RIVALS INCARNATE

Chapter Forty-One: I Dare You

PRESENT, 2020 (Tokyo)

Kyouhei Kurosaki waited patiently in front of Amazawa's office that early morning for a chance to see and talk to her, wearing that grim expression on his face and sitting on one of the chairs by the hallway where he had been told to wait while he tapped his foot relentlessly on the floor. She was not there yet, and the entire office looked pretty chaotic in contrast to what Kurosaki had expected it would be like. Employees kept running around the place, piling files over files and hastily typing down on their computers with faces looking like they were being chased down by something extremely frightening.

Yuko Amazawa's assistant was the only one who could accommodate Kurosaki at that time as she politely informed him that Yuko would come to work at nine. Her staff, however, would always arrive in the building at eight, preparing everything for when Amazawa finally enters the building and reviewing her schedules, she won't get any hassle. It must be pretty tough, knowing how Yuko was like when it was about business and work, Kurosaki knew her by the book and she was not really a soft person at all. She would always demand things, take over everything, and would never take no for an answer. She was a perfectionist, making it hard for someone in her team to commit even a slight mistake. Kurosaki could only imagine it, but while he watched the entire scene played out before him right there just outside her main office, he could not do anything but sigh heavily. Lucky for him, he did not have to be a part of this now.

Trying to distract himself from indulging deeper in the messy environment of Yuko's staff, Kurosaki tried to rethink the reason why he was there in the first place instead, reviewing the words in his head as if it was some kind of a test. He needed to make sure everything was clear for him just so he won't have to stammer in front of her anymore. That would really become a problem. He had to act composed and natural. Yet when he started imagining himself standing in front of her, Kurosaki's nerves went haywire. This was bad.

How was he supposed to face her after what just happened to them last time?

As it turned out, they still had not even talked to each other yet ever since that night when he had shown up and hugged her right here, at the entrance of her workplace. When that happened, Kurosaki did not really think too much of the consequences, until he woke up that very next day and realized that it had been quite so awkward, random, and weird.

Days went by and he never received yet another call from Yuko after that. It had been very unusual as well. Considering how much she would always try to check up on him every now and then. And today, Kurosaki had finally decided to break the huge block of ice between them in an instant. Since it was starting to bother him extremely that he could not even get to work seriously while worrying over if Yuko had ghosted him already, he wanted to set things back to how they used to be again. He needed to talk to her.

But would she ever really ghost him?

She would not, for sure. But that was not still reassuring enough to know. It could still happen and Kurosaki had to face the facts. Now, he had to bravely face her at all costs. He needed to know if everything was still okay. Would she push him away? They had already reached this far, there was no reason for either Yuko or him to even back down anymore. The election day was finally coming and they only got a few weeks left to really prepare for everything. On top of that, there was also that threat.

Right.

Kurosaki's face hardened as soon as he was reminded once more of that very first letter that he had received in his office a while back. It would not have been too much of a problem if it only had happened one time. But not long after he got the threat, another came to him in a form of an anonymous call with a modulated voice telling him to be careful. It was a sign. Obviously, that alarmed him greater and the very first thought that he had in mind was to make sure Yuko was safe. Everyone knew that she had been the most significant person who was managing Kurosaki's publicity. She did a lot to build his reputation and took a big role in trying to make him look good to the media and the public. However, as much as he would have wanted to tell her everything, Kurosaki was even more worried that letting Yuko know what he had actually received will only make her take more risks.

He knew that she won't ever let this one go, the moment she learns about the threat. She would definitely try to chase the person behind it. And that what really concerns Kurosaki the most, the fact that he might not even get to stop her if that happens... and the possibility that she would even get hurt in the midst of it.

Visualizing the bad scenarios in his head, Kurosaki quickly shut his eyes closed and subtly winced, refusing to think about it any longer. That was not so good, especially this first thing in the morning. He should just keep a good mood going. He needed a distraction. Yuko could come anytime now. He must keep a straight face, ignore the conflicting feelings for once. There was no space for him to act all gloomy and sentimental.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap...

The sound of his foot tapping against the tiled floor continued on and on while Kurosaki got even more submerged in thinking. He was too occupied, staring faraway down to a blind spot on the floor before him when Yuko Amazawa finally walked out from the elevators and into the hallway of the ninth floor of her office building. On her hand, was her usual hot black coffee in a medium-sized cup, and on the other was her bag and phone in her hand. She greeted a few of her employees who were all greeting her as they met her on the way and she walked past them in a rush, quickly taking a turn to head on a corner straight to her main office.

But not even close to the reception desk from the distance, Yuko Amazawa paused from a few meters away, surprised to see Kyouhei Kurosaki... again. And he was here for no reason. He had not even placed an appointment nor even messaged her that he would come. Yet, there he was, sitting nonchalantly by the empty chairs across the reception desk and looking blankly towards something in front of him. He was so deep in his own thoughts.

What was he doing here anyway?

Taking a step forward, Yuko realized how severely tensed she was and this actually felt awkward. She had not talked to him yet ever since that evening when he had come here and surprised her with a strange hug. It was something she never really liked to bring up again, and Yuko had decided to eventually forget it. It never existed. Never happened. However, just seeing Kurosaki in his flesh right there had immediately sent all those moments back into her mind again, recalling a completely vivid memory of his warmth. This was inconveniently uncomfortable.... and she should not be thinking about that moment with him anymore not even now. 

She quickly took a deep breath, mentally shaking all those thoughts off of her head. Yuko, get a grip.

Kyouhei was still oblivious at this point, and Yuko was now slowly approaching him. The assistant who was sitting behind the reception desk quickly stood up as soon as she caught sight of her boss and she was almost starting to greet her when Yuko held up a finger at her, signaling her to keep silent. Yuko stopped just a step away from Kurosaki's line of vision. He was still staring into space, and she almost laughed at how foolish this all looked.

Can she really manage a talk with him?

For now, it did not matter whether it affected her in a way or not. She slowly closed the distance between them until she was already standing in front of Kurosaki and he finally noticed her shoes. Though it took him few seconds to look up and meet her gaze, Kurosaki was already aware that it was her.

Calculating, wary, yet calm. Those were the first emotions he could see through her eyes as she stared him down. He could feel her entire presence and he knew it was real. And when he finally spoke, he almost forgot that he had been sitting and did not even bother to stand to greet her first and just said, "I need to talk to you."

Too many talks... And it counted more as the days went on. Yuko Amazawa gave Kurosaki a raise of her brow, trying to intimidate but failed when he did not even blink back. He was serious.

And so was she... Because this time, they had to really fight against the odds.

------------------------------------------------------------------------next chapter: Chapter Forty-Two