Original Love

Episode Twenty

PREPARING FOR A RAMPAGE

His phone pings up with an incoming message and Kenji Yanagi slowly turns on his seat in front of his desk to reach out for his phone that is placed beside his computer. He immediately sees Jin's contact name flashing on the notification screen and swipes it to the side to open the message. As soon as Jin's message finally shows up, Kenji reads it shortly and types a short and affirmative response back to Jin right away.

He lets out a soft sigh, putting down the phone over his table again and rubs his eyes with both of his palms. The past few days have been a total headache. He still could not get enough sleep even when he has been coming home much earlier than how he had last month. In fact, his work and business schedule is so much lighter and flexible now compared to last week but he still gets trouble in getting more sleep.

He has been suffering from insomnia and in a really bad way.

The pressure is completely building up and the sooner it gets to the big day of another promotion coming in the vacated executive seat, the harder it becomes for Kenji to stay calm. For now, he just wants to make sure Aoi Chiba is not doing anything that might inflict suspicions from the other bosses. He already got intel about her possible secret alliance with the bastard Ito Yamazaki, but Kenji still does not want to include her on the hot list of his so-called "enemies". He knows there is still a greater chance that he could somehow change her mind about it eventually. He just needs to keep her until Ito Yamazaki gets thrown out.

And that plan is what Kenji is trying to finalize. Assuming that with the presence of Jin Sasai beside Aoi, she would never be targeted or hurt as long as Kenji continues to play oblivious and naive. He prefers this better, to be honest.

He can assure her safety this way too.

After all, the only thing that Kenji has to worry about is the idea of marriage with her. And out of all the things and much harder conflicts he has been handling throughout of his status as a Yakuza boss, this marriage talk is what he is so bothered the most.

He just could not get through it. Something keeps stopping him. And he does not really know why it is all too much of a dilemma when the truth is, Aoi Chiba is not really more than of an asset in his family. She could be of his use, but for some reason, his conscience just keeps acting up every time he tries to include her with his schemes. He does not really understand why all of a sudden now. He has never been this hesitant in his decisions and in his life before yet with Aoi...

Everything just keeps messing up.

Kenji Yanagi lets out another sigh, but this time it has been longer and deeper. He already heard some rumors about who could possibly take over the seat of Irie in the executive. And even one of Sakamoto's sources has given him the clue that it might really be Yamazaki this time. Some luck that guy had, honestly. It would be much harder if that came out to be true so Kenji is much more burdened to devise a new plan in order for him to avoid any backlash.

If Yamazaki earns the favor of the higher-ranks, Oyabun's decision will waver and any chance for Yanagi to gain the head of the clan's side will eventually diminish if he does not do anything for himself. That is why marriage is a big in for the talks. He needs to show his commitment and dedication to the clan. And by marriage, it might really be all for the best.

So why does he still hesitate?

The expensive engagement ring he just recently bought still rests inside his watch closet for the possible future use. And perhaps, Aoi Chiba has even already seen it by now. She might not be shocked too. Rumors have already started to pour down around them and it is more likely that hse has heard something like it when she attended the party with him. And if she ever really had seen the small box, he no longer really minds. What he worries more about this time is what she would feel more if he really asks her the question upfront.

Something tells him she would say yes.

And there is a very high chance she would just agree without any question because he knows she would never really mind as well. It has been months that they have lived together, that Kenji could clearly read and foretell her decision even with just imagining her reaction. He already speculated her approval long before he even got the ring to keep and it feels just more of possible the longer he postpones the moment.

But even if she really tells him then that she would do it, she might also still be just lying about her real thoughts. Her persona has always been the contrast of her real self, as Kenji has been realizing and learning more throughout the months that they have been spending living with each other. She can play and act so nonchalantly, risking up the chance to even be vulnerable in front of him just to make sure she is playing it all safe for her own sake.

He can never really control her. And that is what bothers him so deeply.

There is so much more in his life that needs his full attention yet here he is, all silent and alone inside his office, still thinking of that one and the same thing he always ends up thinking before he can even sleep at night.

Aoi Chiba.

That woman is just too much for him. But for some reason, he still could not keep her away from his thoughts.

She is just always there. Lurking. Staying... And making him crazy.

Is this really just right? Or has it finally become worse?

Kenji cannot ever complain too... Because he already knew, it is too late now to get rid of all these feelings.

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