The fact that Tohru was missing was all over the company.
Some had seen the report, some had heard it from those who had participated in the rescue of the dark elf village, and others had heard it secondhand as a rumor.
A dungeon tester, for better or worse, would have this level of visibility if he or she was a hot topic.
I was informed of this fact by Evia through the authority given to me by the section chief class.
I've heard that Ms. Lunaria will be referred to a hearing to hold her accountable for the loss of the dungeon tester, and I've heard that the company is taking this incident very seriously.
.........
That's just as well.
If it was on the Demon Continent or Isual, one or two students would just say "oh, they're dead".
But in Japan, it's different.
The disappearance of one person would trigger the police force to search for the truth.
Moreover, the media will not remain silent if they go missing as if it is a bizarre phenomenon.
If it spreads further, the residents will not remain silent, and the forces of goodwill will be at work.
.........
Even as I read the report, the noon news broadcasted that a college student was missing.
I can see such a future, I hold back a sigh and recall the hysterical screams of the section chief of the third section to which Haisumi belonged.
Although he never denounced Juhou directly, he still had a distantly sarcastic attitude.
The atmosphere around him made me think that this is what the demon king's army is like when it's poking at blunders. You are fed up with the content of the meeting in which you were gathered together with the concerned parties as it is not very comfortable.
You're going to be able to find out if you're going to be able to get a good deal more than you'd like.
But, fortunately, it is mentioned in the eyewitness report that Ms. Lunaria herself did not take Hinzumi with her, but Hinzumi and Kawasaki volunteered to go with her, and the president acknowledged this point.
Therefore, the section chief of the third section had also received a warning for inadequate supervision.
I don't care if you were asked by another department to support you, what kind of nerve is that guy to leave his post on his own?
The meeting ran late and I'm the only one in the office right now.
I'm sorry to apologize to Memoria and the others, but I told them I'll work a little overtime before I leave.
You're stunned to find yourself leaning back in your chair as if to condemn the actions of Kiyomi and Kawasaki.
No, honestly, there's nothing I can do.
The main problem is the Lunarian who has been taken.
And the section chief of section three who didn't manage it well.
Those two are the ones in question.
As the section chief of the first section, I have been ordered to instruct my subordinates not to behave in a similar manner and to provide them with mental care to prevent them from quitting their jobs after this incident, so I have no choice but to give priority to that.
The problem with ......... is,
For me, Lunaria is also a problem, but I think that this one will take care of itself.
If anything, my family members are more of a problem.
I can't imagine how Kitamiya will react when she hears about this.
I've heard that Kitamiya Kakoi is a childhood friend of Toru Hassumi.
I know they were romantically involved for a while.
You're going to be able to get the most out of it.
You're going to be angry or stunned, or you're going to break down in tears.
I can only say that at least he won't be happy, and in the end I conclude that it's best to tell him honestly.
Shelving this story for now, you get up from your seat and prepare to go home to where Memoria and the others are waiting for you.
You are almost empty-handed, though, so you only have your wallet and cell phone.
With that in mind, you close the door at the end of the day and leave the office.
Will it be a bit of a hassle tomorrow?
I mumbled these words to myself as I looked through the glass of my darkened office, but I left thinking that I have had more trouble than this since I joined this company.
I didn't even know that there were troublesome things going on outside the company.
Another side
It is in a park in Tokyo.
Late at night.
It was almost midnight when the sun was about to turn and there were two women under a light.
"And? What are you doing calling me out at this late hour? But I'll just ask.
One person came out dressed in slacks and a hoodie and a rough outfit, Kitamiya.
Her expression is so tense that I have to say she's in a bad mood.
The person who called her out to you is leaning against the light, arms crossed, brow furrowed, her gaze is sharp, though not glaring.
If anyone can say they're in a good mood, I'd say they need to see an eye doctor.
Miki.
The person standing in front of Kitamiya is Nanase Miki.
