A/n This work is dedicated to our dear friend Kristinochka, who always supports us and believes in us!

It's not beta-read yet, so we are sorry for the errors. We will correct them later. Please, enjoy reading! 3

Fate can be neither passed by, nor driven round.

Chapter 6

"Huh? HUH?!"

Doppo was on the verge of hysteria. He was frantically searching for his mobile phone and one exact document he had been working on for eternity in his briefcase, pockets, and belongings on the desk, but couldn't detect the missing things. He clutched his head, freaking out. What was he going to do now? Today was the last day he had to submit that document to his boss, and if he wouldn't do it…

Doppo gritted his teeth in panic. He was too afraid to even imagine what would happen to him if he didn't provide the report.

Did he drop both his phone and the folder anywhere? Or did he forget them at home? Even if it was the latter case, he couldn't leave his work place and go back to pick the missing stuff up. And he couldn't call Sumi, since he didn't remember her phone number by heart. Moreover, she, probably, was already on her way to work.

No matter how you looked at it, he was doomed. So, the best he could do right now was getting prepared to be yelled at and maybe deprived of the bonuses. Or even getting fired.

With a long and anxious gulp he decided to go and tell the boss about the current circumstances. It was nothing he could do with the situation at hand, anyway.

On the leaden legs he headed towards the department manager's office, trying to get in agreement with his crazily pounding heart not to beat so fast and loud in fear.

When he was about to turn the corner in the hall, that led to the administrative wing, his crystal-blue eyes spotted a familiar feminine figure, roaming in an empty corridor in search of something.

"Sumi?!" he didn't even realize that his lips had already called her name in total surprise.

The girl turned around swiftly, yet elegantly, and her face lit up with a broad smile of acknowledgement.

"Oh, Doppo! I was afraid I got lost here. It's good we met each other this fast," she came to him in a hurried pace and stood right before him.

Kannonzaka was still unsure if he was dreaming or if she was indeed real. From his height she looked so petite and attractive in her light-pink skirt suit. And she seemed a little taller, so she didn't have to throw back her head too much to gaze into his face. That must have been a magic of high-heels. But Doppo didn't care about it, since the only question his mind was asking him was…

"Why are you here?"

Sumi caught herself and started to pull out a thick folder along with a mobile phone from her bag.

"I found these documents and your phone on the coffee table in the living-room after you left. You must have forgotten them, so I decided to bring them to you. I remember how hard you have been working on these papers for the past several evenings and nights, so they must be pretty important," when she was telling him this story, Doppo started to feel like he was going to faint from relief. He covered his eyes with his palm and emitted a restrained whimper.

"H-hey? Are you alright?" the girl noticed his actions and stopped taking out the needed stuff from her bag, throwing a worried gaze at her husband. He looked as if he was going to cry.

The red haired young man put both of his hands on her chiseled shoulders and pierced his crystal-blue eyes into hers in the way she had never experienced before. It felt as if he was trying to build a contact with her very soul.

"Sumi, you must be an angel in disguise. You've come here and saved me. You saved me, do you understand that?" his grip on her shoulders tightened as he breathed out the next words in the sincerest voice he could muster. "Thank you so much!"

Sumi didn't know that the case with his forgotten things was so serious. But it seemed that he could have gotten into a big trouble because of that. She was about to say something, but suddenly there was a clicking sound of a door behind her, and the next moment she found herself being tugged forward and then abruptly pressed to a cold wall with Doppo's body towering over her. She found herself in a classical kabe-don trap with his elbows on either side of her head. Everything happened so fast that she didn't have time to comprehend anything. Doppo's face was just several centimeters away, his ragged breath was fanning her cheek and his eyes were so bright and panicked that she had no clue what was going on. But her heart was having its own vision of a weird situation. It started to pound enthusiastically in her chest, cheering up on a persuading thought of taking the man into her arms and breathing in his citrus cologne.

"D-doppo…" she swallowed, trying to fight the evident blush.

"Shhhh…" was everything he pronounced, making it clear that she needed to stay quite.

Why was he looking at her so piercingly? The close and uncharacteristic proximity was making her feel too vulnerable and shy. They got used to hug each other every day, but this situation felt absolutely different – to the point when her mouth got dry all of a sudden.

