Let is go: Chapter (2/?)
Let it go: Chapter 2
Pairing: Matsumiya
Thanks to satsumatsu for looking it over and catching some things for me!
Two years ago, give or take a month or so:
A series of events from Jun's perspective
It was dark outside, but Jun could still hear the noise from inside the ryokan. Sho had wanted a relaxing place for the work retreat, but an onsen ryokan was not exactly the place that Jun wanted to be with all the members of their company. It was a small company, relatively, and not everyone had been able to come on the retreat, but the team building exercises that they were doing right not were not up Jun’s alley, and escaping into the night was something that seemed much more appealing. It was not appropriate, however, for him to be sneaking away. The VP of advertising and marketing (and co-president of the company but most people seemed to forget that small nugget of information about Jun as it was Sho who was the public figure head for them) should be spending time inside with the employees of SM Enterprises. Sho had initially wanted to call it S&M Enterprises, but a quick glare and smack on the head had Sho thinking why that would be a very very bad idea, and then sputtering in embarrassment, offering his apologies to Jun for trying to doom their company before it was even off the founded.
Jun pulled his shoes on and shut the door behind him, enjoying the chill of the autumn air on his skin. He was in a short-sleeved dress shirt and slacks, and should have a blazer or something on to prevent himself from getting sick but he did not care right now. For now, he just needed to get out. He loved his company, he loved what they did, but these team building exercises (bingo? Trivia? Trust exercises where you close your eyes and fall back and hope that someone will catch you?) were not something that Jun enjoyed. He had done this kind of thing with Sho before and Sho failed to catch him. Despite looking muscular, Sho was not really all that able to support the dead falling weight of Jun; and the broken tailbone had taken a long time to heal.
Moving along the small path and towards the gardens Jun was surprised to see that someone else was there. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness Jun realized that it was one of their employees. He had noticed the man earlier, thin lips poised in what could only be a smirk, arguing with Nagase. Jun had taken notice in that part not only because arguing with Nagase was not something that was often done, but because there was just something about the man. Maybe it was the smirk or his slight frame or the way that he sported a scarf over a Super Mario shirt and jeans - not that Jun had been paying lots of attention to the other man. He had just caught his eye.
“Shouldn’t you be inside with everyone else?” Jun asked, his voice soft in the darkness. He stood at the entrance to a open area, where the trees spread out, revealing a bench and small garden. In the garden a bench, occupied by the man that Jun was currently observing. The other man did not look up from what he was doing for a moment, his fingers moving rapidly over his - was that a gaming console?, Jun wondered, watching him.
“Maybe. Then again, I told Naga-nii-san that I would come to this thing, since it would make him happy but I never promised him that I would participate.” The man glanced up briefly before going back to him game.
“Naga-nii-san?“ Jun repeated. “Nagase lets you call him Naga-nii-san?”
The man shrugged and didn’t answer.
“Then why come to this retreat at all?” Jun asked, moving closer, watching the other man. As he got closer he could hear soft music of what he was sure was an RPG, but he could not tell which one it was.
“I think he was hoping that it would help me to be more social and make friends.” Nino paused. “That, and I think that in order to prevent being teamed up with some of the other teams in these-“ a hand waved towards the building, “games, that he needed his entire team to be present at the retreat.”
Jun nodded. He actually remembered making that suggestion to Sho when they were planning this. He just did not realize that there was someone that Nagase did not get along with. He would have to talk with him about that later.
“But there is free food and that makes most things bearable. Besides, I am avoiding someone and it is easier to do it out here than in there.”
Jun hmmed, walking around to stand behind the smaller man, looking down and smiling.
“Ah, Dragon Quest. I wondered what you were playing.” Jun leaned down slightly, trying to figure out at which level in the game the other was. At the statement he shifted, looking at Jun with interest.
“So you have played?” He asked and for the first time Jun could hear excitement in his voice.
“It has been a while, but yes, I have played. I have been doing more Zelda these days and Final Fantasy but I don’t really have time.” Jun shrugged, looking down at the man who had not yet looked away.
Jun would not dwell on the fact that he had very nice eyes, alight with something that intrigued Jun.
