I didn’t understand.
Why on earth can’t I see people’s real names properly?
Really, why?
There was no reason for names not to be visible.
Even if I’m now in someone’s body, it doesn’t mean… I’m seeing some status window or anything.
“………”
“Is there something bothering you?”
“…No.”
If I talked about my situation, wouldn’t it make me look crazy?
“Commander.”
“What?”
“…Nothing.”
“Why are you starting to say something and then stopping?”
“Just… it’s nothing.”
If I talk about my condition, wouldn’t it cause unnecessary problems?
I was a bit… scared to explain properly because I thought they might think I have a mental illness or something.
“By the way, you have already done the task I assigned, right?”
“Of course. I work better now than before. Naturally, I’ve done it.”
That makes sense.
Not like I was the commander from ages ago.
Now, the commander is someone who can get things done without needing to be told.
I’ve definitely had fewer tasks to handle as Vice Commander compared to before.
Just a normal day at work for me too.
“…Commander.”
“What now?”
“You’re planning to increase the number of agents in the office later, right?”
“If there’s more work, then sure.”
“Is that so…?”
It’s probably unavoidable.
Continuing with just four people while the workload is increasing seemed strange.
Of course, for the time being, the work wasn’t overly demanding; we were at a normal level. But it could be different later.
No, it definitely would be different.
That would surely lead to me having to handle even less work than now.
Which would mean my usefulness…
“…Please don’t fire me later.”
“…Suddenly?”
“I’m just saying. We’ve been working together from the start. If you toss me aside just because I’m no longer useful later, I swear I’ll curse you.”
I really didn’t want to be fired, for any reason.
I just wanted to keep working here.
“…Aren’t you doing well already?”
“Why are you stating the obvious?”
“…Just saying.”
Even if I’m the one doing the best in the office now, I had no idea how it would be later.
In the end, being Vice Commander meant caring for the Commander well, and there were definitely many who could do that better than me.
As things stand, assisting the Commander was just… something that happened while we worked together.
If it were other folks working alongside me, they could definitely handle the Vice Commander role just as well.
Plus, if they found out about my current condition… I could really end up getting fired from my position.
I guessed nobody would want to have a person with strange mental issues around them.
“…Just keep me around, okay?”
“…Alright, just don’t say it with that gloomy expression.”
“…Yes.”
“Cheer up a bit.”
“…Yes.”
“Answer a little more… brightly.”
“Yes.”
But seriously, how should I even say it?
I didn’t even know if I could talk about it.
*
■■■
■■■
“…Ha.”
Why on earth did I not notice this until now?
It’s absurdly shocking.
First, I was surprised that the names agents use aren’t their real names.
Then I was astounded that their real names aren’t even legible.
It’s been over six months since I became Lindera, and why hadn’t I realized this sooner…?
“Dammit.”
Cursing just slipped out while looking at the agents’ profile documents.
I don’t think I even cursed when I got it on with the Commander last time…
“Or maybe I did…?”
I don’t know.
In any case, what I don’t get the most is this symptom I have.
Why can’t I read people’s names properly? Nothing makes sense!
Am I perhaps mentally ill?
It’s honestly a first for me.
“…Asking Dolores wouldn’t help, would it?”
I genuinely have no idea what to do.
Why did this happen to me?
And why didn’t I realize any of this for over six months?
“Ha…”
– DING DONG!
“…Huh.”
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
I was so taken aback that it shocked me a bit.
I had been languishing alone in my room after work; I wonder what it could be.
At the very least, I got up from the floor to check the intercom.
But really, no one is supposed to come now…
“…….Huh.”
– DING DONG!
“Why… are they here?”
The person on the intercom was the Commander.
But seriously, why…?
I had no clue why, but anyway… I opened the door.
But really, why…?
*
“What brings you here?”
“…I thought I’d have a chat.”
“What do you want to talk about at this hour? I was… a bit surprised by the sudden visit.”
I had no idea what he was here to say, but it was plainly bewildering for me.
It’s not every day a Commander pops by at eleven at night.
Normally, I visit the Commander, but the opposite just doesn’t happen.
“…Sorry.”
“Apology isn’t necessary.”
“Is there… something troubling you?”
“Yes?”
No.
Uh.
How on earth did he know?
“I just noticed your expression was really off during work. And your tone seemed a tad…”
“……..”
I was surprised on numerous levels.
First off, the fact I appeared that way during work, and second, that the Commander noticed and came over.
