Ever since the Boss ended up working in the Office, the workload of everyone there has definitely increased.
Of course, that was already the norm, but it suddenly got worse.
Not to mention, working in the same room as the Boss could be tough.
Honestly, working with someone like the Boss… is bound to be tough.
Especially since the Commander felt like more than just the Boss; there was a mother-in-law vibe too.
“Help me…”
“What can I do?”
Anyway, the Commander had been looking exhausted lately.
So I often came by to take the Commander out for a breather.
The Commander was really weary, and I was bored too.
I’d pull the Commander out to the Cafe or spend some time in the Garden.
“But Commander, what do you talk about with the Boss while working?”
“Only about their own work, really.”
“Then why are you so worn out?”
“How can I not be tired with the Boss next to me? Just sitting still is mentally exhausting!”
Hmm… I mean, it could be hard, but I thought that getting used to the Boss now would be beneficial in many ways.
After all, there would be more opportunities to meet the Boss in the future, and dealing with challenges every time would be problematic.
I figured it’d be better to acclimate now.
Of course, the real issue wasn’t about getting used to it but the overwhelming amount of work, right?
“Sigh…”
“That’s why I’m here taking you out. If it weren’t tough, would I even bother trying to give you a break?”
“That’s true… You’re the best, Lindera.”
“Just glad you acknowledged it.”
Honestly, part of the reason I brought the Commander out was just to see them, but still.
“Still, I wouldn’t intentionally be mean to you, would I?”
“That’s true.”
The Boss was definitely not a bad person.
We both knew that.
If they were really bad, they’d have probably shot at the Commander from the start.
Hmm.
Thinking about it, that really shows how kind they are.
“So, Commander, when will your mom be arriving?”
“Probably before the baby is born?”
“…Is that so?”
That was one of my biggest concerns lately.
Aside from the childbirth, the Commander’s mother was scheduled to visit.
Given the… well, you know?
I wasn’t just being concerned; I was quite worried.
Not about myself, but about the Commander.
“…They certainly yelled a lot back then.”
“………”
“…I’m worried.”
I really was worried.
Recently, I had touched base with the Commander’s mother after a long time.
I told her I was pregnant and… well, let’s just say the moment those words left my mouth, the Commander’s mother was really furious with the Commander.
Hmm.
Even now, thinking back, that voice was incredibly loud.
I’m pretty sure we were on a normal call, yet the sound carried so clearly to me from a distance.
Hmm.
“…First of all, I think you will get a proper scolding.”
“I guess I’ll have to bear it…”
“That’s right.”
“…It’s true.”
Even the Commander agreed that their mother’s reaction was only expected.
“But thinking back, I did lie to her once, saying we were dating, right?”
“Right?”
“So, at least… she shouldn’t accept it completely out of the blue. After all, it’s been about a year since then.”
There was a time we pretended due to the Commander.
Looking back, it was honestly ridiculous.
I had played along to keep the Commander from getting nagged.
But thinking back now… it might actually work out.
At least it’s better than nothing, right?
“That was back then.”
“Your mom doesn’t know the context… so she might think it’s just a case of getting pregnant while dating?”
“Is that so…?”
“At least I don’t think she’ll collapse like the Boss did.”
“That might be true?”
Sure, she was really mad, but hopefully, it wouldn’t be to the point of passing out.
That’s how I was thinking, anyway.
Of course, there’s a chance I could be wrong.
I had plenty of worries, but right now, I was just gently patting the Commander’s head.
“Shouldn’t we head back inside soon?”
“…Ah.”
We had already been resting for about ten minutes.
It was time to head back.
Personally, I wanted to hold onto the Commander a little longer, but the Commander had to work in the Office with the Boss.
“Let’s head back in now.”
“…Sigh. I suppose we have to… see you at lunch soon.”
“Yeah. I’ll be waiting.”
So I just sat and watched as the Commander went back to the Office.
Like the Commander said, we could always just have lunch together soon.
“Hmm… I wonder when lunch is.”
It had only been a short while since the Commander left, and I was already starting to miss them.
Hmm… this is serious.
*
After a few days, the Commander’s mother finally arrived.
I had met her before, and she definitely resembled the Commander.
Of course, her personality was far more diligent.
“Get down.”
“…Uh, we just met after a long time?”
“Get down.”
