Work Text:
Shiori was elbow deep in her research, both literally and figuratively. She knew she was reaching a breakthrough but she wouldn't get there any quicker if she doesn't make a dent on the papers she needed to review and cross examine. Not to mention paperworks that still needed to be read and fill out and then submitted.
She likes her job, don't get her wrong, but sometimes she misses the small dose of action she got to do while she was working for BOARD and even afterwards where she was sequestered in the living room space of Kotaro coordinating and locating the whereabouts of the undead.
Now, all action she gets is one or two of her co-workers not knowing how to work their fancy new coffee maker and she has to go rescue them less they want a repeat of the mess the first time her fellow newbie almost busted the thing and started a small fire.
Shiori got up from her chair and strenched. Hunched up on a computer for hours is going to be the death of her back. Maybe she should visit Jacaranda? A nice weekened with familiar faces might break the monotony she mused as she took her phone out, planning on texting Kotaro if he'll be free from his editors on the next weekend. But before she could open up her contacts her phone chimed with an incoming call.
She nearly dropped her device when she read the caller id. The phone chimed again and Hirose stumbled over pressing the answer button before quickly placing the phone against her ear. Her heart was thumping with nervousness and anticipation. She didn't even realize she was holding her breath in fear that her breathing was too loud to hear the person on the other line till the voice spoke up.
"Moshi Moshi?" said the familiar voice with a tone of uncertainty.
"Idiot." was her first spoken words to him after months of nothing.
"Yeah, yeah that's what Tachibana-san said as well." came the shaky reply.
"Idiot, idiot, idiot." Shiori repeated and she couldn't help the laughing sob that came from her as she said those words.
"Why do I get the feeling that if we ever meet again you'll be saying those exact words while chasing me with a chair?"
"Cause that's exactly what I'll do when we meet again. And this time Kotaro won't be stopping me. In fact, I'm sure he'll join me instead with the chasing." she said and she let out a relieve sigh when she heard Kenzaki chuckle at the other end of the line.
"Ahh I guess I better watch out for flying furnitures in the near future then huh?"
Shiori froze, "Near future...? Are you— Are you back in Japan?" she asked hopefully.
"Only for a bit I guess. A month or two or so."
"Where are you?"
"I don't—"
"Where. Are. You." Shiori demanded, the other end remained silent. She had to look at her phone to check if the other man hanged up but the call was still ongoing. She bit her lip before taking in a shaky breath.
"I'll come to you then. I've got some leave days saved up. You know I'm a bit of a workaholic so consider it a favor to me as a reason for a break.
"Plus you know, I've got money collecting dust somewhere in a bank from my dad. I could put some good use for a bit of a vacationand meeting with a friend."
A few more seconds in silence hang before Kenzaki finally answered back, "I—okay."
"I'm in the middle of nowhere right now but once I get in a major city I'll text you my location." he continued.
"You better. I still need to call you an Idiot face-to-face."
"With or without the threat of chairs?"
"We'll just have to see." she replied smiling and Kenzaki just laughed. Shiori closed her eyes, savoring the voice of her friend that she hadn't heard in a very long time.
"Are you okay?" she had to ask.
"I'm not sure."
"It's okay, you don't have to aswer that."
"No— no its. It's been rough but I'm managing."
"I— hey once you arrive in a city, promise you'll text me?"
"I promise."
"Good. See you soon." there was a pause before Kenzaki answered.
"I'll see ya. Hey, Shiori..."
"Yes?"
"I'm glad to hear your voice."
"I'm glad to hear from you too. See you soon." she replied back. She didn't say goodbye. She didn't want to say it.
"See you soon." he repeated back to her before he ended the call. Shiori clutched her phone to her chest and slid to the floor.
She was glad to have heard from him. Relieved even. The weight of worry was lifted in the reassurance of seeing Kenzaki again.
After a while, where she pinch herself a couple of times to make sure that her conversation wasn't a dream, she picked herself up from the floor and went back to her table feeling motivated to work again even after the complaints she had a while ago. She needs to finish her remaining paperworks to clearup her schedules without worry. She has something to look forward to in a couple of days.