Chapter 23: CH 23

The next morning.

My daily routine still started at the front of the train.

It was said that top athletes do the same thing every day to maintain a certain level of motivation.

But today, I felt better than ever.

I even looked forward to going to the office.

Yesterday, Otozui had been depressed because of the director, but after a while she had regained her usual energy.

At that time, she said to me, “I’m glad you’re here,” and I was glad to hear that.

This was what seniority is all about.

Then, a high school girl with a plain tone appeared as if it were a scheduled event.

“Good morning, Onii-San”

“Hey, Yuika.”

Standing next to me, Yuika bounced her back against the wall.

Recently, I noticed that whenever she leaned against the wall, she bounced her body only once.

As If she was asserting that this was my place.

Showing such a childish side, Yuika immediately started to talk to me.

“Hey. Something good happened to you, didn’t it?”

“Not that it was anything good. Just a little thing.”

“I see.”

As if to say, “I’m interested,” Yuika took a bite.

I had been with Yuika for some time, so it was to be expected that this would happen.

However, if I told Yuika, she would definitely try to connect it to romance.

When that happens, I always end up getting caught up in her trap.

Since it was frustrating to always be on the losing side, I decided to be tactical and not talk about it.

Phew, I won.

I already know what you’re going to do.

“I’m telling you, I won’t talk.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“I’m not a man who talks a lot.”

“Yeah, I know. So?”

“It’s really not that big a deal.”

“You said you were ready to talk.”

“…”

I decided to tell her briefly about what had happened yesterday.

At first, Yuika listened to me with her casual attitude, but when she heard about the harassment by the director, her eyes narrowed as expected.

However, when I told her that I had turned him, she looked at me as if she was impressed, “Hmm.”

“That’s what happened.”

“Yeah. Maybe this will teach him a lesson, and his harassment will calm down a bit.”

“How’s your junior?”

“She’s fine. I think we’re a little closer now.”

Feeling a little embarrassed, I fiddled with my bangs with my fingers.

Then Yuika said in a casual tone.

“You’re smirking, Onii-San.”

“No… I wasn’t smiling at all.”

“You were smiling a lot.”

What? Her words seemed to have thorns … (T/N: Thorns here could mean anger/annoyance right waifu?)

Then Yuika started groping my arm with her thumb as she grabbed it.

Guriguriguri… Guriguriguri…

Mu~ …

It didn’t hurt, but I felt a lot of unidentified pressure.

“Are you mad at me, by any chance?”

“Do I have a reason to be angry?”

“Like, jealousy――”

“What?”

Just as I was about to ask her if she was jealous, Yuika quickly interrupted me.

“What? What were you going to say?”

Yuika. I’m afraid of your eyes.

“Oh, … no. There is no … nothing.”

“I won’t get mad, just say it. I really won’t get angry.”

You would definitely be angry.

Everyone in the world knew that people who said things like that would definitely get angry.

And stop groping me with your thumb.

However, it was dangerous to ask if she was jealous here.

My life is at stake.

It’s best to play it safe.

“On a different note, …”

“What are you trying to do, change things?”

“No?”

“No.”

My way out was blocked.

I was too embarrassed to say anything, but Yuika smiled at me.

“Anyway, I’m glad things worked out with your junior.”

“Well, yeah. It’s thanks to Yuika.”

“Wow, you’re honest.”

“I’m honest.”

“That’s disgusting.”

“Don’t be shy.”

However, there was no doubt that it was thanks to Yuika that I was able to get along with Otozui like this, so I was really grateful.

If it weren’t for her occasional use of foul language, she could pass as a normal beautiful girl. … It was a shame.

However, there were still some things I hadn’t told Yuika.

Yesterday evening, the director said something that bothered me.

If she failed in her next presentation, Otozumi would be sent to the chores department.

There was no such department in our company, but there was a bad tradition of forcing employees who were candidates for demotion to do miscellaneous work and forcing them to retire.

I’ve heard that no one had fallen victim to this since I joined the company, but I was sure the director would do it.

For Otozui’s sake, I need to make the next presentation a success.

“Hey. By the way, why is your junior colleague being eyed by the manager?”

“Oh. In April of this year, I did a live webcast of my work to promote the company. I messed up a little then.

“What kind of incident?”

“I fell down and took off the manager’s wig.”

“PV’s growing.” (PV= Present Value)

“It went up a lot.”

■–Afterword–■

Next time, Otozui starts saying that she wants memories!