Chapter 9: When I lay my eyes on you
.:x:.
"Please take a seat in the waiting area, the CEO will arrive shortly." Directed the secretary as she hung up the phone.
"Thank you." Replied both Rei and Michiru. They slowly made their way to the waiting area and once they were far enough from the secretary, they both left a sight that they were painfully holding. "I thought we were going to get scolded for being late!" Burst Michiru while sitting down.
"I thought so too! Thankfully, it seems like they are rather flexible on this point." Replied Rei smiling as she also sat down next to Michiru.
"Ne Rei-chan…" Started Michiru after a moment of waiting silently. She was a little bit nervous and didn't know how to make it go away. It was a mix feeling, she was excited and at the same time apprehensive.
"Yes?" Acknowledged Rei as she noticed her aqua haired friend kept looking at her hands on her lap. "What's on your mind? Are you nervous?"
Michiru looked up and managed to smile slightly. "Yes… and I don't know how to shake this feeling away."
"Don't worry Michi-chan, it's normal to be a little bit nervous on your first day." Smiled Rei. "To be honest, I'm also a bit nervous... Yeah a lil' bit nervous."
"Really? You don't look like you're nervous to me though." Michiru looked at her friend grinning face and realized. "You're saying this to make me feel better!" Scolded Michiru as she gave Rei a fake punch on her left shoulder, but she was now smiling.
Hatake smiled as he saw the exchange through the glass wall. He then decided to wait a little before making himself known by the two young women.
"Well good morning Rei-san, Michiru-san." Said Hatake smiling. "I'm sorry, I had to make you wait. I hope you will enjoy your first day within Tenou Corp." He then added while shaking hands with Rei and Michiru. His handshake lasted a little bit longer with the latter and he had to reluctantly withdraw his hand before someone noticed. "Are you feeling better today Michiru-san?" Questioned Hatake smiling.
Michiru had to blush at the remembrance of the previous event and at the use of her first name, but manage to look at Hatake and smiled. "I'm feeling a lot better, thank you Sachou for your concern."
"Hatake please, you can drop the formalities. You will soon realize that everyone here is quite laid back once you've been introduced." He smiled at her.
"Hai…" Replied Michiru bowing.
"Please, let me show you two to your respective desk now." He smiled and mentioned for them to follow him.
As they pass the secretary, Hatake stopped shortly. "Miyu-san, can you please try to reschedule the 10 o'clock meeting for sometime tomorrow?"
"I will see what I can do Sachou." Replied Miyu while scrolling the names of the attendees that Hatake was supposed to meet this morning.
"Thank you Miyu-san, you're fantastic. I don't know what I would do without you!" He replied smiling.
Miyu looked up at her boss and smiled evilly. "Well, maybe… attending meetings?"
"Hehe, maybe maybe!" He laughed and turned to leave. "Let's go to your office first Rei-san!" He put both his hands on the girls' shoulder and pushed them towards the entrance.
The secretary watched them leave and shook her head. The CEO was obviously exited to have such young and beautiful trainees working with him. 'Trouble is definitely around the corner…'
.:x:.
"Ruka-kun, can I, at least, get the blueberries muffin?" Pouted Minako, as she first had to witness her chocolate chips muffin get devoured by the tall blonde.
"You mean, the muffin I'm currently holding?" Smirked Haruka.
Seeing the smirk that her friend was given her, Minako knew that if she didn't act quickly, she would have to witness a second muffin loss. Without thinking she launched at her blonde friend and ended up laying on top of the tall blonde.
Haruka, playful as she was, did not let Minako get the muffin easily and extended her hands above her head so the muffin was out of her reach.
"Come on! You got the Chocolate chips already! Have mercy and give me this one!" Pouted Minako.
"Mou, Aya-chan bought them for me in the first place! So I get to choose which one I want to eat. Why do you want this one anyway?"
"'Cause that's my second favorite! And I know you know! You did this on purpose!" Replied Minako.
Ayashi looked at the two of them and slowly reached for a muffin. 'At least I know they won't jump on my banana muffin' She smiled and continued to sip on her coffee. As she kept on watching her friends' antics, she realized that whomever would come to Haruka's office at this moment would definitely misunderstand the situation. 'Oops too late' She thought as she looked to her left to see three shocked faces standing in Haruka's office. 'Might as well stop them'
"Mina-chan, why don't you release Haruka-san? It's no like you're gonna win anytime soon… and well I think you might let Haruka-san greet his guests…" Interrupted Ayashi as she put away her cup of coffee and stood up to greet the new comers.
"Well hello there, Hatake-san, Hino-san and Kaiou-san." Greeted Ayashi. As she looked at them, she was surprised to see the emotions that run through the aqua haired girl. 'Surprised and… Jealousy?'
As Minako and Haruka heard what Ayashi was telling them they turned to look at the entrance of the office and noticed the said guests.
Haruka was surprised to face the trio but her eyes immediately went to look at the attractive aqua-haired girl. 'She is… gorgeous in that business attire…'
Minako, seeing the surprised look on her friend, took the opportunity to quickly slide up Haruka's body and managed to grab the muffin with both her hands.
