Chapter 242 - Worth

"Are we really getting on?"

Suzuki Aki turned to see Chiaki looking nervously ahead. They stood in front of one of the sixty cars of the Ferris wheel, the door opened, waiting for them to enter.

"Of course. Are you chickening out?" Aki challenged, ruffling just enough feathers for Chiaki to take the bait and even walked on ahead before him and entered the waiting car first. The mischievous man grinned as he watched her go and followed suit, after thanking the guy who held the door for them.

"You should scoot more over there," Chiaki told him as she waved at him with her hand indicating that he moved away, but Aki refused.

"What for? It's better like this," he said with a grin that almost blinded her.

The car of the Cosmo Clock 21 was huge. It could fit eight people inside, so Aki and Chiaki had more than enough room. However, despite that, they chose to sit totally across from each other. Because Aki was tall, his legs were expectedly long. Since Chiaki had pretty long legs herself, their limbs were almost touching.

"Stop complaining. You act like that grandma next door," he teased which made her sputter.

He was talking about the old lady who lived next to Chiaki's place. The old woman lived alone, but the neighbors didn't want to have anything to do with her as she was too grumpy, always complaining about everyone.

"I'm not that grumpy – and I'm not that old," Chiaki complained as she tried to scowl at him, but instead of being discouraged, his grin only widened.

"No, you're not old. You're still not wrinkly – but I have to check just in case you're lying," he continued as he reached out in the attempt to pinch her arm as he always had when they were younger.

"Y-YOU!"

Chiaki sputtered once more, but she was already laughing as she tried to swat his hand away.

"You don't have to check," she complained when she failed to slap his hand.

"But I have to. Be thankful I'm very concerned about you," Aki insisted, his eyes dancing in mischief – but of course he was just jesting.

His hand reached out, but he didn't pinch her. Instead, he took hold of her hands and held them firmly. His mouth opened as if to say something but didn't for the car started trembling, and the Ferris wheel began to rotate.

The two of them sat in silence, still holding hands as the car was lifted up from the ground, and they could see the scenery expanding as the altitude increased.

The night view was very much illuminated, the lights blinking like dancing stars in the night sky.   The soft waves at the port rippled making the reflection in the water prance, making the view very magical.

The two of them hadn't had time to go out and just look at the view for a while. They had been too engrossed at work and their personal lives that they hadn't gone out to relax for years.

"Beautiful," Chiaki murmured as she gazed outside and down below.

"Yeah, beautiful," Aki agreed, although when Chiaki turned to face him she blushed as she realized he was not talking about the scenery below but the view before his eyes.

The lights reflected on the glass window and on her face, the glow dancing on her skin, highlighting her profile. It was the beauty he was talking about – those high cheekbones, those half-closed eyes as they stared below, her naturally long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks, her tall nose and the rosy pair of lips.

Silence hung between them, the two of them feeling shy which was very strange as they had known each other for years. They were the best of friends – had remained that way since that time she chased away those bullies who hurt him.

However, the two of them right now could never deny the truth anymore. There was something special between them – something far much stronger than friendship. There was no turning back. For Aki, this was now or never, while for Chiaki, this was the end.

There was nowhere to run anymore – not that she wanted to do that again.

No more.

The hands that held each other tightened as their eyes drank each other's image as if the two of them couldn't get enough of looking at each other.

"I'm so sorry for being such an insecure but prideful coward," she apologized softly. "I just really didn't want people to look down on you. I wanted to be someone very important in your life."

If she wasn't too stubborn she reckoned they'd have been together a long time ago. He was right. No matter how long it took, how hard she worked just to improve how people would regard her, there would still be those who would continue to be disapproving. But they didn't matter.

Just as Aki had told her earlier, others didn't hold weight in their hearts. Criticisms, rumors – those things would never stop anyway. It was useless to live according to what others thought they should.

"Yes, you are that," Aki softly rebuked her, making her pout, but she accepted it.

He was, however, not angry at all. "But that was part of your charm. You work so hard as you always have since we were kids – nobody would ever dare say you're not a prominent part of not just my life but also the company, Chiaki."

When she looked confused, he continued. "Didn't you hear what I told Ara earlier when she called me on the phone?"

Oh…

Chiaki blinked several times as she recalled what Aki said. He was on the speakerphone at that time, she was surprised he knew. But, she did recall what he said when Ara told him she'd take time off from work to tutor her.

"As long as you will let Chiaki go in case Suzuki Raiden has an emergency, I'm fine with it," Aki repeated what he told Ara earlier. "It's what I said, right?"

Chiaki nodded.

"It's because you are a very important worker. Without you, Suzuki Raiden Group wouldn't be in this position in the business world at all."

Aki's words made Chiaki remember all those sleepless nights the two of them and their team spent working hard to earn those deals and proposals. He was right. She had always been there, and the realization showed on her face.

"See? You were so worried about your worth. But Chiaki, you're much too precious to the company – and to me."