Challenge Accepted - Part 8
“Ninomiya-san, I’ve emailed you the latest design. Please check it,”
“Okay,”
Aiba watched the interaction between his best friend and the new worker with a pout. He was disappointed. Three weeks ago, Mr Honda had put both Nino and Ohno working together on a project. Aiba thought it would help them get closer. Instead, it did the opposite.
At first, he thought that Ohno would be discouraged from pursuing Nino after his best friend scolded the man on the phone. However, Ohno didn’t seem to be affected when he came to work the next day bringing curry for everyone. Yes, it was for everyone but Aiba knew he did that merely for Nino. And, he was certain the gesture pleased Nino even though the brat wouldn’t admit it.
When Mr Honda assigned Ohno to work on the project with Nino, Aiba could see that the newcomer was excited and happy to do it. Nino, on the other hand, seemed nervous. Seeing that, Aiba couldn’t help but think that Nino might be attracted to Ohno but wouldn’t let the other person in because of his personal problem. That could be the reason why he was reluctant to work with Ohno.
However, after the first meeting with the client, the two of them looked awkward together. Their communication was bare minimum and only related to the project they were working on. He couldn’t say that Nino was at fault here. It crossed his mind that perhaps Nino had once again warned Ohno to be professional with him. However, his instinct told him that something else happened between them. Whatever it was, it had made Ohno think twice about pursuing Nino. Usually, Aiba would just let it be. Ohno was not the first person who gave up trying to understand Nino. However, it seemed like Nino was hurting this time and he didn’t like that. Nino deserved to be happy.
So, should he intervene then?
Of course he should!
It was time for lunch. For the past few weeks, Nino didn’t sleep during lunch. Instead, he brought bento from home and ate it together with Aiba. Ohno, on the other hand, spent his lunch time in his friends’ cafe. He couldn’t bring himself to be alone with Nino right now. He would be tempted to ask about the man on the train and he didn’t think Nino would answer his question.
“Nino-chan,” said Aiba cheerfully. “Do you bring bento today?”
Even without seeing the man’s face, Ohno could imagine the way Nino rolled his eyes at Aiba. The two of them lived together. So, of course, Aiba would know the answer.
“Aiba-chan, what a stupid question to ask,” responded Nino. “You saw me prepare our bento this morning. I even asked you what you wanted to eat before I made it. Omurice, right? That’s what you want to eat today,”
Aiba only giggled in response.
“Ah, but I don’t feel like eating omurice right now,” said Aiba. “I miss Matsujun’s cooking!”
“An excuse to see Sho-chan?” Teased Nino. Ohno tilted his head, wondering what Nino meant by that. Was there anything between Sho and Aiba? Perhaps, a crush?
“NO!” Aiba was quick to deny. His face was red.
“Okay, whatever,” said Nino. “Just go and see your Sho-chan,”
Ohno watched the interaction with a smile. Nino always seemed at ease with Aiba. He wondered if Aiba knew about the guy on the train. Should he ask the cheerful guy or let it be? He didn’t want to invade Nino’s privacy.
“How about the extra bento?” Ohno asked the question without thinking, earning a surprise look from Nino. Since the incident in the train, he only talked with Nino about their work.
“Hmm…” Nino was unable to say anything as he looked at the bento on his table.
“Ohchan can eat it with you,” suggested Aiba. Hearing the suggestion, Nino looked at him, seeming hopeful.
“Ah…” Ohno scratched his head, cursing himself for asking about it earlier. Before this, Nino had been denying him a chance to get closer to him. So, it was weird to see the hopeful look on Nino’s face.
“I’ll eat it,” said Nino. He was once again looked guarded like what Ohno was used to.
“Eh…” said Aiba. “Isn’t it too much? You don’t eat much, Nino-chan,”
“I can eat it for dinner,” said Ohno. “I promised Sho-kun I’ll be at his cafe for lunch. That’s why I was reluctant to eat with you. But I can eat your bento for dinner… hmmm… if you don’t mind,”
“Sure,” said Nino, putting the bento on Ohno’s table. Then, he took the other bento and went to the pantry.
