The comment drew a laugh from his lips, and gloved fingers curled around a thin stack of paperwork to lift and tap it on the desk. All of it was filled out now, adjusted and ready to go for whatever happened to come of this. The future they painted for themselves almost felt idealistic given the circumstances, but it was a future he wanted to hope on anyway. As much as he loved Kotone and the rest of the gang at Enchante, his life in isolation was something he didn't know if he could tolerate much longer. Spending time with Kotone had taught him that much, even if they had never really gotten much closer than friends. He still understood now the importance of caring for others and being cared for in return, and even if he did not wish to push this life onto others, he didn't think he could go on pretending everything was like it always had been.
Somehow he remembered Souan teaching him that very thing himself... If only he'd listened while the old man were still alive...
"To be honest, I think it would be fun to explore Tokyo as a man and not on business for once," Rindo replied, tucking the newly completed forms into a folder together. "There's so much you miss out on when you're having to deal with the supernatural. Everything is a catastrophe. Everything. I never get a chance to breathe, haha. But with you, I think I could enjoy a nice vacation... Hopefully, anyway. I should be receiving that email within the next couple of days at most, so I'll be sure to inform you whe--"
The sound of a ringtone cut Rindo off before he'd even finished his sentence, and he reached into his pocket to lift out his cellphone. Once again, that sour expression that he'd momentarily had when speaking to his bosses reached his face. Regardless of his displeasure, however, Rindo answered, the call, motioning for Herja to wait with an apology in his face.
"You know, if you really need something this badly, my office is right here," Rindo replied, jaw tightening as he gazed out of the door of his office. There was no one there, but his eyes seemed to focus anyway, as if he knew exactly where this call was coming from. "What do you want?"
The other voice on the line was not as those of Rindo's previous call this time. The man's voice was loud and dramatic, making Rindo tilt his head to the side to keep from hurting his ear while the other called in such a manner as everyone in the room could hear him.
"I'm offended, Rindo! I would think you'd be glad to hear from me in your hour of need! Why, I don't know why you wouldn't come to beg for my aid to begin with!"
"I can handle my own issues," Rindo groaned back into the receiver. "I don't need your help."
"Well, too bad! You know it's my job to look out for you now that--"
Rindo's voice and face snapped into something akin to rage so suddenly that the other was stunned into a momentary silence. Though, this unexpected outburst only seemed to halt him for a moment.
". . . I spoke on your behalf, you know," The voice was greatly toned down now, almost to a volume that couldn't be heard. "I heard about your mishap with the demon clan... I thought... Kotone doesn't deserve to be alone and... Neither do you. Please fill out the forms, Rindo."
And then the man on the other line hung up without giving Rindo a chance to respond.
Rindo was silent for a moment before tucking the phone in his pocket, clearly shocked from the sudden shift, "I apologize... Things never are quite peaceful around here. I suppose I can assume this to mean that my proposal will be accepted, so we can look forward to those days out in the future. If you don't have any more questions, then you're free to go whenever you see fit to do so. Ah, just... I suppose I don't have to tell you to keep all of this secret, yes?"
