Chapter Text
"We finished your performance review and have decided that you will be best suited to remain in your current position."
Utahime had to grit her teeth to keep herself from deflating. This was the third year in a row that she was rejected for the promotion she desperately wanted.
She really thought this year was going to be the year. She had worked so much harder this time around, especially during the last quarter.
"May I ask why that is? My numbers this year are well above performance average, I've even surpassed the sales goal by two margins," Utahime said as politely as she could.
The old men across from her didn't bother to hide their sighs. "While it is true your numbers are good, your team is falling below expectations, as such, we believe it is best for you to stay where you are before taking on a heavier responsibility."
Utahime tightened her hands into fists under the desk. Her team was horribly lazy, and the only reason they did well at all was because Utahime was picking up the slack. Since when did their poor work ethic mean she couldn't handle a more prominent position?!
"I see…" she mumbled to herself, crestfallen and frustrated.
Her bosses cleared their throats and gestured to the door. "You can send Mr. Ijichi in now."
Utahime stood and offered a tight smile before leaving the office. Lucky for her, Ijichi was already standing by the door waiting his turn for review, so she only needed to spare the tired man a glance before retreating to her cubicle.
She sank in her chair and snuck out her phone, shooting her best friend, Shoko a text.
'Rejected :('
A few minutes later she got a response.
'Damn, drinks tonight? On me.'
'Okay, thanks.'
'Invite Mei mei, we're gonna need her drama stories tonight.'
'Okay…'
Utahime slipped her phone back in her purse and blankly stared at her computer screen. What was she even doing?
She had been at this company ever since she graduated college, she had damn near ten years under her belt at this damn company and five of those she'd been stuck in the same position.
She knew she was ready for more, but her bosses seemed determined to deprive her of that.
Despite how hard she tried to focus, Utahime just couldn't get back to work. Her motivation was dead.
She bit her lip and glanced around before sneaking her phone out again to message her boyfriend, Hiromi.
"Hey, no luck this time around…"
He responded after nearly twenty minutes of her twiddling her thumbs.
'Sorry to hear that. Maybe you should just quit like we talked about, they clearly don't value you.'
Utahime frowned and pressed the heel of her palm in her eye. She hated whenever he snuck her job into the conversation.
They had an argument about it last week. He didn't want her to work. He was a lawyer, and made plenty of money, but Utanime liked not having to rely on someone else for her expenses. She liked the independence that came with having her own income.
He didn't see it like that. Their last argument had been a bit ugly, but Utahime had been under the impression that he finally accepted her view.
'I told you I am not going to do that. This job is important to me. She messaged back.'
After thirty minutes of no response she frowned and set another message.
'Shoko, Mei mei and I are going for drinks tonight. Do you want to join?'
This time the response was swift. 'You shouldn't be drinking so much, Utahime. It isn't good for you.'
Groaning, Utahine tossed her phone back in her purse and turned back to her computer so she could at least pretend to look busy.
.
.
"He keeps telling me to quit my job, but he knows it's important for me to have my own income," Utahime complained to Shoko.
They were at their usual bar, both already a few beers in, and a side of nachos cleared. Mei mei on the other hand had some expensive cocktail, and an equally expensive plate of food.
Shoko was still in her scrubs, her white doctor's coat replaced by a beige trench coat.
Mei mei was dolled up, her hair and make up was something more akin to a model than the accounting manager she was during the work day. And that was saying something too, because Mei mei always looked ready for a photo shoot.
"Hm, how long have you been dating him?" Shoko asked.
"Three years coming up in a few days," Utahime sighed.
"And you still have the same arguments?" Shoko mused and shook her head.
"Is the sex at least good?" Mei mei asked as she swirled her expensive fruity drink.
Utahime blushed and gasped in embarrassment. "Mei mei!"
"Oh, since she asked, is it?" Shoko asked. "I mean, surely it must be if you are still with him considering his views."
Utahime gasped at her, betrayed. "Shoko! Not you too."
Mei mei laughed. "It's an honest question, dear. The man is so stuffy."
Utahime sighed and leaned back in her chair. "I don't like to talk about our private life, but I am very satisfied, thank you very much!"
Mei mei glanced at Shoko and smirked. "Sure, that is very convincing."
Utahime glared at the two women and took a breath to speak when her phone started ringing. Frowning, she dug it out and quickly picked it up. It was Hiromi.
"Hi, hone—"
"Where are you? " Hiromi asked, sounding annoyed.
Utahime frowned and mouthed an apology to her friends and left the table to find a quiet section to talk.
"I'm at the bar with—"
"Didn't I tell you I didn't want you to keep drinking the way you do?" He asked.
Utahime frowned. "I texted you that I was going to be here."
"Yeah, and I didn't want you to go."
"I'm just trying to relax with my friends, why is that an issue?" She asked, defensive.
"It's an issue because you keep disrespecting me when I ask you to stop, what is there not to get?" He snapped.
