One last chance

It's time for dinner

"Good work guys. Remember, don't burn your midnight oil. We have hell week in 2 weeks, so be prepared", Kirishima said to his subordinates, who gave him a nod with a smile decorating their faces.

Since the curly haired man entered the Shirakawa company, statistics showed that the editors in Shonen manga department perform better under his command than before and this has to do with how he behaves to them either they are in the beginning of the cycle or at the end of hell week, despite the fact that he leaves from the company at 18.00 almost every day and comes earlier than them to complete his works on time.

The editors respected him more than everyone in Shirakawa and understood the reason he leaves earlier is due to family issues. Kirishima left the building at 18.00, with briefcase on his one hand while his other was his jacket, waving at the reseptionists and to the president himself who had some guests that came for a meeting.

By the time he exited the company, he spotted Yokozawa standing some steps away, wearing his usual black jeans with blue shirt and leathered jacket and holding a bag with the logo of a nearby patisserie that sales all kinds of treats.

The editor noticed that the young man wasn't wearing neither his helmet nor his leathered driving gloves, which means he was going to walk with him all the way to the cottage, something that made Kirishima grin at the thought for no reason. He walked towards him and when the latter turned to see him coming, he gave a wave.

"Did I make you wait for a long time? "

"No. I just finished work so I came here as soon as I left the motorcycle to my house"

"Are you far from here?"

"Does it matter?", he struggled, raising his shoulders and putting his hands to his side, the paper bag now clutched on his hand tightly. The editor shook his head and sighed while he rubbed his face with his hand, indicating his tiredness from work. The two men begin to walk, a comfortable silence between them that made no sense to neither of them, with Yokozawa being behind from Kirishima and following him all the way to the cottage where Hiyori is waiting.

After 10 minutes of walk, they arrived outside and the dashing guard couldn't help but watch the building in awe: it was white, with two large balconies that were on the ground and first floor and probably what seems like hot springs behind the house, which was basically expanded with the cottage and well guarded by trees and rocks. There were three steps that lead to the front door, which was in the center of the ground floor's veranda and handrails that sandwiched the steps.

Yokozawa woke from his thoughts when he felt Kirishima's hand on his shoulder, giving it a gently squeeze. He slapped the hand away, gaining a chuckle from the editor and walked towards the front door, entering inside the house once the editor opened with the key.

"Hiyo, I'm home~"

"Welcome home pa-Aahh, Oniichan!", she chirped, running towards the two men when she came from the kitchen and saw her favorite Oniichan on the genkan, taking off his shoes and stepping further in the house. She was wearing a blue apron with a bunny on the center and she was wiping her hands on a towel. "Thank you very much for bringing me the Bavarian green tea cakes! They were super deliiicious!"

"I'm glad you like them", he said and gave her a small smile, giving goosebumps to the editor by the time he saw that rare moment of the rampaging bear smiling to his daughter. "Oh, before I forget it, here", Hiyori hears and saw Yokozawa giving her a paper bag.

"What is this Oniichan?"

"It's a little treat I bought for you. They are macaroons. Apparently, they are famous in Paris and when I saw the colors, I thought about you. They seem so adorable", he said, chuckling a bit once he saw the little girl blushing and smiling, holding tightly the bag on her chest.