Life at Marukawa Publishing resumed despite Ritsu's recent complications with her ex-boyfriend. The most recent debacle involved Mutou-sensei's series facing cancellation due to a flu outbreak where she and her assistants all caught the virus. Luckily, Ritsu flew to Mutou-sensei's location just in time to help her finish and turn in right as the deadline hit.
With the relief of finishing her hard work washing over her, Ritsu was in the restroom refreshing herself before taking out her pain medication. Normally, she would take it this morning, but during this whole fiasco, she was grateful to her pain seeing how it kept her awake just long enough to reach the deadline. After swallowing the pills, she sealed the cap and placed it back in her purse.
She was so focused on her task; she didn't notice the restroom door open. It wasn't until she looked up at her reflection did she realize she wasn't alone. Turning around, she was met with Yokozawa who watched her with clear disdain and arms crossed over her chest.
"Oh, sorry Yokozawa-san, I didn't know you were here." Ritsu said, being cordial as she addressed the woman from sales.
However, the displeasure on the woman's face deepened, "You've got some nerve coming to Marukawa."
"Excuse me?"
"Did you come here knowing Masamune was working here?" Yokozawa demanded as she glared at Ritsu.
Ritsu frowned and raised an eyebrow, "The hell are you talking about?" Ritsu asked, annoyed by the woman's hostility, her irritation hardly mitigated with the pain in her stump.
"Did you know it's your fault he's all screwed up now?!" Yokozawa fired another question back at Ritsu with so much venom that it made her flinch.
Ritsu's annoyance and stressed reached its peak, "Just what the fuck is your problem?! You've been nothing but a total bitch towards me since the moment we met!" Ritsu then scoffed, "You know, it's no wonder why you and Takano are friends, you're both a couple of assholes. It almost makes me pity you."
Yokozawa looked even more pissed at those words, "Don't get ahead of yourself princess, you have no idea the damage you caused him. And you have the gall to just waltz back into his life and make a mess of it again."
Insulted at being called 'princess' made Ritsu hiss back, "Oh please, like I knew he was working here when I applied for this job. If I knew, I wouldn't have come here in the first place." She paused to take a breath, "Let me guess, he told you about our previous relationship and how I broke it off through a letter. I admit that what I did was cowardly and wrong. I already talked to him about it, and we decided to bury the hatchet. If you don't believe me, go talk to him. I'm going home."
Ritsu made her way to the door, but Yokozawa, slammed her hand on it, halting the shorter woman's journey. She glared down at Ritsu, "Let me make one thing clear you brat, I don't like you, and I don't trust you after that shit you pulled on Masamune." She lowered her head slightly until their faces were inches apart, "You stay away from him. He's mine, you got that?"
Ritsu blinked before she burst out laughing hysterically. She held her stomach as she looked at the woman who was surprised by Ritsu's sudden outburst. "Is that what this is about? You're worried I came to steal your man. Please, I've seen this cliche so many times." She sighed and gave Yokozawa and bitter smile, "I hate to break it to you, but my world does not revolve around your Masamune. I have no reason to chase him when he so obviously has a girlfriend who is just as bitchy and moody as him. You want him, then by all means, keep him, he's all yours. So instead of wasting your time on me, focus on him. Me, I have more important things to do than be involved in some silly love triangle." Ritsu then scoffed before she shoved Yokozawa aside with surprising strength, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a train to catch. Bye."
Ritsu opened the door and left the restroom to find her jacket and go home.
What Ritsu failed to notice was a certain editor watching her after overhearing her argument with his best friend.
On the last train home, Ritsu thanked her lucky stars she's able to sit. After running around all day, she's finally earned her right to sit down and take the weight off her leg.
Sitting beside her is Takano. While Ritsu would normally tell him to sit elsewhere, she's too tired and drugged up from the medication to care right now. Plus, he's given her no problems at work today, so she feels comfortable enough to let him be close.
