Episode 172: A Happily Married Couple

Finally getting to work, I immediately started sorting the papers while checking the department names written on them.

Even in the same department, the section names were different, so sorting them carefully took a surprising amount of effort.

Just like in the Student Council, I’ll start by categorizing them into broad groups first.

Mayumi-san had left some classical music playing as BGM before she left, so it was a pretty elegant work session (though I have no clue what the song titles were).

Carefully making sure the papers on the desk didn’t cause an avalanche, I picked them up bit by bit and sorted them into the boxes I’d prepared for each department.

I don’t hate this kind of tedious work, so I was completely focused on the task at hand.

Before I knew it, I was so immersed that I’d totally lost track of time.

Listening to the BGM loop for I don’t know how many times, I was laser-focused on the job.

That’s why I made the mistake of not noticing the sound of the door opening over the music.

Continuing my work without sensing the ominous presence closing in behind me, I put some documents into a box on the shelf and turned around.

Squish…

What was that?

Something soft hit my face, and my vision went pitch black.

Is it night already?

No, no, my face is just covered by something.

But by what?

「Oh my, Takanashi-san… Should I tell Sara-chan on you?」

Mayumi-san’s voice reached my ears as I tried to figure out what that「something」was.

The alarm in my heart rang out loudly, violently informing me that the current situation was dangerous.

「Takanashi-san, you haven’t taken a single break since I left, have you?」

「M, Mayumi-san!? No, I… I did…」

Of course, I hadn’t taken a break.

Wait, no, I was resting. If I believe that in my head, then psychologically it definitely counts as a break (somehow).

Leaving my stupid thoughts behind, Mayumi-san’s actions escalated.

「Oh, trying to lie to me? What a bad boy. Be-cause-of-that…」

The arm looped behind my head completely locked me in place.

Ah, this is bad…

「It’s punishment time♪」

From there… it was a torture of many meanings…

「I’m sorry, I’ll make sure to take proper breaks from now on…」

I’d been given a punishment that I couldn’t tell was a reward or torture, feeling either breathless or soft. Here I am, apologizing to Mayumi-san, who looks incredibly lively compared to me, feeling more exhausted than I was from the actual work.

I wasn’t even slacking off; I was just working hard. So why am I the one apologizing…?

It feels a bit unfair, but apparently, I’m no match for a crying child, Sara-san, or Mayumi-san.

Looking out the window while thinking that, the sun had already set quite a bit.

Checking the clock, I realized for the first time that I’d already passed my scheduled working hours.

Even though the start was later than planned today, it felt like it ended in a flash.

This might be the first time I’ve ever focused on a task this hard…

When I looked at the floor, Mayumi-san, who was looking at the sorting boxes spread out across it, wore a look of surprise.

「My, my, you’ve made quite a bit of progress.」

「For now, I’ve just grouped them by department.」

It’s not modesty; I’ve really just done a rough sorting. I’ve still got a long way to go.

「I’m sorry I couldn’t help. At first, I was playing arou… I mean, our talk went long, so I couldn’t finish my housework.」

This person just tried to say she was playing around too much, didn’t she?

Well, I’m fully aware that I was essentially being played with.

Click…

The door opened, and looking that way, Masaomi-san was standing there.

「I’m home.」

「Welcome back, dear.」

Mayumi-san approached Masaomi-san with a smile and kissed him on the cheek.

!?

I didn’t think she’d kiss him right in front of me, but being able to do that so normally must mean they’re a very close couple.

I was honestly impressed.

Masaomi-san noticed me watching and gave a wry smile.

「Whoops, sorry about that, Takanashi-kun. Habit, you know. Mayumi, you knew Takanashi-kun was here, so wouldn’t doing that out of nowhere surprise him?」

Masaomi-san apologized to me slightly before lightly scolding Mayumi-san.

But his expression didn’t seem as bad as his words, and I could immediately tell he was totally doting on Mayumi-san.

I see, so this is what it’s like to have PDA shoved in your face…

While I was calmly observing them, Masaomi-san tilted his head as if finding something strange.

「Oh, you aren’t as surprised as I thought, or should I say, you’re quite calm? When I did this in front of my colleagues before, they were hugely shocked.」

「Ufufu, he has a face that says ‘I have experience,’ doesn’t he?」

「Eh!?」

I definitely didn’t have a face like that, but Mayumi-san’s mischievous streak kicked in again and she tossed the subject to me.

