Host bar // kazuscara [EDITING]

3

The meeting went well, Kazuha seemed surprisingly more energized than most days, even though this was one of the days he slept little to nothing. He was ambitious in his presentations and his demeanor was captivating even to the ones least interested. Maybe it was from all that  destressing in the host bar he stumbled upon yesterday.

Kazuha's boss whispered to him, telling Kazuha to meet him after the meeting. Of course, Kazuha did not dare refuse. 

As the other quarters presented their work, Kazuha laid back in his seat, eyelids fluttering shut. The morning sunlight beamed on his sillouette, a rare sight to behold as Tokyo never had such pleasing sunlight. He let himself rest, and soon he fell asleep. 

The next thing he knew was the boss standing up to deliver the last words of the meeting.

"Ahem," boss cleared his throat, ready to speak, "Congratulations on every quarter, I expect more to come from everyone next month." after announcing, he lifted his eyebrow while looking at Kazuha, signaling him to come to him after taking everything he needs. 

After piling everything he brought to the meeting into one big stack of documents, he carried everything in his arms, scurrying to his boss. 

"Yes, Mr. Kencho?" Kazuha greeted his boss, Mr. Kencho. 

"Your quarter has done unbelievably well in the past two weeks, hadn't you noticed this?" Mr. Kencho asked Kazuha, Of fucking course, Mr. Kencho. He's been up so many nights just sending emails and reviewing documents alone, no wonder his quarter has been doing so well.

"Haha, no, Mr. Kencho. I've just been doing whatever I can to help our quarter."  Kazuha lied, No, I've been working my ass off for the past two weeks, Mr. Kencho. Can't you see my dark circles under the pounds of makeup I put on? But instead of revealing his thoughts, he kept them well hidden, he'd do absolutely anything to keep his internal conversation from being heard by Mr. Kencho. 

"No need to be modest, Kaedehara. Please, rest yourselves up. I needn't a worker of mine collapse because of how much pressure I've put on them." Mr. Kencho laughed, "Please, take the rest of today off. I reckon nothing of significance was on the calender today, so enjoy the sun while it lasts."

"Really Mr. Kencho?" Kazuha asked in disbelief, he must've heard wrongly. Rest of the day off? No, he must've said something else, like 'work harder, young boy, future awaits.' 

"No need to have that look on your face, it makes me feel like I make you guys work without a break!" Mr Kencho jested, smile on his face.

His eyes widened in disbelief. Finally! After countless days of perpetual torture was he able to earn his merit of half a day off from Mr. Kencho himself. He smiled as he thanked Mr. Kencho. 

Running back to his quarter he avidly announced to all his coworkers to take their bags and leave this hell of a firm, and congratulated them for all their hard work these two weeks; although deep down, he knows he's the only one who had stayed up until 4 am sending out emails to different clients and agencies.

There were cheers and hoorays, some were already so eager to pack their workbags and say goodbye, while Kazuha just smiled and leaned beside the glass door frame of their quarter. Everyone was just so happy to have half a day off on a wonderful Friday, when the sun shined brighter than it had ever been; seemingly congratulating them for a two-week-long effort.

"THANK YOU, MR. KAEDEHARA!" he was forcibly pulled away from his own thoughts when a choir of people spoke his name in unison, thanking him for his guidance the past two weeks. 

He suddenly felt touched, like raising a house full of children. But instead, he was raising a quarter full of fellow co-workers. Without much thought, he announced, "Saturday evening at Yamakoto Sushi bar! Everyone's invited!" The quarter roared with praises and thank-yous, terminating their day of work at the Takahashi firm.