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

Aido-san suggested that I call her “Ruka.” I worried that she was forcing herself to say that just for my sake.

So, I voiced my concern, but her response was unexpected.

“Oh, no, Rinta-senpai. That’s not the case at all. I’d be really happy if you called me Ruka.”

“Huh?”

I couldn’t believe my ears.

I stood there in stunned silence, staring at her face.

Then, as if realizing something, Aido-san shook her head slightly, her elegant features shifting into a more composed expression.

And then, as if to emphasize her point, she spoke carefully, enunciating each word.

“Oh, Rinta-senpai. Of course, this is all… for the sake of making everyone more friendly with each other.”

“A-ah. Right. Of course.”

That surprised me.

For a second, it sounded like she was saying she’d genuinely be happy if I called her by her name.

No, no. I must be overthinking things since I arrived here.

That couldn’t possibly be the case.

I shouldn’t misinterpret Aido-san’s kindness like that.

“Got it. I’ll do that from now on. Looking forward to working with you, Ruka.”

“Y-Yes!”

Huh? That was an oddly enthusiastic reply.

“Is this okay, Ruka?”

“Yes!”

Again. That same energetic response…

Wait a second.

This scene felt familiar.

──Ah, I see.

It was just like when I’d first started calling Honoka by her name.

She had also given a strangely enthusiastic reply.

Could it be that this office has an unspoken rule where you must respond energetically when called by your first name?

…No way, right?

I mean, I grew up in a town near here and attended high school in Shimizu City.

There was no way such a custom could have developed in the seven years I’d been away in Tokyo.

Hmm. I didn’t get it.

And when you didn’t understand something, the best thing to do was ask.

“Uh… Ruka?”

“Y-Yes! What is it?”

“Is there some kind of rule in this office that says you have to respond energetically when someone calls you by your first name?”

“Huh…?”

Ruka looked completely bewildered.

It might have been the most bewildered expression I’d ever seen in my life.

“Ah, no… there’s nothing like that. Of course not… ahaha.”

“Ah, yeah. Right! That makes sense. Ahaha…”

So, there really wasn’t such a rule.

Ruka probably thought I was saying something weird, so I laughed it off.

I still didn’t quite understand, but I decided to just let the topic slide.

Thinking that, I brought up the J-League to Ruka.

She had mentioned she liked soccer, after all.

Fortunately, she immediately took the bait, and from there, we got into a lively conversation about soccer.

As I talked with Ruka, I glanced at the other two.

Honoka, seemingly uninterested, soon started nodding off where she sat. I decided to just leave her be.

The manager, on the other hand, was smiling warmly as she listened to Ruka chat happily with me. She looked like a mother watching over her daughter.

There was only a five-year age gap between them, so calling her a “mother” might be rude, but I figured this must be what it meant to have a managerial mindset.

And so, my conversation with Ruka continued pleasantly, and before I knew it, my welcome party was wrapping up.

The cost of tonight’s drinking party was covered by the other three.

Of course, I repeatedly insisted on paying. It felt a bit uncool to have the women treat me, but…

They told me it was customary for the guest of honor at a welcome or farewell party not to pay, so for today, I gratefully accepted their generosity. Their kindness truly made me happy.

Then, as we stepped out of the restaurant, Honoka suddenly blurted out, “Hey, hey! I want ramen!”

She was just asleep a moment ago, and now she was all energized?

Did she regain her energy from dozing off?

Honoka mimicked slurping ramen, holding an imaginary bowl and chopsticks.

“Oh, that sounds great. I want some too.”

“Right? What about you, boss?”

“Ah, I’m fine. I can’t eat another bite… You guys go ahead. I’m heading home.”

The manager’s face was completely flushed, and she was a bit unsteady on her feet.

Looks like she had quite a bit to drink.

“Okaaay! Then the three of us are going!”

Honoka cheerfully waved to the manager.

Apparently, in Honoka’s mind, I was already part of the ramen group without needing to be asked.