“How about this bed?”
“Isn’t it too big?”
“It’s only about a 4-person size, and a bed like this would be better, don’t you think?”
I was chatting with the Commander while gazing at an enormous bed.
Personally, I always preferred a big bed.
Naturally, I was leaning towards something large.
Especially since I wouldn’t be using it alone; it would be shared with the Commander.
Choosing a big bed was definitely the right choice.
“Are you going to use it alone?”
“Not really, but…”
“And when a baby comes along later, we’ll need even more space. It wouldn’t make sense to use a cramped little bed.”
“That’s true… but isn’t it too big?”
Sure, a 4-person bed was big, but it looked fine.
Plus, for… you know, those activities on the bed, it seemed perfectly fitting.
…Yep.
“Didn’t you and Boss say to go for something big?”
“Then let’s go with this one.”
“…What’s the difference between you picking and both of us picking?”
“…Lindera isn’t really the best at household chores, is she?”
“…Well, that’s true.”
“That means it’s better to listen to us both.”
…That’s true.
Anyway, we decided to go for the huge 4-person bed.
Even though we were just a family of three for now, who knows what the future holds?
Plus, I generally preferred larger beds.
So, we moved on to choose the next furniture.
Ordering didn’t take long, and installation… well, that could be done anytime without any issues.
“Hmm… I think we definitely need a sofa.”
“That’s true. It’s odd living in such a big house without a sofa.”
“Plus, they said it would be good to have a mat underneath…”
Following Dolores’s and the Boss’s advice, we were preparing to get things set up.
Honestly, the Commander and I didn’t really know much about this, so it made sense to listen to those who knew better.
Of course… there were some things they hadn’t mentioned I wanted to buy too.
“How about this?”
“…Oh.”
“It’s a cocktail-making set… doesn’t it look fun?”
This was one of the things I found while wandering around.
It genuinely looked like a lot of fun.
Sure, my cocktail-making experience was limited to just mixing alcohol with tonic water or other drinks, but it seemed like we could have a blast doing it together.
So, I decided to buy one with the Commander.
Since it was a big store that sold various items along with furniture, there was a lot to choose from.
“Lindera, we need to buy an air conditioner.”
“Ah.”
“And now, what’s left on the recommended list…”
Honestly, this shopping trip was led by the Commander, not me.
Usually, I would be the one guiding him, but considering he was pregnant,
I decided to pass the reins to him and just browse around the store.
Honestly… it was pretty relaxing.
I could just hand over the responsibilities to the Commander and take a break as I pleased.
“The fridge too…”
The Commander was busy shopping, checking off items on his phone, while I was just having fun.
Honestly, it felt liberating.
Wandering around and looking at things was obviously more enjoyable than picking out items solo.
It felt like being a kid again, wandering through the toy aisle at a store.
Of course, what I was buying wasn’t toys.
Just saying.
I had already talked it over with the Commander before stepping into the store.
“Commander, can we buy some alcohol?”
“…Right now?”
“I’m planning to drink it after giving birth.”
“If that’s the case, sure…”
Okay!
Personally, this whole situation was the most fun I’d had since getting pregnant.
Buying baby supplies was enjoyable too, but that was a serious matter.
Anyway, it had been a while since I’d bought alcohol,
So I was genuinely excited.
*
A few days later, the Commander and I were finally having a drink together.
And this wasn’t just any drink—it was the first one in our new home, courtesy of the Boss!
The furniture had been delivered, and we were truly moving in for the first time.
Of course, the house existed before, but this was our first actual move-in.
Honestly, I wasn’t drinking much; the Commander was just sipping slowly, but he hadn’t drunk at all recently.
This was a good excuse to enjoy each other’s company and chat.
Truthfully, I didn’t drink; the Commander was just leisurely sipping on his drink.
Still, it was great to finally sit down and drink together after so long.
Considering my pregnancy, I hadn’t touched alcohol at all, so the Commander probably hadn’t felt like drinking either.
“Lindera… do you know?”
“What are you talking about?”
“When I heard I wouldn’t be able to hear your name, I was really worried.”
“Can you blame me?”
Honestly, I didn’t think the Commander’s worries were completely unfounded.
