Even though NITTA was well-known in the business world, for a long time they had focused only on contract manufacturing. They were no match for the famous Garden Securities that had notoriety as a security company. Furthermore, they had paired with a major distributor and even their budget scale was on another level. 

“We will get more publicity about the entire personal security system through Garden Securities’ promotions, and we will go in the direction of that trend.” After a hurried discussion, Mukai decided on a big change of course. 

They made as many amendments as they could, set forth a precise target, and adjusted the publication time for the most profitable period. 

Hata and Mukai worked together to deal with it, and Niwa frantically supported them, doing all he could to help out. 

During that time, Chihiro could do almost nothing.  

Somehow, these several years, even though he had been responsible for the sales promotion department all on his own, looking at the situation now, he was keenly aware of how complacent he had become in the position of a client and done nothing. Insufficient study was his specialty. 

⬧⬨⬧⬨

A month had passed in the blink of an eye, and by the next month, the matter was almost settled. 

The initial sales target was not met, and the production management department was forced to make changes to their system. The salvation was that the early adjustment was successful, and the damage was kept to a minimum. 

And then, Mukai decided to resign. 

When Chihiro heard that Mukai wanted to take responsibility for not being able to raise enough profit to match the promotion cost, he felt his blood run cold. 

“It seems that the sales subcommittee felt that the external factors were too great this time and they sympathized with the situation. Most of HR also decided to let this matter pass, you know.” 

By the time Chihiro heard this from a senior in sales, it was just before their extended year-end vacation. 

He had finished his lunch quickly, and on his way back to the office, a senior that he chatted with often called out to him. This was the first time he heard about Mukai resigning. 

“You haven’t heard anything?” Even though it was Chihiro whose complexion changed, the senior was the one that was more surprised. 

He saw Mukai at work every day and yet he didn’t know anything about this. 

Day after day, they were busy and had no time to talk slowly, but even so, Chihiro thought he should have said a word or two if he was thinking about resigning. 

“Mukai-kun” 

That day, Mukai was out of the office for half the day. As soon as Chihiro noticed Mukai had returned, he instinctively called out to him.

“I heard about your resignation plans today from Nishihashi-san in sales.” 

Mukai’s eyes widened slightly. 

“I’m sorry. I was planning to talk to you about it by tomorrow.” 

“Why?” 

“I wasn’t able to get results even though I was a mid-career-hire. It’s natural that I should quit.” Mukai replied indifferently. “I apologize for the inconvenience my sudden resignation will cause. But I will make sure to settle this problem and take responsibility for it.” 

“Can we talk for a minute?” 

Mukai hesitated for a moment, but when Chihiro headed for the meeting room, he silently followed. 

“It’s my fault, isn’t it?” When it was just the two of them in the small room, Chihiro was unable to hold back and finally broke the ice. “I skipped out on inputting the analysis data and we were too late in receiving the information about Garden Securities, right?” 

It had been weighing on his mind this whole time, but he hadn’t been able to confirm it directly. Mukai was silent, but that in itself was an answer. 

Filled with self-loathing, Chihiro couldn’t take it anymore and hung his head. “Apologizing at this stage won’t change anything but,… I’m sorry.” 

“It’s not your fault, Minami-san.” 

Chihiro felt that Mukai was smiling gently. 

“It’s true that if we had noticed it much faster, we could have settled the matter without the clumsy retreat, but that included is my responsibility.” 

“Why? I’m the one at fault. If anyone should quit because of this matter, it should be me.” 

“What are you going to do if you quit, Minami-san?” 

“But…” 

Unconsciously lifting his head, he met Mukai’s gaze straight on. Leaning on the long table, Mukai loosened his tie and took a deep breath. 

“I have a number of new jobs lined up, but for you, there is no place where you can move to with better treatment than here.” 

Chihiro wasn’t able to understand the meaning of those words right away. 

“For someone like Minami-san, it would be sensible to stay and be protected by the company you joined as a new graduate.”1

The corner of Mukai’s lips lifted tightly. At his cynical smile, Chihiro realized he was being looked down on and his face burned with anger. Mukai’s eyes were full of defiance. 

“Besides, I’m still the one that should take responsibility after all. It’s ridiculous to not say what you should say just because you fell in love. It’s natural that I should accept the consequences of mixing public and private matters.” 

