A/N: Hi all, I have come back with another chapter! Please enjoy reading. :) Thank you!
Chapter 12: Blessings and worries
xxx Tetsuhiro xxx
Sliding his pinstriped suit off the hanger, Tetsuhiro stood in front of the mirror and slung it over his shoulders. With his hair combed and styled neatly backwards, the ensemble was the most formal that he had worn for a while. Taking a deep breath, Tetsuhiro buttoned his suit and took one last look at his reflection before stepping out of the bedroom.
Souichi was reclining on the couch, the newspapers rustling as he flipped a page. He looked up immediately at the sound of the bedroom door shutting. It seemed that he had been waiting for Tetsuhiro to come out. Putting the papers aside, the pregnant man stood up with some difficulty and padded towards him. "Your tie is crooked."
"Oh, I didn't notice that…I must be too nervous, haha." Smiling in surprised pleasure when the silken- haired man tsked before tugging at his tie, Tetsuhiro savoured the simple joy of having his lover do such a wifely task for him. It took away the edge of his anxiety a little. "Thank you, Sempai."
"Did you bring Prof. Fukushima's testimonial?" Stepping back once he had adjusted Tetsuhiro's tie, Souichi continued to give his appearance a critical look-over, occasionally flicking away some imaginary lint from his suit.
"Yes, it's in the briefcase. I'm really glad that Prof. Fukushima was willing to help our case. However, I guess the final decision would still lie with the company." Tetsuhiro thought Sempai looked really cute, all housewife- like in his oversized blouse and casual slacks. The due date for their little girl was nearing rapidly, and with Souichi's huge and laden belly, it seemed like it would be any day now.
The thought disquieted Tetsuhiro a little. He hated leaving Souichi alone, even if for half a day. If something were to happen while he was gone, there would be nobody there to help Sempai…Tetsuhiro shook his head to clear the thoughts. He had to stop being so paranoid! However, he was definitely coming home the moment his meeting with Saga- san was over.
A grimace ran across Souichi's face just as Tetsuhiro was reaching out to hug him. Immediately, Tetsuhiro forgot everything else as he put a hand against their baby. Sempai was standing very still, taking in shallow breaths as he leaned against Tetsuhiro. The younger man could feel his slight trembling. "Is it a real contraction, Sempai?"
"…I don't think so; no…" Another shudder ran through Souichi and Tetsuhiro took out his cell to dial for an ambulance. However, the pregnant man stopped him. "…hahh…it's just Braxton Hicks contractions, Morinaga. Don't call…the ambulance…and—shouldn't you be getting along?"
"How can I leave you like this, Sempai?! Are you sure it's only Braxton Hicks? Why don't we just go to the hospital to check?" Concern coursed through Tetsuhiro as he led them to the couch, where he carefully lowered Souichi to rest. The long- haired man was sweating lightly as he stroked his womb in restless motions. Tetsuhiro knelt in front of him and gently joined in.
"No, there's no need to…Morinaga, you are going to miss your train at this rate. Get a move on! The meeting with your boss—" Despite his words, Souichi had latched onto Tetushiro's hands.
"To hell with the company! Sempai, you and the baby are more important than anything else—! You are trembling so much; how can I leave you alone? What if it's real labour?" Tetsuhiro held on to Souichi firmly. "Don't worry about the company, Sempai. You are more important than any job."
"…Don't sprout such big-headed nonsense, baka…Inari Reiko has already caused your position there to become precarious; you shouldn't be doing the same thing to yourself—!"
Tetsuhiro understood Souichi's worry, knew that his lover only wanted the best for him. Indeed, being able to work at S Pharmaceuticals was a golden opportunity that would brighten his portfolio significantly. However, if he had to choose between work and Sempai, there was no doubt as to which would be his choice.
However, Sempai still did not seem to comprehend that he was really this important to Tetsuhiro…Moving to sit beside Souichi, he carefully maneuvered him into his arms. The man gradually calmed down as the worst of the storm passed. Tetsuhiro sat listening as the man's breathing became regular. "I'll call Saga- san to postpone the meeting. The due date is too near for me to go to Tokyo and leave you alone here in peace."
