Flashback: Two Days Ago
The office hummed late, papers rustling as Oki leaned close to Ashi, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't remind Kichiro-san about Holi—he's hopeless with dates, no matter how hard he tries."
"Why not?" Ashi blinked, curiosity sparking.
Oki's grin turned sly, a mastermind unveiling her plot. "I've got something big planned for everyone."
"What?!" Ashi's eyes widened, leaning in.
"It's a surprise!" Oki winked, finger to her lips. "Wait and see—gonna blow you all away!"
The pool churned with Holi madness, water glinting under the sun as Haari bobbed, still reeling. "I know we talked about this, but—" he stammered, voice cracking, head whipping away from Ashi fast enough to blur.
Nicawa-san's soaked—her shirt's I can see-through! His widened eyes caught every detail—her drenched blouse clinging tight, curves outlined in stark relief. His face ignited, a crimson flare of shock and shame, jaw dropping as his brain screamed—BOOBS! He sucked in a shaky breath, willing himself to forget-forget-forget—but the image burned, panic on full display.
He flicked a glare at Rafta, who lounged poolside, smirking like a cat with cream, eyes shamelessly tracing Ashi. Haari's scowl deepened, a growl rumbling low. What?! He's ogling her like it's a show! did you got any sham man you already have a girlfriend.
Oki, climbing out, caught the vibe and spun to Ashi, who hauled herself up, water streaming. "Ashi, your clothes are—" she started, voice edged with worry.
"Oh, don't sweat it!" Ashi chirped, wringing her hair with a grin.
" Huh? But"
"I've got a swimsuit on underneath—planned ahead!"
Oki's shoulders relaxed, a laugh bubbling up. "Smart move!"
Rafta slumped, muttering under his breath, "Huh, What a disappointment…"—until Oki's fist thwacked his arm, a swift smackdown.
"Quit staring, you creep!" she barked, eyes blazing, her ponytail whipping like a whip.
Haari scrambled for the edge, hands slipping on wet tiles, ready to escape—when Ashi and Oki grabbed a garden hose, unleashing a torrential whoosh! Water blasted him square in the face, a cold shockwave.
"Hey—stop it!" he yelped, arms flailing, shielding himself as the spray blinded him. "I can't see a damn thing!" His voice pitched high, a drenched lead drowning in chaos.
Laughter erupted, splashes echoing as the group reveled in the madness—water balloons bursting, shrieks soaring—until a sharp voice sliced through like a katana's edge.
"What is going on here?!"
Haari spun, water dripping from his bangs, eyes ballooning in shock. Rafta froze mid-laugh, jaw dropping.
What is she doing here "Boss?!" they yelped in unison, voices cracking like thunder.
She stood there—a vision of authority framed against the pool's shimmer. Twenty-six, flawless skin gleaming like porcelain, long hair cascading dark and sleek, her deep eyes piercing through them. Her tailored black suit—pants crisp, shirt sharp, jacket hugging her slim, curvy frame—screamed power, a corporate queen stepping into their splashy rebellion. The air stilled, her presence a storm cloud over their Holi havoc.
The poolside air crackled as the Boss loomed, her dark eyes glinting like polished obsidian, suit pristine despite the chaos. Rafta, still dripping, tilted his head, unfazed. "What're you doing here?" he asked, voice teasing, a rogue poking the lion.
Her glare sharpened, irritation sparking. "What do you mean? It's my company!" Her tone sliced, a corporate queen reclaiming her throne.
Rafta shrugged, smirking sly. "We know that, but it's not like you to visit the company at this time around."
The Boss's brow twitched, her voice rising like a storm brewing. "What do you think I am? A seasonal bee that only comes around when the season's right?"
"You know yourself very well," Rafta quipped, grin widening, "I don't think I need to explain."
Her patience snapped—WHAM!—her fist flew, a swift jab clocking Rafta's shoulder. He yelped, stumbling back, arms flailing. "Whoa—what was that for?!"
Haari, still soaked, snorted from the pool's edge. "You should be glad she only punched you and didn't fire you. Last year, she fired ten employees because they were scarching her back."
