Chapter 4:
Their Journey and My Protective Gaze
“I’M REALLY SORRY.”
“Hey, no worries. We’re not really in demand this early in the year. January tends to be slow. I was actually feeling bad that I wouldn’t be able to offer you much work.”
I was on the phone in the hotel room apologizing to my boss back home. He’d known I was in Hokkaido, but nothing more than that. Sewatari ended up contacting him to ask whether I could officially take on a cleaning job at Isekai Connection.
“Y’know, Yoshio, sometimes I think you’re a little too honest. You didn’t have to get me involved. You could’ve just done the work and taken all the money for yourself.”
“I couldn’t do that. I only know how to do this kind of work because of you and your company.”
“Well, I’m happy you feel that way. But since you’re technically still working for my company out there, you don’t need to worry about us back home. Enjoy as much of Hokkaido as you can. Think of it as a business trip. I’ll give you a bonus, too—just make sure you bring us some souvenirs!”
“Thank you.” I bowed my thanks, even though he couldn’t see me.
The truth was, Sewatari only contacted my place of work at my insistence. I wanted to do something to pay back my boss for everything he’d done for me, and I needed some way to clear the guilt I felt for going off to Hokkaido instead of returning to work. It was good motivation to work hard out here, too, since my performance would reflect on the company.
I was about to hang up the phone when I remembered another question. “How’s Yamamoto-san doing?”
After he attacked me on New Year’s Eve, Yamamoto-san had lost all his memories of the game. The boss told me he’d come back to work in the new year full of motivation, like he was a whole new person. Still, I was worried the memory loss might have side effects.
“He’s doing good! No doom and gloom, not since the new year.”
I was glad to hear it. My anger at Yamamoto-san had vanished once I learned he was controlled by that punk. Still, he did cause me, my villagers, and Carol a lot of trouble.
“I see. Please tell him and Misaki-san I say hi. Bye, now.”
I ended the call and connected my phone to the charger. Just before I’d called the boss, Sewatari had contacted me with news. Carol and Destiny could go home tomorrow.
“Aren’t you gonna go to sleep, Yoshio?”
Carol was playing with Destiny on the bed. She patted the duvet as though telling me to get in with her.
This is the last night we’ll be able to see each other.
I’d only spent a week with Carol, but our short time together was irreplaceable to me. In Destiny’s case, we’d been together for months, and it was like another family member at this point. It was still a little early for bed, but I sat down on it anyway. Destiny was to my right, and Carol lay down on its other side.
“Did you have fun in Japan—in the World of Gods, Carol?”
“Yeah! It was great! Mommy and Daddy are gonna be really jealous of me!” Seeing her gesticulate so enthusiastically as she spoke made my heart well up with emotion. I really had gotten more in touch with my feelings now that I was in my thirties.
“What’s wrong, Yoshio? Do you have a tummy ache?” Carol and Destiny peered up at me anxiously. I couldn’t help but pull them both in for a hug.
“Let’s sleep now. We’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.” If I was better with words, maybe I could’ve come up with something better to say. But all I could do was show them how I felt through my actions. I sat and watched over them until they were both fast asleep.