episode_0094

Time passes as usual.

Around mid-April, I received an official document via messenger within the guild.

“Now that I think about it… .”

In April, there is a day off that all guild staff can legally take.

The founding date of the Easty Guild.

In the week between the founding date, a total of two days of rest are granted.

Guild staff members receive support from guilds in other regions. We also provide support on the founding anniversary of other guilds. In short, we are doing a mutual service.

So what is the official notice that was handed down to the guild staff?

[Isti Guild Sports Competition Guide]

It was a hastily made schedule that didn’t give off the feeling of a sports day at all, and it looked like it had been hastily made by the branch manager.

There were a few people who seemed noticeably excited. It must be this time of year already.

“Why always… .”

Of course, it was partly my fault for not paying attention to the schedule.

But isn’t it too much to send an official document the day before the festival?

“Well, it’s fun, right? It’s so much fun to watch someone like Iharu make mistakes at a sports competition without any preparation.”

“Wow… … .”

The branch manager, who had been loitering around in front holding a coffee, came into the reception area.

I’m worried about this guy.

It’s beyond annoying… there’s something wrong with it.

“I think Mr. Iharu knows this well, but since you’re participating in the sports competition, you have to participate. If you don’t want to, you can work like you did last year.”

Participation in sports competitions is not mandatory.

Actually, I stayed in the guild and worked until last year.

But I could rest at home one day out of two, so honestly, for someone like me who is seriously ill, it was the same whether it was a sports day or work.

“Well, it’ll be fun. I heard there’s even a special event prepared this time?”

Special event…?

I turned my gaze to the schedule displayed on the screen.

Tug of war, 3-legged race, obstacle course…

And there are even ball sports, like soccer or basketball, where people with similar interests can come together and participate freely.

It may have been ordinary, but it was a sports festival that had everything.

But the Miss Eastie contest scheduled for the final hour of the sports festival at 5pm was different.

This is my first time seeing this event. This must have been the special event the branch manager was talking about.

“Oh, and this year, the receptionist team is on the same team as the restaurant team. Please keep that in mind when deciding on the categories to participate in.”

The branch manager clapped his hands and attracted the attention of the receptionists.

Now that I think about it, it seems like the restaurant staff and the receptionists were always stuck together.

However, compared to the incineration or recovery teams that require a large number of people to handle the work, even if all the receptionists and cooks were to show up multiple times, there would still be a shortage of people.

Is that so? If it’s the restaurant team… will Hanna Yeon also go to the sports competition?

“I sent a separate letter to the joint team to collect the participating events, so the restaurant will contact you. So, everyone, let’s all do our best today and have fun tomorrow!”

“Wow, wow… .”

Clap clap clap─

Since everyone was already in work mode, the response to the branch manager’s encouragement was lukewarm.

“Ji, is the branch manager also participating?”

So, the branch manager was pouting and silently complaining, so I tapped the back of his hand with my index finger and spoke to him.

I wonder if it would be a good idea to come during work hours and try to lighten the mood, but I still don’t know what will happen if I make the branch manager feel uncomfortable.

“I’m going to jump into a sport that I like. Why? Should we go to Miss Iscon together?”

Miss Iscon?

Are you talking about the Miss Eastie contest?

The branch manager was rubbing his nose with a proud expression, perhaps thinking that he was being witty.

“Ah… I… .”

I probably won’t go out. No one would like it if I did.

It would be better if Kim Min-ji, who seems to have more individual skills or special talents, or Baek Yu-jin, a newcomer with good proportions and a refreshing feel, went.

“Oh, don’t refuse! I won’t go! I’m a judge.”

What, why did you ask?

Just as I was about to cautiously express my refusal, the branch manager waved both his hands wildly and ran away.

After the commotion passed, work began in a calm atmosphere that made it feel like a lie that the sports competition was starting tomorrow.

Maybe this is what the branch manager really intended. If the sports competition announcement is made early, the overall atmosphere will be ruined and it will be difficult to concentrate on work.

I guess there’s a reason for everyone in high positions.

The back of the branch manager, who was climbing the stairs with his short legs, felt particularly large today.

* * *

The long-awaited lunch time.

Without anyone getting up from their seats, we started assigning people who were suitable for each subject.

Of course, this includes me, who received a reply from Hannah Yeon saying she would participate.

“Miss Easty Contest… .”

Except for the pole-knocking event that required everyone to participate, the rest of the events were left to wait for the restaurant team’s response, so in the end, only Miss Iscon was left.

The receptionists are in a state of worry.

The gazes that had been directed toward the floor soon gathered in one place as if they had made a promise.

“Uh, me, me?”

Nod nod.

Six people, excluding me and Baek Yu-jin, nodded. Even Baek Yu-jin, whom I trusted, eventually got caught up in the atmosphere and agreed.

“There’s only one day.”

“Eugene is good too… .”

Someone’s muttering instantly drew everyone’s attention to Baek Yu-jin.

Baek Yu-jin’s eyebrows furrow reflexively.

It didn’t take long for eyes to turn back to me.

“Mr. Haru, don’t you have a friend at the restaurant?”

