"I brought you coffee." Watari handed him the steaming mug.

"Thank you." Tatsumi took it by the ear from him. How kind. He paused with it half-way to his lips. "It's not drugged or anything, is it?"

"Well, no!" Watari spluttered, looked indignant. "Whatever for?"

"Just checking." Tatsumi took a careful sip. It's alright, he thought, though I'd rather it black.

"All experiments are on hold," Watari said, magnanimously. "Until Christmas. And further grants from the finance department." He looked sideways at Tatsumi.

Tatsumi pretended to be blissfully ignorant. "Why until Christmas?"

"Because!" Watari threw up his hands. "Office party! Preparations! Tinsel! Streamers! Shiny bells!" He cackled.

"... ... Christmas is weeks away."

"So?" Watari was positively hopping about at this point in time. "The earlier the better! All the department stores in Tokyo are already decorating."

Tatsumi had noticed the gold crepe paper inching its way along the corridor. And the cellophane fringe ("Season's Greetings!") fluttering beneath the air-conditioner in the common room. And the plastic holly and berries tacked above the water-cooler. Which could only mean-

"It was you," he declared. Watari only grinned. "I knew it."

"Did I say anything?" Watari asked, eyes wide and innocent. "Ne, Tatsumi, you think so poorly of me!"

"I-"

Watari pushed back his sleeve and gave a theatrical gasp. "Won't you look at the time? Productivity standards are falling as we speak! Oh dear!"

"Important shipment in the common room?" Tatsumi deadpanned, but Watari was already racing to the door.

"Must be going now! Bye, Tatsumi!" Watari thrilled. As the door shut behind him, the last thing Tatsumi heard was 'yule log' and a squeal.

Tatsumi sat, slightly dazed, in the sudden silence. Then, slowly, he reached for his coffee and scrutinized it closely.

Taking a long swallow before it turned cold, he look back at the reports on hand.

He could learn to drink it with sugar. It wasn't half-bad.

 

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