“Why did you really ask that question?”
“Stop teasing me…”
“I’m not teasing; I’m genuinely curious. I couldn’t help but laugh all day yesterday.”
I remembered everything from yesterday.
I had drunk just enough alcohol to not remember anything, and since I was only slightly tipsy, I couldn’t possibly be completely drunk.
That’s why I also clearly remembered what the Commander said to me yesterday, and it was ridiculous.
How could he even worry about that?
Even though he was the Commander, I genuinely found it absurd.
“But why are you worried about me? I… with a man? Ha…”
“It could happen, couldn’t it…”
“No, it isn’t. Just stop saying weird things.”
“…Alright then.”
“Isn’t it funny that you’re the one who’s with me the most and you’re still worried?”
“…Just, well…”
The Commander seemed to dislike being teased, but I couldn’t help it.
Honestly, it was just too entertaining.
But no matter how I thought about it, it was absurd for the Commander to worry about me concerning men.
I wasn’t some loose woman… worrying about men?
“Pfft…”
“…Stop laughing.”
“It’s weird that you’re worried about me, Commander.”
“Ha…”
“Since I usually only hang out with you, and no men have come on board, doesn’t it seem a bit illogical?”
“Well, you never know…”
“Why should you, Commander, worry about me meeting men?”
It was just ridiculous.
I mean, it’s not like I’m dating the Commander.
There was absolutely no reason for the Commander to worry about my relationships.
Of course, I didn’t mind, and it was quite funny, but it was still absurd.
“…I’m just a Vice Commander, that’s all.”
“Is that so?”
“…Yeah.”
“Hmmm… well, if that’s the case, I guess that’s it.”
The Commander wouldn’t suddenly develop weird feelings for me.
There had been that one incident before, but since then, the Commander hadn’t done anything strange at all.
Maybe he was worried because that incident had happened.
Well, since it was after drinking, it wasn’t really a problem to worry.
But still, I just found it fun to keep teasing the Commander.
“It seems like you really care about me, Commander.”
“…Ha.”
“If you’re that worried, why don’t you just follow me around? It almost feels like stalking, um…”
“I won’t do that… so stop with the weird talk.”
“Is that so? I thought you might start stalking me.”
“…Is it really that fun to tease me…?”
The Commander looked down at me and asked that.
Have I been teasing too much?
In fact, ever since I got up this morning, I had been continuously teasing the Commander.
It was now time to get ready for lunch… I’ve already rolled for about three hours.
“Honestly, it’s a little fun.”
“……..”
But I couldn’t hold back what I had to say.
How could I hold back something that was genuinely amusing?
Teasing the Commander was really more fun than with anyone else.
While other people would get angry if teased, the Commander had this style of just enduring it, which made it all the more entertaining to poke at.
I didn’t have a habit of teasing or bothering others.
But with the Commander, it was just irresistible.
“Should I stop?”
“…Just tone it down a bit.”
“Understood. Then I’ll do it again next time.”
“…Yeah, try to understand my perspective of being the one who’s been listening to this since I got up…”
I could understand that, but I was teasing him regardless.
Because it was just too fun!
Yesterday, I had unknowingly asked a lot of things while drinking, but the fact that the Commander asked me such a ridiculous question just made it impossible not to tease him.
But honestly, I thought the issue was more with the Commander than with me.
I didn’t do anything weird; it was the Commander who initiated the strange behavior first.
It all started with him grabbing my hand and putting his hand on my shoulder.
Even if we were close, we weren’t in a position to be that physical.
“Don’t say such things to other girls.”
“…I got it.”
Well, as long as he understood.
I had never seen the Commander acting weirdly towards other girls, so that was warning enough, right?
Maybe?
*
“Commander, what kind of coffee do you like?”
“Make it sweet. Add about seven spoons of sugar… really a lot.”
“…Isn’t that too much? No matter how much you like sweet things, Lindera…?”
“That’s really how I like it.”
“…?”
The Boss had a response of disbelief, but… it was true.
The Commander really did have an inexplicably sweet tooth.
“…That’s right.”
“…I think the Commander should worry a bit about his health.”
That much was true.
It wasn’t strange considering how I usually felt.
Even the secretary who was about to serve the coffee now had a slightly worried expression.
“…Yes.”
“Anyway,■■■?”
“Yes.”
“Two cups without sugar, and… seven is a bit much. One cup with five spoons.”
“Got it.”
Thus, the secretary began preparing the coffee.
Usually, I would’ve made the Commander’s coffee…
But since I wasn’t here to work today and the Boss had ordered this separately, I figured it was best to just receive it quietly.
