Onodera fought a yawn, feeling the weight of his exhaustion sinking in. It was midway through the editing cycle in the literature department, where there was a lot of things due at once.
On his way out of the company office, it was lunch time again. Walking halfway, the editor was on his way to meet Takano for lunch when he felt his back pocket vibrating. He slides his phone out and checks the caller.
Mom Calling
Wondering what his mom could be calling about, Onodera answered his phone with a puzzled look.
'' Hello Mom? '' said the heir to the family business. What could she be calling about ?
''Ritsu, it's your lunch time now, right?''
''Yes Mom, is anything the matter? '' asked Onodera curiously.
''Oh good,'' replied his parent in relief. '' I thought you were still working. Ritsu, I need to meet you.''
''Now ? '' asked the brunet in distress. He was supposed to have lunch with Takano.
''Of course now.''
''But I-''
''It's important,'' said Mama Onodera urgently, all serious and businesslike.
''Umm… I suppose I could I meet you now, '' said Ritsu hesitantly. Takano would understand if it's for important family matters.
'' Good'' said his mom. '' I'm already outside Marukawa waiting. See you soon, son.'' With that, the wife of the current head of Onodera publishing hanged up on the call. Dismay contoured the brunet's features at the sudden and unexpected plan.
I wonder what urgent news Mom has to tell me
Opening his messaging box, he was halfway through the text when a co-worker called him.
Takano san, I can't have-
''Onodera !'' called Genki, a fellow literature editor, rushing to somewhere else with a stack of paper in hand. '' Sorry to bother you, but could you please make some copies of this before you leave? It's for the meeting later, 'begged his colleague pressingly.
''Hai!'' said Onodera, agreeing to do the task immediately, Genki san seem to experiencing the familiar distressing situation of rushing ,panicking and trying to maintain a distance sense of control - something frequently seen among the Maiden Club.
''Thanks for the hard work.''
Off to the printers, the brunet forgot about his text.
Once again, Takano Masamune found himself waiting outside the literature department, waiting. This time- it's almost ten minutes- and the brunet still hadn't come out.
''Excuse me,'' he said to a staff entering. '' Is Onodera in ?''
''Oh, Onodera left a while ago,'' said the worker. Shortly after saying the words, the literature staff was starting to look at the editor in chief warily. The raven was knitting his eyebrows crossly, the corners of his mouth punched downwards into a frown. Practically, the staff could feel the heat of a glare forming through the black rimmed spectacles.
''I see. Thank you,'' said Takano curtly. Turning to leave, he grimaced at Ritsu skipping out on him.
I told him we were having lunch today.
''Damn it,'' cursed Takano as his call didn't went through. Then, he took the lift down, intending to find the brunet.
...
''Mom,'' greeted Onodera, rushing out to see his mother. '' What did you want to meet me for?'' Green eyes landed on his mother, who stood with her back turned. Slowly, she spun around with her arms folded, dressed in a black pencil skirt and casual blouse.
Identical green eyes lock on his as the straight line of his mother's mouth bloomed into a smile. ''To have lunch together,'' said Mama Onodera.
''Ha?! '' asked the heir, flabbergasted at the answer. '' I thought it was something important!''
''It is important,'' stressed his mom. '' Ritsu, you haven't gone back to visit ever since New Year 's Eve! I haven't seen you in nearly six months. I shouldn't even need to drop by to see my own son. You're already an adult. ''
''I'm sorry,'' said Ritsu, looking apologetic, '' It's just that I'm busy with work.''
''You're always busy with work, Ritsu,'' said his mom, sounding like it was his fault. Green eyes of a parent chastised those of her son's. ''That's not an excuse not to visit us, or even call. How can you manage the company next time like this? ''
''Mom,'' said Onodera, starting to feel a sour mix of guilt and annoyance. '' I'm sorry that I didn't visit but I'm trying as hard as I can. Do you have anything else to say? If not, I'm going back to work.''
''Ritsu,''Mama Onodera sounded disappointed. ''I came all the way here to see you. Can't I have a meal with my own son? ''
Onodera dropped his head, trying hard not to sigh. It's true that he hasn't gone back in a while.
''Right,'' said the brunet, reflecting on himself. Mustering a smile, the heir smiled at his parent. '' I suppose I have time to eat with my own mom.''
''Of course you do, Ritsu'' chastised Mama Onodera, putting her hands on his face like he was a long lost son. ''Now let me take a good look at you.''
