December 19th
The two spend the next two hours discussing stupid things, as if they were teenagers again, but sometimes talked about work and of the Iridescent Clan.
Shizuka was often jumping around from company to company for monitoring or finishing paperwork due, and was occasionally trapped in meetings. If she was lucky, she would return to Iris in a week after being away, but normally it would take a whole month, sometimes two, depending on the situation. That is when Yayoi is put in charge of Iris Corporation and tends to the needs of the clansmen.
"Shoot. I hope the toy store isn't closed yet. Could you head back to Iris without me?" Shizuka speaks as the two friends slip on their coats after finishing their dinner, heading to the ground floor.
"Eh? Shopping at this time?" Yayoi asks, checking the time on her watch, noticing that it was nearly eight. They walk outside into the cold city. It was already snowing, and the air felt slightly off to Shizuka. The two stood outside of Maison Blanche for a moment to pull their hoods over their heads and further discuss where Shizuka needed to be, stepping aside to the curb so people could have access into the restaurant.
"I came straight here after I was free, so you should feel special. I left my car at Rush Studios so I'll pick it up when I go back there." Shizuka points and Yayoi was drawn aback. "I forgot that I had a mission for Shin, and I really should do it because I might forget later on."
"Ah, your little brother, now that makes sense. Isn't he going to be graduating from Hanagesaki high school in the spring?" Yayoi asks, eyeing a taxi and waving an arm to catch it.
"Yeah, May 16th. He's growing up pretty fast." Shizuka chuckles.
The taxi slowly pulls up to the curb and Yayoi steps inside.
"Time sure flies by." She says. "Please stay safe on the streets. I'll see you back at headquarters."
"See ya!~" Shizuka grins happily and Yayoi shuts the door. The cab merges into the traffic and Shizuka turns away, heading towards her destination. She went through a list of possible gifts for her younger brother in her head, recalling what she had bought him last Christmas. Let's see, I think last time...I bought Shin an RC Helicopter and I'm definitely not getting something like that again. She thought, remembering how her little brother accidentally flew the chopper into her hair and it got tangled. Maybe I should get him some jeans...ah, but he also like jigsaw puzzles, so maybe both.
She stops at a crosswalk, waiting for it to turn green so she can continue on her mission, confirming what she was going to purchase for Shin.
A moment later, the light at the crosswalk turned green and Shizuka follows the crowd accordingly. Instead of heading to the more popular toy stores, she was aware of another shop that wasn't as well known, run by an elderly couple and she enters it, finding it a bit more crowded than normal.
Coincidentally, Iridescent clansmen, Himuro Daisuke, was there, browsing the aisles, searching for a specific figurine for his girlfriend.
He is a young 20 year old man with shaggy, short black hair and green eyes, standing at 178 cm (5 ' 11"). He was frustrated that he was unable to find the figurine as this was the fifth store he had checked and was about to leave the shop, until he sensed that someone else with the same aura as his was nearby.
He felt the Aura a few aisles behind him from what he can tell and he turns around to see the Shizuka, who was unaware of Daisuke's presence. She was browsing through the jigsaw puzzles, holding a box with a kitten on the cover and he was drawn aback, after all, it's been two weeks since he last met her when he was accepted into the Clan.
He was hesitant in approaching her, but he was curious as to why she was looking at jigsaw puzzles. He didn't think she was the type to be interested in them.
"Oh, if it isn't Takahiro-san." He greets Shizuka, "It's been a while, how are you doing?" She turns around with a soft smile, cocking her head a little.
"Oh, I've been good, thank you for asking." She says and he felt calmer, stepping a bit closer to her so people could get through. "But...if I may ask..." His grin fades and he looks at her as she laughs nervously, "who are you?"
It felt like someone had punched him in the gut when she asked and he felt like an idiot on the spot, but he knew that this person was Takahiro Shizuka, the Iridescent King. Calm down, Daisuke! It might be because she has a lot of people to remember, especially at a big company like Iris! He cries in his head and collects himself, hoping no one saw his dramatic stunt.
"Sorry, don't feel bad! It's just how I am...uh...er..." Shizuka smooths back her hair, thinking of a way to lighten up the mood and Daisuke straightens up, still feeling a little upset.
