By surviving the nightmare of the interrogation-slash-dinner-party, Nino also survives Matsujun who unexpectedly teams up with Aiba and his intense filthy detail digging. He even manages to bow his apology to Ohno and at the end receives a ‘just-between-us-friends’ discount so that he doesn’t need to pay Ohno’s service like Matsujun instructed.

By the next week, his life is back to routine and he is handling potential clients’ data and sorting and assigning requests. Matsujun has been working on a new service plan—the still unnamed quickie delivery app—and happily leaves the details for the financial proposal to Nino.

Yet after reality sunk in, he finds himself losing courage and ends up with one too many silly and ridiculous options; especially after Matsujun’s lengthy advice about ‘no it’s not acceptable to have such a first encounter and hope for more than what already is’.

During lunchtime that weekend, Aiba manages to talk Nino into leaving his excuses of spending a quiet day at home and takes him to a batting center. After a few rounds of workout, they settle in the nearby coffee shop for drinks.

Nino sips his hot coffee lazily. “Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere? This is not your weekend off, right?”

“I have an appointment at midnight. A regular. It should be the usual,” Aiba says. “And I wanted to talk to you outside the office. About the plan.”

“What plan?”

“If you tell me that you’re going to let it all go for one night, I’m going to laugh in your face because that’s just a lie. I know you, Nino, and you wouldn’t do this stunt in the first place if you didn’t like him so much. Your quick brain must have thought or begun thinking of something. There must be a plan.”

“Is there?”

“Nino,” Aiba says, “if you still don’t have one right now, I am going to make you one. You wouldn’t want that, right?”

Nino rolls his eyes. “Your plan will involve a limousine and lots of roses. No, thanks. I am already absolutely broke, thanks to Matsujun’s sanction. I can barely afford anything now.”

“You know I’ll lend you some money anyway. Soft loan, as soft as possible.”

“No. And just in case you're forgetting, I'm the whore here. So it should be Sho-san wooing me with a limo and roses.”

“He simply doesn't know where you live.”

Nino chuckles. “True.”

“But you know where he works. And if you haven't found out, haven’t hacked into his request and client background check file, I’ll eat Matsujun’s hat gladly. It won’t take you more than a few minutes.”

Nino stays silent for a minute, pursing his lips as he thinks of his complaints for Aiba. “I’m beginning to think that I should have called Oh-chan this morning.”

“You cannot stop me anyway. I’m supporting you 120 percent.” Aiba leans closer to whisper. “After all I am the sole witness of how blissfully glowing you were that morning, Nino. I’ve never seen you smile like that. You definitely want this man, or at least he is worth trying, don’t you think?”

Nino casts him an annoyed glare but Aiba only smiles, not wavering because of Nino’s excuse. After they finish their coffee, Aiba offers him another round at the batting center but Nino insists Aiba drives him home instead.



“What the fuck am I going to do with you?“ Matsujun, even with his reluctant support, decides to scold Nino once again, holding him off before lunch break for a confirmation. “Another breach of company rules so soon? At this rate we're going to get complaints from our clients for not protecting their identity.”

“I was just looking for Sho-san.” Nino doesn’t say that he has already got the basics last week. He is so angry mostly with himself for tripping Matsujun’s alarm this morning. Even with his extra precaution, he must admit that it was sloppily done.

“I truly hope that is the truth,” Matsujun says. “If there was another -san, we would not have this discussion because in addition of the money you owe me for Ohno’s service fee, you would also be dead fired.”

Nino nods to hide that he’s rolling his eyes.

“I’ll consider it once again, though. If your Sho-san hadn’t asked for you again last week, I would have thought that all this mess is your imagination.”

“What? He did? Why didn’t it show up on my— I mean…”

“Save it,” Matsujun cuts him off with a wave of his hand. “I’m still your boss and know how to deal with things myself. I have flagged his request to be routed to my personal folder. I had a feeling that this would happen.”