Oki, wringing her ponytail, stepped up, voice curious but cautious. "Hey, Boss—what are you doing here?"
"I came to check on work," the Boss huffed, arms crossing, her sleek jacket creasing. "But what's this? I don't think—" Her words cut off as Ashi, with a mischievous glint, lunged forward—SHOVE!—sending the Boss teetering.
Time slowed—her perfect curves flailed, arms windmilling, a slow-mo of shock. She crashed down, straight onto Haari, who'd just hauled himself poolside. SPLASH! Water erupted, and her chest slammed into his face, squishing him in a mortifying boing—his muffled yelp lost in the chaos.
Rafta froze, jaw dropping, a flicker of regret flashing. "That… could've been me," he muttered, envy and relief warring in his tone.
Everyone gasped—Oki's eyes bulged, Ashi's hands flew to her mouth, the pool rippling with stunned silence as Haari floundered, face still buried, the Boss sprawled atop him in a soggy, scandalous heap.
The poolside air froze, a stunned silence gripping the group—water dripping, eyes bulging, a perfect anime shock frame. Rafta's voice shattered it, pitching high and wild. "Wait—WHAAAT?! Did Nicawa-san just do that?!"
Oki's gasp synced with his, her ponytail flinging water as she gaped. "I think she did!—" She paused, then a grin exploded across her face, bright and manic. "Yeah, she totally did! Unbelievable!"
Haari burst from the depths, water cascading off him like a drenched hero, chest heaving as he sucked in air. "Haa—I thought I was gonna die!" he rasped, clinging to the edge, hair a sopping mess plastered to his forehead.
Rafta's glare locked on, jealousy igniting around him in a red-hot aura, flames licking the air like a villain's rage. " I Wish you'd stayed under," he hissed, voice dripping venom, his smirk twisting into a scowl of pure spite.
Oki didn't flinch—she spun, shoving Ashi back into the pool with a gleeful "Wheee!"—then leapt in after her, a splash bomb detonating in a shimmering wave. Water sprayed high, the trio bobbing in the chaos, ripples dancing under the sun.
The Boss thrashed upright, her sleek suit a soggy ruin, dark hair plastered like a wet veil. "What do you think you're doing?!" she roared, voice booming off the tiles, a corporate queen drowned in Holi's tide.
Oki popped up, grinning ear-to-ear, water streaming down her face. "Ease up, Boss! It's Holi—the happiest day all year, a once-in-a-blue-moon blast! Let's dive in together—work's fine, we'll smash it later!"
"That's not why I'm here!" the Boss snapped, fists splashing, her jacket a waterlogged wreck as she glared through the droplets.
Ashi surfaced, brushing bangs from her eyes, a smile breaking through—calm, daring, unshaken. "So forget why you're here," she said, voice light but edged with steel, a spark piercing the storm.
Everyone blinked, jaws dropping again—time stalling in a second shock cut. Rafta rubbed his eyes, like he'd seen a ghost. "What's up with Nicawa-san today?!" he yelped, voice cracking. "She's gone full wild card—acting nuts!"
Haari groaned, the chaos swirling around him—Oki and Ashi splashing like giddy sprites, water flying in glittering arcs. "Haa—man!" he huffed, lungs burning, desperation kicking in. He lunged for the edge, hands slipping on wet tiles, hauling himself up with a frantic scramble. Water streamed off him, pooling at his feet as he staggered free, panting hard, a lead escaping the fray.
The pool glimmered under the sun, a battlefield of water and laughter. Ashi and Oki splashed like giddy kids, waves crashing as they trapped the Boss between them—her sleek suit a soggy prison, her dark hair flailing as she squirmed, no escape in sight. Their giggles rang high, a festival symphony of pure, childish glee.
Haari perched on the edge, feet dangling in the water, still catching his breath from the chaos. Rafta sauntered over, dripping and smirking, his eyes glinting with mischief as he plopped down beside him. He glanced at Ashi—her wild, carefree splashes a stark shift from her usual calm—and then at Haari, curiosity sparking. "Hey, Haari, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what's up?" Haari replied, toweling his hair, voice casual but wary.
"What kinda person's Nicawa-san?" Rafta pressed, leaning in, his grin sly like a fox sniffing a scoop.
