“I’m sorry about yesterday…”
“No, it’s okay. You didn’t do anything wrong, Boss.”
It really was unavoidable.
After all, the Boss was chatting away with some high-ranking folks.
Well… it did put a stop to that.
This wasn’t really a problem, and neither the Boss nor I were at fault.
“That may be true, but not properly training the security staff is my fault. I called that agency.”
“Well, the security folks didn’t exactly drag me and the Commander along roughly, so… you don’t have to feel bad.”
“Yeah… thanks. I’ve already talked a bit with that agency.”
“How so?”
“Umm… If they don’t want the company to go under, they should manage their son well?”
“………”
Uh-oh.
I wasn’t expecting that much thought from the Boss, so I was a bit shocked.
I thought we’d just brush it off, but full-on threats?
Well, our company was big enough to not be overly worried about it.
But I didn’t expect it to go that far.
“And you… the Commander is fine, right? Not receiving any sudden threatening texts or anything.”
“Nothing like that. I haven’t received anything either.”
“Good, if they did that… really… heh.”
“…Haha.”
The look in the Boss’s eyes was a bit scary, but I didn’t dislike it.
After all, it was out of concern for me.
If my parents found out about the situation from yesterday… naturally, they’d be furious.
But I didn’t mind.
“Well… looks like you’re heading back now?”
“Yeah, I guess so. I’ve already been away for about two weeks. Of course, there’s still work in our area… but I have to go back.”
“Yeah… it was great seeing you after such a long time. But you have to go again.”
“…Yeah.”
How should I put this? The way the Boss was looking at me was definitely different from the Commander.
It was literally the gaze of family… a parent looking at their grown daughter.
Of course, that didn’t mean there wasn’t any concern at all; rather, it was a gaze filled with worry.
But it felt… almost nice.
Though to the Boss, I was Lindera… still.
In any case, someone who cared for me and liked me.
It was different in meaning and type from the Commander, but I was grateful.
Next time we meet… I thought I should probably bring a gift or something.
*
“What did you talk about?”
“Nothing much. Just… you know, that guy got a really bad reputation yesterday.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Yup.”
The Commander and I were in casual clothes.
No suits or dresses… just sitting in a cafe.
We had to go back, but I wasn’t planning on heading straight back the day after the party.
After what happened yesterday, I actually didn’t think about going back yet.
“…What are you going to do when we get back?”
“What do you mean?”
“Umm… us…”
“Oh…”
I had a lot of worries.
Well, it was understandable since he was a popular man.
If his true identity got out… popularity might drop slightly, but he was incredibly good-looking.
He always attracted attention on the ship, there was no doubt about it.
It was so much that the noisy Agents in profiles or games fell silent around the Commander.
“Well, it seems best to keep it under wraps for now…”
“I think so too. Saying something unnecessary might…”
“…Hmm.”
“…Hmm.”
All sorts of chaos seemed likely to happen.
The Commander seemed to be aware of it too.
“…Then let’s keep it a secret for now. Anyway, we always meet on weekends or after work… right?”
“That’s true.”
“So… yeah.”
So we decided to keep it under wraps.
We met up a lot regardless of keeping it secret.
That was true during work too.
I thought there was no need to choose a noisy path on purpose.
Honestly… I thought he might even threaten me if I suddenly blurted out we were dating.
“Anyway… thinking about heading back makes it a bit annoying.”
“There’s no helping it. It’s quite a distance.”
“True, but honestly, isn’t it tiring?”
The Commander said this and took a long sip of sweet coffee.
Yeah… it definitely was tiring.
Spending an entire day sitting in a car, doing nothing… and I had done that for days.
Just sitting in a car for a week was incredibly annoying.
Having to do that again was bothersome too.
“Why don’t we put some instant coffee in here? I mean, we only have soda to drink.”
“Yeah… we should stock up on some snacks too.”
“And we should… buy a lot. I’ve mostly just slept because it was so boring.”
“Ha…”
“…Ha.”
Returning was definitely a hassle.
Well, going alone with the Commander did feel nice.
“……..”
“What’s up?”
“Nothing. How about heading back tomorrow? Honestly, since it’s far, I think it’d be better to return quickly.”
“That sounds good. I can say goodbye to the Boss before we leave…”
“Yeah.”
The Commander and I casually chatted like that.
Honestly, we had nothing else to do, and after rolling around from last night to this morning, my muscles were a bit sore.
Of course, I felt… really good, so I just went along with it.
*
I casually said goodbye to the Boss.
Originally, I was planning to chat a bit more and make a proper farewell, but the Boss said they would come see us later… so I just made a quick exit.
