“Hmm…”
“Do you have something on your mind?”
“Hmm…”
“…?”
I’ve somewhat organized my thoughts.
It’s a stretch to say I’ve truly organized them, but one thing is clear: the Commander’s influence is significant.
Unlike what I had seen in the news or documents before, the Commander’s name stood out clearly.
It was the kind of distinction that could be seen… at least confirmed in writing.
Hearing the name was a different experience altogether.
“Commander.”
“Yeah.”
“…The problem has improved just a little bit.”
I said that for now.
After all, the Commander already knew about my issues.
I didn’t feel the need to hide it.
I believed that my changes were largely due to the Commander.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for any change.
Really.
“But that… the cause seems a bit strange.”
“What do you mean?”
“…Um…”
It wasn’t difficult to say this, but I felt a bit embarrassed.
How could this odd issue be solved just by dating the Commander?
“…The Commander’s influence is… quite significant.”
“…?”
The Commander’s expression showed he didn’t understand my words.
Well, it’s only natural he wouldn’t get it.
“…When I saw the Commander’s name written down yesterday, I felt a bit better than usual. Something that hadn’t been visible before showed up, just a little, really just a little.”
I didn’t mention that it seemed related to romance.
I felt too shy about it.
How could I say that I changed because I was dating you?
“Then that’s good, right?”
“…Yes. For now, I think so.”
“I’m really glad. I don’t know exactly how, but still, I’m glad.”
“………..”
The Commander smiled as if it were his problem too.
…He really seemed overly kind for no reason.
Sure, our relationship wasn’t simple, but still, seeing the Commander smile like that made me feel unexpectedly happy.
It was a bit of a twist of fate that I ended up dating him, but I was really glad about it.
I even thought that.
Of course, I couldn’t deny that he was a good person objectively.
“…Why?”
“Oh, nothing…”
After all, it was the Commander’s room.
There was no one else around, and the soundproofing in the private room was decent enough.
“…Aren’t we going to kiss?”
“…Out of nowhere?”
“…Well, it’s already after work, and aren’t we going to have dinner together afterward?”
Since it didn’t matter… it was probably just sudden.
But I still wanted to kiss him, so I planned on it.
The Commander wouldn’t refuse since he didn’t dislike that sort of thing.
With that thought, I got closer to the Commander.
He was sitting on the bed while I stood, but there wasn’t much of a height difference.
The Commander’s height was quite the factor.
“But isn’t that… too sudden?”
“Do you not want to?”
“…It feels like I’m learning nothing but weird things from you.”
“You’ve said that before, Commander.”
It wasn’t something he did often, but it was one of the ways he teased me.
Seriously… what a sneaky method.
Of course, doing this made me smile a bit, thinking it was kind of nice?
“Chu…”
I closed my eyes, bent forward slightly, and kissed him.
It was a kiss that felt quite ordinary.
While it didn’t feel overwhelmingly good just to kiss, the connection with the Commander felt nice.
It was mentally satisfying, I suppose.
Just mingling our tongues felt great, as if there was something special about that.
A kiss where just our lips touched… more wholesome than usual.
“…Thank you.”
“I didn’t really do anything.”
“I’m just saying. You don’t need to know, Commander.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
We both just smiled at each other.
The fact that my problems were slightly, but nonetheless, resolved made me feel good enough.
*
So I set a goal.
Having these thoughts was… embarrassing in many ways, and I couldn’t say it out loud, but still, for now.
If I told the Commander about this, he would definitely laugh.
Now that I was dating the Commander, my problems were getting better.
I was pretty sure about that.
So my method of solving my issues was…
“Commander.”
“…Didn’t Dolores tell you not to?”
“You’re not even in your office right now, so it’s fine.”
I was currently hugging the Commander.
Not just hugging, but I had climbed onto the chair and was sitting on top of the Commander.
It might be a bit uncomfortable, but I didn’t think I weighed that much.
I’m just average weight.
Being shorter than the Commander and having a normal weight, I thought he wouldn’t feel heavy at all.
