Taeko-san is Busy Again #ShortShort

Even though it was already time to clock out, the section manager brought over some documents.

Seriously? I have a live stream of my favorite idol today. I need to get home, take a shower, have a quick meal, and watch it in real-time. I worked hard today just for this. Why now, of all times?

“I’m sorry to bother you while you’re busy, but could you compile the data in these documents?”

People called bosses all seem to think that saying “I’m sorry to bother you while you’re busy” makes everything acceptable. It’s definitely true. Since they can’t just order people around like “do this” anymore, they add “I’m sorry, but” as a formality. It’s never actually an order. They add a sentiment of “I really hate to ask this, but...” to it. Come to think of it, they say it knowing full well that I’ll just say “Sure” and won’t be able to refuse.

“These are the right documents, right?”

Suddenly, a voice came from next to me. It was Taeko-san, the temp who joined recently. Taeko Tanaka. A short, slightly plump woman in her late thirties wearing round black glasses. She always wears dark clothes, so she looks a bit like a witch. But apparently, she’s happily married and has kids. Not that I know for sure.

“It’s the same compilation method as the documents I’m working on now.”

“Huh? But...” I said with an apologetic face, while screaming “Lucky!” in my heart.

“That’s right. Tanaka-san, are you sure?”
The manager showed the documents to Taeko-san.
“I don’t mind. I can work overtime today.”
Taeko-san looked at the documents and pushed up the frame of her round black glasses with her middle finger.

“Then, I’m sorry to bother you, but I’ll leave it to you.”
“You’re a lifesaver!”
I bowed to Taeko-san immediately. I could feel the manager’s sense of relief from the side. Once Taeko-san took the documents, the manager returned to his seat looking satisfied.

Now I can leave on time. Thank goodness. Oh, I should thank her.
“Um, thank you so much...” I said, trying to sound a bit humble.

Then,
“I hope you get to watch it in real-time.”
Taeko-san muttered that in a low voice while looking at her monitor, without turning toward me.

“...”
Huh? How did she...?

Taeko-san just focused on her work, typing away without taking her eyes off the screen. I peeked at her profile, feeling slightly twitchy.

She just said “real-time,” didn’t she? I’m sure of it. Why? How did she know I wanted to watch it in real-time? Did she read my mind? No, no, no, no, that’s impossible.

Oh, come to think of it... something like this happened before.

When I tried to sneak out of the office without anyone noticing, Taeko-san said “Be careful” without even looking at me. I remember now. But back then, I just thought she had figured out my behavioral patterns.

Wait, could it be that Taeko-san can read other people’s minds? Is she a psychic? An esper? Stop it. That’s kind of scary...

“Is something...?”
Taeko-san turned toward me. The eyes behind her glasses were a bit scary. What?! Could it be that she read my current thoughts too? This is bad, this is bad, this might be really bad—

◇

Taeko-san might be a psychic. Otherwise, there is no way she could know my inner thoughts.

But I'm not stupid enough to believe something like that immediately. In times like these, you just ask directly. That's the best way. But if I ask with too serious an expression, that would be weird in its own right. If I were wrong—well, if I think about it, there's no way she's a psychic—but asking such an obvious thing with a straight face is a little embarrassing.

So, I put on a half-smile and, while acting as if it didn't really matter, I asked timidly.
"Um... why did you know I wanted to watch the live stream..."

"You said earlier that you were going to watch your favorite's stream live..."
Once Taeko-san said that much, she went back to focusing on her work.

"..."
She said I said it... was I talking to myself? Wait, did I say that?

"You often talk to yourself."
Taeko-san continued, still looking at her own screen.

"...Is that so?"
As I replied, I thought that it was something I might actually do. Oh no, me. I'm such an idiot.

"Oh, I see, I see. I guess I said it myself. Haha."
What was the 'haha' for? But I'm glad I didn't ask something stupid like, 'Are you a psychic by any chance?' Anyway, that's the end of this topic. More than that, I...

"More than that, you should probably head home now."
She said it. But it actually helps that Taeko-san cut the conversation off like that. Perfect timing. As expected of Taeko-san.

"Oh, you're right. Well, I'm in a hurry, so I'll be going."
"Good work today."

"Excuse me for leaving early."
As I scurried to escape the office, the section manager, who was sitting across from me, glanced over. But it seems he didn't notice me. Now is my chance. Let's get out of here—

It really pays to have a talented temp worker on your side. I'm going to enjoy my fandom activities today too!

◇◇

"Section Manager, the tally is finished. The AI check is also done. I've put the file in the shared folder."

While I was playing a game so my subordinates wouldn't see, a Teams chat came in from the temp worker, Taeko Tanaka. When I checked it immediately... wow. She really is talented. Just like the temp agency said. If I had done it myself, it would have taken me about an hour, but she just breezed through it.

I have to thank her for this. Not via chat like when I requested the work, but by going to her desk and saying it in person.

"That was a big help. It's perfect."
When I went to her desk, Taeko-san was already getting ready to leave. She was packing her things into a black tote bag. Usually, people wait until they get a reply of approval from their boss, but it was as if she knew I would approve the documents.

This is the kind of thing that makes me feel a bit uneasy. She's definitely talented, but sometimes she does things I can't understand. She always wears black-based clothing, too; she's like a witch.

"So, may I go home now...?"
Taeko-san is looking at me with her large black tote bag over her shoulder. She's already in a pose that says she can leave just like that.

"Oh... yes. That's fine. Good work today."
I had no choice but to say that. There's no way I could ask, 'Are you a witch?' It's probably better not to think about it too deeply.

However, when Taeko-san bowed to me and started to walk past me into the hallway, the earlier feeling of unease suddenly came back to me.

"...Come to think of it, weren't you talking to someone earlier?"
That's right. After I handed over the documents and returned to my seat, I heard Taeko-san muttering, and it had been bothering me.

Taeko-san had her back to me, but she stopped and turned around. The eyes behind her black round glasses were somehow scary.
"...No. Not at all. I'm all alone."

"I just thought I heard a voice..."
When I answered that, Taeko-san softened her expression and smiled a little. Oh, this person actually smiles, I thought immediately.

"……It's just your imagination. I think you're just tired, Section Chief."
After saying just that, Taeko-san reached one hand into her tote bag and rummaged around. Then, she pulled something out and showed it to me. It was an energy drink.

"It's a sample, but I got it at the pharmacy during my lunch break. Would you like to drink it?"
"No, no, I'm fine, really. I'm honored by your concern, though."
There's no way she could have gotten something like that.

"Is that so? Well then, I'll be heading out now."
"Oh, good work today!"

Taeko-san put the energy drink back into her tote bag and quickly walked out into the hallway. It feels like I was skillfully brushed off, but...

Wait, what was I about to ask? Oh well, never mind. The documents are done, so I'll head home early too—

◇◇◇

—I sighed in the elevator hall.

It was busy again today.

I thought this new workplace I was dispatched to would be much quieter and easier to handle than the last one.

That section chief is more sensitive than I thought. He suspects I'm a witch. Still, he's frivolous enough that I can handle him with a little bit of magic.

More than that, the troublesome one is that girl.

I'm already completely used to reading the inner voices of others. It's useful for work, and even if I'm about to be found out, I can manage if I just act appropriately.

But I never expected to meet something like that. And it was a mistake to read the inner voice of that thing, too. If I let my guard down, it talks to me all the time. She's a good kid, though.

I'll ask the dispatch agency to change my workplace early. Maybe I should move, too.

No matter how much of a witch I am, having a colleague who isn't human is exhausting—

<End>

#Taeko-san