Nino blinks, his mouth open at the surprising turn of events. “Matsujun— I— Thank you. ”

“Ask Aiba or Ohno to accompany you shopping for new clothes, will you? At least you are going to have a good advisor or a kind supporter,” Matsujun says with a sigh. “You need to at least look decent when you meet this Sho-san of yours.”




Nervously, Nino sits in the corner of a small two-seater sofa in the vast waiting room. He takes a glance around the comfortable and warm room inside the headquarters of one of the best IT companies in Japan and wrings his fingers in his lap as he waits.

The search wasn’t easy but Nino is very good with background checking and it was only a matter of time before he found Sho. Since Sho hadn’t actually listed his full name, Nino had to begin with his credit card information, before going through several company public profiles and finding Sho’s profile blinking softly on his office computer screen: Sakurai Sho, 33, First Assistant of the Chief Operations Officer.

When he told Ohno that he was beginning to consider that meeting Sho-san is not a good idea, Ohno only raised his eyebrows and posed the question. “Really? You’ve only considered that now?”

Nino would have cancelled the whole plan if Ohno hadn’t snorted mockingly at his face and said, “I thought you said you’d take him. I thought he was worth all the trouble.” Ohno didn’t said anything else after that but Nino was fuming with indignation that he decided he could at least see this through to the end and not lose his face to Ohno.

He has timed his visit just half an hour prior to lunchtime with an ulterior motive. All the fantasies he after that night, had consisted of Sho and his voice, the feel of his hand touching Nino all over, and his unforgettable lips. He would catch Sho by surprise by showing up unannounced in the man’s office. They would argue but Nino would sneakily lock the door, boldly press his body into Sho and begin to beg. With his mouth, his hands, and ass; in order of Sho’s preference.

Sho would still be upset and angry but he would allow Nino to go down on his knees, grab his hair and start exercising control, before using Nino’s mouth to get off. Afterward, Nino would be panting breathlessly, his hard dick untouched, and Sho would make him wait because he hadn’t been a good boy but he would be and he would tell Sho just that, unfiltered and unashamed because he has been wanting this for—

The sound of footsteps approaching the room shakes Nino out of his thoughts. He straightens in his seat and readies himself. It’s soon going to be time to make good use of his practiced speech.

The door opens, and Nino jumps to his feet. Sho enters with his assistant and his eyes meet Nino’s for a silent minute, flashes of surprise and doubt aimed straight at Nino. He then turns and mutters something to his assistant before she nods and closes the door behind her as she leaves the room. Sho turns his attention back to face Nino, walking toward him slowly, his body rigid with disbelief and suspicion. “Ninomiya Kazunari-san, you said?”

Nino nods weakly before he answers, “Yes.”

“What do you want from me, Ninomiya Kazunari-san?”

The emphasis of his full name coming out of Sho’s mouth sounds so foreign that Nino feels a painful stab in his chest. The cold eyes are making it even worse. Nino assumed he’d have to deal with reproach, surprise, or even nervousness. But he certainly did not expect the hint of anger from the man he has been dreaming of for almost a month.

“I—I was just—“ Nino feels his throat tighten. “I just have—”

Sho raises his eyebrows impatiently as he stares down at Nino with reservation.

“I tried to find you and—“

“You found me. Congratulation,” Sho cuts him coldly. “Now I only will ask you one more time. What do you want?”

Nino’s mouth is hanging open in the futile attempt to either breathe or answer Sho’s question. This is completely out of his prediction, of his dream, of his wishful thinking, and he doesn't have anything else left on his mind to say. “I just wanted to—“

“Ask for more money?” Sho’s tone has never sounded harsher but it only turns into sharp ice after he catches Nino’s surprised gasp, mistaking it for an indication of hitting a point. “Is that why you’re here? I’m confident that you are fully aware that you’ve breached confidentiality. I do not tolerate this.”

“No,” Nino says, a few seconds later. With his heart dropping to the floor, he can only respond weakly. “No. That’s not—“

Sho doesn’t seem to want to hear any explanation. “Now, could I ask you to leave these premises without causing an unnecessary stir?”

