The next morning, it was Yuto's day off. Haruka, as usual, arrived early at work, her mind still buzzing with thoughts from the previous day.
She was running a bit late, so when she saw the elevator doors begin to close, she hurried her steps, trying to catch it before it was too late.
Just as she reached the door, she managed to slip inside, only to bump into someone standing in the corner.
"Ms. Nakamura," Haruka said, surprised to see her. It was a familiar enough sight—Haruka and Nakamura had often crossed paths in the mornings, but this time, something was different. Nakamura seemed to be holding something back, her usual warm smile replaced with a more serious expression.
"Good morning, Haruka," Nakamura greeted her, but her tone had a certain edge. "Listen, I have to ask you something."
Haruka raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"
Nakamura hesitated for a moment before she blurted out, "Okay, someone has to ask this. Are you and Yuto dating?"
The question took Haruka by surprise. Her face flushed slightly, unsure of how to respond. She had no idea where this question was coming from, but the directness of it caught her off guard.
"Yuto and I? No," Haruka said quickly, shaking her head. "We're just friends and coworkers. Why do you ask?"
Nakamura seemed to study her for a moment, the slight curve of her lips suggesting she was trying to figure something out. "I don't know... You two seem pretty close lately," she said, her voice lowering just a bit, as if she were probing for a deeper answer. "You've been spending a lot of time together. People are starting to talk."
Haruka felt a mixture of confusion and unease. She hadn't realized that their interactions at work had been noticed so closely by others. Still, she wasn't sure why Nakamura was asking her this in the first place. "We've just been working together a lot," Haruka explained, trying to keep her tone casual. "And, you know, helping each other out. It's nothing like that."
Nakamura seemed to accept her answer but gave a small, knowing smile. "Alright, just checking. People talk, you know. But if anything changes, I'm sure you'll let me know, right?"
Haruka felt her cheeks warm slightly, but she nodded, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Sure, I'll let you know."
The elevator door opened, and they both stepped out into the office floor. Haruka was relieved to change the subject as she headed to her desk.
She still couldn't quite shake the feeling that there was more to Nakamura's question than she let on, but for now, she decided to let it go.
As Haruka settled in for another busy day, she couldn't help but wonder about the rumors surrounding her and Yuto. She hadn't thought much of their interactions—just casual conversations and shared moments of support—but maybe it was more noticeable to others than she had realized.
Despite her growing curiosity, she pushed it to the back of her mind. Today was a new day, and there was work to be done.
Haruka's hand froze on the keyboard as she heard Nakamura's whisper. Her heart skipped a beat. Nakamura's words were playful, but there was something sharp in her tone that made Haruka's stomach twist uncomfortably.
Before Haruka could respond, Nakamura's voice dropped to a whisper, just low enough that only Haruka could hear, "I was rooting for you two though, but if you don't want him, I'll take him. I've been eyeing Yuto for a while."
Haruka's mind raced as she watched Nakamura walk away, her back straight, her steps confident. The words hung in the air, leaving Haruka with a sinking feeling in her chest.
It wasn't like she had any claim over Yuto, but there was something about Nakamura's tone that made Haruka feel uneasy, as if she was somehow losing something she hadn't even realized she cared about.
Shaking her head, Haruka tried to focus on the task at hand. She couldn't let Nakamura's words distract her, but deep down, she couldn't help but wonder what it all meant. Was Nakamura serious? Did Yuto even know how Nakamura felt? And where did Haruka stand in all of this?
As the day unfolded, Haruka couldn't shake the thought of Nakamura's comment. She tried to ignore it, but the uneasy feeling lingered in the back of her mind, like a storm brewing on the horizon.
Haruka couldn't help but mutter to herself as she stared at her computer screen, trying to refocus on her work. *It seems Ms. Nakamura is turning into Aoki 2.0*, she thought with a sigh. The comparison hit her harder than she expected.
Nakamura's boldness, her unapologetic pursuit of Yuto, and her sudden change in demeanor reminded Haruka all too much of Aoki's behavior when she had been after Takumi. It felt like déjà vu, and it wasn't a feeling she welcomed.
