Work Text:
"...Are you sure that it is absolutely possible?" Purple long hair fluttered as the woman leaned forward at the laptop screen in front of her. She held the hands of a white haired lady tightly. "How long would the recovery period be?"
"I would estimate around six or so months. A year, if needed." The doctor's translator responded as the purple haired and white haired women looked at each other.
"...Finally!" The white haired lady exclaimed in joy. The two women nodded as the people on the video call gave them a bright smile.
"We will send over the contracts. Please have a safe trip over." The doctor who spoke Japanese waved goodbye as another doctor who spoke in English said their wishes as well.
"It's all the way in the United States, but finally...!" The white haired female turned to her partner and gave her a full kiss on the lips. "I'm so happy... I love you."
"I love you, too, Saiguu. If everything goes well, maybe... I can meet her again too..."
"I hope so too."
~~
"So I am now appointing you CEO while I'm away, Miko." Saiguu patted a pink haired woman's shoulder and continuously, wildly patted it until it looked like it hurt. "We've finally found what we've been searching."
Yae Miko, the pink haired woman in a white bathrobe stretched her shoulders while she made face at her cousin technically her aunt who didn't want to be called an aunt. "I'm glad you've finally found a doctor. How long will you be gone? Also, can't this really wait until I've put on clothes?"
Saiguu grinned at her. "Nope. I need to leave soon to pick up the wifey, we need to grab some stuff and make other arrangements too. Here's the key to the penthouse."
Miko looked at the key and sighed once again. "Do I really have to move into the penthouse? I have a perfectly functional home here."
"It'll make going to work easier. Besides, I've got another favor to ask." Saiguu took out a folder from her backpack and handed it to her. "It's about her."
Miko placed the penthouse key into the pocket of her bathrobe and took the folder. "What is it?"
"I want you to keep an eye at her. Keep her safe." Saiguu looked Miko in the eyes. She knew immediately that she was being serious, and that she may not know well the circumstances surrounding the odd favor. "You have to make sure she's still there when we get back."
Miko opened the folder as her eyes widened. "Wait, she's... Isn't she your?"
"They're twins."
Hakushin Tech aims to be the next leading company in terms of app development as well as game development. They've invented and sold many copies of the world-widely used application now for game development as well as for small robotics machines that help with daily menial tasks.
This company majorly works in IT and coding, and most often than not the company's 12-floor building has the CEO's penthouse at the very top, and the rest of the floor holds different divisions and projects of the company. The IT team resided in the 8th floor, which was also where the CEO mostly worked. It's the most silent floor of the company, with only the sounds of machines whirring and keys clacking could be heard.
"I heard there's going to be a new employee today." One of the men stopped clacking away on their keyboard as they started gossiping.
"Bro, it isn't just a 'new' new employee. It's a new company CEO I heard!" Another guy chipped in.
"Heard my foot, man. Your GF's in HR!" Another guy.
The purple haired woman typing at hyper speed also stopped her hands. "Saiguu's stepping down?" Curious of the gossip, she slowly continued her typing while
she kept her ears open for more.
"I heard Saiguu-san's cousin is taking over!"
"Wanna bet? It's probably her lover!"
The purple haired woman sighed before she continued on with her work closing her ears for more unneeded gossip until a hand landed on her shoulders.
She immediately picked on the hand's finger and twisted it around before looking at its owner.
"Ow, ow, ow. I'm sorry, Ei-san. It's me, Thoma!" The poor blonde man in bandana who always had a penchant for red outfits writhed in pain.
"I'm sorry... Were you calling me?" Ei promptly let go of his finger.
"I was trying to get your attention but you weren't responding. Whew. My poor finger." Thoma stretched his arms in front of him. "Anyway. There's a welcome party for the new CEO on the 10th floor's bar and restaurant tonight. Saiguu-san to invite you."
"...Is not going not an option?" Ei turned back to her screen while she listened.
"Saiguu-san said to make sure that I mention her name to you and you'll know what it meant." Thoma smiled wryly as Ei looked at him expressionless.
"Okay."
"Alright~ See you then." Thoma bid her goodbye and she resumed working with another sigh.
Ei hated the office parties. Although she owed it to all to Saiguu, the work she is doing gave her enough time for her interests, and to live comfortably in a home without having to worry about money. However, that one thing Saiguu told her that she should always comply with was that if there was an office party she must attend.
She used to have her own office at the building too, being the head IT Programmer and Developer in the company. Due to her sometimes skipping meals and never leaving the office if there were needed work to be done, Saiguu made it so that she worked together with the other programmers, so the Security Guards will always shoo her away from the building before midnight. Still... it wasn't like she hated people, but she wasn't good at dealing with them, which was why she hated the office parties.
