As Aqua and Ruby followed Senpai into an office, they found a scene of chaos.
"Hey hey hey! Is this information reliable!?"
"I don't know!! We're checking it now, so wait!"
"What about this request? Should we report it to the higher-ups?"
"Since Senpai is coming today, we can report it then! For now, finish up the other tasks!!"
"Gyaaaaaah!!! I thought I could go home today!!!!!"
They could see people suffering under the weight of their work.
Senpai seemed pleased with this sight, wearing a satisfied expression, while Aqua couldn't understand why she looked satisfied and didn't want to understand.
"Everyone seems quite busy, huh?"
Despite Senpai, Aqua, and Ruby entering, they were so busy that they didn't notice until they heard Senpai's voice and turned their heads toward the entrance.
"Welcome, Senpai!!!"
"Eek!?"
"...Someone might mistake this for some kind of organization."
"Ahaha. Aqua-kun, your metaphors are always amusing. Well, sometimes I think you're not wrong. In fact, it might be similar, don't you think?"
"Huh?"
Aqua didn't understand Senpai's words, but since many people in this company were brought from the 'backside,' Aqua's remark might not be entirely off the mark.
"Now, today we have Hoshino Aqua-kun and Hoshino Ruby-chan visiting our company for a day. Say hello?"
Senpai pushed Aqua and Ruby forward, and under the sudden gazes, Ruby shrank back a little, while Aqua glanced at her.
"Hello. I'm Hoshino Aqua."
"H-hello!! I'm Hoshino Ruby!! Nice to meet you!!"
Upon hearing Aqua and Ruby's greetings, the employees slowly pondered something.
"Ah!! So you're Yume-sama's son and daughter!!"
"What? Really!? They're Yume-sama's children!?"
"I thought there was something familiar about their aura from the start~"
"Don't you think Aqua-kun will grow up to be similar to Yume-sama?"
"Ruby-chan definitely takes after her mother~"
And so on, they naturally knew that Aqua and Ruby were the children of Hoshino Yume and Hoshino Ai, and the one flustered was not Ruby, but Aqua.
"H-how...?"
Aqua asked, a bit startled, turning to Senpai who was watching from behind. But Senpai's answer was, of course.
"Huh? Oh, most of the executives in the company know this fact. Of course, confidentiality is strictly maintained, and since my team is in charge of information, the employees in my team can't help but know, even if they don't want to. You seem quite surprised?"
Senpai lightly checked even the small change in Aqua's expression, noticing that he was surprised, and began to ease his tension.
Aqua, who slowly calmed his startled heart, then looked at Ruby.
"Wow... Papa is a really important person!!"
Ah, this one is just a father-con, so there's no need to worry.
In the end, Aqua, who had been nervous alone, started to feel foolish but tried not to show it.
"So, Senpai, why did you suddenly bring Yume-sama's children...?"
"I told you earlier, to show them around. I plan to take them to see the most notable parts of our company. Of course, we'll also visit the youngest's department."
"I see. Understood. Let's report when you come next time."
"Please do? Now then, Aqua-kun, Ruby-chan, shall we go to your father's department next?"
"Yes!!!"
"It's not like that over there, right...?"
Aqua asked cautiously, but.
"Ahaha. Our side is a bit special. I think the youngest's department is the most normal, you know."
"That's a relief."
Seeing Aqua sigh in relief, Ruby said.
"What's this, what's this? Big bro, are you scared?"
"Be quiet...."
"Okay~"
Bickering but steadily following Senpai, Aqua and Ruby walked on.
After about ten minutes, they arrived at a door similar to Senpai's department, and without knocking, Senpai opened the door and went in.
". . . Senpai, welcome. I thought Yume-sama was on break, and isn't today your day off too?"
"That's right. Instead, I'm looking after Yume's children. They wanted to see around, so I brought them."
"I see. Then the two behind you must be the children Yume-sama loves so much."
"Huhu, he does a lot of things that make people call him a doting father, doesn't he?"
"Since I have a wife and children myself, I can't really argue. Ah, I haven't introduced myself yet. I am Yume-sama's main secretary. You don't need to know my name; just knowing me as the main secretary is enough."