And now that I realized it wasn’t just the Commander that I had trouble hearing, it made even more sense.
“But still… isn’t it better than before?”
“I wouldn’t know. I didn’t ask about how it’s going or how much it’s improved, did I?”
“That’s true.”
“I figured knowing would probably just make it harder.”
“Well, anyway, it used to be completely invisible, but now you can at least see a bit, right?”
“That’s true. It’s a relief.”
“Right?”
We both nodded in agreement, acknowledging the situation.
Because it really was true.
Compared to those times when it was completely unnoticeable, things were definitely better now.
Of course, it wasn’t fully visible yet, but…
“…That’s a relief.”
“Definitely.”
“I always wished you would call my name, but I never thought it would happen.”
“Yet you worked hard when you found out that, didn’t you?”
At least that was how I remembered it.
When the Commander first learned about my issue, he brushed it off and eventually… well, did what he had to do.
Maybe that’s why I found it easier to talk to the Commander about my concerns.
Honestly, it’s been more advantageous for me.
Thanks to him, I didn’t have to suffer in silence, and he actually reduced my worries.
“Commander…”
“Yeah?”
“…Never mind.”
I was about to say something but decided against it.
I felt like telling him would just make him too cocky.
So, I chose to withhold my words.
While my recent issues were gradually getting resolved… I just didn’t feel like sharing.
“What is it?”
“I’ll tell you next time.”
With a smile,
I canceled what I’d planned to say and decided to let it pass.
Even though I knew the Commander would be delighted if I told him now… I wanted to let him know once everything was fully resolved.
After all, the only person who knew about my issues was the Commander, but I wanted him to be the first one I told.
“Your expression looks like you’re planning something…”
“Is this expression not your cup of tea?”
“Not at all.”
The fact that I was beginning to recognize and remember names had been changing gradually from before.
It was definitely different from when I first spoke to the Commander.
Although it wasn’t fully visible yet,
At least I had gotten to the point where I could recognize about half of the Commander’s name.
…Honestly, I wasn’t sure if being close to the Commander would make it better.
But ultimately, I thought the Commander had a lot to do with the outcome, that was my thought.
No one else had influenced me like the Commander had.
“I can’t believe this happened because of someone.”
“Yeah?”
“Never mind.”
“…Huh?”
I mean, it was a well-established fact, but I was just so baffled that I said something like that to the Commander.
Honestly, I was baffled.
I never thought I’d end up in this situation.
For various reasons, I became intertwined with the Commander like this.
“Commander, what do you think of me?”
“Random question!”
“I’m just curious. We’ve been together longer than I thought, haven’t we?”
About two years.
I had already spent a year before getting pregnant, so it was definitely a long time.
In the end, we ended up in this situation together.
At this point, I didn’t really need to ask the Commander anymore.
We were already close enough.
But still, hearing his answer to a question like this was always nice.
Reflecting on how we ended up in this relationship… it made me smile.
Thinking back to that time brought me to the brink of laughter.
“Hmm… well… you’re diligent?”
“Not that.”
“Umm… what kind of answer do you want?”
“I want you to give a proper compliment that actually makes me feel good.”
With my chin resting on my hand, I was making that request to the Commander.
I wasn’t fishing for a specific answer, but I wanted something nicer to hear.
“You’re pretty. And you’re kind, and at times you can be a bit foolish, and sometimes you seem weirder than expected. And there are moments when you’re so diligent that it’s almost silly.”
“…Isn’t everything after the first part an insult?”
“Really?”
“Wasn’t I just asked to compliment you?”
Pouting, I said that, but honestly, I was trying not to smile.
With my chin still resting on my hand, I partially covered my mouth.
The Commander was right in his observations.
I knew I was pretty, but those latter comments were true only if you really knew me.
It was just… nice to hear.
“Then why didn’t you say that?”
“What do you mean?”
“Wasn’t your first thought about how great my chest looks?”
“That’s… uh… cough…”
What a silly Commander.
But maybe that’s what made him even cuter. I just wouldn’t show this side of him to anyone else.
That’s probably why I liked seeing him like this.
Of course, I wished he’d be a bit less dashing when he was out and about… but.
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