"Baka…! The company is already calling you out on the news article; if you postponed the meeting, you might as well be saying that you are resigning! I'm fine now, so get your ass moving!" Souichi struggled futilely in Tetsuhiro's embrace. "Baka, let go! You are going to be late!'
"Sempai, don't move around too much; it might trigger the contractions again—" Immediately, Souichi stopped his struggles and Tetsuhiro sighed in relief. He smoothed the fabric of Souichi's top across the arc of his belly. "Emi- chan, don't give Papa and Daddy such a scare, please! We can't wait to see you but try to wait a little longer, okay? Grow up fully and healthily in Daddy's womb first, all right? We love you a lot."
"…Tch, baka. It's not as though Emi can control when she's coming out, right?" The note of exasperation in Souichi's voice was a sure sign that he was really feeling better. Tetsuhiro nodded, feeling his own heart settle back into his chest.
The two of them continued to sit quietly on the couch, waiting with bated breath for another sign of the contractions. However, as the time ticked past, all was still calm. It seemed to be a false alarm after all. Thank goodness; with three more weeks to go before the actual due date, it was still a little too early for their baby to be born.
It was a while before Souichi spoke again. "Morinaga, go for the meeting today-it's imperative for you to go! If you are that worried for me, I'll call Matsuda- san to come over for the day. It's ridiculous to stay here when I'm all right now. If you take a cab to the main station, you'll still manage to catch the shinkansen."
"But, Sempai—"
"No buts. There's no way that I'm going to allow Inari Reiko to screw up your career! Anyway, Matsuda- san would be with me, so you should just concentrate on the meeting. Call a cab now, quickly."
"…All right…you sure that you are all right, Sempai?" Tetsuhiro was still unable to leave Souichi alone. However, the pregnant man was having none of it.
"Yes! Baka…"
In the end, Tetsuhiro was still driven out of the house at Souichi's insistence. At the genkan, Tetsuhiro finished wearing his shoes and picked up his bag. He looked back at his lover. Souichi was standing above the step, cupping his heavy womb with one hand. His peaked complexion only made Tetsuhiro feel even more uneasy. However, Souichi was adamant that he should attend the meeting. Unable to go against him, and unwilling to add on to his stress, Tetsuhiro opened the door reluctantly. Smoothing his expression into a cheerful one, he stepped out. "Wish me luck, Sempai! I'll call you when the meeting's over."
"—Wait—" Fingers curled around his wrist and Tetsuhiro stopped in surprise. Sempai was looking at him with determination, the fierceness of his spirit even more apparent against his physical fatigue. "Fight for your rights, Morinaga. You entered the company by your own merit; it'd be too damn unfair to fire you because of those gossipmongers! Damnit…" Souichi reined in his temper and suddenly, Tetsuhiro felt another emotion hidden behind the fiery words. "Whatever happens, you…you are not alone; the baby and I are here! So, just go already." Souichi released his hand and practically pushed Tetsuhiro out of the apartment. The door slammed loudly in his face.
Even though his ears were still ringing from the loud bang, Sempai's words, eked out from the blushing man, warmed Tetsuhiro through and through. Oh Kami... Knocking softly on the door, he leaned close to say his goodbyes. "I will do my best, Sempai, so please don't worry. Rather, take good care of yourself while I'm not in. If the contractions come back, tell Matsuda- san to bring you to the hospital immediately, okay? I love you and the baby very much."
Through the crack of the door, Tetsuhiro heard the softest intake of breath. He closed his eyes and imagined the figure of Sempai leaning against the other side of the door. His hand clenched against the wood momentarily. He did not have a very good feeling about leaving Nagoya.
The glass and steel façade of S Pharmaceuticals loomed impressively ahead as Tetsuhiro crossed the last traffic light and headed towards the company where he had been a trainee for a little over eight months. The sweeping flight of steps from the pavement to the main lobby of the multi- national company was daunting, especially so when he was going into what was likely to be an unpleasant meeting with his superior, Saga- san. Tetsuhiro steadied his nerves. Sempai's words resounded in his head like a mantra. Feeling like how he had on the first day of work, he placed his foot on the first step.
