In the late hours of the night, Chiyo hears the sliding of the office door adjacent to her own. More likely than not a certain overexerted Fukutaichou would be making his way outside for a smoke break. This was nothing abnormal. Only… this has been his third one in the last two hours. It was seldom he take so many breaks. So she follows this time, noting that he had been quieter than usual all day. He hadn’t thrown any snarky quips at her. An investigation was certainly necessary. The third seat finds her predecessor sitting apon the deck, cigarette hanging lazily from his lips, whilst his eyes appear fixated on the grass in front of him. She squats down, poking at his shoulder. “Is this project giving you hell or something? You don’t usually come out this much.” She had a hunch this was not about work, but if she brought up the cause directly it might spook him into not talking. “Y’know, if you’re… stuck & you need me for anything, I’m always here to help. Or just listen.”
he kept things to himself. it was just what he did. when he had first started seeing isane. he'd never spoken about it to anyone. when several months had passed and he had a conversation about it perhaps getting out and he should be the one telling chi who was his long standing friend-like person, he did tell her. but only the cliff notes version. only to retract that days later and say it was no more. and now, well he was just still living the effects of that no more. and of course if anyone would notice that he was acting strange, it would be her. she did know him well enough. and sometimes he really didn't like that.
at least she hadn't borne his lashing out. he thought bitterly to himself. since his current predicament was the byproduct of it. in a moment of dumb emotional possession, he had lashed out at his patient izuru and told him he no longer considered him a friend. at the time, he didn't think it would affect their meetings for his tune-ups but when he had to deal with a rather emotional lieutenant who refused his care akon was both annoyed and confused. of course, that had to happen. he didn't like that this nonsense had spilt into his work which he took very seriously. work was his life after all. it wasn't like he had anything else.
he turned to her and looked at her with tired eyes then let out a puff of smoke. ' quit reading me so well. i'm not your husband. ' he quietly quipped, pouting a little as he turned his gaze away. it seemed she was the only person he could talk to at times who wouldn't take offence at his words. much like da vinci wouldn't. except she wasn't a cat.
' there's just been a lot of unnecessary things going on in me after this breakup. and now it's affecting my work. and i'm just tired of it all. tired of emotions. '
