Asahi Shimbun 朝日新聞 ⋮ Nanami Kento

Chapter 3

The Asahi Shimbun Company
Operating hours (closed for lunch from 12-1PM)
Sunday: Closed
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday: Closed

The automatic metal doors slide open. The carpets were in hues of muted blue and gray. The color of the walls were an off-white, except for the glass windows that made up the wall on the left side. During the day, the beams of incandescent lights fixed on the ceiling were nothing compared to the morning star; which gave this room its natural lighting. This large office consists of nothing but symmetrically lined cubicles; a row on each side and separated with nothing but space (enough to mimic a hallway). It's a bland and uninteresting area. Nothing decorated this office aside from a digital clock hung on the wall somewhere, a neat row of cork boards which were pinned with miscellaneous papers ranging from photos, news to schedules and a single monstera plant that sat by the elevator.

There's two doors at the very end of this floor. One that leads to the break room and one that is Yaga Masamichi's private office.

It's about 8 in the morning, an hour before business hours begin and you're early (as always). You think you'd be the last to show and the first to leave, seeing as you were the only salary paid worker. But it's quite the opposite. You were always the first one through the doors, the last one out and if anything, still around after hours. However, you've come to notice that you weren't the only one who practiced exceptional punctuality.

Something is brewing. This complex aroma lures you in through the door of the break room that stood ajar. It's a light-roast; sweet and floral with hints of nuttiness. You couldn't wait to feel the pleasing sharpness of the acidity at the front of your mouth. This crisp, tart and syrupy black beverage will fuel you throughout the work day. On a routine morning, you prepare the coffee for the staff. But today it's someone else.

The man had his suit jacket off and his suspenders exposed. Nanami Kento pulls out the ceramic drink ware from the cabinets above his head (all the ones you could never reach) and he places them along the counter.

"Nanami." The man turns to look at you who is now standing beside him, "You're early."

"I'm not clocking in until 9." He says and he looks back to whatever he's doing.

The blond, although not earlier than you on most days, is always earlier than the rest. But the guy never starts his work until the assigned time and he most definitely never stays beyond his assigned time to leave either. You always found Nanami standing at the time clock system a minute before 9:00 in the morning and always no later than 6:00 in the evening.

His words make you chuckle, "I'm not saying you need to."

"Good." As his superior he would, on most occasions, listen to you—except in this regard. Nanami watches the last extractions drip out of the filter, "Would you care for a cup?"

"I would love one." You smile and you couldn't help but stare. Thankfully, he doesn't notice.

It was nice, all the attention from Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru. You couldn't deny that you found them both very attractive and would likely surrender to them if they ever allowed it. Sometimes you couldn't believe that Nanami Kento had anything to do with those two exuberant and unrestrained men. They were so different. But there was something about Nanami that made him stand out in comparison. Maybe it was the fact that he was so different. Maybe it's because he doesn't show you the same amount of attention or any at all. And maybe (as bad as it sounds) it was the thrill of the chase. Something unobtainable always appears more desirable. As bold and cheeky as you were with Gojo and Geto, you couldn't find yourself behaving that way with Nanami. This man, as kind and honest as he is, inadvertently makes you much more reserved and rather meek.