There were not many people around the lobby, it being the middle of the morning. Tetsuhiro nodded at familiar faces, taking latent notice of the way people would turn back and glance at him after they had walked off. Well, he had expected that, and had steeled himself for this…
"Morinaga- san, Saga- san is already waiting in his office for your appointment. Please go ahead!" The receptionist smiled in a friendly manner at Tetsuhiro.
"Thank you. Then I'll go now. Have a nice day." Tapping his trainee card against the electronic barrier, Tetsuhiro joined the few people awaiting the elevators. Suddenly, there was a clap on his shoulders. "Ehh—"
"Morinaga- kun! Wah, long time no see! Where have you been this whole time?"
Ah, it was his colleague and permanent chemist in their department. "Good morning, and long time no see! It's been a while, thank you. I have had some personal things to take care of for the past month. Hence, I requested for a postponement of my training from Saga- san. Is everything all right at the lab?"
"I see. Hope everything turned out all right! Ehh, you mean work? It's been busy as always! But I don't think there's any training scheduled for this week…?" His senior asked in an enquiring tone as the elevators made their way slowly down to the ground floor.
"I have an appointment to meet with Saga- san, so it's not for training." Tetsuhiro smiled congenially as he informed his colleague. However, he refrained from saying too much.
"Oh, okay! Well, the lab has just received this new shipment of machines—when you come back again, I'm pretty sure you'll also learn how to use them! Some of them are really cool..."
Through the lift journey, the two of them continued to make small talk. Tetsuhiro was rather glad that his colleague was still as friendly as ever; there were no invisible barriers placed up by his senior, no slanted glances thrown at him. His mood lifted significantly and unknowingly, the ride up to the tenth storey flew by in a flash.
As they were about to part ways at the entrance to the office, their idle chatter dwindled to a stop. Tetsuhiro bowed to the older man. "It was great talking to you, Sempai. Hope to see you later! Please pass my regards to the other colleagues too."
"Yes, that I will do—erm, Morinaga- kun—" With an embarrassed smile, the other scientist rubbed at his head before patting Tetsuhiro firmly on the shoulder. "All the best! We are all behind you, and hope that you'll be with us for a long time yet! See you later, all right!" He waved jovially at a stunned Tetsuhiro before heading towards the laboratories.
"You are all too kind…" Clutching this unexpected gift of courage from his colleagues, Tetsuhiro entered the office in a much- improved frame of mind. Through his eight months here, he had blended in well with the people in the laboratories as well as the main department. He enjoyed the dynamic and yet close- knit environment here but frankly, their support of him still came as a shock.
However, Tetsuhiro also knew that the opinion of the higher-ups was what would decide his fate. Glancing through the glass panel into his boss's office, Tetsuhiro gulped, all the suppressed anxiety surging back in full force. His jacketed back felt damp with sweat as he raised his hand to knock on the door. "Excuse me, Saga- san? This is Morinaga."
His boss ushered him into the spacious and modern office. Tetsuhiro sat down at the indicated seat. Cold sweat wet his palms at the unusually stoic expression on Saga- san's face. "Thank you for arranging the meeting today, Saga-san."
"No problem…well, I guess we both know why I called you in today." Saga- san pressed a button and the blinds of his windows wound down automatically with a quiet zing. As the office became more private, the older man focused his attention on Tetsuhiro. "Morinaga- san, I've always been a straightforward man, so I'll start on the purpose of this meeting immediately.
"It has come to the company's notice about your relationship with another man, and that he is actually expecting your child. Is that information correct? I would like for us to be open with each other."
"…Yes, that is correct, Saga- san. But it was not my intention to deceive the company," Earnestly, Tetsuhiro stood up and bowed at the severest angle that he could make. "I apologise sincerely for all the trouble that the news has brought to the company."
"Morinaga- san, I accept your apology. However, this is no longer a small issue as your affairs were actually published on the national level...do you understand the gravity and impact on the company's image?" Saga- san whipped out a newspaper article and slid it in front of Tetsuhiro. He did not need to see it to know its contents.
