Yes

Despite life giving you multiple opportunities, you decide to go with Akiko.

Maybe it’ll work out for her?

Maybe Kenji is better off than you think?

Maybe this isn’t a mistake?

You turn around and leave the room with Akiko, who is a little buzzed too. When you step out of the building, you find that it’s snowing. Akiko reaches out her hand and catches a flake in her palm. “I’ve never seen snow before.”

“You haven’t? Doesn’t Japan get pretty cold?”

She shrugs. “I’m Okinawian. Never been to mainland Japan.”

“So, I’m assuming it’s pretty warm there? All year long?” You ask, prompting her to nod.

“All year long. I prefer the heat,” she hugs herself. “I don’t much agree with the colder climate of North America.”

“I spent a fair portion of my life down south, but I don’t mind this too much.”

She strolls further down the sidewalk, taking you with her. “You’d like to work in this then?” You catch her glancing at you, the brown of her eyes reflect a pure, natural color. The pink of her nose indicates that the temperature was indeed color than what you were both used to.

You blink. She just said something, didn’t she? Feeling oddly sheepish, you tilt your head and smile, asking her to repeat herself.

“The weather…? Do you like working in this?” She repeats.

You exclaim and stuff your hands in your pockets. “Not something I look forward to, but I’d definitely do it if I have to.”

Silence falls as does the snow. No one is out. It’s just the two of you walking down the sidewalk as street lights cast your shadows. Every so often you look at her from the side. Her eyes drifted down. She’s thinking about something, but you’re too afraid to ask what’s on her mind.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow,” she announces. “With the AC and furnace working I’ll be able to focus more on my movements.”

“Pretty involved with it then, huh?” You say, making her dart her eyes at you.

“Of course I am. I’ve worked my entire life to be where I am now. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else honestly. I want to go to so many places!”

She double checks you, widening her smile. “How many places have you been to? I bet you get to go all over the place, as a contractor and all.”

“Sometimes it isn’t so much the place as it is the thing you are we doing.” You sigh. Deadwood wasn’t much, but it was actually giving a pretty good feel… or at least it was. There was guilt under the surface now. You let a little bit of a deeper sigh following your comment. “Hopefully I won’t remember Deadwood as another bad memory.”

Akiko closes her eyes and thinks again, gauging the proper response to the sudden change of mood. She decides to pin everything on you. “What’s the worst thing you’ve done?”

She then blurts out an apology, realizing that she might be overstepping her boundaries with such a personal question, especially for someone who works in your field.

You laugh to lighten the mood, but a million terrible actions line themselves for your reply. “I think the worst thing to do is…”

You look down at her. You’re gonna have to sugar coat your reply. “I accidentally slipped on ice while chasing someone.”

She giggles. “That’s not so bad.”

You shrug. “Ah, maybe not. The guy I was chasing stole a wagon full of supplies the next morning since I didn’t nab’em though.”

You can see the hotel approaching. Your 1-on-1 conversation is quickly coming to a close. “How about you? The worst thing?”

“Oh that’s easy.” She says quickly. “I tripped during my interview with Katana Arts. I walked right into their office and tripped over my own feet before I made it to their chair.”

A groan leaves her mouth as she recalls the regret. “That was so stupid of me. I wasn’t even nervous, but I tripped!”

“Clumsy your character?”

“Hah? No. I just...whenever someone important is nearby it seems something ridiculous happens to me.”

Once you’re in the lobby, Akiko continues to follow you, making her way towards her room as you did the same. You banter some more, small talk. Eventually, she reaches the first floor with all the first rooms. You walk her to the hallway and she starts to walk off, but she stops herself and guides herself back towards you just before you could make it back to the hallway.

“Sachio.” She says, making your brows knit. “She...really seems to be in love with Kenji. If you wanted me to ask again, I’ll think something that’ll involve all of us again.”

“Of course,” you look down, wondering what the 4 of them were doing right now. “If Kenji isn’t totally hungover tomorrow, I’m sure we could make a dinner plan or something?”

“6 is too crowded for a dinner,” she replied. “Maybe we should just make plans like tonight's a frequent little thing?”

“Or…” something dumb comes up, so you shut yourself up. “Yeah, nevermind. Let’s do that instead!”

Akiko smiles a little wider, even as you both split off from each other. You get cleaned up and lay in bed. Your thoughts are swimming...Swimming is good memories, but as you trail off to the deep end, you start thinking about Kenji and Sachio. You toss and turn for the first hour, but manage to find sleep.