"Well I don't care for your smoking do I? You don't see me nagging you twenty four seven!" Utahime argued.
"Well you don't let me kiss you after a smoke! I should be able to kiss my girlfriend whenever I want, yet you have all these petty rules."
She growled and balled her hand into a fist. "There is nothing wrong with my request!"
He sighed heavily. "I could say the same thing. There isn't anything wrong with wanting to come home to my woman and a hot meal. Especially when you don't need to work!"
Utahime started to pace. "I don't want to rely on others for money! Why is that so hard to understand?"
He was silent for a long awkward beat before he cleared his throat and finally spoke again, sounding exhausted.
"You know what, Utahime? I don't think it makes sense for us to keep doing this. You are right. You can have your job, I'm not against women working per say– but I am against my woman working. I want a woman who will take care of my children, who will be home when I get home, I finally see that I can't get that from you."
Her heart dropped to her stomach. "What? Hiromi… are you seriously breaking up with me over the phone?" She demanded, bewildered.
"It is the safest way. That temper of yours has gotten me one too many bruises over the years," he said grimly.
Utahime punched the wall, not even realizing she did so until she felt the pain in her knuckles. "You can't be serious!"
"I am, we're not getting any younger, we're in our thirties. I want a wife, and you clearly still want to live your college days. It just won't work out. You're not wife material. I'm sorry Utahime. I wouldn't mind staying friends though, if you ever need legal—"
She threw her phone at the wall, shattering the screen. Tears flooded her eyes and she angrily shoved the broken thing in her purse before rushing to the bathroom to calm down.
You're not wife material…
How could he say that to her?! She was a good woman, she worked hard, she packed him lunch when she could, she even helped him organize his cases!
How could she not be wife material?
Despite her efforts not to, she broke down in a stall, balled her eyes out until her eyes burned.
A soft knock on the door startled her out of her pity session.
"Uta? Is that you? Are you okay? What happened?" Shoko asked.
She wiped her mascara stained face on her sleeve and opened the door. "He broke up with me…"
Her eyes widened. "Wow really? Over the phone? The bastard," she said and pulled her into a hug.
As soon as Shoko hugged her a fresh wave of tears spilled over. "Rejected and broken up with in the same day! How could he do this to me, Sho?!" Utahime sobbed. "He said I'm not– not wife material!"
Shoko patted her on the back and handed her some tissues. "Clearly he can't see what he is losing," she said and gently nudged her back to their table.
As soon as Mei mei saw them she straightened. "What's wrong, Utahime? Is everything alright?"
"Hiromi broke up with her over the phone," Shoko explained.
Utahime could barely believe this was happening to her. She was so ashamed. She felt so inadequate. Not good enough for a promotion, not good enough to be loved, not good enough to be happy…
"What a slime ball!" Mei mei gasped. "I knew all he was good for was a paycheck."
"Mei, I don't want his money!" Utahime cried and clumsily clutched her beer glass to her chest.
"What? You were serious about wanting to settle down with him?" Mei mei asked, bewildered.
Utahime's head was swimming. Did it really matter what she wanted anymore when he broke up with her?
"It doesn't matter 'cause he wasn't going to marry me anyway!" Utahime whined and downed the rest of her beer. "He said I wasn't wife material…"
Mei mei laughed. "Oh, honey, you're not! "
Utahime sat up, offended. "What?!"
Mei mei pat her on the hand. "Oh, but there is nothing wrong with that! Shoko here was the only one who was wife material of the three of us before her dear beloved passed— rest his soul. The two of us are eternally wild and free! There's beauty in that!"
Utahime frowned and glanced at Shoko to find her smiling sadly to herself while she fidgeted with the wedding band on her finger.
"Mei mei! Don't bring him up now!" Utahime scolded through her teeth.
"No, no, it's okay, it's been a few years, I like talking about him… It feels nice in a bittersweet sort of way," Shoko murmured.
"Yes, he was quite a handsome fellow," Mei mei said and reached over to squeeze Shoko's hand.
Utahime immediately felt guilty. What were her petty struggles in comparison to her dear friend who had lost her husband at such a young age?
Geto Suguru had been a strong, selfless man that defended anyone who could not defend themselves. He had been a police officer in training, and a volunteer fire fighter– a true star in Shoko's life.
That was until he selflessly ran into a house fire on his off day to save two little girls that were left alone without supervision.
The girls survived with burns across their arms and legs, but Geto had sadly passed away in his wife's very own hospital bed.
And Shoko with her enormous heart, had taken in those two girls as her own.
Utahime resigned herself to listening to Shoko and Mei mei share stories about her late husband while she silently nursed her warm beer for the rest of the night.
.
By the time Utahime got home she was more sober than she wanted to be, but she didn't complain. How could she? As terrible as her life felt, she hadn't really lost anything. Not like Shoko had.