Haruka had always admired Nakamura's professionalism, her maturity, and the way she carried herself. But now, hearing that Nakamura was making moves on Yuto—someone Haruka had spent a lot of time with, someone she considered a close friend—just didn't sit right with her.
Was Nakamura really trying to steal him away? Or was she just teasing, like Aoki had done so often with Takumi? Either way, Haruka couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get complicated.
Trying to push the thoughts aside, Haruka took a deep breath and glanced over at Yuto's desk. Haruka leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she stared blankly at her screen. *I'm glad he's on his day off,* she thought with a small, bitter chuckle. *Otherwise, I'd probably be watching Nakamura make a move on him.*
The thought made her stomach churn. She hadn't expected Nakamura to be so bold, and she definitely hadn't anticipated that her co-worker would start acting like Aoki, going after someone in a way that felt almost territorial.
Haruka's mind drifted back to that morning, when Nakamura had whispered her intentions in such a nonchalant, almost teasing way. It felt unsettling, as though Nakamura was treating Yuto like some sort of prize to be won.
Haruka quickly shook the thought away. *Stop it,* she told herself. *You're overthinking this. You have no reason to feel this way.*
But even as she tried to convince herself, Haruka couldn't help but wonder. Was Nakamura serious? Was she just playing around, or was there a deeper interest in Yuto? And what about her own feelings? Haruka quickly brushed those aside.
*No, I'm not even going there,* she thought firmly. She had already made it clear that she wasn't interested in romance. At least, not right now.
Still, as she glanced over at Nakamura's desk, a slight tension lingered in the air. Haruka knew that if Yuto were here today, things might have played out differently. But for now, she had some time to think, and she didn't want to waste it on these feelings she couldn't explain.
She sighed and refocused on her tasks, but deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.
Haruka quickly adjusted her headset as her phone rang, snapping out of her thoughts. She put on her professional tone and answered the call.
"Good afternoon, this is Haruka from the Love 119 hotline. How can I assist you today?"
A soft, anxious voice came through the line. "Hi, um... I called yesterday about a guy named Yuto. I really need to talk to him again, but every time I try to call back, another agent answers. I don't want anyone else, I just want to talk to Yuto. Can you help me?"
Haruka raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by the caller's persistence. She'd had callers before who wanted specific agents, but something about this one seemed different. She kept her tone neutral, but curious.
"I understand you're looking for Yuto. Can you tell me a little more about why you want to speak to him specifically?" Haruka asked, trying to get more information.
The caller hesitated before answering, her voice tinged with frustration. "I just... I don't know. He was the only one who really understood me when I called before. And when I try to reach out again, it feels like I'm getting lost in the crowd. I don't want anyone else. I want Yuto. He listens to me, and I feel like he knows exactly what I'm going through. Can you help me get in touch with him?"
Haruka felt a sense of unease wash over her. *Yuto?* She couldn't shake the thought that something felt off about this. Her instinct told her that the caller's attachment to Yuto was deeper than just needing advice.
"I understand your frustration," Haruka said carefully. "But every agent here is trained to help you just the same. If you'd like, I can assist you with any concerns you may have right now. It's important to remember that everyone has different perspectives, and I assure you, we're all here to help."
The caller was silent for a moment, as if weighing her options. "I guess... but I still want Yuto. Can you at least try to put me through to him? I just want to hear his voice again."
Haruka sighed inwardly, but she kept her calm. "I'll pass along your request, but it's important to remember that agents may be unavailable at different times. We all work as a team here."
The caller's voice wavered slightly, but she didn't seem ready to give up. "Please. Just... try. I really need to talk to him. I don't want anyone else."
Haruka felt a pang of concern. It wasn't common for someone to be so fixated on one person, especially over a hotline. But she knew her role was to offer support, not judgment.
"I'll make a note of your request, but I can't promise anything. Is there anything else I can help you with right now?"
The caller's tone softened slightly. "No, that's all. Just... if you can, please tell Yuto I called."
