This Isn’t Something You Can Just Find a Substitute For
The next morning, when I woke up, I didn’t get out of bed immediately. Instead, I stared blankly at the ceiling in a daze.
Hmm… did I say something harsh yesterday?
Well, whatever. It’s already been said and can’t be taken back, so let it be.
After all, I spoke from the heart, and I don’t really want to maintain this ambiguous relationship without clarity… Maybe this could be a breakthrough.
Following last night’s events, changing my attitude and strategy might help me uncover the truth. Without knowing the reason, I can’t feel completely secure.
It’s just that those harsh words slipped out unexpectedly and weren’t part of the plan…
“Damn… Finding a substitute within two days is way too difficult. Two years would be more like it,” I muttered with a conflicted expression, my face full of bitterness. “Do I have to look among the Organization’s new recruits? But it’s not that easy… Surely I don’t have to go searching myself?”
Actually, in the beginning, Rum even wanted me to take on an HR role and conduct background checks on various promising newcomers. Rum had it all figured out—he thought my photographic memory and quick information processing made me perfect for vetting new recruits. That way, if any issues were found, Boss Gin could immediately eliminate them. It was a one-stop service, highly efficient.
After all, when it comes to acting fast, if Boss Gin claims to be second in the Organization, no one dares call themselves first.
But I didn’t want to do it. For one, I don’t like storing too much information in my head—overworking my brain gives me headaches. The reason I’m fine now is that I don’t have to remember much and I take medication to manage it. Secondly… the people I’d be investigating would be core members about to receive their codenames, and the probability of them being moles is high!
What if I missed something and they were later exposed? I’d be held accountable! I don’t believe Rum when he says he wouldn’t blame me! And it’s way too dangerous!
Anyway, Boss Gin didn’t agree to it. I don’t know how he communicated with Rum and the Boss, but I guess he also thought my value in scientific research was higher than my value in intelligence. After that, I mainly stuck to working in the lab and managing the research team.
Thinking about it carefully, the fact that I’ve been able to navigate the Organization mostly according to my own wishes and choices is entirely thanks to Boss Gin… But that doesn’t conflict with my decision to launch my glorious rebellion against him!
“I’ll send over the information on the politician involved in this deal. As for the cleanup… handle it as you see fit. Oh, remind Boss Gin not to waste too many explosives,” I advised earnestly. “The cleanup team has been complaining to me that their explosive supplies can’t keep up.”
Everyone in our Organization is so reckless—they use explosives without restraint and waste them every time, and Boss Gin is the biggest offender. He’s all about that “real men never look back at explosions” vibe, completely ignoring the Organization’s inventory issues and not caring about alternative cleanup methods.
Vodka exists to drive and handle miscellaneous tasks, while I take care of interpersonal dealings, managing money, and handling supplies. Even though I’ve unilaterally decided to give Boss Gin the cold shoulder, I’ll still diligently complete the work that needs to be done.
“I see… Cocoa Wine, are you not coming along this time because you have another mission?”
“Hmph, unless absolutely necessary, I won’t be following along anymore.” I snorted coldly. “I want Gin to know I have a temper too!”
After a long silence from Vodka on the other end of the line, he lowered his voice to ask quietly, clearly avoiding Gin’s notice, his tone somewhat panicked: “W-wait a minute… Cocoa Wine, were you not showing any temper before?”
“Of course not!” I replied in a disbelieving tone. “Before, I was just acting spoiled with Gin!”
Vodka seemed utterly shocked, remaining silent for a long while.
I didn’t wait for his response and directly replied: “I’m done talking with you. I’m going to find Sherry now. Hanging up first.”
After saying this, I hung up the phone, stuffed the mobile into my pocket, and wore a heavy expression.
Hmph, I always keep my word! Even if finding a substitute is difficult, I’ll face the challenge head-on! One day, Gin will pay a painful price for doubting me!
If it doesn’t happen naturally, then I’ll personally create that price myself!
The research institute where Miyano Shiho worked was much quieter because it had very few staff.
Unlike my research in programming and machinery, which required many assistants, pharmaceutical research often demanded the researchers to handle everything personally.
When I arrived, the thirteen-year-old girl with tea-colored hair was wearing a mask and fiddling with a test tube. Curious, I leaned in to look and casually picked up a sealed test tube from the test tube rack, asking curiously: “Sherry, what’s this?”
Miyano Shiho glanced over and calmly said: “Raccoon virus.”
With a composed expression, I quickly put the test tube back. This is why I hate pharmaceutical research! It’s full of dangerous traps everywhere!
“If you have nothing better to do, come help me record data.” Miyano Shiho removed her mask and gloves, pulled out a chair to sit down, and booted up the computer. “Did you get demoted to my lab because you messed something up?”
“Demoted? This is me taking refuge, okay?” Since this was Miyano Shiho’s personal laboratory with only one chair, I simply sat on the nearby lab table. “A couple days ago, someone at my research institute tried to take me hostage. That institute is temporarily closed now, so I came here to lay low for a few days. Anyway, there’s no order from the Boss currently, and my deadline for upgrading the Organization’s computer firewall hasn’t arrived yet.”
“Taken hostage?” Miyano Shiho paused, turned to look at me, and after giving me a once-over, turned back again, her tone becoming flat. “So that fool who actually tried to take you hostage was eliminated by Gin again, right?”
“That’s about right… But why aren’t you worried about me at all? That’s too much! Aren’t we good friends?”