"I'm glad this got done without further ceremony." Takano stated as the two looked over some papers.
"Sorry for all the trouble." Ritsu said as she lowered her stack of papers.
"These are the colored proofs for next month's comics." Takano said as he hands her a manilla envelope of the storyboards. "You know how to check them, right?"
"Yes, I can do it." Ritsu said as she took the envelope from her boss.
Ritsu glanced down at her left leg, it's just a couple inches from Takano's. She's worried about Takano touching her leg, if he reaches over and feels even the slightest difference from flesh to inorganic, her secret will be out. Though she feels exhausted and wants to sleep, this conscious awareness is the only thing keeping her awake.
"So, I was thinking of making you the magazine's program director, starting the month after." Takano said to her, making the young woman look up at her boss.
"Are you sure? I've only been here for a month and a half." Ritsu said, forcing her eyes to stay open.
"Yeah, I got a good feeling about it. After what you had to endure today, I believe you've got a good handle on it." Takano stated, glancing at Ritsu who is currently struggling to keep her eyes open.
Ritsu fought a yawn that wanted to escape. "I'll need to think about it first." She said as she felt herself begin to sway, but she stubbornly, kept her eyes wide open.
Takano wrapped an arm around Ritsu and pulled her closer to his side. Ritsu blushed at the sudden proximity, "Takano-san?"
"You've had a long tiring day, why not catch some sleep? I'll wake you up when we get to our stop." Takano said as he looked up at their reflection in the window.
As much as Ritsu wants to turn that offer down right then and there, she couldn't fight how exhausted she feels. Her hand went to her hair tie and quickly pulled it from her head then wrapped it around her wrist. "I'm a very heavy sleeper, so snap this to wake me up. I don't want you carrying me. I'm a very heavy person." She instructed him, knowing what will happen if he picks her up.
Though Takano was a little surprised at her request, he decided to oblige her. "Okay."
Ritsu lower her eyelids and allowed her head to nestle against his shoulder, shifting to get comfortable before she drifted to the lull of the train's movements.
Takano smiled at the sleeping Ritsu, this is the first time she lets her guard down and allows him to hold her. Though it was mostly due to her exhaustion, he'll take whatever opportunity presents itself just to relish in her company. He looked up at the window's reflection on the opposite side of the train and saw how they fit together, like it was natural.
Takano glanced down at Ritsu's right hand which crossed over her lap and close to his. Unable to resist the temptation, his left hand snuck over and held her limp fingers in his. Stroking her knuckles with his thumb, he noted how small and delicate her fingers feel.
Ritsu mumbled in her sleep as she shifted comfortably against him, her hand unconsciously squeezed his.
Takano smiled softly when he felt her grip. This made him hope that they can restart their relationship. Pick up where they left off and just be happy with each other.
Ritsu yawned as she trudged up the hill beside Takano as they journeyed to their apartment building. She rubbed her stinging wrist, though it hurt when Takano snapped her hair tie against her skin, she's grateful he followed her instructions. The last thing she wants is him carrying her and exposing her secret.
Takano paused as he waited for Ritsu to catch up, noting how she seemed to struggle walking with the way she limped on her left leg.
"You sure you don't want me to carry you?" Takano asked as Ritsu caught up to him.
Ritsu's face was pained as she smiled, "I'm okay. This is hardly new. You don't need to keep waiting for me."
"But I'll always wait for you." Takano said, the double-meaning behind his words made Ritsu blush and look away.
"I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me." Ritsu said as she tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach.
Takano smirked at her reaction, it's cute how she keeps denying her feelings.
When they finally made it to their building, they took the elevator together.
"You know, if you haven't eaten anything, I can cook us something tonight. You worked really hard to make this deadline." Takano offered, hoping for this chance to spend more time with her.
"That's very kind of you, but I'll just go to sleep tonight. I don't think I can digest anything right now." Ritsu said as she leaned on her right foot to take the weight off her left.
