A statue celebrating Min-chan’s senpai’s promotion to general, revealed in the backstreets of Akihabara’s Electric Town?
No, it would be more accurate to call it a golem made entirely of mithril.
Either way, it was an outrageously impactful present.
“Come on, let’s go!!”
“N-no, Kaido-senpai, please excuse me!”
Min-chan, who acts in ways that are, in a sense, unconventional, but are everyday behavior for us.
Kitamiya-chan, furious about this, dragged Min-chan away towards our company.
As I watched them leave, I wondered how she was dragging Min-chan when she was outside the company, where she couldn’t use her magic crests for reinforcement.
Alone again, I decided to think about a gift for senpai again and wandered through Akihabara with the kebab I’d already bought, but I couldn’t find anything good.
“Well, senpai isn’t really materialistic.”
On reflection, the things senpai wanted were basically all practical items.
As for luxury goods, they were either tobacco or alcohol to drink with family and instructors.
When asked about other hobbies, he enjoyed movies and anime, but wasn’t THAT engrossed in them.
“Haa, it’s difficult to give a gift to someone who earns more than you.”
At first, I thought about giving him a slightly expensive Zippo lighter, but recently, senpai seems to have quit smoking, perhaps thinking about his child.
“Still, I’m not all that knowledgeable about alcohol either.”
Basically, the alcohol I drink is cheap.
I’ve tried buying expensive wine before, but I couldn’t really tell the difference in taste.
From there, I thought, isn’t it fine if it’s not expensive alcohol?
“In our house, Amili-chan, Shiik-chan, and Miik-chan don’t really drink much either.”
None of the three women drink much.
They sometimes join me for my evening drink, but even then, they don’t chug it down like we do.
Amili-chan: “Release. Constitutionally difficult to get drunk. Therefore, when drinking, I enjoy the atmosphere.”
It seems that the species called “Kijin” have a mechanism within their bodies that can break down various toxins, and alcohol is classified as one of them, making enjoying alcohol no different from enjoying tea.
They prefer juices and such for their taste, so they don’t drink much alcohol.
Miik: “We didn’t have much experience with those things, did we, Shiik?”
Shiik: “Yes, Miik. We didn’t have many opportunities to drink alcohol in the heavens.”
Miik-chan and Shiik-chan, who are genuinely weak to alcohol, contrasting with Amili-chan, who can theoretically drink infinitely.
They won’t get drunk from something like beer, but strong liquor is generally a no-go.
That’s why we don’t buy much alcohol.
“Hmm, in that case, is Min-chan’s present logical in a way?”
Senpai, though I say it myself, is the biggest earner among us.
Naturally, he has more money than us, and on top of that, he’s not that materialistic.
He spends money on the clothes he wears and the furniture in his house, but he doesn’t have bad luck with his belongings to the point of changing them at a high frequency.
If anything, he spends money on his work equipment, which are his gear.
“I wish I could find something interesting in Akihabara.”
That said, I can’t compete with Min-chan’s impact if I go for novelty, and if it’s too novel, it might be questioned whether I’m celebrating, so I want to avoid that.
“Hmm, difficult. If so, I should choose something from over there.”
However, asking acquaintances for goods from the continent, rather than Earth, feels too late.
There is still plenty of time until the celebration for senpai’s promotion, but during that time, various people will surely be giving gifts to senpai.
In that case, items from over there might be a second-hand offering.
“Difficult, difficult.”
My figure, pondering with a kebab in hand on the streets of Akihabara, must look quite strange.
To others, I might have looked like I was agonizing over the taste of the kebab.
“Hmm, my lack of sense is something to be jealous of at times like this.”
If only I had more sense, I might come up with better ideas, but unfortunately, nothing readily comes to mind.
“For now, I guess I’ll go back to the company and think about it.”
I bought the item I originally came for, and if I linger here, the kind of people from earlier might gather.
Even though I feel like I could win if I fought, if I got injured, the three people waiting for me at home would be sad, so it’s safety first.