“It might just be a misunderstanding, but if you have any worries or concerns, you should definitely let me know.”
“…I don’t.”
“You might not want to say it, but still…”
“…?”
“Couldn’t you at least share a bit? We’ve been in this together since the beginning.”
“……..”
Was I really that concerning to him?
Despite finding it hard to answer, it felt quite nice to be cared for.
I didn’t dislike it at all.
“Do you not want to talk?”
“…Thank you for your concern.”
“…Is that so.”
“But still… I’d rather not share.”
That’s how it is.
No matter how I feel, I couldn’t just tell the Commander about my current reality.
I wanted to stay here a bit longer.
I didn’t want to get fired.
Aside from lacking a stable job like this one, I wanted to keep working here, so I didn’t say anything.
“…It’s fine if you don’t want to talk now. I just hope you tell me someday.”
“……..”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. And… thank you.”
Even if I don’t know their name, I still felt grateful.
Just because I didn’t know their name didn’t mean my relationship with the Commander vanished.
Of course, it made explaining things even scarier.
“Um… Uh…”
“…Yes.”
“…I feel bad for coming so late. Well, I’ll be leaving now.”
“……..”
The Commander said that as he stood up.
He likely planned on heading back to his room.
And I…
“…Wait a moment.”
“…?”
“…Now that you’re here, what if you… stayed a little longer before leaving?”
“…Right now?”
“…Yes. You’re not heading straight to bed anyway, right?”
I had subconsciously stopped the Commander from leaving.
It was just… I didn’t want him to go.
“…Let’s just stay a bit longer.”
“…….”
I somewhat felt grateful too.
“Coffee… might not be a good idea at this hour. How about tea or a drink? Even water would be fine.”
“Alright.”
“…Yes. Then please, have a seat. I’ll go get some tea.”
So saying, I set the Commander down and started looking for something to offer him.
Not coffee, not energy drinks.
Something that would be alright to have at night.
I don’t even know why I didn’t want the Commander to leave.
It could’ve been fine just letting him go.
If the Commander returned to his room, it wouldn’t have been a big deal at all; he would just be going back to his own space.
Why on earth was I so against letting the Commander leave?
“Commander, what would you like to drink? Soda? Tea? Water?”
“Whatever you have is fine.”
“…Then I’ll go with tea.”
I think it’s better to offer him something rather than just water or soda, as that feels too casual.
In any case, first things first… I need to boil some water.
*
“…Commander, don’t you have any worries lately?”
“Me?”
“Yes, just curious.”
“Uhm…”
I merely spoke while placing the tea on the table.
Maybe it was because it was night, but this conversation just flowed without me realizing it.
Or maybe the Commander had initiated it by bringing up worries or concerns first.
“I don’t think I have anything in particular.”
“Is that so…?”
“Oh, there is something…”
“?”
“But I’m not telling you that now.”
The Commander said that while smiling gently at me.
Just that smile was something special; he smiled in a way that made him look quite handsome.
Was it the case that all good-looking people smile like that?
I knew what “handsome smile” meant better than before.
“Besides, it’s you right next to me. Would I have worries? You help me every time we work.”
“…That’s true.”
“So even if someone new comes to the office, my position as Vice Commander won’t change.”
“…Really?”
“That means there’s no need to concern yourself about what I said earlier.”
“…Ah.”
So that’s what he meant.
I didn’t know he was worried about me stressing over what I said earlier.
“I didn’t think you’d remember that.”
It honestly felt like I was just saying something in passing.
The Commander remembered and was thinking about it.
“Who else would care if not my Vice Commander?”
“…So is that why you came by tonight?”
“Well, that, and there were several other reasons.”
“……..”
I’ve always thought the Commander lacked intuition lately.
I might need to change that perspective a bit.
He seemed to have more thoughtfulness and awareness than I initially gave him credit for.
“Thanks. But then… if I mess something up, you really won’t fire me?”
“Hmm… that depends on the scale of the incident?”
“That’s just cruel!”
“If I’ve got a monumental disaster on my hands, what do you want me to do? Honestly, the Headquarters might put pressure on me too!”
“That does seem likely. Guess there’s nothing that can be done.”
“Well, if nothing like that happens, surely you’ll keep working with me, right?”
The Commander said that while smiling.
It definitely felt that way.
Working without the Commander would deeply feel… off.
Even if more people joined our office, working without the Commander would feel strangely unproductive.
I wonder what the Commander thinks about that.
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