[Short Story One-Shot] "Gals Fix the World Little by Little" Intermission

Gal x Observational Skills x Salvation.
Miyu instantly reads people's hearts and reaches the core.
Her strikes reach you by skipping the order of understanding, like a wormhole.
That is the reason why you'd "fall for her."

"Cutting through human relationships with wormhole theory @ The case of Miyu's empathy skills being bugged"

The second day of the three-day weekend.

Tabi is at work again today, alone in the large office.
The fluorescent lights on a day off feel strangely bright white.
Only the scent of coffee drifts through the air, tickling something like a "hollow" deep inside.

Lately, I feel like a breeze is blowing through the center of my chest.
Every time the projects I couldn't turn down pile up, it feels like that part is being whittled away little by little.

In the middle of that silence, the air above suddenly cracked with a "snap."

Tabi: "...? What the?!"
The moment I looked up, space slowly twisted, and the air was sucked in while swirling.
Eventually, it spun around and a wormhole opened up, small.

Pop.

Along with that silly sound, golden hair tips dangled down.
Fine particles of light that would vanish if touched danced down from that hair.

Tabi: "Eh, wait... ahhh...?!"
Eh... Sadako...?"

The next moment, Miyu tumbled out of the hole.
A light landing sound as her shoes hit the floor.
Her hair fanned out softly, and a fruity, sweet scent spread all at once.

Tabi's gaze inadvertently grazed downward.

"......Ah!... But black..."
Miyu freezes.

(Ah, crap... I don't think I've even been able to make light banter like this lately.)

The wormhole closed with a "don't look at me" attitude.

"Huh? Why are you checking the color, you pervert?
These are safety shorts!!
Wait? ...No, they're not!!"

Her ears are bright red.

You perverted old man!! I'm going to sue you!!!

She kicks the chair with a bang and starts spinning it.

Wait, wait, wait! Hey, stop spinning it!!

Who are you calling Sadako? Here, keep spinning!

I said stop! I'm getting dizzy~🌀!

Seeing Tabi stagger from the momentum when it stops, Miyu scoffs.

She walks around the office, scattering a fruity scent as she touches the piles of documents.

Hey, what's with this mountain of documents? Is it a geological layer? Some ruins?

Don't touch those, they're contracts that need to be submitted.

Yeah, I can't heaaar you!

Miyu swiftly pulls out a few sheets and scatters them like confetti.

Hey, wait a second!!!

See? If you move them like this, they collapse right away. So inefficient. It's your fault for working in a way that makes things messy.

It's my fault? This is my fault?

Miyu ignores him and hops onto the copy machine.

Alright, question time. What kind of treasure do you think you'll find staying here alone on your day off?

Stop with the question format... There isn't any.

Right, exactly!!!

As if reacting to her voice, the copy machine starts up with a whir.

What did you press?!

"I don't know! Besides, everything moves when I sit on it~♡"

What had been scanned was the outline of Miyu's butt.

"Stoooop it!!"

Miyu laughed hysterically, fluttering the copy paper.

"Oh my, a keeper♡"

"Throw it away!! My work's worldview is ruined~~!!"

Miyu dodged him lightly and hopped onto the desk.

At that moment, the air grew a little quiet.

"Hey, Tabi. Why are you fighting all by yourself in a place like this?"

Tabi was at a loss for words. "...I'm not fighting, for one thing."

Miyu: "Then you're just losing, aren't you?"

Tabi: "I don't need to hear that from a character..." This "unintentionally piercing remark" was subtly effective.

Miyu jumped off the desk just as Tabi fell silent for a moment.

"Alright. Then, let's talk calmly from here on out."

"Fine... well, since you went to the trouble of coming here, eat this. It's that curry ramen you like, Miyu."

Miyu snatched the cup noodles and poured hot water from a nearby pot.

"You were planning on eating this yourself, weren't you?"

"Hm? Well, yeah, I was."

"Hmm."

Miyu snorts for some reason. But the corners of her eyes are just a little bit soft.

...Come on, let's eat. I'm starving.

And, look. This is the kind of thing I mean. You're using your kindness all wrong.

Miyu straddles the swivel chair backward and pokes Tabi. with her finger.

Working on your day off? You were asked? You couldn't say no? ...Huh? What's that? You can't even say the words 'I don't want to'?

Miyu slams her hand against the desk.

If you don't like something, say you don't like it. If you don't, you'll be an errand boy forever. You're not being 'kind,' you're just being a coward.

Tabi.: ...Watch your tone.

Miyu lowers her eyes for just a second. Her voice becomes a little softer than before.

...But you know, being a coward isn't a bad thing. You stop and rest because you're scared. But 'staying silent' is different. Watching you work while leaving yourself behind... it kind of makes my chest ache.

A fruity scent wafts through the air, and Miyu's eyes pierce straight through Tabi.

You're not coddling them, you're coddling yourself. You run away to the path where you get hurt because it lets you pretend to be a 'good person,' right? But that's just neglecting your own life.

Tabi.: ...Stop it. Don't stab me so quietly. It hurts.

Miyu: It's supposed to hurt. If it doesn't hurt, you won't change.

She lets out a single sigh.

Hey, Tabi. You're neglecting your own life, living only to pick up after someone else's convenience... isn't that... pathetic?

As she blows on her noodles, Miyu's voice becomes a little quieter.

...You know why I came here, right?

The wormhole is the hole in your heart. You were worn down at work, it got tough, and the wind blew into that gaping hole, causing the world to flip over.

The reason you're tired isn't because of work. It's because you think 'no one notices.' Good grief, I can't just leave you alone, can I?

Tabi remained silent, only lowering his gaze.

Miyu placed the cup of curry noodles on the desk.
A small clink.

'Seriously, that part of you is so lame. But I don't hate it. ...So I'm telling you. Next time, say no.'

Tabi: '.........Miyu. ...'

Miyu: 'Yeah. Do your best. ...Just for today, I'll be on your side.'

Miyu stood up, took a canned coffee from her pocket, and placed it in front of Tabi. Her tone was blunt, but her ears were slightly red.

Miyu: 'Well, I'm heading home.

WORMHOLE!!
OPENING UP!! GORAAAA!!'

A wormhole opened, and Miyu jumped in.
Just before that.
She suddenly turned back and let her mouth soften just a little.

'Tabi. ...Value your own time.
You're not so cheap that you should let it be whittled away by someone else's convenience.'

Pop.

Miyu disappeared.
Silence.
Only the sweet and bitter scent of coffee remained.

Tabi couldn't move for a while, remaining slumped over the desk.

Something deep inside his chest was coming undone.

Unable to hold it in, he shouted.

'...Miyu... that's... you're gonna make me fall for you—!!!'

Somewhere in the building, a cleaner probably jumped.

The End

'Yeah, yeah, I'll let you off with this much for today.
You guys, even though my words hit home a little, you don't show it on your faces. Well, whatever. Call me if you're in trouble.
I'll open a wormhole for you as a service♡'