“Who are you avoiding, oh nameless one.” Jun asked, smiling at the surprise crossing his features before the man smirked back at him.
“Ninomiya Kazunari.” He paused, before speaking again. “I am not sure I should tell you who I am avoiding. You have a lot of power in the company, Mr. Vice President of all the departments that I am not connected with.” Jun could not help but smile at the snark in the tone, the smirk on his lips as he spoke the words and Jun nodded thoughtfully.
“I can see why you might hesitate, but I won’t do anything about it. I cannot make you go back inside. And even if I wanted you to, this isn’t the kind of retreat. And how can I demand something of you that I am currently unwilling to do myself.” Jun leaned onto the back of the bench, his head turned so he could look at Ninomiya from a more comfortable angle. Hovering behind the bench, holding a conversation was a little awkward. Sitting down someplace he was not welcome would be rude.
The man nodded, then sighed. “I gave Karina-san a compliment the other day on some of the programming that she had done. It was quite helpful to my project. And since then I have been the object of her attention in the office. These trust building exercises, in her mind, are the perfect way to show that we are compatible.” Nino scoffed, shaking his head. “She is very much not my type.”
Jun nodded with a soft laugh. “I think that everyone in the office has been a target of Karina-san. But she is good at her job and has yet to cross the line to something that would merit dismissing her.”
Nino nodded. “Which is why I am out here. She takes hints very well and I think this will be the end of that.” Nino looked to Jun and when he spoke, Jun was uncertain if there was a bit of hesitation there.
“Have a seat, Matsumoto-san. It seems that you will be out here a while and the least I can do is to be gracious enough to share this bench.”
“If you are certain that it won’t bother you, then I will be happy to take a seat.” Jun walked around the bench and settled down, enjoying the peace of nature, the noises of the night and the slight rustling of the breeze in the trees. “Thank you, Ninomiya-san.”
“Nino is fine.” He waved a hand with a smile, looking at Jun. There was a certain mischief on his face. “If you would like, I can give you all the gossip that you and Sakurai-san miss out on when you are holed up in your offices, working on those presentations. There is a wealth of drama that you are missing out on.”
Jun hesitated. He was not really all that interested in the office gossip, at least he should not be as a VP, but he really was interested in the office gossip.
“There is even a betting pool going on.” Nino’s voice was light and Jun looked at him curiously.
“Betting? At work?”
Nino nodded. “It seems the popular opinion is that the women in the office all want you, or Sakurai, for reasons that I am sure are obvious.” Nino started and Jun interrupted.
“Obvious?”
“You are both successful and in high places in the company. Sakurai-san even owns it. And women would love to be involved with either of you. Who would not want an attractive and rich man.” Jun was glad that it was dark, since he was certain that he was blushing. He had never been told so lightly that he was attractive and yet this man was telling him just that, like this was a well known fact.
“Sho-kun perhaps.” Jun agreed and he could see Nino’s gaze focus on him, eyes narrowing.
“Both of you are. Trust me on this one. All of the women in the office and some of the men are angling for you. The question is who will make the first move and would anyone succeed?” Nino leaned back, closing his game. “There is a good portion of the betting pool that thinks that you and Sakurai-san will-“ Nino stopped as Jun gaped at him, sputtering, coughing and staring at him in disbelief.
“What?” He gasped when he finally could and Nino nodded with a slightly apologetic smile. “Sorry?”
“Sho and I?” Jun shook his head. It was true that once he had a crush on the older man. They had grown up together, Sho had been his tutor in school and his support when his parents separated, with his mother remarrying. Sho had helped him through college and it had been their idea to start this company together. It was hard to not like the older boy - now man - but over the years the crush mellowed into friendship and respect. Now Sho was much more a brother than a love interest.
“You and him, yes.” Nino looked at Jun with a grin that Jun could only describe as impish. “It seems that part of the office are one of the If I Cannot Have Him Then No One Can school. They hope that you are gay. That way you can be happy with whoever you chose and they will not have lost their chance.” Nino shook his head with a wry smile and laughed at the way Jun stared at him, mouth open.
