Episode 12: A Little Closer, in the Car That Afternoon
Out on afternoon rounds. In the passenger seat of the sales car, Hanamori was unsettlingly quiet.
The only sounds in the car were the engine and the hum of the AC.
In the passenger seat, Hanamori sat with her hands on her lap, head bowed. Her profile reflected faintly in the window glass, the shadow her eyelashes cast darker than usual.
(…Quiet. I’m grateful, but honestly, this is unsettling in its own way.)
Normally Hanamori would be sprawled back in the passenger seat, scrolling social media, grumbling something like “Are we there yet~?”
But today she sat with her head down, hands clasped tight on her lap, deflated like a scolded puppy.
(…This is kind of scary in a different way.)
The moment I parked in the client’s lot, Hanamori murmured quietly.
“…Thank you. For earlier.”
Her voice was strangely stiff.
“It’s nothing. I didn’t do anything special.”
I genuinely meant it. The chief was being unreasonable, so I just spoke up.
Though Section Chief Miyashita’s face afterward had been fairly terrifying. No, honestly, quite terrifying.
“No. It really helped.”
She said only that, then went quiet again. Still looking down.
Silence. Awkward. Extremely awkward.
Hanamori rummaged through her bag and pulled something out.
“Here. Just, as thanks.”
What she held out was a can of black coffee.
The moment I took it, our fingertips brushed slightly.
“Thanks. You didn’t have to.”
“I just don’t like owing people.”
Such a bratty way to put it, I thought, half-laughing. The can was still a little warm.
After a short pause, I muttered.
“…It just kind of came out of my mouth before I realized it.”
“Eh?”
“That thing with the chief earlier. I didn’t mean to say anything, but watching it made me angry, and it just came out on its own.”
Hanamori glanced at me, just slightly.
Not her usual put-on smile. Something behind her eyes was a little softer. Like some of the tension had loosened, just a bit.
“Nobody likes getting yelled at like that in front of everyone.”
“Yeah, that was seriously a public execution.”
Hanamori laughed a little. But her eyes weren’t laughing.
“Right? It was awful just watching. Even I felt like I was the one getting yelled at.”
Hanamori looked down. Her profile, visible through the gap in her bangs, was quieter than usual. Without her usual put-on smile, she looked more her actual age than I’d expected.
“I really am… not cut out for sales. Or working, in general.”
“…Why do you think that?”
“I mean, my numbers aren’t improving at all. I keep making mistakes. What the chief said, ‘no grit,’ ‘all looks and nothing underneath,’ it’s honestly true.”
She said it like a joke, but her eyes weren’t laughing at all. None of her usual lightness. Just a quiet, resigned voice.
(…So Hanamori makes this kind of face too.)
I wanted to comfort her, but no words would come.
My mind went blank, and before I knew it, my hand was moving.
I lightly placed my hand on top of Hanamori’s head.
And then, just a little, stroked it.
*
“…Eh.”
She froze completely. Hanamori’s eyes went wide, staring straight at me.
“I know you’re working hard.”
The words came out because I felt like I had to say something.
“…Eh… ah.”
Hanamori’s face flushed red, rapidly. Her eyes darted around, her mouth opening and closing wordlessly.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Eh? Encouraging you.”
“No, but, patting my head… this isn’t a shoujo manga.”
Saying that, she pushed my hand off her head and shot me a light glare. Her cheeks were trembling slightly.
The way her ears had gone red too was strangely cute.
I couldn’t help laughing.
“…You shouldn’t do that kind of thing unless it’s for someone you actually like.”
“Huh?”
“People will get the wrong idea.”
Hanamori looked away, and the voice coming from her averted profile was small. Really small. But I definitely heard it.
My heart made a strange sound. Not knowing how to react, I changed the subject. I popped the tab on the can coffee and took a sip.
“Anyway, don’t worry about the chief. Yelling at people is basically her hobby.”
“I usually forget about it once I sleep, so I’m fine.”
“Heh. Good to hear.”
“…Though, I was a little disappointed Tamura-san didn’t help.”
“Eh, that’s what you’re disappointed about?”
“Yeah. I mean, he seems like the type who’d protect someone in a situation like that. Total letdown. …Surprisingly cold-hearted.”
“…Yeah, Tamura-san really was watching from a safe distance.”
“Right? He had his earbuds in, pretending not to hear.”
“Yeah, he was running from it, alright.”
We both burst out laughing at the same time. The air in the car loosened, just a little.
“…Well, guess we should head in.”
“Yeah.”
Hanamori grabbed her bag and got out of the car. Her usual rhythm had returned. Her face had mostly gone back to normal too.
“…Asami-san.”
“Hm?”
“Thanks, for today. Really.”
Saying that, Hanamori looked away and lowered her head again. This time, though, she was smiling with a slightly brighter face.
“Don’t mention it.”
I answered briefly, and the two of us headed into the client meeting.
After the meeting, back at the office, Hanamori was already fully back to “business as usual.”
“Tamura-saaan, that’s a nice tie today~♡”
Her sugary voice drifted over from the copy machine.
The deflated version of her from earlier was nowhere to be found.
“You think? I just grabbed one at random.”
“No way~, it’s got great taste~”
Tamura-san answered with a slightly bashful laugh, and Hanamori pouted her lips, looking up at him with a saccharine smile.
(…Ah, she’s back to normal. Good.)
I felt myself relax internally.
(…Hm? Good?)
What exactly was I relieved about, just now.
That calculated-cuteness Hanamori was back? Even though I always find that mode so annoying?
Thinking about it, wasn’t that kind of strange?
But the feeling of her hair under my hand still lingered somehow. Soft, and a little warm.
I went back to my desk and opened my computer. Checking my email, the conversation from the car crossed my mind, and I found myself wondering.
“…People will get the wrong idea.”
The wrong idea about what? By whom?
I took a sip of the can coffee and let out a small breath.
I saw Section Chief Miyashita stomping down the hallway and hurriedly pretended to focus on my email, avoiding eye contact.