(M/N)...

Please...

Forgive me.

.....

"Dashi, you have everything with you now?"

"All I need left is a bottled water, (M/N)."

"I some quite a few in my bag. Just get some if you like. I'll say goodbye to the homeowners, first."

As (M/N) turned around and returned inside to where he stayed for the duration of the vacation, I squatted down to the (F/C) travel bag placed beside mine and took a bottle of mineral water.

If one would visit this island, there are a few options for the accommodation – and booking a hotel room is not one of them. It's either you book a cottage overnight or you can set up your own tent on the sandy beaches at no cost whatsoever. But, there's a third option – homestay. Locals would share their home to tourists for a price per night and depending on the size of the house, they could accommodate at most three people per household.

Considering (M/N) did not bring a tent with him, and the cost of renting a cottage for more than two nights was ridiculously expensive compared to the homestay option, he opted for the third choice. On the other hand, I did not expect the lack of hotels in the area, so after our small hiking on my first day, (M/N) arranged for me stay in the house in front of where he was staying – for convenience. His English was way better than mine, so I didn't really interrupt in the arrangements. But he did ask me questions here and there about my own comfort.

After (M/N) said his farewell to his hosts, with even the children of the family waving their hands to their leaving guest, (M/N) and I headed to the beach where our boat was expected to be on standby.

"We'll be arriving at Haneda sometime in the evening." (M/N) spoke out of the blue.

"I haven't yet thanked you for booking me a flight, (M/N)," I replied gratefully.

"You're lucky there are still open seats on the same flight as mine," he cooed.

"Didn't really think things through when coming here, to be honest," God, I feel embarrassed.

"It was quite obvious, frankly speaking," The giggle he gave me made me pout at him.

We continued on our lively chat until we were called to board on our transport. Then, our trip back to Japan officially came to a beginning.

.....

"You can't just apply for a leave and expect it to take effect overnight, Kei."

"Please, Kuroo-san. I need to go to see (M/N)."

"Mixing personal life with work is not the way things go in this office and you should know that by now, Kei. I suggest you wait for your day-off in a few days and settle your issue then."

"Kuroo-sa–"

"That is the end of this matter. Either push on this request and lose your job, or stand down and return to your desk. It's your option."

It's been two days since I requested for that leave, but Kuroo-san just do not understand the urgency of me meeting with (M/N). I want to make up with him but how can I if I can't leave this place?

Right now, I am trapped within the walls of the corporate entity I am working for. The complete incapability to temporarily leave and fly to where (M/N) went is clearly taking a toll on me. Mountains of paperwork here, piles of documents to check there, the files are raining down on me non-stop, and the idea of one of the clients to meet up with the Members of the Board for a conference which would need me to prepare a report for my superiors to have a counter-argument with is obviously not helping my situation.

Fuck this. I can't work well.

It was yesterday when Yaku-san asked me to prepare the paperwork for tomorrow's meeting but I just can't piece everything together. Normally, I can do this in less than 48 hours with sleep included, but it's almost six o'clock and I have barely reached 50% of the entire thing and my eyelids are threatening to shut. With my mind preoccupied with (M/N), I just seem to be in complete disarray.

With my laptop taunting me with its complete lack of words on the screen, I began scratching my head in anger. While on the other side of my cubicle, Lev was not as stressed as I was. In fact, he was rather excited.

Wait.

Excited?

If I'm correct, this hyperactive airhead has a presentation to do due two days after tomorrow and knowing how he works, he'll barely get it done on time. If that's the case, what is he so happy about?

"Are you serious, Kindaichi-san? (M/N)'s back tomorrow?"

W-What?

Come again?

"Finally! He's the only partner I've had with your company, aside from you, that completely understands how I try to do my part!" The half-Russian then started laughing boisterously.

(M-M/N)'s coming back?

"What'd you say, Kindaichi-san? His plane will be arriving at Haneda around 8? Well, I don't think he'd be able to work right ahead since he just came back from his vacation so I think I'll just contact him tomorrow."

This is it!

With my mind suddenly cleared up from the doubtful clouds that darkened it, my fingers reached for the keyboard and started making words pop up on the laptop screen. As if on a sugar rush, ideas came flooding in my mind, detail after detail, concept after concept.

I have to finish this even before 7.30. By then, I'll just have enough time to ride my way to Haneda.

Once I get there, the flight would have arrived just in time. I'll head straight to the Arrival Area and look for (M/N).

That's it.

That's why I have to finish this.

.....

Jeez. The way he types is quite obnoxious when he's in a rush...

"Hey, Haiba-san."

Oops. Kindaichi-san's still on the other line.

"Did Tsukishima-san hear you?"

In a very low, almost whisper-like, tone, I replied. "Yes, he clearly did. He's got his hands on the keyboard now like his life depends on it. It's awfully noisy, to be honest."

"Too bad Kuroo-san did not allow him to leave," Kindaichi-san was clearly sympathetic for my workmate. And so am I.

"Yeah. You should have seen how he just barged his way into Kuroo-senpai's office that day. It was intense," I still had to reply very softly so that the other cubicles wouldn't hear me.

"Well, I'll be able to hear whatever would happen from (M/N) tomorrow once he gets back here," Kindaichi-san sounded satisfied.

"I hope it all goes well for them."

"Agreed. Well, before I officially return this deal back to (M/N), how about we meet at the same place and talk about this? Say around 6.45?"

"Sure thing. I'll inform Kuroo-senpai first.

