“Ugh…”
Finally.
I really, truly arrived.
I spent so many days in the car that being outside like this during the day feels weird.
Honestly, I’ve never spent this much time in a car in my life, and one thing is for sure: traveling by car is freaking exhausting.
It’s not exactly traveling, but anyway.
“Ha… Just thinking about going back by car… makes me feel like I’m gonna die.”
“…Ah.”
“Ha…”
“Ha…”
It was a story that only brought out sighs.
Sure, it’s good that we arrived, but the journey was way too hard.
“First, let’s go to headquarters… and say hello. I’ve already made contact.”
“Yeah… Let’s get it over with. I want to rest a bit.”
“…I feel the same.”
“…Ha.”
As we both sighed out, we started entering the headquarters building.
By the way, is it because it’s Zone 0?
The city inside the zone definitely looked good.
The size of the city was different, and it had various state-of-the-art technologies.
It was clearly on another level compared to Zone 07.
Where we lived wasn’t entirely backward, but it was hard not to compare.
“The buildings sure are nice. It’s definitely different from where we stay.”
“Well, this is a company, isn’t it?”
“But honestly, isn’t it still different?”
“That’s true. The interior is all white, giving it a luxurious feel.”
“Our ship is honestly a bit bleak.”
“Can’t be helped, can it?”
We don’t live and work in a company but on a ship, so it’s hard to pay attention to interior design.
“That’s true.”
After glancing around the company a bit, we headed straight to the elevator.
In fact, I should have talked to the staff on the first floor, but I didn’t.
After all, I was on friendly terms with the boss, and I wasn’t here for work, right?
-42nd floor.
We arrived at the office where the boss is.
Of course, since it’s the boss, they had to be in their office.
“What brings you here?”
“Please tell the boss that Lindera has come to see them.”
“Oh, go right in. Immediately.”
“Yes.”
I exchanged a few words with the employee sitting in front and headed straight to the inner office.
There were security guards on either side of the door, but since I was already told to go in, there were no issues as the Commander and I entered.
“Boss.”
“Oh. Lindera, you’ve arrived.”
“Yes, hope you’ve been well.”
“Me? I’m always doing well. I’m not someone who runs around like the low-level staff, am I?”
“Hehe, that’s true.”
The boss greeted me today, wearing sunglasses indoors.
Well, the sunglasses look cool, and it didn’t matter much.
There are some bald people who put shampoo on their heads, after all.
The Commander was just quietly by my side, and it was just the boss and me chatting.
I felt like it was supposed to be the other way around… but it couldn’t be helped.
“Oh, and it’s been a while since I saw the Commander from Zone 07. It’s the first time since we last met, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“Have you been getting along with Lindera? I heard you carried out quite a few operations recently.”
“Thanks to my capable vice commander, I’ve been managing well.”
“Well, Lindera does do her job well. I was going to use her as my secretary back in the day, but the old geezers said she was way too young and inexperienced… sigh.”
Was there such a backstory?
I honestly didn’t know, so I just kept smiling quietly.
“Anyway, I’m glad to hear you’ve been well. Recently, I haven’t been able to keep in touch with Lindera due to work.”
Well, he’s the boss after all.
Naturally, he would have a lot on his plate.
That said, it was a different story from what he said earlier about me having fewer tasks.
“Yeah, first let’s welcome you. You must be really tired from the journey, right?”
“…Yes.”
“…Yeah.”
I had no choice but to admit it.
I was really exhausted.
The accommodation on the way was fine, but everything else apart from that was just wearing me out.
It would be weird if I wasn’t tired after moving like that.
Spending about a week in the car… ugh.
Just thinking about going back made me a little sad.
“Then it’d be best to go to your room and rest. Hmm… Lindera, is one room enough?”
“…What?”
“It’s a bit awkward to give two personal rooms. Is that okay?”
“…Uh, no, um…”
I absolutely did not expect this.
After all, I had always used just one room even at the accommodation recently.
“…Seriously?”
“Yeah, would I lie about something like this?”
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
Seeing him say it with a smile, it didn’t seem like he was doing it on purpose…
But still… sharing a room…
Even if I thought about it, nothing would change.
After all, the boss had said he’d give me just one room, so what could I say?
Unless I went outside and rented a hotel, which would be no fun since there weren’t any events last time…
“Fine then…”
“Alright, when you go out, an employee will guide you to the room… see you later.”