"Main secretary?"
Ruby asked curiously, and.
"Yes, I'm in charge of Yume-sama's schedule. And the reason we don't reveal our names is because it's not particularly important. Most of us don't use our names when talking to executives. So, we're usually called by our titles. You can call me Secretary."
"See? This is what's unique about our company."
"No, rather than unique. . . . Never mind."
Aqua had a lot he wanted to say, but he didn't bother.
And while the team members were watching the commotion at the door, their hands didn't stop, continuing to work.
"Ah, standing here talking isn't good, so please come inside. I'll guide you to Yume-sama's seat."
"Papa's seat!? I want to see it!!"
"You really like Yume-sama, don't you?"
"Yes!! Papa is my favorite in the whole world!! Of course, Mama too!!!"
"Huhu, it seems he's loved by his family. That's fortunate."
"Yes!!!"
While Ruby and the secretary were talking, Aqua thought from their natural tone that this department also knew they were Yume's children.
As soon as they arrived at the seat guided by the secretary, Ruby naturally sat in Yume's chair.
"Wow! It's huge!! And so comfy!!"
"Hey, Ruby, no matter what, it's rude to sit in that seat."
Aqua tried to stop Ruby as if scolding a childish action, but.
"It's fine. Since you're Yume-sama's precious children. In the first place, Yume-sama is often out in the field, so he doesn't sit here much."
"Field...?"
Aqua was caught by the word 'field.'
"Our department is, well. . . let's say we're the action team. When something happens, we're the first to go out and resolve it. So, among all departments, we have the strongest influence. Of course, partly thanks to Yume-sama, but most of us are field workers."
"Is that so?"
"Then, does Papa ever get into dangerous situations!?"
Cutting off Aqua, Ruby asked the secretary with a worried tone, but the secretary looked as if it were obvious.
"Haha! Yume-sama in danger? That's nonsense. Since that one incident in the past, Yume-sama never lets his guard down when he's out in the field."
"That's right, that's right. The youngest and even I can dodge bullets if we put our minds to it, you know?"
"Huh!? How can you dodge bullets!!"
Ruby, thinking Senpai was teasing her, puffed her cheeks in protest, but.
"No, it might actually be true..."
Aqua was different. Given Yume's physical abilities alone, dodging bullets seemed trivial, and he had always heard that Senpai's skills were comparable to Yume's, so he naturally considered them on the same level.
"Huhu, now then, we've seen where the youngest works. Where should we go next?"
Senpai showed a moment of thought, but Aqua, as if he had been waiting for this, approached her.
"Um, by any chance, is there a place where personal information of interest is gathered separately?"
Aqua's real purpose in coming to Yume's company was to seize the opportunity to gather information for revenge.
Half-gambling, he spoke to Senpai, and seeing Aqua's intensely serious eyes, Senpai said.
"I see, so that's it? It's amazing how similar your thoughts are to the youngest's, as if you were his child."
"Ah....."
With that one sentence from Senpai, Aqua understood everything. With just those words, Senpai had discerned all of Aqua's desires and intentions.
Aqua realized in an instant that Senpai was not someone soft like Yume, but he racked his brains on how to handle the situation, yet it seemed no excuse would work on the person before him.
". . . ."
He remained silent, and Senpai looked at Aqua as if finding him cute, then patted his head.
"Well, it's good to step up to protect your family, but you're still young, so there's no need to rush. If it were your personal revenge, I might have helped, but isn't the youngest behind you? So, I won't do anything for you. Or rather, I can't."
"Why. . . is that?"
Aqua spoke in a tone that suggested he didn't understand, and Senpai slowly approached him, whispering quietly in his ear.
"Revenge should be as cruel as possible. Child, if the revenge you can take is merely protecting your family, then the revenge the youngest intends is literal destruction."
"For your information, the ones assisting the youngest's revenge are our three top executives. But what you must do is hold him back so he can remain human."
Aqua couldn't understand Senpai's words, but he knew instinctively.
If revenge begins, Yume might act beyond human for the sake of his family.
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