Episode 54: You’ve Completely Lost It, Haven’t You
Spring approaching, one morning’s company meeting.
“Right, so — everyone, thanks for your support starting today. I’ve got plenty of rough edges, so I’ll be counting on all of you to help me out!”
Saeko’s bright, energetic voice rang cheerfully through the office.
As of today, Saeko had become company president.
The president — Reina — had stepped down, effective today. Going forward, she’d apparently be involved on a contracted, consulting basis.
The handover would proceed gradually, in stages.
Just having Saeko sitting at the president’s desk made the whole office feel subtly different.
A lingering air of confusion and unease still hung over the staff.
＊＊＊
I checked the wall clock — already eight at night.
Buried in month-end closing work, I was still at my desk.
Tapping away at the keyboard, eyes on the screen, a small clink sounded out of nowhere.
I looked toward the noise, and there was a can of coffee, set down at the corner of my desk.
Tracing the hand that placed it — it was Saeko.
Without a word, she pulled out the chair beside me and sat down, propping her cheek on one hand, peering over at me.
“Maho-chan, working late again. Why not save the rest for tomorrow?”
“No, I’m almost done. …But Saeko-san, you’re staying late too.”
“Of course I am. The new president’s got mountains of work, gotta get the handover done fast. It’s a real headache.”
Saeko let out a sigh.
Even saying that, her voice carried its usual easy lightness.
“Speaking of which… it really was sudden, wasn’t it. The president — Reina-san, I mean.”
“Yeah. Caught me off guard too. Two weeks ago, out of nowhere, she asked if I’d take over as president.”
Saeko took a sip of her coffee and went on.
“Said she wanted to stay close to Yuno. Said for that, she wanted to scale back work.”
“…She didn’t have to go that far.”
“Right? Way too far gone. That’s genuinely a little concerning.”
I couldn’t help laughing at Saeko’s exasperated expression. I took a sip of my own coffee too.
Letting out a small, bitter sigh, I murmured, quietly:
“…Yeah. She’s completely lost it, hasn’t she.”
Saeko’s eyes went briefly round.
Then she burst out laughing, eyes crinkling, voice rising.
“Ahahahaha!”
“…Eh? What?”
“No, it’s just — Maho-chan, you say funny things sometimes. ‘Completely lost it’ — not a phrase you hear much.”
“Eh. But it’s true, isn’t it.”
“That’s exactly the kind of thing that gets me.”
She said it lightly, and reached over, patting my head, gently. Her palm was soft.
“Wai— eh, wh— what are you doing!? All of a sudden!”
My spine snapped straight on reflex. I felt my whole face flood with heat.
“Hm? Just thought you were cute, so I patted you.”
“Hey…! Honestly! I don’t trust anything you do, Saeko-san, not one bit.”
“Seriously? No trust at all — that’s pretty bad for a president.”
Saeko laughed, big and unrestrained, looking somehow troubled and pleased at once.
“…But why did you take on something this difficult?”
I asked, tallying sales figures in Excel.
“Hm… guilt, I guess.”
I glanced over, and Saeko was smiling, wry, eyes lowered slightly.
Guilt.
The moment I heard that word, the memory crossed my mind. That scene in the office — Saeko and the cleaner, Yuno, talking.
“Ah… I see.”
“Eh, wait a second? Maho-chan, do you know something?”
My mouth had loosened into a smile before I noticed, and Saeko frowned, puzzled.
“Hehe, nothing. Nothing at all.”
“Eeh, what is that. You’re being mean.”
Saeko said it and drained the rest of her coffee.
A pause, and then, stretching broadly, she said:
“Well — guess I’ll just focus on work for a while.”
“Yes. Looks like it’ll be tough for a bit.”
“Yeah. I’m like this, but — let’s keep working together, okay? Maho-chan.”
— That gentle smile, looking straight at me.
Something in my chest fluttered, strangely ticklish.
It’s just my imagination — definitely just my imagination, I told myself, and left it there.