"I understand, and I apologise once again for all the inconveniences. But please give me another chance! I would give back doubly, no, triply to the company! As you know already, my partner is…pregnant and would be giving birth soon. I need a means of livelihood to support my family. Please, give me another chance!" Tetsuhiro fumbled for his briefcase and extracted Prof. Fukushima's hand- written testimonial. "Saga- san, if you need a vouch for my credibility, this is Prof. Fukushima's. Please take a look at it first."
"…Morinaga- kun, you are a good worker; I have seen that for myself in these past few months. However, this issue is not in my jurisdiction—"
"But it's in mine, Saga!" The glass door flew open and a striking woman in her mid- thirties strode boldly into the office. Tetsuhiro's eyes widened as his ex- superior and would- be assailant swooshed past him in a flurry of red coat and musky perfume. Dr. Maya slammed her hands on Saga- san's table, crossing her legs in a provocative posture. "Saga, I'm personally vouching for Morinaga Tetsuhiro."
"Wha—Dr. Maya, why are you back in Tokyo?" Saga- san stood up, scraping his chair as he did so. "Never mind that, why are you concerned over Morinaga- san's issue?"
Dr. Maya flipped her hair proudly before slamming on the table again. Saga- san and Tetsuhiro both jumped. "As the regional vice- president of this narrow- minded company, I believe that I am one of the higher- ups that has a say in Morinaga's fate! And I'm saying that he should stay! You are overridden, Saga!"
"I don't want Morinaga- san to leave either; however, the managing director has passed down the verdict—" Saga- san's complexion reddened and his jowls wobbled as he stood his ground against the formidable woman. "Dr. Maya, your vote alone is not going to be sufficient to sway the board!"
"To hell with those old farts! Morinaga is a good worker; they can't fire him just because of his sexual preferences!" Dr. Maya's ample bosom trembled with the effort.
"But the company's image and employee discipline have to be upheld; Dr. Maya, if Morinaga's case had been a typical one about homosexuality, the problem might not be so serious. However, what we are talking about now is a case that has been sensationalized by the media! S Pharmaceuticals was even mentioned in the news and talk shows—that is what the board of shareholders are most concerned about!"
"As though the news spotlight would stay on him and his partner forever!" Dr. Maya snorted derisively. "If S Pharmaceuticals can be brought down by such news then we can't call ourselves the leader in the industry already, can we? Are you telling me that our PR department cannot handle the situation well? If so, then it seems that we should fire those imbeciles rather than a perfectly hardworking and efficient worker! That's it, we are going to see the managing director now!" Dr. Maya suddenly swiveled towards the stunned Tetsuhiro. "Morinaga! Come with me!"
"Wait, Dr. Maya—!" As the irrepressible woman pulled Tetsuhiro along, he looked desperately back at his direct officer, who was frozen behind his desk. "Saga- san—!" They swept through the office, Dr. Maya striding in her killer heels, Tetsuhiro stumbling along behind her.
Various colleagues popped out their heads at the commotion. Some of them, whom Tetsuhiro were on closer terms with, came forward, concerned expressions on their faces. The loud argument between the two bosses had apparently been overheard.
There was a slight flurry as the most senior executive of the department picked up a folder from her table and rushed to Dr. Maya. "Good morning, Dr. Maya! I apologise for the rudeness. We, as the research department, have signed a petition to stop the homosexual discrimination towards Morinaga- kun. Please accept it!" With a polite bow, she handed the blue file to Dr. Maya.
With a slight frown at the interruption, Dr. Maya took the file and flipped through it impatiently. Behind her, Tetsuhiro caught sight of various signatures lining the entire page of paper. He turned towards his colleagues, ridiculously touched. "Everybody…"
"Morinaga- kun, ganbatte! Don't give up—we are all behind you!"
Their genuine smiles and encouraging words brought tears to his eyes. Tetsuhiro's chest constricted. So this was what his senior from the lab had meant just now…the solidarity and kindness from his colleagues strengthened his will and he bowed deeply to them. "I can't even begin to express my gratitude to everyone of you! Thank you—thank you so much!"
"Morinaga, are you done with your crying? Clear that snot! The managing director is very particular about appearances!" At that moment, Dr. Maya spied Saga- san hurrying towards them. "Saga! Come on!"
