Actually, There’s Someone at Your Workplace Who Likes You ~ I’m Being Transferred to a Sales Office Filled With Only Beautiful Women!? - Chapter 45: "I'm happy” said Ruka

The two types of fruit tarts were placed on the table.

As I watched Ruka smile while looking at them, I said, “You look so happy.”

“Ah, yes. I am happy.”

Ruka squinted her eyes and nodded.

Then, using her fork, she took a bite of the fruit tart.

“Mmm, delicious! It really makes me happy. Rinta-senpai, you should try some too.”

Ruka closed her eyes tightly, savoring the fruit tart.

She looked so genuinely happy eating it.

Watching her, I took a bite of my tart as well.

The refreshing sweetness of the fruit and the rich sweetness of the tart blended together—it was indeed a sweet, happy taste.

For someone like me who loved sweet things, it was absolutely delicious.

“Yeah, you’re right! This flavor… it really is happiness!”

“See?”

“Yeah.”

Ruka smiled contentedly, watching me as I nodded in agreement.

“Hm…? What’s up?”

“Eh? Oh, no… I’m just really glad I met you today, Rinta-senpai.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I was able to enjoy the movie and also have this tart.”

—Hmm?

Well, technically I did treat her to the tart, but…

“Enjoy the movie…?”

“Yes. Watching it alone is nice, but watching it with someone you like is also a lot of fun.”

“Eh…? Watching it with someone you like?”

“Eh? Oh… I-I mean, watching it with someone who likes the same thing.”

“Oh, right. Yeah, you’re right, Ruka.”

—Whoa, that shocked me.

For a moment, I thought my heart had stopped.

But yeah, that was what she meant.

My misunderstanding made Ruka turn bright red and flustered. Sorry about that, Ruka.

But it was true, though—watching a movie with someone who shared your interests was fun.

“Today… I’m really lucky.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Yes.”

Ruka said that, then took another bite of the tart. She smiled, narrowing her eyes and saying “Delicious.”

Seeing that smile, I couldn’t help but feel happy too.

I wonder if this was what it felt like to go on a date with a girl…

—Ah, no.

I just thought something really inappropriate. Thinking about a date… that was disrespectful to Ruka.

“By the way, Rinta-senpai.”

“Huh…? W-What is it?”

Crap. I was lost in thought and got flustered for a second.

“What do you think of the Shimizu branch? What’s your impression of it?”

“Ah, well… the director, Jinguji, is serious and passionate, so she’s someone I really respect. Honoka is friendly and fun, and as for Ruka…”

Ruka narrowed her eyes, tilting her head slightly.

S-She was probably expecting me to say something nice, right?

No.

I shouldn’t just flatter her. I’d say what I really thought.

“Ruka is really kind and caring, and she always supports me. I’m really grateful to her…”

“S-S-Seriously?”

Ruka seemed quite embarrassed by my words, fanning her face with her hand.

“Yeah. Everyone at the Shimizu branch is great. I’m really glad I got transferred here.”

“No, Rinta-senpai, you’re also a really good person. I’m really glad you came to our branch.”

“Hearing that from you makes me happy.”

“Oh, no… I’m just saying what I truly think.”

“Well, as for Honoka… I’m not sure if she thinks it’s a good thing that I came. Haha.”

“Fufu, that’s true. But…”

Ruka laughed but then, after a moment, her expression turned a bit serious.

“I think even Honoka-senpai is glad that you joined us.”

“R-Really?”

“Yes… probably.”

“Probably, huh?”

“Yes. Ufufu.”

Looking at Ruka’s joyful expression, I felt lucky to have run into her today and to have had this chance to talk.

We continued chatting about work for a while until Ruka suddenly checked her phone and gasped.

“Oh, it’s already this late?”

“I told my mother I’d be home for dinner. I also need to buy some clothes, so I should get going soon…”

“Alright, let’s head out.”

“Yes. Time really flies when you’re having fun, doesn’t it?”

—Having… fun?

Ruka was probably being considerate as my kouhai, but even so, hearing her say that made me happy.

I got to watch a movie, eat fruit tarts for the first time, and deepen my connection with Ruka.

It was an unexpected but enjoyable day.

“Oh, right, Rinta-senpai.”

“Hm?”

“I’d be embarrassed if people found out I went to watch an anime movie today, so let’s keep it a secret from shochou and Honoka-senpai…”

“Yeah, good idea. We’ll keep it between us.”

If Ruka wanted to keep it a secret, I would respect that.

Besides, even though there was nothing wrong with what we did, if Honoka or the director found out that we spent our day off watching a movie and eating tarts together, they might get the wrong idea.

“Then it’s a little secret between just the two of us, okay?”

Ruka smiled mischievously.

“Got it. Just between us.”

I’d say it again: it’s not like we did anything improper. But still, when she called it “just our little secret”, it made my heart race a little.

Thinking that, I stepped out of the fruit tart shop and parted ways with Ruka.

Now then—

If the meeting with the president of Kagaya Manufacturing came to fruition, then today’s events would truly have been meaningful.

I couldn’t afford to get carried away.

With that thought, I straightened my resolve and headed home.

◆◇◆◇◆

〈Ruka’s Side〉

That night.

After having dinner with her family, Ruka returned to her room and flopped onto her bed.

She let out a deep breath, staring up at the ceiling.

The events of the afternoon replayed vividly in her mind.

“I never expected to run into Rinta-senpai in a place like that…”

Murmuring to herself, she realized that her face had softened into a smile.

Ruka wasn’t the type to openly express her emotions. Especially now, when she was alone in her room.

Normally, she wouldn’t be grinning like this.

But tonight, remembering Rinta made her lips unconsciously curl into a smile.

Still sitting on the bed, she suddenly picked up her phone as if something had occurred to her.

She opened her photo album app and navigated to her “Favorites” folder.

There, dozens of photos were stored.

Most of them were taken from a distance, featuring a certain someone.

Some pictures showed him alone, while others captured him among a group of people.

—Yes.

Her high school crush.

Ruka tapped one of the photos, bringing it up on the screen.

Then, she simply stared at it, lost in thought.