“Hm? Is that an advertisement?”
As I rode the train from Akihabara Station, I happened to look up at a monitor displaying an advertisement.
“Oh, dogs and cats are cute.”
I also have a contract with a small dog-like spirit, so I understand their cuteness.
I often summon them at home and play with them.
“Hm? A pet?”
Then, I had an idea.
Come to think of it, senpai said something similar a long time ago.
I recall a story from when I was a corporate slave at a black company, which feels like a very long time ago now.
Senpai: “Ah, I need some healing.”
Me: “Right.”
It was a time when we were smoking cigarettes in the smoking area, seeking solace for our tired bodies and minds from overwork.
Senpai: “Speaking of healing, is it girls? If it’s a place like that, it might still be open even after overtime.”
Me: “Don’t be silly, by the time you miss the last train, places like that are closed.”
Senpai: “…That’s a sad reality.”
Me: “I’ve already worked ten consecutive days, and this is the third day in a row I’ve missed the last train. The company is the type where you don’t even get paid full overtime.”
Although senpai smiles a lot now, he didn’t smile at all back then.
Nor did I.
We were so exhausted that we couldn’t even force a smile.
Everything was a chain of negativity.
We sought healing but were unable to find it in reality.
Senpai: “Ah, I wish there was a ‘Bokkyunbon’ big sister at home to greet me when I return.”
Me: “Think calmly. Even if she’s beautiful, it would be horror if a stranger greeted you at home.”
Senpai: “Right, if I think about it calmly, it would be trespassing.”
It was a reality where I could only temporarily distract myself from fatigue with cigarettes.
Thoughts where reality clung even to light jokes.
Me: “Ah, how can I heal this fatigue?!”
Senpai: “If my paid leave request is approved and I can take about ten days off, maybe I can heal.”
Me: “No, if I take that much time off, I’ll definitely stop coming to the company.”
Senpai: “What a coincidence, me too.”
There was also a feeling that if I got that much time off, my mind, which was held together by this precarious state, might snap.
That’s why, thinking it was hopeless, one day…
Senpai: “Ah, this is nice.”
Me: “What are you looking at?”
A moment of respite while smoking cigarettes in the smoking area. Senpai was staring at his smartphone. On it, senpai, who usually had dark circles under his eyes, had a rare gentle expression.
Senpai: “Hm? It’s an animal video.”
Me: “Eh, it doesn’t suit you.”
Senpai: “I’ll hit you.”
Me: “Violence is unacceptable!!”
The words I said in a serious tone when asked what he was watching couldn’t be taken back, and now I understand, but senpai was there, clenching his fist with homicidal intent.
Senpai: “Shut up. I know it doesn’t suit me, but I can’t heal without watching something like this.”
But then he let out a big sigh, exhaling it with the cigarette smoke, and gently showed me a video of a dog moving innocently.
Me: “Oh, senpai, you like dogs?”
Senpai: “Well, I like animals in general, not just dogs. I wanted to have a pet when I was younger, but due to my parents’ work, I couldn’t, and with my current job, it’s absolutely impossible.”
Me: “Absolutely impossible.”
What a reckless idea for a single man who can barely even return home to keep a pet.
On senpai’s smartphone, a dog was happily frolicking, and when the video ended, the next one automatically played, showing a cat dozing off in a pot.
Me: “Senpai, have you been watching that a lot lately?”
Senpai: “Yeah.”
At that time, I thought he must be mentally exhausted to that extent.
“Pets, huh.”
Originally, giving a living creature as a gift might be considered unconventional, but perhaps this is acceptable. I’ve also heard that raising a living creature is good for a child’s emotional development.
“At least it’s better than Min-chan’s golem, right?”
However, there are also problems.
I think it’s fine since Himik-san is at senpai’s house, so taking care of a pet shouldn’t be an issue.
“Is that weird for regular dogs? Do they have magic power?”
First and foremost, can animals from Earth adapt to an environment with magic power?
