Specks of Light

Part Three. Chapter 2: Skyscraper

As the day went on, Yuu started to get acquainted with the work he had to do at Fujino- sensei's. As always, he directed the whole sketching process and little by little he got to know the three assistants that were complete strangers to him. He already knew that Nozomi was good with skies and that Ijuuin's assistant could do really great shadowing. "Aki- san, do you think we could have this by the end of next week?" Kirishima- san asked "Next week? Why? That is cutting the deadline almost by half" Fujino- sensei said with a bit of a concerned tone. "Well, I might need you to present two chapters these month. I have an author who is in Paris and, naturally, he is not working on a manuscript now" the editor commented making Yuu drop his pen at the complete loss of all focus. No doubt he was talking about Ijuuin- sensei, and while he had no reason to be this nervous, the mention of his partner had made his heart skip a beat. "Paris! How nice! I can try to achieve what you are asking, Kirishima- san but only if my crew is available to work for two more weeks with me" Fujino said with a smile. Yuu had never really met a Mangaka as composed as Fujino- sensei, the guy seemed to be perfectly balanced and didn't lose one bit of his focus even when Kirishima- san had just asked him to do something a lot of other authors would consider impossible.

"Thank you, Aki- san. I will go around asking now" Kirishima said as he walked to the assistant table. "How about you, Yuu- san?" Fujino asked turning to look at Yuu "Are you free to work with me for another two weeks?" The author finished with his gaze set on Yuu's face "Maybe, I have to check my schedule" Yuu answered honestly. "Please let me know then" Fujino told him getting back to draw. Yuu had had many hesitations about working here, but it seemed like he had been worried for nothing. The work environment was really nice, even Kirishima- san seemed to be enjoying himself. Plus Fujino- sensei seemed to be very kind and polite, he honestly had had no reason to worry.

Yuu had just started working on a new background when his phone vibrated. It was not really professional to be looking at his phone while working, but he still picked up to find a text from Ijuuin- sensei [I hope you are enjoying your first day at work with Fujino- sensei. I will call you after my interview. I love you and miss you] Yuu read the text in silence and unconsciously smiled at the last sentence. [Thank you, work is going great. Good luck in the interview] he typed and sent. He felt embarrassed to answer to Ijuuin's last phrase but feeling a little guilty about not doing it, he opened the app again [I love you too] he sent and immediately returned to his work trying not to get blushed.

They all had been working for hours when Fujino- sensei announced they could head out for a break. As usual, Kirishima- san had been the one in charge of bringing something to eat for the assistants and Fujino- sensei. Yuu noticed Nozomi- chan looking at him as she always did when they were working at Yoshino's. "Don't you want something to eat, Yanase- kun?" Kirishima- san kindly asked. "No, thanks. I am a bit behind so I'd rather finish this first" Yuu lied. He was ahead of work and he could easily take an hour or two of break if he wanted to, still he didn't want to keep dodging Nozomi's attentions and the easiest way to do so was to stay in the drawing room. "I will stay too then" Fujino- sensei commented as Kirishima- san headed out. 

Yuu was working on a city landscape when he felt Fujino getting closer to him "We will make this scene last two pages, so you can draw up to this point" he said taking Yuu's hand and placing it at the upper right corner of the paper. "Alright, I will" Yuu answered trying to free his hand from Fujino's grip. His unsuccessful attempt resulted in Fujino sitting closer to him "Let's end it with a skyscraper here" Fujino whispered slowly sliding his and Yuu's hands down the paper drawing a straight line. The gesture made Yuu extremely anxious specially since Fujino seemed like he didn't want to let go of his hand.

Yuu felt Fujino's fingers slowly interlacing with his own as he kept drawing the skyscraper with his hand placed on top of Yuu's hand. "He is too close" he thought as Fujino kept sliding both of their hands on the paper almost effortlessly. Feeling even more anxious now, he tried to free his hand once again, this time Fujino let go easily having finished his drawing. "See? Now the villain can appear from the top of the skyscraper in the next panel" Fujino said with a smile. Still feeling quite shaken, Yuu stood up "I am going to take a break, after all" he said trying to sound as steady as possible. "Go ahead, then. Kirisihima- san always brings delicious treats" Fujino told him with the same smile he had had while he drew the building holding Yuu's hand. "Alright. Thank you" Yuu quickly answered and headed out of the drawing room.