One last chance

Need a smoke?

The time now was 15.00 in the afternoon, the Shonen manga department full of employees working on authors' latest works. The time seems to pass slow today and the reason was simple enough: it was the next day of the hell week's finish line, which means also the end of the cycle. The cycle is a time period of 20 days were the authors together with the editors are making a book while hell week is the last week of the cycle, the crucial week in which the manuscripts must be delivered to the printing before the deadline and the big release.

Even though a new cycle began and things had become really calm, that didn't mean things were completely back to normal since everyone in each manga department finished work several hours before they start a new beginning. That appeared to effect not only the editors, but also the editors in chief such as Kirishima himself and Takano Masamune, the one in charge of Shounjo manga department and Emerald magazine.

Even though he is working as a chief for one year and is only 28 years old, he brought life to Emerald, winning the attention from everyone, including the dashing and attractive editor in chief of Japun. Kirishima couldn't help but rub his eyes's corners with his index finger and thumb while releasing a low hissing.

'God, even though I work as an editor for 12 years, I still can't get used to it', he thought to himself for a while but stopped when he heard a voice coming from afar in his right side.

"Kirishima-san, are you alright?"

"Hm?", he hummed in question and looked in the eyes of his loyal subordinate Katou, who is the deputy chief and Kirishima's right hand. Katou was looking at him with worry, but then was erased when the elder gave a smile to him

"I'm fine Katou. You know how difficult is the day after the hell week stops, right?"

"I'm well aware of it Kirishima-san, but are you sure you are alright? Do you want to take a break and then continue?"

"You've read my mind buddy", he said with a grin and then stood up, exiting the department and going towards the smoke area.

Even though he quited it, he sometimes has a cigarette once in a while when he is stressed or tired.

By the time he reached there, he saw a young man leaning on the wall with his back facing it and looking at the ceiling through his black thick glasses while a cigarette was stucked between his teeth. Kirishima opened the door and immediately, as an alert, the man turned his head, brown eyes looking at almond ones.

"Relax Takano. I'm not Onodera-kun", he said and the said man chuckled bitterly at the elder's comment. Kirishima approached him and fished a cigarette from his pocket and taking the lighter from the package. Once he lit it, he dragged it and exhaled the smoke slowly but enjoyably.

Truthfully, he really needed that cigarette after all...

"By the way, how is he?"

"He is fine... Pushing himself more than needed, something usual since he is stubborn and refuses to lower his pride", he sighed, gaining a chuckle from the older man

"He has a pride, but he shattered it the moment you got married. Can't believe you were into guys"

"Can't believe that you know about my marriage. As for the latter, do you have a problem with that?"

"Not at all. In fact I can understand you. I was married for a few years and I have a daughter, but that doesn't mean I don't like men either. The character of a person is what attracts me the most and not the gender"

"I didn't know about that"

"It's a little secret that only you, my family and my best friend know.  I don't spread word about your marriage around because first it's a secret and second it doesn't concern me from the moment I am not involved in it. So, you can say a secret for a secret"

"Guess what Kirishima-san, I don't give a fuck about your likings either", he said and both of them laughed after a few seconds of awkwardness where the older one was looking at him with narrow eyes. The two of them are afar from age, but became somehow friends since they are the only ones that go for smoke at the same time in the same room without anyone watching them.

They are, if you could say it, smoke buddies.

"Man, I wish I could be with my best friend, smoking and chatting about our days in university"

"Your best friend?"

"Oh, that's right. You don't know. Well, we became friends when we entered in the same university. We were roommates back then and they were the one who helped me when I had a huge fight with Onodera. We broke up for a year and my best friend was there to help me: cooking meals, helping me with the studies and... giving me service to other things... "

"Basically, you used them to release yourself sexually, right?"

"I'm not proud for what I've done to them because they loved me romantically and cared about me truly. That's why before we graduated our friendship smattered and became awkward. But, I can't deny the fact that they told me to man up and propose to Ritsu. Without them, I wouldn't be married...I'm just glad that we rebuilt our friendship after all... "

"They were loyal to you, even though you used them..."

"I know, but sometimes I miss their company"

"It's not hard to call or go for drinks"

"I do call but because of our jobs, we talk on birthdays or holidays. As for the drinks, they don't live in Tokyo anymore. They moved out almost 6 years ago to another town"

"Where?", Kirishima asked and by the time Takano was ready to answer, another man entered inside with sweat running on his forehead and panting slightly. Kirishima turned to see him and immediately he gave his usual calm smile.

"Katou? What's going on?"

"K-Kirishima-san, I-Isaka-san is l-looking for you. H-huh-He says it's urgent"

"I'm on my way", he said and stuffed his cigarette on the public ashtray next to him, giving a slight wave to Takano who gave him too and then exiting the smoke room. What could possibly the president of Marukawa Shoten wants from him exactly?