“…Understood.”
“Commander? Make sure you rest well. See you at the party.”
“Yes, thank you.”
After exchanging farewells… we left the boss’s office.
It seems the boss had his own matters to attend to.
“…How did this happen…”
“…I can’t believe it.”
The Commander and I arrived at our private room in the headquarters.
The headquarters building is huge and tall, with some floors entirely filled with personal rooms, and some can be used like hotel rooms.
I guess some of the staff at headquarters live in these rooms.
Using a personal room for accommodation isn’t so different from our ship.
Except for one thing.
“I definitely didn’t think this through…”
“…Can’t be helped, I suppose.”
“That’s true, but still…”
I can’t believe we ended up sharing a room.
I could only let out a sigh.
“Let’s at least unpack our bags first… and then take a breather.”
“…Yes.”
So we started unpacking our bags.
As I looked around the room while unpacking, it was definitely nicer than the room I usually used.
Well, that was expected given the building’s quality.
But why…
“Ha.”
It’s a nice bed, but why is it a double with just one?
Today is the first time I’ve ever thought of the boss as bad.
“Lindera, are you… going to change?”
“…I’ll change in the bathroom.”
“…Alright.”
When sharing a room, this is a problem.
With the privacy issues and the fact that it’s a guy and a girl, it was inevitably awkward.
No matter that I was a guy before, I still had a woman’s body now.
“…Sigh.”
Well, what can I do?
It’s already like this, and it isn’t like I could ask for another room now.
I’ll just have to bear with it.
Besides, it’s not like it’s the first time I’ve shared a room with the Commander…?
Except for that one time, nothing major happened.
So it should be fine.
“Whew…”
I changed my clothes and checked myself out in the mirror.
Just really.
Maybe it’s because my face is pretty, but I’ve spent a lot of time looking in mirrors since forever.
“Hmm…”
Looking at my reflection, there wasn’t really anything different.
Just a pretty face as usual.
It’s kind of absurd that I’m already used to this, but I can’t exactly deny it.
People naturally prefer pretty and handsome things.
“Should I let my hair down?”
Having met the boss, and since I didn’t have any particular plans for today, I figured I’d just keep it casual.
I wasn’t going to sleep just yet, but it’s better to relax comfortably.
After all, all I had in terms of clothes were a brand-new white box tee and some short shorts.
The box tee was bigger than I expected, so it seemed like it was hiding my shorts… but I was okay as long as the clothes were comfortable.
“Are you done changing…?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, then that’s fine.”
I peeked my head out of the bathroom door and asked, and thankfully, the Commander had already changed.
Just casual t-shirt and pants like mine.
I mean, who would wear something weird while relaxing in a room?
And besides, he wouldn’t be just in his underwear while sharing a room with me.
Anyway… we had a comfortable atmosphere.
“Ha… It’s been a while since I haven’t been in a car during the day.”
“…True.”
“Is the sofa comfortable for you?”
“I think I could sleep here pretty well.”
“Sleep on the bed. It’ll end up hurting your back if you sleep on the couch.”
Though sharing a room with the Commander was still a bit awkward, I wasn’t about to let him sleep on the sofa.
That would just be rude.
If that were the case, back when we were at the motel, I should have let the Commander sleep on the floor instead.
No matter the status, it’s just rude to treat a close person like that.
And if I hadn’t grown close to the Commander… I might have just wound up sleeping on the sofa or the floor anyway.
“Ohhh…”
I lay down on the bed.
Sprawled out flat.
The Commander was comfortably sitting on the sofa while I was just tired.
“Commander, when are we having dinner?”
“After resting for a bit…”
“Yes… just a bit… resting. We’ll go later…”
Because we’d been moving in a car all day, I absolutely did not want to go out right away.
“Commander.”
“What is it?”
“…It’s nothing.”
It was just that it felt so quiet.
I was going to say something, but nothing came to mind suddenly.
Still, I didn’t mind this vibe at all.
Just lying down comfortably, being quietly together with the Commander.
We still had a few days until the founding anniversary party, but considering how we were just sitting still in the car, I preferred this.
Tomorrow… well… I could just wander around the inner city with the Commander.
I was sure the Commander would be up for it… right?
And even if he said he didn’t want to go, I’d drag him along anyway, so it didn’t matter much.
There were tasty restaurants and bars around here, and honestly, staying in this room doing nothing would just be a waste.
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