As terrible as it sounded, she was almost jealous of her friend.
Utahime had never experienced a love so strong that simply mentioning his name made her smile. She had never felt a passion so deep that she was excited at the idea of getting married.
While Utahime wanted a family, she never experienced the want so deeply that she dreamed of her children. She never looked up names or browsed for baby clothes for children she didn't even have, not like Shoko had.
She never uttered the phrase I love you to her lovers…
Her life was full of uneventful mediocrity. No burning passion, no intense love, no world ending heartbreaks. Even now, as she sat on the floor of her shower she couldn't find any tears to shed for her failed relationship.
They didn't even live together because he wanted to wait until marriage.
At least it meant she didn't have to move out from anywhere…
Even though she had cried in the moment, she'd been tipsy, but now, she just felt oddly hollow.
She needed a change…
.
.
And a few monotonous days later Utahime found that change in a rundown death machine that the owner of her favorite bakery was selling.
"I didn't know you had one of those," Utahime asked the owner, Mr. Takeda.
The aged baker chuckled and nodded slowly. "Yes, I haven't been on it in thirty years… I was clearing out the old garage and found her under a tarp. "
Utahime smiled wryly. "Her?"
He chuckled. "Ah, this beautiful machine is like family, but I can no longer take care of her. I was hoping to find a youngster with drive to sell her to."
"Does it run?" Utahime asked as she peered out the window where the old fashioned motorcycle sat parked on the sidewalk.
"Oh she turns on, though she needs lots of tender love and care," Mr. Takeda said with a laugh.
Utahime glanced out the window again. Something different… if I did it… I could at least learn about it… it would definitely be a change.
"Are you interested, young lady?" He mused.
Utahime laughed. "Oh I couldn't afford—"
"If you think you can get her running like new and show me, I'll give her to ya for a few thousand and let you get your weekly treats on the house," he offered.
Utahime quickly calculated the cost of the train per year versus the potential cost of buying and fixing the bike plus the free food.
"I dunno… What if I can't get it to run? It could cost so much more for parts. I'm not financially able to spend that money and it be a dud…" Utahime said even though she was drifting closer to the window to eye the deep red bike.
"Well, I'll let you take it now, no cost, and if you can get it to run safely, I'll consider it paid for if you take this old man for one last spin," he said with a chuckle.
That was a better offer. While she'd still have to pay for classes and parts to fix it, not to mention registration and licenses, there was a slight possibility that it would be worth it in the long run.
But even if it wasn't financially viable, something was urging her to agree.
"Fine, it's a deal. I'll fix it, and I'll get it running and take you for a spin," Utahime said, suddenly determined to see this through.
"Perfect!" Mr. Takeda said and handed her the bread and coffee she ordered, with an additional loaf. "Then this is on the house!"
"Oh, wasn't that part of the original deal?" Utahime asked, surprised.
He waved her off. "Eh, I insist. I like the determined glint in your eyes. You have a good day, child."
She smiled and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you! I'll fix it up as good as new!" She called over her shoulder as she rushed over to walk the bike home.
As soon as Utahime got home she immediately went online to research the motorcycles model and potential part numbers that might be needed.
She watched video after video and took as many notes as she could on costs and where she could find which parts for the best price.
She wasn't completely out of her element as she used to help her father with his garage when she was a kid, but he worked on cars, and very rarely if at all got any kind of bike taken to the shop for work. Yes it was different, but it was better than no experience at all.
Her father didn't care for motorcycles, he thought them dangerous, but even though Utahime shared his view, she made a promise to Mr. Takeda, and her father always stressed the importance of promises above all else.
Utahime stayed up all night researching and taking notes, and even though she was exhausted when she walked into work the next day, her spirits were high.
If she could get the old bike to run properly, then maybe she could finally find the drive to prove to her bosses that she deserved that promotion.
The situations didn't correlate at all, but she found sense in it somehow.
She was in such a good mood that she even hummed to herself as she made her way to her cubicle, surprisingly energized and ready to start the workday.
That was until she rounded the corner and saw a strange man sitting in her chair with his feet propped up on her desk.
"Uh… Excuse me? That's my desk, who are you?" Utahime asked as politely as she could.
He glanced up at her and grinned so wide she saw a dimple on each cheek. "Oh! You're finally here!" He grabbed her name card and waved it at her. "Miss Iori is it?" He asked and patted her desk. "This is our desk now~!" He said with an obnoxious laugh.
Utahime spluttered, confused. "What are you talking about?"
He winked at her from over the rim of his round, blue tinted glasses. "I'm your new trainee~"
She gaped at him, shocked. "What?"
He leaned back in her chair, making the front wheels lift off the ground and the old thing creek. The new angle made the bright florescent lights reflect off his stunningly white hair.
"Sheesh, you don't even know your department needs a new manager?"
Utahime dropped her bag. "What?!"
"Whoa~! Got some lungs on ya, huh?"
What?!