Doubts & That Girl!

«⟨ Doubts & That Girl! ⟩»

“Mhhmm……. Okay………. Yeah……….. Got it……… Goodbye…”

With a beep, the girl ended her call, then turned to Chitose.

“See? I told you…”

Chitose, now sitting on a curb between the yard and the front of the station, gave an awkward smile. Thankfully the misunderstanding had been cleared up. Even thinking about the blade on his neck just now made him shudder.

But now that he was able to look at her, he realized how cute of a girl she was–not trying to be a creep or anything.

A peak cap sat on top of her short hazelnut hair–tied in a low twintail. She wore a jet-black cape around her shoulder, covering her brown blazer. And beneath that, was a white shirt that hung a sky-blue tie.

She somewhat looked like a private detective with all that layer of clothing. But looking at the long black sheath within her grip, her profession might be far from that. Samurai?...

As for her face, she held a somewhat fierce look with how sharp her blue eyes were. It was as if she could snap at any given moment.

Actually, she might do so…

“tch…”

The girl gave him a click of her tongue with a disappointed look on her face. Eh?... Why??....

Was she in a bad mood?

Even so, it's quite rude to do that with a person you're about to work with, no? And not to mention you just held me with a blade just now, didn't you?!

Where's my apology?!?!

Trying not to tick her off even more, Chitose just ignored her random hostility, and proceeded with his practiced greeting.

“The name's Takahashi Chitose, pleased to meet you.”

“Just call me Hazel…”

It wasn't exactly the best first impression from both sides, but at least Chitose tried extending a greeting hand towards the girl. Yet, she only cared to give him her name before rolling her eyes to the side. Is this girl for real…

Being a gentleman he was, Chitose just brushed it off as her being uncomfortable around men. But still, you really think that attitude is going to bring you somewhere?!?!

“Anyway, now that we—”

“Just so you know, I don't feel like wasting any time getting chubby with you, got it?”

His words were cut short as she walked back into the station, leaving Chitose by himself by the station's front.

……….

REALLY TESTING MY PATIENCE HERE…

His eyes felt like popping, but with a long and deep breath, he was able to somewhat maintain his composure.

What in the world is her problem? If you got beef, just spit it out, no?

Also, in the first place, the chief should've properly managed my recruitment in this place, no?

And what's up with this curb? All cracked? Shouldn't someone here already get a fix on this curb, no?

Actually, scratch that, this place could use a whole renovation, no?

I thought they pretty much used the taxpayer money for these sorts of things too, no?

A perfectly practiced smile was plastered on his face, all while the thoughts within his brain jumped around in frustration–contrasting the person itself.

With the sun hovering idly behind the lazy morning clouds, Chitose chose to get his mind sorted out by the curb.

= = = =

Man… This place is a wreck…

Knowing the job was legit pretty much checked off one thing off the list in his life objective. But considering the state of his workplace, he might need to reconsider his choice.

“But getting another job is pretty much a problem in itself…”

In the end, he just had to accept whatever he was given for now.

Chitose had gotten back into the station, now wondering about the hallway just past the lobby. He was checking around the area within the building. Acting as his own newcomer's tour guide.

There was a cafe. Quite spacious.

A room with cabinets. An archive?...

A room with crates. Inventories?...

And finally, just by the end of the hallway was the room with a plating on its wooden door, with the word Leader somewhat looking like it was scribbled in a hurry with a marker. Did a kid write this?...

He could've already guessed how that room in particular would be the one he would be frequenting the most.

Leader, huh…

It was the position he had applied for this particular recruitment. However, even he still couldn't believe how he made it past the screening, considering how this type of job should've been sought by many.

A.P.S officers was and still is considered a standard occupation. Similar to a police or a firefighter, it's a job that would pretty much have a great amount of human resource to it.

But something doesn't add up…

Why was I the only one that showed up during the interview?...

Would a person avoid a job with a pay above average? Or had they already known about the condition and state of management within this department?

But then, he never heard of any problematic cases regarding the A.P.S. Heck, even the news thought highly of them, considering they were pretty much the sole defender when it comes to anomalies.

Then, does it have something to do with this particular branch?...

In any case, thinking too much about it wouldn't get him anywhere. Not when even the manager–chief–of this particular squad was being laidback with his enlistment.

For now, all he could do was hope.

It has been quite a few months of running like a wild dog and throwing stupid smiles just to land himself a job. And now that the opportunity had presented itself, the only thing he could do was to give his best shot no matter what happened.

Screw this, I'm going to make sure I can keep this job!

And screw human resources! And the chief! And that Hazel girl, too!

With that in mind, he turned away from the door of the Leader room, and checked the schedule on his phone–the one and only thing he had been given by the chief.

“Roll call at the meeting room,” he muttered, reading off the schedule.

He took a glance to the room just a few feet away from him. Hanging near the door was a sign that read ‘Meeting Room’ slightly covered in dust.

He walked up to its door, and with a deep sigh, he slid the door open.

In a room with rows of tables, only two seats were taken…

Hazel… And, another girl?...