Not expecting it, I was caught off guard and fumbled for words.

「Oh, is that so? Takanashi-kun’s girlfriend is a high schooler too, right? My, my… she’s quite the proactive young lady then.」

「Eh… no, well… I wonder?」

I didn’t know how to answer and ended up stammering.

The triumphant look on Mayumi-san’s face was frustrating.

「It might feel a bit early for high schoolers, but being loved is a good thing. Physical contact like this helps maintain a good relationship between two people, after all.」

「Y, yes. I’m learning a lot…」

While I was frantically trying to handle the situation while sweating internally, Mayumi-san was standing behind Masaomi-san, covering her mouth and suppressing her laughter.

「Anyway, you’ve really made some solid progress.」

I felt a bit relieved as Masaomi-san’s interest shifted to the sorting boxes on the floor.

But I also realized I’d spread them out so much that there was nowhere left to step.

「S, sorry. Am I getting in the way of your work?」

「No, I can’t do my work here until the organizing is done anyway, so it’s fine. Feel free to do it however is easiest for you, Takanashi-kun.」

Good.

I was worried I’d caused trouble by spreading things out without thinking ahead. I’ll have to be careful about that from now on…

「I didn’t think you’d get this much done on the first day.」

「Right. I had to go out shopping, so I’m sorry I couldn’t help at all.」

「Oh, so you did all this by yourself?」

I was just working normally, but being told that didn’t feel bad.

「I’ve done this kind of work a few times at school. But trying it today, I think I enjoyed it more than I expected, or rather, it seems I don’t dislike this sort of task.」

That’s about how I’d sum up my feelings for the day.

Masaomi-san was nodding happily.

「You might be suited for this kind of support work.」

「I agree. Isn’t he exactly the kind of talent you’re always looking for, dear?」

「Hahaha. True, there isn’t exactly anyone out there studying specifically to be my assistant, so personally, it would be a huge help.」

Since it was a topic that was hard to join in on, I stayed quiet for a bit, which Masaomi-san seemed to notice.

「Sorry for moving the conversation along without you. Actually, since I’m involved in HR too, I tend to talk like that out of habit. Don’t mind me.」

I have no idea what a Senior Managing Director actually does, but if he’s involved in HR too, does that mean his work is wide-ranging?

Sounds tough…

「It’s fine. You’ll figure out your aptitude as you go. For now, just think of it as being lucky to find one of them. You learn a lot once you actually start working, after all.」

Working… employment.

I hadn’t thought about my path after high school graduation at all, but there’s no doubt the time to think about it will come eventually.

Will I go to university or get a job? Come to think of it, what kind of path does Sara-san want to take?

We haven’t talked about this at all until now.

But I realized for the first time that eventually, we’d need to make time for that talk.

「Now, that’s enough serious talk. Takanashi-san, good work today! I’ll get some tea ready, so please relax in the living room. Since it seems you didn’t take a single break!」

Mayumi-san, who had been watching me lost in thought, spoke up in a bright voice that blew that atmosphere away.

She even added a pointed little jab about me not resting.

「Eh? You didn’t take a break? Takanashi-kun, being serious is a very good thing, but you have to make sure to take proper rests too, okay?」

When Masaomi-san scolded me with a wry smile, Mayumi-san let her expression break into a smirk.

「Nfufu. That’s a line I’d like to say to a certain someone too, you know?」

「…Well, when I get focused, I just…」

「Y, yes. When I get focused, I tend to get immersed in the work, or rather, I get lost in it.」

「Exactly, that’s how it is. Are you that type too, Takanashi-kun?」

「Y, yeah. Are you too, Masaomi-san?」

We were cut from the same cloth, or rather, we somehow ended up backing each other up.

Mayumi-san couldn’t stop laughing at our interaction, looking like she was enjoying herself from start to finish.

「Yes, yes, I understand your excuses, so please make sure you rest properly, okay?」

「「 Y, yes… 」」

My voice and Masaomi-san’s overlapped.

It started with me, but somehow Masaomi-san ended up getting scolded too.

But watching them like this, I could tell that these two really are a happily married couple.

However, one thing was clear: Masaomi-san is completely under Mayumi-san’s thumb, isn’t he?

I had a vague impression of that in that moment.