𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 || 𝐓𝐨𝐤𝐲𝐨 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐

I wake to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the curtains, gently coaxing me out of slumber. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I stretch and groan in annoyance at the sound of my phone going off. With half-open eyes, I snatched my phone off of my bedside table and answered it.

"Hello?" I said, my voice still laced with sleep. On the other end, I heard my co-worker and friend, Fumiko. I was immediately greeted with her cheery voice.

"Good morning sleepy head! Slept in again, huh?" She said in a cheeky tone. It was obvious she was smirking.

"It's only..." I trailed off and glanced at the clock. "8:15." Wait. 8:15?! My heart stopped in my chest. I was 45 minutes late for work. "Shit, Fumiko I'll be there in 20 minutes."

"Wait, I'll come pick you u-" I didn't let her finish her sentence before I immediately hung up and threw my phone onto my bed. With a heavy sigh, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, my feet meeting the cool hardwood floor below. I shuddered, already eager to get the day over with.

Hastily, I make my way to the bathroom, the tiles cool beneath my bare feet. A splash of cold water on my face helps to clear away the last traces of sleep, along with a bit of skin care helps me to wake up.

Turning to face the mirror, I look at myself. Dark circles linger beneath my eyes, a testament to the restless night that has passed. I clicked my tongue and brushed a stray strand of hair from my face, smoothing it into place. I brush my teeth quickly before rushing to my closet to pick out my clothes for the day.

I settle on a simple yet professional ensemble, pulling on a crisp blouse and a pair of tailored trousers. With a final glance in the mirror, I smooth down stray strands of short and messy hair and adjust my collar. I grab my bag and check that I have all the essentials-keys, wallet, phone and documents-before making my way to the kitchen.

A quick breakfast of toast and black coffee usually fuels me for the day ahead, the familiar flavors comforting in their simplicity. As I was putting a bit of butter on my toast, my phone started ringing. I picked it up and heard Fumiko's voice on the other end.

"Ari, I'm outside. Hurry up, will ya? Otherwise we're both getting fired!" She whined and I cursed under my breath.

"Yeah, yeah! I'll be there!" I said as I hung up on her once again and shoved the piece of toast into my mouth. I adjusted my purse strap and headed for the door. I slipped on a simple pair of kitten heels and and headed out, quickly slipping into the elevator and pressing the lobby button repeatedly.

C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! Hurry up!

As soon as the doors to the lobby opened, I darted towards the main entrance and saw Fumiko parked in front of the building. I flung the passenger door open, toast still in my mouth. Fumiko looked at me, surprised. "Didn't think you'd actually show up." She teased, putting the car into drive as I put on my seatbelt.

"Just shut up and drive." I said, annoyed. She chuckled and sighed before speaking.

"Well, if you say so." Without hesitation, Fumiko floored it and sped off into oncoming traffic. I gripped the handle of the car, nearly choking on my food as she weaved in and out of lanes.

"Jesus, where did you learn to drive woman?!" I nearly yelled, desperately trying to stay in my seat as she drove. She glanced over at me with a mischievous smirk on her face, and I gave her a deadpan look.

．．．

"It's not good enough."

I watched as my boss Eiji tossed my pile of rough drafts back onto his desk, his voice blunt and rough. "It lacks depth, the characters are flat, and the plot is predictable. You'll need to do better if you want to make it in this industry."

I feel the sting of his words like a slap to the face, the weight of disappointment bearing down on me like a lead cloak. I had poured my heart and soul into this manuscript, baring my innermost thoughts and emotions for all to see. And yet, it wasn't enough.

"I understand." I said calmly, picking up the pile of documents and heading back to my desk. Before I could leave, my boss spoke up.

"Fujimoto, you have what it takes. It's just that you're... missing something." He said, taking out a cigarette from his jacket pocket and lighting it up.

Smoking is prohibited in the office, dumbass.

"I'll continue working on it." I said, forcing a smile. I gently closed the door behind me, before silently slamming the stack of papers against my forehead.

Idiot, idiot, idiot. What are you thinking submitting that?

My angry thoughts were interrupted by Fumiko, who was just coming back from her break. "Ari, are you alright?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow at me as I stopped smacking myself with my papers.

I sighed heavily and looked at her, defeated. "Yeah, I'm fine." I said nonchalantly, and she gave me a small smile. Fumiko shook her head and in the blink of an eye, she snatched my manuscript out of my hands. "H-hey! Give that back!" I said, reaching for them as she hid it behind her back.

"Nope. Not until you treat me out for dinner tonight for covering your ass this morning. Do you know how much shit I got from Eiji about us being late again?" Fumiko pouted, her shoulders slumping as she dramatically leaned against the wall. I stared at her in disbelief. She's a literal child, I swear.

"Fine. But you're paying me back next paycheck." I said, clearly annoyed. Fumiko gave me a thumbs up and handed my manuscript back before heading to her desk. I made a face behind her back before heading to my own to continue working. I tossed the papers down, running a hand through my disheveled hair.

God, how am I supposed to fix this...?

．．．

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: Hi again! I hope you liked this chapter! The first few chapters are probably gonna be introducing the characters and my OC, so I apologize if it's slightly stale... (I promise it gets good xP). Again, thank you for taking the time to read my story!! <3