Chapter 23: Business Trip

It was a weekday night, and since Kana-chan was staying over again, we went home together, had dinner, and took a bath.

Afterward, we watched TV for a while and chatted. When it got late, we went to bed.

"Senpai, can I talk to you for a second?"

Once we were both in bed, Kana-chan suddenly asked me in a serious tone.

"What’s wrong?"

Does she… want to do it?

"It’s about work. Actually, there’s a training seminar in Osaka I’d like to attend. Would that be okay?"

Ah—so it was a serious topic. Sorry, my mind went straight to pervy mode.

"A seminar? What kind?"

"Um… this one."

Kana-chan operated her phone and showed me the screen—it was a seminar related to our line of work.

"Oh, I went to that one before. You want to go?"

"Yes. I want to study more."

What a diligent girl… Meanwhile, I only went because the manager ordered me to. I just ate takoyaki and came back.

"I see. Then I’ll ask the manager about it tomorrow."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I’m your senpai, after all. That much I can do. And I think it’ll be fine—our manager likes people who take initiative."

"Thank you. I really want to learn and get better at my job."

Is this girl… an angel sent to purify me?

"Leave it to me."

"You’re so reliable, Senpai."

Kana-chan said that and hugged me, so I hugged her back. Naturally, we ended up going to sleep a little late.

The next day, once I arrived at the office, I went straight to the manager’s desk.

"Manager, do you have a minute?"

"Hm? What’s up?"

It was still before work hours, so the manager was reading a sports newspaper, but he looked up.

"It’s about Akeura-san…"

"Something happen?"

The manager folded the newspaper.

"Akeura-san wants to attend this seminar."

I handed over the printed document I’d prepared.

"Ah, this one… What do you think?"

"Akeura-san’s very motivated, and I think it’d be good for her to go. It’s an overnight trip, but since she’s eager to learn, stopping her would be…"

Not good!

"True… Will it be okay if she’s away from work for a bit?"

"No problem. Things have been calm lately."

Even if it’s not just a day or two—even a week would be fine. I’ll cover for her. For Kana-chan, I’ll do whatever it takes.

"Hmm… I see…"

The manager started to look conflicted.

"Is there some problem?"

"Well… is it okay to send a female employee alone?"

Come on, she’s not a kid.

Though, I kind of understood where he was coming from. It’s been ages since a female employee joined this department. Of course, excluding me.

"Akeura-san’s dependable, so I think she’ll be fine."

"Hmm… How about you go too?"

"Me? I went two years ago…"

"You probably slept through it, didn’t you?"

Rude! But… accurate!

"So, you want me to tag along?"

"Something like that. You can study again while you’re at it."

Man, what a worrywart old guy. Oh well. Guess I’ll just eat takoyaki with Kana-chan again.

"Alright, I’ll go too then."

"Good. Bring me a souvenir."

The manager said that, opened his wallet, and handed me a 5,000 yen bill.

"Not a ten-thousand?"

"The trip expenses are covered, aren’t they? That’s enough. And both you and Akeura need to submit your reports afterward."

"Me too?"

"Especially you. Nishino, two years ago your report just said ‘It was educational.’ Write a proper one this time."

He remembered…

"Hey, so—I’m going to Osaka soon. Have any of you ever been there?"

As always, it was the usual three of us at the usual family restaurant.
And as always, we had the drink bar and fries.

I asked the question to the group that had become part of my usual Sunday routine.

"I’ve been there a few times for work."

"I went on a school trip once."

"Tama hasn’t been there, nya."

Looks like Nyako hasn’t.

"You haven’t, Nyako?"

"Our middle school trip was to Kyoto and Osaka, but Tama caught a cold and couldn’t go, nya. I’ll never forget that despair, nya."

That really is sad.
It’s basically the biggest event of middle school.

"Rough luck, huh."

"The worst part was after everyone came back, nya. The day after the trip, everyone was talking about it. The sense of isolation and loneliness was unbearable, nya."

Oof.

"Wait, so you’ve never been to Osaka since then?"

"That’s right, nya. Haven’t been to Kyoto or Osaka, nya."

Still holding on to that trauma, huh…

"Why are you going to Osaka, Eromi? A business trip? Or a vacation with Kana-san?"

It was getting a bit gloomy, so Shachou spoke up—changing, or maybe bringing back, the topic.

"Both, actually. Kana-chan and I are going for work, kind of. It’s a training seminar. Though honestly, it’s pretty much a mini getaway."

Not that we’d have much time to go sightseeing. Maybe just enough to grab a good meal somewhere.

"And that counts as a getaway?"

"I’ve already been once, you know. Kana-chan’s the one who wanted to go, so she’ll probably take it seriously and study hard."

"And you?"

"I’ll stay out of her way and take a nap."

Or mess around on my phone.

"You’re hopeless."

"I don’t like studying."

"Yeah, that checks out…"

See?

"Is it an overnight trip? Or just a day trip?"

Chihirochi asked.

"Overnight. We leave early in the morning, have the seminar until evening, then again from morning to evening the next day, and head back at night."

"Do you get the next day off?"

"Nope. Back to work as usual."

"That’s a tough schedule…"

Nah, that’s just normal for working adults. I won’t say that out loud though—it’d crush the dreams of these high school kids.

"You’re sharing the same hotel room as Kana-chan, nya?"

"I’ll request travel expenses for two people and book one room."

Spending the night together in Osaka.

"Is that… okay, nya?"

"Our company gives a flat 10,000 yen (65$) per person, so it’s fine."

Anything over that just needs a receipt.

"Shachou, we’ve got employees like this, nya."

"Can’t say I’m surprised…"

I’m saving 10,000 yen, and the manager gave me another 5,000(~33$)—so I might as well splurge a little!