Nino wants to sink to his knees and cry. Nino wants to close their distance and just cling to Sho until the man listens to his story. Nino also wants to leave the building, to never meet Sho again, and to wallow in self-pity pathetically for the rest of his life. “Okay.”

Sho is still eyeing Nino coldly as he starts walking to the door. No proper goodbye, Nino thinks, this is how things will end and there is nothing he can do about it. He lowers his head and walks to the door in a wave of despair and utter defeat.

He stops at the door, hesitating for a split second, because he needs some closure, he needs to say goodbye to one of the best things in his life. He takes a deep breath and says the last thing he expected to say today. “Goodbye, Sho-san.”

In a daze, he walks out of the office building, goes straight to the station, and only realizes that he has taken the wrong turn at some point and arrives in front of their hotel in confusion. Nino feels drained and tired and wants nothing but to stop walking. In the small park in front of the large plaza, he finds a small bench and finally sits down. He looks at the tall building in front of him, mocking him with all the luxury and imposing all the precious memory on him.

Ten minutes later, he is still looking up to face the tall building in front of him. Sunlight falls gently on his face, tears stream down, as he is weeping over the loss. He doesn’t know it would hurt so much until it happened.




The worst part is that Nino understands why it happened. He admits that what he did was inappropriate at any level and Sho had every right to kick him out of his office. He would have done the same. Or would he? He promises himself to give Sho a chance—if ever.

Aside from his thoughts, Nino clams up completely, ignoring Aiba’s straightforward questions on how things went with Sho and Ohno’s subtle attempt of taking him out for drinks one night. Matsujun on the other hand doesn't say anything—probably knowing Sho’s rejection is punishment enough and they could let the matter go at that—and somehow Nino is grateful for that. At least he can bury himself in work, safe from caring friends, and wallow self-pity for a little longer.

Almost a month has passed and Nino is still shaky at some points. He welcomes tax month with open arms, more than enough reason to bury himself in endless work.

Not everything has worked smoothly since the early morning. Nino has to push through a few incomplete background checks. He mutes pings of incoming emails, most of them are not urgent after all, and focuses on the more important cash flow spreadsheet that is due in the afternoon.

He ignores the sound of his door opening and what comes after that. “Nino, do you have a minute now?”

He doesn’t even look up at Matsujun’s question. The man would have to wait until he’s done with this particular calculation problem. “No.”

“Fine. We are going to wait until you do, then.”

Nino ignores the noise Matsujun produces while trying to drag a chair from the side of his office and the silence that follows. He frowns at the excel file AA row because the total sum does not match his initial calculation so there must be something wrong on the previous spreadsheet and if he could just check that first before—

We?

“I apologize for disturbing you in the middle of your work—”

Nino freezes in front of his screen. All thoughts about numbers and lines and columns fly out his cramped office window in an instant. The tone, the deep voice, and something he can’t place, stop him. Damn it, can’t this man, or the image he has of him, just disappear from his life?

He turns and sees Sho standing next to Matsujun. The man looks just like the last time Nino saw him, in his neat business suit. Is this just another figment of his imagination? Has he stared too long at his screen? He makes a sudden swift on his chair to jump to his feet, knocking his knees on his desk on the way. When the dull pain spreads, Nino sways his stance. “What—?”

“—but I have to say this office is so small and cramped,” Sho continues, his tone light and careful, his eyes watching Nino’s with open interest, eyes steady on Nino’s fidgeting body. “Thank you, Matsumoto-san. You’ve been very generous.”

“As have you. It was an honor to provide you with our finest service,” Matsujun says, understanding the subtle dismissal. He bows courteously to both of them and turns to leave the office. “I wish you both the best.”

When the door is closed and Sho is still standing in the middle of his office, Nino has no other option but to cover his face with his hands. This can’t be happening.

“Kazu.”

Oh, this is truly happening and Sho is in his office now and he will have to do something about this—and anyone should be banned from using his given name and calling him in the same tone Sho used to call him in the bedroom because it spreads pleasant thrills in him.

“I owe you serious apologies,” Sho says. “If you could spare a few minutes to hear me out, I’d be most grateful.”