“Not that good, are we? And you don’t need anyone’s worry anyway.” Miyano Shiho was entering today’s experimental data, and after hitting the enter key, she tilted her head slightly, curled her lips into a smile, and looked at me with her blue eyes, deliberately adopting a teasing tone. “Don’t you always have that knight who gets furious every time but never arrives late by your side?”
I choked up, staring at her with an indescribable expression. It took me a while to find my voice again. Rubbing my arms with visible disgust, I weakly replied, “Next time, could you please not describe Gin as a knight? I’ve got goosebumps all over, and I feel a bit nauseous.”
The main issue was how utterly mismatched the description felt. With my naturally vivid imagination, I accidentally visualized this wildly out-of-character scenario and ended up thoroughly creeped out.
“…Sorry, my bad.” Miyano Shiho seemed to realize the problem too, her expression mirroring mine as she replied dryly, “Now I’m feeling a bit sick as well.”
We both walked out of the laboratory looking pale, prompting concerned inquiries from other research institute members asking if our experiment had gone wrong.
“I feel like I won’t be able to eat dinner anymore… This is your fault, Sherry,” I said, leaning against the doorframe.
“Didn’t I already apologize?… Fine, it was indeed a poor choice of words.” Miyano Shiho leaned against the opposite doorframe, glancing at me. “Was it Gin who assigned you here?”
“How did you guess?”
“You don’t do pharmaceutical research, and you’ve said before that you only take orders from the Boss and Gin within the Organization.” She sighed. “What did you do to upset him this time?”
“I hadn’t even done anything yet!” I felt somewhat wronged and didn’t want to dwell on the topic. “Didn’t you say your sister’s treating us to dinner tonight?”
“Yeah, it’s still early. We could go shopping first… The Organization would allow that much, right?”
She added the last part because she’s essentially been under the Organization’s surveillance disguised as protection. Sent to the U.S. for specialized training at age five, she returned after completing her studies at thirteen, received her codename, and now single-handedly manages the APTX project. Her sister Akemi Miyano serves as a hostage – though the sisters correspond frequently, they rarely meet due to the Organization’s control.
“Of course they’ll let you go out with me,” I declared confidently, patting my chest. Then, looking at her, an idea suddenly struck me. I leaned in and whispered, “Speaking of which, it’s been a while since you’ve seen your sister… Since she’s introducing her boyfriend to you, how about you introduce me in return?”
“Huh?” Miyano Shiho looked bewildered. “Doesn’t sister already know you? Haven’t you two met more often than I have with her?”
“Not like that.” I pointed at myself excitedly. “Just officially declare me as your girlfriend to her! That way we’d win!”
“…” Miyano Shiho was stunned. She looked at me with an indescribable expression and calmly reminded me, “Setting aside whatever you’re competing about… you pervert, I’m only thirteen.”
I fell silent for a moment before countering, “Do you think our Organization is some law-abiding group?”
“If you want to test your T-Rex’s reaction or make him jealous, couldn’t you pick a more appropriate stimulus target?” Miyano Shiho, aware that her earlier “knight” description had been too bizarre and unsettling, chose a more fitting adjective this time. “Or if you’re really desperate, I could try persuading my sister to lend you her boyfriend for three minutes.”
…No, I never thought they’d be jealous. I even suspect they might actually be happy about it.
Of course, I kept that thought to myself.
Considering how many times Gin has saved me, I shouldn’t make his already questionable tastes even more suspicious.
“Be nicer to your potential future brother-in-law…” I was so shocked by her attitude that I went over and started swinging her hand back and forth, “Besides, he likes you more! If I had to pick people for a threesome, you’re one of only two I’d accept! Of course, we can wait until you’re an adult.”
Miyano Shiho looked over in confusion: “Only two? Who’s the other one?”
I answered honestly: “Vermouth.”
Miyano Shiho said with a deadpan expression: “No thanks, she’s a total pervert.”
We then went out shopping and checked out the seasonal bag collections.
I’m not actually that interested in bags themselves, but since this was a chance to milk the Organization, I was quite enthusiastic about this bag-buying venture. Shopping really does relieve stress, especially when you can get full reimbursement.
During this outing, I explained to Miyano Shiho the outcome of my recent cold war with Gin.
“I have to find his replacement within two days, and it has to be at least a decent substitute!”
“Finding a second one of that type on this planet would be quite difficult, wouldn’t it? If you manage it, the happiest person would probably be the Boss.”
“Sherry, how can you boost others’ morale while dampening our own!”
“Whose morale, and whose spirit are we talking about here?”
Although she kept teasing me, Miyano Shiho agreed to help me watch for suitable candidates I could drag in to prove my point.
Even though she didn’t really understand what exactly I was trying to prove myself about.
Under these circumstances, we reached the evening appointment time with Miyano Akemi. She arrived punctually, arm-in-arm with her boyfriend.
“Shiho! Natsuki! Sorry to keep you waiting!” Miyano Akemi wore a bright smile as she pulled the black-haired young man in a knit cap beside her forward to introduce him, “This is the boyfriend I mentioned before, Moroboshi Dai. Dai-kun, this is my younger sister Miyano Shiho, and our good friend Natsume Natsuki.”
The young man she was holding onto offered us a slight smile: “Nice to meet you.”
Miyano Shiho and I looked at this person, our expressions turning somewhat complicated. We remained completely silent in unison, then after three seconds started exchanging glances.
Miyano Shiho’s eyes signaled to me: The substitute you wanted has appeared. Should I borrow my sister for three minutes so you can put on your act?
I looked back at her with disbelief: How is this a substitute?! Only his hair length and height match!