“BISA AAAAAAAAAAANG!!!!!!”
Suddenly, the air raid siren blared.
Midori was shouting loudly while alternating her gaze between the monitor showing the CCTV and her phone.
It had been quiet just moments ago.
With the sudden air raid alert, all the office staff, including myself, couldn’t help but focus on Midori.
Her voice was so loud and attention-grabbing that it was impossible not to.
“What’s wrong?”
“The boss is here!!”
“…Emergency.”
“Finally. The moment has come.”
As soon as we heard the reason, we immediately stood up.
There was no way we could just sit here.
This was a genuine situation where the moment had indeed arrived.
For the past few days, we had been worried and waiting for the boss to arrive, and today was the day.
…She could’ve at least sent a message to say she was coming.
I thought she wouldn’t arrive yet since I hadn’t received any text.
“Anyway… let’s go outside. We should properly greet her, right?”
We were all flustered by the sudden appearance of the boss, but we stepped out of the office to welcome her.
…Now that the moment was upon us, my mind felt oddly calm.
Could it be that I’d been thinking about this situation for so long?
The fact was, I wasn’t the one with a problem.
In this situation, the person who should be most scared wasn’t me, but the Commander.
“Ha…”
“You don’t have to worry too much. I’m here beside you, aren’t I?”
“Isn’t that the exact situation to worry about?”
“…That’s true, but…”
Anyway… it will be fine.
Probably.
“Boss.”
“….Lindera.”
“How was your trip?”
“Ha… it was… long. Maybe because I drove alone. Or for other reasons… it was… long.”
“Haha…”
As always, the boss was wearing sunglasses indoors, and her expression was… colder than usual.
This… meant she was angry.
For sure, 100 percent.
“Anyway… I’ll get you some coffee. Just like always, hot…”
“Today, ice.”
“Yes…”
…I think I messed up?
In this awkward and tense atmosphere, the boss sat on the prominent sofa in the reception area, and the Commander sat next to her.
I was in the middle, preparing the coffee… and honestly, I wanted to run away.
Of course, that wasn’t an option.
“Ha…”
The boss kept exhaling and looking at me.
Yeah… I couldn’t blame her.
If your daughter looks like this after a long time… anyone would react that way.
I understood.
Unlike before, I was clearly showing now.
“Commander, here…”
“Thanks.”
“Boss…?”
“…Thank you.”
Still, it didn’t seem like she was angry with me… not yet.
After preparing three cups of coffee, I sat down next to the Commander.
As soon as I sat down, the boss glared at our direction.
But this is my place.
After all, I was both the Commander’s vice and a lover.
Yeah, this makes sense.
“…Ha.”
“…Haha.”
The boss kept sighing while the Commander was frozen in place.
I tried to break the ice by offering a shy smile, but it didn’t really help much.
…Haha.
How do you get through this awkward and weird situation?
At the very least, we both knew that the Commander shouldn’t act first.
“…Boss, I’m pregnant.”
So, I just blurted it out.
After all, staying quiet wouldn’t get us anywhere.
I just… did it.
“The baby’s father is… the Commander sitting next to me. We… are that kind of couple.”
“………”
“We haven’t been together long, but I’m sincere about it.”
“………”
“Of course… it’s a bit sudden, but… please understand.”
I placed my hand on top of the Commander’s hand.
I felt a bit guilty, but… well, the Commander was more important now.
So… I hoped she wouldn’t think too negatively.
Having a family is a wonderful thing.
And personally… in this sudden situation, starting anew from zero without anyone knowing, this was the only person who saw me for who I really am.
Not Lindera… but truly me…
A cool, quiet, diligent Vice Commander who also plays games with me on weekends, nags me, and diligently helps out with bothersome stuff… that’s who I was.
There was no longer any thought of letting go of that.
“I like the Commander.”
“……..”
No response from the boss.
So… she really was angry.
I understood, but… it was still disappointing.
I wanted to hear her congratulate us for reaching this point… or something like that.
Of course, I knew that couldn’t happen.
Still.
“The Commander is a good person… so please don’t be too harsh on him…?”
“………”
As I spoke, I glanced at the boss.
She was still wearing her sunglasses.
But… something felt off…
“…Faint?”
“Huh?”
“………”
The boss… fainted.
Right there, sitting down, with her sunglasses on…
Wait, what?
*
“……..”
“……..”
“Was it that shocking?”
“I don’t think so…”
“…I guess you’re right.”
