An alarm blared from his phone, he groaned and yawned, feeling his consciousness began to work out, he sat up on the sofa where he slept last night.
Turning off the alarm with one tap at his phone, he mumbles with his hands rubbing his face looking at the time and date.
Monday, 23rd December. 5:02 am
"...Today is the day."
The sparkle of anticipation shimmering in his eyes.
He flung himself up from the sofa, tossing the blanket away with an over-the-top pose and uncanny explosive energy.
"YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!"
He stood at the window and ripped open the curtain like a man announcing war.
"GOOD MORNING, YOU SEXY WORLD!!"
He posed with both arms raised to the horizon like a shounen protagonist about to unlock a new transformation.
"Today... is the most important day of my life!"
He turned dramatically, speaking to the invisible crowd inside his head—the journalist, the newsman, the fake cameras.
"Why, you ask? Why am I suddenly filled with excitement?"
He paused. Grinned. Wiggled his eyebrows and dancing in a weird step like a game show host stalling for a jackpot moment.
"Because today—oh today—I, Renji Tohara, age twenty-one and single since birth, will embark on...… a business trip."
Renji acted like he was waiting for someone in his empty apartment to comment—he winked to no one. "But not just any business trip."
Five fingers he shot to the air.
"Five glorious days. Christmas eve too!"
His finger curled into a point, aiming at a mental image of someone that will go along with him.
"One woman… One man… Hopefully one hotel room if... NO! it had to be one room!!"
He shakes his head wildly and threw himself into the bathroom to keep his spirit burning.
Water exploded from the shower. Steam filled the cramped space enveloped by his nonsense humming like a teenage boy in love. Renji shampooed his hair like he was in a commercial, flipping it back as if he had thirty centimeters more to work with.
"Alright, body. Totally squeaky clean!"
Then he slammed his hands on the mirror, leaning in close and examines his own face with millimeters precision.
"Alright, no unwanted, or overgrown hair that will ruin our unexpected close moments!"
Drying his body with towel, he even scrubbed his back too hard—after that, he's skating on his wooden floor and almost slipped—to his wardrobe.
"Today's clothes must be impeccable too, so I choose you! My trusty navy blue that I've just wore 2 times ever since I added you to my arsenal!"
As he adjusted his suit, he whispered to the mirror and pointed at it with a smug expression.
"You are ready my'man, whoooo!"
Flapping his suit, and twirled once, he jumped to the half-filled duffel bag he prepared last night, he stuffed his bag with the essentials, making sure he's not missing anything, he zipped his bag close, slipping on his shoes, and strutted out the door.
He turns to see the sun rising slowly from the horizon, with a bag on his shoulder, he posed cooly before saying in comically manly tone.
"Let's go."
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The morning wind brushed against the half-open window of his 'company' car.
In his eyes, the world looked extra shiny today. The sun hit the rooftops just right.
"Look at that. People looked happier. Dogs looked fluffier. Cats looked cute as always."
He couldn't help it. He started humming. Then singing.
"🎵 On the first day of Christmas, the universe gave to me … business trip with a beautiful lady~ 🎵"
Renji moved his shoulder to the dumb lyric he improvise on the spot.
"🎵 On the second day of Christmas, the universe gave to me~ a hotel booking mistake and ONE. SINGLE. BED! 🎵"
"🎵 On the final day of Christmas, the universe gave to me a goddamn romantic arc in my life! 🎵"
He continued to sing like an idiot, on an on all the way, until he slowed right at the front of KHX managerial office, six stories, minimalist exterior, tinted windows, same silver KHX logo, overall building looks professional.
And then—there she was.
"OOOOOHHHHH, this is truly beyond expectation ladies and gentlemen!"
I thought she'll show up in that same all dark attire, masculine suit!
Shira Kurosawa, standing cool and leaning to the wall unbothered behind the lobby glass door, looking like she had just walked out of a photo session.
