After Daily Arc Part II: After Dino and Ayame's First Meeting

The first time Ayame showed up with red roses, Shoichi didn't think much of it. Especially since they spent the afternoon testing whether there was any truth of the infamous 'they love me/they love me not' myth.

(As it turned out, it was not very accurate in determining love interest, but there was minor improvement in overall mood and a boost in confidence regardless of the ending choice. Also, testing it against mundane choices like which box held the candy in it, left or right, showed an increase in being correct.)

The second time Ayame showed up with red roses, they may have played mad scientists and did some… genetic splicing. The results of that were… interesting and they may have found a natural pesticide and a natural plant growth formula.

The third time resulted in the rose cannon.

On the fourth time, Shoichi worked up the courage to ask. "Why are you bringing in red roses if all we're going to do is destroy them?" he asked as he pulled his safety goggles over his glasses.

Ayame laughed. It sounded hollow to Shoichi's ears, so he let the subject drop.

Eventually, Shoichi learned that the roses were from Dino. Apology flowers for all the times the blond haired man crashed into her. Why red roses, Shoichi didn't know. Especially since their relationship wasn't even remotely romantic. (However, Shoichi would admit that Dino was the type to do that regardless.)

To be honest, Shoichi didn't understand why Ayame kept accepting them. It was clear, given the ways they were going about destroying the roses, that she didn't like red roses at all.

They measured the different effects of different types of acids when applied to roses for the seventh time.

The tenth time, Shoichi was in the lobby when Ayame arrived, clothes covered in what looked to be tomato sauce, or at least he hoped it was tomato sauce. Cradled in her arms was yet another dozen red roses.

Ayame, smile frigid cold and golden eyes glittering with spark of irritation, marched up to one of the unsuspecting employees that had just entered the lobby.

"Slaine-san," Ayame greeted the older man.

"Ah, hello Aya-," Slaine started.

Ayame steamrolled him. "I understand it's yours and Inaho's 3rd anniversary."

Shoichi watched with amusement as Slaine blushed a bright red. According to the other employees, Slaine and Inaho's (another employee) relationship were ranked in the top five cutest couple in the entire company.

"I-I, y-yes?" Slaine squeaked, unable to look her in the eye.

Ayame shoved the red roses bouquet into Slaine's arms. "Congratulations! Please give Inaho-san my regards."

It was the start of a new pattern. Shoichi watched as the next twenty bouquets ended up arms of whoever was celebrating something that day. In the rare case that there nothing, the roses ended up somewhere in the office building, anywhere, break rooms, cubicles, conference rooms as long as it was far away from Ayame's office and anywhere she frequented.

It also opened up the question as to why Ayame arrived nearly every other day with red roses and more importantly who was giving her flowers.

"Irie-kun," Asseylum, the one of the many receptionists, begged. "You must know!"

"I do," Shoichi admitted. "But if Neesan doesn't want to talk about it, I'm not going to either."

The other employees were ridiculously nosy. There were already bets in place about Ayame's secret admirer. There were bets for everything.

"What am I not talking about? Ayame asked, popping up from practically nowhere.

Shoichi jumped, startled. He would never get use to the way Ayame came out of nowhere, with no reason. "Neesan! I, um," he fumbled for words as Asseylum ducked her head to pretend to be working. He noticed Ayame's empty hands. "No red roses today?" he deflected.

Ayame scowled. "No. And with any luck, there won't be anymore," she said darkly.

'Ah,' Shoichi thought. 'Dino-san must have gone back to Italy.'

"I will meet you upstairs," Ayame said, heading towards the elevators.

Shoichi nodded.

Asseylum, next to him, pouted. "Does that mean they broke up already?" she asked once Ayame had stepped into the elevator.

"No," Shoichi said, pushing at his glasses. "I'm certain that is not the last time we'll be seeing Neesan with red roses.

Sure enough, a few weeks later when Dino returned from Italy, Shoichi watched as Ayame stormed into the office with another dozen red roses.

The office didn't stop gossiping about it for weeks.


Ayame and Dino's relationship makes me nervous to be honest. I'm surprised how many people actually liked the idea (it started off as a joke I swear).

Please leave a review on your way out. :3