"Hmm? What kinda question's that?" Haari shot back, brow arching, stalling as his hands froze.
"Just answer it already!" Rafta huffed, nudging him, impatience flaring.
Haari's breath hitched, his dark eyes flicking to Ashi—she was mid-laugh, wringing her ponytail, water glinting off her like a festival sprite. His heart gave a clumsy thump, loud and unbidden, heat prickling his neck.
"Uh… Nicawa-san?" he started, voice rough, scratching his cheek as if the answer might hide there. "She's… she's something else, y'know? Like—stubborn as hell when she's got her mind set. You saw her shove the Boss—no hesitation, just bam." He chuckled, soft and warm, shaking his head like he still couldn't believe it. "But she's… warm, too. Cares more than she lets on—always fussing over stuff."
Rafta's brow lifted, smirk twitching, sensing the tide shift. Haari's gaze drifted, words spilling faster. "She's quiet sometimes, but not weak-quiet—more like… she's feeling it all, deep down. Then bam—she's dragging me into Holi, grinning like a kid, swearing she'll hunt me down if I ditch." His lips quirked, a rare, boyish glow lighting his face, unguarded and bright. "She's tough, loyal—crazy in the best way. Dunno… she's just… her, y'know?"
He trailed off, words hanging, and his blush flared—red as Rafta's teasing grin sharpened. "Ohhh, someone's been observing real close," Rafta drawled, leaning in, eyes glinting. "Didn't peg you for the type!"
"Shut it, It's not what you think!" Haari snapped, shoving him, but his smile lingered, a lead caught mid-spill, heart bare.
Rafta nodded, smug. " I think that's enough for you."
"Enough for what?" Haari blinked, puzzled—until Rafta sprang up, launching into the pool with a wild "Cannonball!" He aimed for Oki and the Boss, but mid-air—WHACK!—they kicked in sync, a double-strike sending him crashing outside the pool with a SPLASH! Water sprayed, tiles gleaming as he sprawled, dazed.
"Watch where you're going, you pervert!" Oki and the Boss barked, voices syncing in annoyance, their glares twin daggers.
"That's unfair!" Rafta whined, flopping dramatically, water pooling around him. "Why're the ladies having all the fun?!"
Ashi, bobbing in the chaos, caught the shift—her eyes sparkled, a bold idea igniting. "Since it's Holi, why not we, invite all the employees down here?" she called, voice ringing bright, a rallying the troops.
Rafta, still sprawled, propped up on an elbow. "Hey—oi! Are you ignoring me now?!"
The poolside trembled with possibility as Oki's eyes lit up, her wet ponytail flicking water like a spark. "Yeah, Ashi's right!" she chirped, nodding fast. "More people, more fun—let's blow this Holi up!"
What was once a quiet oasis erupted into a whirlwind of life. Word raced through the building like wildfire, and employees poured in—ties loosened, sleeves rolled, their faces glowing with wide-eyed glee. Laughter roared, a symphony of delight, as the air thickened with the sweet, earthy scent of colored powders—crimson, saffron, indigo—swirling like festival magic.
Oki, Ashi, and the Boss—drenched but grinning—took charge like s rallying a squad. Water sloshed off them as they darted around, hauling buckets brimming with vibrant powders and stacking water balloons in teetering piles along the pool's edge. The tiles gleamed wet, reflecting the chaos in shimmering streaks.
Oki, soaked to the bone, spun to Ashi, her grin stretching ear-to-ear, water dripping from her bangs like festival tears. "Look at 'em!" she beamed, waving at the crowd—employees smearing colors, dodging splashes, their smiles bright as the sun. "This is exactly what we needed!"
Ashi's heart swelled, a warm thump blooming in her chest—her first Holi, not alone by a window, not with just Grandma's tales, but here, surrounded by so many, alive in the chaos. She nodded, her hazel eyes sweeping the scene—red powder streaking Oki's cheek, blue staining Haari's shirt as he ducked a balloon, the Boss laughing mid-splash, her suit a rainbow ruin. "It's better than I ever dreamed," she murmured, voice soft but glowing, tasting joy she'd only watched before.