The Person Who Gave Me An Extraordinary Life Was You, A Beautiful Executive Secretary

Chapter 4: Invitation After Hours

“Hello. Thank you for yesterday. So, we work in the same company.”

That’s what Shiraishi-san’s message said.

As I suspected, she was indeed the one I met at the Night Theater yesterday.

It’s quite a coincidence, almost enough to make you wonder about divine intervention, but this is the reality now.

Actually, we work in the same company and live in the same apartment complex.

But if that were all, we probably wouldn’t have had any interaction, just passing each other by day after day.

However, everything changed after yesterday’s movie theater encounter, connecting all the dots and leading to this conversation now.

When I calm down and think about it, ultimately, that’s all it is.

We’re just colleagues at the same company who happen to live nearby.

If we recognized each other’s faces, we might have talked.

Nothing special about it.

My daily life hasn’t really changed, huh?

“Well, I didn’t realize until now. Please take care of me from now on.”

I replied with a business-like tone and returned to my work.

Then another message came.

“Please take care of me as well. By the way, do you have some free time later?”

Free time?

Hmm? Did I forget about some work-related appointment?

There shouldn’t be anything like being called by Sales or the Executive Secretary Department.

“If it’s urgent, I’m available after 4 p.m. today.”

I replied and went back to working on the report. Then,

“How about 6 p.m. then?”

Huh, 6 p.m.? Does that mean I have to work overtime?

I was looking forward to watching a XTube live stream of a movie’s theme song collection tonight.

“Um, if possible, I’d prefer to keep it within regular working hours.”

“Huh? Are you leaving on flextime?”

Flextime? No, that’s not what I meant.

What’s going on here? It doesn’t seem to be meshing well.

“No, I plan to leave work at regular time.”

“In that case, how about from 6 p.m.? I was wondering if you could have dinner with me.”

―Huh?

Isn’t this a work appointment?

Dinner from 6 p.m.? Probably not work-related, right?

What on earth is happening?

My head is starting to spin.

“Um, is that, like, you and me?”

“Yes, if you don’t mind.”

Hmm… This is quite irregular.

I mean, since joining this company, I’ve never had a non-routine event like having dinner with a female colleague.

At most, I’ve reluctantly attended drinking parties with Yamagata and walked to the station together after the second party.

Of course, we said goodbye there, and that was it.

I’m not against it, but why?

Is she concerned about what happened yesterday? If so,

“If you’re worried about what happened yesterday, you don’t need to be.”

Is this okay? It wouldn’t be right to waste the time of a capable and popular woman like her.

“Oh, um, I’m sorry. I also wanted to apologize for yesterday. Since we couldn’t talk much, I thought… If you’re busy today, how about another day?”

Talk? Hmm… I’m not really good at conversation.

Did I say anything interesting yesterday? I can’t remember anything in particular.

What does she want to talk about?

But well, we might be working together in the future, and we’re neighbors, after all.

Maybe it’s better to just go along and listen quietly as a courtesy.

“Understood. Then today at 6 p.m.”

“Thank you! Shall we meet at the front entrance on the first floor?”

The front entrance on the first floor, that’s often used for meetings in our company.

Usually for gatherings among friends or departmental drinking parties, but also frequently used for clandestine meetings between couples who don’t hesitate to show their office romance.

It might attract attention, but it’s fine.

There’s no need to hide anything.

We’re just having a meal and talking, after all.

“I understand. Looking forward to it.”

“I’m also looking forward to it!”

Oh well, I guess I’ll give up on tonight’s XTube.

Even if it’s just a one-time thing, such an extraordinary experience isn’t something that happens often.

With that in mind, I felt a surge of motivation in my work, finished my tasks earlier than usual, and left the office before the usual time.

Then, Yamagata came to me with a fresh smile.

“Hey, Kousaka, are you free tonight?”

“No, I’m not.”

“I see, that’s too bad. I was thinking of inviting you to join us for drinks with the girls from the General Affairs Department.”

“Sorry. I already have plans for tonight.”

At our exchange, a female employee sitting opposite Yamagata’s desk spoke up.

“Yamagata-san, another drinking party?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“When will you take me out for dinner too?”

“Sorry, maybe next time. And you, haven’t you finished the report I asked for yet?”

“Not yet, but I’ll do it tomorrow~”

Sulking after being turned down by Yamagata, she was Hidemi Kinetsuka, this year’s new female employee.

With short hair, round eyes, and a decent figure, she attracted attention from male colleagues.

Yamagata is her mentor, her supervisor. Being entrusted with such responsibility alongside regular work must be due to the high level of trust in Yamagata.

Occasionally, he complains to me when things don’t go as he hoped.

Then at around 5:30 p.m., I went to the break room.

It’s a precaution I’ve learned to avoid getting caught by my boss on the way out, especially on days when I have plans…

Just as I thought, there was a message waiting for me on my phone.

—There she is, Shiraishi-san.

Even amidst the crowd rushing home or meeting someone, I spotted her right away.

She seemed to shine somehow, even from a distance.

I took a deep breath and headed towards her.

When she noticed me, she gave me a radiant smile and lightly waved her small, white hand.

“Good evening, Kousaka-san!”

“Hello, Shiraishi-san. Good evening.”

“Sorry. It’s sudden. Shall we go?”