Hastily, Takano Masamue exited the lift. Irritation scribbled all over his fair face. Annoyed with Ritsu, he took long quick strides across the hallway. Nearing the exit, his eyes spotted a familiar figure outside the building. And someone else. A lady with tanned blond hair was placing her hands on both sides of Ritsu's face, patting his cheeks tenderly, before putting her arms around him, hugging the brunet.
Heat rushed through the raven's body. Approaching them, Takano called his name in a loud raised voice, hell bent on finding out what was going on.
''Onodera!''
At the moment the word left his mouth, Takano halted.
Twin emerald eyes turned, looking at the source of the voice, reflecting their full attention at the name. Instantly, the editor in chief stopped in his tracks, eyes widening at the resemblance. Anyone with their eyes opened could tell who the lady was.
''Takano san,'' said Onodera, surprised at his appearance. He had completely forgotten to call him. Awkwardly, he glances between his mom and his former boss, and starts introducing the raven. ''Mom, this is Takano san. He was my boss when I was under shoujo manga. '' He turns toward the raven. ''Takano san, this is my mother. Mrs Onodera.''
''Good afternoon,'' Mama Onodera greeted politely, extending a hand out. Intelligent green eyes meet startled amber ones of the editor in chief. '' Thank you for looking after my son.'' She said appreciatively. Takano, who had recovered from the initial shock of seeing double vision, returned to his calm and composed impassive exterior again.
''Good afternoon,'' he said courteously, shaking her hand. '' It's a pleasure to meet you.''
The business women gave a pleasant smile.
Ritsu's smile was sweet, bright and always carried a hint of shyness, Mrs Onodera was different. Sharp. Polite. Almost fierce. Ritsu had the same heart shaped face as her, and the same expressive green eyes. While Mrs Onodera was more feminine- Ristu was softer. If Ritsu was Puss in boots, his mom would be a wild cat. On a different face, the same pair of emerald eyes looked remarkably sharp.
'' Do you mind if I talk to my son?'' asked Mama Onodera. Her short bob framed her pretty face, hair shades lighter than her son's; features like a former beauty queen.
''Of course, please go ahead,'' said Takano bowing forward. Onodera glanced uncertainly again between his neighbour and his mother as Mama Onodera smiled.
''It was nice to meet you, Takano san. Have a good day,'' she said. As Takano walked away, Mama Onodera proceeds to loop an arm through her son's, linking them together.
''Mom.''
….
''How are you doing Ritsu ?'' asked his mother at the table. They were having a meal together in a nearby restaurant.
''I'm doing fine,'' said the editor. I guess.
'' Are your authors selling well?'' inquired Mama Onodera.
''They're doing fine.''
''Are you sleeping well ?''
''Um… yeah….'' The brunet tried to lie a smoothly as possible.
''Are you eating well?''
''I'm eating… well.'' If you consider energy drinks and convenient food as ''well''. Onodera stalled, knowing that he can't lie. The knife and fork in his hands seemed to be sliding off from the intensity of the questions.
''Ritsu, '' his mom started. '' I want to see your apartment. I don't think with either me or your Dad has seen it.''
The young man nearly chocked on his salmon. '' That' won't be necessary,'' laughed Onodera nervously. '' I'm a grown man. You don't need to check up on me. Besides, there's nothing there.'' Except for the pile of growing garbage and unwashed clothes thrown in a corner.
''Ritsu,'' warned his Mom in a sharp tone, sensing something wrong. '' You're nothing hiding anything are you ?''
''Of course not!'' spluttered the heir. ''I fine,'' insisted the editor stubbornly, gripping onto his utensils. '' I am !''
''You're not eating those rubbish packed convenient store food, are you?''
''Erm….''
''Are you?''
''...''
''Ritsu! '' Mama Onodera stared at her son disapprovingly, taking a moment to inspect the child she raised. Dark circles underlined his eyes and he seemed to have lost weight. The mother sighed.
''I'm fine, Mom. Honestly''
''Then you can let me sit in your apartment,'' nagged the wife of the head of Onodera Publishing.
Now it was Onodera's turn to sigh. Reluctantly, he handed over the keys to his mother, already cringing at the reaction he was going to get when she reached home. Fervently, he prayed that the place was remotely presentable.
…..
Going back to the office, Onodera ran into the raven. Together, they entered the elevator.
''Oh Takano san,'' said the brunet. '' Sorry that I skipped out today. My mom wanted to meet me out of the sudden. I was halfway through the text when some papers had to be printed urgently. I forgot about it.''
Why am I explaining so much?
Takano shrugged. '' No biggie.''
If only Onodera knew how he had reacted earlier.
The raven slides his eyes over to his neighbour. '' You look like your mom,'' he said, stating the incredibly obvious -yet somehow unbelievable truth. So similar, yet so different.