Propelled by the typhoon that was Dr. Maya, all three of them exited the research department and took the elevator to the top floor. Dr. Maya stepped out confidently into the posh and sophisticated waiting area of the managing director's office. Without even a glance at the protesting secretary, she knocked cursorily at the thick double doors before pushing it open. "Excuse me, Shachou!"
It was the second time that Tetsuhiro had seen the head of S Pharmaceuticals, Japan. A silver- haired, distinguished- looking man was seated at the antique table. The gold nameplate on the table shone dully. Sawai Ichinose looked up sternly at the disruption as Dr. Maya bowed smartly to him. Tetsuhiro and Saga- san entered more quietly behind the domineering woman and bowed respectfully to him.
"Shachou, I'm here to request that you withdraw your order to dismiss Morinaga Tetsuhiro!" Without preamble, and in fact, without care for proper etiquette, Dr. Maya shot straight into the topic.
Sawai Ichinose leaned back on his leather chair, seemingly unsurprised by her outburst. Removing his glasses, he examined them before wiping it leisurely with a black cloth. Everyone else waited for him to finish doing so. Tetsuhiro gulped slightly. He was in the lion's den.
"Shachou—!" Dr. Maya pressed on. "Morinaga's performance, even as a trainee, has been outstanding, and that can be vouched for by Saga, his direct officer, me, and all the other colleagues in the research department. If we were to lose such a good worker just because of his personal relationship, it would be grossly unfair!"
"Dr. Maya," With just those few words, the managing director made his authority known. Sawai Shachou put on his glasses again, the lens not dulling his sharp gaze one iota. "I don't understand—this is a simple employment issue involving only one worker. Why are we discussing this at length?"
"Because it's not just a simple matter! Shachou, please pardon my rudeness. However, if it were leaked out that our company has dismissed a capable worker just because of his sexual preference, the media backlash could be even worse than we imagined! The pro- LGBT community has been making their voices heard, especially after Morinaga's case! If the protagonist of the recent gay news was fired and the community got to know about it, then wouldn't the company's name be dragged further in mud? Please reconsider, Shachou!"
Beside Tetsuhiro, Saga- san coughed slightly. He patted his hand softly before going forward to stand beside Dr. Maya. The managing director's frown was much deeper now as Saga- san began to speak. "Shachou, I apologise on both my and my subordinate's behalf for disturbing you. However, I have the same sentiments as Dr. Maya. Morinaga- san has been an impeccable chemist and researcher. The principal investigators of our major projects have praised him for his efficient work and in- depth knowledge in herbs and agriculture. To date, he has not committed any grave errors or insubordination as to warrant a dismissal.
"As we might all be well aware of, Morinaga- san's partner is pregnant and is about to welcome their child to the world. As a responsible adult and parent, a stable livelihood is imperative. I would like to ask for a chance for Morinaga-san to continue working at S Pharmaceuticals. Please consider this, Shachou." Saga- san and Dr. Maya bowed in tandem. Tetsuhiro likewise did so, feeling a little surreal. Prior to Inari Reiko, prior to the news scandal, he had never imagined that his life would be so filled with ups and downs.
"Isn't this just the personal views of the three of you? I don't see a point in pandering to individual notions—"
"Please accept this signed petition by the entire research department, as well as a hand- written testimonial by our liaison professor at Nagoya University, Shachou." The two managers placed the relevant documents smoothly on the varnished table.
"Hrmph." There was a long pause as Sawai Shachou studied the three of them with his penetrating gaze. The air hummed with suspense. Tetsuhiro was sweating freely now, his suit sticking to his back. If the support of his bosses and colleagues could not even help him, then…
With a rustle of sheets, Sawai pulled the papers towards him. The frozen atmosphere in the air broke and he breathed again. Tetsuhiro sagged in relief, barely noticing the buzzing of his cell as it vibrated in his pockets.
It seemed an eternity before Sawai Shachou looked up from the folder. His finger made a steady tapping against Prof. Fukushima's letter as he focused his attention on Tetsuhiro. "Morinaga Tetsuhiro."
"Yes, sir. Morinaga here. I apologise deeply for all the trouble that I have brought to you and the company…" Tetsuhiro bowed again.
