“What’s this, Roe Deer, you didn’t forget me, did you? It’s really been a long time!”
The person standing in the dark corridor spoke in the same bright tone as ever and held out a hand.
Wearing a badger mask, my former superior from Group D.
“…Senior Associate?”
There was no mistake.
It was Senior Associate Park Minseong.
The man who had practically been my direct mentor looked as though his sense of self was clear again, just like back when we worked together.
I hurriedly accepted his handshake and asked,
“Have you recovered?”
“I’m much better. Mm, I’m in the middle of rehabilitation activities now. Lately there haven’t been any major problems with daily life, either. Right, Captain?”
“Yes, well… yes…….”
Phew.
‘Never thought I’d end up meeting him like this.’
Seeing him in decent shape almost made me emotional. My own voice brightened too.
“Then, Park Min—”
“Call me Badger!”
“…….”
“No, um…… that is, when I hear my name, it still causes a bit of, um, trouble.”
“…Yes.”
I closed my mouth.
I had been about to ask whether he’d be able to return, but I didn’t need to ask anymore.
Now that I looked closely, Senior Associate Park Minseong’s face—smiling as though cheerful—seemed oddly pale and uneasy….
Maybe because the mask had hidden them before, but the area around his cheeks and eyes looked a little gaunt.
—Oh dear, today’s partner doesn’t look in good condition!
Exactly.
‘He still seems… to be recovering.’
Was it really okay to make someone in that state do work assigned as disciplinary punishment together with me?
“Come on, Roe Deer. Let’s finish quickly so you can get some rest!”
“…Yes.”
But as someone receiving disciplinary action, I had no standing to tell them to assign a different task to my partner.
I thanked the security captain who had guided me…