Tenonaru Hou e c4 part92

“Ko―n―no―san~”

He heard his name being called out from a considerable distance that gradually came closer. Tatsumi turned toward the voice. There was only one coworker who would address him in such a manner, Shimura. 

“What’s the mater, this time you don’t look so great. Did something happen?”

“Nothing at all.”

He replied with a smile, which made him wonder if the distress he felt on the inside really showed that much on his face. He received such cold behavior from Kusamakura, and ended up doing something a grown man would never do, like cry during his lunch break. Somehow he held back his sobs and returned to work with a nonchalant face, but even once he got home, he felt depressed even when he wasn’t crying. Thanks to Kusamakura, he no longer felt what he thought was a presence, but that didn’t cheer him up at all. 

“No way. Lately you’ve been in such a good mood around here, but ever since yesterday afternoon you’ve suddenly lost your cheer, I’m worried, okay?”

“Worried&h.e.l.lip;&h.e.l.lip;?”

She was? A coworker? When his eyes widened at her surprising words, Shimura confirmed.

“Well, it’s already five past noon and you haven’t moved at all.”