He leaned in closer to her, and Sumi felt his body pressing her deeper into the wall. Now his face was next to hers and his breathing was tickling her ear. Her mind was getting hazy from the things she was discovering. He smelled nice, his warmth felt good, the mystery of this situation was playing tricks to her too enthusiastic heart that was beating as fast as his.

Would anyone explain what was going on?

And as if answering her mute question, Doppo merely whispered in her ear.

"If someone sees you here, we'll get into a trouble."

The realization hit her pretty hard. This situation wasn't of a romantic kind. They were hiding from whoever had walked out of an office earlier. But didn't they look even more suspicious standing like that in a recess wall as if making out in a broad light of the day?

And the answer was not long in coming.

"Kannonzaka, what do you think you are doing in the working hours? Where is the report you must submit today?"

A grumpy and malevolent voice echoed in the empty corridor and right behind Doppo's back.

"Oh, please, why did it have to be him of all people?" Sumi heard the guy's miserable whisper in her ear before he slowly let go of her and showed her the saddest smile she had ever seen on his face. He was about to turn around and face the ill-tempered man, but Sumi didn't let him do it. She grabbed his wrist with her hand, noting his surprised gaze, and pulled him forward, catching him in her arms. The guy froze in her gentle but untimely embrace and didn't know what to expect next.

"Is it your boss?" was all she asked quietly and got a little positive nod in reply. "Then just relax and play along."

"W-what?" his breath got stuck in his throat as she pulled his head down by the tie forcefully. Their faces got so close to each other that it was beyond any form of modesty. In anybody's eyes they would look like they were sharing a kiss.

"Are you playing deaf or what, Kannonzaka? You have some nerve to ignore your superior," they heard the same irritated voice and then Doppo felt someone grabbing his shoulder roughly.

The moment the older man witnessed the reason of why his subordinate had been pressing himself to the wall in a strange position, the wrinkled face coloured a deep shade of red.

"What's going on? Who is this woman you are molesting?" he didn't need much time to compose himself and demand for explanations in angry voice.

While Doppo was paling and getting ready to start his bowing apologizing tradition, Sumi took a step forward and smiled shyly at the balding man.

"Good morning, you must be Doppo's boss. It's so nice to meet you in person," she outstretched her arm, offering a handshake, which the man unconsciously accepted. "Doppo's told so much good things about you. Thank you for taking care of him," and she bowed a little, which brought confusion on the boss's face.

"He did?" the shorter man looked at his subordinate suspiciously, but returned his attention to the smiling young woman. "And you are?"

Sumi gathered all of her acting skills to look natural. Uncle Jakurai's guidelines were finally working. She could have never predicted that they would need to look happy in love couple in front of Doppo's boss. But here they were. She didn't have any other plan up in her sleeve to deal with this situation. Doppo's sad and desperate face was too much for her heart. She felt the urge to help him and save him. Again.

She collected herself together and showed the man a mesmerizing smile.

"Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. My name is Sumi Kannonzaka. I'm Doppo's wife."

"Huh?" now it was clearly evident that the grumpy man didn't expect such an answer. By the way he reacted to the introduction, it was obvious that he was thinking something fishy about Doppo. "So it's true and you are really married, Kannonzaka?" now the balding shrimp's attention was drawn to the nervous guy, who didn't know where to look in embarrassment.

"Yes, we got married at the end of March," Doppo uttered timidly, trying his hardest to play along, as Sumi had asked him to.

"That long ago?!" the boss exclaimed in surprise.

Sumi elegantly took her husband's hand in hers, which brought a tiny flush to both men's faces, and added in a gentle tone, looking at her spouse lovingly.

"We are still newlyweds and Doppo is too shy to talk about us openly. He didn't even ask for a vacation, because he said that his work was very important and he couldn't let his boss down. So, we didn't go on our honeymoon. But I do respect his decision. It shows just what a loyal and dependable hard worker he is. I am proud of him. He is the greatest man I have ever met in my life."

Sumi's words were exalted, sincere and true. Both Doppo and his boss were speechless after hearing her strong confession. The older man even felt as if he was a third wheel here right now.

