Demons And Disguise

The hotel buzzed with energy, the ambiance alive with the spirit of celebration. It seemed as though the place was designed for parties, with its lavish decor and lively atmosphere. Guests mingled around, some seated at tables enjoying gourmet food and fine wine—juice for the minors—while others stood chatting. Conversations flowed about work, family, secret affairs, vacations, and the latest movies. Faces were lit with smiles, though not all were genuine. Some wore expressions of joy, while others masked their true feelings behind polite, forced grins.

They were none other than demons in disguise, ready to backstab when the opportunity arose.

"Well! Everyone, first of all, I thank you for coming here." A voice erupted from the microphone planted in the hotel. "This is Takoaki Matsuura, the one hosting tonight's party. I believe most of you already know the reason for this gathering, but for those who don't, let me tell you—it's my promotion! I've been elevated from sales representative to sales supervisor, all thanks to my employer, my boss, and my life saver, Mr. Seiji Kosei."

As Matsuura continued praising his company and boss, a hurried couple entered the party hall—A husband gripping his wife's hand tightly. Trailing behind them was another man, a quiet observer, a one-sided lover with conflicted emotions.

"See, because of your unnecessary questions, we're late!" Yuto muttered to Sumire.

The three found an empty table, quietly settling in as Matsuura's speech carried on. Yuto, Sumire, and Yoshishi exchanged glances, though only Yoshishi's gaze lingered a moment longer on Sumire.

"Our company has come this far thanks to the dedication of its employees and the integrity of its founder. He is not only a leader but a beacon of honesty and inspiration. Tonight, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on our journey and the legacy we've built, by delving into the remarkable history that brought us here..."

The speech dragged on with Takoaki Matsuura showering praise on the company, as if it were the most honest and transparent in the world, even though everyone in the room knew it was riddled with corruption like any other. Yuto listened intently, almost lost in a daydream, imagining the day he would throw an even grander party and give a speech far longer than Takoaki's. Meanwhile, Sumire and Yoshishi were more focused on munching the gourmet dishes in front of them.

"Boring! How can he sit there, listening to that nonsense for so long? He really seems into this kind of thing, doesn't he, Netao-san?" Yoshishi said, gesturing toward Yuto with a hint of mockery in his voice.

Sumire smiled and, with a playful glint in her eyes, added, "Aisuke-san, you're absolutely right. He's into the most boring things. Our tastes couldn't be more different. You know, there was this one weekend—I wanted to watch a football match, but he insisted on a movie. We ended up fighting about it for three nights straight. It was hilarious."

As Sumire spoke, her words flowed effortlessly, like a river breaking free. She became animated, her chatter filling the space between them, and Yoshishi listened with rapt attention. To him, her voice was like a melody.

When she finally paused, Yoshishi was quick to make a move, like a predator waiting for the chance to hunt it's prey.

He spoke in a low tone, "Netao-san! Don't you think our tastes are similar? I... I mean, we share a common interest."

His heart raced—not from a crush on Sumire, but from the fear of her reaction. Just as he braced himself, those three words escaped Sumire's lips, and in that moment, he felt himself drift away, lost in a paradise he had envisioned for them both.

"I completely agree!" were the three words Sumire said, smiling at Yoshishi, affirming that their tastes were indeed similar.

Yoshishi turned beet red at her response.

Fool! Why are you blushing? He thought. It would be bad if she sees me like this. He quickly covered his face with his hands. Just then, the speech came to an end, having lasted nearly half an hour.

Yoshishi was fortunate that day; before Sumire could notice his blush, Yuto interrupted, patting her shoulder to get her attention.

"Sumire! Let's go meet Matsuura-kun. I'll introduce you to him so we can congratulate him," Yuto said, who was focused on the speech and oblivious to his friend's flushed face. "Come on, Yoshishi! You need to join us too," he added, glancing at Yoshishi.

Sumire nodded in agreement and followed her husband.

As Yoshishi stood up to catch up with them, he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder and heard a voice calling from behind.

"Aisuke-san! Seriously, you're really a demon in disguise."