"No, no, I understand since you have a large company with a lot of people my age working, so you probably don't remember me." Daisuke says, "My name is Himuro Daisuke. I became one of your Clansmen two weeks ago and I work at All 4 One Media as an intern."
"Ah that's right." Shizuka nods her head, recalling that exact moment, "It was December 2nd at 6:25 P.M. You were formally a member of the Green Clan, right? Whatever their Clan's name is..." She asks and he felt a little better, but he was also shocked how she remembered such tiny details but not his name. "You'll have to forgive me, Himuro-kun. When I meet someone for the first time and I don't see them again after that, I forget who they are." She laughs like it was a joke, waving a hand, but Daisuke felt a little concerned and wondered how she's still able to run such a huge corporation.
"Are you Christmas shopping as well?" She asks, returning to the puzzle aisle, aiming for the larger sets.
"Yeah, for my girlfriend. I was about to leave since I couldn't find what I needed here, but then I caught you here, unexpectedly." He says.
Shizuka's interest was piqued and she chuckles, finally deciding on a 3D puzzle of a European cathedral. "Is she interested in stuffed animals?"
"F-Figurines actually." He answers, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Anime figures?"
"Er, no, animal figurines. Unfortunately she's not into Anime and is more westernized. I thought I would find one here, but, no luck. She's kind of a kid at heart." He blushes and laughs and Shizuka felt happy for him.
"Does she like glass figurines? Because I can help with that." She smirks, heading to the checkout and encouraging Daisuke to come along.
"H-Huh? Really? A-Ah, no! You don't have to, I'm sure you're busy." He stammers but Shizuka reassures him.
"Don't worry about it. It's the holidays~" She cheers and he sighs.
"Thank you, Takahiro-san."
When he first met the Iridescent King, he wasn't expecting to shake hands with a woman, even more so, she allowed him into her clan even though he betrayed his own, but he was given a second chance and his needs were looked after at Iris, which gave him hundreds of opportunities of work and he chose to produce music; however, he never met with Shizuka again after that. He heard that Iris owns several subsidiary companies and goes around checking up on them. It sounded tiresome to him.
"Do you like jigsaw puzzles?" Daisuke asks as the two depart from the store, heading to their next destination, wherever that may be.
"Nope, but my little brother does." She answers with cheer. "What about you?"
"I'm on the same boat as you right there." He answers with a chuckle. "Anyway, where are you taking me?"
"You'll see." She grins and Daisuke felt a bit anxious, unsure of what she was thinking and she whistles for a taxi, soon pulling up to the curb and they climb inside, Daisuke heading in first. Shizuka gives the driver directions to downtown Tokyo and Daisuke fidgets, twiddling his thumbs and looking out the window. He then checks his PDA for any messages, finding a few, and he opens them, one from his colleague asking if he was going to attend the party some girl name Ito Yukina invited them to. He ignores the message to answer back his girlfriend, who was asking what he was doing at the moment. He explains to her that he was running an errand with his boss. She was fine with it and he moves onto the next text from another colleague asking the same party question.
"What's up with this party over the break?" Daisuke asks, putting his PDA asleep.
"Uninterested?" Shizuka asks, lifting an eyebrow at him and sneering.
"I guess you can say that." He answers.
"It'll be an opportunity to meet other members of the Clan...but I won't influence your decision." She waves a hand as if to swat away her words and Daisuke ponders about the party. Well, I'll have to remember to remember to take him off the list. She thought, taking out one of her cellphones to jot it down in a notepad. It had a pearl white case that shimmered different colors in the light with a silver rotating sphere plugin charm.
Shizuka had three different cellphones, each with it's own unique design so she can identify which phone was meant for what. One phone was strictly for her family and close friends, the second was for her Clansmen, which she was now using, and the last was for business relating to Iris Corporation. Although it seems troublesome, it was for security purposes, and Shizuka didn't mind juggling three cellphones around and it kept her busy.
When she looks up she can see that they've reached their destination. "And here we are." She turns
The taxi slows down and Shizuka pays the fare, thanking the driver as the two step out of the cab.
Downtown Tokyo was just as crowded. It was nearly the holiday break after all, and this was night club territory as well.