And too.
“Hmm, is giving an animal as a gift acceptable?”
From a conventional standpoint, the decision to keep a pet is not something that should be imposed by others.
I know even I know that one must have the will to raise it oneself.
“Haa, I thought it was a pretty good idea though.”
As I was thinking this, I had unconsciously arrived at the station nearest to the company.
I was able to get off without panicking, but I was still a little shocked that my brilliant idea didn’t work out.
While thinking that I need to come up with a better idea, my feet proceeded on the path home.
The weather was nice, but no brilliant idea came to mind.
“What should I do?”
As I was burdened with a different kind of worry than before, I passed by a small park. At that moment.
Meen…
I heard a small cat’s voice.
“Hm? Is it a stray cat?”
I often see cats on the street, some with collars, some without, it doesn’t matter.
At first, I didn’t pay attention and started to walk away, but.
Meen…
The cry, which sounded a little weak, made me stop and look around.
But there was no cat in sight.
Listening carefully to find the source of the meowing.
“Is it inside the park?”
This park is what you might call a natural park that salarymen use for breaks.
It’s a park with only walking paths, a public restroom, and benches, with no playground equipment.
It’s not that large either, with only occasional maintenance of the hedges.
“Hmm, it’s not here.”
I thought that if there were a cat in a park like this, I would find it immediately, but its figure was nowhere to be seen.
“Was I imagining things?”
I scratched my cheek and thought it was a false alarm when.
Meen…
The meowing sounded again.
This time, it was clearer than before, but weaker than before.
“It’s this way.”
Following the meowing, I arrived at a hedge.
“Is it a discarded kitten?”
There, in a small cardboard box with only a towel laid inside, a single empty cat food can was left.
“Poor thing. It’s still a kitten.”
A small calico cat.
It was so small, I thought it might have just been born.
Looking around, there was, of course, no sign of the owner who abandoned it.
Its fur color was bad, and it looked weak.
“This is bad.”
If I leave it like this, it will weaken.
Even so, I thought it might be taken advantage of by crows, so I scooped up the kitten, wrapping it in a towel, and searched my smartphone for the nearest animal hospital to take it to.
“Hang in there, I’ll take you to the hospital right away.”
I started running, following the search results on my smartphone without shaking the kitten, and after catching a taxi along the way, I headed to the nearest animal hospital.
After being examined.
“This is a stray cat, isn’t it? Um, insurance doesn’t cover this, but…”
“It’s alright!! I’ll pay properly!! So please save it!”
The veterinarian was worried, but when I showed him the wad of bills I had brought as a reserve from my bag, the kitten’s treatment began immediately.
I think this is something the old me couldn’t have done, but I think this is a fine way to spend money.
For now, wishing for its recovery, I waited in the hospital’s waiting room for about an hour.
“It’s okay now. While it needs to be hospitalized for a while until it stabilizes, it can be discharged in two or three days.”
When the veterinarian gave me his stamp of approval, I breathed a sigh of relief.
“So, what about this kitten? If you’d like, we can look for a foster parent here.”
As I watched the kitten curled up through the glass window, I felt relieved, and the veterinarian asked about the kitten’s future.
That’s true.
I pondered what to do.
“Please wait a moment.”
But the answer came quickly.
Meeting this kitten was fate.
Saving it was also fate.
I need to confirm if it can be kept in the company dormitory and if there are any magic influences.
I can’t take it in without confirming at least that.
“Understood. In that case, please contact us by the end of this week.”
“Understood. Also, this is for the examination fee.”
“Yes, I have received it. We will be waiting for your contact.”
Just when I was thinking about giving senpai a pet as a gift, I had never imagined I would end up keeping a pet myself.
To tell you the ending in advance.
There’s a calico cat there, who has somehow been appointed the mascot character of Tester Division 1’s office.
That cat is even beloved by generals, and considering it will eventually become the company’s official mascot, what kind of fate is this?
Quote of the day:
Everyone spends money differently.
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