Mr. Hanzo simply nodded at Yuki before walking into his office and shutting the door. Siting at his desk he looked at the time, 317PM. He couldnt leave no earlier then 545pm. The train would be at the station by six. Answering the phone his mind began calculating the escape plan to get home. 

Misuki tilted her head as she smiled at the cow. She had got the point. It was clear by the rapid way the Yuki was typing. Like a kid in an arcade crushing the buttons trying to hit harder. Miskui strode to her desk in victory and returned to work. 

Yuki tried her best not to notice the interns victory. At least from offering any outward sign to her rival. She needed this job. Her apartment, her school bills, the car note, they all were driving her to overcome all obstacles to her path of advancement in the company. To this she would sacrifice anything to achieve her goal! 

________________________________________

Miku went about her day making data points, replying to emails, lost in her fantasy. It was just a harmless little dream. She was married. He was just a teen she told herself of all the fail safes that kept her grounded. Mitzumi understood, she was so attentive to her story. Miku knew that they were friends for this reason. Two sides of a coin. She the wife sensible and grounded, her friend the life of the party wild card and free spirit. Each sharing some sort of modern symbiosis with the other. The cell vibrated on her desk. Her eyes read the message from Aki... "Where are you? What happened? Mitzumi called and text me this. Are you okay? I'm coming home tonight. Let me know you are all right!!" Looking up at the doorway Miku was trying to piece it together herself. He never called her at work, never in five years. Mitzumi was messaging him? How long was that going on? [i]...Mitzumi was messaging HIM AT WORK?![/i] Something in her snapped like a demon breaking through the ground! Her mind spiraled like some category eight typhon! Like the anime character going into overdrive displaying the one red glowing eye; she silently began to rage! All the karaoke nights, all the playful leans, the cute laughs, the gazing at him... All it took was a few messages at work from her and Aki was going to just drop everything and come home? HA! Her eyes narrowed, her mind began to set sniper points like some war documentary! She looked at the time, 406pm the earliest train he could take was the six pm. He would never leave work earlier then seven, the next train to that was the eight pm train. It would still take over an hour for him to get home. Her eyes narrowed, she would be ready! At home with the lights dimmed, cook him the usual meal, her white shoulder strap blouse with a modest knee length green skirt, her hair tied back into a super cute pony tail, the wifely apron 'kiss the cook' print. Then to sit back and let the blowfish poison do the work as she rubbed her hands together sinisterly. Miku softly bit her lower lip and gave a sideways glance, well maybe not that far... not yet.

She sent a test to her friend, "Lets have dinner tonight. My treat."

"I am going out. Date night! Wish me luck." -Mitzumi 
Mitzumi could feel the icy hands of death behind her. She knew her friends temper. They had the agreement and an agreement with Miku was practically a blood oath! 'No texting or calling Aki unless it was and emergency' She had done both, in the same day. It marked her for death, there was no way around it. The bushido code would be considered suggestions compared to Miku's word. That woman was an assassin in her determination. In a movie this would be the moment the shuriken shot through the open window and struck the wall next to her head as a warning. Then the ninja a mile away deep in the bamboo forest would sink into the shadows after laughing ominously. Mitzumi sighed defeatedly, slumping in the chair in her office. She was so screwed.
___________________

Mr. Hanzo answered calls checked his cell and sent out the emails. At 540PM he emerged from his office. Already in his suit jacket, "I'm leaving for the day. You both have done good work. I need you two to close the office and be out by six, go home. A sofa is no place for you. I will see you both tomorrow morning at seven sharp." They both hopped up from their chairs and bowed. He bowed and then bolted for the door! His fast speed walking could be heard down the hall. 

Misuki gave her coworker a look, "Is this a test? Are we allowed to leave three hours early?"

Yuki shrugged. "I need to get some more work done. Is this some sort of time challenge? I cant get three hours of work done in twenty minutes!" 

With a knowing look they sat back down and kept typing.

Aki was at the train station just as it was pulling in. He was mostly alone. There were a few other guys there some of them had small cardboard boxes with office stuff. He had to get home. There was no reply from either of them. If he left work early over one of Mitzumi's pranks he was going to give her an ear full! Hanzo shook his head as he got on the train. No, she knew not to do that. Miku made her promise not to call or text unless it was life or death. Mitzumi knew Miku would not tolerate her pulling a prank like this. His cell rang. It was Miku.

"Is everything all right?" -Aki

"Yes I'm sorry Mitzumi bothered you at work." -Miku

".... You didnt answer. I am on the train." I was worried, is what he should of said, instead he said this, "I left work three hours early!"

"I didnt ask you to!" -Miku

"Then why didnt you answer the phone?"- Aki

"I was working. I do that too you know!" -Miku

Akis anger was growing but it should of went to Mitzumi. "Are you home?"

"...Yes"-Miku

She never came home this early! Seven pm sure, maybe six thirty, but not now. Something was going on! "I'm coming home. We need to talk."

"Okay. I will come get you from the station." -Miku

"Okay." As soon as the call ended he texted Mitzumi. "We need to talk. This is serious."

Mitzumi read the text on her way home. She had really stepped in it. "Are you home?"

"Not yet. I'm on the train. Why is Miku home? What is going on?" -aki

"She is lonely. She needs you home. Miku told me about the interns. Why did you get two girls? Bad move." -Mitzumi

"They were the most qualified, lived the closest, newly graduated, went to the same university as me." -Aki

"bad move." -Mitzumi

He rolled his eyes. So that is how it was. Aki sighed. It was going to be a fight. There was no backing out now. Looking at himself in the windows reflection he shook his head, "Baka."