Daisuke follows Shizuka through a back alley, coming upon a small shop with a Victorian-like exterior. They enter and are immediately surrounded by a calm mossy scent, as if they had entered into a forest of pine woods. The oak wood flooring and dim lit exterior gave him more of that nature feel, especially with a subtle sound of a stream playing in the background, until they enter further into the shop to be encircled by hundreds of glass merchandise seemingly to sparkle in the dim lighting.
They were the only customers from what Daisuke can tell, actually, it seemed like they are the only people there in general, since no one was at the register. Isn't that hazardous? He thought.
"Oh? If it isn't the Iridescent King" A voice in another room spoke, giving Daisuke a little scare, and walking out from the shadows was a man wearing a fancy revolutionary styled military suit and hat with leather gloves. He had long strawberry blonde hair tied in a ponytail, some of his bangs framed his sharp oval face and swooped to the left. He had magenta eyes and was also a bit taller than Daisuke.
"Good evening to you too, Orlando-san." Shizuka greets, her back was turned to him, however, and she was browsing a shelf with a row of glass ballerinas on it, but soon, she whips around to turn her attention to the shopkeeper, Orlando.
"I haven't finished the prism table you wanted yet. It's a complicated design you requested, but it isn't anything I can't do for my lovely customer~" Orlando makes a pose as if he was dancing as he approaches Daisuke and Shizuka. "Oh? Who might this be?"
"This is Himuro Daisuke, one of my newest clansmen, I suppose I'll say that." She says. "Himuro-kun, this is Orlando, owner of Looking Glass Shoppe and your senior clansmen." Shizuka introduces the men and Orlando eyes Daisuke with interest, a hand on his hip and his fingers under his chin.
"It's nice to meet you." They both say and bow at the same time, which makes all three of them laugh a bit.
"I've brought him here to look for a gift for his girlfriend." Shizuka says.
"Is that so?!" Orlando asks with wide eyes, flashing another pose and Daisuke was beginning to think this man was strange. "To profess one's love with a glass ornament is truly wonderful! One cannot resist the beauty and brilliance of one!~" He continues his speech as Daisuke stares at him while Shizuka maintains a grinning face, amused of his flamboyance.
"He's really passionate about glass-work." Daisuke mutters to himself, laughing nervously. "Is it okay if I look around?" He asks Orlando who finally straightens himself out.
"Of course, please do! And if there's anything you need just ask~" He bows and Daisuke didn't hesitate to leave. Shizuka picks up a glass shaped crown, turning it until a small rainbow spectrum could be seen inside and Orlando turns to her, a hand on his hip. "I haven't seen you in a while, Shizuka-san, what's been going on?" He asks as she places the crown down with a chuckle.
"The usual as always." She answers, "Monitoring my companies and doing paperwork and such."
"Don't you get bored though?" He sighs, feeling sorry for her but she shakes her head, examining a chess set with one side made of frosted glass and the other left clear.
"Not in the least," She says and picks up the clear glass king. "Because everyday is different with every company so it feels like the month that passes by is actually a week. I'm a busy person without knowing it." She laughs and tosses the king into the air and catching it in her palm, nearly giving Orlando a heart attack when she did that.
"Th-That's not good, you know? You should go out and have fun while you're still young." He shrugs as he explains and Shizuka laughs, turning to him and slapping him on the arm.
"I think you should too, Orlando-san! You're always cooped up in this place~" She says and he was offended.
"Excuuuuuse moi, mademoiselle! This shop is a haven for my works. It is my nirvana, much like your Iris Corporation." He remarks while Shizuka continues to tease him.
While the two were chatting, Daisuke was careful when browsing the glassware. He was amazed of the details in each piece, wondering how difficult it was to work with glass given the amount of time the artist put into them.
"In any case," Shizuka clears her throat, and lowers her voice while Daisuke continued deeper into the shop. "It's the holiday season, Orlando. I'm hoping you have it in your heart to give that guy a bit of a discount."
"You're always looking after your clansmen aren't you?" Orlando asks and she grins.
"I'm making a selfish request." She remarks.
