he met on this same day. He was looking forward to the next few events.
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A cup of coffee does one good but sleep makes a person better.
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It was past midnight already and Hyuuga was still fixing up the agreement terms for each meeting he had to attend. It looks like he was spending the night in his office again. He wondered though why he still had an apartment when he is rarely there, spending most of his time in his office that he even has spare clothes in here.
Only the sound of him typing on the keyboard could be heard in his office. No one was there but him. That was until the door creaked open and like de ja vu, a mop of red hair popped out from the door, carrying a tray of coffee and some pieces of chocolates.
"Here, sir." The ginger-haired boy placed the newly brewed coffee on his desk along with a plate full of chocolates. Hyuuga took a sip of the coffee.
"I do not like sweets," Hyuuga simply stated as he gently pushed the plate away from him.
"And so I've heard. Don't worry, sir. Those are dark chocolates. They have enough carbohydrates to supply you 'till morning," Toshiki pushed the plate back to his boss.
"Hn," replied the raven-head.
"It's bad for your health if you keep staying up this late," Toshiki commented.
"I could say the same for you. You're still up at this hour and you're still eighteen," Hyuuga retorted back.
"It's only fair that I do so since my boss is doing this for the sake of the company," he smiled and surprised the Hyuuga.
The Hyuuga did not want to admit it out loud but this boy impressed him. He was sincere about helping him. He planned to order him to go home but-
"What can I do for you, sir? Is there anything I could help with?" the boy asked.
Even if he didn't want to admit it, he wanted to sleep and so he accepted the younger boy's offer. And through the course of that night, Hyuuga sat on his desk typing on his laptop while his secretary checks on the documents needed for the next day.
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It isn't so bad to depend on others from time to time
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The first rays of sunshine hit the dim office of Natsume Hyuuga who awoke with a start. He found himself sitting on his desk covered with a blanket, his laptop closed and piles of papers neatly stacked on his table. And finally he saw the person responsible for this, the boy sleeping on his couch, Shuiro Toshiki. The raven-head ran a hand through his hair, immediately straightening it out. He neared the boy and was about to wake him up, but then realized that the boy slept later than he did.
He heard him groan and finally wake up. The boy's hands reached up to rub his russet eyes.
"You're hair is a mess," he blatantly said.
"I'm sorry, sir. But my bed hair is terrible," the sleepy boy answered back, "Anyways, I'm going home to get a change of clothes and I'll be back later, Hyuuga-sama," the boy bowed and made a dash outside.
Speaking of changing, Hyuuga himself hasn't even begun changing. He walked to his table to get a key when he saw a color-coded schedule of the whole of his next week lying on his table. You finished it quickly.
He then headed towards his own shower inside his office to get refreshed. Yes, the secretary he got was like no other.
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to be continued :)
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I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you to all those who took time to write a review, follow and add this story to their favorites. Thanks also to those who gave time to read this story. See you!
NOTE: This was a rather short chapter.