Kaito sensed the tension in the air, the way the two women's eyes widened as he interrupted them. A knot tightened in his stomach, unsure of what to say.
"Mr. Takashiro...? You're listening..." the woman stammered, her cheeks turning pink as she looked down at her hands, fidgeting with her bracelet.
"I didn't know you liked gossip too, Mr. Takashiro," the other one teased, a playful grin forming on her lips, but her eyes flickered with uncertainty.
Kaito swallowed hard, his throat feeling dry as he struggled to find words. Why did he want to meet the supernatural hunter?
"Ah... um... sorry about that. I didn't mean to eavesdrop," he stammered, a nervous laugh escaping as he added, "but I'm blind, so I rely on my hearing. Your voices are quite loud."
Both women's cheeks flushed a bright red, and one glanced around nervously. "A-Are you going to report us to Mr. Tanaka?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
He knew Mr. Tanaka's reputation for being strict, he hates laziness and chitchat. He forced a smile and shook his head. "Of course not. But I really need your help. Can you introduce me to this supernatural hunter you mentioned?"
The women shared quick glances, leaning closer in curiosity. "Why, Mr. Takashiro? Do you know anything about yokai?" she whispered, her eyes sparkling with interest.
How could he explain that yokai were real and tied to his journey through time? "I-I don't know much about yokai. But I'm interested... I guess I'm a frustrated writer hoping to write a story about them," he admitted, feeling a mix of embarrassment and honesty.
Since he was a child, he often daydreamed about becoming a writer, pouring his heart into stories he wanted to share. He craved to see people's reactions, whether good or bad. But as he grew older, the harsh truth of reality dimmed his hopes, making him believe that writing led nowhere.
He understood that writers hardly earned enough to get by, let alone support a family. Especially when starting out without any help. So, despite his love for writing, he had to set it aside to find a corporate job.
Kaito felt a flicker of gratitude for his job as a real estate agent, as it allowed him to send Mina to school. Their house remained cozy and stable, but a shadow lingered in his heart—a small sigh escaped him when he thought about his lost dream of writing.
The two women leaned forward, their eyes shining with excitement. "Wow! Oh, yeah, you look like an artist. I think you could become a famous writer someday!" the other one exclaimed. '
"I'll see if I can contact the supernatural hunter. And then I'll let you know," the woman said eagerly.
A spark of hope ignited within him. If he could speak to that man, maybe he could connect with Ryuk again and discover his next steps. Today when he got off from work, he will try again to go to the spot where he had opened Ryuk's seal—he'll try to talk to him.
"Great, thanks! By the way, what are your names again?" he asked, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
The women's expressions shifted, and they exchanged hurt glances. "Come on, Mr. Takashiro! Can't you even remember our names?" one replied, her voice tinged with disappointment as she crossed her arms.
Kaito racked his brain, but their faces remained unfamiliar. Perhaps he had glimpsed them in the past, but working on a different floor made it difficult to know them well. "I-I'm sorry, you know Mr. Tanaka always gives us so much to do," he managed to say.
"I'm Mei, Mr. Takashiro," one woman said, her voice soft yet firm. She's the girl who had been the one telling stories about yokai.
"And I'm Hana," the other one introduced herself as well, a smile breaking through her earlier disappointment, her eyes sparkling with friendliness, like a warm light.
"Mei, Hana, I promise I won't forget your names again," he uttered. "Alright, let's return to our stations. Mr. Tanaka might arrive and see us just gossiping here," he added, his tone shifting to a more serious note as he gestured for them to move.
Even without seeing, he could sense the frowns on their faces. "Oh, what's new? Mr. Tanaka is always mad at us!" Mei said with a roll of her eyes, her voice filled with playful exasperation as she leaned back in her chair.
He couldn't help but smile. In his opinion, Mr. Tanaka was a decent boss. Their age wasn't too far apart, so it was easier for him to meet the expectations of his boss. Meanwhile, Mei and Hana were Gen Z employees.
The door swung open, and Mr. Tanaka stepped back into the room. A chill of anxiety washed over Kaito. Could he really handle this job, especially while being blind?