"You know I cannot oppose you. After all, you love this shop as much as I do, being the Iridescent King." He sneers but Shizuka was silent for a bit; however her smile remains on her lips and Orlando sighs, knowing that he couldn't read her mind after all. He then leaves her side to tend to Daisuke's needs. The shopkeeper finds the young man passing by a few glass ornaments, only giving them a glance as if they didn't interest him greatly.
"Are you looking for something in particular?" Orlando asks and Daisuke scratches his head.
"Oh...Y-Yeah..." He replies, feeling a little embarrassed to specify what he had in mind. "It's a...uh...for my girlfriend...she likes figurines so I thought maybe-er...she'd like if I got her a...p-pegasus...figurine. She likes animals, you see." He stammers and is face flushes, which made Orlando gitty and mushy inside.
"Kyah~ That's adorable." He cheers, grabbing Daisuke and dragging him to the other side of the store. "I have something perfect for you then! You're on the wrong side of my store, you fool. Come come! You also get a seasonal discount too so things are cheaper at this time~"
"O-Okay. It's not like I can follow you since you're literally dragging me." Daisuke chokes and Shizuka follows along silently but happily.
"Tadaa~ my Pegasus collection~" Orlando sings, emphasizing the last part of 'collection' with a French twist, and holds Daisuke out and faced him towards a white shelf with many different sizes and shapes of the winged horse. There were so many that Daisuke felt his head spinning.
"This one is my newest creation, take a look~" Orlando gently holds a glass pegasus on his gloves hands and Daisuke examines it, noticing that it had a pink hue to the glass.
"Cool, but, maybe something more...flashy?" He suggests, but he was completely unsure of himself.
He glances back at the shelf, his eyes scanning over shelf to shelf until he comes upon one particular pegasus. It had a glittering frosted coating on its body and wings and was about 3 inches tall and extremely detailed in every little aspect.
"That one." He points out and Orlando takes it off the shelf.
"Ah, the Celestial Goddess. I was inspired when I read a book called Unicorns of Balinor when I was on a trip to America. It's a children's book, but it was wonderful." He says and Daisuke fawns over the glass work. The glitter was a blue color dabbed onto the frosty coating. The horse was in rearing position, the wings outstretched, seeming more majestic and alive. It also had a horn which as carefully twisted and detailed, glitter added onto it as well.
"Mami is going to love this!" Daisuke says, but before he could look at the price, Orlando was twirling away from him. "H-Hey! What are you-"
"Ah~ love grows so strong in young people, especially on holidays. Come now, we must make haste!" He dances over to the register and it took Daisuke a while to comprehend what happened; however, he accepted the fact that he had saved some time, at least, and finally settling on something before changing his mind since this sort of thing wasn't something he normally did. Soon, he heads over to the register to pay for the statue.
Shizuka was occupied with a shimmering glass flower, attracted to its brilliance and wondered if she should purchase it. Meanwhile, Daisuke had already purchased the statue and Orlando was wrapping it neatly with decorative tissue paper and a bag with a pink ribbon.
"Thank you for your purchase. I hope you come again someday~" Orlando sings joyfully as he hands Daisuke the gift bag.
"Thank you. I appreciate it." Daisuke says, examining the gift bag as Shizuka approaches. "Ah, I should get going then. Thank you as well Takahiro-san." Daisuke says with delight and she was pleased.
"Anything for my clansmen, but we're heading the same way for a bit." She remarks and turns to Orlando. "I'll see you at the party, right?"
"Won't miss it, after all, I'll get to see Yayoi-chan again." He points at her and she does the same while Daisuke heads to the door, leaving it open until Shizuka passes through. They bid farewell to the shopkeeper and depart, heading down the alley.
"I'm pretty excited to give this to Mami now. Thank you for showing me this place, Takahiro-san." Daisuke says as they turn a corner.
"You're welcome, I'm glad you found what you were looking for." Shizuka grins and shortly afterwards she checks the time on one of her phones, which was the Clansmen phone, noticing a few text messages as well, but ignores them. It was almost nine and she hadn't bought her little brother any jeans yet. "However, I still have my own shopping to do."
"Ah, then I'll catch us a cab" He offers and she nods.
Soon, they return back to the busy sidewalk and they were lucky to catch a taxi right when someone was leaving. They enter and Shizuka tells the driver to head to the shopping district.
