SWNOVELXO Chapter 3 - Lunch with the Ice Queen
During the morning, I work silently and consistently.
Everyone else chats and takes breaks in between, but I don’t.
It’s not like I’m being ostracized or disliked… probably.
However, I’m neither particularly talented nor especially skilled at my job.
Hence, unless I work efficiently, I won’t be able to leave on time.
And yet, an interruption appeared.
“Hey, don’t look so obviously displeased. Right, Yuuma?”
“Noboru, isn’t it a bit early for lunch?”
“Don’t be so uptight. We’re buddies, right? Let’s have lunch already.”
His name is Noboru Yokoyama.
He’s my coworker and a fellow regular employee.
With his lively personality, he’s the one who enlivens company gatherings and chats.
Since we’re in the same batch, he often initiates conversations with me.
Of course, I think part of his concern is to prevent me from feeling lonely…
I don’t usually participate in company gatherings or drinking parties.
I appreciate his concern, which makes it hard for me to brush him off.
“Ah… can’t be helped, alright then.”
“There you go! Don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”
“Oh? So, you’re saying you can leave on time?”
“Eh? Oh, well… not sure about that, Yuuma.”
“I won’t help you out, okay? Today’s the release date of my favorite game.”
“Really? That’s a bummer. You’re quite a gamer.”
“Let’s just hurry up and get lunch. Time is finite.”
“Chill out! Let’s take it easy.”
“No way. I want to leave on time.”
“Well, yeah. We’re not supposed to do much overtime nowadays.”
“That doesn’t change anything for me.”
“True… indeed.”
While having such conversation, we line up at the cafeteria.
“Yuuma, what are you having?”
“Let’s see… I guess the fried chicken set meal.”
“I’ll have the curry with cutlet!”
Then, I place my order first.
“I’ll grab a seat at the end.”
“Alright, leave it to me.”
Their cutlet here is best when freshly made.
So, it takes a bit of time to prepare.
They do have ones that aren’t freshly made, but Noboru seems to dislike them.
So, it’s decided that I’d go ahead and secure a seat.
“Let’s see… Oh, the end seat is available since it’s still early.”
As I sit at the end waiting for Noboru…
There’s a commotion at the entrance of the cafeteria.
“I see, the section manager has arrived.”
Walking elegantly with the sound of her heels clicking.
And like Moses’ Ten Commandments, the crowd parts.
Such a sight evokes whispers from those around me…
“She’s so beautiful as always…”
“But, you know…”
“She’s a beautiful woman. I wish I could date her…”
“I… I want to be stepped on by her…”
Envy from the women, and resentful gazes.
And lewd gazes from the men.
…I find the last one strange.
But it seems there are many such people.
“Well, it doesn’t concern me.”
I turn my gaze away, focusing on my own meal.
I have no obligation to wait for Noboru.
Then, it seems someone has arrived in front of me.
“Oh, you’re here… Wait, Section Manager Matsuura?!”
“I-is this seat taken?”
“Eh? No, but…”
Then I see Noboru waving from the back.
He’s waving goodbye… the traitor, he left me.
“D-did I interrupt a reservation?”
Something’s odd… she’s stumbling over her words, avoiding eye contact.
And she seems to be unusually nervous.
Hmmm… Did I do something?
I don’t think I’m disliked by Manager Matsuura.
That’s why it might be hard for her to say… yeah, that seems likely.
“No, it’s fine. Please feel free to sit here if you’d like.”
“T-thank you… Excuse me.”
And everyone around disappears…
“Man, he’s in trouble…”
“Let’s get out of here before we get involved.”
“Aw, poor guy…”
Leaving behind such comments…
Wait, what’s happening? Why does this feel so out of place?
At the end of the table, it’s now just Manager Matsuura and me.
“Well… but it’s convenient.”
“Sorry?”
“N-nothing! Ahem! Mito-kun…”
“Yes, what is it?”
“First of all, I’m sorry for stealing your precious time. You have a short break and I didn’t want to disturb your work, so I had to choose this timing.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you for your consideration. To be honest, it helps. I’m not the most versatile person.”
Phew… it doesn’t seem like a scolding.
Then… what could it be?
“Hehe, I know that.”
“Eh?”
“Ah — I mean, I always see how you work! You diligently do the tasks others find troublesome and always finish before the end of the day…”
“I see. Thank you again for your kind words. I consider myself lucky to have a supervisor like you, Matsuura-san.”
This is the truth.
She values the work I do, even if it’s not flashy.
“Hya!? I, I make you feel… lucky…?”
She’s made a cute noise… what’s going on?
“Did I say something strange?”
“N-no, not at all. Ah, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. By the way…”
It’s late, but I’ve noticed she only has salad and plain udon.
It’s not like she doesn’t have money…
“Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
She must be maintaining this figure.
However, I’m worried about her stamina considering her workload.
I’m grateful she’s my superior.
With our limited time, we then finish our meals.
After we finish eating, Manager Matsuura seems to have something to say.
“Is there something on your mind?”
“I’m going to do my best…”
“Pardon?”
“Th-this… please look at it later! I-I’ll be going!”
She handed me a note and quickly walked away…
“What was that about?”
I opened the note…
Oh no, even if I refuse, I have to go there.
No, refusing wouldn’t be good… But, my game… Sigh, I guess I have no choice.
The note says “Come to the store at this address at 19:00. However, don’t tell anyone.”
C-Could it be… am I getting fired?
Or a promotion? Nah, unlikely.
Either is hard to tell within the company, so in a different place…
…Sigh, either way, it’s going to be a hassle.