Published at 18th of January 2021 07:16:10 PM
Rei-chan’s Interrogation
TL: Daemon
ED: PuffyPyjamas
We enjoyed the hotpot under the warmth of the kotatsu . Moreover, the ingredients were quite high quality, making it a luxurious and gorgeous hot pot .
“Super satisfied…”
Partway through, Natsumi-chan started teasing me and trying to feed me, so everyone ended up trying to feed me bits of meat or tofu . Because of that, I ended up quite full . Rei-chan, who was originally super energetic, went into sleep mode, and as if her power was suddenly shut off, ended up sleeping under the kotatsu . It was already 10 at night . We would greet the new year in about two more hours .
“Sana, is completely full… The kotatsu also feels great, feels like heaven…”
“…Agreed . ”
The KanSana pair ended up laying down on their sides with loose expressions .
“The quality was well, pretty normal . ”
Said Lady Natsumi .
“If you say that, no one will want to cook for you anymore, Natsumi . ”
“Ahahah . It’s just a joke . ”
After Natsumi-chan fiddled with her cellphone a bit, a maid came in .
“Natsumi-oujousama, I brought the thing you asked for . ”
“Yeah . Thanks . ”
The maid had carefully carried a can of juice on a tray . …Hmmm? If I actually look at the package, isn’t that a cocktail?
“Hey, aren’t you underaged?”
“Now, now, look closer . ”
Natsumi-chan pointed at the can that the maid brought .
The words written on it were non-alcoholic .
“Is it really okay to drink even if it’s non-alcoholic…?”
It’s hard to draw the line . Hiiragi-chan, the person that would be the one giving the warning, was silent . I took a glance at her and found her to be drinking some Japanese sake .
“…Sensei hasn’t seen anything . ”
I guess it’s okay to drink .
Well, I guess if you get used to alcohol, cocktails are pretty much juice at that point . I guess non-alcoholic cocktails that you can buy at supermarkets are probably okay .
Especially on a day like New Year’s Eve, the level of tolerance may be higher . Natsumi-chan poured the cocktail into the glass that was prepared along with it .
“Now now, let’s drink, brother-in-law . ”
“It’s still too early . ”
While doing our standard exchange of words, I also poured Natsumi-chan a cocktail .
“Now now, why don’t you drink, sister-in-law . ”
“It’s still too early . ”
Sana woke up and stared at us looking dissatisfied by the exchange .
“Nii-san, you can’t have a fake younger sister . ”
Don’t call an in-law fake . Then, she fell back down just like that .
…Is she asleep? Kanata was also asleep next to her . Rei-chan was taken home by her mother who came to pick her up just a little bit earlier . While waiting for the date to change, we continued to talk and watch TV .
Then, the countdown ended, and we arrived in the new year .
“Seiji-kun, I’ll be in your care this year as well . ”
“Me too . ”
Natsumi-chan, who was watching us spoke up, “Thief-kun, it’ll definitely be okay . ” She’s probably talking about the conversation I had with her about the break up .
I hope I can avoid it though, by changing something that I did .
Before I noticed, my time leap was released and I returned to the present . It was still the end of the year over here, and the company was still in quite a mess . I was having a great time too . Aaah, a reality that I didn’t want to see was spread out before me .
“Senpaai . For the end of the year party with ASW, what place would be good? I can arrange it for you if you’d like . ”
From my point of view, Rei-chan who was sleeping in a kotatsu just a little while back now turned into an adult .
“I’m always troubled because there’s never a warning . ”
Oh well . I’ll confirm a few things with Rei-chan .
“Ah, Senpai, did you return again?” Rei-chan who had finally grasped the situation seemed a little surprised .
Apparently, my plan of trying to help the company performance by creating a social game has already been put into action, and the game was currently held in high regard . Rei-chan then told me about what happened during the Christmas event .
“While Senpai was drinking, you kept going on about how that quarter had the highest profits ever, so it should have been a great success . ”
The plan itself was in the workings for quite a while, so there was probably a lot of behind the scenes work .
“I guess this is only able to happen because I encouraged myself to do my best before . ”
Well, of course . Once I had a good relationship with Sana, there was only one way to go from there . There shouldn’t have been any more obstacles in the way of that plan . If that’s the case, then moving quickly would be for the best .
“At that time, I thought you would take me home with you, but Senpai, you so easily returned me home . I was fuming . ”
And then today, an end of the year party with our partners from ASW and our business division was supposed to occur .
“But, that’s what I like about you…”
I took a glance at her and our eyes met, causing Rei-chan, who seemed to predict that this would happen, to squeal in delight as she turned away . That polished slyness is still alive and well .
“The troubling thing is, it’s not that I like Senpai, but rather, I like the Senpai that likes Hiiragi-sensei . ”
She made a tired, almost troubled, smile . Is this perhaps her true expression…? If that’s the case, this might be the first time I’ve seen it .
“That’s why, even if I don’t get along with Natsumi-oujousama, I just want to stay by your side . ”
“…”
I patted her head a little forcefully .
“Yaaan~ Senpai~ You’re so forceful . ”
She returned to the usual Rei-chan . The cellphone that was on my desk received a message . The contents were displayed on the screen .
[Please find a good spot to wrap up your work! Today’s the end of the year party!]
Speaking of the devil, it was from Natsumi-chan .
“We broke up, right?”
Rei-chan nodded once . As I thought . I was prepared for it though .
“At that time, Sana and I were indignant . Why now? Why? That’s how we felt . However, at our age now… after turning into an adult, thinking back, if I was in the same position… I do understand how Sensei felt at the time . ”
“What do you mean? Sana said that she was annoyed with it and didn’t want to say it, but Natsumi-chan said something similar . That she could understand . What is that supposed to mean?”
“…Ah . ”
As if she had reached some sort of understanding, Rei-chan opened her mouth halfway, before speaking to herself in a whisper .
“Does that mean it all ends here…?”
“What? What do you mean?”
“Senpai, you went back into the past and changed things multiple times, shifting the present in a direction that you wanted . From what I hear, you continued to work hard with Sensei as your goal . Even with the failing company, you did your best and got it to reach its highest performance . However, your breakup with Sensei is something that you can’t avoid— Why do you think that’s the case?”