Unlike the rough-dressed Kitamiya, she is dressed loosely and accepts the name called while looking down.
Even though they have reconciled, it's hard to say that the relationship is back to normal.
I'd say it's more of a friend than an acquaintance, less than a friend.
A long time ago, Kitamiya answered this call as well, but not by email or phone, but in person.
She had a bad feeling about this.
"Kako-chan, Toru-kun, Toru-kun...
Thinking that the idiot has done something wrong again, Kitamiya, thinking that something troublesome is about to happen, thinks that tomorrow he will not get enough sleep and holds back a sigh.
However, that grumpiness soon faded away.
The quality of Nanase's voice became tearful, and tears flowed from her cheeks as they were reflected in the dim light of the park's streetlights.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong with you?
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time and energy to get the most out of it.
It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.
I wondered if she was having a bad day, or if she was cheating on me again and breaking up with me.
Oh, come on.
Kitamiya dismissed it as unavoidable and apologized in his heart to his workmates (party members) for not getting enough sleep tomorrow, then made Nanase stand up and sit on the bench where the light can reach.
So, that idiot did something again?
To say that Nanase would get to this point in the situation is probably because she took a hit for something that Fire Clear did.
At Kitamiya's question, Nanase just shook her head silently.
"Oh, don't cry anymore!
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with the help of this particular person.
This time lasted long enough, and finally the tears stopped.
"Once again, I ask you, what happened?
It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to get your mind off of it, but it's a good idea to take your time and ask again.
"Tohru-kun said he was going to help the village that he had helped before, and he left.
The village? And think about sorting through the information that came in.
I remembered the incident that happened while Kitamiya and the others were in the dungeon.
"Could it be that the dark elf village we went to before to make a contract with a spirit?
You can also ask for confirmation and Nanase will nod.
I wondered what that had to do with fire-clearing and decided to ask.
I heard that a monster attacked there, but why would that idiot head there?
They had known each other since childhood, and they were predictable in their actions, and the worst thing they heard was the result.
You can find a number of different types of shoes for you to choose from.
It's a good thing that you have a good idea of what you want to do.
"I'm so dangerous, I've told you so many times to stop.
Nanase and Hikasumi are lovers, and Kitamiya couldn't understand the behavior of his childhood friend to go to the danger zone with another woman, even overcoming his restraint, and became angry.
But I'm worried about you, go away, be patient and wait for me.
Still, Kitamiya's hand did not stop stroking Nanase's head, and he was committed to listening to her.
"Then, then...
Maybe this is where she got to the part where she says this is what happened.
But again, tears well up in her eyes, and once again Nanase's narrative comes to a halt.
It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, just take your time and talk to me, okay?
To Nanase, Kitamiya asks Nanase where the story is going to go, soothingly asking him in as gentle a tone as possible.
Thinking that he must know what happens next, Kitamiya waits patiently, and a minute, then five minutes pass.
Nanase, who has calmed down again, says in a small, whispery voice.
"Toru-kun is missing.
At her words, Kitamiya's hand stops caressing Nanase's head.
Missing.
It takes a few seconds to recognize the word "missing", and Kitamiya is puzzled.
I thought she must be more or less upset to hear that her childhood friend and, albeit tentatively, lover is missing.
Prompting you to continue.
"Who told you that?
Chief, they said I was missing, they said I was useless and that I was dead.
I've seen Jiro in conversation with that man a few times, but Kitamiya had the perception that he was an unpleasant person.
I'm sure that this is a much worse word than what Nanase is saying, Kitamiya suspects.
"It was tough, wasn't it?
To be honest, from Kitamiya's point of view, it's a delicate feeling.
As a human being, you can say that you are worried to hear that your acquaintance is missing, but on the contrary, you don't have any more feelings than that.
Even if he was her lover, Kitamiya couldn't be emotional enough to cry like this.
That's why Kitamiya could only worry about Nanase.