"Mr. Takashiro, here's your task for today," Mr. Tanaka said, sliding a stack of papers onto Kaito's desk. "Review and listen to these proposals, then give me a report. If you have any suggestions or areas for improvement, that would be great. Take your time," he reminded before walking away.
His hands moved cautiously across the desk, until they brushed against something cool and flat. A laptop—already open. Panic bubbled up inside him. What would he do now?!
How would he make sense of this? Should he ask Mei and Hana for help with reading the proposal? It didn't seem necessary… but how would he accomplish this task?
As he fumbled, he accidentally pressed the mouse, and suddenly, a voice filled the room. His mouth dropped open in shock as he listened to the proposal being read aloud. This was how it would work—an artificial intelligence would narrate the document, and he could dictate his report, letting it do the writing for him!
Minutes ticked by as he searched for the button to pause and play the proposal. He hit replay over and over, his mind struggling to grasp the information that just wouldn't stick.
It discussed the upcoming project the company planned to tackle, who their target audience would be, and how much it would cost. Kaito frowned, feeling out of his depth; all he had ever done was sell properties.
A dull ache throbbed at his temples as he concentrated, and he didn't even realize it was already lunch break. Suddenly, a voice boomed in his ear. "Kaito!"
It was Mori. Kaito's brows furrowed, sensing the familiar presence. "Goodness, Mori! Why do you always have to scare me?"
Mori chuckled, a lighthearted sound that broke the tension. "You're too serious about your work. I'm hungry, let's go," he said, tugging Kaito by the arm, pulling him away from the desk.
They strolled towards the elevator, the sound of footsteps echoing around them when suddenly, something heavy thudded on his shoulder. "Kaito! I missed you, man. We've been so busy, I can barely see you," Takuya's voice rang out, making Kaito's heart skip with surprise.
The warm emotion swelled in his chest, almost bringing him to tears. It felt like a lifetime since their last chat. "I missed you too, man. Yeah, there have been so many things going on in life."
"Hmp! Why do you only miss Takuya, Kaito? How about me?" Mori joked, a playful tone in his voice that made Kaito smile.
Laughter bubbled between Takuya and Kaito, a lightness hanging in the air as they waited for the elevator. Kaito's mind drifted, questioning how he'd formed such a bond with Takuya and Mori despite being assigned to a different floor. But he hesitated to ask, worried it might sound strange.
Time flew by, and soon he sat at a table, enjoying lunch with the two. Their voices blended with laughter, sharing stories, when Kaito caught a familiar scent wafting over—Mei was approaching.
"Mr. Takashiro, I talked to my uncle," Mei leaned closer, her voice low and excited. "The supernatural hunter I mentioned? He's in the village right now! We can go see him at my hometown. Trust me, he's hard to find; he moves around a lot. You're lucky—you won't have to wait long!"
Mori's brow furrowed as he noticed Kaito chatting with the women. "Pst, Takuya, when did Kaito get close to them?" he whispered, his tone tinged with jealousy.
Takuya chuckled, shaking his head. "Kaito is really a nice guy, he talks to everyone, y'know? Why, are you feeling jealous?"
Mori's eyes grew wide in shock as he hurriedly shook his head. "What?! Of course not! I would never like a single father! I was just surprised; I didn't know they were so close!"
Takuya shrugged in response. Kaito felt a surge of hope within him. "Really? So when can I meet him and have a talk?" he asked, his heart racing.
Mei met his gaze, her voice steady and enthusiastic. "Let's visit him tomorrow! It's Thursday today, and tomorrow is a holiday, so we won't have to work. We can travel to my village. It's best to see him early; he moves around a lot!"
Kaito nodded firmly, determination fueling him. "Okay, then, tomorrow we'll go to your village before he leaves," he replied, a sense of purpose in his voice.
Mei's excitement bubbled over as she thought of seeing the supernatural hunter again. Kaito, on the other hand, felt a mix of nerves and excitement. But he needs to go to the place where he let out Ryuk's seal later. Can he see Ryuk again? Could this supernatural hunter truly help him on his mission?