Knock knock.
“Come in.”
When Padrid granted permission from inside, Bender, holding a tray with the prepared tea, smiled brightly at Rodi.
Originally, she had planned to go with just Lexiard, but Bender had insisted on coming along all the way here.
Rodi nodded and opened the door.
Peek.
Although she had already surveyed the situation from outside, Rodi poked her head in first and called out to Padrid.
“Padrid!”
Unlike earlier, when he had been resting with his eyes covered, Padrid was now working with only his shirt sleeves rolled up, showing no signs of dishevelment. He looked up.
Earlier, he had taken off his glasses, but now he was wearing his frameless work glasses again.
Padrid looked somewhat surprised to see Rodi.
His gaze went to the clock on the wall and then back to Rodi.
“Rookie, isn’t it time for bed?”
“Not yet! I have something to do.”
“I don’t think I assigned any overnight work to you.”
“Hmm, that’s true, but…”
Padrid, responding with a slightly playful demeanor, smiled faintly.
“So what work does the rookie have left? It would be best to finish quickly and go back. Your smooth growth is also part of the job.”
At those words, Rodi opened the door wide.
“This!”
“Hmm?”
Ta-da!
Bender entered with the tray.
“I thought you might be tired, so Rodi and Lexiard prepared this.”
Padrid looked much more surprised than before.
“Oh my.”
There was a sense of being caught off guard in his voice.
But seeing the neatly prepared teapot, teacup, and cookie, Padrid’s stiff expression softened for a moment.
“This tea is good for recovering from fatigue. Right, Bender?”
“Yes, that’s right. We prepared a tea that won’t be heavy on your stomach, General Affairs Manager.”
“I thought Padrid might be tired. Drink this, finish quickly, and go home.”
In response, Padrid, with his relaxed face, put down his documents and pen, and even took off his glasses.
“I didn’t expect to receive a surprise gift.”
“Hehe, hurry up.”
Rodi approached with quick steps, pulled on Padrid’s sleeve, and led him to the sofa.
Even as he was being pulled along, Padrid still looked dazed.
Having only seen his sharp face before, this expression felt strangely novel.
As Bender poured the tea, Padrid tilted his head to the side.
“There aren’t enough teacups for everyone to drink together.”
Since it was meant for Padrid, there was naturally only one teacup.
“Ah! I’ll get up now.”
“I’m fine!”
“Me too.”
Hearing this, Padrid rubbed the back of his neck, seeming a bit troubled.
“I can’t allow that. I’ll brew more tea. Bender, please stay and have some too.”
Bender was startled as she set down the teapot.
“Ah, yes! Then I’ll brew it. It’s my job.”
“Please sit. We can boil water here, too. It’s well past quitting time, so what job are you talking about?”
After gently pressing down on Bender’s shoulder as she hurriedly tried to stand up, Padrid rose.
He then headed to the pantry area set up on one side.
As Padrid had said, the general affairs office was fully equipped with almost everything.
Not only because it contained many important documents, but also because it had tools for boiling water, dishes for brewing tea, all kinds of snacks, and even a rest area.
This was why executives had no choice but to gather here.
This time, Bender had a dazed expression.
Then she whispered softly.
“This is the first time I’ve been served tea like this.”
She was amazed, saying that neither she nor others had experienced this before.
“Later, I’ll learn how and brew tea for Bender, too.”
Rodi said with a bright smile.
In response, a bright smile also spread across Bender’s face.
“Ah, Rookie. There should be cookies left in the cabinet.”
Padrid called out to Rodi while brewing tea, leaning back.
“Yes!”
Rodi opened the cabinet with familiarity and slipped her hand between the clothes.
She quickly retrieved the cookie jar, closed the cabinet, and returned.
Not long after, teacups were placed in front of Rodi, Lexiard, and Bender as well.
He poured a little of the pre-brewed tea, and the freshly brewed tea gave off a fragrant aroma.
“Padrid, drink quickly.”
When Rodi urged him, Padrid took a sip of tea first.
Unable to disappoint those expectant, sparkling eyes, Padrid spoke.
