They said that a woman's dream can be of four selections…
First, is to settle down and find a man that can cook and clean a house.
Second, is to have a good marriage and a family of her own.
Third, is to sustain personal insecurities with clothes, jewelry and money.
And last, is probably to eat whatever she wants without getting fat.
Although I don't see where "getting a professional job" fit in those categories, I won't bother finding it.
Because my dreams are of personal satisfaction, to be exact. With my own two feet, I want to stand with pride and independence. I'm already a young adult so I got to have a more reasonable and corporeal vision which I knew, to myself, I can achieve.
PSSSSH! *door open* *sound of shoes clapping*
"Excuse me! Coming through! Good morning!" Sakura skimmed along the crowd with glee, humming creepy renditions of 'lalalala' while doing so. The walk from the station to work seemed to be breeze, now that she wasn't in a hassle like the first time.
The month chipped away a few centigrade off the temperature, creating a small drizzle of snow around the city of Tokyo. She looked up in the sky, glancing on the exquisite mixture of a few nimbus clouds and the sun's aftershade blending with the sleet. Then a tint of frost then pelted her lips, melting in between the cracks as it stretches, and forms into a smile. Lovely… a whisper disperses into the wind, as she continued trailing off towards the sidewalk and onto her destination. It took some time before the stairs welcomed the pinkette on her way up. But after taking the first step, everything felt lighter than they were before…
*deep sighs*
I just can't believe this happening so fast. The other day, I was just some hopeless dreamer. Yet, the day after that… Well… Still a dreamer; with a coffee twist. But now, as if like magic, it all became reality. It's like perceiving something invisible and intangible. A complete miracle happened to me...
I guess the divine entity watching from above finally saw my potential. And sends a blessing in disguise, in a form of an obnoxious weirdly-yellow-haired creep… Regardless of that; now that I have held it in my hands, I'm never letting it go.
.
.
Never, gonna let go.
"…I guess this is it…" the pinkette whispered unto herself, standing on top of the stairs, breathing heavily with her joyful face. She's wearing an office suit, just like Naruto prescribed and got everything that she'll ever need inside a brown box which she carries on her arms. Face to face with the company sign, the woman took a second for a breather but found herself unable to contain the anxiety.
"!" she squealed silently, clenching her hands tight with loosely shut eyes as other people pass by, ignoring her presence. The feeling, the excitement and possibly her raging pheromones may have something to do with it, but there's one thing she knew for sure. Although it pained her to say it herself…
'It wouldn't be possible if it weren't for Na-'she suddenly froze up, though she swears it's not the weather's fault.
"If it weren't for whom?" a man's voice made her tremble in surprise, likewise as she felt a hand clamp down her shoulder. She knew that tone, and the arrogant accent. It's him, she thought to herself. "You know you tend to think aloud." His voice brought another blush of embarrassment.
"Na-Naaaruto! W-Wh-When th-…? Did you just arrive?" the pinkette turned around and fidgeted after seeing the man's sleepy blue eyes locked onto hers. She then glanced at him from top to bottom. His spiky blonde hair, uncoifed but it looked a certain way that gets a girl's attention. He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and vest complete with a tie and black pants. But then she noticed him noticing her and immediately turned her head down for a cover-up, withdrawing into her mind under screams.
W-why am I bothered? It was nothing. Naruto just looked
…
…
…
He just looked good. That's all.
"Nah. I came an hour ago." He replied back lazily, looking at the other way but then noticed the box she had been carrying around her arms. "It's a complete bore so; I decided to walk around a bit." The blonde finishes, grabbing it from her grasp and frowning back on her dazed form.
Though the reason I came early coz the old man would've killed me if I missed another day.
The awkwardness wore off after several minutes; just like the snow as it gradually stop falling. Sakura turned her head towards the man, wanting to ask something but found him looking at the sky with soulless eyes. "Are you okay?" she moved back a little step while Naruto looks back with a rather peeved manner. "Considering how much life you squeezed out of me with that hug yesterday, yeah… I guess so." A brief flashback entered the pinkette's mind. She remembered herself, crushing him with an embrace right after belting out the big news. A flicker of white and yellow flashed before her eyes, snapping her back to reality.