"Maybe I might sound selfish, but I miss him so much," with these words, said in a gloomy voice, she looked up at the older man. "Doppo works days and nights, he is dedicated to this company with all his heart, but we don't see each other at all because of that. I miss him a lot. I want to spend more time with him. Being newlyweds is not forever. We sacrificed our honeymoon in the name of his work, but I don't want to be deprived of his attention in the evenings. So, please, boss-san," the girl sent a serious yet pleading gaze at the bewildered man, "is there anything we all can do about it? I am sure you remember your own life of a newlywed with warmth in your heart. We want to have such memories of our newlywed life too. I am sorry for my behavior earlier. It's not Doppo's fault. I couldn't control myself today any longer and came here to give my husband a kiss, because he was in such a hurry for work that we didn't have time to follow our little tradition of kissing and wishing each other a good day in the morning."

Doppo was on the verge of exploding. This situation was out of control. He felt like a fish thrown out of the sea on a solid dry ground. The guy was preparing mentally to say goodbye to his job after Sumi's daring words to his boss, since he was sure that he would be fired the next minute, but to his great amazement the boss let out a sigh and his face showed something that was similar to a smile. He had never seen his boss smiling before. It was another shock for Doppo's nervous system.

The older man scratched his nape somehow bashfully and looked away, his gaze was lost in distant memories.

"Well, even I used to be young," with those thoughtful words he addressed to Doppo in a serious but not irritated voice. "Submit your report, Kannonzaka, and you can go home at 5 p.m. A man, who makes his wife feel lonely and miserable, is a worthless man. Don't make your lovely wife suffer."

"I-I shall never! Thank you so much, boss!" Doppo didn't know what had happened just now. All he could do was bowing deeply to his superior, who wished them both good luck and after bidding a farewell, returned to his office.

When they were left alone in the corridor, Sumi let out a long and sonorous sigh of relief.

"I can't believe he bought it. I was so nervous, I thought I would faint from stress," she closed her eyes and grabbed her head. It was indeed a tough case, and her acting skills were not perfect, and she was too embarrassed to talk about her and Doppo's private life, and she wasn't used to lying, and…

And the next moment she found herself in a trap of the warmest and the most affectionate embrace she had ever experienced. Her eyes flew open and her eyes caught a glimpse of Doppo's red hair, her neck felt the touch of his smoothly shaven cheek and her nose smelled the unique scent of his skin mixed with citrus cologne. Her heart started to beat faster, uncontrollably faster and it was getting hard to breathe, especially when the embrace got tighter, even suffocating. The vibration of his sincere whisper stroked her heart tenderly.

"I am indeed worthless, Sumi, for forcing you to go through this mess, but I am so grateful to you. I will never be able to express my true gratitude to you. Thank you so much for saving me today twice, and for telling so many good things about someone like me. Even if they were just words of pretending, it made me utterly happy."

Sumi tried her best to pay attention to his declaration, but it was hard to do, because her head was getting dizzy from a firework of emotions she was feeling right now. They did practice hugging each other in the mornings and in the evenings, it helped a lot not to be all jumpy around each other. But this kind of embrace was too new to her nervous system. It was on another level, and it made her feel something she wasn't sure if she was permitted to feel towards this young man.

With shaking from unidentified emotions hands she enveloped his tall body in her sweet embrace. She even stroked his red hair on his nape absentmindedly, getting a sharp inhale from his side for an answer. She didn't plan to do it, her fingers did it on their own – just buried themselves in his thick hair and enjoyed the sensation.

"You are not worthless, please, stop giving yourself bad names. And everything I said…" she trailed off for a second and exhaled melodically, "was true."

He felt him stiffen in her arms. He was embarrassed, she knew it. She was, too. Lately, she couldn't recognize herself. Whenever he was around, she felt strange, as if her heart was stepping on something fluffy like a cloud. And she was afraid of these deep feelings that started to bloom inside of her. They had a pretending marriage, she had no right to ask anything more from him. And yet, she started to catch herself on a thought that she enjoyed his company a little too much than necessary, and their shared hugs were bringing her a little too much of joy she had permission of having. What was wrong with her? And why did she start to find his scent attractive and his eyes being really engaging recently? His true smiles were rarity, but they were priceless in her eyes.

Maybe she needed to relax upon her rules and just go with the flow? No, it was too terrifying. This love-pretending was blind and dangerous, but why did she feel so secure and content being in the circle of his tight and tender embrace? Why did it feel so utterly nice to feel his strong arms all around her?

They stood in silence and it was unbearable after everything said and done. Sumi was afraid of his comments regarding her bold confession. She needed to escape and think carefully about everything alone.