She wore a deep forest green cable-knit sweater, neatly tucked into a pair of high-rise black wool tapered trousers. Over it, a dark gray quilted parka that clearly tailored to fit her physique, gave her silhouette of the lean athleticism even beneath those thick clothes. Her ankle-length leather Chelsea boots were polished. Her hair still sporting that same simple ponytail though—
Holy crap… women can look this different by changing outfit?
Shira didn't even wear makeup beyond a touch of foundation and her pale pink lips clearly tell she didn't do anything to it.
"Truly a cool beauty on vacation to the very core."
Renji mumbles inside the car, still gawking at her, as Shira looked and walked at his direction, she grabbed her backpack, and one long, heavy-duty carry bag with ease.
Huh? What's that she brings with her…? A tent? Wait, I missed my chance to carry her stuff… your gap-moe truly fearsome, Miss Shira…
He unlocked his seatbelt, and scramble out from the car with all-high excitement air. And when Shira just few steps away from him with her belongings, she paused, glared at him, then muttered with a cold scowl before Renji could even say as word.
"Wipe that disgusting smile off your face."
"Understood, Miss Shira…"
She walked past him, and stowed her bags in the trunk while Renji stood frozen by the open rear door.
"What are you waiting for? I'm sitting on the front today."
"…Oh…"
Renji closed the door and hurried to the driver's seat, all trace of happy smile was gone now, back to his deadpan smile— Inside, though, his mind was the comedy club equivalent of a stand-up comic bombing on a Monday night.
Let the doki-doki business trip... begin…
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"Well, well, well… Lady Shira. To what do I owe the honor of your first-ever appearance in the sacred co-pilot seat?" Renji kept his eyes on the road, weaving through the last stretch of morning traffic.
"It's just a seat." And as he expected, Shira replied without much flair.
Renji gasped with mock sadness. "Just a seat…? Oh, dear me… my fragile man heart just shattered in pieces…"
"Try duct tape." she scoffed while adjusting her legs on the seat.
"Come on… there must be a reason—"
"It's a long ride, and I don't trust a man that rely on his GPS to make the right turn."
"..." As soon as Shira said that, the GPS apps on his phone chimed right on cue 'take the Tōmei Expressway in 50 meters', then Renji could only groan with "...It's not like I've had the chance to go on a long expressway car date with a woman before."
As soon as Renji entered the first expressway, Shira asks him in the same bored tone as ever. "You had breakfast yet?"
…Oooh, what is this? Is this the considerate senpai moment??
"…Did you cook a bento for me?"
"Nevermind. Don't stop driving for the next twelve hours."
"…Bananas," he quickly admitted. "Just had a couple before I left my apartment."
"What are you? Monkey?" Shira didn't miss the chance to say it.
"…You should apologize to all people who mind their diet…" And Renji already expected that jab, only responded back to her with a sigh.
"…You seem like the instant noodles guy."
"Poor as I am, I still think of my health, you know."
"So you're saying anyone who eats cup noodles in the morning is ignorant to their health?"
"That's a stretch… I'm just saying I'm picking better option for me… but yes, I think going for cup noodles in the morning isn't exactly the smartest thing for our body, especially combined with typical coffee or something like that."
"Hmm, amusing that you think that way…"
"The cost of medicine is way worse than eating fruits after all… Anyway… what about you, Miss Shira? You had breakfast this morning?"
"Yes, one pack of instant noodle," she replied without missing a beat. "With a cup of espresso too."
…Thought you were the high-class vegan kitchenette lady…
Renji's mouth opened and then closed again. Realizing he just insulted her indirectly, he just stared ahead, only the sound of the tires rolling under filling the car interior, before he decides just to turn on the radio.
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The radio's low murmur filled the cabin, the host's voice weaving lazy sentences between crackles of static. Shira's hand rested lightly on the armrest, supporting her head.
Her eyes had been fixed out the window ever since Renji spoke to her. She hadn't spared him a glance in between either. But she wasn't admiring the snowy scenery blurring past outside. Her gaze stayed locked on the side-view mirror.
On the sedan that had been with them since the moment they left KHX's managerial office—keeping a careful distance and speed. Too careful to be coincidence.
We're being tailed, as expected…
In fact, she had noticed them ever since Renji became their driver.