“This is very good.”
“Right!”
Lexiard also casually picked up his teacup, and Bender carefully held her teacup with both hands.
Slurp.
Before they knew it, the general affairs office was filled only with the quiet sound of tea drinking.
With each sip of the fragrant, warm tea going down her throat, Rodi’s expression gradually relaxed.
Padrid, who had been concentrating until his neck was stiff, finally released the tension in his body after sipping the warm tea.
Perhaps due to the warm mint scent, the migraine that had been bothering Padrid all day seemed to subside somewhat.
He could see Rodi drinking her tea, busily blowing on it with her small mouth.
“I didn’t know the rookie liked tea.”
“Every time I drink this, I feel like my body turns all mushy!”
“Pfft.”
Bender, who was drinking tea beside them, covered her mouth and burst into laughter.
Except for the conversation between Padrid and Rodi, the atmosphere among the four was almost silent, but everyone wore the same expression in perfect unison.
A relaxed face, shedding a layer of fatigue and stress accumulated throughout the day.
It was a leisure they had never experienced when they were frantically drinking strong coffee to alleviate fatigue.
Padrid thought that it might be nice to feel this relaxed occasionally and poured more tea into his empty cup.
Looking at Rodi, who was holding her teacup with both hands like a squirrel, Padrid said.
“Thank you, Rookie. And you two as well.”
In response, Rodi smiled as brightly as possible.
“Don’t mention it!”

***

The next day.
Unlike yesterday when he had been distracted, Padrid seemed to have returned to his normal self today.
“Good work today, too.”
“Yes, good work.”
Gemvil, who had arrived at dawn, left.
“Hey~ Is the rookie still dreaming? I bet so!”
Ekision, who came in with just 5 minutes left before the official arrival time for employees (though executives had flexible hours), asked about Rodi’s waking status right after greeting.
“She’s probably still asleep. She was up late last night.”
“Huh? Padrid, how do you know that?”
“We drank tea together last night.”
“What? Without me? Just the two of you?”
“Lexiard and Bender were also there.”
“Wow, traitor! I didn’t see that coming!”
Ekision was energetically bombarding Padrid from the morning.
Padrid, who was reviewing documents that had come in between last night’s departure and this morning’s arrival, smiled faintly.
It was an arrogant look, more irritating than usual.
“The rookie prepared it herself. Said she wanted to relieve my fatigue.”
“…Really?”
Ekision had an incredulous look on his face.
To see such an expression from Padrid.
It was infuriating.
Padrid shrugged his shoulders.
“Yes.”
“Unbelievable… Leaving me out?”
“You had already gone home by that time.”
“Still!”
Padrid deflected Ekision’s aggrieved, disappointed, indignant, and envious gaze all at once.
“Ugh, I’m tired. Didn’t sleep a wink last night. Why are you barking from the morning? You’re so energetic.”
Horas, who had entered almost simultaneously, complained of fatigue as soon as he arrived and collapsed onto the sofa.
“Yesterday, Padrid had tea with the rookie without me.”
“Hmm, then that makes sense.”
“What were you doing that kept you from sleeping?”
“Let me think. What did I do yesterday?”
“Did you open that new whiskey you bought?”
“How did you know? Ugh, my head is pounding.”
Horas complained of a headache.
“Tsk, all of you playing solo.”
“I was playing as a team.”
“Wow, Padrid, you-“
“Good morning. Horas, would you like me to brew some tea for you?”
“Oh, thank you.”
Jin headed to the pantry area within the general affairs office, taking care of Horas, who was suffering as soon as he arrived.
“Is that Hailo guy not coming?”
“I hope not.”
Just as Padrid spoke calmly, the door swung open wide.
“Hello, everyone~”
Simultaneously, Padrid’s expression darkened drastically.
“Hmm, it seems like it’s time for the rookie to arrive.”
“She should be showing up soon.”
“Padrid. Don’t you dare set your sights on our rookie.”
While Ekision was being vigilant-
“Good morning!”
Finally, Rodi appeared with a ta-da!
Today, too, everyone’s attendance was complete.