"So…" he paused and looked at his watch. "Are you ready?" the man finishes, raising an eyebrow at the young woman who just felt her blood boiled with anticipation.
"Yes! I'm very ready. In fact, I've been anxious about this moment the whole night that I-…" Sakura stopped talking when she noticed his presence gone. She looked from left to right but can't find him around the area.
.
"Are you going to stand there all day? Let's go!" a husky voice caught her attention. Naruto's already on the entrance when it got to her senses, looking back at her from a distance as she ran towards him with utter displeasure.
I just can't believe this man.
He can be sweet but with a bitter aftertaste.
He can be rough but can also be as smooth as velvet.
He's someone whose personality's I can't decode.
"Faster."
"Wait-I'm coming!"
If only I could care, I would certainly like to know…
The two entered the office with a sort of cat-and-dog relationship. Naruto was walking fast, ignoring any hindrances while the woman tries to catch up with him.
THUD! The blonde put down the box atop a glass table, walking towards the reception hall while Sakura sat on a couch to rest her aching bumps. He chit-chatted with some attendant and afterwards, they grabbed box and hid it under the desk.
"Hey!" the man called for the pinkette who was busy roaming her head around every corner of the hallway, admiring its beauty. "I'll leave your stuff here. You can go fetch it up after the orientation." He reminded her while she grunts and pouts after hearing him talk.
"Wow. That's so gentleman-like of you." She stood up and walked towards him. "And that's so lady-like of you." Naruto jokingly replied back, looking at a certain point while the woman felt suspicious and does the same. Yet to her horror; she found the upper button of her shirt open, revealing some skin.
.
.
.
"Pervert!"
BONK! "OW! What did I do?"
"Y-You looked…" she replied back silently, trying not to let other people hear their conversation. The man scratches his head in dismay, opened his eyes, and looked at her with a clear message.
"Don't worry" Naruto leaned his head, with his mouth a few inches from her ears. "I didn't see anything." he then whispered, pausing with a grin. "Coz there's nothing to see in the first place." The blonde finishes, walking passed her dumbfounded form. Sakura, on the other hand, felt like her dignity was stepped on over and over again. Her femininity, questioned. Though it would be easy for her to snap him into two, she thought of the consequences; thinking that an opportunity like this comes once in a lifetime. Utilizing what's left of her thinning layer of patience, she calmed herself down and looked back at the Managing editor, who's now standing in front of an elevator.
"Oi! Are you coming or what?" he uttered with his usual displeasing tone as she silently stepped beside him. He can sense that the pinkette was pissed. And rest assured, she won't go down easily. Naruto broke down into a smirk, with her noticing while they both wait for the elevator door to open. It took a few seconds before the blonde received his long awaited reply.
"Naruto-kun..."
"Hmm?"
"You're mean."
"I know."
"Good."
DING! The door finally opened and a full house appeared before them. A few exited and afterwards, made a few space for them to enter. "G-Good morning Sir…" an employee bowed his head down to greet the blonde, who on the other hand was smiling back as he entered inside with haste. The young woman also followed but when her foot touched the floor, a red button flashes on the side. It says "over maximum weight capacity" and she knew it'll not be long before her precious companion would do something to blow her top off. And she guessed it right.
Pfft she heard a soft chuckle coming from inside, and she bet heaven knew it was none other than 'him'. The employees who are currently in load are looking intently at her, maybe wanting to get her off. Realizing the situation, she bowed down and turned away. But before the pinkette can withdraw her foot off, the blonde grabbed her wrist. "N-Naruto." She muffled down a tone as he looked at her and moved his head left to right.
Don't
.
.
"Uh…" the young man scratches his head, looking at the other tenants and employees taking the elevator with utmost discomfort. "C-can someone let this young woman in, I'm really sorry for the trouble but we're kinda in a hurry." He stopped, not long before one goes out, then another, a couple of more. All of them saying "Of course sir", "No problem sir" and the ever more disturbing "I hope you two won't be late sir". Naruto tried hard to hide his dismay.
