I kept walking around holding hands with the Commander, really just endlessly doing that.
No matter how I thought about it, there didn’t seem to be a need to hold hands like that while wandering around.
The Commander started saying weird things, which made it even harder to escape the situation.
“Ha…”
“Why are you sighing like that?”
“Ah… it’s nothing.”
“Is that so?”
How could I tell him that I was tired from walking around holding hands?
Anyway, right now I was sitting with the Boss, comfortably chatting away.
I had left the Commander in a private room down there, and I was the only one who had come up like this.
I wasn’t trying to do anything else; I just wanted to talk while the Boss took a short break.
Honestly, this was better than wandering outside holding someone’s hand…
“Were you bored on the way?”
“…It was super boring.”
“Well, it does take quite a while to get here from there. You came by car, right?”
“Yes. I took one of the cars on the ship.”
“Should I have lent you a plane or something?”
“…I don’t think that would have been necessary.”
The journey was long, but renting a plane… that was overkill.
Of course, it would get me there super quickly, but still, a plane… come on.
“Really? Well, if you say so. Did you stay in a nice accommodation on the way?”
“Um… I just used hotels and motels located within the zones. I actually thought about sleeping in the car, but that seemed a bit uncomfortable.”
“True. Sleeping in a car is definitely tiring. How was the room?”
“It’s nice. The bed is good, and the room is about twice the size of our ship’s private quarters.”
“And the Commander?”
“Uh… he seemed to like it.”
To be honest, all the Commander did in the room was stare at me intensely, but he didn’t seem to dislike the place.
Honestly, I didn’t mind it either.
From the size of the room to the bed and bathroom… everything was definitely on the good side.
“But… is it true that there aren’t any rooms left?”
“Yeah?”
“I mean, I don’t think there were that many people while I was coming here yesterday…”
“Oh, is that what you mean?”
“Yes. Did you intentionally say there is only one room left…?”
I was trying to think that through.
No matter how I thought about it, despite saying the rooms were booked, I didn’t run into that many people in the hallway.
Sure, those were rooms used by agents and staff, but it didn’t seem like there were so many people around that two rooms couldn’t be found.
“Haha, do you think I would do that?”
“………”
“The thing is, yesterday all the staff were busy working. You arrived during work hours, and you must have missed them when they went out in the evening?”
“Is… is that so?”
Well, of course, the Boss wouldn’t have any particular reason to do that to me.
“Hehehe…”
“When do we hold the party?”
“Probably starting in about three days. The Commanders are slowly arriving, and other high-ranking officials are coming too.”
“Aha… so I guess I’ll have to wait a few more days… is there anywhere to go around here?”
Even though I walked around with the Commander, I didn’t really find anything that looked particularly fun.
Aside from the fact that the Commander was holding my hand, there really wasn’t anything noteworthy.
That was kind of a big deal, though.
“Actually, this area has more company buildings than places to explore… hmm…”
“Oh…”
“There are lots of places to eat, but nothing worthwhile to look at?”
I was hoping to find a way to pass the time.
Unfortunately, reading the Boss’s response, it seemed there really wasn’t much to wander around.
What a shame.
To be honest, this was my first time coming this far, and I wanted to do something.
I wanted to see something a little fun and have an exciting time walking around with the Commander.
“Hmm… ah.”
“?”
Suddenly, the Boss snapped his fingers, showing he had remembered something.
Suddenly…?
-Beep beep!
“…Why are you calling the button?”
“I’m trying to summon the Secretary?”
“…Excuse me?”
Why was he suddenly trying to call the Secretary?
Anyway, the Secretary entered the Boss’s office out of nowhere.
Just a moment ago, she had been outside.
In this sudden situation, I was the only one who didn’t understand anything, while the two of them acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary, which felt a bit awkward.
Why did the Secretary come out of nowhere?
Was there some reason…?
“■■■?”
“Yes, Boss. What can I do for you?”
“……..”
Although the Boss called the Secretary’s real name, I couldn’t hear it.
Sigh… it was frustrating in many ways.
I didn’t know why this was happening, but it seemed like the Secretary wasn’t one of the agents.
I hadn’t known until recently, but most agents were called by their code names, not real names.
Midori, Dolores, and every other agent I had heard of were like that.
“I haven’t really wandered around the zones lately, so are there any places for young people to hang out these days?”
