Troubles had been hitting the office one after another, and I was honestly exhausted.
In the midst of it all, a piece of bright news arrived.
Saeko—Saeko Kirishima—had decided to change careers and join my company.
“I’ll be in your care starting today. I’m Saeko Kirishima. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
Dressed in a gray pantsuit, Saeko gave a deep bow. When she looked up, she beamed a refreshing smile at every single employee.
It was that carefree, spirited smile that I could never hope to emulate.
Even the employees, who usually carried an air of heaviness around them, softened their expressions for once and broke into scattered applause.
Immediately after, I held a meeting with Saeko in the president’s office.
While projecting internal data onto the computer screen, I matter-of-factly explained the company’s dire current situation.
Once I finished, Saeko let out a single, soft sigh and looked up. Her eyes looked as if she was already staring straight ahead at the goal.
“…So, for now, the best thing I can do is increase our new clients, right? Okay. I’ll use my free time today to start booking appointments.”
“…Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”
Saeko gave a slow nod, then narrowed her eyes with a gentle smile. It reminded me of the day she first spoke to me back in our university seminar.
Somehow, my eyes grew hot. How long had it been since I’d been able to rely on someone so honestly in my professional life?
“Also, I noticed Inukai-san and Saruwatari-san are the most overwhelmed. I’ll take over some of their clients.”
Saeko briskly jotted down her to-do list in her notebook.
The meeting ended swiftly, in less than ten minutes.
As expected of someone who had served as a department manager in her previous job. The sheer tempo of her communication translated directly into a sense of reliability.
The sound of typing echoed through the quiet office in the afternoon. I was performing a final check on the materials for an evening client meeting.
Amidst the silence, Saeko’s bright voice rang out as she spoke on the phone.
“Yes, thank you. I’ll visit you on the 17th at 3:00 PM.”
After hanging up, Saeko suddenly turned toward Matsuyama, who was sitting behind her.
“Hey, Maho-chan, could you help me out with something here?”
“Huh!? Ma…!? W-what is it…!?”
Having been called by her first name so abruptly, Matsuyama blinked with such speed it made me wonder if a human being was actually capable of it.
“This order code—the numbering system is a bit unique, isn’t it? I’m not quite grasping the rule.”
“Ah, uh, well, that’s because…”
Once the explanation was finished, Saeko gave a soft smile.
“Thanks, Maho-chan. That was a huge help.”
She gave Matsuyama a couple of light pats on the shoulder and breezily returned to her own desk.
“Hah!?!? N-no problem!! Um, please ask me anything! Anytime!!”
Matsuyama’s face flushed a deep red, like a sunset, right before my eyes. She was blushing in the most obvious way possible.
Matsuyama… you are way too easy.
She’s been here for two years since moving from the rural Kansai region as a fresh graduate, but with that kind of purity, she’s bound to be preyed upon by some bad crowd in Tokyo one day. It has nothing to do with me, but I couldn’t help but feel worried.
Meanwhile, Saeko moved through the office like a bright storm, striking up conversations with the employees.
Even Inukai and Saruwatari, who usually did nothing but argue, had peaceful expressions and were laughing today.
Just by Saeko entering the room, I felt the atmosphere of the office visibly improve.
When I returned home, the room was neatly tidied. I wondered when the last time was that I could actually see the floor.
It seemed Yuno had done it.
“I didn’t know what was okay to throw away, so I just piled it all up for now—but I made it pretty clean!”
Saying this, she flashed a V-sign with a proud little huff and smiled. In moments like this, Yuno’s smug expression looked innocent and strangely cute.
“Oh, right,” Yuno added, as if remembering something.
“In the back of the dresser, there were a bunch of single socks left out. They looked like little potatoes.”
“……You should have just put those away without saying anything.”
I instinctively looked away from Yuno. My face felt hot at having my sloppiness pointed out. Yuno giggled mischievously.
The two of us sat facing each other for dinner.
Tonight, it was Salisbury steak. When I cut into it with my chopsticks, the juices seeped out; as I took a bite, the meaty texture mingled with the sweet and savory sauce, making me instinctively narrow my eyes in delight.
Before I knew it, I was munching away in silence.
“Onee-san, did something good happen?”
Yuno asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Did I really look that happy? To be nearly thirty and have my emotions read so easily by a younger girl… how pathetic.
“Nothing special.”
“But you’ve been grinning every now and then. Like, fu-nyaaa.”
“Liar. I definitely wasn’t making that face.”
When I snapped back defensively, Yuno let out a little laugh. Looking at that smile made my chest feel ticklish.
I took a sip of tea, paused for a moment, and then continued.
“Well, I might have taken one step forward. A friend from my student days, someone very capable, joined the company.”
“I see. That’s good.”
Yuno gave a soft, airy smile and added, “I wonder what you’re like as a president.”
“What’s with that grin?”
“Nothing~”
I gave Yuno a playful glare, as if she were asking whether I could actually function as a president while my private life was such a mess.
How long had it been since I’d eaten a meal while exchanging banter like this? I realized I was actually finding it enjoyable.
However, this was strictly a temporary living arrangement. Only until Yuno found a part-time job and her next place to live.
When I thought about the day such nights would come to an end, a small, sharp pang echoed in the depths of my chest.