"Alright, but just to warn you, the door on your side, ma'am, is jammed and might not open so you might have to exit on the other side. Sorry for the inconvenience. We'll get that fixed soon." The driver explains, but the two weren't bother by it.
During the ride, Shizuka takes out her personal phone, which had a peacock feather designed case as well as white peacock plugin charm with multicolored gemstones on its feathers. She sees a message from Yayoi who was telling her that she almost fell down the staircases because of a spider hanging down from the ceiling, which gave Shizuka little laugh. Afterwards, she pulls out her Clansmen phone to read the texts, which typically consisted of them asking for advice, questioning something, or replying back to previous messages, mainly about the party or upcoming events planned.
Meanwhile, Daisuke was feeling bashful and imaging the moment he would give the gift to his girlfriend as well as her expression, carefully holding the gift bag in his lap and grinning like a fool.
The cab pulls to an empty curb in the shopping district and Daisuke had to get out in order for Shizuka to exit.
"Sorry, excuse me." She says as he steps out of the taxi.
"It's fine." He says, shifting aside as she exits.
"Well, you have a good night, Himuro-kun. Happy holidays...oh...and again, I'm really sorry about forgetting who you are." She gives him a wide grin and he laughs nervously, unsure how to respond to that.
"It's alright, don't worry about it. At least I'll know what to expect from now on." He finally responds. "Have a good night." He waves a hand as Shizuka walks away, returning the gesture as the two depart.
Before Shizuka steps into the clothing store, she hears one of her phones ringing and she reaches into her pocket to retrieve it, stepping to the side. She pulls out her personal phone and it was ringing with the default tone, meaning she was getting an unknown caller. She felt suspicious, knowing the only people who had this number was her family and Yayoi, but she decides to answer it to confront the person.
"Hello?" She speaks.
"Yoo~ it's been a while." The person on the other end had a cheerful but deep voice; however, she didn't recognize it.
"Who is this?" She asks, grinning, and they laugh.
"Now that's mean, how could you forget a good 'ol friend like me?" They ask, but she was still unsure, glancing around for anything suspicious, slightly turning her body as well. "Well, not that it matters. I wanted to know how you've been for the past six years, so let's go out on a date, huh? Shall we meet at Goro's Cafe around 1 pm tomorrow?" He asks, sounding a bit calmer, and Shizuka was silent. "Oh, and it's me...Shizu-chan."
The moment the person spoke that nickname, she immediately knew who it was. She lifts an eyebrow and the corner of her mouth curls as she drops her arm and slowly hangs up without saying a word to the person. Interesting. She thought, chuckling and entering the clothing shop. Her phone buzzed a short moment later and her text tone went off, but she ignores it, focusing on purchasing jeans for her little brother. I'll deal with that later. She thought.
Thirty minutes pass and she heads out of the store with a few pairs of jeans. She calls for a cab and tells the driver to head to Iris Corporation when he arrives. It was nearly ten when she returns to the large and towering bat-wing shape building. During the day, it was a white building with a blue-gray hue to it with reflective glass windows, by night, baby blue and pale purple lights were aimed up onto the building, giving it a periwinkle glow.
However, since Christmas is in a few days, the color schemed was changed as well as the amounts of lights and of course, decorations. Everything was a blur of red, white, gold, silver, blue and purple colors. Reindeers prance around gingerbread houses around the lawns and a large Santa clause decoration was on the roof taking off into the night, leaving a snowy trail behind him.
Shizuka exits the cab after paying the fee and walks over to the front gate of the corporation, looking up at the security cameras with her signature grin and presses a button on one of the pillars, waiting for someone to answer on the screen. It flashes on soon and she is greeted by Murasaki Renka, one of Iris's security guards, who was wearing the Iridescent Clan's guard uniform, which was a white military suit with ice blue designs, buttons, snap cuffs and decorations, which often shimmered different colors in various lighting.
Murasaki Renka was a positive, middle-age man who took his work seriously. He had shaggy rust colored hair and pale green eyes. "Oh, Takahiro-san!" He waves cheerfully. "Asahina-san said you would be out for a bit so it's good to see you back safely. I'll open the gates for you, do you need me to give you a ride here? It's a bit cold out."
