Chapter Text
2024 - Year epilogue takes place (Togawa 31, Nozue 41)
2023 - Year story takes place (Togawa 30, Nozue 40)
2022 - Year show takes place (Togawa 29, Nozue 39)
2014 - Year Togawa is hired (Togawa 22, Nozue 32)
2008 - Year Hanada is fired (Togawa 16, Nozue 26)
2007 - Year Nozue is hired (Togawa 15, Nozue 25)
Togawa worked under Nozue for 8 years, Hanada was fired 6 years before Togawa was hired
Togawa and Nozue have lunch, they've been together for a year. Togawa asks Nozue to move in with him- Nozue implies its a Yes after some prodding, but hesitantly insists they have to talk about something after work first. They part ways, and Togawa is extremely antsy the whole day.
After work they meet up at Togawa's place, and Nozue explains that he would love to move in together, but they need to declare their relationship to the company first. Togawa is confused as to why they need to, but Nozue explains they'll see the change of address for them both, and neither of them are young anymore- they both make good money and don't need roommates. It'd become obvious anyway. Togawa asks why bother if that's the case, and Nozue says two things: he wants to make it clear he sees their relationship as serious and important, and also, because he used to be Togawa's boss, he's likely to be subject to an internal investigation re: misconduct, and not declaring it first might make it worse.
Togawa asks in horror if it means Nozue might lose his job, and Nozue says he can't guarantee he won't (for implied homophobia). Togawa tries to say he'd resign instead if that happens, and Nozue cuts him off, saying that Togawa is just starting his career, and Nozue has a good nest egg for not going out much prior to being with Togawa. They argue, and they don't sleep in the same bed (Togawa on his own futon and Nozue in his bed because even angry he adores him).
They go to work tense and upset the next day. Togawa ends up having lunch with Kono (woman with long hair), who picks up on what he's mad about because he makes a few Slips, and reveals she dated a woman in college- she discovered she's straight, but she's still friends with that woman and her new gf. Togawa asks why she reveals this and she says it's so Togawa can trust her, and to prove most people would Probably be fine with them. The only people who wouldn't are the old fashioned top brass, who Nozue is most likely trying to protect him against. He thanks her and considers what she said as they go back to work.
Meanwhile, Nozue is confiding the same thing to Kirishima-san, since as his friend she would be excluded from the investigation regardless. She apologizes for assuming things and saying all that stuff about women to him. He accepts her apology, and tells her old fashioned people like them can still grow and learn. They then reminisce about a guy who was outed at the company and fired right before Togawa was hired. They gave better policies on it now, but that's why Nozue is so serious about doing this the right way- he refuses to let something like that happen to Togawa. She tosses his words back in his face, saying he's not Togawa's boss anymore and shouldn't make big choices like that unilaterally without him. She wishes him luck, and invites the couple over for dinner at her place sometime.
They meet up after work, and Togawa goes first, getting a little heated and tearful, saying he's torn between being glad Nozue loves and cares for him so much but hurt because he decided to shoulder the burden alone. Nozue apologizes, admitting that accepting all the possible consequences on his own was just the path of least resistance, and he can't think like he's alone anymore. They reconcile [Maybe sex scene? Might keep seperate], and talk about house (because Nozue is in this for the long haul, he doesn't want a temporary apartment. Togawa swoons a little) hunting once the investigation is over.
Nozue makes the declaration, and it goes just as he expects. Once the investigation begins, he has to go on paid leave and can't see anyone from work besides the investigators. He says it'd be best if Togawa blocked him for the time being to make it easier, and they have a not-quite-an-argument and bittersweet goodbye. Perspective focuses on Togawa for a while, who is mopey AND has to dodge questions at work. Kono and Kirishima try to do damage control for him as best they can. Eventually they get a contract with another company, and Togawa is sent to meet their representative. It's the guy who got outed and fired in the 2010s, though Togawa doesn't know that yet.
