𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐘 | 𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐈 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂 (𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐗 𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐈)

𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞

"It is, isn't it?" Shoko complains, slouching on Nanami's couch yet again instead of doing her work. "It's a damn shame, I was looking forward to the Thanksgiving Feast this year. But your new friend kind of ruined it for us, didn't she?" Shoko yells across the room as Nanami types feverishly on his computer.

"I thought we agreed that Misha would take the blame." Nanami said, a bit more on the defense than he meant to be. "She made her make the dish, and then tried to take credit for it. Therefore, she takes credit for the mishap as well."

"Made her? Tiana has free will. She sabotaged that dish, and you can't convince me otherwise." Shoko mutters. "I just want to know why."

Nanami shrugs, not taking his eyes off the screen. "Maybe she had her reasons." He mutters.

Shoko sits up abruptly, looking at Nanami in disbelief. "Are you serious, Kento?" She throws her hands up in disbelief, unable to believe the words coming out of Nanami's mouth. Mr. Logic, making excuses for someone who probably wouldn't be on their payroll permanently? Who was this man?

"She almost cost us a lot more than a fucking hospital bill, Kento. If she pulls another stunt like that, we will have to get rid of her. I told you she would become a liability."

"Even so, I'm sure there has to be a logical explanation for her actions." Nanami ensures Shoko, and all she can do is roll her eyes.

"And you haven't found that out yet?" Shoko raises a brow. "You've been hanging around her a lot more, even skipping corporate dinners."

Now it's Nanami's turn to roll his eyes. "I never went to the corporate dinners."

"Exactly."

At the same time, Nanami's phone chimes, a text message appears from Charlotte, simply reading "SOS" in all caps. Nanami raises a brow, calling her immediately.

"Is that her?" Shoko stands with her hand on her hip, and Nanami waves her off. Scoffing, Shoko leaves the office grumbling under her breath as she closes his door. Charlotte picks up on the second ring, practically screeching in Nanami's ear. He jolts, pushing his cell away from his face.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Nanami says, bringing the phone back to his ear. "I can't understand you, stop screaming."

"Ken, were you still planning on coming here for the holidays?" Lottie sounded nervous. Nanami eyebrows bridge together, mouth upturned in confusion.

"I mean, I was-"

"Well, you can't!" Lottie shouts. "I forgot Tia's coming down and I do not need you mucking it all up for me."

Nanami's face morphed into an expression of surprise. Tiana hadn't told him anything about her leaving for the holiday, but he retracted the thought when he realized she wasn't really obligated to do that anyway. He frowned slightly, still feeling a bit slighted, but he chalked it up to being unable to visit Lottie for the holidays.

"You've been begging me to visit for years." Nanami pointed out.

"I know, but there is absolutely no way for me to explain why her boss is in New Orleans for supper." Lottie sounded stressed. "Even if I threw you a bone and gave Tia the greenlight for a plus one, then I'd have to pretend I don't know you, and you know daddy's a horrible liar. That's way too much for me."

"I understand." Nanami said, slightly disappointed. And for a brief second, the disappointment worsened when the broken idea flashed across his mind of spending his usually bleak holiday with his cousin and uncle, gathered around a full dinner table for the first time in years, but sitting next to a specific woman with brown eyes and curly hair. He drummed his fingers impatiently on his desk.