"Thank you but I'll be alright since it's not a long walk. Have a good night." Shizuka nods her head to him and he returns the gesture.
"You have a good night too, Ma'am." He says and she walks towards the building.
The driveway had rows of trees decorated in lights which pulsed different colors. There were also beacons of white lights and over-sized candy canes staked to the ground. It felt like yesterday when everyone pitched in to help put up the decorations, and Shizuka felt warm recalling the memory.
The building doors had wreaths hung on them and jingled when she opened the door after sliding her card. The building smelled of sugar cookies. The feeling of the holidays was definitely in the air.
There was a semi-circular desk at the front and one of her clansmen, Ozaki Mamoru, was sitting at one of the computers, glancing up when he sees her.
"I'm home~" Shizuka sings.
"Welcome back." He says with a straight face, his voice monotone.
Ozaki Mamoru was also a security guard and wore his uniform respectively. He had creamy blonde hair that swooped over to the right above his violet eyes. He was a cool and collected man and always kept a straight face, even when telling jokes, so people have a hard time understanding him.
"Ah! Shizuka-san is back!~"
Shizuka hears a voice and turns, seeing another of her clansmen, Kurihara Saeko, waving and walking towards her. She was another security guard wearing the male's uniform, which didn't bother Shizuka, but she wondered how Yayoi would react.
Kurihara Saeko was a short girl with very short dark purple, nearly black, hair that was parted to the right, one side being longer than the other, and dark golden eyes. She had a fierce and stubborn personality but was loyal to her King and friends.
"Hello, Kurihara-chan." Shizuka greets as Saeko steps behind the desk, sitting next to Mamoru.
"Ooooh~ You went shopping. What did you buy?" She asks.
"Just some gifts for my little brother. Nothing more, nothing less." Shizuka answers as Saeko rests her elbows on the counter, leaning over.
"Aww, that's really cute. He's really lucky to have a sister like you." Her grin was wide and Shizuka gives a chuckle.
"We shouldn't keep you here any longer, Takahiro-san. You're probably tired." Mamoru speaks, grabbing Saeko's back collar and sitting her down on the chair.
"Heey, I wanted to talk to Shizuka-san more." She pouts, crossing her arms.
"We can chat another time." Shizuka says, walking away. "I'll be in my apartment if anyone's looking for me. You two have a good night."
"Yes ma'am. Good night." Both of the clansmen say at the same time as she leaves.
Shizuka makes her way down a corridor, heading to the elevators and calling for one. After a moment, the doors open and she walks inside, pressing the button to the top floor. She lets out a sigh and steps back, leaning against the back of elevator while pulling out her cellphone to check for messages. There was only one message and it was from that number...that person who called her earlier. She opens and reads it:
I bet you're wondering who gave me your number, Shizu-chan. Well...I'd tell you, but in return I'd like to meet with you. Come on it's been a while and you suddenly disappeared. How about it eh? Just give me a heads up when you decide. I'll be waiting.
Shizuka wasn't so sure how to feel about this. She didn't feel anything at all really and she puts her phone asleep.
The elevator rings and the doors open. Shizuka steps out and walks down the dark gray carpeted hall with glass lamps hung on the walls, occasionally there would be framed paintings or pictures, as well as some sculptures now and then.
She finally makes it to her living quarter, which resided on the very top floor of Iris. The entrance was a thick, frost coated glass set of heavy doors with a large Iridescent Clan insignia, which was an elaborate design of an Iris flower.
She unlocks the door and claps her hands, her living room illuminates a warm orange and pink glow from various glass lamps in the room. The floor was a cream marble color, giving the impression of clouds in the lighting. Combined to the living room was her kitchen and bar, and in the far corner near the glass windows was her office desk.
She then walks towards another door and opens it, the light automatically flickering on a white blue color and she tosses the shopping bags in a love seat immediately entering her room. She takes off her coat and hangs it over the arm of the love seat, next she unbuckles the guns around her waist carefully and placing them over her coat. Next she slips off her boots, unclasping the guns on the heels. While she was doing so, she hears someone entering her office.
"Shizuka?" It was Yayoi who had come to visit.
"Over here." She answers, examining the guns she had taken off of her boots and flicking the charm that dangled from the handle. She turns around when she hears Yayoi walking into her room. She was wearing a regular gray shirt, black sweatpants and zebra stripped slippers, which always amused Shizuka.
