The office of the marketing department was buzzing. Rumors had been flying for weeks—ever since the "Akihabara Incident"—but today, the atmosphere felt different. The air was thick with anticipation.
Sataru Asada walked through the glass doors at exactly 7:55 AM. His suit was as sharp as ever, and his "Serious Mode" expression was firmly in place. But as he passed the security desk, he didn't just give a stiff nod. He stopped, leaned over, and handed Hiroshi a small bag of premium coffee beans.
"For the night shift, Dad," Sataru said, loud enough for the nearby receptionists to hear.
Hiroshi grinned, tipping his cap. "Thanks, son. Give my best to Shino when she gets in."
The receptionists gasped. First names? In the lobby?
Sataru didn't linger. He headed straight for his desk, but he didn't open his spreadsheets immediately. Instead, he reached into his briefcase and pulled out a small, framed photo. He placed it carefully next to his monitor. It wasn't a corporate award; it was a picture of him and a girl in glasses, eating melon bread in front of a giant anime statue.
Five minutes later, Shino Madsudori arrived.
She wasn't wearing her "Office Idol" mask today. She walked in wearing her round-rimmed glasses, her hair in a simple ponytail, and a Sword Art Online lanyard around her neck holding her ID badge. She looked confident, happy, and—for the first time—completely herself.
She walked straight past the junior associates who usually tried to swarm her. She didn't stop at her own desk. She walked right up to Sataru’s.
"Morning, Hero," she said, leaning over his cubicle wall. "Did you finish the season finale of Shield Hero last night?"
Sataru looked up, and the "Serious Ace" did something the office had never seen before. He smiled. A wide, genuine, and slightly shy smile that transformed his entire face.
"I did," Sataru replied. "But I think the light novel version was better. The character development for the party members felt more 'optimized.'"
The entire floor went silent. Typing stopped. Phone calls were put on hold. Tanaka, the legal consultant, dropped his stapler.
"Madsudori-san..." one of the marketing girls stammered, pointing between the two of them. "Are you... are you and Asada-kun...?"
Shino reached out and took Sataru’s hand, lifting it so everyone could see their interlaced fingers. "We're a team," she said firmly. "In the office, and out of it."
"And," Sataru added, standing up to his full height, "if anyone has a problem with our 'productivity,' the Q3 reports are already uploaded to the server. Three days ahead of schedule."
The Director stepped out of his office, surveying the scene. He looked at the joined hands, then at the record-breaking data on his tablet. He cleared his throat. "Asada, Madsudori... my office. Now."
The office held its breath, expecting a lecture on "professional boundaries." But through the glass walls of the Director’s office, they didn't see a scolding. They saw the Director shaking Sataru’s hand and handing them both folders—the official promotion papers for the new regional account.
When they stepped back out, Shino let out a cheer, jumping slightly and hugging Sataru’s arm.
"We did it!" she whispered. "The pay wall is officially down."
"Level up," Sataru murmured, kissing the top of her head, ignoring the collective gasp of the entire department.
As the workday began in earnest, the two of them sat at their desks—side by side. They still worked harder than anyone else, and they still hit every deadline with "Serious Mode" precision. But now, every time Sataru felt the stress of the world leaning on his shoulders, he only had to look to his left.
There, behind a pair of glasses and a stack of folders, was his partner. His party member. His Shino.
The "Workplace Time" was no longer just a grind to survive. It was the story of two people who had found their hero in the person sitting right next to them.
[END]89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHn84Qsz4oJ
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