"I'll make you breakfast in the morning then." Takano tried again, even though he wasn't trying to be subtle, he's worried about her well-being as she looked too thin for his liking.
Ritsu sighed tiredly as she turned to Takano with a disapproving look, "Takano-san, while I appreciate you wanting to take care of me, you should reserve that for your girlfriend."
"I don't have a girlfriend. If you're still talking about Yokozawa, let me remind you that we're not together, we're just friends." Takano stated as the elevator reached their floor.
"All the same, I don't think she will appreciate you doing that for someone who is not your girlfriend." Ritsu sighed again as she walked out the elevator, "She's not happy with my presence, and I don't want to give her anymore reason to strangle me in my sleep."
"I'm sorry for her hostility. I'll talk to her and make sure she keeps work and personal issues separate." Takano said, mentally adding to the list of what he needs to do to get Ritsu to love him again.
Ritsu searched her bag for her keys, "No need, I already cleared things up and told her I'm not interested in you." She found her apartment key while accidentally pulling out her prescription bottle. It rolled onto the floor towards Takano who picked it up and turned it over, his eyes widened when he saw the label, cyclobenzaprine.
Before he could ask, Ritsu snatched it from Takano and quickly stashed it back in her purse. "Thank you for your hard work. Goodnight." She hastily said before she entered her apartment.
Takano stared at her door before entering his apartment. The label on that prescription bottle rattled around in his head as he tried to make sense of it. Tossing his coat aside, he opened his laptop and researched the label, what he saw made his stomach drop. Cyclobenzaprine is a prescribed drug mainly used as a muscle relaxer for patients who are under physical therapy.
"Physical therapy?" Takano muttered to himself, remembering one detail from their relationship that stood out to him. Whenever they made love, Ritsu always insisted they do it in the dark. One night, while Ritsu was sleeping, he took a look at her body and was shocked to see a large scar that ran from her mid-thigh all the way to her ankle. Throughout their relationship, she didn't know that he knew about her scar.
Takano closed his laptop with a frown as he stared at the wall separating their apartments. 'You must be in so much pain right now.' His thoughts ran through his head as he felt an intense wave of guilt crash over him. If standing becomes painful for her overtime without the use of her pills, then he'll need to take extra measures to make sure she is not pushed to her limit.
Takano ran a hand over his face and groaned, he wished Ritsu would confide in him, trust him with her pain so he can take some of the load off her shoulders.
His phone rang, making him look at the screen as he suppressed another groan before he answered,
"Yokozawa, I'm glad you called, there's something I need to talk to you about." Takano said, his voice left no room for argument as he spoke to his best friend throughout the night.
Ritsu entered work earlier than any of her coworkers, it's been two days since she suffered that fiasco with Mutou-sensei's deadline, and she spent most of those days sleeping. She never expected to have the entire weekend off, but Takano vehemently insisted she get plenty of rest and not to strain herself. While she wasn't sure why he would do that for her, she's not going to complain as it helped her recuperate.
Ritsu gasped when she nearly fell, thankfully she caught the wall just in time before she could hit the ground. Pulling up the sleeve of her pants, she saw a hinge joint has loosened. She looked around the floor the Emeral Department was on and saw it was empty. Letting out a sigh of relief, she slowly entered the room with the couch where Takano kissed her.
Sitting on the cushions, she unzipped the leg of her pants and removed her prosthetic with practiced ease before grabbing the tools in her purse and found the screwdriver. After years of handling a fake leg, she can adjust the mechanism within the prosthetic and save herself multiple trips to the shop for a tune up. After tightening the screw, she checked the fluidity of the hinge and smiled in satisfaction.
Thump!
Her smile vanished when she looked up and caught the shocked expression of the last person she ever wants to be in the same room with.
"What. The. Actual. Fuck?" Yokozawa slowly asked as she witnessed the sight of Ritsu holding her fake leg in her lap. She was so shocked she dropped her briefcase.
Ritsu blinked and cursed under her breath, "Shit."