“By the way, what kind of story is it?”
Kuze-san’s gaze fell to the paperback sitting on my desk. Leaving my fingers lightly resting on the cover, I paused to think for a moment.
“…It’s a romance novel.”
“Right, I figured as much.” Kuze-san chuckled softly. “I was wondering what kind of romance it is.”
I found myself at a loss for how to explain. The story depicted in this book was a romance between two women.
Personally, I didn’t view that as anything extraordinary. Even so, when it came to telling Kuze-san, I couldn’t help but carefully weigh my words. The very fact that I cared about how she would react meant it was already plenty special to me.
“…It’s a story about two friends who gradually change the nature of their relationship.”
“Oh, really? Sounds interesting.”
“The psychological portrait is very delicate. I really like it.”
“I see.”
Just as Kuze-san leaned in with an intrigued look to check out the cover, a male employee’s voice called out from behind.
“Kuze-san, excuse me.”
I turned around to see a colleague from another team standing there.
“I wanted to consult with you briefly regarding the meeting with the sales department.”
“Sure. I’ll be right there.”
Kuze-san turned toward him immediately. While keeping the same soft, warm expression from moments ago, the look in her eyes instantly shifted into her professional work mode.
“Sorry, Shiraishi-san. Let’s pick this up later.”
“Understood. Good work today.”
She gave a light smile and walked away alongside the male employee.
I lowered my eyes back down to the paperback.
…Pick this up later.
Those casually spoken words lingered strangely in my mind. Even if it was nothing more than polite banter to Kuze-san, to me, it became reason enough to look forward to the afternoon.
I thought of myself as simple-minded. Even so, I couldn’t help feeling happy when I was happy.
Tucking the novel back into my bag, I returned to the work I had put on hold. As I replied to emails received that morning and checked my afternoon schedule, the hands of the clock passed noon.
“Shiraishi-san, want to grab lunch?”
Hearing a voice from next to me, I raised my head. Minami-san was closing her laptop, looking my way.
“Sure. I brought a packed lunch today.”
“I bought something from the convenience store. Let’s head over to the break area.”
Grabbing our lunches, we walked toward the back of the floor.
Settling into the seats by the window, Minami-san let out a deep breath as she unwrapped her sandwich.
“Ahhh, the morning felt so long. I want to go home already.”
“We’re not even halfway through the day yet.”
“Don’t say such realistic things.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Having lunch together like this happened several times a week.
I had started talking to her often shortly after joining the company. She was one of the few people at work around whom I could just relax without pretense.
“Come to think of it, Shiraishi-san, what do you usually do on weekends?”
“I read books or watch movies. Or go shopping sometimes.”
“Oh, so you’re quite an indoor person?”
“I suppose so. If I don’t have any plans, I’ll stay home the whole time.”
Minami-san nodded in understanding and took a sip of her drink.
“Do you go out on dates with a boyfriend or anything?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Ah, really? I’m surprised!”
“Eh, is it really that surprising?”
“Yeah. You seem like someone who’d be really popular.”
I chuckled softly at that.
It wasn’t that I had zero experience with men expressing interest in me. It was just that I had never felt the desire to return those feelings.
The only people I had ever viewed as romantic interests, for as long as I could remember, were women.
I didn’t feel the need to confide that to anyone, nor was I actively trying to hide it. Still, when it came to discussing my love life at work, I felt more than a little hesitant.
“Have you and your boyfriend been together for a long time, Minami-san?”
“About three years, I think. Though we’ve been fighting a lot lately.”
“Oh, really?”
Minami-san laughed in exasperation and launched into a story about what happened yesterday.
I listened attentively, popping bites of my lunch into my mouth. Petty disagreements between lovers and how to make up afterward were all experiences I had yet to go through myself.
“What about you, Shiraishi-san? Is there someone you like?”
Suddenly, Kuze-san’s side profile flashed across my mind.
“…Who knows.”
“Wait, what’s with that reaction? Is there actually someone?!” Minami-san leaned forward eagerly.
“Fufu, it’s a secret.”
“There definitely is!”
Caught up in her playful energy, I laughed along with her.
There was someone I liked. And she was a senior colleague in the very same department whom I saw practically every day.
Yet, I lacked the courage to say her name out loud. The moment someone else found out, I felt like the everyday life I took for granted would slowly begin to change.
Minami-san didn’t press any further and took a bite of her remaining sandwich.
After chatting about random trifles for a while, she suddenly looked up as if recalling something.
“Oh, right. Shiraishi-san, are you free this Friday?”
“Friday?”
“Yeah. After work.”
I mentally checked my schedule. I didn’t have any plans set.
“As of now, I don’t have anything scheduled.”
“Great! A few of us are getting dinner with people from the sales department. Would you like to come along?”
Minami-san set her drink down and continued.
“It’s not a huge crowd, just a relaxed gathering.”
I hesitated for a moment.
I didn’t mind dinner gatherings with co-workers. However, rather than spending time in a loud, crowded group, I preferred quiet conversations with people I knew well.
“You’re going too, right, Minami-san?”
“Of course. I was the one invited, after all.”
“Then I think I’ll go.”
“Really? Awesome!”
Minami-san smiled happily.
“Not everyone’s confirmed yet, but I hear they’re inviting Kuze-san, too.”
My chopsticks froze in mid-air.
“…Kuze-san, too?”
“Yeah. Though I don’t know if she can make it.”
Trying to maintain a calm facade, I closed the lid of my lunchbox.
Friday.
A mundane weekday evening still several days away.
And yet, Kuze-san might be there.
The moment that thought crossed my mind, the dinner gathering I had just been hesitating about suddenly became something I couldn’t wait for.