Still… the Commander’s coffee was usually made by me.
For some reason, I felt a little bit of regret, but there was nothing I could do about it.
There was no way I could whine about making coffee.
“So, did you have fun yesterday?”
“Yes. I had a great time. I enjoyed wandering around with Lindera.”
“I’m glad to hear that. It looks like our Lindera had a good time too.”
“…?”
“It seems like the secretary made some good recommendations.”
“Thank you. I’ll find a way to repay you next time…”
“Repayment isn’t necessary; just take care of our kid.”
“Yes.”
“…?”
I felt that the conversation was getting a bit odd.
Of course, that might just be my feeling, but it still felt strange somehow.
Anyway… well, that’s how it was.
For the time being, we were just having a casual conversation in the Boss’s office.
At least today, the Boss had no work, so he said it was fine to chat like this together.
Otherwise, I would’ve been out with the Commander again today.
“Do you two know what will happen at this founding party? They probably haven’t explained it yet.”
“I heard it’s just going to be a casual gathering with the executives and commanders having drinks and chatting.”
“Lindera informed you?”
“Yes.”
I had indeed let him know.
While I didn’t know the exact details, I did have a very slight idea of what it would be.
It wasn’t a complicated topic, just enough information that a party would be happening.
“Hmm… well, that’s not incorrect. After all, the Zone 07 commanders probably won’t have too much to do.”
“Is that so?”
“Since it’s not an area where contamination shows up severely. Its importance is relatively minor. It’s not like you will be out there giving speeches like other specific commanders. This is your first assignment of the year, after all.”
The Boss said that without taking a sip of his coffee.
In fact, both the Commander and I were somewhat expecting that.
Neither of us anticipated that the Commander would have a lot on his plate.
As the Boss pointed out, it was indeed his first year in this position, and on top of that, it had been a while since a capable commander handled the area around Zone 07, making this commander’s role more about cleaning up the mess.
Since the Commander came in, he had focused on bringing in agents and gradually changing the facilities.
These days, things were improving; there were more facilities being added… so things had somewhat progressed.
“Anyway, what I’m saying is you can just drink and have fun with Lindera.”
“Understood.”
“By the way, can you hold your liquor well?”
“…Not really.”
“…How much?”
“Half a bottle…”
Half a bottle?
Hearing the Commander’s response, I couldn’t help but stare at him with disbelief.
It seemed like he couldn’t hold more than that…!
Though I hadn’t drunk with the Commander too many times, I had a general idea of his tolerance.
“……..”
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Got it.”
For now, I kept quiet.
It would be better to at least preserve the Commander’s dignity.
If the Boss were to hear that his employee could barely handle three or four drinks…
He probably wouldn’t be too thrilled, right?
“It seems that you can’t drink much more than I expected. Just adjust yourself during the party.”
“…Yes.”
“Well, as long as Lindera is beside you, you shouldn’t have too much to worry about.”
“…Haha.”
I chuckled slightly at the Boss’s words.
It was a bit difficult to laugh, but it wasn’t serious enough to not laugh.
In fact, it would be more dangerous if I were to drink instead of the Commander…
“……….”
“………”
I glanced again at the Commander and just happened to catch him looking at me at the same time.
We both turned our gaze back to the coffee.
This was a little embarrassing.
No matter how hard I tried, the memory of what happened then didn’t easily fade away.
“Oh, most of the executives have arrived now. There’s not much time left, so make sure you’re dressed properly.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“Once the exact time for the founding celebration is set, I’ll send someone to tell you. So don’t think about it too much.”
I hadn’t been thinking too much about it.
Yesterday was just about having a good time with the Commander.
Even if that wasn’t the case, since arriving in Zone 00, I’d mostly been sightseeing.
Honestly, it had been a while since I hadn’t worked this long, so it was a bit awkward in many ways.
“Oh, just in case, I should mention that there are condoms in the bedside table.”
That was a totally unexpected comment from the Boss.
Honestly, I didn’t see that coming, nor could I have, so I was genuinely taken aback.
“…Please don’t say such strange things.”
Ultimately, the closest I could come up with was that response.
Though there had been that thing last time, the Commander and I weren’t… in that kind of relationship.
“Really? So you aren’t at that stage yet?”
“No, we aren’t… please just stop with the odd comments…”
The Commander only thought of me as a Vice Commander.
There was no way we could ever be in that kind of relationship.
And all the excessive worry recently was probably just from a superior being concerned about his subordinate…
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