In a World of Reversed Chastity, I’m Surrounded by a Clingy Older Woman, a Walking Red Flag, and an Exhausted Office Lady - 13

Chapter 13: The One-Step-Behind Tired Office Lady

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“Hey, Section Chief Kaoruko has seemed really lively lately, hasn’t she? And her overtime hours have gone down a lot, too.”

“Yeah, right? I wonder if something good happened?”

“I don’t dislike Section Chief Kaoruko or anything, but from our perspective, it’s honestly really nice and super helpful when she goes home early. It makes it easier for us to leave, too.”

My subordinates had been whispering among themselves. I could hear them, but I didn’t feel like getting angry no matter what they said right now. In fact, it was true that I had been more lively than before, so I couldn’t exactly be upset about it.

Besides, because I had been working myself to the bone, it seemed I had been imposing a certain level of inconvenience on my subordinates as well. That was something I needed to reflect on. Personally, I didn’t mind if they left on time, but it seemed they still felt uncomfortable leaving earlier than their superior.

“You all.”

“Y-Yes.”

“I’m leaving early today, so you all can clock out earlier than usual, too.”

“Huh? Is that really okay?”

“Yes.”

There weren’t any urgent matters that needed immediate attention right now, and as long as they handled their usual tasks, there was absolutely no problem.

“Section Chief.”

“What is it?”

“Did something good happen?”

One of my subordinates asked me that.

“It’s a secret. Now, let’s hurry up and finish our work.”

“Okaaaay.”

Today, I absolutely had to leave early. I couldn’t keep Shirasu-kun waiting. I quickly wrapped up my work, shook off my slightly smirking subordinates, and hurried toward my meeting spot with Shirasu-kun. I had wanted to arrive ten minutes early, but I ended up running a little late and reached the place right at the exact time we were supposed to meet.

As I looked around for Shirasu-kun, I heard a familiar, gentle voice.

“Ah, Shiki-san! Over here!”

I spotted Shirasu-kun, smiling brightly and waving happily like a puppy. I couldn’t help but smile too as I hurried over to him.

“S-Shirasu-kun. I’m sorry I’m late.”

“No, not at all. It’s exactly the time we agreed on. I just arrived a little too early, so it’s fine. And I’m the one who should apologize. You even left work early for my sake.”

W-What? How could he be so considerate? A boy like this didn’t exist normally. The odds of meeting someone like him were probably about the same as winning the lottery.

“It’s fine. I’m just the one who keeps myself busy. Lately, since you’ve been worrying about me, Shirasu-kun, I’ve been trying not to work too much overtime.”

I replied that way so he wouldn’t worry too much about me, but his expression turned slightly sad. What was wrong? I didn’t want Shirasu-kun to make that face.

With that single thought in mind, I spoke to him.

“W-what’s wrong, Shirasu-kun? Did something unpleasant happen? Did I say something strange?”

“No, that’s not it. Um… Shiki-san, do you dislike being worried about? Am I being a bother?”

When he asked me that, I couldn’t help tilting my head.

“Of course I’m happy about it. I don’t think there’s anyone who would dislike being worried about by you, Shirasu-kun.”

“I see… That’s good, then.”

He finally looked relieved, and I felt relieved as well.

“Well then, let’s go right away. I’ve really been looking forward to this.”

“S-So have I. The restaurant is this way, so follow me.”

“Okay.”

I walked with Shirasu-kun and, feeling a slight sense of pride and happiness, entered the restaurant. We were shown to a private room, and as I sat across from Shirasu-kun, he seemed somewhat restless.

“U-Um.”

“W-What’s wrong?”

“Are you sure this is the right place? I was thinking of something more like a family restaurant, a chain place, or maybe a casual izakaya.”

How kind could he possibly be? He was probably saying that out of consideration for me, but while I appreciated it, that kind of concern was unnecessary.