“If you mean young people, are you referring to Lindera and the Commander from Zone 07?”
“That’s right. I’m not exactly young myself, you know?”
“That’s true. I was being shortsighted.”
It seemed the reason the Boss called the Secretary was that he himself didn’t really know.
Thinking about it, the Boss was probably not the type to wander around outside to have fun.
More like someone who would be enjoying drinks while looking down from a very tall office.
Otherwise, he was the kind of person who would be speeding down unpaved roads in a car.
“Well, there are bars and plenty of restaurants if you go to the area with a lot of dining options… and recently, there are places that do busking… how does that sound?”
“I would appreciate any recommendations. I’m quite bored until the party.”
“Then please wait a moment.”
With that, the Secretary sat up straight and began jotting something down in a notebook.
She must be preparing to write down some suggested places.
By the way, why was she maintaining such a good posture while writing seated?
Thinking about how I often slouch in a chair while working made me find it slightly fascinating.
I wondered if the Commander preferred to sit like that, all graceful and pretty…
“…?”
*
“So this is why you came here?”
“Yes. Is that… bad?”
I had brought her here with good intentions.
I came to hang out with the Commander.
“If it’s not what you want… well, that’s fine.”
“No, you brought me here, so how could I say I dislike it?”
“…Then that’s all that matters.”
I was relieved that the Commander didn’t seem to hate it.
I was trying to enjoy myself with the Secretary’s suggestions, and if the Commander had said he didn’t like it, that would’ve been awkward.
“I guess I should thank the Secretary. Oh, and the Boss too.”
“Do it later. Later.”
“Okay. For now, let’s focus on having fun.”
Anyway, I brought the Commander out into the streets like this.
I wasn’t sure if it was because it was evening, but there were definitely more people around now compared to the last time I walked around with the Commander during the day.
Thanks to that, even now…
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…It’s nothing.”
What could I do?
The Commander had so casually held my hand, after all.
With the Commander’s hand in mine, I stepped out into the evening streets.
Honestly, saying “evening” was a bit of a stretch since the time suggested night, but there were so many people it didn’t feel quiet at all.
In our area, there were fewer people at this time, making it nice for walking around.
“Commander, look at that. Busking!”
“Are you interested in watching?”
“Yes.”
I answered right away.
After all, I had come out here to have fun, and this was the perfect opportunity.
A man singing solo with a guitar, no mic in sight, was just the kind of busking to watch.
There were also more energetic, lively performances, but I preferred this type.
“Isn’t he singing well?”
“He’s got enough guts to sing confidently outside.”
“Hehe…”
That’s true.
If someone couldn’t sing, they wouldn’t go out there busking alone like that.
Even singing decently requires a level of confidence.
If you suddenly told me to sing, I absolutely wouldn’t.
I could sing, but I’d be too shy.
“Commander, can you sing well?”
“Me? I’m so-so.”
“I see. I thought you wouldn’t be able to sing judging by your usual behavior.”
“What do you think I do usually?”
The Commander looked incredulous, but considering his usual demeanor, I could understand why.
He doesn’t drink, can’t handle spicy food.
Despite his looks, the Commander had quite a few surprisingly lackluster aspects.
“Hehe…”
“…….”
“It’s nothing. Just let’s keep watching the busking.”
I said this with a smile.
After all, I couldn’t say to the Commander, “You seem like a big dummy who can’t drink or eat spicy food, so probably can’t sing either.”
“Why do you keep staring?”
“Just because. It’s cute when you smile.”
“…Huh?”
“It’s just my opinion.”
“……..”
Suddenly, why was he giving me compliments…?
Maybe I should have teased him instead…?
Was it because I was watching the guy sing serenely and poetically?
Or was it because the Commander was holding my hand and speaking to me so nonchalantly?
“Don’t say weird things…”
“It’s not weird to say you’re pretty when you’re smiling. That’s the truth.”
“Are you really giving me compliments… Why are you suddenly saying something so embarrassing…”
“Because it’s true.”
“No…”
Maybe it was a little embarrassing, but I couldn’t quite find the words to reply since my heart was thumping so loudly.
Why on earth was he acting like this towards me…?
What was the reason for this…?
“Heh…”
Today, the Commander’s face was making me want to poke it. I couldn’t help it.
Truly.
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