"Doppo, I need to get going to work now," she uttered hesitantly, and shifted a little in his arms, letting him know that she wanted him to release her.

The young man followed her wish and stepped back with a faint blush evident on his face. The lack of his warmth felt unpleasant on her skin.

"Of course! I am sorry you had to come all the way here because of me. Please, let me pay for the taxi, you won't be able to make it in time if you go by bus," while saying all that, he took a five thousands yen banknote out of his wallet and gave it to her.

"You don't have to! Taking taxi is too expensive! I'll be alright, there is still time to get there without being late for the first lesson," she waved her hands in front of her, refusing to take the money, but Doppo caught one of her wrists and laid the banknote on her palm.

"I insist," he told her confidently, looking right into her unsure eyes. "You came here and saved me from getting into a big trouble. Now I want to prevent the trouble you may get into for being late. Please, let me do this for you."

His hold on her hand was careful and light, but the warmth of his palms around her fingers felt nice. And his gaze was filled with kindness and affection. Sumi's heart reacted to those things with loud pounding. She needed to calm down and have a proper talk with her weird heart later.

"Alright. I can't say "no", when you look at me like this," the girl answered with a smile, averting her eyes shyly.

They exchanged their gratitude and goodbyes and after giving him the folder and mobile phone back, she left the company building and headed to St. Rudolf. By taxi.

Several days had passed since then. Doppo was catching himself on a thought that his mind got too occupied with the images of his young wife. Wherever he was and whatever he did, she was always on his mind. In the depths of his lonely heart he started to notice strange vibrations whenever Sumi was around. Doppo was afraid to admit to himself, that he was slowly but surely developing some strong and sublime feelings for the girl he had promised to protect from scandals and suspicions by marrying her.

His life had changed so much after she had stepped into his dull and grey existence.

A day before his Birthday he was called to the CEO's office all of a sudden. It was terrifying just by imagining what could happen to him behind the glass doors of the most important office of the building. Doppo collected all of his courage and headed to face the uncertainty. To his great surprise the CEO met him good-naturedly. They shared the formal greetings and soon after Doppo found out the reason why he was called here.

"A promotion?!" he couldn't believe his ears, when the CEO had voiced his decision.

"Yes, Kannonzaka-san. You've been on the promotion list for the past two years, but there was one single obstacle that slowed down the whole process."

Two years?! It meant that he could have been promoted that long ago? And why didn't he know anything about it?

The main executive crossed his hands on the desk and looked at the young salary man with interest.

"There is a rule in our company that we have been following since the foundation. Only married men get the place of an Analytical Department Assistant. A week ago our Human Resources Department provided me a report on the company personnel, who got changes in their data. And you were among them, Kannonzaka-san. So, let me congratulate you with getting married and being promoted to the rank of assistant manager of Analytical Department. And yes, you will be transferred from Sales Department, as you can see."

Doppo's head was spinning from all the unbelievable information he had just heard.

"I am honored and very grateful for your generous offer!" he stood up and bowed to the CEO. "I am just afraid that I am not capable enough for this kind of work."

The older man chuckled wholeheartedly.

"You will be fine. As I said before, this place was meant to be yours two years ago."

"But what exactly do I have to do as an Analytical Department Assistant?"

The CEO just waved his hand lightly, emphasizing that it was not a big deal.

"It's pretty much the same you have been doing in the Sales Department, but now you will be collecting data and reports from others and check them instead of doing them yourself. You will be having employees under your command, while you, yourself, will be submitted to the Head of Analytical Department. It's an intellectual work, not physical as before. You don't have to go and sell the medical equipment anymore, you will be doing researches and forming reports on the whole process."

It was still hard to believe, but it seemed that his life was gaining colours little by little. And it happened all thanks to his marriage to Sumi. He could have never predicted that his status of a single man had influenced his career in a bad way.

"The promotion order is already in progress, so you may start collecting your belongings and transferring them to your new personal office."

"Personal office?!"

The CEO laughed sincerely.

"I like such unspoiled and modest guys like you, Kannonzaka-san. I hope you will show us even more good results on your new place of work."

"I'll do my very best!" and this time Doppo meant every word, when pronouncing the mantra of every salary man of any company.