“And… I’m doing this because I like it. I don’t think there’s an issue. Plus, it’s only been 3 minutes out of 5.”
Dolores had stepped away for about 5 minutes.
Midori was with her.
Anyway… the method was simple.
Getting closer to the Commander?
Since I was getting better by dating him, of course, the best way to improve would be to be with the Commander.
In reality, beyond problem-solving, being with the Commander felt good too.
I liked the Commander.
“…By the way, Commander, have you been wearing perfume lately?”
“Did you notice?”
“…Please don’t. Just this.”
Since I was hugging him, I was inevitably close, and I could smell it around his neck.
It hadn’t been like that last time I hugged him.
Something floral?
“Why?”
“…You don’t have to.”
I wasn’t saying the Commander’s natural scent was better than the perfume.
I’m a person too, and of course, I liked pleasant smells.
I’m not some weirdo who likes body odor.
But I just hoped the Commander wouldn’t wear perfume.
The reason was…
“…What if the other agents smell it and like you more?”
“No, that’s a bit…”
“…Anyway, don’t.”
“…Got it, but I didn’t mean to do it for that reason…”
“…Your sense of smell is probably better than mine. Of course, other agents would be trailing behind you wherever you go.”
When I barely caught a whiff of his scent in this close embrace.
I could only assume the agents would notice it more.
“Even without it… there isn’t a weird smell, nor is there a bad smell.”
“…I sprayed it knowing you’d like it.”
“…How about only wearing it at night…?”
Hearing the Commander’s words, I accidentally said it right away.
…Well.
That could work.
Yep.
He spritzed it on to look good for me… right?
So… it would be nice to do it when we’re alone…
“…There’s still some time… just a little longer.”
“Yeah, let’s stay like this for a little longer.”
“…But I think you have more muscles than before. Have you been secretly going to the gym?”
Being in this position made it clear.
Of course, I’d always had physical contact with the Commander before, but now we were comfortably lingering longer.
When you’re out of breath during physical contact, you miss those kinds of sensations.
Now, while touching the Commander’s back, I could really notice it.
“You’re so firm…”
“…Just sometimes…?”
“…Is it so you can impress the agents there?”
“No, why does the conversation always tilt in that direction?”
“…I’m just saying, Commander, you’re popular and good-looking, and all the agents on the ship are women.”
I couldn’t help but worry.
The only solution to fix my problems was the man I was currently hugging.
I recognized the Commander wasn’t that type of person but still couldn’t help but feel a bit worried.
“…So I was just a bit concerned. I’m sorry.”
“…I just wanted to impress Lindera a bit more and thought I’d get up from the desk a little. The gym was built for that reason, right?”
“………”
That’s right.
I had forgotten that part because I was so bad at exercising.
It was because of that.
Because sitting all the time isn’t good.
“…But there’s no real need. After all, what kind of exercise does a broad-shouldered person need to do?”
“Even so, if it gets wider, wouldn’t that be better?”
“……….”
I imagined it.
The Commander with a better body than now.
Not overly muscular, but with lean muscles showing in his abs, arms, and legs… and broader shoulders… a sturdier back…
“…I don’t know.”
“Huh?”
“…I can’t tell. Just don’t take off your shirt in front of everyone after all that exercise.”
“…That’s a given…”
“……….”
Combining the picture of the commander’s improved physique and his face… somehow felt like cheating.
Handsome, tall, fit, and wealthy.
Surely the other agents would go crazy for him.
“…Let’s stop… let’s stop now. Dolores will be here soon.”
Looking at the clock behind me, only a minute had passed.
I never expected these 5 minutes would pass so quickly.
I hadn’t anticipated time would fly by this fast.
All we did was chat while I was hugging the commander.
I didn’t think it would go by so quickly.
“…Commander.”
“Yeah?”
“…Tomorrow’s a holiday, so after work today, let’s go wash up right away in the private room.”
“…Huh?”
“Do you understand?”
I returned to my chair and said that to the Commander.
This was 100% something I wanted to do, but it was also part of the solution to my problem.
Yep.
So… that was the only reason I was going to do it.
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