Maybe even at work.
Well, it’s just something Norn decided herself.
“…”
We’re having a casual conversation to warm up to the topic, but I would like to cut right to it.
What should I say.
What do I talk about.
“Ah-… Ahem….”
“…”
I cleared my throat and Norn gave me a puzzled look.
“…Is there something missing?”
“No, not that, hmm. The tea is good.”
I said that and took another sip of the steaming tea.
It wasn’t particularly great, but at the same time it’s not bad enough to spit out.
It’s very Norn-like, mediocre tea.
Good, but not skilled, that kind of feeling.
In other words, it’s good.
That aside…
“Lately, Norn, recently… How’s it been?”
“How what been?”
“Hmm, for instance, how about work?”
“Everything’s normal. While being taught by my senpai, I’ve been doing the jobs I’m capable of. But, I’m sure if it was Aisha, she’d be far better than me.”
“Stop comparing yourself to Aisha.”
I said that and Norn nodded.
Aisha does a different kind of work.
You shouldn’t compare yourself to someone doing a different job.
“And, your senpai… are they that? Are they cool?”
“They’re super pretty. You’ve talked to them once before as well Nii-san. When I was the student council president, they was the vice-president.”
“…That tough beast race one?”
“Not him, the girl.”
Right, the woman.
I get it.
I don’t remember her name, but there was definitely someone like that.
Now that I think about it, when she was looking for a job, I remember having a conversation like that.
Like that they had entered the same department.
“Right, a girl… I wonder if there are any male senpai?”
“There are.”
“Those male senpai… Are there any good looking ones?”
“There are some good looking ones, and some who aren’t as well.”
There seems to be someone cool.
That’s important.
“Nii-san, what have you been wanting to say?”
“Calm down Norn. Don’t jump to any conclusions.”
“It looks like you’re the one that need to calm down.”
I am calm.
I’m always, Cool, Clever and Clean.
Rudeus of the three C’s.
Never Crazy, that word is not in there.
“So, Norn… Ahem, Say, if, um, do you think, this cool person, is, uh, cool?”
“You’re wondering if I like him?”
“Do you like him?”
Ahh, dammit.
I suddenly jumped straight to the point.
“I don’t particularly like him.”
Hey, mama yo!
“Then do you have somebody you like?”
“……There is.”
There is!
She answered, now, in the flow of the conversation!
She answered me honestly.
She gave me an answer.
“Yes, right! There is, well you’re at that age. So there is someone, there’s nothing odd about that. Yes.”
“But you were most definitely odd just then.”
“What are you saying.”
There’s nothing odd about me.
What’s odd is this world.
This world is wrong. Don’t you agree.
“So, what kind of person are they? The person you like.”
“…He’s older.”
“Hmm.”
“And reliable.”
“MmmHmm.”
“And he’s always looking out for me.”
He fulfils all three conditions.
“Could it be me?”
“Are you half-asleep?”
I’m sorry.
I got ahead of myself.
“He’s far older than you, Nii-san, and even is this situation he would be calm; he is a composed man of presence.”
“You know, your brother, recently, hasn’t been getting flustered at all.”
“Please remember your manner from a few minutes ago.”
Grrr…
But, hmm, far older than me, a man of presence. Dammit.
“Far older… Is that more than 10 years?”
“Even more.”
“…I didn’t expect you to be into old men.”
“To say I’m ‘into old men’… Well I will admit that I like men older than me.”
Even more would be more than 20 years older than me.
Meaning 40 or 50 years old.
And on top of that, having a presence, he might be rather plump.
A lower centre of gravity would cause a sense of stability and presence.
“…”
The corrupt head of some trading company or some sly greasy old man, was the image that floated into my mind.
I don’t intend to criticise because of an age difference, but I can only see this man as some kind of sugar daddy.
I won’t acknowledge it, I definitely won't acknowledge something like that.
But if this greasy old man turns out to be surprisingly sincere… Then the age difference is of no concern.
You can’t judge a book by its cover.
“But I understand that it’s a love that is not meant to be.”
“Not meant to be… Is he married?”
“No… His wife is already gone…”
She’s already dead.
Or perhaps divorced.
It’s possible that he simply had a letter of divorce thrust before him.