One thing Ei worried about is the fact that Saiguu is stepping down. She worked her own way because Saiguu was there. "What if I don't get along with the new CEO?" She finished braiding her hair and tied it together with a purple band she's had since she was younger. It was a keepsake from her sister.
Ei wore a long skirt together with a white blouse. She liked to dress in simple and easy to move clothing. Although normally she'd go to work in just a blouse and jeans, Saiguu would scold her if she didn't 'dress-up a little' for her peers.
She entered the bar and restaurant in the 10th floor of their office building. It was already dimly lit and most of the people were already there.
"Ei-san! Over here." A cream haired female fetched her from the elevators. "I'll help you try and turn down drinks tonight, okay?"
"Sangonomiya-san. Thank you, I hope..." Ei nodded at her and sat next to her in one of the tables.
Sangonomiya Kokomi is the head marketing director of the company. Saiguu always loved her marketing tactics, and like Ei, she was also one of the founding employees of the company. One of Ei's friends, if she were to be considered one.
The lights dimmed and the music start, then the lights started to brighten as Saiguu entered the center of the bar.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Thanks for sparing your time today!" Saiguu welcomed everyone as she usually did. "Tonight, I'd like to give a welcome party to HakushinTech's new CEO: Yae Miko!"
A striking woman in a fashionable black suit entered. She had deep purple eyes and bright pink hair. She had an air of authority and playfulness around her. Upon standing under the light, Saiguu immediately wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"This woman here is my cousin, Miko. She was supposed to take over the company slowly, but due to circumstances, she'd be taking over now." Everyone clapped as Yae Miko nodded and smiled at everyone.
"She's actually my aunt." The moment those words came out of her mouth an elbow immediately made its way to her rib. "Ouch."
"I am way too young to be an aunt, Miko-chan." Saiguu locked her head with her arms.
"I would say 32 is a good age to be an aunt, Auntie Saiguu." Miko tried her best to pry away those arms around her head.
"And 28 is too cheeky for you, you little fox!" Saiguu tightened her hold onto her neck as everyone laughed and clapped at the two very similar owners of their company.
Miko went around as she greeted these new people she'd be working with from hereon. Greeting the heads of their divisions, introducing herself, making small talk, but all at the same time, she had her eyes on one person. The purple haired head of the IT division.
Raiden Ei, or more known as in the company as Narukami Ei. She mostly publishes her source free programs under the name Narukami Ohgosho, which was also how she said she wanted to be known in the company despite her name being something else. Saiguu told her that some of their lesser than human male employees had the tendency to give her drinks during office parties to get her drunk and maybe score. Her first task as CEO: look out for Ei, and don't let anyone else take her home.
True enough, while she did her rounds in the company, there were a lot of random men who kept on sending alcoholic drinks over their table. Her friends who sat around her kept on trying to reject them from her, but the men were all to enthusiastic and the woman found herself unable to reject their offers. "You rarely come to these gatherings. We just went to get to know you." Such predatory words.
Miko tried to come and greet their table earlier, but the company's investors and other board of directors were all interested in getting in her 'good graces' than letter her care for her people.
Time passed, and she was barely able to greet half of her company. "...I'll just make it up to them tomorrow." She silently eyed the surroundings. It has mostly calmed down with lesser people, mostly those who were waiting to sober up before going home. With less people around, it was also easier to find the purple haired woman she was supposed to be keeping an eye on.
"Excuse me." Miko nodded at the investors crowded around her as she made her way towards Ei's table. She noticed the man who was insistently trying to grab her arm to help her up, but she kept on swatting it away. She knew he was growing uneasy and annoyed. "Excuse me."
"Ah... Y- Yae-san! Good evening!" The man immediately stood up from his chair and bowed at the now CEO of their company. "E- Ei-san, the CEO's here..."
Ei only shook her head that was already resting on her arms before Miko even went over. "I- I'm sorry... She isn't very good at interacting with pe--"
Miko only glared at him as she mustered her kindest smile. "Perhaps, I'll take it over here. Shouldn't you be heading home soon?"
It was evident in this man's face and reaction how frightened he was. Without another word, he bowed at her again and scuttled away.
Saiguu noticed the commotion and immediately gathered everyone's attention. "With that, thank you for coming to tonight's party! Tomorrow's a work day, so don't be late children!"
There were plenty of groans followed by laughter as the clean up crew of the bar and restaurant gathered to start and cleaning up for the night.
Saiguu went her way towards Ei and Miko. "You should take her up the penthouse." She checked her phone. "It's already 11:52. I should be going soon. Makoto's waiting."
"Okay." Miko caught the penthouse keys that Saiguu threw at her way. She looked at Ei who was still slouched over at the table. "Um... Ei...-san. Let's go get you some rest."