Haruka felt a growing sense of discomfort as the call ended. *Why is she so desperate to talk to him?* She thought as she sat back in her chair. It was clear that the caller's attachment to Yuto was more than just a simple conversation.
She made a mental note to keep an eye on this situation, but for now, there wasn't much she could do. Haruka shook her head slightly, trying to refocus as she prepared for the next call.
As the week progressed, Haruka couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that came with each call. The number of callers specifically asking for Yuto seemed to increase every day, and today was no different.
Yuto had taken the day off to rest, but Haruka was left with the responsibility of handling all the inquiries about him. She had to keep her professional composure, but it was growing harder to ignore the odd sense of obsession that some of these callers displayed.
"Hello, thank you for calling the hotline. How can I assist you today?" Haruka greeted, trying to sound as calm and polite as always.
"Hi, I was hoping to speak with Yuto," the voice on the other end said, sounding both eager and a bit anxious. "I spoke with him yesterday, and I just need to talk to him again. Can you put me through to him?"
Haruka hesitated for a moment before responding, her voice still friendly but with a hint of concern. "I'm sorry, Yuto is actually on his day off today. I'd be happy to help with anything you need, though."
There was a long pause on the other end, and Haruka could hear the faint sound of the caller breathing. Then, in a tone that was almost pleading, the caller spoke again.
"But I need to talk to Yuto. He's the only one who understands me. Can't you just... let me speak to him?"
Haruka felt a pang of discomfort. This wasn't just a regular caller anymore—it felt like something deeper, something unhealthy. "I understand you've spoken with Yuto before, but it's important that you know we're all here to help. You're not alone, and we're all trained to offer support."
The caller's voice trembled slightly. "I don't want to talk to anyone else. Only him. Please, I need to talk to him."
Haruka bit her lip, trying to maintain her composure. "I'm really sorry, but it's not possible to connect you with Yuto today. Perhaps we can talk about what's going on in your life, and I can offer you some help?"
The caller didn't respond immediately, and Haruka could hear them sighing heavily. Finally, they spoke again, but this time, their voice had a sharp edge to it.
"If you can't put me through to Yuto, then I don't want to talk to anyone at all." The line went dead.
Haruka sat there for a moment, staring at the phone. Her mind was racing. This was becoming more than just a few isolated calls.
It was clear that some of these callers were starting to develop a troubling attachment to Yuto, and it was making Haruka uneasy. How many more people would keep calling, unable to get past their obsession?
She let out a deep breath and moved on to the next call. But the cycle continued. Call after call, she was faced with the same request: "Can I speak to Yuto?" Some were more polite, but others were growing more desperate. One caller even got angry when Haruka told them Yuto wasn't available.
It wasn't long before her next break came, and she stepped away from her cubicle, rubbing her temples. It was exhausting trying to manage these kinds of calls. She needed to speak to Yuto about this, to get his take on what was happening.
She knew he wasn't doing anything to encourage this behavior, but it was becoming clear that these callers were fixating on him.
As she sat in the break room, her phone buzzed again, and she glanced at the screen. It was a message from Yuto. *"Hey, Haruka. How are things going? I hope everything's okay with the calls today."*
She took a deep breath and typed back, *"Actually, no. It's been a bit overwhelming today. I've been getting calls asking for you non-stop. Some of them are really insistent. I don't know how to handle this. It's starting to feel like some of them are obsessed."*
She waited for a response, tapping her foot anxiously. Yuto's reply came moments later.
*"I had a feeling something like this might happen. It's not normal for so many people to get attached to one agent. But don't worry, I'll speak to management about this. We need to handle it before it gets worse."*
Haruka nodded to herself, relieved that Yuto was taking it seriously. *"Thanks. I just don't know what to do in the meantime. I don't want to upset anyone, but I can't keep passing these calls along when they only want you."*
*"I understand. Just take care of yourself, okay? We'll figure it out."*
Haruka sighed, feeling a little better after their exchange, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease. It was clear that things needed to change.
The next step would be speaking with their supervisor about these troubling callers, but for now, all she could do was keep answering the calls and do her best to manage them.