You can't just say she's missing and say let's go look for her, but that doesn't mean you can give her any constructive advice.
What I can do is .
Don't worry, that idiot will pop up sooner or later and say, "Hey, you know, I'm sorry to hear about that idiot.
From the standpoint of being a childhood friend, these are just words of encouragement that come from an unfounded rule of thumb.
Kitamiya understands that this is only a consolation prize.
Nevertheless, these are the only words that can be said here and now.
"If he was the kind of guy who could easily handle it, I wouldn't have had a hard time either.
Kitamiya quietly spoke to Nanase to calm her down, wondering if I could smile normally now.
I'm sure Nanase wanted someone to affirm to her that Hinase is alive and came to Kitamiya.
Kitamiya, who understood that, spun words that were neither medicinal nor poisonous, which would only serve as a comforting reminder.
You see, tomorrow I'll ask Jiro-san for more information, okay?
After all, there is nothing she can do about it.
The fact that the cleanup of a childhood friend we've been working with is so cute and helpless.
It's a shocking sight to see Nanase crying so hard that it makes you think she'll never recover, and you encourage her as if it were someone else's business.
"Don't you feel sad, Kako-chan?
"Huh.
That's why Kitamiya is stumped by the words of Nanase, who has calmed down.
The words of Nanase pierce Kitamiya's heart precisely, as if her heart seems to have stopped for a moment.
You suppress your confused heart.
Forcibly manipulating his cheeks, Kitamiya delivers the words.
"You won't be able to stop if I'm confused too. Give me a break. Two women sobbing in the park at night and then realizing it's morning.
The words were a painful excuse, but they were also heartfelt.
I see, you're still strong.
I don't know if he believed it or not.
However, Kitamiya is relieved that Nanase has calmed down so that she won't find out this time.
"He's strong, he's angry, he's just saying how he's missing without permission.
As she spun those words, which were not a lie, but not her true intentions, Nanase gradually regained her composure.
"Thank you, Kakoi-chan.
Finally a smile appeared on his face.
"Okay, it's not like we don't know each other. By the way, we've got things to do tomorrow, so let's go home early. We need to make sure we don't get attacked by a prowler.
"Yes.
And so it was Nanase and Kitamiya who had recovered.
Far away from the scene where their friendship is returning to the same friendship as before.
A faraway place beyond time and space, which cannot be expressed in distance.
A room in the castle of the Imperial City of the Hanjivar Empire of Isual.
It was part of the area given to the third princess.
It is different from the inner court, yet another room.
A man lies there.
If they were to see the man, you couldn't mistake the man sleeping there and the third princess sitting in a chair next to him.
Ugh.
A faint voice comes from a sunlit room and slowly opens his eyelids.
Here.
The man slowly opens his eyelids and then slowly looks around and notices a good-looking woman.
You, huh?
And ask if you don't know, the woman who was sitting in the chair to the words that came out like a conditioned reflex, Henri Hanzibar replied with a tender Virginian smile.
My name is Anri, Anri Hanjivar.
Then she spins the words in the same gentle voice as she asks back, "What's your name?
"What's your name?
The mundane process of self-introduction.
A process that would normally go smoothly if you weren't so alert.
"I am, I am
Perhaps out of politeness, or perhaps because he thought it would be better, the man said the first person and then tried to say his name.
Who am I?
No, I couldn't say my name.
It wasn't politeness or habit to change the first person, or anything else.
It was just that the man was confused, as if he didn't know which one he was using.
But aware of the anomaly of not being able to say his name, confused and afraid that he didn't know who he was, something felt like it was about to collapse, teeth clattering, and his body began to tremble, Henri gently put his hands on the man's cheeks and gently led him to look at himself.
Then the pale green and black eyes mingle.
It's okay, there is no one here to harm you, just take your time to remember.
The man who is fascinated by those kind eyes.
"Yeah, I get it.
and gently closed his eyelids and fell asleep again.