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Chapter 13




Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.
One week after the meeting, the song for the『Tried to sing』video was decided and the schedule was adjusted right away.
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These adjustments include matters such as when the song will be recorded, when the drawings for the song will be finished, and when the video will be uploaded.
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And at that pace, the recording at the studio for the song is set for two weeks later.
Naturally, the studio is open only on weekdays.
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In other words, Masaki needs to leave work early that day.
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「Haa? You want to leave work early? There’s no way someone as useless as you get to clock out early!」
「No, I have an important reason to do so

」
「It’s impossible for useless trash like you to have such an important reason!!」
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Since that is the case, there is an unavoidable barrier which is, of course, this.
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The only ones who know that Masaki is working as a Vtuber as his side job are a portion of people in the HR department and the CEO.
Therefore, Masaki’s direct superior and department chief naturally wouldn’t know about it.
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「No, it’s a really important matter

」
「Make yourself competent in your work before you start saying that!」
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The deafening voice resounded throughout the office but no one was bothered by it since Masaki being yelled at is an everyday scene.
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As expected, with the department chief refusing to take him seriously, even Masaki is starting to worry.
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However, a helping hand came from an unexpected place.
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「Chief, I think you took it too far」
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The one who came to the department chief’s desk is Nagara.
Unlike her usual cheerful tone, her current tone is cold and indifferent.
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「Wh, what. Even Nagara-kun is saying that」
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The department chief became flustered; he never thought that Nagara would come to Masaki’s defense.
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Meanwhile, Masaki is astonished.
Even Masaki has never seen Nagara say a complaint directly to the department chief’s face. Although she would always get angry towards the department chief in place of Masaki, Masaki made sure she didn’t complain in front of the person himself.
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Moreover, it’s not her usual lively voice but a cool and quieting voice, causing Masaki’s shock to go through the roof.
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「If senpa

Masaki Shidome-san is useless, then it’s fine if he takes his leave, isn’t it? If he’s a dead weight, then the one person difference wouldn’t matter, right?」
「Th, that’s true but

」
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The department chief began to have cold sweat. He never thought Nagara would be blunt like this.
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「B, but, I’ll be troubled if he takes a leave so easily

」
「Like I said, why would you be troubled? There should be nothing to trouble yourself over if you think he’s useless」
「That’s not the problem here! If the workers at the bottom of the chain takes days off, it’ll be bad for the company」
「Nowadays, things like bosses yelling at their subordinates and refusing to give them time off happening without any problems is, in my opinion, worse for the company」
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Nagara criticized the department chief with a logical argument.
Even Masaki got goosebumps from her terrifyingly composed character.
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And with the rare occurrence of Nagara directly appealing to the chief, the other employees around them began to take notice.
For the chief, the situation probably seems like a losing battle.
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「Mu

I guess. Only that day!! I’ll give you your leave so you better clean up your work afterwards so things don’t get delayed!」
「Yes, I understand」
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The chief’s pride wouldn’t allow him to simply approve it. Therefore, he declared that Masaki would get overtime and,「Hurry up and get back to work!」, sent him back to his desk.
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Masaki bowed respectfully and returned to his desk with Nagara.
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Masaki and Nagara are desk neighbors.
After the incident, Masaki started whispering to her.
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「Sorry about that, Nagara. You’re a lifesaver」
「No no no, a company that won’t give breaks is deplorable. It’s something anyone would do.」
「Sorry, I’m even causing you trouble, Nagara」
「Don’t worry about it」
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Nagara’s evaluation would undoubtedly drop down. While thinking that, Masaki felt incredibly guilty.
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But looking at Nagara, she seemed satisfied for some reason.
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「Besides

」
「Besides?」
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Nagara’s words stopped at a weird timing, so Masaki brought his ear closer.
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Thereupon, Nagara whispered into his ear:
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「I don’t want senpai to quit this company. I’d hate it if

we had to be apart from each other」
「――!⁉」
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Words that are liable to misunderstandings. For Masaki, it was naturally very effective.
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Looking at his reaction, Nagara revealed a teasing smirk and then took a sticky note and wrote on it.
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Placing the note on his desk, she turned back towards her own desk.
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『I’ll be expecting a reward♡』
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Masaki felt the blood within him accelerate through his entire body.