As the day wore on, the calls continued, each one more uncomfortable than the last. Some of the callers seemed to be genuinely struggling, while others were clearly just fixated on Yuto.
It wasn't fair to either of them. They needed to find a way to protect their team and set boundaries for callers who crossed the line.
As the end of the day neared, Haruka felt mentally drained. But she knew this was far from over. Things would have to change, and soon.
Haruka quickly wrapped up her last call, feeling a sense of relief wash over her as the clock neared the end of her shift. It had been a long day, and she was mentally exhausted from handling the increasing number of calls from obsessed and frustrated callers. She sighed as she packed her things, ready to head home and unwind.
But just as she was about to clock out, the voice of the information desk agent echoed through the office. "Excuse me, Ms. Haruka, there's a guy in the waiting area who wants to see you," they called out.
Haruka froze, slightly taken aback. She wasn't expecting anyone, and the mention of someone waiting for her piqued her curiosity. She quickly glanced at the clock, realizing her shift had ended, but it didn't seem right to leave without at least seeing who it was.
"Thanks," she said, gathering her things with a puzzled expression, then made her way toward the waiting area.
As she walked through the office, her heart skipped a beat when she saw him standing near the entrance—tall, sharp-dressed, and undeniably confident. The man was in a suit and necktie, looking out of place in the typically casual office setting. His warm, inviting smile lit up the room as his eyes locked on hers.
"Haruka!" he called out, waving his hand enthusiastically as she approached.
She blinked, confused. "Umm, do I know you?" she asked cautiously, though she couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen him before.
The man chuckled lightly and took a few steps forward. "I think you do," he said. "I'm Naoki. You've been speaking to me over the hotline for the past few weeks."
Haruka's eyes widened in realization as she mentally connected the dots. Naoki, the college student who had called in for advice on his love life. She had spoken to him several times, but she hadn't expected to meet him in person. "Naoki?" she asked incredulously, her voice tinged with surprise. "What—why are you here?"
Naoki smiled sheepishly. "I know it's probably not the best timing, but I felt like I had to meet you. You've been such a big help to me over the phone, and well, I wanted to thank you in person. Plus, I had to make sure you weren't just a voice on the other end of the line," he added with a playful glint in his eyes.
Haruka, still a little taken aback, glanced around the office. She felt a strange sense of unease mixed with curiosity. "This isn't really a place for personal visits," she said carefully, unsure of what to make of this situation. "You could've just called again, you know."
Naoki raised his hands in mock surrender. "I know, I know. But I thought it would be better to do this face-to-face. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," he said, his tone softening. "I just really wanted to express my gratitude."
Haruka let out a quiet sigh, trying to process the unexpected encounter. She didn't know how to feel about it—Naoki wasn't a creepy caller, but something about this felt a little too forward. Still, she appreciated his gratitude. "I'm glad I could help," she said, offering him a polite smile. "But you really should be careful about how you approach people. It's not always appropriate to just show up like this."
Naoki nodded, looking apologetic. "I get it. I'm sorry if it was too much. I just wanted to meet you and thank you properly. You've helped me more than I can explain."
Haruka hesitated for a moment, then decided to let it go. "I appreciate the gesture, Naoki. Just, maybe next time, consider reaching out in a different way." She turned to head out of the waiting area, but before she could leave, Naoki quickly spoke again.
"Haruka, can I at least walk you to the station? It's the least I can do after all your help."
Haruka was taken aback by the offer. She wasn't sure how to feel about spending more time with him after what had just happened. But there was something about his earnestness that made her pause. After a moment, she sighed, realizing that she might as well just be polite.
"Alright," she said, "But just for a short walk. I'm not sure what's appropriate after this."
Naoki smiled, relieved. "Of course! Thank you, Haruka. I promise, I won't make it awkward."
As they walked out of the office together, Haruka couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning of something new and unpredictable.
Naoki wasn't like the other callers—he was real, standing right beside her, and she wasn't sure yet how this was all going to play out. But for now, she decided to let it go and enjoy the walk, one step at a time.