“There’s no way I could take you to a place like that, Shirasu-kun. What are you talking about?”

There was no way I could take Shirasu-kun on a date to a family restaurant or a cheap izakaya. It wasn’t like his worth could be measured by something as simple as a high-end yakiniku place, but I still had to take him somewhere that met at least a certain standard. That was why I had chosen this restaurant.

“I just stuck my nose in your business, and yet you’re taking me somewhere like this… Is that really okay?”

He said that timidly, looking troubled and lacking confidence. He was cute, and that gentleness was one of Shirasu-kun’s best qualities, but I felt a small flicker of irritation.

“Shirasu-kun. Let me give you a word of advice as someone a little older and more experienced in life than you.”

“Y-Yes.”

“You think what you did wasn’t a big deal, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

I figured. I could tell just by looking at him.

“And that! That right there is your one bad trait, Shirasu-kun.”

“My bad trait?”

“Yes.”

That was right. The only flaw of my perfect, cute, kind prince.

“It might not have been a big deal to you, but to me it made me incredibly happy. So treating you like this is only natural. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“B-But…”

“Don’t make an adult woman lose face. Think of it as preserving my dignity. Besides, I do have a fair amount of money. So, okay?”

Shirasu-kun didn’t understand his own worth. He had the power to change a woman’s life in an instant. He energized me, captivated me, colored my days, and gave me the strength to live each day. And he didn’t realize how amazing that was.

That was why I had felt a little irritated.

“Well, that’s enough lecturing. Let’s order already. If there’s any cut or meat you don’t like, tell me.”

“Thank you, Shiki-san.”

“Not at all.”

I wondered if I had managed to act at least a little like an adult woman and show Shirasu-kun a good side of myself by leading him.

…Thinking that way was my mistake. As I walked home alone after parting with Shirasu-kun, I recalled our earlier conversation.

“Shiki-san, you said something today, didn’t you?”

“Hm?”

“You said the person who receives something is the one who decides its value.”

“B-But that’s—”

“Isn’t that fine? Today, I got to eat a lot of delicious food and was so happy that I more than got my money’s worth. So I thought I wanted to return that difference.”

“But…”

As I hesitated, Shirasu-kun gave me a slightly mischievous look and said to me.

“So you don’t want to eat the food I cook? I’m sorry for inviting you so forcefully.”

After being told something like that, how many women in this world could possibly say no?

“W-what!? Of course that’s not true! I’d like to eat it every day! I’d even want you to make miso soup for me every morning!”

As I desperately flustered and tried to explain myself, Shirasu-kun smiled.

“I’m glad. Then it’s decided. Please look forward to it, okay?”

“…………T-that’s unfair. You’re always saying things like that, Shirasu-kun. Goodness.”

…Seriously. What “adult woman”? Shirasu-kun had skillfully used my own words against me, struck my heart with a killer line I could never refuse, and I had been utterly defeated. And on top of that…

“Can I call you Kaoruko-san?”

“Eh? A-Ah, y-yes.”

“Then please call me by my first name, too.”

When he said that, I was so happy to be able to call him “Aoi-kun” that, despite my age, I ended up saying his name over and over again.

Ah, honestly. What “adult woman”? The one who had been completely wrapped around his finger and even more captivated was me.

“Aoi-kun.”

And yet, I felt no resistance at all to being completely enchanted and swept away by him. In just one day, I had fallen even deeper for Aoi-kun.

…Is this really okay? Is it okay to step beyond the distance between a customer and a store employee?

After seeing him today, I wanted to believe that Shirasu-kun no longer thought of me as just a regular customer who often visited his part-time workplace. Besides, he had even said he would cook for me. Normally, no one would go that far for just a customer from their part-time job. And to begin with, it was rare and almost unheard of for a boy to cook and serve a meal like that.

“It’s your fault, Shirasu-kun.”

Because you made me center my world around you…. I would fall for you endlessly, no matter how far.

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