A different car again… but that way of driving… it's unmistakably the same person inside…
Sometimes a sedan, sometimes a minivan, sometimes a hatchback, sometimes an SUV. Her eyes slid sideways to Renji, still driving nonchalantly with his usual bored, deadpan expression.
Renji Tohara… I'm sure this guy is just an ordinary man based on my background check… Is it related to the drugs slipped into his package…? And I still have no idea who planted that…
"Hey, Renji," she asked suddenly, her voice as casual as if she were talking about a TV cooking show. "Since that day—no police showed up again?"
"…That day…? Oh… you mean that fiasco… Nah, in fact… it's been peaceful as ever…"
"You're sure?"
"…Yeah, I am… I-is something wrong…?" He threw her a quick glance, confusion plain in his eyes.
Shira met his glance sharply for a moment, then took her eyes off him and back to the rearview mirror. The sedan still maintained a consistent distance at the horizon, cleverly using other vehicles as cover. To untrained eyes, no one would ever notice being followed.
"…Hey, come on, Miss Shira, that's scary… Is there something I should know…? Don't leave me hanging on this one…"
"Nothing really. Just making sure we don't get the same problem twice."
"…So… is it those police after all… that planted the drugs on me…?" Renji hesitated, then asked timidly.
"Huh? Why do you think that?"
"…You asked earlier if they came after me again."
"Oh." She smirked faintly. "I only wondered if they'd keep tabs on you. If they're not, then it's settled."
"…I see…" Finally, he let out a long breath of relief.
Shira added with a dry remark—
"This is the Japanese police we're talking about… You'd have an easier time winning the jumbo lottery twice in a row."
"Right… so whose is it then…? Miss Reika said it was 'someone' who used me to harass her."
"I've looked into it. No solid lead yet, though… I've got a list of people who'd have a reason."
"…Still… Planting drugs just for a prank… that's insane."
"Heh. You think so?" Her laugh was low, cold, and humorless.
A short silence followed. Renji tightened his grip on the wheel as if in realization, eyes dropping to the road. At first he mumbled, almost to himself, then cleared his throat and spoke up.
"…Miss Shira… I never had a proper chance to say it…"
"What?"
"…Thank you for bailing me out…"
Shira, who had kept her eyes locked on the rearview mirror, turned her head to him at once, catching his sheepish, awkwardly smiling side-glance at her—and she smiled back.
"Eyes on the road."
"O-oh."
"And took you three weeks to say it." Despite the sarcastic, cold phrasing, her tone carried a slight warmth.
"…Yeah… I should've said it sooner, huh… Sorry… I've… been caught up with too many things at once… I hadn't thought that… if it weren't for you… I think I'd still be behind bars right now…"
Hmm… seeing an honest man like him from time to time is refreshing… I guess that's how you see it, Rita?
Shira took her time to answer, studying the man beside her, scanning his every bit of body language and expression. Short, dark, wavy hair. Tired eyes. A dust-worn life etched into his face. An ordinary man in every sense. The smile plastered on his face couldn't be called 'good,' but to her, it was unusual in her world.
Smile… When was the last time… I saw anyone around us smile that way…?
Her thoughts sank into memory, standing beside Reika, in front of and around the powerful men in their lives. Smiles had become weapons, masks, façades—never the form of real emotion.
"…You should say that to Miss Reika. She's the one who bailed you out, not me." Shira closed her eyes in satisfaction.
"Okay… I will…"
Silence fell again, the radio filling the gaps with easy chatter, becoming a comfortable background noise.
More than an hour of driving passed, with Shira from time to time telling Renji which lane to take before the GPS could say it, making him drive smoothly and never break any traffic rules.
Hmm, persistent bastard… It seems a long drive is the correct choice to fish you out.
Then she decides—
"Renji. Pull off at Ashigara Service Area."
He glanced at the GPS on his phone, then said, "That's at the next junction, right? Isn't it too early for a stop?"
"A banana won't last you. Get a proper meal to eat, we won't be stopping for a while after this."
"…Okie dokie."