What's that supposed to mean, they're thinking we're gonna do something else?
"Thank you." He happily waved back at them, still holding her wrist as he pulled her inside the now empty elevator. The doors closed shut in between and the elevator music came into play. It's just like they're strangers, like they were two days ago. There was no conversation; like there's a void separating them in between. Deep inside Sakura's heart, a volatile blend of the emotions are being churned. She didn't know a person as stubborn as him could show little compassion when he wanted to. Noticing they're halfway towards the floor that'll be conducting the orientation, she decided to break the ice herself.
"Thanks" a subtle expression of gratitude escaped her lips, looking at the man who has his eyes closed from the beginning. Getting a clear picture that he won't reply, she decided yet another attempt to get his attention.
"Are you always using your position to scare other people?" She looked down, playing with her fingers and waiting for his answer.
"Mmm?" the man opened one eye and rolling his pupil on the side to look at her, not moving his head. "Yeah… I guess so." She earned his well-awaited reply.
"You know you could be good if you try." Sakura smirked when he faced her and opened the other eye, showing his usual grumpy look.
"Is that so?"
"That is so."
DING! The door opened with neither of them noticing. Naruto quickly stepped out and walked at a certain direction while she followed him on his tail. The woman marveled around the beautiful hallway that encompassed the whole building. She just adored the feeling of professionalism that lingers in the air of these very halls she's walking through. The rooms are great, the people seemed nice, and the view from above is inspiring. It's what she's always been dreaming of and it all happens today.
"Here…" the blonde stopped at a certain room before turning back and facing her pacified look. He lets out a deep sigh before sharing her a cup of this-is-how-it-is.
"The old man would be conducting your orientation as well as the interview." She nods with curiosity, carefully listening to every one of his words.
"O-Old man?" she asked right after, not wanting another guy like him to be his proctor. A picture of a jolly and happy-go-lucky grandpa entered her thoughts and she felt like she got this in the bag.
"The editor-in-chief; Jiraiya-ojiisan." He said with a nonchalant demeanor.
"E-Editor-in-C-Chief…?" the pinkette flinched after hearing his explanation. She didn't expect a person with that caliber to spend some time with a new employee like her. Although it will be a grand and chivalrous encounter for her, she felt pessimistic about getting tongue-tripped and such things like that. She tried to fight the anxiety in her mind but then failed when she saw the blonde walking away from her. "Good luck." He whispered.
"Wait! A-Aren't you going to join me?" a hopeless sigh was heard from the man when she called him for help. "Isn't it your interview?" he said in an annoyed tone.
"Y-Yeah, but."
"You want me to bottle-feed you too?" the man sneered, popping a vein on Sakura's head. "You can do this by yourself, I'm sorry but I'm gonna do something else?" Naruto turned around and started walking away from her. But just when everything seems to be in motion, a familiar voice stopped him on his tracks; petrified to his very core.
"Why in such a hurry, you brat." The worst-case scenario happened. His face became white as snow, as if he saw a ghost. That's the reason why he wanted to leave as early as possible, and she just had to kill time… Damn old man he clenched his teeth in dismay as the door began to open from the inside.
"You have some guts showing yourself here today."Naruto felt a part of his soul escaped his body as the door screeched with the editor-in-chief coming outside, immediately spotting the blonde on his right. *crunch* the old man flexes his fingers making audible bone-cracking noises.
"G-Good morning sir! I-I'm Sakura Haruno, and sir! I'm here for the interv-view… Sir!" She stood up straight and tried the best she can to smile and look calm as possible. The older man noticed her and smiled gleefully.
"Oh! What a young beautiful lady!" he looked insane, steam puffing out of his nostrils. Sakura swore, for a second; she saw the blonde's afterimage on the chief's snazzy grin. This feels bad
"Just in time" the man looked on the clock. "Come in" he uttered unto her and then she entered the room without any more questions. But Jiraiya remained outside, still looking at the younger man with certainty. "You." Naruto's eyes suddenly widened in fear. "You're going to join us." And just with a snap of his fingers, the fierce managing editor turned into a loyal puppy as he follows the pink-haired woman inside the room. A smile appeared on the editor-in-chief's face before going inside as well, closing the door shut to avoid any disturbances.
