Actually, There’s Someone at Your Workplace Who Likes You ~ I’m Being Transferred to a Sales Office Filled With Only Beautiful Women!? - Chapter 10: Ruka Takes Care Of Honoka

When Ruca entered the restroom, Honoka was staring at herself in the mirror with a serious expression.

“Found you, Honoka-senpai.”

“Ah… Wh-what is it, Ruka-tan? Is there something you need?”

“How did you get that prospective employee to cancel their resignation?”

Ruca’s question made Honoka explain the situation.

“Wow, you really did it, Hirabayashi-san.”

“Ah, well… yeah. It’s nice and all, but it kind of annoys me…”

Honoka puffed out her cheeks and pouted. As expected, she was beautiful—even with that face, it was cute.

“I was thinking…” 

“What is it?”

“Honoka-senpai, you said Hirabayashi-san was trying to win us over, right?”

“Yeah, I think so, but… what about it?”

“Do you think someone who’s trying to win us over would suddenly be so straightforward with a work-related criticism?”

“Well, I mean…”

“I think Hirabayashi-san isn’t just trying to win us over. He’s a kind person who’s willing to say things that are hard to say, even if it’s for the other person’s benefit. Don’t you think so, Honoka-senpai?”

“Ah…”

Honoka seemed like she wanted to say something in response, but she just kept opening and closing her mouth, unable to find the words.

She looked like a goldfish.

“Well, Hirabayashi-san did try to be considerate while saying it.” 

“Y-yeah, I get it, okay?” Honoka swung her arms back and forth at her sides like a child. Despite her small frame, it looked almost like a child throwing a tantrum. But the way her chest bounced was anything but childlike.

In an almost soothing manner, Ruca spoke to her in a gentle voice.

“Right? Hehe. Anyway, Honoka-senpai, I’m glad you were able to avoid the resignation.”

“Ah, yeah. Thanks,” Honoka replied with a somewhat complex expression.

〈Rinta’s Side〉

Aido-san said she would take care of Kozakai-san and chased after her to the restroom. She also gave me the advice to “apologize properly,” and I really appreciated it.

While I was thinking about that, Kozakai-san came back from the restroom alone.

“Ah, Kozakai-san!”

When I called out to her, she glared at me silently.

She was still angry, huh?

It was a little scary. I hoped it’d go okay.

Oh, wait, no, I couldn’t be scared now.

I needed to apologize properly.

“Kozakai-san, sorry. I was wrong.”

“Huh… Why are you apologizing?”

Kozakai-san looked very surprised by my sudden apology.

“Well, we just met, and I went and gave you some pointed advice. Plus, it was in front of our junior, Aido-san.”

“Ah… Well, it’s not like it matters that Ruka-tan was there. Or are you saying that I’m the type of person who would get upset if I was corrected in front of a junior?”

Well, actually, Aido-san had told me that might be the case…

Did that make things worse?

“No, it’s not that. I just thought anyone might not like being pointed out like that, so I wanted to apologize.”

After hearing my words, Kozakai-san went silent for a moment, as if thinking it over.

Was this bad?

Hmm… I was trying to apologize sincerely, but…

Maybe she didn’t get it?

Just as I was thinking that, Kozakai-san suddenly looked me straight in the eyes and spoke in a calm voice.

“I’m not that narrow-minded. After thinking it over, I realized you were right. So, I’m sorry for acting like I did earlier. I should be the one apologizing.”

“Eh…?”

Kozakai-san bowed her head.

No way?

Did my feelings… get across?

Also, she had only ever called me “you” before, but now she was using my name for the first time.

“More importantly, I haven’t thanked you yet. Getting that resignation withdrawn was all thanks to you, Hirabayashi. Thanks.”

Kozakai-san’s expression was still somewhat sullen, but her cheeks were lightly flushed.

Even though she talked a lot, she seemed like the type who had a hard time being honest and admitting her true feelings. She probably had a hard time opening up.

As Aido-san said, I really felt like she was actually a good person. Just a gut feeling, though.

“Hey…”

“What?”

“Can I have that pudding from earlier?”

“Huh…? I thought you didn’t like sweets?”

“No, no. That was just something Ruka-tan said. Actually, I love sweets. Especially pudding, it’s my favorite.”

—Is that so!?

Well, that’s great!

There was no such thing as a bad person who loved pudding!

I silently did a fist pump in my head… not really, but I felt relieved.

“I see. Well, how about we eat it now?”

“We’re in the middle of work, though.”

“The Director is out, so it’s snack time now, right?”

“I see.”

When I smiled slyly, Kozakai-san also gave a small smile. Even though she was an idol-like beauty, that smile was a bit mischievous.

While I was getting the pudding from the fridge, Kozakai-san pulled out two spoons for us. After being so distant before, this simple action made her seem incredibly kind.

She really was a good person, just as I thought.

“I’m gonna dig in!”

Kozakai-san removed the lid from her pudding and licked her pink lips with her tongue. It was a bit sexy.

—This girl must really love food.

I was convinced of that.

Then, we both started munching on the pudding.

At that moment, the office door suddenly opened with a click.

“Aaaah! You two are so unfair!”

“It’s not my fault! It’s because Ruka-tan took too long to come back!”

Without stopping eating her pudding, Kozakai-san grumbled at Aido-san.

— “It’s not my fault…” What’s up with that? She was an interesting one.

Rinta chuckled.

“Well, I’ll eat too!”

Aido-san, with an expression of frustration, stomped her feet and walked over to the fridge.

In the end—

The three of us finished off the pudding during work.