I head to Zanoba's research room.
It was half a year ago that I told him I'd return in two years. Zanoba will surely be surprised.
I'm sad about Paul and Zenith. But, I have no intention of involving Zanoba in this. I'll proceed cheerfully.
"Alright!"
I knock on the door. Without waiting for a reply, I enter.
"Big news, Zanoba! He's like, totally back!"
"Fah-!?"
With an expression filled with ecstasy, Zanoba is leaning in on a life-sized mannequin.
"..."
"..."
After a few seconds, I meet eyes with Zanoba. I wonder what Zanoba is feeling at the moment. I know that he isn't feeling 'like' or 'hate'. I know this very well.
"..."
I avert my eyes, and shut the door.
Rustling and clanking sounds are coming from inside the room. I wait for about 10 seconds until the sounds stop. I then hear a [Come in.] coming from inside the room, and throw open the door with a ‘bang’.
"Big news, Zanoba! He's like, totally back!"
"Ohhhhhhhh! Is it not Shisho!?"
Zanoba and I act like nothing happened, and hug each other happily. We do so without reserve. Zanoba and I are friends. I saw nothing. Nothing happened.
"You've returned quite quickly. I had heard that it would take 2 years."
"Well, a lot happened and I returned earlier than expected."
"To come back in half a year from a journey that should've taken two years is... As expected of Shisho!"
I look around the surroundings. Dolls and bronze statues with ethnic feels are lined up. Though, I'm used to Zanoba's research room, perhaps, it's because I haven't been here in a while, but it feels extremely nostalgic. Still, in the short time that I haven't seen it, the number of things in the room has increased. In particular, the top of Julie's desk is packed with clay figures. It seems that, though I wasn't here, she didn't slack off and continued to work hard.
"What are Julie and Ginger doing?"
"The two are presently out shopping, and because they've reserved something that isn't in stock except during the evenings, they probably won't be back until evening."
I see, so that's why he was having a tryst with his lover, the doll. Since it was such a rare occasion, I wonder if I've done something bad.