"So... I have decided to take my leave now." asked Miss Taeko, as she began stepping towards the door. "I hope I have not put you both in any sort of trouble."
Hao stopped for a moment, feeling an odd feeling of craving for action. "No, think nothing of it, Miss Taeko. Please take care, both of you."
Miss Taeko turned back to Kansuke, who was still sitting on the desk. "Well, then, I guess that counts as his official leave, doesn't it?" She said, bowing graciously. "Thanks for everything, Kansuke. Take care of yourself."
Kansuke simply nodded. "You too, Taeko. Goodbye."
Miss Taeko turned back to Hao, smiling. "Well, if you don't mind me asking, what do you intend to do now?"
"I don't know, exactly." replied Hao. "Perhaps I ought to go to Kansuke's place and try to talk some sense into his head."
"Why don't you just send for Kansuke? I'm sure he'd be happy to do so." replied Miss Taeko, turning back to Kansuke.
Kansuke slowly shook his head. "I apologize, Miss Taeko, but I'm afraid I can't go now. There are things that I have to do now."
"But now you don't have any job. You were fired, and even your boss thinks that you're broken and crazy." remarked Taeko.
"Even so, I worry that if I were to go with Hao now, he might not be able to do what he wants to do." replied Kansuke, smiling mischievously. "I doubt that he is the sort of man who wishes to go to my place and try to convince me of what I should be doing. I think that he'd end up with a similar fate to my own if he were to go, Miss Taeko. I will stay here a little longer, at least a week."
Miss Taeko sighed. "Alright, but be careful, Kansuke. And good luck, both of you."
"Yeah, have fun, alright?" replied Hao, before walking out of the office, leaving Kansuke and Taeko alone in the room.
Kansuke stood up from the chair, walking before Taeko and gazing at her with an unnerving expression. "Why did you do that, Kansuke?" asked Taeko, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"Because I am sure that you had an ulterior motive for everything you told Hao." replied Kansuke, smiling.
Taeko turned around, looking at the door. "If you're asking, then yes, I did." she replied, smiling softly.
Kansuke walked around the desk and sat on the armrest. "You wanted me to leave, didn't you?"
Taeko nodded. "What do you feel now that you're out, Kansuke?"
Kansuke looked at her. "I don't know. But I feel empowered. I feel like I can make my own decisions now." he replied.
"That's good." replied Taeko, looking at her watch. "I'll be leaving soon. Will there be anything else I can do for you?"
"Umm..." Kansuke thought for a moment. "I'll be sending for all my stuff in the next week or so. If you can help, maybe you could send for them sooner?"
As solemnly as she could, Taeko nodded. "I will send for your stuff, Kansuke." she replied.
"What about my expense accounts?" asked Kansuke. "Do you have an idea how much they have been used by me? You have been extremely happy with me."
"Don't worry about it, Kansuke. I would rather have you out there." said Taeko, smiling. "I will cover it."
"Are you sure?" asked Kansuke, looking at her. "It's more than just the money you're talking about, is it?"
"Yeah." replied Taeko, looking him in the eye and smiling softly. "I'm positive that I would miss you if you weren't here."
Kansuke smiled warmly, looking at her with confirmed hope. "That's nice to know, Miss Taeko. I'll go now, then." he said, getting up. "I shall see you in seven or eight days."
Taeko smiled. "I hope so, Kansuke. I hope to see you in one piece." she replied, waving goodbye.
Kansuke smiled, closing the door behind her.
"Be well... The Listener." whispered Taeko, smiling gently despite the tears welling in her eyes. Wiping them away hastily, she walked out of the office.
Kansuke sighed, trying to stop the banging sensations in his head.
