Junjou Possession

Chapter #6

Junjou Possession |Chapter 6| Minori

"Thank you, Haruhiko."

His name rolls off naturally on my tongue, something that I feel awkward doing but yet it leaves a weird after taste in my mouth. .....Sweet, perhaps?

"You're always welcome, Minori," Haruhiko says. His large hands over mine feel warm and raises tingling sensations on my own. I quickly slip mine away. My face is probably the color of a tomato right now, heated with embarrassment from the words I let slip from my mouth and my actions towards my new boss. Haruhiko shifts in front of me, turning to look at me with his calm, serious eyes. "Now then, shall I address you your assigned tasks and such in this apprenticeship?"

The heat from my cheeks fade away now that the mood seems to have broken. "Yeah, sure," I mumble.

We retake our seats once again at the large desk, where the brunet opens my portfolio and sifts through everything I threw in for the apprenticeship application-my current and past transcripts, previous occupations from youth, along with several recommendation letters and my actual application. His gaze remains solely on the papers scattered in front of him.

"Hmm, it appears that you are currently a third-year at your college, correct?"

"Yes," I reply.

"Well then," he says and grazes his finger along the paper. "Your grades are above average and the recommendations think of you highly. However..." He stops for a moment to fix his glasses. "-One person made a comment about sometimes you would carelessly misplace things?"

I don't remember reading that in any of my recommendation letters! Sadly though....sometimes it's true... I rub my hands together. "Sometimes, on odd occassions that's happened, but I swear it won't happen here. Those are school projects, and work and school are different so it won't happen here...."

Haruhiko's lips curled in an amused expression that I saw neither as a smile or a frown. "Minori, you are yet to become an adult and fully realize that whatever perspective you look at it school and the workforce are quite the same. For instance-" he points to himself "-I am the teacher, and you are the pupil. It's my job to care for you, guide you, mold you. However, if you make a mistake it can cost us a project-which is money-and cost you your job. Of course, in school you are chastised but this is your future.

"Let me just summarize it for you-if you want to keep this apprenticeship, you better have better organization skills."

I swallow and nod. My hands wring themselves in my lap. "I understand," I agree. Even though I've heard this lecture from several others including my mother many one hundred times.

Haruhiko sighs and says, "I have an architectural project to work on, so I will have to pass you on to the second in charge on my team for the next few hours. He will show you around the building and tell you what you need to know of your apprenticeship." I notice that he looks slightly upset as he tells me this. "But it's only for a few hours."

"Okay."

He picks up the phone on his desk and presses a number. Haruhiko waits for the tone and I can hear someone pick up. "Ryomei, the new apprentice arrived-yes, he's in the office with me. I have a private project to work on so would you show him around and bestow him of his duties? Alright, thank you." He ends the call.

Within a minute the door opens a man steps inside the office. He is tall like Haruhiko and his caramel colored hair is brushed back neatly, except for the few locks that fall on the sides of his face. He enters with a smile.

"Mr. Usami?" he says, closing the door behind him.

"Minori, this is Ryomei Morimoto, my assistant architect on my team. He is to show you around and tell you of your duties," Haruhiko explains. "Ryomei, I'm handing him over to you now."

Ryomei smiles, his dark brown eyes shining in the sunlight. Haruhiko's eyes did not do that. He appears to be a nice enough man. His hand reaches out and shakes mine, his grip gentle but enthusiastic.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Takatsuki."

"It's nice to meet you as well," I reply, bowing slightly.

Ryomei smiles. "I'll keep him busy for you, boss," he says, but Haruhiko only nods. He's looking over some papers on his desk. I'm led out of the room without so much as any farewell words between the two of us, and we are separated by the closing of the large office door.