“Don’t look so surprised, Matsumoto-san. I am sure that you had to deal with this kind of thing before.” Nino’s voice was light, teasing. Jun shook his head. He had never really dated. The people that Sho had tried to set him up with in college never held his interest. Jun was quite certain that it was because Sho had tried to set him up with women and that was not his preferred type.
Nino looked up at the sound footsteps moving towards them. Before Jun could make out who it was, Nino was up, off the bench and in front of Jun, leaning forward, his hands on either side of Jun on the bench.
“I was joking, Matsumoto-san. There is no betting pool. But I was serious when I said that Karina-san was not my type. But, at the risk of getting fired, I will say that sloping shoulders-san, who is approaching, could be my type. But I really prefer someone with slightly wider hips and who enjoys wearing snugly fitting pants to the office.” Nino moved back, with a wink and a wave and was gone before Jun could really process what he was saying.
Blinking, he looked to see who was approaching and could observe Nino stopping and speaking to the person for a moment. Jun blinked again, noting that it was Sho whom Nino was speaking to. He laughed to himself as he recalled the sloping shoulders-san comment. Sho really did have sloping shoulders. As Sho walked up, Jun nodded at him, watching Nino going back to the building, his gaze not wavering until Nino was inside. It was then that Sho spoke, seeing Jun’s attention turn to him.
“Ninomiya doesn’t talk to many people, Jun. How did you manage to have an entire conversation with him out here?” Sho asked as he settled down onto the bench, noticing the way that Jun stared after Nino: Eyes narrowed, obviously thinking about something that Sho failed to read just from his expression.
“He seemed perfectly sociable to me.” Jun’s voice was soft and Sho sighed.
“You really should not skip out on these bonding activities. People notice that you are not there, Jun. And you do own the other half of this company. We need to set an example for everyone.”
“I did not want to fall on my ass again.” Jun replied, looking to Sho. “You know how I feel about these things and I told you that if you included it I would not attend.” Jun knew that he was being petulant, bringing up something that had happened years ago but he needed time to think. Something Nino had said had left Jun unsettled. There was some connection that he was not making.
“That was years ago. We were in college. Are you going to hold that against me forever?” Jun looked to Sho, his eyes narrowed in a glare.
“You broke my tailbone when it happened, Sho. I had to sit on a pillow for months and was nicknamed Princess Jun because of it. What do you think?” There was a chill in Jun’s voice but Sho was not worried. Jun would not explode at him for something trivial like that. However Sho had forgotten that Jun had been teased and tormented relentlessly because of his mistake.
“You are right.” Sho sighed. “Come on, lets go. It is time for dinner and then the open bar. You know how much fun the employees get during open bar time.” Sho sighed. “Sometimes I think it is the only reason that anyone actually comes to these things.”
“The fact that it is a free vacation helps as well.” Jun’s voice was light as he stood up, offering Sho a hand up. “I know if I did not have to be here then I would not be.”
“Not even if it meant never having that conversation with Ninomiya?” Sho asked lightly, he standing close to Jun, watching the younger’s face. “I have not seen you that interested in anyone, Jun. Your expression when he walked away was something else. I am surprised he could not feel your stare burning into him.” He paused. “Inter office romance is complicated, Jun.” Sho cautioned in a soft voice and Jun’s gaze snapped to Sho, his eyes narrowed.
“He is not my type.” Jun hissed and even as he said those words Jun knew that this was not true. He did not know if Nino was not his type. The programmer very well could be, for all that he knew and from the conversation that they shared, Jun would not mind talking to the man again.
“If you insist.” Sho studied Jun, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I will support you, whatever you do, you know that, right?”
Jun nodded and stepped away, his brows furrowed in thought.
Sloping shoulders was Sho. But Nino had said that Sho could be his type, but he preferred….
Had Ninomiya invented the entire betting pool conversation just to flirt with him?
It was a ludicrous thought. Who would go through so much effort just to tell someone that they might be your type.
But he had insisted that Jun AND Sho were attractive, so perhaps it was true.
Jun shook his head, clearing it of thoughts of Nino and back to the matter at hand. Dinner and drinks. For some reason he needed one. Now.
