It was true she’d rushed off just as he tried to speak.
“Huh…”
She felt vaguely deflated as Keigo peered into her face.
“Anything else you want to talk about?”
This surprised her a little, but then again, he was her oldest friend. It was only natural he’d be able to guess she had something on her mind other than Kousaka.
“…There’s an issue at work,” she said quietly.
“Oh yeah?” he replied, nodding gently.
He set down his chopsticks and took up a listening position, and she told him about Saiga.
“Ah, I see…,” he said when she was done, sinking into thought. Keigo was considerate enough not to criticize Nagi or Saiga—he probably knew she didn’t like to be viewed as whiny. She sipped her highball, the ice now totally melted, and waited for him to respond.
“Saiga likes challenges,” he said finally. “I think he might respond better to being left to his own devices than to being coddled.”
“He likes challenges…?”
“Yeah. He told me he studies programming at home and makes his own systems and stuff. He’s really passionate about learning.”
She’d had no idea. She listened in surprise as Keigo went on.
“I think he’s got the skills to figure out a more difficult assignment if you gave it to him. Of course, it would take some time at first, but it might be good to let him work on something like that until he’s satisfied.”
As she listened to his advice, she grew increasingly ashamed of herself. She’d been trying not to overburden him. But had she ever once asked him what he wanted?
“…Thanks, Keigo. I’ll try talking with him again on Monday.”
I can understand why he’s fed up with me. Who would want to follow a leader who’s rushing forward headlong all by herself? Instead of trying to get him to like me, I should be trying to get to know him. Keigo smiled at her as she made this small resolution.
“Yeah, go for it.”
He reached out his hand and lightly stroked her head. Then he moved his hand back and gently ruffled the hair behind her ear. His hands were so big. He didn’t just tease her when he drank; sometimes he also petted her like she was his beloved dog. When he touched her with his big hands, she felt like she understood the happiness dogs must feel when their owners pet them. She sat quietly and let him continue as long as he wanted. He must have finally had enough, because he moved his hand away.
“…Shit, it’s already two,” he said, looking at his watch. She was flabbergasted. They’d been talking for over four hours.
“Should we head home?”
The minute they opened the rickety door after settling the bill, a biting wind mercilessly pricked at their cheeks.
“It’s freezing!” Nagi yelped as they walked along. Finally, they came to the place where their paths home diverged.
“Thanks for hanging out with me tonight. See you at work… Um, Keigo?”
He was still striding forward, ignoring her. Not toward his house but toward hers. Apparently, he was bent on dutifully seeing her home.
“I’m fine, okay? My house isn’t that far,” she said, running after him, but he showed no sign of stopping.
“Oh no. My legs are moving on their own. I can’t stop them,” he said in an exaggerated monotone. She laughed.
“…Thanks, Keigo,” she said to his back.
“No biggie,” he replied.
Responding to a sudden urge, she quickened her pace to catch up with him and pressed herself against his left arm. He pushed her away with his whole body, so she shoved him back. They jostled each other for a while, laughing, then walked along the dark streets pressed against each other. The warmth of his body felt natural, as if it were the warmth of her own.
“Man, it’s cold. Wish I could go to a hot spring,” Keigo said, his breath coming out white.
“Me too. Somewhere with a good local brewery.”
“You’re basing your choice on alcohol?”
“It’s important!”
“It is.”
Their laughter overlapped and melted into the cold, quiet air.
The following Monday morning, Nagi woke up feeling fresh and energetic. It was like her heart had never even taken that beating on Friday night. She arrived at work an hour earlier than usual and revised the development schedule. Half an hour into the work day, she called Saiga into the meeting space.
“…And that’s why I’d like you to work according to this schedule,” she said, holding it out. That morning she had rearranged the workloads so Saiga would have plenty of time to try a difficult section she had originally planned on assigning to Saotome. Saiga sat across from her, staring at the piece of paper, and she waited nervously for his reaction. Finally, he looked up.
“…Are you sure this is okay?” he asked.
She tensed, not having expected that response.