"How did the shopping go?" She asks, leaning against the door.
"Good. I ran into a clansmen name Himuro Daisuke. By the way, he isn't going to the party so he will not be participating in the secret Santa game." Shizuka explains as she walks into her office, Yayoi following.
"Ah. Himuro-kun. The guy who used to be from Jungle." Yayoi says, watching Shizuka sitting down behind her glass desk and scribbling out Daisuke's name on the Secret Santa list.
"You know...when he came up to me in the toy shop, I didn't remember who he was." Shizuka says.
"I'm not surprise to hear that. You never remember anyone when you meet them for the first time." Yayoi chuckles and Shizuka looks up at her with a grin.
"You don't have to remind me." She says and soon falls silent. Yayoi walks over to a shelf filled with Shizuka's collection of glass objects, all from Orlando's Looking Glass shop and she felt warm inside her chest thinking about him. Shaking her head of the thought she didn't dare touch any of the figurines.
"Ne, Yayoi?" Shizuka speaks and she looks over at her with a raised eyebrow, finding her turned away in her chair, facing the large window in her office into the sleepless city. "Do you remember the guy I dated when we were in high school?"
Yayoi was extremely shocked of her question.
It was rare for Shizuka to bring up something like that since she wasn't the type to openly discuss that topic. Normally it was someone else who questioned about her relationship status and Yayoi felt a little concerned. If she can recall...it was several years ago when Shizuka last had a boyfriend. That was when they were still students at Ashinaka High School.
"Yes. Did...something happen?" Yayoi asks slowly and there was short pause between them, but Shizuka didn't turn around.
"Naoki..." She finally speaks. "Ijuin Naoki...called me."
The name struck Yayoi as memories flood into her mind of Ijuin Naoki. Shizuka's first and last high school lover. "Wh-What? Are you serious?" Yayoi furrowed her brows at her friend, dumbfounded of this moment, but Shizuka didn't move or answer her and she felt impatient. "This is unfortunate...but if you think about it. This was bound to happen eventually since you do own several companies and you have a growing Clan. Someone would give him your number if he was still in the region."
"Ah, but this is why I have three cellphones." Shizuka chuckles, standing up, holding her hands behind her back as she walks closer to the window. "He called my personal number, so it couldn't have been someone else in the Clan, or a business partner."
The information stuns Yayoi again and she clenches her fists, thinking that Shizuka was possibly accusing her. "I would never betray you, Shizuka" Yayoi's tone was serious as she spoke through gritted teeth, but Shizuka laughs.
"Oh stop it~ I would never hold it against you if you told anyone my actual number. It makes life more interesting for me anyway." She turns around to Yayoi with a sneer. "But I have a few theories that I'm going to go with, so let's not worry about this small issue as much."
"Are you sure?" Yayoi asked, once again concerned but Shizuka seemed confident.
"Of course! I am a King, with bigger problems to deal with. It wasn't the end of the world and we were just kids anyways." She places a finger to her lips as she ponders, a sly grin curling at the corners of her mouth. "But...now that we're adults...how will things be like now...I wonder."
"Er...if I may ask...what did you two talk about?" Yayoi asks, still feeling worried.
"I didn't say anything to him." Shizuka answer and Yayoi makes a sound as if she was punched by her words. Was she being passive-aggressive all this time?! She thought. "Mainly because I needed to buy jeans for Shin and that was priority...but...he did ask me on a date."
"Oh?!" Yayoi gasps, joining her friend by the window. "Are you going then?"
"No." Shizuka immediately says and Yayoi was confused. "I can tell he hasn't changed with his bad timing. We have far too much to prepare for the holidays and I haven't even packed to go to my parents yet."
Yayoi thinks about Shizuka's explanation for a bit and finally decides that she could handle things on her own. "Ah, I see, but you'll have tell him that it's off so he doesn't keep bothering you." Yayoi points out and Shizuka gives her a reassuring pat.
"I think he'll still bother me even if I ignored him. That guy is thick headed...so things will definitely be amusing." She purrs and Yayoi sighs, rubbing her eyes and feeling uneasy of what's to come.