ch41-ch60 · 041-ch41

Chapter 41: Regained Daily Life

Some time had passed since the events in the Clock World, and our daily lives were gradually returning to peace.

"Mm. Koh, good mornin'."

My mornings start drenched in sweat.

"Lumiel... you're hot."

"?"

Every morning without fail, Lumiel is in the same futon as me. If she were in cat mode, I could handle it, but in adult mode with wings, the feather situation makes it super hot.

"Can't be helped. I'm gonna shower."

"I'll go too."

"No way, drying your hair is a pain."

"A dryer would take thirty seconds, right?"

"I'm not talking about MY hair, I'm talking about Lumiel's!"

Every morning it's like this, and we end up bathing together anyway. Then drying her long silver hair with the hairdryer takes over ten minutes, mine takes thirty seconds, then changing, making breakfast, eating, getting ready — it easily eats up close to an hour. Guess my body's adapted to this lifestyle, because I've started waking up about three hours before work.

"Alright, done..."

"Thanks."

Hairdryer finished.

Lumiel walked off in high spirits.

Next up — breakfast prep.

Alright, rolled omelet with dashi, grilled fish, natto, pickled radish, rice, and miso soup.

"Itadakimasu."

We sat facing each other at the table, eating while the morning news played in the background.

The World Clock wasn't due to open anytime soon, and most of the news was lighthearted, fluffy stuff. I stared blankly at the TV.

"Koh, you've got rice on your cheek."

"..."

"I put one on the other side too, to balance it out."

"..."

"I want to take a big bite right off a fish head next time."

A househusband's mornings are busy.

So I don't have time to mess around with her.

『Shiki Hunter's recommended must-have spring outfit—』

Shiki-kun's segment was playing — he works as a model too. They say this segment alone boosts ratings for the morning info show.

Speaking of which, tomorrow I was told to accompany him somewhere, for some reason I don't know.

No way, could it be... I'm making my model debut too!? Muhaha.

"Probably not. Akira said patrol."

"Don't read my mind. Don't."

"You were grinning, so I figured you were thinking something weird."

Lumiel gave me a smug look after her correct guess.

Peaceful...

I used to wake up around sunrise, munch on bread, and head to work. Those days feel so distant now.

The big difference from back then — Lumiel's existence. Meeting her feels like it's given my life meaning. That's why, like a parent to a child, I always make sure to tell her before bed: "Thank you for coming to me."

Thank you for changing my life.

"Alright then, let's go!"

"Go to woooork—!"

I hope this ordinary, everyday life — with Lumiel's smile by my side — continues forever.

◇◆◇◆◇

"I already made copies of the documents for Company A."

"Oh, thanks, Maeda."

Today too, I was giving it my all as a corporate slave at the office. Well, not exactly a slave anymore. I've practically nabbed a chairman-class position in this company.

"We've been leaving right on time every day lately, it's the best!"

"It's all thanks to Lord Maeda. We're not worthy..."

I responded to those voices with a wry smile.

The reform I pushed through using my chairman-class authority was, in a word — workplace reform. I settled all the unreasonable demands from shady business partners, the clearly absurd workflows, and restructured the work to fit the company's actual capacity — with me taking responsibility.

『You sure you're okay losing our business!? You'll go under!!』

Naturally, the clients who'd been making unreasonable demands left with parting shots, but the companies that reached out to us instead were more than double that number. As a result, our company grew its revenue while transforming into a white company.

"I can't believe the workload's more than halved and the pay's doubled..."

"Finally, our time has come."

My coworkers' motivation is through the roof too. Nobody complains if I slip out for lunch, and everyone's smiling more. Our company has really changed.

"(And lately, Lumiel's been the one asking to come along.)"

The company has become an important place for her too. She says it's a hundred times more fun than waiting at home.

Following my gaze — right next to the department head's seat, a specially set up Lumiel-exclusive desk. That's what she extorted from the company using her chairman authority.

There, her small body was practically buried in the office chair, clicking away at the mouse. Her expression was deadly serious, like she was making decisions that would save the country... but I'm pretty sure the thing moving on the screen was Minesweeper, which she'd just learned.

"...Hm."

Lumiel stopped the mouse.

On the brink of fate, her slender fingers trembled.

"No, that's not it! That's a bomb right— seee!"

Just as the department head peered at the screen and raised his voice, a bobon sound rang from the speakers, and Lumiel slumped forward in defeat.

"You guys are too loud, I lost."

"There's a method to it, dammit! This is why I can't with kids these days."

"Ahhh, ahhh, ahhh~"

Come to think of it, the department head's softened up.

The old version of him who'd bark orders without listening is gone. Now he waits for a response and shares his thoughts on it. The workplace environment changed, but maybe the department head changed the most. There's a rumor that Lumiel's presence mellowed him out, but I don't know the truth.

"How about it, everyone! Wanna hold a Minesweeper tournament after work?"

"That sounds great! Let's do it!"

"Is that even the right kind of game for that?"

Man, peace. Peace is the best.

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