“……..”
As soon as the mother walked into the room, that was the situation we faced.
Hmm.
Hmm…
Just as I expected!
“Your father may have been popular with women when he was younger, but he didn’t get anyone pregnant before marriage.”
“Uh…”
“No matter how much you dated, do you really think it’s reasonable to get someone pregnant just a year later? Right now, Lindera’s belly is… Ha…”
“………”
Wow.
She was really mad.
I could confirm that, no doubt.
The difference compared to when I met her before was stark.
“Sigh…”
“Mother…? Uh, let’s head inside first. Standing in the entrance like this is…”
“Fine.”
First, we moved to the living room.
Even so, standing at the entrance like that felt weird.
Oh, and just to clarify, the Commander was lying down in the living room as well.
Feeling pity for them was one thing, but there was a reason for this.
Honestly, I thought it was unavoidable.
“Uh, Mother, would you like some tea or coffee…?”
“No, no. I can’t ask something like that of a pregnant woman.”
“Uh… but still…”
“That’s fine, Lindera, you just stay seated. Hey.”
“…Tea?”
“Yeah.”
“………”
The Commander, who had been lying down, got up and moved to the kitchen.
…So that was what she meant by ‘it’s fine?’
Definitely, it had to be.
“Sigh… uh, Lindera?”
“Yes?”
“Just to check, did our son do something bad, or… well, anything like that?”
“Absolutely not. He could never do that in the first place… right?”
“That’s true, but… knowing about the pregnancy…”
It’s understandable she’d be shocked.
What had happened was completely unplanned and sudden.
“Here’s the tea…”
“Get back down.”
“…Okay.”
So, we ended up receiving her with tea and water.
Truthfully, aside from the Commander lying down, it was a pretty normal meeting.
“Well… this person may sometimes slack off and not be diligent, but he wouldn’t be that kind of person, so you don’t have to worry.”
“…I’m just sorry. Really sorry.”
“There’s no need to…”
Honestly, there wasn’t.
The Commander did get me pregnant, but I had my share of mistakes as well.
Seeing the mother be so apologetic made me feel sorry in return.
If only I hadn’t tugged the Commander right before they were about to go for it… Hmm.
No matter how I think about it, it was both the Commander’s and my fault.
“…Just get up.”
“…Can’t we at least hear what I have to say first?”
“Son, stop talking nonsense.”
“…Okay.”
Anyway, the Commander finally sat down.
Fortunately, the mother was already aware of us dating, so maybe that’s why she didn’t get too angry, and thankfully the conversation went smoothly.
“…Why are you only contacting me now that the baby is already this big?”
“Uh, that’s…”
“What is it?”
“I forgot?”
“…Get back down.”
“……..”
What a foolish decision; just five minutes after sitting back down, the Commander returned to lying down again.
They could’ve just brushed it off as being busy.
“So, does Lindera’s mother know…?”
“I do. She is aware of everything here and prepared most of it.”
“Oh my… really…? Then there might not be anything to do… the furniture is already set up…”
“No, you really don’t have to prepare anything… really.”
Honestly, the same goes for the Boss.
I honestly didn’t need any such arrangements; it felt even awkward that they were so good to me.
They didn’t just help with the house but also provided all the furniture.
That was definitely a big deal.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a problem if it was just a card from the Boss’s wallet, but… that was beside the point.
Actually, no matter how I think about it, it’s really great.
The house was amazing.
“So how long do we have until delivery?”
“Just a little over two months left… I… passed seven months a few weeks back.”
“Oh my…”
“That’s why I’m taking it easy and trying to rest. Meanwhile, the Commander is working diligently.”
“Hmm… that’s a relief. I was worried because it seemed like a sudden pregnancy without any plans or anything like that…”
“He’s definitely not a bad guy.”
The Commander was absolutely not a bad person.
There’s no way they could do something like that.
“You really don’t need to worry. They might be a bit laid-back and not think things through sometimes, but they’re a good person.”
“If I recall, Lindera is younger than him. Looking at the two of you, I couldn’t tell who was younger.”
“The Commander just acts like a kid.”
“Haha.”
“Heh heh…”
“…That doesn’t seem to be the case nowadays?”
The Commander was mumbling something from the side, but I was happily chatting away with the mother.
The Commander was still lying down next to us, clearly struggling.
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