"Frankly, there are any number of talented and capable candidates that I could choose to replace you if you were really dismissed—with our brand and reputation, we have no shortage of scientists who would like to work for us. Why should I retain you when your personal relationship has brought so much trouble to the company?"
Sawai Shachou's words dug deeply, as they were meant to be. Tetsuhiro took a deep breath to calm down. "Sir, thank you for even giving me a chance to talk. I thank Dr. Maya and Saga- san for fighting for me too. Everybody has tried their best for me—my colleagues, my superiors, and my partner. What I'm asking for is a chance to fight for myself, a chance to show my sincerity and capabilities to the company with my own effort. This is the minimum that I could do to repay all of you.
"The pregnancy of my partner took the both of us by surprise—nobody ever thought that male pregnancy was even possible in this world. However, it is the truth, and I have had the blessing to witness the miracle of my daughter's growth in my partner every day. We went through so many trials in order to be together and to protect her. There were so many times when I thought that I had lost them—! However, we managed to support and protect each other, to the point that we are going to welcome our daughter's birth soon." Tetsuhiro bowed his head as he spoke from his heart.
"Through this journey, I have learnt to be strong, to face obstacles and people's harsh judgments with my own will and strength. The things that are important to me need to be protected, and I have to protect them with my own power. My partner and daughter are important to me, but my work at S Pharmaceuticals is also very significant.
"I may not be the smartest, or the most talented. However, after everything that has happened, I believe that I have become a better man—someone who is able to carry out his responsibilities, someone who is able to withstand any obstacles big and small, and someone who knows how to cherish the things that I have with all my might. Sir, this job is my livelihood but it is also a career that I wish to nurture and grow. Please give me the chance to prove it to you and the company."
Tetsuhiro looked levelly at the managing director as he finished his speech, his hands clutching the sides of his trousers. Sawai Shachou's expression was unreadable, his glasses glinting in the overhead light. He did not know if he had said too much or too little. Beside him, Dr. Maya and Saga- san were also waiting for a signal from the commanding man.
"Hmm. Morinaga- san, you may be excused. Dr. Maya and Saga- san, stay back, please." Sawai Shachou nodded curtly at Tetsuhiro, clearly dismissing him. He had no choice but to excuse himself.
"Thank you, Shachou. Also, thank you, Dr. Maya, Saga- san. Please excuse me." Bowing respectfully to all of them, Tetsuhiro stepped quietly out of the elegant office before quickly escaping to the lift lobby. Sagging against the glass and chrome interior of the elevator, Tetsuhiro stared at his hands, noticing that they were still trembling. What was going to be his fate?
It was only when he had retrieved his briefcase that Tetsuhiro noticed the incessant buzzing of his cell. Taking the small device out of his pocket, he retreated to a quiet corner of the lobby and checked it. The number of missed calls was astounding. And it was all from Matsuda- san.
The harrowing meeting with the managing director flew out of his mind as he dialed Matsuda- san's number with numb fingers. The niggling feeling at the back of his mind exploded into full panic. Sempai—something must have happened to him!
His worst fears were realized when Matsuda- san answered his call almost immediately. "Matsuda- san, this is Morinaga. Did something happen to Sempai?" He flew to the stairs and rapidly descended the building as he hung on the phone. "Is it the baby? Is Sempai all right?!"
"Morinaga- kun! Oh Kami, thank goodness that you finally answered! Sou- kun has been—he has been admitted to Nagoya Hospital. The doctor said that it might be early labour…I know that you are in Tokyo now and Sou- kun told me not to bother you but I just had to! Please try to come back as soon as possible, Morinaga- kun!" Matsuda- san's voice was husky with worry and urgency.
Tetsuhiro panted heavily as he rounded the last stairwell in record time and burst out of the exit. He dashed towards the taxi stand and flagged one down. Matsuda- san's voice was barely audible over the thrum of his heart. He should never have left Sempai alone! He should have gone with his instincts and stayed in Nagoya, job be damned! He did not realise he was crying until the taxi driver turned around and asked him in concern. "Sir, are you all right? Where do you want to go?"
"To Tokyo main station! Please hurry, my baby's about to be born!"
To be continued.