Chapter -24
A few hours later——
When I returned to the special break room,
I found Saki and Yayoi having tea, which was a rare occurrence.
“Ah, cake!
Do you have one for me too?”
When Makino said this,
“We have some for everyone.
Ms. Kurata was here until just a little while ago,
and she brought us some popular cakes.”
Yayoi stood up and prepared plates for us.
Compared to the tall and strong-willed Saki,
she gives the impression of being a slender, delicate girl.
“The coffee and tea are instant,
but please have whichever you like.”
“What was Kurata here for?”
Makino peered happily into the cake box.
Beside him, Adachi was also happily choosing one.
“It’s just that you’re always out gallivanting around, so you just miss her.
She comes back here periodically, you know.”
This underworld is centered around the central area where the Underworld King is,
with satellite offices to the left and right.
Kurata and Kishimoto are from the North Branch and West Branch.
Since they are in charge of their respective nearby areas,
they occasionally return to the central office.
Each office has about twelve
Grim Reapers stationed there,
but it’s quieter compared to the central office.
“She came today to give a report and for a consultation,”
Yayoi said, placing a paper napkin on a plate.
“Ohhh~. Ah, I’ll have the chocolate one.
Which one do you want, Adachi?”
“Caramel.”
“What about Mukai and Sakuma?”
“Anything’s fine.”
The two of them watched with laughter.
“That’s right. I bought sukiyaki bentos today,
so anyone who wants one can take it.”
“Are you sure?
Well, I’ll be heading back with this then,
I’ll take some for Tadoshi-san, Gen-jiisan, and Makiko-san too.”
“Please do.”
Mukai gave a sweet smile
and handed the bento to Yayoi, who looked a little embarrassed.
“Excuse me.”
Yayoi bowed
and left the room.
“That smile. It’s a crime, I tell you~.”
Saki said this while staring intently at Mukai.
“Did I… do something wrong?”
“What do you think of this guy, Sakuma-san?”
“There are people who use a smile as a weapon as a social skill,
but Mukai-san isn’t that adept.
Well, since we are dead,
in a way, being insensitive might be a form of happiness, I suppose.”
Sakuma took a seat
and placed a cheesecake on his plate.
“What are you talking about?”
Makino asked, his cheeks stuffed with cake.
“The kid should just be quiet and eat.”
“What was that?!”
“It’s always lively in here, isn’t it?
I ran into Ms. Kurata on my way back just now,
and she said there was cake.
Is there any left?”
Nitta came in.
“There is~. And, by the way, there are also sukiyaki bentos~.”
“What do you mean, ‘by the way’?!”
At Saki’s words, Makino got angry.
“Makino-kun, you didn’t pay for it,
so the only ones who have the right to be angry are me and Mukai-san.”
“Oh, my apologies.”
Saki laughed.
Even the dead were once human.
I find comfort in these casual, everyday moments.
Thinking such thoughts,
“Well then, I think I’ll have some cake too,”
Mukai joined their circle.