Pairing: Matsumiya
Thanks to satsumatsu for looking it over and catching some things for me!
Two years ago, give or take a month or so:
A series of events from Jun's perspective
It was dark outside, but Jun could still hear the noise from inside the ryokan. Sho had wanted a relaxing place for the work retreat, but an onsen ryokan was not exactly the place that Jun wanted to be with all the members of their company. It was a small company, relatively, and not everyone had been able to come on the retreat, but the team building exercises that they were doing right not were not up Jun’s alley, and escaping into the night was something that seemed much more appealing. It was not appropriate, however, for him to be sneaking away. The VP of advertising and marketing (and co-president of the company but most people seemed to forget that small nugget of information about Jun as it was Sho who was the public figure head for them) should be spending time inside with the employees of SM Enterprises. Sho had initially wanted to call it S&M Enterprises, but a quick glare and smack on the head had Sho thinking why that would be a very very bad idea, and then sputtering in embarrassment, offering his apologies to Jun for trying to doom their company before it was even off the founded.
Jun pulled his shoes on and shut the door behind him, enjoying the chill of the autumn air on his skin. He was in a short-sleeved dress shirt and slacks, and should have a blazer or something on to prevent himself from getting sick but he did not care right now. For now, he just needed to get out. He loved his company, he loved what they did, but these team building exercises (bingo? Trivia? Trust exercises where you close your eyes and fall back and hope that someone will catch you?) were not something that Jun enjoyed. He had done this kind of thing with Sho before and Sho failed to catch him. Despite looking muscular, Sho was not really all that able to support the dead falling weight of Jun; and the broken tailbone had taken a long time to heal.
Moving along the small path and towards the gardens Jun was surprised to see that someone else was there. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness Jun realized that it was one of their employees. He had noticed the man earlier, thin lips poised in what could only be a smirk, arguing with Nagase. Jun had taken notice in that part not only because arguing with Nagase was not something that was often done, but because there was just something about the man. Maybe it was the smirk or his slight frame or the way that he sported a scarf over a Super Mario shirt and jeans - not that Jun had been paying lots of attention to the other man. He had just caught his eye.
“Shouldn’t you be inside with everyone else?” Jun asked, his voice soft in the darkness. He stood at the entrance to a open area, where the trees spread out, revealing a bench and small garden. In the garden a bench, occupied by the man that Jun was currently observing. The other man did not look up from what he was doing for a moment, his fingers moving rapidly over his - was that a gaming console?, Jun wondered, watching him.
“Maybe. Then again, I told Naga-nii-san that I would come to this thing, since it would make him happy but I never promised him that I would participate.” The man glanced up briefly before going back to him game.
“Naga-nii-san?“ Jun repeated. “Nagase lets you call him Naga-nii-san?”
The man shrugged and didn’t answer.
“Then why come to this retreat at all?” Jun asked, moving closer, watching the other man. As he got closer he could hear soft music of what he was sure was an RPG, but he could not tell which one it was.
“I think he was hoping that it would help me to be more social and make friends.” Nino paused. “That, and I think that in order to prevent being teamed up with some of the other teams in these-“ a hand waved towards the building, “games, that he needed his entire team to be present at the retreat.”
Jun nodded. He actually remembered making that suggestion to Sho when they were planning this. He just did not realize that there was someone that Nagase did not get along with. He would have to talk with him about that later.
“But there is free food and that makes most things bearable. Besides, I am avoiding someone and it is easier to do it out here than in there.”
Jun hmmed, walking around to stand behind the smaller man, looking down and smiling.
“Ah, Dragon Quest. I wondered what you were playing.” Jun leaned down slightly, trying to figure out at which level in the game the other was. At the statement he shifted, looking at Jun with interest.
“So you have played?” He asked and for the first time Jun could hear excitement in his voice.
“It has been a while, but yes, I have played. I have been doing more Zelda these days and Final Fantasy but I don’t really have time.” Jun shrugged, looking down at the man who had not yet looked away.
Jun would not dwell on the fact that he had very nice eyes, alight with something that intrigued Jun.