“You mean…?”
“I mean, are you sure it’s okay for me to work on something this difficult?”
Finally understanding, she nodded enthusiastically.
“Of course! If you don’t mind, that is!”
“…I don’t mind.”
His response was as curt as ever, but Nagi felt distinctly hopeful. She suspected that by I don’t mind, he actually meant I really want to do it. She stretched, then made up her mind to say something else.
“Saiga, as team leader, I should have asked you what you wanted to work on, but instead I held back your potential. I mistakenly thought I was protecting you… I really messed up. I’m sorry.”
She bowed her head deeply.
“No,” he mumbled. “I knew you were trying to protect me…and I was happy about that part. I just wanted to try different kinds of work. You only gave me the easy stuff.”
Nagi glanced up and caught her breath. Saiga was looking straight at her.
“You and Ms. Saotome are so busy, and here I was getting all the easy jobs. I felt like I wasn’t needed on the team. I didn’t even know why I was here…”
Regret washed over her. What was I thinking? I’m the one who’s been crushing his motivation!
“…I’m gonna pile on the work mercilessly, so get ready!” she declared, half standing in her seat. “I’m going to have you program one tough system after another so you can load up on skills! But if it gets to be too much, tell me! I can readjust the schedule whenever you need me to, and I can give you advice, as well. I’ll be there for you whenever you need me! I promise!”
After she finished shouting, silence descended between them. Saiga stared at her face, dumbfounded—she must’ve looked crazy.
“Wow, you have some strong feelings there,” he finally said, letting slip a wry smile.
Saiga smiled! As Nagi reeled in shock, he muttered her name.
“Ms. Yoroizuka, I’m sorry. Please forget about me wanting to be on a different team.”
“Huh?” she blurted out in surprise. “Are…you sure?”
“Yes. I’m looking forward to working with you in the future.”
Saiga bowed his head deeply. In the future—happiness surged in Nagi’s chest at those words.
“Yes…yes, yes! So am I! Yes!”
She nodded over and over.
“You sure do nod a lot,” he said with that same wry smile.
After that, they went over the details of the schedule. When they were finished, Nagi practically skipped back to her seat. Surging with newfound motivation, she was turning enthusiastically back toward her computer when Keigo poked his head out between their two screens.
“How’d it go?” he whispered. She gave him an elated thumbs-up. He grinned as if to say, “I’m glad,” and she reciprocated with an ear-to-ear smile.
She was filled with gratitude toward Keigo as she started on her work. He knew what she liked, what she hated, and what she wanted without her having to say a word. And to top it off, he was her coworker, so he was able to give her advice about work. Wouldn’t everything be so easy if he was my boyfriend? she thought.
She laughed dryly at this wild notion. They had been friends for more than twenty-five years. There was no way something like that would happen after all this time.
But if it did happen, what would it be like? Would they kiss and stuff?
No way, she couldn’t. It was Keigo!
After imagining this and then laughing it off, she finally refocused on her work. But as it turned out, that morning was the last time she would be able to think about such things so casually.
“…I’m sorry, Uncle Ryou, what did you just say?”
It was one o’clock, and she was in the president’s office. She had been utterly baffled when he summoned her a few minutes earlier.
“Huh? I asked if you’ve noticed anything peculiar between Ms. Saotome and Keigo,” Ryou said, equally confused.
“Not that! What you said before!” Nagi shouted.
“Well, like I said… Ms. Saotome came to talk to me, and she said Keigo tried to pressure her into going to a love hotel.”
So she hadn’t misheard him after all. Nagi pressed both hands over her mouth at this unbelievable news.
“If you don’t know about it, I’ll ask him directly. I’m going to call for him, all right?”
Nagi nodded, bewildered. Listening in a daze as he picked up the receiver, she put a hand to her head. Her mind was swirling. She wanted to deny the accusation with all her might, but the two of them had gone out to dinner the previous Friday.
Keigo had told her Saotome was “just a colleague”—but what if that was a lie?
No, this must just be some big misunderstanding, right?