Sitting at his desk in the Sales Department, he felt like a jelly. He needed to collect himself and finish his report, but his brain refused to work, being filled with new information regarding his future. Staring at the monitor of his computer, he suddenly felt the urge to share the great news with Sumi. She was the main reason he got promoted and the only person that popped up in his mind, when the realization of the situation had finally settled in his system.

Sumi was having a lunch break in a school cafeteria, when she got a call from Doppo. It was the first time he decided to call her, and the sight of his name on the display of her mobile phone sent pleasant but exciting shivers down her spine.

When she answered the call, she couldn't but hold a giggle. His voice sounded happy, apologetic and embarrassed at the same time. It was obvious that he was trying to find the right words, when he was asking her if she was free at 17.30.

"Yes, my last class ends at 17.10. Did anything happen?"

There was a pause on the other side of the line and she could clearly hear his anxious breathing.

"I…I was thinking to ask you…would like to have a cup of coffee after work with me? I may come and pick you up by the school gates." His voice sounded unusually nervous, and Sumi could swear that he was blushing while asking her on a date.

A date!?

The realization of the reason of his offer made her speechless for a moment. It was going to be a date, wasn't it? And it was Doppo, who was asking her out. Doppo of all people!

She had to say something. The excitement and enthusiasm her heart decided to show her vibrated painfully and loudly in her ribcage.

The pause got too long, and it seemed that Doppo got the wrong idea about her mute answer, because his next words were said in a sonic speed rapping.

"Of course, only if you are willing to waste your time on me. I don't force you to do it. It's just…I was thinking we could talk while sharing a coffee, but it's not that important. Please, sorry for calling you and interrupting your work. It was silly of me to make you waste your time on my phone call…"

"I'd love to!" Sumi took in a huge inhale and exclaimed a little too loud for her surroundings. Several surprised gazes were directed at her in the cafeteria, and she had to lower her head to hide her upcoming blush.

"Huh? You do?" Doppo's voice sounded amused, as if he didn't believe her words.

"Yes, of course! I would love to go with you. I am looking forward to it, actually! Thank you for inviting me!"

Her voice sounded like a melody to his ears. He didn't notice it, but a happy and inspired smile touched his lips, when she said her words of appreciation.

"Then I shall meet you at 17.30 by the school gates."

Sumi's heart fluttered in response to his gentle voice.

"I'll be waiting. See you soon."

That first experience of talking by the phone brought a firework of pleasant emotions to both newlyweds.

Meanwhile, in the empty English class a teacher and a student were having an interesting conversation.

"I told you, Uncle. I've seen our homeroom teacher this Sunday walking out of an elite host club with a blond guy. I was hanging out with the guys that evening and I saw her with my own eyes. They looked as if they were really close. He kissed her hand and gave her a yellow rose. And she accepted his courting with a smile! Isn't it an inappropriate behavior for a married woman?"

The young man, who was known as a Vice Principal of St. Rudolf school, knitted his eyebrows suspiciously. Everything his nephew had said made some sense. He had never seen Kannonzaka-sensei's husband, when he ran into her in the streets and a supermarket. Maybe she wasn't married at all, just had put a ring on her wedding finger in order to fool everyone. Though, she presented the copy of a marriage registration form in the Human Resources Department.

"She seems fishy. Whenever I tried to get more info from her, she would end the conversation and retreat by any excuses. She could have asked one of the hosts she is familiar with to play a role of her husband in order to get a work here. As far as I remember, she was still unmarried, when the Principal was interviewing her."

The blond student hopped on a desk and looked at his Uncle in anticipation.

"So, what do you think? Should we spy on her? If to be honest, she is getting on my nerves with her strict way of teaching. I have always hated History, but now it got on a new level of hatred."

The Vice Principal threw a professional glare at his younger relative.

"You have nothing to do with it. Better concentrate on studying and getting high grades, Aoi-kun. I'll be taking this case in my hands. If I find anything interesting about our lovely Kannonzaka-sensei, there will be a pretty noisy scandal, that will end our Principal's career and give me a chance to take his place."

"Yeah, Gramps needs to retire. If he takes young girls to work in all-boys school, it means he is losing his ground for sure."

"And you do understand that this is between the two of us, do you, Aoi-kun?" the dark-haired man stood up from his seat and walked to his nephew warningly.

"Of course, Yanagi-sensei," the teenager rolled his eyes and nodded without enthusiasm.

If only they knew what was waiting for them in the near future.