A little something to made up for the late chapter
Office story
Excuse
« Just don't laught so much ! I didn't told you for that ! »
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« Definitly not ! You are just like Mrs. Sato ! »
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« How's that a « normal devlopment between co-worker » ? »
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« Just don't imagine things ! There is no way for him to grow to like me that way. »
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« I have to let go, I'm at the station, bye »
The sun was bright already over her head. From the news in the morning, this was going to be a very hot day. So Mai prepared herself for the day very carefully. Hairs were put up on a hight pony tail, she was wearing a white skirt and yellow top that was covering enought to be presentable at work but not too much. With that she had a practical bag with enought space for a drink.
Talking on the phone to her friends before going to the station was something she was doing daily. Their work hours were definitly not helping them to see each other so they were maintaining the link by calling every morning.
She entered the train with ease and waited for the departure. He was quit full this day and sure enought, the heat was aready too much. When the train got started, she had before her an apparently stressed out salaryman and an older woman sharply dressed.
Five..Ten... Ten more minutes before her stop. People were pressed against each other. Being more inconfortable than that was hard. Well, it was hard to imagine something worst before she felt a hand touching her at a place that definitly were not asking this kind of attention. Anger rised and Mai was well on her way to turn and see who had a death wish when a man beside her shooted angrily, the hand of another one in his.
« You there ! How can you do that ?! We should be reporting you ! »
The man seemed surprised at first to have been caught red handed. And then claimed with force that it wasn't him. As soon as they got to their stop, Mai and the man who helped her got him reported. That done, Mai bowed deeply.
« Thank you for your help »
The man seemed embarased. He bowed in reponse.
« It was normal you know ! My name is Kumamoto Tatsuya, I'm glad you are fine ! »
« Glad to meet you, I am Taniyama Mai. I'm stronger than that, but I think that punching a man in the train wouldn't have been very good... hehe »
« Ha you would have had all the rights to do just that ! Are you goind this way ? I can accompany you if you want ? »
It surprised her but she agreed without thinking too much. This man, Tatsuya, was somewhat the same age as her, tall, with black long hairs and little shiny eyes with glasses on. He was wearing regular cloths, no uniform. The young woman knew that she was late. It had been so long since the last time. But, surely Naru would not be too much angry once he knew why, right? The walked while talking a bit and once SPR was on sight, Mai got her way.
« Mai, I didn't think I would have to say it again but, you are late »
Naru, always sharp didn't overlook twenty minutes. And the way he was looking at her from the sofa where he was reading a tick book, he was waiting for an explanation. Lin's office's door was open.
« Well, maybe you would have been late too if some pervert touched you on a packed train ! »
Silence followed her words. Naru looked at her and Lin who must have heard got out of his office.
« Are you alright Taniyama-san ? »
« I'm angry. And frustrated because I wanted to hit him hard... But yeah I'm fine, there is this guy who helped me and then proposed to accompany me on the way to work. »
« Glad to know you are fine. Seems like even idiots do catch the eyes... »
« Even here you find the time to insult me huh ? »
Mai was practicaly riled up. The only thing preventing that was that when Lin got out of his office he seemed worried and now looked like relieved.
« As we can see you are perfectly fine, do make some tea »
And without a word but still angry, mai started her day.
Lin's point of view.
Mai was late. It didn't happen for quit some time and, while at those times nobody were really worried, now, seeing her come in late had them wondering. Proof if needed to have one, Naru was waiting on the open area and himself had his door opened. So learning the reason, that this time something really did happened to her, had him feel strange. So strange that when Mai went to make the tea, Naru looked at him curiously.
« If you're THAT worried, you can get her on the morning. It will allow us not to worrie and she would be sure to be on time... »
« Where do you get that from ? »
« From your face »
« Naru I aready told you, she is too young... »
« That, it is your excuse for not acting on it »
« There is no excuse Naru »
Naru looked his way.
« She is an adult Lin. An adult biologically ready to produce children for quit some time already. The society often mary women early too. More and more we can see couple with this same age gap. I tell you Lin, what you tell me is only excuse. »
Lin had no room to answer as Mai came back with tea. And would he have answered something ? He didn't know.