Chapter Text
Part 1
It is your first day in your new work. You're looking forward to a new start. Your past work had been so toxic leading to you having problems at work that will only stop if you also stop going to work.
But this time. What happened there won't be happening here. You're gonna start a new life. You're gonna start afresh. Away from your past.
'This will be a new start. What happen before won't happen again. I will never make the same mistake again.' You keep on repeating those lines engraving them into your heart and mind.
You need to be tough. You need to stand on your own. Don't trust anyone. Just trust yourself. Don't open up with anyone. Don't get close to them. Or else it's going to bite you back in the end.
Those are the rules you set for yourself when the job offer has been given. Considering your talent and experiences they immediately hired you without asking further as to why you're changing companies all of a sudden. "I just want to broaden my horizon more and I'm positive that this company will help me achieve my goals as we both aim for the same thing." That's what you told them.
"Excuse me (L/N) (F/N)-san?" You were brought out of your thoughts when someone called you. "Yes?" "Please come with me the manager wants to see you before you were assigned to your office."
You followed her through different hallways and roam your eyes around the office. It looks lively. The kind your past self would've liked. Everyone was smiling amd looking at you nodding their heads in welcome. You did so too for politeness sake.
You'll be seeing these faces from now on. Interacting with them from now on. But there will be limits from now on.
When you arrived in the office your new boss greeted you warmly, "I'm Sasaki Hirofumi. It's good to finally have you here (L/N) (F/N)-san." You shook his offered hand. "Likewise Sasaki-san. I'm looking forward to working with you. I'll be in your care from now on." You bowed and took your seat so that the two of you can start discussing about your workload.
"(L/N)-san your work here isn't that far from your past work so I'm pretty sure that you can adjust just fine. I'm putting you up with a team. Currently they are having--" your boss was cut off when the phone started ringing. He excused himself to answer it.
"Moshi moshi? Sasaki speaking. You cant come? Why?..... What?! But I thought he agreed already.... well that can't be helped.... Is there any back up??.... Why don't we just move..... I know that too Aoi-san but right now--ah wait wait I think I have your back up now. Just wait for me there. We're on our way."
The boss ended his call and looked at you. "(L/N)-san you have experience with the lenses right?" You nodded your head in agreement. It was in your resume after all.
"Come with me." You followed him as the two of you went out of the office. "The team I'm assigning you is currently in session right now. They have a photoshoot going on. Unfortunately your trainer, their photographer that is, can't come."
"Is that so? Can't we just move the session for tomorrow? Or is there a tight deadline?" You asked him.
"That and the artists' schedule is pack so we can't move it any other day." "That is really a big problem. When's the deadline for the magazine?" You asked him again.
"End of this month." Your eyes widen. That's only two weeks to go. "All things should be put together within this week to be sent to the printers next week. Proofreading and editing and such needs to be done. So no time for a re-take. It has to be now." Sasaki-san said again sighing heavily.
"I'm asking for a favor from you in here. Supposed to be, your not to be behind the lenses for now as per protocol but this needs to be done. I'm hoping for a great result from you." He finally said looking seriously at you.
"I'll do my best Sasaki-san." You said with determination. This is it. The start of your new life.
When both of you came inside the studio everything is chaotic. People are running here and there accompanied by shouting. Very lively indeed.
When Sasaki-san announced his arrival things seems to calm down. "Aoi-san come here. She will be your new member. She's going to be on Taro-san's place in the future. (L/N)-san?"
You didn't realize that your eyes are wondering around when Sasaki-san called you again and introduce you to someone.
"This is (L/N) (F/N)-san. It's her first day in your team."
Aoi-san looked at you with a smile. You had to do a double look to make sure that first it's not a girl in front of you, he's wearing a freakin' suit. And second is he really going to be your boss? He looks like he's suited for a model.
"Aoi Shouta desu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu." Aoi-san extended his hand and you grab it for a handshake. You can't help but think of how soft his hand is. Softer than yours and you're a girl!
"(L/N) (F/N). Yoroshiku onegaishimasu."
"Well then (L/N)-san let's see what you can contribute in this team." Aoi-san said his eyes gentle and he had such a beautiful smile. His voice is even smooth and gentle he can pass as a singer. He must be so kind.
But you reminded yourself of your boundaries. Of your lines. No time to think of those. Work comes first.
And with that your first day at your new work started.
*****time skip*****
It has been a month since the start of your new life. You're starting to get along with your co-workers. They are a great bunch but then you have to hold back. Because of your past that you are holding back yourself to them. You feel guilty they are so kind and honest to you. They don't give a damn to anything as long as it doesn't affect them. How you wish you can lose yourself to them too. But you're afraid. You don't want a repeat of last time. They tend to say that history tend to repeat itself.
There's another issue too. That is your beautiful boss. Because of your position in the team you mostly work together. The whole month it was spending the whole office hours together. The team would even tease the two of you of being attached to the hip. You just brush it off thinking that the team is just imagining things but the big blush on Aoi-san's face is something to be accounted for. Even the boss will tease the two of you that if one is missing just ask the other one. Isn't it normal that you know what your boss is doing and where he is?
All the teasing aside, Aoi-san is just too kind for his own good. It surprises you how he's the team leader but then after a week of observing him he really knows how to handle his wayward team. Sure they are troublesome. But they listen to Aoi-san. His skills and knowledge is really something. He had a great eye for aesthetics which is good when you're working in a magazine. And he's good with interacting too.
But what made you think hard and re-think your decisions is when Taro-san commented on something one afternoon.
"(L/N)-chan I'm so glad it is you that is going to replace me." Taro-san said giving me a gentle smile. He kinda reminds you of your dad. He's like the Dad of the team. "What do you mean Taro-san?"
"I mean setting aside your good eye when taking pictures, skills wise you're fit for the job. But ever since (L/N)-chan came into the office it was like the place had been more lively."
"Oh please Taro-san." You said sighing heavily. You're not fit for this though.
"I'm telling the truth. I mean you're like the bridge to us towards Aoi-kun. This is the first time that he was close to the team. That happened when (L/N)-chan came here."
You stopped dead in what you're doing. You? Being a bridge? What's that supposed to mean? Taro-san seems to notice your surprise.
"Surprising isn't it? Honestly Aoi-kun isn't that close to the team. Like he does not want to involve himself with us personally but we understand that. His past office isn't a good environment. We understand that and respect it. He is a good leader amd now he had a good team to excercise that leadership. And then... YOU CAME... you two are so alike (L/N)-chan. Maybe that's why he's comfortable with you. Thanks to you his starting to close the gap he made with the team. We are all so happy for that. We just hope that like how you thought Aoi-kun to not be afraid anymore and trust us, you can also open up to us. Stop hiding yourself. Your wall is too high (L/N)-san but then this team believe that there's no wall that is hard to climb. We just have to try harder and we wish that you too. When that happens Aoi-kun will be the happiest. Remember in this office we don't care what happened before. You're here now. It's different now."
After saying that Taro-san patted your head as you had it bowed down the whole time Taro-san is talking and then he left you. His words kept on ringing inside your head.
Is it really okay? Is it really fine?
You felt tears flowing down your face and you have no strength to even wipe it down.
That's how Aoi-san found you. He panicked and fuss over you but you can't tell him anything. You want to but the words does not want to come out.
Another look at you and he seems to realize something. You were shock when arms came around you hugging you securely. Your face was pressed in Aoi-san's shoulder and he patted your head murmuring sweet nothings.
You cried yourself harder in Aoi-san's shoulder letting it all out until nothing comes out anymore.
TBC