Rating: PG-13
Pairing: JunBa
Genre: AU/Romance
Disclaimer: I don't own anything within this story aside from the plot. Thank you very much.
Summary: Aiba Masaki, Editor-in-Chief of CRUSH Magazine, can't stand his new boss, Matsumoto Jun, Owner of SHAKE Publications. Suddenly, the idea of looking for Mr. Right was harder than it seemed.
CRUSH
The Magazine For Your Heart
Higashiyama Noriyuki, Publisher
From the desk of: Higashiyama Noriyuki
To: Editorial Staff
Monday, August 11
It is with great sorrow that I announce the sudden passing of Nakai Masahiro, our Editor-in-Chief. Masahiro-kun was the guiding force of this publication for 25 years, and I know the entire staff will miss him.
Effective immediately, I am naming our Managing Editor, Joushima Shigeru, to succeed Masahiro-kun in this most important role. I expect the entire staff to join me in offering Shigeru-kun our complete support.
Higashiyama N., Pub
*****
From: KazunariNinomiya@crush.co.jp
To: MasakiAiba@crush.co.jp
Subj: Ctrl+Alt+Del
I guess Nakai-san ran out of extra lives against the final boss. But Joushima-riida!? Nakai-san never did get the concept of what modern dating is today, but at least we knew he was dating. Lunch at Oh-chan's? We can have cheese with our whine.
*****
From: MasakiAiba@crush.co.jp
To: KazunariNinomiya@crush.co.jp
Subj: Too swamped
Higashiyama-san must be joking! Our sales were bad with Nakai-san, but Joushima-riida is going to set new lows. we won't even know how and where to contact him, if need be. Has anyone ever gotten hold of his phone number?
Hasn't it even occurred to Higashiyama-san that a mag for young dating people should be handled by a young dating person? Forget lunch out. My mom visited yesterday. You have your own huge container of food to last 2 weeks.
*****
Aiba-shi:
Tell your mom, I love her.
Stats you asked for attached. Readers are mostly 40-65. Not target group. Not good news. Heard the update? Joushima-riida is gone. Wonder who Higashiyama-san will put in his place?
Nino
*****
From: MasakiAiba@crush.co.jp
To: KazunariNinomiya@crush.co.jp
Subj: Kaibutsu-kun?
Or maybe Shinigami-kun. But not anyone who would be right for CRUSH. You're right. Stats are NG. Singles, 18-35. That's where we should be focusing. We need more picture spreads, dating fashion, location tips, and love advice for men and women. We have too many moms, apple pies, and babies.
*****
From: 1controller7@au.co.jp
To: 3zennen@au.co.jp
Singles, 18-35? Most of those types are already married.
*****
From: 3zennen@au.co.jp
To: 1controller7@au.co.jp
It all depends on what you mean by the word "TYPE"
*****
From: 1controller7@au.co.jp
To: 3zennen@au.co.jp
Our type not included.
*****
CRUSH
The Magazine For Your Heart
Higashiyama Noriyuki, Publisher
From the desk of: Higashiyama Noriyuki
To: All Staff
Wednesday, September 17
Please join me at a buffet breakfast in the boardroom on Friday, 8:30 to 10, in honor of our new Editor-in-Chief, Sakamoto Masayuki. Masayuki-kun brings with him almost 20 years of journalistic know how.
In other updates, Payroll has asked me to assure you that the problem with last week's checks was a computer related problem and will not be happening again. Thank you for you patience.
Higashiyama N., Pub
*****
From: MasakiAiba@crush.co.jp
To: KazunariNinomiya@crush.co.jp
Subj: Hi!
Enjoying vacation. Weather is perfect. Relaxing on all sides. I tried surfing, not a good idea. Went swimming, watched movies, went dancing. An old friend has been visiting. Kimitaka. Did I ever mention him? My mom has been inviting him over for dinner every night, which makes me smile. Kimi's nice. He helps my mom clean-up and do the dishes before going home.
Saw something in Business Daily. Is it true? Has the new guy been fired already? I've only been on vacation for a week!!! What about the rumor about the Matsumoto Inc. takeover? Not true, is it? I saw him on the beach yesterday. The only thing Matsumoto Jun could do for CRUSH would be for the mag to lay him as centerfold. Not that many intelligent people would find the hunky-but-brainlessly-arrogant Matsumoto-san a turn on. He was with Oguri Shun. Now that is a guy I wouldn't mind buying CRUSH.
Give my hugs and kisses to Tomo and tell him I bought him some tuna. Also, tell Oh-chan I will buy him the lure he likes from my brother's shop.
*****
MEMO
From: Nino
To: Nino
1. Ask M about Kimi, and why he is playing dishwasher instead of romancing M.
2. Never mind. Don't ask.
3. Ask M why he used work e-mail while on vacation.
4. Remember not to ask.
5. Suggest to M that he should apply for next Ed-in-Chief. I'm too lazy for it.
6. Remember above, for sure. M as Ed-in-Chief would be amusing.
7. Tell M that Matsumoto thing is just a rumor.
8. Ask M how he figured that Matsumoto is brainless, arrogant, and hunky. (Hunky??? Really. Word constipation Masaki?)
9. Tell M he has a way with words. LAYing Matsumoto, the stud, is a great idea.
*****
From: MasakiAiba@crush.co.jp
To: KazunariNinomiya@crush.co.jp
Subj: Applied and Hunks
Okay, I did it. I gave Higashiyama-san my application. He didn't laugh. I guess that is a good thing.
