A few days later, on that Saturday, was Shihei's funeral. Hanako was the only family left around to attend and Shihei didn't have many friends, so it was going to be a fairly small event. The day before had been the wake and Shihei's few friends had come, but Hanako would be on her own for the funeral itself. Or so Hanako thought.

Hanako stood in the cemetery before her family's gravestone as the priest performed the final rites. Just as the priest finished the rites, Hanako heard someone approaching from behind her and turned to find Keigo, Ryushi, and everyone else she worked with approaching.

"What are you all doing here?"

"We came to offer our respects," Ryushi replied. "I hope you don't mind, we just didn't want you to be alone."

Hanako teared up, but she smiled and kissed his cheek before hugging him. "Thank you, Ryushi." She looked at the others. "Thank you all, so much."

"Of course, sweetie, no one should go through something like this alone."

Each of her coworkers- each of her friends- hugged her and paid their respects, lighting some incense and offering up prayers while some placed their gifts of flowers around the gravestone. Once everyone had, Hanako bid her brother a final farewell before leaving the cemetery with the others.

"Hanako, would you like to join us for a night out?" one of the women, Kana, asked.

Hanako smiled but shook her head. "I think I need a quiet night tonight, but thank you. Can I take a rain check on the offer, though?"

"Of course," Kana hugged her. "Call us if you need anything, alright?"

"I will. Thank you again, all of you, for being here today. It means so much to me." Hanako hugged everyone else as they took their leave and she stood alone as their cars disappeared.

"You should get home before the rain starts."

Hanako jumped a bit and looked over to find Keigo coming to stand beside her. "Did you do this, too?"

Keigo chuckled. "This was all Ryushi's idea," he said, then gazed down at her as he added, "I would have done it anyway, he just beat me to it."

Hanako smiled at that. "How did I get so lucky as to find such great friends?"

Keigo pretended to think on her question and answered, "Well, saving you from a villain was a good start."

Hanako giggled at that, reminded of what she had told him that morning in the bakery. "That is was."

They stood there, gazing at each other for a few moments before Keigo looked up at the darkening sky as thunder sounded above.

"Do you live far?"

"Not really, no."

"Would you like a lift?"

Hanako shook her head. "Thank you, sir, but I'll be alright to walk."

"Alright, just be safe getting home."

Hanako offered him another smile. "I will, I promise. I'll see you Monday?"

Keigo returned her smile. "See you Monday."

Hanako gave him a small bow and waved as he took flight, watching until he had disappeared from view. Thunder sounded again overheard, this time much closer, so Hanako started making her way home- hoping to get inside before the rain started.

She barely made it, slipping into her home just as the rain began to pour down from the sky. She slipped out of her shoes, hung her jacket and purse up, then went to change out of her clothes and take a nice long and hot bath.

Up in his penthouse apartment, Keigo sat back on his couch and listened to the pounding of the rain on his windows. As he sat there, he thought back on what Hanako had said a few days prior and realized that she was right. He knew all of his employees pretty well, but Hanako was the only one he hardly knew at all and he wanted that to change. It would be difficult, though, given that outside of work Hanako kept to herself.

Then, he recalled what she had told Kana about taking a rain check on a night out.

'I could work with that. It has been a while since we had a get together with everyone.'

He pulled out his phone and found Hanako's contact info then sent her a text. 'Hey, it's Hawks. I just wanted to check-in and make sure that you got home safely.'

He didn't get a reply right away, which worried him a bit, but then after a few more minutes his phone buzzed and he saw a text from Hanako.

'Sorry, sir, I was taking a bath. I got home just before the rain started. Thank you for checking up on me. What about you?'

'I made it home just before the rain started, too.'

*ding*

'That's good. I imagine flying in the rain can be rather difficult.'

Keigo chuckled at that. 'You have no idea.'

*ding*

'Thanks again for coming today, sir. I really do appreciate you all taking the time to be there for me.'

'Of course. Like Miss Yoshimoto said, no one should go through something like that alone.'

*ding*

'And I'm glad that I didn't have to.'

Keigo got up to make himself a glass of whiskey and sent a reply. 'What do you plan on doing with the rest of your day?'

*ding*

'I was going to make some tea and then look at apartments.'

'You still plan on selling the house?' Keigo asked as he sat back down.

*ding*

'Yeah. As much as I love this house, I just don't need this much room, and trying to rent it out is more hassle than I would like to deal with.'

'I see. Where are you looking to move?'

*ding*

'I'm not really sure, probably something a bit closer to work if I can manage.'

'Will you need help moving?'

*ding*

'Perhaps. Why, are you offering?'

'Maybe. Are you accepting?'

*ding*

'Maybe. I still have to find a place first.'

Keigo chuckled at the playful banter. 'If I hear anything, I'll be sure to send the information your way.'

*ding*

'Thank you, sir.'

'Of course, happy to help where I can.'

*ding*

'What are your plans for the rest of the day, sir?'

'Just relaxing at home, listening to the rain, enjoying a drink.'

*ding*

'Oh? What kind of drink?'

'Whiskey.'

*ding*

'I'm more of a wine person, but I like a good whiskey every now and then.'

'Oh? What kind of wine?'

*ding*

'I like fruity, sweet wines. I know, pretty girly, right?'

'Honestly, I'd have to agree with you on that. If I wanted a dry tasting drink, I'd stick with sake.'

*ding*

'True, but sake has it's pros as well. There was this blackberry sake I tried for my twenty-second birthday and it was amazing.'

'Blackberry sake? Never heard of it before.'

*ding*

'It was delicious, very smooth, sweet, fragrant, and fruity. I haven't been able to find it again since, though.'

'That's too bad, it'd be nice to try something new that comes so highly recommended.'

The conversation continued like that for nearly an hour and by the time either Keigo or Hanako had realized it, they both felt like they knew a bit more about the other.

'I'm sorry to keep you from your apartment searching, Miss Itami.'

*ding*

'I don't mind, sir. It's been kinda nice talking with you like this.'

Keigo smiled at that. 'It has.'

*ding*

'We can keep talking if you'd like, sir. It's honestly helping me think about something other than this morning.'

'I see. Well then, how about we play a little game?'

*ding*

'What kind of game?'

'It's like a question game. I'll ask you something, you give me your answer, then I will answer my own question before it's your turn.'

*ding*

'Sounds intriguing, I'm in.'

Keigo smile grew and he lay back on the couch, thinking of what his first question would be.