“What?” Nino stutters again. He should get a hold of himself but it is difficult, too sudden. He isn’t at all prepared for this. But Sho keeps silent patiently for a few minutes as what Nino quickly realizes as the way he is giving Nino enough time to regain his composure..

Nino finally says, “How did you get here?“

“Matsumoto-san contacted me earlier this week. He politely requested for a meeting to discuss the company compensation for, what he said, a substandard service.”

“What?”

“I believe he only phrased it that way to get me into the meeting. I was very annoyed by your surprise visit and thought that I could file an official complaint with the boss of the company. That was my plan.”

Nino doesn’t say a word and walks to the front of his desk, to meet Sho in the middle of his room. He stops in front of Sho, ignoring the startled look on his face, and bows his apology. “The company has nothing to do with my action. It was my own selfish action and for that, I sincerely apologize.”

“No. No. You have nothing to apologize for,” Sho says hurriedly. His hands touch Nino’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Raise your head. Come on. I’m the one who should apologize here.”

Nino raises his head and meets Sho’s serious eyes. They are standing within reach of each other now and Sho takes the final step to close their distance.

“That was my original plan. But Matsumoto-san made a very good case for you and I had to admit at the end of our conversation that I was, in lack of a better word, so fucking stupid.”

Nino’s lips forms a small smile.

“I really like you,” Sho says with an even more serious tone, taking a step closer. “That night was definitely unforgettable in so many ways. That was why I asked for you again. But I’ve been told that you weren't available so I thought I should just wait and bide my time.”

Nino does nothing but stare at Sho with disbelief.

“But you showed up out of the blue. I was not ready and you looked so nervous that day in that room and I was so ridiculously angry at first. The thought of you having some other agenda snuck into my mind. It was in the middle of a hectic workday and I wasn’t able to think of anything else than chide you and so I asked you to leave immediately,” Sho says with hints of plain sadness. “It was completely stupid of me. I should have listened to you. I should have done anything but sending you away. I should have given you a chance. But I didn't.”

Nino waits as he sees that Sho’s still trying to find more words.

“Thank you for listening to me,” Sho finally says with a sigh, “for not sending me away—“

“Sho-san.” Nino tries to stop him, because it’s more than enough. He also needs to apologize for his lies in the beginning of this mess, for taking pleasure from Sho, for his own selfish act to visit Sho, and now this.

“—and for giving me a chance, one I don’t deserve, to explain all this. I am very grateful.”

“Sho-san,” Nino repeats louder, tugging the sleeve of Sho’s suit to get him to notice. “I don’t know how much Matsujun has shared with you about things, but I am equally responsible for this mess.“

Sho stares at Nino with a fond smile on his lips. “He told me that you said I made your heart flutter from the very first moment.”

“Dammit,” Nino swears loudly, feeling his cheeks blushing. “I’m going to poison his precious morning coffee.”

Sho chuckles lightly and Nino raises his gaze to meet his eyes. Now that it is all out of their way, now that they are standing so close to each other, now that they are together—aren’t they?

Sho also picks up the change of mood, sensing that the worst has passed, and says, “I also have another suggestion in mind.”

Nino raises his eyebrows in question.

“I am not asking for a relationship. I don't want that now,” Sho says carefully. “I was hoping we could find the time and a place for overnight sex or something more in the near future. Only if you are willing, Kazu.”

His name endearingly coming out of Sho’s mouth at that moment is still the most beautiful thing Nino has ever heard. How the sound itself brings the pleasant flutters running through him once again. He wants to keep hearing it so he needs to ask. “Only overnight sex?”

“Or something more,” Sho says. “More like, something more. But we can start with overnight sex. No hurry. But I probably want something more. In the near future.”

Nino holds his smile, stares straight into Sho’s eyes, catching the man’s grin. He takes a step forward, closing their distance, and says with as much clarity and confidence as he can master, “Yes, Sho-san.”

“Good boy,” Sho whispers against his lips, his arms wrapped around Nino’s waist, pulling him closer and leaning in for a kiss.