New Hire

Isaka rested his chin on his fist and studied the newcomer in his office. Asahina had hired this kid under his instructions, to lighten the load of running Marukawa Shoten for both of them. Isaka had been hoping for someone energetic and lively, someone he could joke around with when Asahina was being particularly stone-faced. But this guy...

Kawamura Haruto, 23 years old and a recent college graduate, was sullen or depressed or anti-social? Maybe just painfully shy? Isaka couldn't get a read on him. Probably because he never made eye contact, barely spoke, and his body language seemed to be saying "leave me alone." At least he was efficient - Isaka had no complaints there. He and Asahina noticed right away that they were leaving work earlier and feeling more relaxed at home. But this guy...

As Kawamura took one stack of papers from Asahina in exchange for another, Isaka called out, "Kawamura, come over here please." Asahina shot him a warning glance.

"Yes, President Isaka." The boy came over and stood before Isaka's big desk. Still no eye contact.

"See that chair?" Isaka pointed. "Bring it over here," pointing again, to his side of the desk, "and sit down. I'd like to talk to you a little."

Kawamura followed the directions like a robot. He sat silently, but this time looked directly into Isaka's eyes. That's a bit unsettling - almost a challenge. Isaka stared right back, with a bit of a smile.

"Kawamura, you've been here a week now. Are you finding the job difficult? Do you enjoy it? We've noticed quite an improvement since you came – I really should have hired help for Asahina a long time ago."

"It's easy, but I don't like it much."

"Umm...huh?" He's frustrating! And rude! "Why did you want to work at Marukawa Shoten?" Wait a minute, did his expression just light up?

"Oh! My boyfriend was here recently setting up some computers for the company and mentioned it to me. He knows how much I like to read and thought working at a publishing company might be something I'd enjoy. I needed a job, now that I'm finished with school, so I applied. I didn't expect to end up as a personal assistant, though. I wanted to help make books somehow. But I need a job, so I'm stuck here I guess."

My god, get him started and he let's loose with a flood of words. A boyfriend! And absolutely no flattery, blunt as a hammer. Isaka was getting more intrigued by the minute. So it's not the company that made his face change...

"Computers?"

Kawamura shot him a look as if to say, "Don't you know what's going on in your own company?" Isaka found that amusing - here was someone else willing to scold him.

"They set up a workroom with all-new computers and drawing tablets. So your mangaka can work here if necessary. Izumi said it took him all day and he had to install a lot of art software he wasn't familiar with. That night we went online and looked at some videos of how the software works and saw some artists using it and it was really cool. I wish I could draw, but I can barely do stick figures. I want to see the computers, but I haven't even left this floor since I started working here."

Kawamura was looking quite animated now. Isaka reassessed him. Dark hair and eyes, very fair skin, nice suit (How did he afford that?), slender and medium height - he is actually kind of cute once he comes alive!

"What sort of books do you like to read? Manga?"

"I like everything. At the apartment, all the other residents give me their finished books, and I read them no matter what they're about. All the residents have been living there for a long time, they are my friends. Well, I can't read so much now, since I don't have as much free time. But I like learning new things, so it doesn't really matter what I read."

"Apartment?" Isaka was determined to take advantage of this talkativeness and pump the kid for information.

"I'm on-site overseer for a small apartment complex. Just 6 studios and my unit which is bigger. It's newly rebuilt, so I don't have to do much besides collect the rent. My uncle owns it, and he lets me live there for free in exchange. But I still need a real job because I don't like Izumi paying for everything. My uncle is a company president like you. Maybe you know him? Horai of K Company."

"No, I'm afraid I don't know him."

"I suppose you can't know everyone important."

"...!" Ha, this kid is weird! And he's funny, though not on purpose. His uncle must have bought the suit. He will liven things up around here, if I can keep him in this mood. I suppose he was just uncomfortable since it's his first job. Maybe we can adjust his duties a little...Isaka, drifting off in his thoughts, didn't notice the silence settling back in.

"Um. I'm sorry," muttered Kawamura, face shutting back down. "I talk too much or not enough, and I'm not polite, I know. Everybody thinks I'm weird or a freak and I have no social skills."

Crap! What should I do? "Kawamura, I like you. You are really helping us here in the office, and that helps us publish more books. Maybe you aren't working on them directly, but you're still contributing. And blunt honesty doesn't bother me – I just ignore what I don't want to hear, ha ha! Anyway, we're all freaks around here, right, Asahina?"

"Speak for yourself," Asahina said in his usual deadpan tone.

"Grr. Shut it, you! And call Kirishima for me. Ask him if he can spare Chibi-tan* for an hour or two."

Asahina arranged it, and they sat in awkward quiet until Misaki showed up.

"You needed me for something, President Isaka?" Misaki said nervously, poking his head in the door.

"Come in, Misaki. Kawamura Haruto, this is Takahashi Misaki, junior editor for our Japun division. Misaki, Kawamura here is new to the company, working as assistant to Asahina. Could you give him a tour of the building, introduce him around? Take your time. Oh, and give him whatever spare books he wants – from Sapphire too. Kawamura, Misaki here is going to be your new friend. Really, I think you'll get along very well."

Misaki stared first at Isaka ("Sapphire too?" Did that mean...? Is Usagi right about all men being secretly...?), then at the new guy who stood up and seemed impatient to leave. Finally, he looked over to Asahina, who gave him a nod and a slight smile.

"Err. Okay. Hi, Kawamura, welcome to the company. You can call me Misaki," he made a little bow.

Kawamura bowed back. "You can call me Haruto then. Why do you have a girl's name*? And how come you're not wearing a suit? Oh, can we see the new computer room?"

Misaki blinked. "Huh? Oh...well, my parents were sure I was going to be a girl. Then, they liked the name so they gave it to me anyway." He shrugged. "Editors don't usually meet with anyone important, so they let us dress more casual."

Isaka laughed. This will work. If Chibi-tan can love someone like Akihiko, he can certainly deal with Kawamura. "Go have some fun, you guys. Shoo!"

Misaki's natural eagerness to please took over, and he led the way out of the office, already chattering. Isaka heard him mentioning The*Kan as the door closed behind them.

"That was an inspired choice," Asahina told him. "But why did you bother with the boy to begin with?"

"Yes, I'm a genius!" Asahina snorted. "Well, you chose him. And I wanted to know why – because he would entertain me and keep me out of your hair, or because he was so dull I wouldn't be able to have any fun with him? Then, I just wanted to provoke a reaction out of him. But he was surprisingly cute once he warmed up. I think it was talking about his boyfriend that did it. Did you know he could be so lively?"

"Ryuichiro! Don't you dare flirt with that young man. I don't know how he would handle it, and you might be told things you really don't want to hear and can't ignore. That unfiltered tongue of his could crush your ego. And no, I didn't suspect a thing. He was qualified, and I didn't consider your entertainment when I was doing interviews."

"Kaoru, you know nothing can ever crush my massive ego! But don't worry, he's not my type. I like them bossy and cold-hearted!"

"Tch! Idiot.

"Mmm, come kiss me!

"No."

"Please? Pretty, pretty please?" Isaka wheedled.

"No." But Asahina couldn't hide a tiny smile.

*Chibi-tan is Isaka's nickname for Takahashi Misaki.

*Misaki means "beautiful blossom" and is usually a girl's name.