Not realizing the consequences of her action, Minako smiled proudly. "Got you, finally!"
Ayashi turned to see her friend, slapped her left hand to her forehead and shook her head. "Baka!"
Hatake, as for him, raised an eyebrow and grinned at his childhood friend. "She will never change!"
Rei watched the whole scene with curious eyes. "I guess that's why young graduates like it here… I suppose." She whispered to no one in particular.
Michiru, on the other hand, was having difficulties to understand the feelings she was experiencing at the moment. She didn't understand why she was happy, sad and angered at the same time. It was obvious that she was shocked to see the scene in front of her but where do all these emotions come from. 'Am I still nervous?'
After what seems like an eternity, but in reality it only lasted 10 seconds, Haruka managed to hold Minako's both arms and lifted her up so she can breathe again and sit down. "What was… that for… Mina-chan?" Questioned the blushing blonde a little bit breathless.
Minako just looked at her friend innocently and pouted. "You wouldn't give me the muffin… So…"
"Well, you still shouldn't try to asphyxiate my poor twin with your voluptuous female cleavage Mina-chan." Teased Hatake. He grinned when he saw how his childhood friend and Haruka turned red from embarrassment.
"I…I didn't…do it on purpose…" Whispered the small woman profusely embarrassed. She looked at the muffin and then at Haruka, back and forth a few times before handing, with a resigned sight, the muffin to Haruka. "I'm sorry… You can have it back." Pouted Minako.
After a moment of watching Minako, Haruka shook away her embarrassment, looked at the offered muffin and then at the pouting Minako. "You're too cute when you're pouting Mina-chan! Don't worry… you can have it. I shouldn't have teased you in the first place." Smiled the tall blonde, while messing the smaller woman hair in an affectionate way.
"I knew it!" Screamed Minako. "You are always mean with me!" She added as she forcefully took a bite of the hard earned muffin.
"Sorry, but you're just too adorable not too tease." Replied Haruka smiling at her childhood friend. She then turned to her guests and greeted her twin first. "Morning Nii-san, I can see that your timing is as good as usual." She smiled and winked at her twin brother. She didn't know why but she was in a good mood. 'Well that's maybe thanks to Mina-chan…' She thought to herself.
"Hino-san, Kaiou-san, it is a pleasure to meet you again." She said bowing. She quickly glanced at Michiru and noticed the young woman's discomfort. 'Strange, I should be the one… feeling that way….' She looked at Rei and didn't see anything. 'Is she uncomfortable because of me? …I wonder if I should confront her…' She then decided to leave her thought for another time and turned slightly to her other guests. "Please let me introduce you to my friends, Sakamoto Ayashi and Aino Minako." She presented the two blondes.
"Nice to meet you." Said Rei bowing. Michiru, on the other hand, just bowed slightly in acknowledgment. She was afraid her voice would betray her.
"It's our pleasure to meet Hatake-san's and Haruka-san's new trainees." Replied Ayashi smiling.
"Yeah, pleeesssurrre!" Exclaimed Minako with her mouth filled with muffin.
"Geez, Mina-chan don't talk while you have food in your mouth!" Chastised Ayashi embarrassed for her friend.
The small blonde quickly gulped the rest of the muffin in her mouth and pouted "That's not fair! How come Ruka-kun can do it and not me?" She crossed her arms and stared at her friend.
Ayashi shook her head and sighted. She was going to say something but a loud laugh cut her.
"Oh my god, Mina-chan! You're really too cute when you pout! No wonder everyone wants to tease you mercilessly!" Laughed Haruka. She walked to her friend and messed her hair a second time. "Come on Mina-chan, it's a compliment. You should be happy."
Minako looked up and then stood up. "I would prefer being call 'beautiful' or 'gorgeous' rather than 'cute'! It's for kid!"
"Don't be mad, you already know you're beautiful and gorgeous anyway." Winked Haruka.
"Hmph!" Was Minako's only answer.
"Well well, not that I would complain staying here to catch up with all of you, but I have two trainees with me here." Interrupted Hatake. "Haru-chan, as discussed last week you will be in charge of Rei-san. Can you please let her know where she will work and what you expect from her?"
"Sure." Replied Haruka smiling at Rei. She then glanced at Michiru and was concerned to see the aqua haired girl looking lost and sad. 'I will have to talk to her…' She decided internally.
"Great, thanks. We'll catch up with you guys for lunch?" Asked Hatake.
"We'll try, depends on how things go." Replied Haruka. She was not yet prepared to talk to Michiru and it was best for now, seeing the young woman's state, to avoid close contact.
"Sure. Later everyone!" Hatake smiled at everyone and motioned to Michiru to follow him. She turned to everyone and bowed, before leaving with the tall blonde man.
"I hope she will be alright." Whispered Rei as she watched her friend silent retreat.
Haruka caught the soft whisper escaped the raven-haired girl and closed her eyes a few seconds. She knew she had to make her decision fast.
On her right, Ayashi looked at the whole situation with sympathy. She could tell that if things kept being the same way, drama was on its way.
Minako also noticed the silent aqua haired girl, after her conversation with Ayashi the other day, she knew something was going to happen and it was not something good. No matter what, she would be here for her best friend.
TBC