Meeting the enemy

At this point in time, Kota-san realized my emotions were running rampant, so he began to coax me.

"There is nothing to worry about, Keita-chan. We have already chosen a new editor for you. It's a new person, young and high-spirited. I heard he transferred here recently and everyone has been praising him for his professionalism."

"I don't care about his professionalism or that he is young and high-spirited!" I snapped. "In fact, I don't like high-spirited people! I don't like people, period!"

"Now, now, stop being so childish, Keita-chan. Your stories all have such beautiful people in them. How can you say you hate people, but at the same time create such amazing ones on paper?"

"What does that have to do with anything?! I can write whatever I want and still hate real-life ones." I huffed, more out of spite than anything.

I already knew that throwing a tantrum was futile. If the publishing company already decided on a replacement for Haruka-san, then there was nothing for me to do other than accept. They have already shown me enough goodwill by having the Chief editor personally call me.

And besides, whatever I might say, I would still need an editor to work with for my next book.

"Ok, ok." Kota-san said in a coaxing tone. "You write beautifully so keep up the good work. As for the rest, you can like or hate whomever you wish, but just remember not to scare the newbie too much. We want to have him for a long time in the company. I'll let you rest now." Kota-san laughed then hung up.

A few minutes later I received a message from Kota-san, telling me that my new editor's name is Kurosawa Rintarou and that he'd come for a first meeting that day during lunch time.

And so, Kurosawa-san arrived on time, a wide and sparkling smile plastered on his face.

"Hello! My name is Kurosawa Rintarou and I'll be your new editor. Please take care of me."

"That should be my line." I grumbled, closing my eyes hoping that this person would just vanish in thin air by the time I opened them again.

Unfortunately, he didn't.

The man just kept staring at me with that idiotic smile on his face, his posture straight, making his dark colored costume appear even more formal.

Nevertheless, I had to grudgingly admit that he wasn't that ugly. He had pleasant features, sword-shaped eyebrows, straight nose and full lips. In short, he was a handsome person.

Not that I cared much, but at least he wasn't unpleasant to the eye.

Since he came all the way here, all I could do was to let him inside.

"Ugh, what a headache." I sighed, rubbing my forehead. It really was an annoying situation.

"Headache?" I heard him asking. "Ah!"

He yelled a second later so loudly that made both me and my cat jump up in fright.

"If it's a headache I think I might have something that could help." He kept muttering to himself while rummaging through his briefcase.

Finally, after a long wrestle with the things inside his briefcase, Kurosawa-san pulled out and handed me a bottle of pills. When I saw it, I felt the sudden urge to take the pills and hurl them back to his face.

The reason I was even having a headache in the first place was his presence. No pill could help me with that!

What I did in the end, though, was to take the bottle and give a polite 'thank you'.

"You're welcome! I'm glad I could help." He replied simply.

Reaching up to this point, I still haven't mentioned the thing that makes me dislike this person even more.

When I took the bottle from his hand, our fingers touched for one short moment and something astonishing happened.

I couldn't hear anything!

I stared at this person's face trying to perceive something, anything about his real thoughts. His earnest gaze, that open smile, his entire expression was oozing with vitality and cheeriness, but I could hear nothing from his inner voice.

Could it be that there is a person on this earth who doesn't like to blabber to himself? Or perhaps the reason why I can't hear his thoughts is that he doesn't have anything to hide?

No, no, no! That's impossible! I have yet to meet someone like that and I don't want to believe that this person is that special. Someone who carries his heart on his sleeve or something like that, it's too shocking. If that was indeed the case, it would make him a rare kind of endangered species, one that should be taken to a special zoo and protected.

Kurosawa-san's upbeat voice swiftly pulled me out of my reverie.

"I heard from Kota-san that you used to have another editor until quite recently."

"Uhm, yes, Haruka-san."

"Ah, the one who just got married, right?" Kurosawa-san nodded. "Yes, I heard my colleagues talking about her. And today I..."

"Alright, I think that's enough chit-chat." I interrupted what seemed like a useless conversation. "We should start talking about the new manuscript."

"Ah, yes, yes of course! I apologize. I got carried away." Kurosawa-san smiled awkwardly. He scratched the back of his head, maintaining his smile but looking quite deflated.

After that first meeting, Kurosawa-san kept visiting me once or twice a week. I tried explaining to him that as an editor he didn't have to come by so often, that I would send him a message when I had the next piece completed and that should be enough. But, for some strange reason, Kurosawa-san kept on coming, especially during lunchtime.

Today as well, he arrived at 12 p.m. carrying with him two large bento boxes and a bag of cat treats.

"Masato-sensei, I noticed that you don't eat properly." Kurosawa-san said while unpacking the bentos. "The most important meal of the day is lunch, you know."

"I thought that was breakfast." I grumbled, leaning against the wall and watching him struggle with the bags. I had no inclination to help whatsoever. You brought them here, you deal with them.

"I assumed that for people like you who work late into the night the first meal would be sometime around noon, therefore, lunch would become the most important meal of the day."

"What stupid logic is that?"

"Hey! It's not stupid. Besides, having instant noodles every day is bad for your body. Now come here and eat!"

When did he get this bossy with me? We've known each other for a month at most, so isn't it too early to talk to me like we're close?

And why is my cat listening to him?! The moment it saw the bag of treats it got conquered by the lust for food. How very shameful!

But I have to admit, the food does smell quite nice and I am feeling a tad bit hungry. Since I undeniably skipped breakfast, my stomach began to grumble and make weird noises.

I guess I'm also being won over with food, bit by bit.