We laid the boss down in the treatment room while saying that.
After all, we couldn’t just wake someone who had fainted, could we?
Plus… we couldn’t keep her in the reception area…
“…Haha.”
“Heh…”
“Pfft…”
We couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
It wasn’t like we were in a drama or movie.
Who would’ve thought hearing their daughter was pregnant would make someone faint?
Of course, it was shocking, but we never expected her to react this way.
Laughing in front of the patient like this made me feel a bit guilty, but… it was just too funny.
The Commander was laughing too.
I bet if it were anyone else, they’d probably do the same.
“Commander, do you want a candy or something?”
“Are you carrying those around now?”
“I’m pregnant, remember? It’s better to have something to snack on when you’re feeling tired. Much better than coffee, right?”
“I guess so.”
Anyway, while leaving the fainted boss behind, we were busy munching on candy.
I kept thinking about how the Commander would be in for a huge scolding or something, but somehow I felt like we’d become the perpetrators.
It was absurd, and we couldn’t help but laugh together.
Still… since the boss hadn’t acknowledged the Commander yet, it was good that we didn’t hear any harsh words.
Wouldn’t that be a relief?
“But, Lindera.”
“What is it?”
“What you just said was kind of cool.”
“Now you see? I’m always cool.”
“That’s true. Just not on the bed.”
“…Are you suddenly making dirty jokes?”
It wasn’t something I put a lot of thought into either.
I was just relieved that the Commander seemed to like what I said.
Of course, the sentiment was sincere.
In the end, I felt like I said the right thing.
“Commander, you should say stuff like that too.”
“Then I’ll just be embarrassed.”
“…That may be true. But still, I want you to say it. Lately, I feel like you haven’t said affectionate things to me.”
Of course, that wasn’t entirely true.
The Commander still liked me, and he still made effort to express it.
Even if it felt less verbal, every morning he greeted me with a smile, and every night we cuddled in the same bed…
…He really put in the effort.
“Ugh…”
“Are you okay?”
“…Ha.”
Just then, the boss finally woke up.
She looked a bit tired, which was understandable since she had just fainted.
“When… did I faint?”
“I think it was when I said I was pregnant. That’s gotta be a lie, right?”
“………”
Hmm.
I guess she fainted since that was the moment.
“…Pregnant, huh.”
“…Yes.”
“…You two have only known each other for just over a year, right?”
“…That’s correct.”
I knew that.
I was more than aware of what had happened.
In fact, I was probably the most knowledgeable person in the room.
Only a year with the Commander, and it was clear I didn’t know his real name… only I didn’t.
Being together, getting pregnant…
I didn’t dislike it, but the more she learned about our situation, the weirder it might seem.
“…The first thing you said was half a joke anyway.”
“True that.”
“…Really. Are you sure you’re pregnant?”
“You can see it.”
“…You’ve just eaten a lot, haven’t you…”
“That can’t be true; you know, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Given the clearly noticeable belly, there was no denying it anymore.
The boss dropped her strange suspicions.
“…Even if you’re not my biological daughter… this is a bit… absurd.”
“Haha… but please take it positively. He’s a good person.”
“………”
“……..”
Both the Commander and the boss stared at me without saying anything.
Somehow… it was embarrassing.
“…Sigh. How did someone like you, who used to show no interest in men, end up like this… were you always this reserved…?”
“Haha…”
“…Commander.”
“Y-yes.”
“Replace Lindera in her duties aboard this ship. I know she’s not too short, but currently, that’s not enough.”
“That’s true.”
“The headquarters will support you both… so take a few months off after the delivery.”
“…Wha?”
“Are you saying you expect me to raise the kid all on my own after it’s born?”
“N-no! Absolutely not! That was never my intention!”
“I thought so. And I’ll buy you a house in the area. You can live there.”
“…What?”
“………”
Hold on.
Something…
“And I’ll get all the best supplies for the baby… starting from formula…”
Huh…?
“I can’t believe… you two have only known each other for just a year, and now…”
“…Boss?”
“Why do you call me? Is there something more you need?”
“…Not really, um…”
Something was strange about the boss’s smile.
I wanted to comment on it, but I felt it wasn’t necessary.
So I just left it with a simple thank you.
At least… it was a relief knowing she clearly didn’t dislike the idea.
When the grandchild is born next, I must show her to the boss right after the Commander.
That’s just… a thought I had.
Of course, after that, I held back laughter alongside the Commander while enduring the boss’s teasing remarks.
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