As Haruka and Naoki walked out of the building, the crisp evening air hit them, a welcome contrast to the warmth of the office. Haruka kept her pace steady, not wanting to encourage a more personal conversation, but Naoki seemed determined to keep things light.
"I've been meaning to ask," Naoki began, his hands tucked into his pockets as he walked beside her. "When we first talked, you mentioned giving up on romance after a past trauma. If you don't mind me asking, what happened? You don't have to answer, of course. I just… well, I thought maybe you'd feel comfortable talking about it now."
Haruka flinched slightly, the mention of her past always stirring an uneasy feeling in her chest. She hadn't spoken to anyone about it for a long time—not even Takumi or Yuto. But there was something about Naoki's genuine curiosity that made her hesitate before brushing it off.
"I—I don't want to talk about it," she said quietly, her gaze directed at the sidewalk. "It's... complicated. And it's been a while now. I'm just focused on moving forward."
Naoki nodded, his expression softening. "I understand. You don't have to explain anything you're not ready to. But, just know that if you ever do want to talk, I'm here. We all have our stories, and sometimes talking about it helps."
Haruka's steps slowed, and she glanced at him. "Thanks," she said softly. She hadn't expected him to be so considerate. In a way, it made her feel more at ease, though she still felt a little guarded.
They walked in silence for a while, the quiet rhythm of their footsteps providing a calm backdrop to their thoughts. Naoki glanced at her now and then, as though debating whether to say something, but for the most part, he kept his distance, respecting her space.
"So," Naoki said after a few minutes, breaking the silence, "What do you usually do on your days off? Do you have any hobbies or anything fun planned?"
Haruka gave a slight shrug. "I mostly relax when I can. Watch movies, read, sometimes go out with friends. It's nothing too exciting."
Naoki smiled. "That sounds nice. I could use a day like that, too. College life keeps me busy, you know? But hey, if you ever want some company for one of those movie nights or whatever, I'm always down."
Haruka shot him a sideways glance, her brow slightly furrowed in surprise. "I'm not sure about that," she replied, trying to keep her voice light. "I'm not exactly the most social person, and sometimes I need my space. But thanks for the offer."
Naoki grinned. "I get it. No pressure. I just thought I'd ask. You know, because I'm a huge movie buff myself."
Haruka smiled back, her defenses lowering just a bit more. It was nice to talk to someone who wasn't making things complicated, someone who wasn't pushing for more than she was comfortable giving.
"Maybe I'll take you up on that offer sometime," she said, her tone light and casual. "But only if you promise to pick a good movie."
"Deal," Naoki agreed eagerly. "I have a ton of great recommendations. But I'll let you pick the first one."
They reached the train station a few minutes later. Haruka stopped at the entrance, glancing at Naoki. "Well, this is my stop," she said, feeling a bit awkward now that their conversation was winding down. "Thanks for the walk, Naoki."
Naoki grinned, his eyes twinkling with an enthusiasm she couldn't quite shake. "Anytime, Haruka. I'll see you around, alright?"
She nodded, feeling a slight twinge in her chest. There was something about the way he said it—something sincere, almost hopeful—that made her pause for a moment longer than she intended.
"Yeah, see you around," she replied, giving him a small wave as she turned and walked toward the platform.
As she boarded the train, Haruka settled into an empty seat and leaned back, her mind still swirling with the events of the day. Meeting Naoki had been unexpected, and while she wasn't entirely sure what to make of it, she couldn't deny the small sense of curiosity that had sparked in her.
He was different from the others—genuine, maybe even a little too forward at times—but there was something about him that made her want to believe that maybe, just maybe, there could be something more.
Haruka closed her eyes and took a deep breath, allowing herself a moment of quiet reflection. She had spent so much time building walls around herself, keeping everyone at arm's length.
But for some reason, Naoki was starting to chip away at those walls, piece by piece. It was too soon to tell, but maybe it wouldn't hurt to see where this new connection could go.
For the first time in a long while, Haruka felt a flicker of hope.
•~• End of 07 •~•