"How old are you?" immediately after sitting in his chair, the interview commenced. Sakura was on the other side while Naruto sat adjacent to her. It took a mere second before the chief's question got answered.
"Twenty one years old."
"Eh? You're as young as this brat." He replied back before pacing his eyes on the bothered blonde who kept looking on the other way.
"Can I look at one of your works?" Sakura hastily handed her résumé at him and answered back. "I've compiled everything inside, here it is sir!" the old man took a glance and after a while of reading, he looked at the younger man with confidentiality.
Hmmm… what are you trying to do? Naruto…
Just like always,
You're keeping me intrigued with these decisions that you make.
" *coughs * Before I go on…" her résumé was laid down the table. The editor-in-chief let the two wet themselves in anxiousness as they sat awaiting for his announcement…
.
.
.
"Are you guys dating?" Words can't describe Jiraiya's happiness when he saw the both of them blush in response; especially his precious little managing editor who's now glaring at him with dissonance.
"N-No… We're just… Well he's just, you know… an acquaintance" she spoke in pieced-up sentences, trying to maintain her smile as she clear things up for him. Sure you were… The editor-in-chief thought to himself while glancing at her form, which looks like someone about to poop in his perspective.
"We just frequently met, you old fart. That's all" the blonde followed up, evidently showing his displeasure with him. His words were then matched with a swift yet powerful hand of justice.
AW! Naruto cried in pain when a rolled-up newspaper smacked his head like a fly splattered dead-on. "Who are ya calling old man, ei? I'm still in my late forties you cheeky little bastard!" he pounded him with another while Sakura watched them like she didn't existed in the room. But she had to admit, what the chief's doing with him is downright funny. It never came to her thinking that Naruto could be this submissive to someone. Well, he is now.
"Hmp!" the older man fixes himself while the younger one palmed the bumps on his head. "Anyway, Ms. Haruno; here in Japan Times we expect nothing less from the best you can provide." He then gazed at Naruto, who has his eyes closed and a frown on his face. "It's very rare and unusual for Naruto to recommend someone; and considering that he did, I'll surely have high hopes in your abilities." Sakura's face turned pale white as she was drowned in pressure and expectations. "Can we count on your professional and loyal services?"
"Yes… Sir!" she answered without hesitation and with complete sincerity to herself. Jiraiya felt a similar essence from her spirit with a certain someone as he smiled back at her with content. "Good."
"Although we have plenty of time left, I would want to end this interview for some reasons considering work. The company policies and rules are all written in the catalogue I gave you earlier. Your work will start tomorrow, we hope for your cooperation Ms. Haruno." He finished their conversation, standing up and lending his hand out for a handshake which the woman gladly accepted. Jiraiya can barely count the numerous 'Thank you's and 'I won't let you down's that she said to him after his acceptance. But before they could part, he called his underling for yet another lucrative task.
"Naruto, go accompany Ms. Haruno for a tour in our office. And let her meet the other employees as well, I'm sure they'll be thrilled." The chief paused for a while and soon after that, the blonde man replied with a nod and then slowly drifts away in silence. Sakura bowed for the last time as she exited the room with flittering spirits. The room back drafts into a more silent pace with the editor-in-chief smiling to himself, lounging in his seat and cracking open a book to read.
.
.
Why do you weave new tales from dirt, Naruto?
"And this would be the conference room." Her eyes enthusiastically roamed inside the room, appreciating everything the man pointed his finger to. She didn't quite perceive the vast alleys and rows of rooms that are present in the building since it looks impossible for them to fit inside. A lot of codes, combinations, and room numbers are given to be memorized, how much more with the rooms and schedule laid ahead. But then, she is used to deal with these things and high school was a good dry run for her memorization abilities. A feat that got even Naruto impressed.