“Who are you avoiding, oh nameless one.” Jun asked, smiling at the surprise crossing his features before the man smirked back at him.
“Ninomiya Kazunari.” He paused, before speaking again. “I am not sure I should tell you who I am avoiding. You have a lot of power in the company, Mr. Vice President of all the departments that I am not connected with.” Jun could not help but smile at the snark in the tone, the smirk on his lips as he spoke the words and Jun nodded thoughtfully.
“I can see why you might hesitate, but I won’t do anything about it. I cannot make you go back inside. And even if I wanted you to, this isn’t the kind of retreat. And how can I demand something of you that I am currently unwilling to do myself.” Jun leaned onto the back of the bench, his head turned so he could look at Ninomiya from a more comfortable angle. Hovering behind the bench, holding a conversation was a little awkward. Sitting down someplace he was not welcome would be rude.
The man nodded, then sighed. “I gave Karina-san a compliment the other day on some of the programming that she had done. It was quite helpful to my project. And since then I have been the object of her attention in the office. These trust building exercises, in her mind, are the perfect way to show that we are compatible.” Nino scoffed, shaking his head. “She is very much not my type.”
Jun nodded with a soft laugh. “I think that everyone in the office has been a target of Karina-san. But she is good at her job and has yet to cross the line to something that would merit dismissing her.”
Nino nodded. “Which is why I am out here. She takes hints very well and I think this will be the end of that.” Nino looked to Jun and when he spoke, Jun was uncertain if there was a bit of hesitation there.
“Have a seat, Matsumoto-san. It seems that you will be out here a while and the least I can do is to be gracious enough to share this bench.”
“If you are certain that it won’t bother you, then I will be happy to take a seat.” Jun walked around the bench and settled down, enjoying the peace of nature, the noises of the night and the slight rustling of the breeze in the trees. “Thank you, Ninomiya-san.”
“Nino is fine.” He waved a hand with a smile, looking at Jun. There was a certain mischief on his face. “If you would like, I can give you all the gossip that you and Sakurai-san miss out on when you are holed up in your offices, working on those presentations. There is a wealth of drama that you are missing out on.”
Jun hesitated. He was not really all that interested in the office gossip, at least he should not be as a VP, but he really was interested in the office gossip.
“There is even a betting pool going on.” Nino’s voice was light and Jun looked at him curiously.
“Betting? At work?”
Nino nodded. “It seems the popular opinion is that the women in the office all want you, or Sakurai, for reasons that I am sure are obvious.” Nino started and Jun interrupted.
“Obvious?”
“You are both successful and in high places in the company. Sakurai-san even owns it. And women would love to be involved with either of you. Who would not want an attractive and rich man.” Jun was glad that it was dark, since he was certain that he was blushing. He had never been told so lightly that he was attractive and yet this man was telling him just that, like this was a well known fact.
“Sho-kun perhaps.” Jun agreed and he could see Nino’s gaze focus on him, eyes narrowing.
“Both of you are. Trust me on this one. All of the women in the office and some of the men are angling for you. The question is who will make the first move and would anyone succeed?” Nino leaned back, closing his game. “There is a good portion of the betting pool that thinks that you and Sakurai-san will-“ Nino stopped as Jun gaped at him, sputtering, coughing and staring at him in disbelief.
“What?” He gasped when he finally could and Nino nodded with a slightly apologetic smile. “Sorry?”
“Sho and I?” Jun shook his head. It was true that once he had a crush on the older man. They had grown up together, Sho had been his tutor in school and his support when his parents separated, with his mother remarrying. Sho had helped him through college and it had been their idea to start this company together. It was hard to not like the older boy - now man - but over the years the crush mellowed into friendship and respect. Now Sho was much more a brother than a love interest.
“You and him, yes.” Nino looked at Jun with a grin that Jun could only describe as impish. “It seems that part of the office are one of the If I Cannot Have Him Then No One Can school. They hope that you are gay. That way you can be happy with whoever you chose and they will not have lost their chance.” Nino shook his head with a wry smile and laughed at the way Jun stared at him, mouth open.