Reluctantly, the Commander and I headed straight to the car.
Before coming back, we bought a few things.
“Ha…”
“…A week.”
“We really have to go…”
“…Yeah.”
It was already a tiring car ride.
Even though it was technically me going home, I felt drained.
“First, let’s set the route and start driving.”
“Right.”
Since it was on auto drive, the Commander didn’t need to drive right away.
We just needed to start.
After a bit, we could enter a suitable area to nap… and repeat that.
It was the start of a tiring schedule in many ways.
“Lindera.”
“Yes?”
“…Never mind.”
“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”
He suddenly called my name but didn’t seem to say anything, so I was curious.
I expected he’d have something to say.
“Were you trying to say something weird?”
I couldn’t help but ask that.
Now that we had gotten this close… what could he possibly want to say that he couldn’t?
Honestly, I didn’t understand.
His expression seemed like it wanted to say something.
“…I was just going to suggest lying down in the back.”
“…You pervert.”
“No, not in a weird way…”
“How could you think of lying down as soon as we’re both in the car together?”
Honestly, I thought he was being a bit weird.
I mean, who suggests lying down in a car right after getting in, right?
Of course, the back wasn’t exactly a bed; it was just a decent mattress…
But still, wasn’t there a substantial difference?
“…You pervert.”
“………”
“Are you thinking of doing something shady as soon as you’re in a car with a girl?”
“Shady? No…”
“Were you planning on that? The way you were with me when we showered yesterday and again today?”
I knew he liked breasts, but it was true that he kept touching when we were alone.
So… yeah, totally a pervert.
Of course, I didn’t exactly reject it.
In any case.
“…If you don’t want to, then don’t.”
“Let’s just go to the back. It’s uncomfortable sitting like this anyway.”
Saying that, I walked back.
I had already seen the outside view a while ago.
I’d seen it going and would see it again on the way back.
So I followed the Commander’s suggestion and went to the back.
What would happen back there… I wasn’t sure.
“Aah…”
I lazily lay down in the back.
The Commander hadn’t laid down yet, and I preferred lying down to sitting.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…Just. You’re clearly visible like this?”
“…Stop staring at my chest.”
“What can I do if it’s visible?”
“Geez…”
I was lying down while the Commander stood, staring at me.
Hmm…
“Are you going to lie down with me?”
“Okay.”
He propped his arm up like a pillow in a way and made space for me.
Didn’t a guy usually do stuff like this?
That thought crossed my mind.
“…Commander.”
“What?”
“Let go of your arm.”
I just had that thought and immediately acted on it.
Since there was no one else around anyway.
The Commander reflexively offered his arm, and I rested my head on it.
His muscles weren’t huge or anything… but it felt nice.
“……..”
“……..”
“Did you want me to do this for you?”
“Yes.”
Using the Commander’s arm as a pillow, I looked at him.
It was kind of like I was looking up at him, but… it was fine.
“I slept like this yesterday too, didn’t I?”
“I don’t remember sleeping while staring intensely.”
“Your arm was on my chest… like this.”
I rested my head on the Commander’s arm and lazily draped my arm over his chest or belly and hugged him gently.
I felt a slightly firm body.
“…Well, I can see how that could happen…”
“Yes, I think so. Since you really love breasts.”
“…Cough.”
“And now… your girlfriend is laying next to you, and with just a casual hug, you can’t take your eyes off my chest, right?”
Looking at the Commander, I said that.
I was laying next to him, hugging him, but he was clearly staring at my breasts, not my face.
Though he hadn’t said anything, it was obvious.
“No, it’s not like that…”
“Is it just about my breasts?”
“It’s not…”
“Then what?”
“I’m sorry.”
I liked the clear apology.
Honestly, I wasn’t angry; I just brought it up casually, so I decided to let it slide.
“Then…”
“What?”
“Commander, hold me. Like this, please.”
“………”
I liked being the one hugging, but what felt even better was being hugged by him.
For some reason, it felt different than before…
The feeling when he hugged me tightly was unexpectedly better.
Was it because he was strong?
It was just a different kind of cozy feeling compared to when I hugged him.
“…Is that a no?”
“…No, it’s not.”
The Commander casually turned his body slightly and started hugging me.
It wasn’t a light embrace, but it wasn’t too harsh either.
But…
“I could probably sleep like this until we reach the accommodation.”
“That might tire me out.”
“Then I can just hug you again and again whenever you need a break.”
I liked that.
Just being here, with no one else around, and just the two of us like this… hugging quietly was nice.
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