"Are you catching up?" he asked her while they continued walking at a pace.
"Y-Yes." She answered briefly afterwards. The blonde took a second for her to draw near and then carried on with the tour.
"The restroom's on the corner to the right and the room before that is the lecture hall."
"The cafeteria's located at the ground floor, stock room is on the second floor and supplies are on this room" they stopped on the hallway while the woman keeps herself busy taking down notes. The blonde saw this and smirked, continuing their stride with her following him along the way. A couple of minutes passed, and they arrived in front of a huge ivory-hued door.
"…*deep sigh*…" the man stopped and took a breath, taking in the smell of his old workplace and a fragment of his memory alongside it. Sakura just finished jutting down when they stopped at this particular room. Instinctively, or maybe just her innate obsession to take a step ahead of others, she read the sign atop the door before succumbing to the excitement and anxiousness brought by it. It's the actual workplace; her very own office space which she dreamed of having long before she could spell the word itself. The pinkette looked at Naruto with a smile, signaling him that she's ready as he held the door's handle and opened it abruptly.
CREAK! The door opened wide and there was a flash of bright fluorescent lights that left them fizzled for a second or so. She closed her eyes from the blinding light and the last thing she could remember seeing after that, was a group of people swarming the blonde in front of her.
W-What's happening…?
"Naruto-san!" a young man laced his arms around the blonde's shoulders, weighing him down."It's been a while, we really missed you here!"
"K-Kono-kun…" he tried pushing him off of him, still smiling while doing so. "C-Could you lay off for a while? Ahahah" the younger man agreed and let go while the others began talking to him, concerned about his health, plans and whatsoever. For the second time in one day, Sakura felt non-existent while she watches Naruto handle the situation.
Naruto's pretty popular in the building.
But then again, he 'is' the managing editor…
"How's the three month vacation in Hokkaido?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine… I'm planning on going there once in a while. View's astounding and the people were warm…"
" *chuckles* We thought you've already settled down for good."
"Nah… Love is only for those people who are afraid to be lonely."
"You sure grew cold this December ei? Ahahaha!" they had a couple of laughs before Naruto decided to branch another topic.
"How's work here? You guys should've been surviving well."
"Barely", "Henshu-chou (editor-in-chief) had been pushing us to our limits; he took your leave seriously…"
"Yeah, got that message thirty-minutes ago." He answered back, looking past their eyes with apology.
"My oh my… What a beautiful lady you do got there." Another employee then uttered while the blonde suddenly remembered what he was supposed to do. "Oh right!" he told himself.
"Listen guys… She's the latest addition to our department. Please welcome Ms. Sakura Haruno, our new company journalist." He stood aside, letting his fellow officemates take a good look at the pinkette. The moment they started looking at her, she blacked-out; not knowing what to say. Maybe it's from the pressure or the shyness, regardless of it though, she knew getting tongue-tripped as first impressions would mean a lot. Taking what's left of her inner-will, she manages to conjure up words to greet them properly.
"I-I'm Sakura Haruno" she bowed down and got back up. "I wish for a p-prosperous time working with you" a smile then formed on her face not long before she was showered with praises and applause. The woman was overpowered with happiness, coursing through her veins. The heartwarming welcome she received almost brought her to tears if it weren't for Naruto who kept his composure, arms crossed on his chest and with his usual blasé appearance. That moment on… she knew.
This is definitely where I wanted to be.
I don't know how. I don't know why. I don't care.
I just knew…
"Saku… Sa… Sakura-neechan? Is that okay?" a much younger voice caught her attention. It came from a dark-brown haired fella who's currently smiling at her.
"Haaa…" the blonde noticed and decided to introduce her to the old employees. "Sakura, this guy's Kono-kun. He's our proof-reader/cleaner and possibly the youngest member here."
"My full name is Ko-No-Ha-Maru Sarutobi! Pleasure to meet you Onee-chan." He grinned while she waved her hand at him with delight. Another man went forward for introduction.
