After leaving her father's house, Makoto decided to make an impromptu visit to JBC. Carrying a bag of warm nikuman, she thought it would be nice to surprise Hiromi and catch up with her former team.
When she walked into the newsroom..
"Takamiya-san!" Kuze exclaimed, leading the charge as the team swarmed her with excitement. The reactions were priceless—gasps of surprise followed by delighted cheers. Her ex-subordinates flocked around her, showering her with warm welcomes.
The room lit up with laughter as Makoto handed out the nikuman, catching up with each person. While, Hiromi, standing amidst the commotion, grinned from ear to ear. Kuze and Takeshi wasted no time teasing. "Ah, now we get it! This explains why Nagase's been avoiding our parties. Secret meet-ups with Takamiya-san!"
Hiromi burst out laughing, rubbing the back of his neck, trying to play it cool. "Alright, alright, you've had your fun. Reunion over. Takamiya and I need to get lunch—we're starving."
Makoto raised an eyebrow, caught off guard but amused. "Oh, are we now?"
"Oh yes we are," Hiromi said with a grin,
With the team's teasing laughter following them out the door, the two left for lunch, the newsroom buzzing with the excitement of her unexpected visit.
Hiromi and Makoto ended up at their usual restaurant, greeted warmly by the staff who knew them well. As they settled into their booth, Makoto couldn't resist teasing Hiromi.
"So, Nagase, partying with Takeshi, huh? What scandalous stories am I missing?" she quipped with a smirk.
Hiromi chuckled, shaking his head. "Scandalous? Please. The most excitement we've had is Takeshi attempting karaoke after one too many drinks. Trust me, you're not missing much."
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, covering everything from playful jabs to light-hearted anecdotes. Over bowls of steaming ramen, Makoto found herself relaxing, the familiar rhythm of their banter bringing a sense of comfort.
As they were finishing up, Hiromi leaned back and asked, "So, what's the plan for the rest of your day?"
Makoto wiped her hands with a napkin and shrugged. "Nothing exciting. I'll head home, start packing, and prep for my flight tomorrow. Back to the grind in New York."
Hiromi gave her a thoughtful look. "Packing, huh? Sounds thrilling." He grinned before adding, "Just don't forget to pack me in your carry-on."
Makoto rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her smile lingered as they paid the bill and left the restaurant, savoring the simplicity of their time together.