"Mm... I can... take the train, Saiguu..." Ei spoke in between struggles, but Miko was evidently stronger than her. "...I can't keep on... receiving your kindness."
"It's fine." Miko wrapped Ei's arm around her shoulders as she lifted her up and assisted her into the elevator. "...I wonder what kind of relationship she actually has with Saiguu?" She seemed indebted to her a lot, but Saiguu's happy and in love, and she couldn't be cheating on her lover. Maybe there was more than meets the eye. Especially the elusive lover, which she has only met once.
Surprisingly, bringing Raiden Ei into the penthouse was easy. She's mostly very compliant, and Miko often wondered if it was because she thought she was Saiguu. Miko tried to gauge how tall Ei was. She gently laid her down the spacious king-sized bed with ease. "I guess she's a few inches taller, probably."
Miko looked at the purple haired woman now in her bed. It never sit well with her, taking advantage of drunk women. Maybe Saiguu wouldn't hold it against her if she fired the man from before. She's the CEO now so she didn't have to feel guilty, right? She pulled the covers over the woman's body after she removed her shoes and made sure she was a bit comfortable.
She gave the sleeping woman in her bed a good long look. She's good looking. Really pretty. A body to die for... "I should take shower."
Ei groggily opened her eyes. Her head heavy as the bright lights from an open window entered the room. She felt the hangover knocking inside her head, but she felt oddly well rested, more than she usually does. She shifted under the pristine white sheets as she tried to gain control of her body. The soft texture of the blanket on her skin give her an immediate realization that she must be naked under it.
"Ah. You're awake." A pink-haired woman in a white bathrobe entered the room with a cup and a bottle in her hands. "Coffee? Energy drink?"
Ei blinked as she looked at her. Ah, the new CEO... She sat up from the bed, hugging the sheets up to her chest. "...Water, please."
The woman only smiled at her. "Alright." She set down the cup of coffee and the bottle of energy drink on the side table and left. She briefly returned with a glass of water and handed it to Ei. "Here you go. How do you feel?"
Ei accepted the water with a small 'thank you' and sipped some water. She held onto the glass as if it was her dear life while she pulled her knees up closer to her body. She watched Miko sit down on the chair not far from the bed in the spacious room. The two of them watched each other in a comforting silence, slowly and steadily growing more awkward by the second. Ei took this as a sign to break the silence. "Um... Did we?"
Yae considered her options, because she didn't know her at all. "...If we did?"
Ei clutched the blanket wrapped around her torso without meeting Miko's gaze. "You will have my resignation on your desk within the day."
Yae heard Saiguu's voice firmly in her head. "Look after her. Keep her safe." Admittedly the response sort of surprised her. "No, we didn't."
Ei looked up at her confused. "Could you please explain?"
"You got drunk, fell asleep. It was getting late so I brought you here. You took off your clothes while you slept, so I put it on the laundry. It should be drying." Miko gently explained the situation to her. "Does that satisfy your need for an answer?"
"Yes. Thank you." Ei responded calmly with a small smile (that a normal person would have missed) as she finished the glass of water in her hands as the silence engulfed them. Yae only looked at her, and Ei only looked at the empty glass in her hands. Their comforting silence was broken up by the beeping sound of the laundry dryer.
"I'll go get your clothes." Miko stood up from her chair and made her way towards her laundry. In a matter of moments she delivered Ei's wash dried clothes and left it on the foot of her bed. "I'll be changing in the room next door."
Ei nodded. She heard the door close behind Miko and she took that opportunity to quickly get dressed. It wasn't until after a while that she heard a knock on the door. "Please, come in."
Yae Miko entered the room dressed up in a similar suit she was wearing the night before. "Is something the matter?"
"Um... I couldn't find my hair tie. However, it wasn't too important. Please do not worry about it." Ei breathed out a small sigh. She bowed at Miko. "Thank you for your hospitality. I will be on time for work today."
"Okay. I'll see you at work." Miko nodded as Ei quickly made her way out of the penthouse. She watched Ei's retreating figure with curiosity. She took a seat on her chair as she opened her hand with the purple hair tie in it.
She looked at the hair tie. It was a purple band, it looked like it had seen plenty of years of wear and tear, and was mended time and time again, albeit clumsily, to be usable once more. What Yae Miko saw that night Ei slept, she was sure she wasn't having just an ordinary nightmare. It made her feel weird when it seemed to have stopped when she held her hand.
Miko closed her hands as she tried to rid her mind of the tears and sobs of a woman she has barely exchanged words with. Saiguu had told her to keep her safe... but somewhere in her heart she knew, that she may start doing it because she wholeheartedly wanted to do so too.
"...I wonder if she ever gets hungover." Miko smiled at the random thought.
(First Meeting (1) / END)