Fell in love… being told clearly, Chihiro was taken aback. 

Mukai laughed scornfully and gave Chihiro a look that was saying As if you didn’t already know. 

Being glared at by those intense eyes, Chihiro felt a chill on the back of his neck. 

“I’m gay, and someone like you, Minami-san, is exactly my type. From a long time ago, I’ve always been weak to yapping puppies with bad personalities.” 

“What…are you saying…” Chihiro flinched at Mukai’s harsh words. Mukai, who had always been gentle and easygoing. 

Mukai got up from the long table he was leaning on. The table’s legs made a loud bang. 

“A pushover and petty, and even though you can’t really do much work, your conceitedness is insanely cute. When I realized I fell for you, I worried about each and every little thing…and before I noticed it, I was truly in too deep.”  

As Mukai approached him, Chihiro instinctively took a step back. 

“…Well, I can’t do much work either.” The corner of Mukai’s lips twisted and he laughed. “Do you really think I’m that bad?” 

Before Chihiro could respond, Mukai grabbed his arm. Not allowing him to run away, Mukai grabbed Chihiro’s chin with his other hand. 

Just as he thought huh, he was kissed. 

Chihiro’s face was slanted sideways and Mukai pressed his lips against Chihiro’s. Just as he opened his mouth from the shock, Mukai’s tongue pressed in. Mukai’s hand that was holding his arm was full of strength, and he pulled Chihiro towards himself. 

While his thoughts were a mess, unable to make heads or tails of the situation, his tongue was forcefully sucked and drawn into Mukai’s mouth. Mukai nipped his tongue playfully and licked his lips. Shaken up by the intense kiss, Chihiro wasn’t even able to resist and let himself be kissed. 

“Nn━━” 

It became difficult to breathe, and he tried to push Mukai’s hand away. But Mukai did not budge. He grabbed the back of Chihiro’s head and sucked on his tongue even more forcefully. 

“━━s, ……Nn”

Just as it had begun, the kiss ended abruptly. With a wet sound, Mukai’s lips separated from his. A thread of saliva wet his lips. Chihiro’s heart was thumping violently. He was refusing to let his brain acknowledge what had just happened. 

“Wha━━ what…”

Mukai moved away. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to him. Chihiro shook his head and wiped his mouth with his fist. 

He had been looking at Mukai with arrogance, knowing full well that he liked him. Having seen through that, this was Mukai’s retaliation. 

He felt all his emotions boiling up in his chest. Anger, shame, and self-loathing seemed to have taken over. 

“I won’t apologize.” Mukai declared and put the handkerchief back into his pocket. He pierced Chihiro with a challenging look. 

Chihiro’s legs had become unsteady from the shock and anger of being kissed forcibly, but he somehow managed to plant his feet firmly on the ground. 

After hearing that Mukai had no intention of apologizing, Chihiro regained his composure. 

“…….I’ll apologize.” The lump that he had been harboring in his chest this whole time leaked out on its own. 

Mukai raised his eyebrows in surprise. 

“I’ll apologize to you. I willfully started a one-sided rivalry, and then willfully felt defeated…and willfully…twisted things. In the end, I became obsessive about the things Mukai pointed out and cut corners on the things I shouldn’t have.” 

The reason he had dropped the ‘kun’ and called him just Mukai, was because he was resolute in apologizing from the heart. 

This is my bad habit, Chihiro plucked up his courage and looked at Mukai without averting his eyes.

Enough about being a sore loser, as soon as he knew he wouldn’t win, he’d run away. He was always aware of that trait of his. 

This is my defeat. 

It wasn’t a matter of to whom, but he had lost completely.

He had struggled to admit it, but now that he had said it outloud, he actually felt relieved. 

Mukai watched Chihiro silently for a while, and in the end his shoulders dropped as if losing all strength. He attempted to say something but stopped and then dropped his gaze as if in deep thought. 

“It was a short time, but thank you for everything.” After a little while, Mukai muttered a few words. “Well then, goodbye.” 

Mukai fixed his suit collar and straightened his back. He grabbed the meeting room doorknob and as he was about to leave, he casually looked back at Chihiro. Chihiro reflexively braced himself. 

“Minami-san, you’re an easy target for a sadist gay man like me, so you should be careful.” 

He gave the surprised Chihiro a slight smile and left the room.