Koshino stood at the urinal absent-mindedly as he went along his normal routine of relieving himself before starting on work. When he was done, he went towards the sink to wash his hands clean. As he was busy brushing his hair with his fingers to get rid of the messy look brought about by him rushing about a few minutes ago, another young man came out of a cubicle and joined him at the sink. Koshino was not aware that he was being regarded speculatively when the other man spoke, "Hi, I'm Aida Hikoichi."

Koshino blinked in surprise at the shorter person, before he allowed a small smile to grace his lips, "Hi, Koshino Hiroaki."

"Yeah, you're the new guy, right?" stated Hikoichi more than a question.

"Yeah," mumbled Koshino still trying to tame the last of the wild hairs. When he was aware that he was being stared at, Koshino turned to Hikoichi and asked, "What?"

"Don't get too close to Mitsui-san."

Koshino's hands stopped as he looked at Hikoichi closely, "Why is that?"

Koshino thought he saw Hikoichi's eyes twinkle as if he has a secret to tell.
"He's a notorious womanizer!"

"So? What has it got to do with me?" Koshino asked, arching an eyebrow.

"It's rumoured that he goes after men but it has not yet been substantiated. If you don't mind my saying so, Koshino-san, you are an attractive person so you must be careful."

"Ah, souka," Koshino replied ruefully, looking back at the mirror to fix his jacket to neatly fit on his shoulders as he wondered what Hikoichi would say if he told the guy he was gay. He doubted that it would matter much to Mitsui, because the scarred-face man didn't seem to think much about him anyway, especially after what happened the first time he met the young boss.

"His wife left him because she couldn't stand his behaviour with other women. He now has another home at the Edinburgh motel where he sleeps with as many people as he likes," continued Hikoichi. If Koshino didn't know any better, he would've thought the young man lived to gather and relay information but as it was he thought Hikoichi only loved to gossip.

"No wonder," chuckled Koshino as he turned towards the door.

"What do you mean?" asked the other man, following Koshino with an interested look on his face.

"I saw him eating bull penis at the the restaurant just now. It was gross."

"Honto ni?!"



~~~~

"...Mitsui-san was eating raw bull penis!"

"...He couldn't get it up! Hahahaha!!"

"...Hey, he's got lots of women around him. Maybe that meat does work..."


~~~~

"Hey Mister Bull Penis!"

Mitsui turned around and regarded the despatch lad in puzzlement. The boy seemed to have greeted him just now with that cheeky grin plastered on his pimply face, but Mitsui's mind was blank as to what joke the boy was on about for calling him that.

As he continued his way towards his private room, Mitsui felt curious glances and stares directed his way and when he turned to look, people either pretended to have not looked or were blatantly grinning from ear to ear.

The scarred-face man felt his cheeks burn when he realised what they were thinking about.
Bull penis?! That new ramen recipe! ... KOSHINO!!

"...don't ask me how long it was. Go to the market and find out for yourself," Mitsui heard a woman giggle.

Mitsui thought he couldn't get into his room fast enough but before he disappeared into his private sanctity, he directed an annoyed look towards Koshino whose desk was at a direct view of his room.


~~~~

"...I think I'm going to try one of that..."

"Ewww..."

"It's gotta work if he can keep up all night long..."

"How do you know how he does in bed?! Hahaha!"

Koshino winced and buried himself deeper behind his file, trying to block the voices of his colleagues around him. It was clear what they were doing. They were slandering upon their boss with no regard to Mitsui's reputation, whatever chaste reputation the man still has that is. He was appalled to have been the ignitor of that gossip topic. And remembering the expression on Mitsui's face earlier on, the man didn't look all too pleased.

He was busy feeling sorry for himself and Mitsui in particular when he heard the commanding voice of said boss, "Meeting in the conference room. Now."


~~~~

"Shenzhen's Mr. Ma called saying that we didn't give him a quotation. He was impatient and went to another manufacturer. Who handled this deal?"

Everyone sat back on their seat in silence. It was clear that Mitsui was angry at having lost the deal and they kept quiet where matters were of no concern to them.

"What is this, a trial?" sighed Mimi, ever the contemptuous and haughty woman that everyone knew her to be.

"Hmm, if I remember correctly it's Mari's job," Hikoichi guessed looking at the pregnant woman for confirmation.

Mari began to fluster, "Well, umm... I went to the doctor because I had a belly-ache so I left the file to Koshino."

Mitsui turned his hard blue eyes upon the young man with middle-parted hair who just realised that he was the one who prompted Mitsui's anger.

"Gomen nasai daijoubo, Mitsui-san," Koshino stood up and bowed hurriedly as he thrust the file to his boss, "I forgot."

"See?" pointed Mari, relieved to have found a scape-goat, "He admitted it to himself."

Mitsui regarded the woman coldly, "Do you give him get your salary?"

Mari went red in the face before she glared at Koshino accusingly.

"I'm sorry, Mitsui-san," began Koshino, "It's not her fault. I really forgot. I..."

"Whatever!" growled Mitsui, "Mari, tomorrow you go to Shenzhen and take care of it or I'll hold you responsible for the losses. Meeting adjourned."

All the staff stood up and when Mari passed by Koshino, the woman said bitingly, "That's two hundred thousand US dollars, Koshino. My babies and I are doomed."

"Gomen..." Koshino sighed as he followed his colleagues out the door when Mitsui called for him to stay. As the others left him alone in the conference room with their boss, Koshino waited nervously while Mitsui closed the door from any outside disruptions. When the door was shut, Mitsui immedietly stepped towards Koshino looking so menacing that the young man backed himself against the wall.

"Do you know what privacy means?! What do you care what I eat?! And why make up stories about it as well?!"

Koshino tried to scowl but it only came out as a guilty pout, "I only told one person about it. I didn't make those stories up."

"Who did you tell it to?" Mitsui demanded.

Koshino stayed silent. When Mitsui realised that the young man was not going to name names, he sighed exasperatedly, "Are you stupid or just naive? No one will thank you for what you did. They get a kick out of other people's privacy and when you get the heat they hide."

Mitsui turned around and walked towards the chair he had just vacated and picked up his file from the desk. Without looking at Koshino, he warned him, "Don't get involved with the Shenzhen deal. Mari uses her pregnancy to get out from work. I want to teach her a lesson so don't you go around helping her."

The scarred face man was about to walk towards the door when he sensed hesitation on Koshino's part.
"Do you understand?"

Koshino looked at Mitsui in the eye and answered quietly, "Aa."