8 The Clue
The thing about clues is the fact that they never make you fully happy until they really lead you somewhere.
Natsuki glanced at the calendar on her table.
"Tomorrow will be our trip to the plantation," she mumbled to herself. She was smiling as she stared at Shizuru's table. Natsuki was alone in the office because Shizuru had been busy preparing documents that they have to bring with them on their trip. "I wonder how her mom looks like."
A knock on the door was heard and then Reito's head turned up. Natsuki's face immediately showed irritation. Reito had been coming more and more often obviously to get close to Shizuru. The worst thing is, Shizuru is so damn polite and Reito is too persistent. He managed to bring Shizuru to the Metro Lounge last weekend for the second time and Natsuki had to come to check if they aren't trying to get her drunk. Unknown to Natsuki, Reito had given color to the way she treats her secretary and Reito didn't like losing to Natsuki. Reito thought of a good way to keep Natsuki away from Shizuru.
"Kuga-san, I found something," Reito said with his playful smile. He then idly sat on the chair across Natsuki's table.
"What is it? Please make it quick."
"Guess who I met last night at the Metro Lounge. Too bad you didn't go just because Viola-san couldn't make it." Reito emphasized his last words to irritate Natsuki more.
"Does he know about our trip to the plantation? I hope not. He's definitely going to ruin it for us." Natsuki thought.
"I said I'm busy. Who told you that my secretary's presence dictate my actions?" Natsuki replied, making sure that her words where heavily laden with her annoyance. She started to push the pencil too hard against the pad on her table.
"Sorry, my mistake. I just thought you like her. How foolish of me. Of course that's impossible because Grandpa won't approve a relationship with a mere secretary," Reito said. Kugas and Kanzakis in the company are expected to marry people who could help in the business. They call the President "Grandpa". When Mikoto managed to close a merger with the Tokiha Royal Holdings, she was personally congratulated by the President and now, the young Kanzaki is even more popular than her older brother. When the news about Mikoto and Mai broke out in the company, the President only said, "What a smart girl."
"Why are you after her then?" Natsuki retorted.
"I'm not one of Grandpa's favorites, not one of those "rising executives" as he calls them, so it's okay for me to play around."
"You bring shame to the company. I heard of Yuuki Nao's promotion. I wonder what you two did for that to happen." Natsuki said as if she were spitting her words.
"Oh come on, you live in the States for years. Being conservative doesn't suit you. And you know what? A lot of secretaries here are willing to give in to your charm if you just let them. Remember, Tomoe? After you refused to go on a date with her when we were at the Metro Lounge, she went out with me and we shared a wonderful night," Reito smirked.
"What do you want anyway?" Natsuki impatiently said. Reito straightened up and began to lay down his cards.
"I met my classmate, Kaichou-san Chie Harada, last night at The Metro Lounge," Reito began.
"Why should I care about that? She's your classmate in Nara, not mine. Is that all?"
"Well I asked her about your crimson-eyed crush and…" Reito said leaving his words hanging to gauge Natsuki's reaction.
"And what?" Reito watched the change in Natsuki's expression. She's obviously interested. She's really one conservative brat who couldn't forget about a high school crush. "She's really stupid," Reito thought.
"Harada-san said that she remembers Fujino-san as the friendly Kaichou of Fuuka Academy. She also said that she saw Fujino-san in Tokyo U but they belonged to different colleges so she didn't get the chance to know her more. In the end, Harada wasn't useful at all," Reito said and then he laughed.
"Get out!" Natsuki yelled. The people in her department can now hear her and they were shocked. Natsuki is back to her grumpy self again.
"Kuga-sama is having tantrums. Where is Shizuru-san?" Maria asked her officemates. "Find her Akira. Be quick," Maria ordered her assistant.
"Harada is useless but I'm not. I paid someone to go to Fuuka and I found out her full name is Fujino Shizuru. What a coincidence, right Natsuki? I felt that you are inclined to liking people with that name. You know what? I can introduce you to my beautiful friends Sawada Shizuru and Tanizaki Shizuru. I'm beginning to think that people with that name are all pretty hot," Reito continued with a smirk. Sometimes, he just couldn't keep his mouth shut and Natsuki never liked loud people. There are times when she hated Mikoto too but Mai is her friend so she ended up adapting. "So do you still like her, Natsuki, I can find her for you."
"Shut up! Just get out of my office and don't come here if you don't have any important business," Natsuki said as she shoved the man out of her office. When she was finally alone, Reito's words wouldn't get off her head. "Fujino Shizuru. She went to Tokyo U."
Meanwhile, Reito came back to his office and sat triumphantly. "That should be enough to keep her mind away from Viola-san." He happily attended to his duties until he got bored. He sat for a while and then thought about the name Fujino Shizuru. "I think I saw that name somewhere. Was it from a book? Oh never mind."
Natsuki paced in her office. It wasn't because she wanted to find the girl. It was because the name was familiar. She has seen it printed somewhere. She's just not sure where. "I think it's in a magazine."
"Natsuki, I had the travel order signed," Shizuru said as she came in to the office. She saw Natsuki pacing and she was obviously in deep thought. "Natsuki, is there a problem? Maria-san said that Kanzaki-san was here a while ago."
"Yes, he went here to irritate me," Natsuki replied grumpily. "Shizuru, would you please call Kurosawa-san?"
"Sure," Shizuru then left the office and went to Maria's cubicle.
"Maria-san, Kuga-san asked me to call you." Maria then went with Shizuru to Natsuki's office. Natsuki motioned Maria to sit.
"Kurosawa-san, it's nothing important. I'd just like to borrow magazines. I saw some on your table when I came in this morning."
"Oh, but they are all entertainment magazines. Are you sure Kuga-sama? What about the magazines in your Dad's office, you might find them more informative?" Natsuki's face lit up and Maria beamed. It was very rare to see Natsuki smile like that. She looked like a child. "I'll ask Akira to get them and bring them to you."
"Thank you! Thank you so much Kurosawa-san," Natsuki said. Maria left the office with a smile on her face and then she told Akira to quickly get the magazines. Shizuru heard the entire conversation and when Maria was out of the office, something popped in her head.
"Where are you going?" Natsuki said.
"I'll get the magazines for you," Shizuru said and then she darted out of the room. Natsuki was left clueless but she liked the way Shizuru looked when she wanted to do something for her. "She's a natural sweetie. I think I should be honest with myself. I think I like her more than anyone. That makes her special I guess."