"Yo. Name's Shikamaru, sub-editor. I'm happy to work with you…" he said in a much lazier tone than Naruto himself, which is quite impossible. Nonetheless, she thoughtfully thanked him while Naruto introduced the other one to the plate.
"This one's Choji, he's our edit clerk." He paused and a 'chubby' man stepped up, eating a big pack of potato chips all by himself. She noticed the buttons on his shirt's about to pop but before she could comment, the blonde dashed beside her and whispered something in her ear. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Call him 'fat' then it's a death sentence for you." A cold wind passed her soul then she decided to nod instead, granting her a 'smile' from the clerk.
"And yeah…" Naruto pulled another man from behind and began introducing him to her. "This guy over here is-…"
"Kiba-kun." She overtook him in his words, causing a tint of confusion. "You two knew each other already?" the managing editor asked, getting a prompt answer from the other man.
"Well, she's my neighbor."
"Eh? Just your neighbor?" a sly voice of a woman entered the conversation, causing a blush fluster on his cheeks. "…*soft chuckle*… Hello there Sakura-chan, my name's Temari and I'm the media secretary. I hope you have a good time here with us." The pinkette bowed at the woman with golden-locks in gratitude. It felt soothing to have a girl inside the office, and to think that they're all so welcoming and caring of her.
"By the way, Kiba's our company photographer." Naruto added up to the discussion. "He's not regularly here in the office so if you need his service, reminding him in advance would be the proper thing to do." He finishes, walking towards the other side to bring in the last employee to the subject.
"Hello there Sakura-chan!" the last and the second female employee decided to name herself. "I'm Shizune, I'm also a journalist here and I must say. It'll be a pleasure to be working with you." she reached for the pinkette's hands and shook it happily. The latter felt relieved to find another journalist here in office, someone who she can relate to. A person who can guide her and sharpen her skills to perfection.
"…*sniff*…" the whole crew were brought into shock when the new journalist suddenly burst into tears. Of happiness, it seems. The very thought of accomplishing her dream and molding it with these good people beside her made her heart swell in appreciation. It's like everything that she'd been saving for this moment bore a fruit and it tasted so sweet that she can't help but to cry. From the viewpoint of her fellow employees though, it looked something else…
"Naruto-san! What did you d-…" Konohamaru's words were cut by a sudden retaliation from the blonde.
"EHH? What the hell are you saying? I didn't do anything!"
"Exactly" Temari added up, teasing their precious managing editor even more. "You let her cry and you didn't do anything about it."
"Tch!" he turned around while the two girls chuckled at his hateful disposition. It took over a couple of minutes for her to recover and clear things up. The moment she wiped off the tears of her eyes, the room went silent.
"…*pants*…. ", "I-I'm sorry, it's just that I'm so happy…" she casts a beaming smile, while the Naruto and Shikamaru turned their backs in contrast.
"I'm very much honored to be working here… and I promise to do my best! Thank you all for welcoming Me." the whole room bursts into laughter while they watched her smile morphs into a chuckle. It was a good moment for the group's interaction with the newbie. They were never this happy whenever a new employee enters the department, but it's quite the opposite this time. Shikamaru remained drifting off elsewhere but then noticed the door twitched and moved without anyone noticing.
.
.
"Just like always…" the sub-editor closed the door, drowning all over their laughs from outside. "You prefer going off somewhere and being alone." He uttered in a low tone while the blonde remained rested on his back against a wall.
"What do you think of her?" Naruto narrowed his eyes into slits, deepening his breath and lending an ear for the latter's response.
"Familiar. Very familiar." He replied after a while, just as the other man stood up straight and faced him with a resolute expression that broke into comedic laughter.
"I thought so myself…"
A/N: There we go! Chapter 3's finally finished. I've been searching for a Japanese translation of managing editor coz when I google-translated it, it's Henshu-chou, same goes for Editor-in-Chief. It took some time to pick a character for a slot. But I think I got them where I wanted them to be. Anyway, I hope for you guys' satisfaction. Btw, if possible, I can do Chapter 4 before June. Nonetheless, thank you for the subscriptions and the reviews and everything! I really really appreciate it.
