Chapter Nine

<span;>"I'm very sorry for all of this, Yuko-san!"

<span;>A cup of black coffee handed out towards her with his head lowered in a ninety-degree bow, as soon as he entered her office. This was the proper and perfect apology gesture in Kyouhei's Yuko textbook. It did not matter where the coffee was bought, or how long he had been late, as long as he did this and stayed in that position until she tells him to stop, he knew he will be forgiven. That was the trick.

<span;>"There's no sense of doing that anymore," Yuko rolled her eyes at the entire stupidity, "Just give me the damn coffee so we can get to work."

<span;>Upon hearing that, Kyouhei stood straight up and beamed. He quickly gave Yuko the coffee that was now barely hot since it had been more than 5 minutes now from when he bought it. But Yuko did not mind it no more, she was now sipping from the cup as she continued to looked over some more files on top of her desk. She only paused to give Kyouhei a look from her seat.

<span;>"Do you mind?" She tilted her head at him, motioning him to seat. Seven years of knowing him and he still acted too awkwardly and tense around her. She always saw him like a flighty bird who will only once land closer but skips several times further away, as if fearing that it would be hurt.

<span;>"Did you check the trending topics this morning?" Yuko tested out, leaning her back on her chair as she stared at the sight of this handsome young man across her desk. Who knew that a scary scarred face General Rei would be given a reincarnated body that was now as pleasing as this one? Well, at first, Yuko had been pissed and extremely annoyed that he got those good genes now, but Yuko eventually realized that it was actually a huge advantage.

<span;>If not for his good looks, Kyouhei Kurosaki would have been no more that just a pathetic average good-natured man who might not even get a good chance of ever making it to the Upper House. And if they had not met in college, Yuko would have already jsut moved on and tried living her life as it is. With not much of things she would want to pursue. Perhaps, she would have still chosen to stay in the countryside where she had come from and stayed permanently with her present grandparents of this new life.

<span;>"… I know it's brazen of me, Yuko-san. But you know how ridiculous that project was. Our society has so much to face right now it's stupid to just suddenly put it out there and force it to work."

<span;>She only got the gist of the last few words as Yuko nodded her head just as Kyouhei stopped talking. She was not really listening but she immediately understand what he was trying to say. It was about the recent economic reforms that most of the government officials were trying to promote. However, as exemplary as it was for the future of the country, it was still a far-fetch plan and the minimal resources will definitely put a crisis to the stocks and trade. It will put a toll on the coming next years for those who are still on the middle class and even lower class divisions. And even if they try to say that the government will try to sustain for the loss and the shortage, it would never be really that easy.

<span;>It will never be all rainbows and happy endings… But those economists seem to focus more on the future rather than trying to fix the crisis first of the present… which unlike if this was the past, things would have been more strictly centralized. However, they were now living in the generation where all aspects and external factors would indefinitely affect and interfere with the society's matters and issues.

<span;>"I completely understand all your sentimentality and passionate drive to work for your fellowman, okay?" Yuko said, choosing to put a business-like tone to her voice so she can get through that hard skull of Kyouhei since he seemed to not fully comprehend the importance of hia image at these crucial months, especially when the appointment for the Prime Minister was also coming near, "But can we just try to keep a low profile for now, please? You can have your own way once we secure our spot but in the meantime, do us a favor, Kurosaki. Don't mess this up."

<span;>"Fine," Kyouhei easily agreed, sighing out loud as he rested his head over the cushion of the couch where he was sitting. "But I will not going to promise not to say anything that I strongly believe against once I got interviewed."

<span;>Well, Yuko already expected that and knowing how he was, she already did her share of work for damage control. And that was where money comes in, an who knew how many wonders a certain amount of price can do for a simple request? Yet, despite having that upper hand, it was still not as practical as it should be. And Yuko had already invested so much for this bastard's sake.

<span;>"Suit yourself," she shortly replied, turning her revolving chair around as if finally telling him that this meeting was already over. But instead of reading the atmosphere, Kyouhei chose to idle some more as he watched Yuko from his spot.

<span;>"Remember that time when you asked me if I was willing to be this country's Prime Minister?"

<span;>"Why are you you still here?" Yuko complained, ignoring to answer his answer. She was not really in the mood to reminisce any memory with him right now, but no matter how much she did not want to, she was clearly remembering it all already.

<span;>"C'mon, Yuko-chan, the-"

<span;>"Don't," Yuko cut him off with an edge on her voice, "… ever call me that way."

<span;>She really hated it when he do that. She felt her blood boiling as she turned around again on her chair to glare at Kurosaki.

<span;>"It was just around the summer of our sophomore year in college," Kyouhei voluntarily began, not even minding how Yuko's face scrunched up as soon as he started, "I never even know you but you suddenly talked to me like that. And I got to admit, you really left a very striking impression on me. And I think, that was also why I started to consider dreaming to become one."

<span;>"I'm sorry but what's the point to all of that now?" Yuko interjected, feeling unbothered and just displeased to talk about some kind of past with Kyouhei.

<span;>"Nothing," Kyouhei just shrugged, chuckling to himself as he grinned at Yuko's way. He did not also understand why he was suddenly bringing it up, but looking at Yuko right now just gave him this feeling of something was somehow missing all along. "I always thought I would be happy if I finally got there and make a change to this society… but lately…"

<span;>Kurosaki paused to let out a long sigh. His smile slowly faded as he dropped his gaze and settled his eyes on the carpeted floor just below his feet.

<span;>"Lately what?" Yuko asked, somehow getting curious that Kyouhei was strangely talking about his deep thoughts right now. It was unusual and it made Yuko feel like she was seeing a hidden side of this young man. Was he, perhaps, having second thoughts now?