Even though their deadline was that same day, the company wasn’t officially launching the site until Sunday. Nagi figured they might still be able to finish by then. She hurriedly called the client’s system contact, explained what was happening, and received an extension until midnight on Saturday. But while she was relieved to have escaped total disaster by the skin of her teeth, they were by no means in the clear. They had to complete the project in the next twenty-four hours no matter what. If they focused on fixing the messed-up code by midday Saturday and then started testing, they should just barely make the new deadline. There was no time for sleep. They were going to have to blast through on pure grit.
Having made up her mind, Nagi looked up to find Saotome and Saiga peering at her worriedly. They looked completely wrung out, with dark circles under their eyes. It was obvious that thanks to days and days of overtime, their exhaustion was at its peak. There was no way she could force another all-nighter on them.
“I’ll take care of the rest. You two go home. Thank you both so much for working this late,” she said as cheerfully as possible. Saotome gaped at her.
“What?! We can’t do that! I’ll help you!”
“Don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t feel right making you come in on the weekend. If I work on it tonight and tomorrow, I’ll be able to finish.”
“But you’ll never make it on your own! I want to stay! Please let me!”
Saotome looked so adorably plaintive, Nagi wished she could give her a big hug.
“Really, it’s fine. I’d feel even worse if I asked you to stay.”
“But…!”
As Saotome refused to give in, Saiga, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
“Ms. Saotome, Ms. Yoroizuka is trying to be considerate. We should do what she’s asking.”
“Yes, exactly!” Nagi said. “Go home and rest. Please.”
For a moment, Saotome looked conflicted, but at last she grudgingly nodded. Nagi saw them off—Saotome endlessly apologizing and Saiga looking ready to die from exhaustion—then turned back to her computer. Where on earth should she begin? Wait—before even starting, she had to tell Nae she’d have to skip the birthday party on Saturday night. She gloomily picked up her phone and dialed her mother’s number.
“Hello?” Nae said in her usual laid-back way.
Nagi told her she was drowning in work and would have to miss the party.
“I understand,” Nae answered soothingly. “We’ll reschedule. We can go when things have calmed down for you.”
“I’m so sorry… You went to all the trouble of making reservations.”
“It’s no big deal. But is everything all right at work? Does Ryou know how busy you are?”
Nagi’s heart jumped at the mention of her uncle’s name. Employees were supposed to submit a special form if they wanted to work on the weekend, and she’d have to fill in the reason. That would put the culprit, Kojima, in an awkward position, which was why she had planned to skip the form and not tell anyone she was working on Saturday.
“No… He doesn’t know about it. Would you mind keeping it between us?”
“If you think that’s best…but please don’t overdo it, okay? I’ll let Keigo know you can’t come.”
Dammit. Keigo had offered to treat her to dinner, and now she was standing him up.
“Thanks. Will you tell him sorry for me?”
Filled with regret, Nagi hung up and flopped listlessly onto her desk. Why was this happening to her? If it weren’t for Kojima, the project would have been turned in by now, and she’d be at home drinking a glass of wine and getting excited about her birthday party. Unable to gather the will to sit up, she simply lay like that until she heard a soft buzzing. She glanced at her phone and saw it was a call from Keigo. Given the timing, it was probably about tomorrow.
“…Hi,” she said dully.
“Hey there. Nae told me you can’t come tomorrow,” he said, sounding worried.
“Oh…yeah. I’m so sorry. You said you’d come, and now I can’t go. I feel awful.”
“Don’t worry about that!” he answered casually. “Work problems?”
“Yeah, basically. A senior coworker did some programming, and it’s pretty buggy.”
“You’re kidding. When’s it due?”
“In twenty-four hours.”
“Shit…”
He seemed to immediately grasp the hopelessness of the situation. That alone was enough to make her feel somewhat better.
“Where’s this senior coworker?”
“At home, I guess.”
As usual, Kojima had gone home exactly on time that evening. Nagi smiled wryly as she remembered him leaving.
“He seriously just left?”
“I don’t even think he knows we’re in this situation.”
“That’s outrageous,” Keigo said in a low voice.
His reaction was natural, but since she was dealing with Kojima, Nagi had already moved past anger into resignation. If he’d been the type of boss to step in and help in a situation like this, the whole thing would probably never have happened.
“…Should I come down to the office?” Keigo asked hesitantly, breaking into Nagi’s daze.
“Ha-ha… At this point, I’d be happy just to have a warm body sitting next to me cheering me on…”
“That’s not what I mean. I’m asking if you want me to help you with the job.”
