The Case of the Salaryman and His Beautiful Boss - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: A Changing Life?

Translator: Newton

Editor: TipToe

 

The next day… there were no changes to my life whatsoever.

 

“Morning, Mizuto-kun.”

 

“Good morning, Chief Matsuura.”

 

“I’ll be counting on you today, as well.”

 

“Same here.”

 

…Phew… thank goodness. Things were going normally. I’d have no problems like this.

 

But knowing about her cute side…

 

That kind of gap* was nice.

 

…Wait, what the hell am I thinking of?!

 

 If there was something that changed…

 

“Ah, good morning!”

 

“Ah, good morning, Ono-kun.”

 

“Good morning.”

 

“Oh, good morning.”

 

Everyone seemed to greet me casually now.

 

How formal had they been around me before? This was something to reflect on. Of course, greeting others was a basic part of society, but…

 

Everyone’s tone was different when they greeted me today.

 

“Now then, let’s work hard today too.”

 

I was in a mysteriously good mood.

 

Best not to dwell on it too much…

 

I take my words back.

 

It seems my life has indeed changed…

 

“Excuse me, Mizuto-kun?”

 

“Yes, what is it?”

 

“Would you care to eat lunch with me, starting today?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Everyone murmured around us.

 

“Eh? What’s going on?”

 

“They have that kind of relationship?”

 

“Eh, what a shock…”

 

But Rena-san’s face grew cold.

 

“Quiet.”

 

Her voice wasn’t loud or anything, but everyone shut up.

 

Now, this was the Chief Matsuura I knew well.

 

“It’s nothing like that. I won’t go into detail, but Mizuto-kun will be working as an adviser for a new product. In that regard, he’s going to be working here less. Before he begins his new job, he’ll be training the new hires and second-years. We don’t have time to meet regarding those matters, so we’ll discuss it while talking.”

 

“Oh, I see….”

 

“Uwa, how pitiful….”

 

“Taking it easy during lunch would be nicer…”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“…”

 

Haha… it must be tough being a boss.

 

I knew Chief well enough to say that.

 

She must be pushing herself—if only I could do something to help her…

 

Huh? Why was I here?

 

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt your lunch… Uu… I must be making trouble for you. I didn’t mean to say all that…”

 

“N-no, it’s alright. I know you mean well, Chief. Anyway… Why are we in this room? Is this alright?”

 

“Ehehe… ahem. Manager told us to use it. It’d be troublesome if others were to eavesdrop on us—better for others not to know anything about the new product.”

 

“That’s true… Salespeople from other companies might hear about it, and people going on business trips might let loose about it.”

 

Especially those on business trips…

 

There were people who’d let loose information to other companies if provided alcohol.

 

“Here, there’s nobody but managers, so in the off-chance that someone hears us, we’re still fine. Anyway, from tomorrow, I’d like you to start the training.”

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

“Eh? W-what? Why are you making such a scary face?”

 

This was a bad situation.

 

Her complexion wasn’t great in the first place, and she looked exhausted due to all the stress…

 

“Chief… no, Rena-san…”

 

“Y-yes?”

 

“You can’t just be eating salad and udon. When you were at my home, you asked for seconds, right? That means you can’t be a small eater. You called my apartment good too… I won’t sweat the details, but are you struggling for cash?”

 

I wasn’t sure whether to ask or not, but I was concerned now that I knew. We’d be working together from now on, after all.

 

“Uu… you got me… Whenever people asked, I’d pretend I was just going on a diet to stay in shape. But yes… I’m broke.”

 

“I thought you were on a diet too—your style is great, after all. Don’t you make box lunches?”

 

“Y-you praised me… Ehehe~”

 

“Excuse me…?”

 

“S-sorry… I don’t make box lunches. You saw what I put in my shopping cart, right?”

 

“Come to think of it, you’re right. It’s all prepackaged and prepared stuff.”

 

“Uuu… how embarrassing of me… I-I tried, more or less, you know? But when I was younger, I didn’t have any time to make them… and I don’t have any time now to start making them either.”

 

Well, she did come to work earlier than anyone else.

 

And on top of that, she worked hard and was in a position of responsibility.

 

Hmm… let’s give this a shot.

 

Recently, I was happy that others ate my food after so long, so…

 

“Rena-san, if it’s alright with you… Do you mind if I make you lunch every other day?”

 

“Eh? Eeeeeeh?!”

 

“You’re being noisy.”

 

“B-but…! Why?”

 

“I’m worried about your health. From now on, we’ll be getting busier. And coming into summer, if you don’t watch your health, it’ll be a hindrance to your work, you know?”

 

“Uu… I know that…”

 

“But you don’t have time or money.”

 

“S-sorry…”

 

“No need to apologize. So, are you okay with this?”

 

“B-but aren’t I bothering you? I’m glad, but…”

 

“It’s not too much effort on my part. You saw me cook, right?”

 

“Well, you can make them in a jiffy… b-but the cost….”

 

“How much did that udon and salad cost?”

 

“…Four hundred yen.”

 

“If I make you lunch, the ingredients only total two hundred yen, so that’d be all you’d need to pay.”

 

“T-that cheap? B-but aren’t you just going to be wasting your time?”

 

“I’ll be making portions for myself too, so this is beneficial to me as well. I really wanted to make lunch, but making it for only one person was troublesome. I’d have to cut the amount of ingredients, as well as the food I made, in half…”

 

“H-have you made lunch for someone else before?”

 

“Yes. When I was in college, I lived together with my sister. As thanks for letting me live with her, I made her lunch when she went to work.”

 

“Ah, I see… phew…”

 

“So it’s decided. I’ll be making lunch for you starting tomorrow.”

 

“H-how forceful… Mu… What should I do to thank you? If there’s anything you want me to do, I’ll do it as long as it’s in my power….”

 

…I wanted to punch myself.

What the hell was I thinking?

Am I an idiot?

 

“…No, just keep working as you are. That’s the best thing you could do for me. A boss that appreciates their subordinates’ work and listens to them is a valuable thing indeed. If you don’t feel well, I’d be troubled.”

 

“Mizuto-kun… Thank you. But I’m thinking of how to repay you properly.”

 

“I’ll leave you to that. I’m alright with whatever you do.”

 

After that, we had the work-related meeting, and we finished eating lunch.

 

“Okay, let’s head back.”

 

“Um…!”

 

“Yes?”

 

“… It’s okay if I don’t delete your contact info, right…?”

 

“…Yes, it’s alright. Just…”

 

“I know! I won’t message you that much!”

 

“Wait?!”

 

Chief Matsuura quickly left.

 

No, I…

 

I was going to ask her to send me a message if ever she had any requests, but…

 

In any case, it seems that my life had changed.

 

*As in gap moe