Actually, There’s Someone at Your Workplace Who Likes You ~ I’m Being Transferred to a Sales Office Filled With Only Beautiful Women!?

“By the way, Hirabayashi-san, do you have a girlfriend?”

“Huh…?”

“Ah, no… I just thought that if you had left a girlfriend behind when you transferred, it must be tough for you…”

Oh, so that’s what she meant.

I was surprised for a moment since she suddenly asked if I had a girlfriend.

“No, it’s fine. I don’t have one.”

“But someone like you, Hirabayashi-san, will surely find a wonderful girlfriend in no time.”

For someone like me, who had been single my entire life, to be told that… Hikawa-san was such a kind person.

But making her say something like that felt like I was making her go out of her way to be polite.

“No way. Hikawa-san, you must have a wonderful boyfriend yourself, right?”

“Huh…!? W-w-what are you saying, Hirabayashi-san!? I don’t have anyone like that! Geez, Hirabayashi-san!”

Hikawa-san’s face turned bright red as she smacked me on the shoulder. I thought she was a cool and composed person, but she was actually quite friendly.

“What are you talking about, Hikawa-san? You’re so beautiful.”

Her friendliness rubbed off on me, and before I knew it, I ended up saying that while lightly patting her shoulder.

Thinking about it rationally, saying something like that to a female client could be considered sexual harassment nowadays. But since she was the one who brought up my personal life first, and the atmosphere was lighthearted, I just went along with the conversation.

At that moment, a loud voice suddenly rang out from behind.

“W-w-what are you doing, Hirabayashi-kun!? H-Hikawa-san! I deeply apologize for Hirabayashi’s rudeness! Please, I beg for your forgiveness!!”

Turning around, I saw Kozakai-san standing there, bowing deeply with both hands stretched out in front of her.

Her face had gone pale, as if she were a corrupt official groveling before a righteous magistrate.

—Ah. Calling her a corrupt official was a bit rude to Kozakai-san.

“Oh, Kozakai-san, it’s fine. Hirabayashi-san didn’t do anything inappropriate. We were just having a fun conversation.”

“Huh…?”

Kozakai-san’s face now wore an expression so dumbfounded that it almost ruined her beauty. She was someone whose expressions changed rapidly.

“Actually, I was pretty angry earlier, but thanks to Hirabayashi-san, I ended up like this.”

Hikawa-san shrugged her shoulders and playfully stuck out her tongue with an “Ehehe”.

It was at that moment that I realized—when a cool beauty made such an adorable gesture, it was unbelievably charming.

Because up until now, I had never seen anything like that before.

“Um… Hikawa-san, what exactly…?”

Kozakai-san, still in shock, asked hesitantly. Hikawa-san explained the whole situation to her—including my exact words, verbatim. That was unbelievably embarrassing.

“—And that’s how it happened. Kozakai-san, you’ve got a great colleague.”

“Uh… huh. Thank you.”

“Still, I’m kind of jealous. Kozakai-san, you’re really loved, aren’t you?”

“Huh…? L-l-loved!?”

I was surprised by her choice of words, but Kozakai-san seemed even more shocked. Her face turned bright red, and she started flailing around awkwardly.

“Yes, as a colleague, of course.”

“Ah… oh. A-as a colleague…”

“That’s right.”

Hikawa-san held back a laugh and smiled warmly at Kozakai-san.

Well, if she meant being loved as a colleague, I guess I had no objections either.

“You two seem like the best partners, Kozakai-san.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“Well then, Kozakai-san, Hirabayashi-san, I have some paperwork to process, so I’ll get back to work now.”

“Ah, Hikawa-san! I really apologize for causing trouble with my mistake.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Kozakai-san. Just make sure to be careful from now on, okay? I’m counting on you.”

Hikawa-san gave a polite bow, and Kozakai-san bowed deeply in return. Her expression was calm, and that was a relief.

After leaving the office, just before getting into the car in the parking lot, Kozakai-san spoke up.

“Hirabayashi, seriously, thank you. I really thought the deadline was next week…”

“No worries. I make mistakes too. These things happen.”

“But I heard from Ruka-tan that you didn’t even hesitate before rushing over. I really appreciate it. And on top of that, you managed to get along so well with the terrifying Hikawa-san. What kind of magic did you use?”

“No magic at all. Just like she explained—I just kept apologizing as sincerely as I could.”

“Hmmm…”

Kozakai-san had a complicated expression—half skeptical, half convinced. A bit of a side-eye look. But that was the truth, so there wasn’t much else I could say.

“Well, Hikawa-san did call us best partners, so I’ll be counting on you from now on, Kozakai-san.”

“B-best partners… S-she really said that, huh? Ahaha… You and me, best partners? That’s… weird, right…?”

…Huh?

Did she not like being called that?

No, that wasn’t the vibe I was getting.

Her gaze was slightly upward, and the way she spoke felt like she was fishing for a reaction.

“Well, I think so. Is that a problem?”

“Huh…? N-no…! I-it’s not a problem or anything… I mean, you really did help me out this time…”

“Alright, then we’re best partners from now on.”

I said it half-jokingly.

And for some reason, Kozakai-san suddenly started getting flustered.