''Er yes,'' replied the brunette, having heard that many times before. Another remind of just exactly who he was. The son of an Onodera. Heir. '' A lot of people have said that. She always says I'm more like my Dad though.'' The editor's voice dipped.
''Are you ?''
''Don't know.''
The lift slows as it reaches their level, coming to a stop.
''Well,'' said Onodera. '' I'm going back to work.'' And then he paused. '' Sorry about lunch Takano san,'' he apologised again, big green eyes staring sorrily at the raven for a second, expressing his apologies, before darting away.
Takano raises his arm. Affectionately, he reached his closer hand out, wanting to run them through Ritsu's brown locks which had fallen slightly over his eyes. His fingertips were just touching the strands of hair when he felt a hard, painful hit. Instinctively, Onodera had slapped the raven's hand away, eyes widening in alarm at the sudden gesture. Takano pulled his hand back. Rejection stings.
''Thank you for the hard work,'' said Onodera, almost shouting the words into space. Like a frightened child, he ran off, missing out the look on Takano's face.
…
Occupied with work, busied with what was left to be done, the fact that his mom was visiting his apartment had slipped his mind. The editor was starting to relax on his way home. Until his phone started vibrating.
''Ritsu!'' Onodera cringed at the loud and sharp shrill of his mom's voice.
The brunet grimaced. '' Yes Mom ?''
''How could you live in a place like this? What happened to your personal hygiene ? Why are your clothes thrown all over the place? Why aren't your plates washed? They'll grow bacteria ! And why is your fridge stock to the brim with energy drinks ?'' demanded Mama Onodera angrily.
''Mom, relax,'' the brunet tried coming up with an excuse. '' I eat out.''
A pause.
''Convenient food ?!'' Mama Onodera shouted into phone. Her son had just mentioned a taboo topic. People on the streets could hear the loud shout coming out of Onodera's phone, turning around to look. The brunette gives a sheepish smile . ''That's it Ritsu, get back home immediately.''
As his mom hanged up, Onodera closed his eyes.
Urgh
...
''What is this ?'' asked Mama Onodera pointing to a pile of dirty laundry, nagging like the fussy parent she was. ''And this ?'' she asked, opening the fridge, the lights shining proudly down on the young man's stock of energy drinks, displayed right to anyone's face. ''Ritsu, you can't survive from drinking rubbish like this every day. I can't believe you can't even take care of yourself. You're already 26.''
''Mom,'' snapped the editor. '' I'm not a child. I'm doing fine.''
''Ritsu-''
''Mom, I told you, I'm fine. I can take care of myself. You don't have to worry about me. Is there anything else you want to say?''
''Ritsu,'' said Mama Onodera, looking at her son. Realizing that he wasn't going to budge, she gave in. ''Fine,'' said his mom. Taking her leave, she gestures to a white bag of grocery items Onodera hadn't noticed before on his kitchen counter. '' I bought some food you .Vegetables. Meat. Remember to eat three meals a day.''
Afterwards, as the brown haired male puts the food into the fridge, a guilty look crosses his face, feeling bad for arguing with his mother.
…
''I'm home,'' shouted the head of Onodera publishing cheerfully, giving the standard greeting after being back from a day's work of managing the company.
''Welcome home,'' greeted his wife, feeling her stomach contracting awfully. Wearily, she brought the cup of tea placed on the table up to her mouth, taking in sips of it.
''Tsuma,'' said Papa Onodera, referring to his wife. '' Are you okay? You look unwell.''
''That child,'' she sighed, setting the cup down, referring to their only son. '' Ritsu isn't taking care of himself. I went to visit his apartment today and you know what I found? Unwashed clothes thrown everywhere, unwashed plates, and his fridge was full of energy drinks!'' she complained, appalled at her son's living conditions. '' I had to go out and buy some grocery for him. He's drinking those unhealthy things for seven days a week.''
Papa Onodera takes off his suit jacket, undoing his tie. '' I don't think it's that serious. He probably eats a proper meal or two every day.''
His wife sighed loudly, bringing the tea cup to her lips. The steaming hot liquid was smoothing the ache in her stomach from the stress. Her emerald eyes which their son inherited from were closed, lines wrinkling around the area. Mama Onodera tsked. '' That child. Making me worry at this age.''
''I'm sure he's doing fine,'' assured Papa Onodera. '' He's an adult after all. Don't worry so much about him.''
''I can't help it.'' The mother of Onodera Ritsu settled her cup down, sighing once more; the porcelain clicking against the surface noisily. '' I only have one son. ''