He invites Togawa out for drinks (in a non flirty way) and reveals at the restaurant it was because his gaydar went off. Togawa, strung out and lonely, doesn't deny it and they bond and chat. The guy [Hanada? Something with an H idk why] asks if Nozue is still the same. Togawa startles, but cautiously says he is. He reveals his tragic backstory, and says Nozue was one of the few people sympathetic to him, and even helped him get the job he has now. Togawa realizes this dude is why Nozue was so worried about the company's reaction, and is again conflicted- Nozue cares, but STILL wasn't honest with him. He reveals their relationship and the guy laughs, saying he can understand Togawa's feelings (the conflict and being into Nozue for so long) completely. H reveals his BF and the pair are invited on a double date sometime.
Cut to Nozue, who is sad and in his own head, and then realizes he needs friends besides coworkers and Togawa because he has no one to talk to. He looks into a cooking class and goes to a session, it's mostly older women who obviously love him, but he meets a gay man and a lesbian (younger than him ofc but he has a way with the youngin's) and they bond.
Back to Togawa, who is acing the new contract, and it's really obvious that now that he's in his 30s, it's getting to be promotion time for him. However there is some gossip that because of Nozue's investigation and the whole gay thing (Kono was right, most people were kind, but the world is the world) he might get passed up. Togawa hears this and decides he's going to do so well that there's no way he gets passed up, because of there's a possibility Nozue can be fired, he'll need to provide for him (he is unaware that Nozue has good investments and in like 10 years could support them both without working, my man was accidentally ready for early retirement).
Nozue gets lunch with his new pals after class, and tells them about his situation. After they're done ooh-ing and aww-ing about how he's learning to cook for his younger boyfriend, they tell him they'll support him. After this, he has an interview for the investigation. We only see part of it, but some of the initial questions are already invasive and unfair.
Return to Togawa, who is at the gym with H, as they're decent friends now. H asks if Nozue might get jealous when he learns about this, and thinking of the disastrous goukon, Togawa says no (spoiler: he's extremely wrong). H takes a photo and Togawa, who doesn't care about pictures and social media if Nozue isn't involved, lets him post this. It has a cheeky, but not quite flirty (but if you haven't seen your BF in weeks might seem so) caption about working out with a hot guy.
Later, Togawa has to give an interview with his side of the story. He tries to be objective as possible, because he knows too much praise for Nozue will look like he was coached on what to say. He talks to Kono afterwards and admits he's relieved.
Nozue and Togawa's POVs intertwine as they await the results of the investigation (it's been two weeks). It is declared that there was no misconduct or favoritism while Nozue was Togawa's direct superior, and he can return to work. Joy abounds as pretty much everyone loves Nozue. Togawa breaks paperwork doing records and goes to Nozue's house at the earliest possible opportunity, and is welcomed with open arms [Another potential sex scene]. In bed, they fantasize about their house, maybe having a home gym and etc. Tigawa considers reiterating his marriage proposal, but holds off for now. They fall asleep happy.
Nozue's return date isn't until after the weekend (it's Friday now), so he sends a reluctant Togawa to work with a kiss. Better at tech now, he scrolls Instagram/Whatever the use in Japan and finds posts Togawa is tagged in, seeing the gym post. He feels jealous, and then guilt for feeling jealous, and then shock that it's the guy he knows. He spends so much time brooding on it he almost forgets to get up and get dressed to go to the grocery store, having promised Togawa a nice dinner that night. He does so, with a troubled heart.
Togawa comes back later, and while Nozue seems normal there's something clearly off. He briefly forgets this during their flirty dinner, but remembers as Nozue seems stiff while he tries to cuddle. He pries into it and Nozue reveals how they feel, and there's a proper argument (ie why can Togawa be jealous and not him, why Nozue never revealed H's story to Togawa, etc), but they refuse to go to bed angry again and hash it out. They talk about how Nozue felt guilt he couldn't do more for H and Togawa both, and Togawa says if Nozue had lost his job because of him he'd be devastated. They see each other's POV and make up. Togawa pops the question, and Nozue's answer isn't revealed.
Epilogue: Housewarming party with their canon coworkers and new OC friends. I faked you out, Nozue said yes.
Sample Workplace Dating Policy