.....

It's nice to be back here at Tokyo. 

After arriving at Haneda Airport and retrieving our bags from the conveyor belt, I immediately had the urge to go to the toilet and I did, leaving (M/N) together with my luggage after excusing myself.

Pulling a sheet of napkin from the nearby dispenser, I wiped my hands dry before throwing the damp object at the waste can beside the sink and heading back to the Arrival Area lobby. The moment I got out of the men's room, (M/N) was already standing between our bags, his hand on his (F/C) phone.

"(M-M/N)? What's wrong? You look pale. You need to go the toilet as well?"

The guy in question immediately flailed his hands in front of him, his phone still held. "N-No, no, no! I'm fine," he then laughed nervously while trying to avoid my gaze.

"Really? You haven't gone to the toilet since we were at the other airport."

"I-I went at the airplane when you were comfortably sleeping," (M/N) smiled, albeit somewhat strained.

"Really? Okay, then." I didn't want to pry any deeper, so I hunched down to my travelling bag, pulled the metal handle up, and walked it a few paces away from (M/N). He followed suit and we immediately went our way out.

"You'll be immediately heading back to work tomorrow, (M/N)?"

"Huh? Ah! Yeah. I'll be back at the office tomorrow. I left Kindaichi-san to deal with my transactions and I feel bad doing it."

"In that case, did you buy something for him?"

"Y-Yes!" The guy halted on his feet as he brought his rucksack in front of him, digging into it.

After a few seconds, he fished out a blue plastic bag containing some knick-knacks.

"I also bought one for you! Here you go!"

It is a mini woodcarving of a palm tree, complete with accurate colouring, with an orange, capital "T" plastered onto the body of the tree. Most likely, it's a key chain he bought on the island.

"T-Thanks, (M/N)."

"I hope Kindaichi-san would be okay with this, though."

"It's actually nice, considering it's a souvenir and all," I raised it to eye level inspected it as it swung freely from my fingertips. "I like the T"

"Is that sarcasm?"

"N-No! It's not! Come on, (M/N)!"

Once the stink eye thrown at me dissipated, both (M/N) and I continued on our way. But before I was able to take a few more steps towards the gate, a sudden ringtone caught my attention.

It was coming from behind me. It was coming from (M/N). With one hand reaching inside his pocket, my companion answered the call and paced away from me as I remained standing in the same place. After a few minutes, (M/N) came back with the phone still on his ear.

"Dashi. Follow me. Quick!"

Eh?

.....

"Thanks for picking us up, Ukai-nii."

"Don't mention it, kid."

When (M/N) returned while still on the phone, it turned out that the person on the other line was my boss and his relative, Ukai-san. And along the way, (M/N) told me that he wanted to hit to birds with one stone – he wanted to talk to his distant family member about my absence and to have a ride home. For some reason, Ukai-san wasn't able to say no, so here we are.

"I understand the situation, (M/N), so, Yamaguchi!"

The man behind the wheel, while looking at the road ahead, called for my attention. As I looked at the rear-view mirror, it didn't seem that my boss was angry. He was looking like what he said.

"I'll help you with the HR. Just go back to the office like you would normally do tomorrow. Is that clear?"

"Y-Yes, Ukai-san!"

"You did bring snacks for the team, did you?"

"O-Of course, I did!"

If it wasn't for (M/N) reminding me back at the other airport, I would have forgotten. He doesn't need to know that.

(M/N) was sitting in the passenger seat, next to his own cousin, while I solely occupied the back of the car. It was already dark while the three of us traversed the busy road to central Tokyo. While I looked at the fading view beyond my window, the two relatives continued talking.

"That reminds me, (M/N). My grandfather called me and said that the Ukai family will be having a reunion next month."

"I have a lot of questions for that. One, what's the occasion for? Second, you do know I'm not really an Ukai, right? Although we're relatives in a way, we are one because of my aunt's marriage into your clan. I'm an immediate stranger."

"But Ojii-san personally requested to ask me to invite you. It seems that he really enjoys you, (M/N)."

"Hands off the hair, nii-san! And get back on the road!"

It didn't take long after Ukai-san returned his right hand on the steering wheel when we had to stop the car in traffic. It took a few minutes for a man in uniform to knock at the window beside the driver's seat to inform us of why the traffic came to a standstill.

"We're very sorry, but there was a car accident up ahead. Please wait for a few minutes while we try to return the flow of traffic to normal."

"Thanks, officer," Ukai-san said as the law enforcer bowed at the response and headed to the car behind us.

"Accident, eh? I'll check on it, Ukai-nii. I want to see the impact."

"You and your curiosity instincts. Fine. But as soon as the cars up ahead start to move, walk to the side of the road where I'll be fetching you. Got that?"

"Yes, Nii! How about you, Dashi?" (M/N) turned around from his seat and looked at me.

"I think I'll stay here. I'm still a bit tired from the flight."

"Oh, well. More for me."

And off he went.

.....

The (H/C)-haired male threaded carefully along the queue of cars. Passengers from other cars may have thought of the same idea as he did as they as well went out of their vehicles and formed a bee line towards the supposedly crash site.

Little did (M/N) know that what he will find is the last thing he wanted to see.

Or to be more specific.

Amidst the forming chaos on the road, he didn't expect someone whom he'd rather not see would see him.

"K-K..." 

.....

Image Link (Original): https://mobile.twitter.com/unico_ts/status/777775414819164161/photo/1