The Closed Ward | Tokyo Ghoul

Chapter Six | It Has Begun

 "Rui-chan!"

Unprepared for Akane's arms to wind themselves around her neck, Rui stumbles back, narrowly avoiding bashing her head into the door that's just swung shut behind her. A smile creeps over her lips, though, as she squeezes Akane in a hug. She'd almost forgotten the effect Akane has on her when they're in such close proximity; already her shoulders are loosening, and the wrinkles that have been plaguing her forehead smooth out as Akane steps back, holding her by the arms to study her.

"Hi, Akane," she murmurs meekly.

Lips pressed into a thin line, Akane looks her over, head to toe. When she reaches Rui's eyes again she seems to have come to a decision, because she breaks into another radiant smile, green eyes vividly relieved even in the spotty lighting of the office.

"Welcome back, Rui-chan."

Her return to the office sparks no obvious enthusiasm from anyone apart from her fellow trainees and Akane herself (along with Sora, who drops by to deliver his fiancee's lunch, and nearly crushes Rui's ribcage in a hug of his own). She expected that. It's not as though her presence has any real impact on the goings on of the paper; she's yet to release her own article, and isn't even on track to do so now that her mentor's left the picture.

The only thing that surprises her is Harada.

Harada Takumi, for as long as Rui has known him (and from the stories Kaori used to share over dinner), is a man of few words, unless he's in a mood. Thankfully, the only person who can usually incite such a mood is Kaori, which means that - for the most part - Harada isn't an excitable man. Rui can't remember him ever praising her for her work, or anyone's work for that matter. He expects the best of his journalists and doesn't see why they should have their egos stroked for simply doing their jobs.

But the moment Harada sees Rui, standing in the midst of the other trainees, he stops cold. Rui immediately weaves through the throng of college students, ignoring their muffled protests, and steps past Harada into his office, beckoning for him to follow; she shuts the door behind him, her hands lingering on the frost-bitten handle a second too long before she turns around to face him.

"H-Harada-san, don't... don't cry!"

He rolls his eyes even as he's patting his pockets for a tissue. Rui hesitantly offers one from her messenger bag and he dabs at the damp spots trickling down his tan cheeks, all the while shooting her look that promises he really will sack her if she breathes a word of this to anyone. It's enough to make her laugh but she bites her tongue. It's only Harada's kindness that's kept her from losing her job; pushing his buttons isn't therefore isn't ideal.

"Sorry for that, Rui."

"You... you don't need to apologize, Harada-san! Um, Kaori... Ikehara-san, she doesn't fault anyone for crying. It's natural, ya know? Something everyone does. She says you're inhuman if you never cry..."

"Says the woman who refused to shed a tear over the death of her dog because it would make people perceive her as childish..."

"She's... quite a woman, isn't she, Harada-san?"

Harada's expression softens - which is just as ludicrous as his tears for her. He waves Rui forward, pulling out the seat facing his desk for her to sit. She almost refuses, recalling Shin's forceful treatment, but does as asked because this is Harada. Her boss, for one thing; completely separate from Nomura Shin, too. Harada moves aside a stack of papers that are indecipherable from where Rui sits so that he can hop up onto the desk. It's uncharacteristically informal of him, as Harada doesn't often present himself as an equal to his journalists. He's worked hard for his position and he makes it known, though she wouldn't call him a braggart even on his worst days.