Mafuyu Kurosaki. 27 years old. Operations Manager at Kiratec Services.

Saeki Takeomi. 36 years old. CEO of Kiratec Services.

"Kurosaki-san can you please add this to tomorrow's reconciliation report. It's an early paymen..."

Mafuyu's eyes glazed over. It was almost 9PM but Kanada-san was adding yet another file to her in-tray.

"Kanada-san," she interrupted with a smile, "Since it's for tomorrow I will take a look at it in the morning. Please arrive home safely."

"Ah- y-yes. And same to you. Goodnight Kurosaki-san."

Kanada-san was a good worker, maybe a little overly-enthusiastic perhaps. Mafuyu chalked it up to his newness. The company was expanding business was good, but there were also the growing pains that came with it. Like training an entire department before the next quarter.

She sighed and massaged her temples.

"Another late night?"

She could hear the smirk in his voice. Not bothering to look up she reached out to accept the hot tea.

"Kanada-san seems to be growing attached to you." He placed the mug into her outstretched hand.

"Yup, very tightly wedged in my asshole. Do you know he made me proof read the department's lunch order today before he sent it."

"Didn't we all get bagels though?"

"Exactly, we all got bagels."

She sipped the tea, letting the warmth seep into chilled fingers. Takaomi leaned over her desk and picked up a stack of files that needed signatures. While she packaged all the documents to be sent out in the morning with the courier. In the past few months this had become their evening routine.

She stamped the last envelope with a flourish and breathed a sigh of relief.

9:30PM. Job done. She rocked back on her chair and looked up at Takaomi. He was also finished and looked down at her with his chin resting in his palm. He looked tired but a smile played on his lips.

Age looked good on him, the years only added to his handsome features. She felt drab in comparison. She could feel the skin under her eyes drooping and the dry air sucked the moisture out of her face. Cracked lips and frazzled hair.

"What are you smiling at?"

"I think I like you best when you are sleepy. You don't have the energy to get mad at me and you let me eat anything I want."

"Oh is that right," she leaned back in her chair feigning shock, "You know you can't eat fried chicken every night. You're gonna die at 40."

"Who says I want to live past 40 if I can't have fried chicken."

She smacked him with the ruler on her desk.

"Here you go Mr. Fried Chicken," she reached up and handed the stack of envelopes to him across the counter, "Put these in the front for Chosuke-kun to drop off in the morning."

"Is that how you talk to your CEO?" he didn't move.

She blinked up at him innocently, "Taka-chan, can you please put these in front for Chosuke-kun."

She could see the subtle bob of his throat as he swallowed. She never used his pet-name in the office. Maybe it was the tiredness making her giddy but seeing him blush made her want to tease him more. She stood up and leaned in close enough to smell his cologne.

"Also Taka-chan," her lips were close just close enough to brush the curve of his ear, "It's so late, can you give me a ride home?"

This time he audibly cleared his throat and his grip tightened on the stack of envelopes.

"Finish your tea and get your things. Meet me in front, I will lock up the office."

His voice was low. Mafuyu felt electricity course through her body. Teasing Takaomi was always a gamble. Maybe tonight it will pay off…

Takaomi looked over her sleeping form curled up next to him. He didn't know when this feeling happened. He always cared for her and felt great affection for her. Even as her mentor and teacher it was nothing but endearment. But when did he decide he would choose this woman by his side over and over every time? When did he decide he loved her.

Was it that one night she slapped him, tears in her eyes and begged him to stop drinking? Or was even before then when he first came to her with the idea of starting a company and she told him yes. Or was it every single time they ran into the competition and she moved mountains for him…

Sometimes he felt he loved her so much he became paralyzed by the fear that something would happen to her, more so than he cared about anything that happened to him. She was his heartbeat, convinced that if hers stopped so would his.

He pulled her closer to him and kissed her cheek.

"Taka-chan," she murmured sleepily, "Don't tell me you want to go again.."

He huffed a laugh against her shoulder.

"I couldn't sleep because I couldn't stop thinking how much I love you," he grinned down at her in dark.

"Ughh, Taka-chan you are always teasing me."

He could tell she was blushing. She cuddled closer to him and they were quiet for a while.

"I love you too Takaomi."

"I love you Mafuyu."

Author's Note

I love this pairing so much and I just wanted to write about the mundane and quiet moments they share together.