Keigo’s uncharacteristically serious tone caught her off guard.
“What? I’m sorry, I thought you were joking…”
“Would I joke at a time like this? Anyway, just tell me where the specifications and environmental information are. I can figure out the rest from the log.”
“Hey… Hold on a second!” she said in a panic when she realized what he was saying. He was forging ahead with his plan at a rapid clip. “It’s really fine! Besides, if you try to help me…!”
“I know what you’re thinking. If anyone finds out, we’ll both be in big trouble. I’ll make sure not to leave any evidence I helped you.”
At those appealing words, Nagi couldn’t help swallowing her protests. Even though they worked at the same company, it was taboo to do work in a different department without permission from the higher-ups. But Nagi had heard how good Keigo was at his job. She couldn’t imagine anything more reassuring than having his help.
She imagined the worst-case scenario if she didn’t finish the job in twenty-four hours. It wouldn’t be so bad if she was the only one who got punished, but there was no question everyone on the project team would be impacted. Saotome, who had worked so frantically and without complaint to support her. Saiga, the new hire she’d pushed so hard and who had nevertheless managed to get the work done. The Yummy Foods employees who had poured their blood and sweat into the project. Even the division head and company president, who would probably have to take responsibility for her actions. She shivered as she reflected once again on the gravity of the situation.
After almost six years as a systems engineer, she had a fair amount of experience. But that didn’t mean she was extraordinarily smart or gifted. There was no way she had what it took to overcome a situation this tough. She’d only made it this far by pushing herself not to complain in front of her junior staff or make them uneasy.
“Listen, Nagi. It’s okay to lean on me sometimes.”
Keigo’s voice was like a balm on her frayed nerves. The truth was, she was overwhelmingly afraid. She hated the situation she was in. It was absurd that after working so hard, she had to take responsibility for Kojima’s actions. She wanted to tear it all up and run away. She wanted someone to rescue her. She wanted to be unconditionally comforted. Without that, she didn’t feel the tiniest bit of motivation to go on.
“…No, it’s fine,” she said, despite her feelings. She didn’t want to cause Keigo any more trouble.
“It’s not fine,” he said, sounding fed up.
She was grateful for the sentiment, but when she thought about the consequences of being found out, she knew she couldn’t let him help her.
“I know I said it was a bad situation, but if I work hard, I think I can finish by the deadline. I’m sorry for making a big deal out of it,” she said, trying very hard to sound positive.
“That doesn’t change the fact that if you’re working on it alone, you won’t be able to make dinner tomorrow, does it?”
“No…”
“And you always go out to dinner with Nae on your birthday, don’t you?”
He was right. It was their ritual. September 17 was a “special day,” and she and Nae had promised each other that they’d go to a restaurant to celebrate every year.
“That’s true, but this year it can’t be helped.”
“I think it can. Listen, Nagi. I hate to see you neglecting these things—”
“I told you it’s fine!” she snapped.
Keigo fell silent.
“No matter how hard I work, I won’t be able to make it…so would you drop it already?”
She knew she sounded childish. She probably should have tried to smooth it over, but she was too exhausted.
“Nagi,” Keigo said, quietly breaking the brief silence. “You wouldn’t tell me to drop it if we were talking about the anniversary of your father’s death, would you?”
His voice was sympathetic, but she still couldn’t speak, because she knew he saw right through her. He was right. She didn’t want him to drop it. Of course she didn’t.
“Listen, I’ll help you. Let’s get this thing done one problem at a time. It’s going to be fine.”
Those were the words she was hungry for, but they never reached her ears. Maybe she’d given up on listening altogether. She knew that if she let herself register even a fraction of his kindness, she would sink to the ground, unable to move. She must not lean on him. She didn’t want to cause anyone any trouble. She had to do this herself, no matter what.
“…Thank you. But I really am going to be fine,” she managed to say at last. “I’d better get back to work. Thanks for calling.”
“Hey, Nagi…”
“Talk to you later!”
She escaped by hanging up. Her phone started buzzing again right away, but she ignored the call and shoved her phone to the bottom of her bag. There were several more calls before it went silent. After that, Keigo didn’t call again.
What she remembered was his big form and gentle voice.
Look, look! I drew a picture of you at school today, Daddy!
Wow, this is me? I look very handsome in that suit. This box next to me, is it a computer?
Yes! It’s a picture of you working! When I told my teacher my dad is a sis-tims engine-ear, she said “Wow!”