"Ah, my head hurts. Maybe I drank a bit too much," I said.
I occasionally enjoyed a can of chuhai (shochu cocktail), but I was never strong with alcohol. I couldn't drink beer or whisky at all. After I started working, I had to drink at company events, and because I wasn't good with alcohol, I chose sweet chuhai. Soon I was drinking it at home too, but two cans were my limit.
Last night, I kept thinking too much and, just like recently, I reached for a third can. Now my head hurt from the morning. It was a full hangover. Drinking three cans two days in a row was too much. I fought the pain, got dressed, and drank a glass of water, hoping it would ease my hangover.
"Only I would begin a new chapter with a hangover," I muttered.
Later, I went to the Defense Bureau office to give them my answer.
"I've decided. I'll join the Defense Bureau. So I'd like to enter the training school."
"I see. The Agency is thankful. We always need more people," the staff member said.
"So, when will I start?"
"We open every month. The next one begins on the tenth of next month."
"From the tenth?"
"Yes. I know you need to talk to your workplace. Don't worry. The Agency gives support money to companies that send people, so they should let you go with a smile."
"I see. If I hurry, I can finish handing over my work. Thank you."
After that, they gave me the papers I needed, and I went home. I began to fill them out right away, and as I wrote, the reality hit me.
"I'm really going to be a staff member of the Defense Bureau... Me, fighting demons and monsters? It doesn't feel real. If I tell the people at work, they'll think I'm joking."
The next day, I went to the office earlier than usual and spoke to my section chief.
"Chief, do you have a moment?"
"Hey, Hanaoka. What's with the serious face? Don't tell me you're finally getting married?"
"Haha... sadly, not yet."
"You're not bad-looking. I'm sure there are some women here who like you."
"Thank you. But I've given up on that."
"If you want, I can help set you up."
"No, it would trouble the woman, so it's fine."
Ah, the chief really was a good man. Not many people would go that far for me. But I wished he would think about the woman's feelings too. If a boss introduced her to someone like me, she wouldn't be able to say no.
"I see. So what is it then?"
"I'd like to leave the company in the first week of next month."
"W-what? Why? Are you unhappy with the company? If you have a problem, tell me. I was thinking of recommending you for assistant manager."
"Thank you. I'm not unhappy. It's just... I want to join the Defense Bureau."
"Huh? The Defense Bureau? That Defense Bureau?"
"Yes, the World Defense Bureau."
"No, no, Hanaoka, don't lie just to quit. You can't use magic."
"Well, it seems I suddenly could from the day before yesterday. I went to the Agency office, and they told me I'll enter training on the tenth next month. And they said the company will get support money because I'm leaving."
"You're kidding."
"No, I'm serious."
"For real?"
"Yes."
"So... Hanaoka, huh. You're 39, right? I guess these things can happen."
"Ah, I turned 40 two days ago."
"I see... Hanaoka, you know, you have a strong sense of justice, so maybe it suits you. The Defense Bureau, huh... I admired them too when I was young. Now you can get married. Good for you."
Why did he think a 40-year-old guy would suddenly get married just because he joined the Defense Bureau? That was a completely different problem.
"Chief, what are you talking about? There's no way."
"No, really. A single 40-year-old in the Defense Bureau? Women won't ignore that. And like I said, you're not bad-looking."
"Even if I join the Agency, I'm still me. I won't suddenly be popular."
"Ah, Hanaoka, your self-imagician hasn't changed at all. I've been your boss for ten years, so here's my advice: your view of yourself and how others see you are not the same. Just keep that in mind."
"Is that so..."
His kindness warmed me, but his words about marriage felt like salt on a wound.
After I told him, the days passed quickly. I finished my work at a good stopping point and handed everything over to the next person. I may say so myself, but I'm quite neat with my work, so it looked like I wouldn't leave any trouble behind.