RE: Matsumoto Jun and Layouts
Nino-chan, where are your standards? Who wants a guy who thinks he is the sexiest man alive? Only a TS, like the one draped all over him on the beach.
*****
From: 1controller7@au.co.jp
To: 3zennen@au.co.jp
Stop using the company e-mail for those topics, Baka!
Sexiest man alive? TS?
When? How? What? EXPLAIN!
*****
From: 3zennen@au.co.jp
To: 1controller7@au.co.jp
TS = Tasteless Sluts, as always seen in tabloid photos of Matsumoto. Sexiest man alive, as seen in Matsumoto's smirk in every tabloid shot.
*****
From: 1controller7@au.co.jp
To: 3zennen@au.co.jp
Come off it, Aibaka! You read tabloids!? (snickers)
And how would you know if the Ss are Ts?
*****
From: 3zennen@au.co.jp
To: 1controller7@au.co.jp
Because they were with Matsumoto.
*****
From: 1controller7@au.co.jp
To: 3zennen@au.co.jp
Why are you so interested in Matsumoto?
*****
From: 3zennen@au.co.jp
To: 1controller7@au.co.jp
I'm not! i don't even know why we're talking about him.
*****
From: 1controller7@au.co.jp
To: 3zennen@au.co.jp
You said he was hunky.
*****
From: 3zennen@au.co.jp
To: 1controller7@au.co.jp
Oh god! I was being sarcastic Nino! Why are we wasting time on him anyway?
*****
From: 1controller7@au.co.jp
To: 3zennen@au.co.jp
Hey! You're the one that brought the hunky Matsumoto Jun into the conversation Baka! Why are you mad at me!?
*****
Nino:
You're right. I did -- and I'm taking him out of it, now.
Do me a favor? Take a look at attached. Tell me what you think of these ideas. Would any of them make you want to buy CRUSH?
Uh-oh. Phone call from Higashiyama-san. Wants to see me pronto. Here comes rejection...
*****
CRUSH
The Magazine For Your Heart
Higashiyama Noriyuki, Publisher
From the desk of: Higashiyama Noriyuki
To: Editorial Staff
Thursday, October 16
I am delighted to announce that Aiba Masaki is our new Editor-in-Chief. Aiba-kun has been with us as senior editor for 3 years now. He'll be assuming his new post at the start of next week. I know you've weathered some difficulties these past months, but I assure you that it's all behind us.
The payroll department has asked me to inform those who may have, again, experienced difficulty with last week's checks to please be patient. The problem is computer related.
Thank you very much for your forebearance. I has been a pleasure working with all of you.
Higashiyama N., Pub
*****
From: 1controller7@au.co.jp
To: 3zennen@au.co.jp
Congratulations Ed-in-Chief!
By the way, what does H-san mean by "It's been a pleasure?" Is he retiring? Selling? The mag can't be going under since he just appointed you as Ed-in-Chief.
*****
From: Aiba Masaki, EIC
To: Staff
I have just been informed the CRUSH has been purchased by SHAKE Publications of Tokyo. Don't panic. I'm trying to get information about SHAKE. As soon as I do, I'll CC whatever I have to all of you. Since we've never heard of it, it's probably a small outfit. One that will give us time to regroup, retrench, and make CRUSH the winner we all know it can be.
*****
While you were out
Higashiyama-san:
A.M. phoned. Asked for info regarding rumors of sale of magazine. What shall I tell him?
Kimura Takuya
*****
MEMO
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Sakurai Sho
RE: CRUSH Takeover
November 7
Sho-kun:
SHAKE division just acquired CRUSH as part of Higashiyama Package. From what I see, the kindest would be to put it out of its misery. What the heck happened there? I need more data. I want copies of correspondence regarding the revolving Editor-in-Chief. All data, information, and files to be sent to me ASAP.
Jun
*****
MEMO
From: Matsumoto Jun
To: Aragaki Yui
RE: Higashiyama Package
Yui:
Will be leaving for Okinawa on Sunday. Contact Toma. Tell him I'll be using the plane so he can't go galavanting around the world this week. Arrange for hotel accomodations.
Also, phone CRUSH offices. Inform Ed-in-Chief I'll expect to see him in his office at 9 AM. Sharp.
M.J.
P.S. - Flowers for Inoue-san, please. A dozen roses. Make that two. Apologies for breaking next Sunday night engagement. Tell her I'll phone her once I reach Okinawa. As for Ed-in-Chief, please be sure to impress upon the man that he damned well better be prompt.
*****
From: ShoSakurai@matsumoto.co.jp
To: JunMatsumoto@matsumoto.co.jp
Subj: Damn you Jun!
You just about kept me chained to my desk this weeked. Info on its way. Files sent via e-mail, pertinent correspondence faxed. E-mails are mostly office chit-chat, but you should take a look at some of them. Forwarding same to your account. Got to say Jun, I never did notice you were (ahem) hunky.
Sho (trying not to laugh)
P.S. I guess I better tell you now. I'm not the only one who saw these stuff. Material went through a few hands before my desk. Sorry. Though, you have to admit. They are funny!
*****
From: JunMatsumoto@matsumoto.co.jp
To: YuiAragaki@matsumoto.co.jp
Subj: CRUSH
I've changed my mind. Do NOT contact CRUSH Ed-in-Chief. A surprise is in order.
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