There Was This Kind of Thing Too

May 5th. Children’s Day.

This precious day, created to cherish children’s personalities and promote their happiness, is also important to me, an adult.

Because it’s a day off.

A so-called red day.

Red days are truly precious to salarymen like me.

It means getting one more day off in a week when we only get two.

Yes. Red days are really important to office workers.

-Tap tap

“Ugh…”

But… why am I at work?

It’s been two hours of holiday work, and my head is already throbbing.

“Are you not feeling well?”

Lee Mina, who was tapping on her tablet, asked from beside me.

Neat bobbed hair, a suit that clings to her body.

The refreshing scent of her, felt along with the warmth of the early summer season, breaks my reverie.

If I were alone, I would have grumbled and cursed, but I’m too aware of her being here to suggest we take a break.

“No, just a bit complicated.”

Since I had no memory of my work, she offered to re-teach me on the holiday.

Even though I had experienced Dimensional Shift, I still had to make a living, so I accepted.

That’s why Mina and I ended up coming to work on this holiday.

“I’ve never seen you make that face before, Inho.”

As I scratched my head and groaned, she chuckled as if she found it amusing.

With nothing much to do besides teaching me, she’s been killing time by looking at her tablet.

She seems like someone whose hobby would be going to fancy wine bars or cafes, but she’s actually a homebody.

She spends all day watching YouTube on her days off.

Just now, she was engrossed in a channel featuring puppies.

“Shall we go out for a bit?”

“I suppose we should.”

We took the coffees we had bought and went outside.

The streets where the companies were gathered were deserted.

The streets, which were always bustling at this time, were so quiet that I once again felt the reality of the holiday.

“I guess you could say your body remembers. You seem to be adapting to the work pretty quickly, Inho.”

As we walked up a gentle slope, she sipped her Americano, and I followed suit.

The taste of the iced Americano, with the ice melting ambiguously, was bland.

We walked slowly. Since it was holiday work anyway, there was no need to rush back to the office.

The cool city breeze refreshed my forehead.

“The scenery feels kind of strange. It’s a street I always walk on.”

Perhaps feeling a bit awkward about the silence, she looked at me and said.

“Right? It’s never this empty.”

Except for the cars speeding down the road, there was really no one on the sidewalk.

“I know. I’m always just looking at people… but today I can see the trees, and I can hear the birds chirping.”

“The pollution is still the same, though.”

I said, noticing the pungent air, and Lee Mina laughed in response.

“It’s obvious, but the feeling is very different depending on the situation, even in the same space.”

“I suppose so.”

We chatted about trivial things as we walked around the company.

The restaurants that were always open were closed, and the alleyways that were always congested were wide open.

We walked side by side, taking in the familiar but unfamiliar scenery around the company.

Me with my coffee in my left hand, and her with hers in her right.

We walked side by side.

Occasionally, our hands brushed, and each time, Lee Mina flinched.

“Mina-nim.”

I quietly called her name.

“Yes?”

Lee Mina turned her head and looked up at me, and I moved my face, stiff from tension, as much as possible to create a natural smile.

“Would you like to hold hands?”

It was a somewhat sudden suggestion, but I made it anyway.

We’ve gotten a lot closer since going to the movies.

We haven’t exchanged many words, but I feel comfortable when I’m with her.

I’m sure she feels the same way.

“……”

She didn’t answer, but quietly moved closer to me.

I carefully moved my hand, as if handling a fragile piece of porcelain.

My right hand, to her left hand.

Our palms greeted each other, and we held hands.

“Inho-ssi. Shall we go around one more time?”

Her hand, which gripped mine tightly, was warm.

“You seem bored.”

“I have nothing to do, so I am.”

As I lay sprawled in the gazebo, Master suddenly appeared and spoke to me.

“Eat and lie down, and you’ll become a cow.”

“That kind of life wouldn’t be so bad… Ack!!”

I was seriously contemplating it when he kicked me in the butt.

It reminded me of getting hit with a bat by the homeroom teacher in high school. Maybe it hurt even more?

“Is it okay to kick your beloved disciple like that?”

I mumbled, rubbing my butt while lying face down, and Master let out a dumbfounded laugh.

“You’re the first guy I’ve ever heard call himself beloved. Well, you are lovable, though.”

Master chuckled and offered me his hand.

“Get up, let’s go for a walk.”

Leaving the gazebo, we slowly walked through the Black Heaven Cult.

The Cult’s People we encountered offered to assist us, but Master refused them all.

“Ooh… where are you going? If you’re going for a drink, I’ll join you… Ugh!”

Kwonma had somehow caught up and was chattering away when Master swung his arm, sending him flying in an instant.

“How dare that monkey try to disturb my time?”

Seemingly upset, Master shook his hand and spoke sharply.

“But where are we going?”

“We’re going to leave the Cult for a bit. Let’s go to that place from last time.”

If it’s that place from last time, he must mean the place I saw when I first came here.

“Ah, that place was pretty. I don’t think it’ll be as pretty now since it’s daytime.”

As I spoke, recalling the scenery of that place at sunset, Master shook his head.

“You haven’t even gone yet, and you’re already being foolish. Come along.”

“Yes~”

As we approached the entrance of the Cult, someone approached us from behind.

“Are you going out?”

I turned around and saw the Chief Manager bowing with his waist bent.

“Yes, we’re going out for a bit.”

“Then I’ll postpone the scheduled meeting.”

“No, there’s no need. We’ll be back soon.”

“Yes, I understand. Have a good time.”

The Chief Manager followed us to the entrance and personally opened the door for us.

“I’ll be back.”

As I passed him and spoke, the Chief Manager gave a deep smile and bowed his head.

We followed the downhill path for several minutes.

We arrived at the place I had seen when I came up.

Master, who had gone ahead of me, said with a triumphant look on his face.

“Now look. It’s still a beautiful place.”

“Oh…”

His words weren’t a lie. The sight of the entire mountain dyed in the sunset was beautiful, but the lively scenery of flowers and leaves mixed together also had its own charm.

“It’s pretty. It would be nice to drink while looking at the scenery.”

“You know a thing or two. It has been said since ancient times that the best side dish is the scenery.”

As he said that, Master subtly approached me.

“Master?”

“Inho.”

There seemed to be some kind of desire in the voice that called my name.

“Y-yes?”

“Let’s do it here today.”

Pulling my arm that he had grabbed, Master smiled slyly.

“Here? Do what?”

Oh my, oh my, this person is crazy.