“Don’t look so surprised, Matsumoto-san. I am sure that you had to deal with this kind of thing before.” Nino’s voice was light, teasing. Jun shook his head. He had never really dated. The people that Sho had tried to set him up with in college never held his interest. Jun was quite certain that it was because Sho had tried to set him up with women and that was not his preferred type.
Nino looked up at the sound footsteps moving towards them. Before Jun could make out who it was, Nino was up, off the bench and in front of Jun, leaning forward, his hands on either side of Jun on the bench.
“I was joking, Matsumoto-san. There is no betting pool. But I was serious when I said that Karina-san was not my type. But, at the risk of getting fired, I will say that sloping shoulders-san, who is approaching, could be my type. But I really prefer someone with slightly wider hips and who enjoys wearing snugly fitting pants to the office.” Nino moved back, with a wink and a wave and was gone before Jun could really process what he was saying.
Blinking, he looked to see who was approaching and could observe Nino stopping and speaking to the person for a moment. Jun blinked again, noting that it was Sho whom Nino was speaking to. He laughed to himself as he recalled the sloping shoulders-san comment. Sho really did have sloping shoulders. As Sho walked up, Jun nodded at him, watching Nino going back to the building, his gaze not wavering until Nino was inside. It was then that Sho spoke, seeing Jun’s attention turn to him.
“Ninomiya doesn’t talk to many people, Jun. How did you manage to have an entire conversation with him out here?” Sho asked as he settled down onto the bench, noticing the way that Jun stared after Nino: Eyes narrowed, obviously thinking about something that Sho failed to read just from his expression.
“He seemed perfectly sociable to me.” Jun’s voice was soft and Sho sighed.
“You really should not skip out on these bonding activities. People notice that you are not there, Jun. And you do own the other half of this company. We need to set an example for everyone.”
“I did not want to fall on my ass again.” Jun replied, looking to Sho. “You know how I feel about these things and I told you that if you included it I would not attend.” Jun knew that he was being petulant, bringing up something that had happened years ago but he needed time to think. Something Nino had said had left Jun unsettled. There was some connection that he was not making.
“That was years ago. We were in college. Are you going to hold that against me forever?” Jun looked to Sho, his eyes narrowed in a glare.
“You broke my tailbone when it happened, Sho. I had to sit on a pillow for months and was nicknamed Princess Jun because of it. What do you think?” There was a chill in Jun’s voice but Sho was not worried. Jun would not explode at him for something trivial like that. However Sho had forgotten that Jun had been teased and tormented relentlessly because of his mistake.
“You are right.” Sho sighed. “Come on, lets go. It is time for dinner and then the open bar. You know how much fun the employees get during open bar time.” Sho sighed. “Sometimes I think it is the only reason that anyone actually comes to these things.”
“The fact that it is a free vacation helps as well.” Jun’s voice was light as he stood up, offering Sho a hand up. “I know if I did not have to be here then I would not be.”
“Not even if it meant never having that conversation with Ninomiya?” Sho asked lightly, he standing close to Jun, watching the younger’s face. “I have not seen you that interested in anyone, Jun. Your expression when he walked away was something else. I am surprised he could not feel your stare burning into him.” He paused. “Inter office romance is complicated, Jun.” Sho cautioned in a soft voice and Jun’s gaze snapped to Sho, his eyes narrowed.
“He is not my type.” Jun hissed and even as he said those words Jun knew that this was not true. He did not know if Nino was not his type. The programmer very well could be, for all that he knew and from the conversation that they shared, Jun would not mind talking to the man again.
“If you insist.” Sho studied Jun, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I will support you, whatever you do, you know that, right?”
Jun nodded and stepped away, his brows furrowed in thought.
Sloping shoulders was Sho. But Nino had said that Sho could be his type, but he preferred….
Had Ninomiya invented the entire betting pool conversation just to flirt with him?
It was a ludicrous thought. Who would go through so much effort just to tell someone that they might be your type.
But he had insisted that Jun AND Sho were attractive, so perhaps it was true.
Jun shook his head, clearing it of thoughts of Nino and back to the matter at hand. Dinner and drinks. For some reason he needed one. Now.