A/N: I can't believe after all these years, I want to finish extremely old fics. Let's see if I can salvage this one
Sakuno was too excited to notice Tezuka clipping stray pieces of her hair with a butterfly clip. When she felt the clip after, she felt embarrassed she didn't notice his presence while she was using her vanity desk to get ready.
The mirror was large.
She sighed – one day, she would get it right. Until then, she needed to keep the peace in the household after her uncharacteristic outburst at her mother-in-law. Her overall behaviour with her in-laws may have disappointed her father, so she needed to do better.
She wondered when he would call…
Shaking the thought away, she replaced it with the promise Tezuka made of taking her to the office. She wanted to know more about the company from the average worker's perspective, and asked if she could work at the operational level earlier in the morning.
They debated for some time about the pros and cons, and eventually she won. Not through merit, but because it was clear he didn't want to push anything with her. Sakuno was happy to take any win, really. Moving forward, she was going to keep her mother's maiden name at the office: Nakamura Sakuno.
She kept to herself that this could be a way to start new relationships in Oita, through her co-workers to be. Someone would know someone, and perhaps she'd have a new friend.
After she stepped out of the house for the day, she realized the sun was shining brightly without a cloud in the sky.
Until she stepped into the office, that is. She felt slight tension, and more so as the job went on. They set her up with simple tasks at first – create first drafts of social media content for seasons workers to refine and post for their new line of dolls.
It wasn't until lunch she learned what the problem was. She learned quickly from a co-worker who supposedly wanted her to succeed (she wasn't sure about that), that some of her colleagues might see her as competition to win the affections of the President.
She almost scoffed in disbelief and amusement, until she remembered that she and Tezuka were in sham marriage, and he debated whether she should work in the company.
Was there something happening that she wasn't supposed to know about?
Tezuka could understand Oishi's hesitation and shock to Sakuno working at the company, especially when she made her presence in a sneaky manner. He watched him pace across his office
"This could blow up easily, Kunimitsu. You have so many admirers, the companies on the brink of so many things, it's just not a good work environment as everyone gets accustomed to the transition!"
Oishi's honestly that stemmed from his concern made Tezuka wonder what else was being hidden from him. Yes, the workplace tension was known, but not to the extent Oishi mentioned.
"What do you mean, Oishi? Weren't the projections presented to the board accurate?"
The other man blushed and stammered to fix what he meant. Whatever kept him busy, Tezuka thought. The decision to work here was Sakuno's, and he tried to warn her that it wasn't a flourishing company. It seemed she was getting bored, and the boredom could've lead to…unsavoury things, if he didn't relent.
She hadn't taken to him yet, and he wondered if she would…
Tezuka sipped his coffee and realized he was going to those places in his mind he shouldn't have. It was hard not to when his wife was unhappy, and his family seemed to need entertainment. His stepmother had been pressuring him non-stop to "put Sakuno in her place" and other unnecessary things.
He needed a friend, and found that he may not have any. Not anymore. His thoughts began drifting to An. Her smile, her cheery demeaner, her…everything. What would his life be like if he proposed to her before his father passed?
No, these weren't the thoughts he should have anymore.
He shook his head and stood to leave the office. He looked over his shoulder and found Oishi's anxiety taking over to the point of him convincing himself about what he meant to say. Tezuka silently scoffed and left his office for a stroll.
Sakuno looked up when she heard excitement.
She wasn't prepared to see women crowding around her husband. Suddenly, she was reminded of the high school heartthrob Tezuka was, and clearly continued to be. He was patient with all of them, responding to all who talked to him.
He glanced her way and she looked away. She couldn't help but smile. Perhaps this was why he was adamant that she didn't work at the company. Maybe she needed to look for a job elsewhere, because the nepotism was beginning to guilt her.
She didn't want to interrupt whatever he was enjoying here. Thankfully it was the end of her shift, and she completed her tasks for the day.
"Thank you for your hard work." Her boss said, and she bowed before leaving, waving good-bye to those who she befriended over the day.
As she stepped outside the doorway, someone stepped in. The energy she felt was strong, forbidding, as if a warning. She stopped and looked over her shoulder to find a shocked Tezuka. Sakuno looked at the woman, whom she recognized as confident and fearsome.
When she looked back at Tezuka, he looked at her and there was shame.
Ah, that woman must've been very important to him. It was then that reality hit her – she wasn't the only one who may have lost something – or someone – during this marriage.
Was…it better if she left?
Yes, it was better that way. She didn't hold feelings for him and what he did wasn't any of her business.
Sakuno took a deep breath, sighed, and walked away from the building. Tezuka hired a driver for her, and she didn't call for him. Instead, she chose to find her own way home.
The sun was still bright and the day nice enough to sit at a park. Sakuno finally found an empty bench and ignored all sounds around her, including the children playing at a nearby playground as she opened her book. Slowly, she pushed the events of the day out of mind.
She didn't realize hours passed until she reached the end of the book. It was nearing dusk and when she looked to her right, she nearly screamed at the other person on the bench.
When did Tezuka get here?!
"Y-you scared me! How long have you been here? Why are you here?!"
He was starting out at the horizon, and looking unexpectedly handsome doing so, and when he looked at her, Sakuno's heart nearly skipped a beat.
"It's odd for a wife to ask a husband that at this time, isn't it?" Sakuno blushed. "I was told you never called for a ride, and it was getting dark. It can get dangerous here at night."
Tezuka stood, his hands in his pockets. That was a clear hint they needed to go.
She put away her book and stood, allowing him to lead her out and towards the car. He opened the door for her and once she was settled, closed the door and went to the driver's seat.
It was a silent drive, but a comfortable silence. For some reason, it was tempting to hold his hand while watching the scenery pass by.
When they arrived to their home, Sakuno took her time leaving the car and walking towards the house. She was hesitant to face the family after all their interactions, especially her mother-in-law.
She slowed her walk and eventually came to a stop at the door. Relief washed over her when she felt a gentle and encouraging hand on her mid-back. Looking up, she found the usual stoic Tezuka, but there was comfort there.
She offered him a small smile, and he did the same.
Together, they walked through the doorway.
Sakuno was exhausted as she climbed into bed that night. She didn't remember when she fell asleep, nor when she shyly cuddled against Tezuka, her hand on his bare chest and head on his shoulder.
She didn't know that he put his arm around her shoulder for some time, holding her upper arm, nor that he decided against holding her without her awareness.
What she did know was that the calmest sleep she had since her wedding.