“You and I…” said Aiba to him once Nino was gone. “... We have to talk,”
“Okay,”
Aiba watched the interaction between his best friend and the new worker with a pout. He was disappointed. Three weeks ago, Mr Honda had put both Nino and Ohno working together on a project. Aiba thought it would help them get closer. Instead, it did the opposite.
At first, he thought that Ohno would be discouraged from pursuing Nino after his best friend scolded the man on the phone. However, Ohno didn’t seem to be affected when he came to work the next day bringing curry for everyone. Yes, it was for everyone but Aiba knew he did that merely for Nino. And, he was certain the gesture pleased Nino even though the brat wouldn’t admit it.
When Mr Honda assigned Ohno to work on the project with Nino, Aiba could see that the newcomer was excited and happy to do it. Nino, on the other hand, seemed nervous. Seeing that, Aiba couldn’t help but think that Nino might be attracted to Ohno but wouldn’t let the other person in because of his personal problem. That could be the reason why he was reluctant to work with Ohno.
However, after the first meeting with the client, the two of them looked awkward together. Their communication was bare minimum and only related to the project they were working on. He couldn’t say that Nino was at fault here. It crossed his mind that perhaps Nino had once again warned Ohno to be professional with him. However, his instinct told him that something else happened between them. Whatever it was, it had made Ohno think twice about pursuing Nino. Usually, Aiba would just let it be. Ohno was not the first person who gave up trying to understand Nino. However, it seemed like Nino was hurting this time and he didn’t like that. Nino deserved to be happy.
So, should he intervene then?
Of course he should!
It was time for lunch. For the past few weeks, Nino didn’t sleep during lunch. Instead, he brought bento from home and ate it together with Aiba. Ohno, on the other hand, spent his lunch time in his friends’ cafe. He couldn’t bring himself to be alone with Nino right now. He would be tempted to ask about the man on the train and he didn’t think Nino would answer his question.
“Nino-chan,” said Aiba cheerfully. “Do you bring bento today?”
Even without seeing the man’s face, Ohno could imagine the way Nino rolled his eyes at Aiba. The two of them lived together. So, of course, Aiba would know the answer.
“Aiba-chan, what a stupid question to ask,” responded Nino. “You saw me prepare our bento this morning. I even asked you what you wanted to eat before I made it. Omurice, right? That’s what you want to eat today,”
Aiba only giggled in response.
“Ah, but I don’t feel like eating omurice right now,” said Aiba. “I miss Matsujun’s cooking!”
“An excuse to see Sho-chan?” Teased Nino. Ohno tilted his head, wondering what Nino meant by that. Was there anything between Sho and Aiba? Perhaps, a crush?
“NO!” Aiba was quick to deny. His face was red.
“Okay, whatever,” said Nino. “Just go and see your Sho-chan,”
Ohno watched the interaction with a smile. Nino always seemed at ease with Aiba. He wondered if Aiba knew about the guy on the train. Should he ask the cheerful guy or let it be? He didn’t want to invade Nino’s privacy.
“How about the extra bento?” Ohno asked the question without thinking, earning a surprise look from Nino. Since the incident in the train, he only talked with Nino about their work.
“Hmm…” Nino was unable to say anything as he looked at the bento on his table.
“Ohchan can eat it with you,” suggested Aiba. Hearing the suggestion, Nino looked at him, seeming hopeful.
“Ah…” Ohno scratched his head, cursing himself for asking about it earlier. Before this, Nino had been denying him a chance to get closer to him. So, it was weird to see the hopeful look on Nino’s face.
“I’ll eat it,” said Nino. He was once again looked guarded like what Ohno was used to.
“Eh…” said Aiba. “Isn’t it too much? You don’t eat much, Nino-chan,”
“I can eat it for dinner,” said Ohno. “I promised Sho-kun I’ll be at his cafe for lunch. That’s why I was reluctant to eat with you. But I can eat your bento for dinner… hmmm… if you don’t mind,”
“Sure,” said Nino, putting the bento on Ohno’s table. Then, he took the other bento and went to the pantry.
“You and I…” said Aiba to him once Nino was gone. “... We have to talk,”