Wednesday lunch break.

The stuffed bear that had been sent to the cleaners came back.

There was still time for a break, but I had already eaten, so let’s move it while I still can.

As I carried the stuffed bear into the storage room in the basement, I noticed that the other employees were rustling around near the entrance.

“Look who it is, Otomizu.”

“Ah! Sasamiya-san! I’m sorry, I made a mess at the entrance of the warehouse.”

There she was, Haruka Otomizu, a junior colleague whom I had worked with as a trainer until about two months ago.

Today, her hair is tied back and up in an updo, and she is wearing a ladies’ suit.

It was still extremely hot and humid, but she looked great.

“Organizing materials? I’ll help you.”

“No! You don’t have to.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you.”

Otomizu was organizing the materials from past Halloween campaigns.

Perhaps she was looking for something useful for her current task.

Geez. It’s cute but serious and foul.

“As I recall, you are in charge of the Halloween illustration contest, right Otomizu?”

“Yes, but I’m only accompanying Chief Konno…”

“You are doing well enough, Otomizu”

“I still have a long way to go…”

Otomizu was looking down with a low confidence.

I encouraged her gently.

“No, that’s not true. It was because of your suggestion to collaborate with a theme park that led to the adoption of the project in this illustration contest, too. You should have more confidence.”

“Y…. yes …”

Holding a contest in collaboration with a theme park and an illustration submission site was a tough job because you have to work while putting faces to both sides.

But I believe Otomizu can handle it.

I noticed that Otomizu was getting close to me.

“Um, …, Sasamiya-san. Can I ask you a favor?”

“Depends on what it is. What is it?”

“If this project is successful, I’d like … to get a …. reward for it.”

Perhaps she was under pressure, not knowing whether this would be successful or not.

At that time, one can only think about meaningless anxiety.

Since we were on different teams, I couldn’t help her directly, but it would be nice to at least reward her personally.

“Ah, okay. What do you want?”

“Umm… not a thing… Uh! I’ll ask again when I succeed!”

“Okay.”

A reward that isn’t a thing, or …….

I wonder what it is.

Well, it was Otomizu.

She wouldn’t make outrageous demands.

Boom!!

There was the sound of metal breaking nearby.

Immediately after realizing that it was the sound of metal shelves, the large package I was storing came crashing down.

“Otomizu! Look out!!”

I hurriedly hugged Otomizu and pulled her close.

The next moment, a huge amount of luggage fell like an avalanche onto the spot where Otomizu had been standing a moment ago.

It was close ….

If so many packages had fallen, she might have been seriously injured.

“Are you okay, Otomizu?”

“Yes. …. I’m sorry.”

“No, it wasn’t your fault. It was an old shelf, so it must have been fragile.”

I immediately tried to leave the warehouse, but I realized something.

“……. Huh? The door won’t open. ……”

Oooof.

It was bent by the impact earlier.

This building itself was old.

The door was probably very worn out.

At any rate, I should explain the situation so as not to worry Otomizu.

“Sorry, Otomizu. It looks like we are locked in.”

“Huh! Isn’t that great!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll get help on my phone right away … and I can’t get a signal ….”

“Thank you, God!”

“Oh, I can get reception here.”

“No way! How merciless!”

“The building janitor will be here, but it will take about thirty minutes. Until then, you’ll just have to be patient.”

“Alright!!”

Every time I told her about the situation, Otomizu reacted in a funny way.

I guess she was probably nervous about the sudden turn of events.

We were locked in a dark warehouse, even if it was only for 30 minutes.

No wonder.

I have to firmly support her

“Sasamiya-san!”

Suddenly, Otomizu hugged me.

“Wh! What’s going on!”

“Uh…Uh…! I was confused, so I hugged you!!”

“You’re pretty tense, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am! Please give me a hug.”

She must be feeling quite helpless.

Maybe it would be kind to give her a hug here.

Okay, I’ll give you a hug.

Never, ever, do I have any evil intentions!

But the moment I reached out my hand, the old janitor opened the door.

“I rushed over! Are you okay? Hmm… Hoho… I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Were you and the young one in the middle of flirting?”

“No, no! It’s a misunderstanding!”

After that, I had to explain many times to clear up the misunderstanding.