“Yeah, yeah. Blonde chef! You look friendly.”

Why is the atmosphere becoming more and more irreversible?

The receptionists nodded their heads in agreement, each with a pleased smile on their face, as if they had something in common.

“Look at Haru. If you win first place, you get a trip to a hot spring? Is this ours? No. Haru gets it all.”

Park Hye-young, the senior who claimed to be Kim Min-ji’s shooter, came up to me and whispered in my ear.

“In my opinion, Haru is definitely number one. Are you throwing away the free hot spring trip? Is it okay to miss it like this?”

A sweet whisper that is transmitted directly to the brain and makes it ring.

Each category features sponsored products from companies that have partnered with the guild. The most attractive product among them is a hot springs trip voucher. It is even a family trip voucher, so up to 6 people can accompany you.

“Go, free hot spring trip… I win first place… ?”

The time to spend a holiday with the chairman is approaching soon… .

“And if you win, you’ll unknowingly get a boost from the receptionists. Why, you wanted to fill the break room with snacks, right?”

“Breakroom… Snacks… .”

Plus, as a winner, you might even get to place some snacks in the dreary break room… .

“This is also the second largest total score payout. If you win this, Haru will become a total hero, right?”

“Hey, hero…!”

As a result, the receptionist restaurant union team won the championship… .

“Should I participate-?”

“Ah.”

When I came to my senses and turned my head, I saw my colleagues with a look of anticipation on their faces.

I don’t know why they have such high expectations for me, but if I participate with Hanna Yeon, it might not be such a bad thing.

This is where I fill in the memories I wasn’t able to make during my school days.

“Mu, I have a question for you. To Hanna Yeon… .”

Actually, I didn’t even expect Baek Yu-jin to participate, and even Kim Min-ji was actively pushing me.

It was also true that there was no way to escape this pressure.

“Okay, then let’s disperse! Let’s go eat lunch and decide on the remaining events.”

I’m tired… .

I feel so exhausted the day before the sports day, so how much more suffering will I have to endure on the day of the event?

The steps towards Familia are heavy.

What if Hanna Yeon rejects me? No, why did I think Hanna Yeon would accept?

‘What? I don’t like it.’

It’s obvious that they’ll frown and flatly reject me. So if I say I’ll give up on participating, I’ll be branded a traitor by the receptionists… .

“Ugh… .”

“… … !”

I let out a frustrated sound without realizing it, feeling crushed by the burden. Baek Yu-jin, who had been following me, stopped in surprise.

Now that I think about it, I should have taken care of it first, but I was so focused on Miss Iscon that I almost forgot about it.

“Why are you walking so far apart? Let’s go together.”

“I don’t care… .”

“I don’t have anyone to eat with anyway.”

Kim Min-ji and Park Hye-young have become so close that they can’t live without each other, and whenever it’s lunchtime, the two of them disappear into the distance, laughing and laughing together to eat lunch.

When Familia is free, Hanna Yeon comes out to talk to them, but it doesn’t seem like there will be much of a difference if Baek Yu Jin joins them. They’ve even had drinks together before.

“Oh, were you trying to go to another restaurant?”

As I was climbing the stairs, a thought suddenly occurred to me and I asked, and Baek Yu-jin looked up at me blankly and shook her head.

“Thank goodness. I guess it suits your taste.”

Even though Baek Yu-jin is right next to me, I feel like I’m talking to myself.

I was feeling embarrassed for no reason and was trying to cover it up with a warm smile when Baek Yu-jin spoke to me in a quiet voice.

“Have you read the book?”

book…?

Is that what you said to me?

I looked at Baek Yu-jin once more, then quickly turned my head away, feeling stung by the gaze directed straight at me.

Books, books… .

Ah, it was summer.

I bought this book after asking Baek Yu-jin about her hobbies. It was delivered the very next evening after I purchased it.

So I put it on the desk, thinking I should read it before going to bed… but I fell asleep as soon as I laid down on the bed, and even though it was summer, it’s still there.

Ugh, I confidently said that I like books.

I didn’t want to let this long-awaited chance to talk to Baek Yu-jin go to waste, so I started rambling on, relying on the plot I saw on the Internet.

“Ah, I haven’t had time so I’ve only read the beginning part… . But if I may say a little about my impressions, the loneliness of an unpopular author… The dark and gloomy atmosphere is pretty good… .”

What if this isn’t the content? What if there’s a brighter story waiting for you in the book?

Since there was no response, I became anxious and ended up checking Baek Yu-jin’s expression first.

“Ah… haha?”

Baek Yu-jin was smiling.

She was looking up at me with the brightest smile I’d ever seen, her back turned to the shadow at the corner of the stairs.

Thud, thud─

Baek Yu-jin approaches.

He makes an expression that says he can’t stand being so happy, and gently grabs my shoulder.

“You didn’t see it.”

At that moment, I froze in place.

I think I’ve heard that somewhere.

A sense of discomfort that doesn’t go away, and a sense of unease that constantly creeps up.

But what was scarier than anything else was Baek Yu-jin’s smile.