I Became the Cute One in the Problem-Solving Team

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In fact, once you adapt to the bizarre appearances of the clients at the office, the work isn’t really that difficult objectively.

What could I, someone who can’t even speak and has no significant talents aside from telekinesis, possibly do?

After guiding the client who came to us into the reception room, I would just sit quietly and pretend to listen to their story.

Sometimes, I’d bring coffee or tea to the client. If the snack jar was empty, I might briefly step outside to buy some? Oh, and occasionally, I help with cleaning.

Anyway, when I think about how Raven and Alice are braving the cold and trudging through the snow to solve cases, the task I have is really just a simple hospitality job anyone could do.

It’s almost a bit embarrassing to get paid for this.

“Hmm… So, the strange graffiti keeps appearing on your window?”

“Yup! I’ve really stayed up all night trying to catch the culprit, and I’ve even spent money to set up CCTV everywhere. But no matter what, I just can’t figure out who’s doing this…”

“I see, it’s hard to understand just from hearing you out. I need to see the scene myself. Hey, Alice. Get dressed. Let’s go out for a bit.”

“Okay~ Yuria, David, take care of the office. I’ll be back soon!”

“…!”

“I’ll notify you immediately if anything happens.”

After lunch, Raven and Alice had to step out because of the client.

Suddenly, it was just David and me left in the office, and I sat quietly on the sofa, lost in thought.

“I’m grateful David is here right now. Last time I was alone in the office, a difficult client showed up, and I was in quite a bind.”

I closed my eyes and recalled the incident a few days ago.

I had struggled to keep the stubborn client waiting in the reception room while Raven was absent.

Seeing Raven return with coffee in hand was the first moment I felt resentment towards him.

But that was all in the past.

Today, I wasn’t alone. I had the smart David with me.

Even though he was a newcomer, having him around was far more reassuring than being all alone.

As I thought this, a sense of confidence surged within me as if I had gained an army.

Alright, bring it on, clients!

With my trusty guard by my side, I’ll make sure you sit quietly on the reception sofa!

“….”

“….”

Tap tap tap.

Despite my overflowing confidence, the only sound in the office was the faint tapping of David typing on his keyboard.

Well… I didn’t really have any topics to discuss. Plus, they were busy working over there, so bothering them felt a bit inappropriate.

As those thoughts crossed my mind, I sat quietly on the sofa, staring blankly at the wall.

Raven had said that when there was nothing to do, it was fine to spend the time freely, but sitting alone having fun while they were working seemed a bit out of place.

I figured I’d just meditate quietly until they returned from their work.

As I analyzed the wall patterns for a while…

David, who had been tapping away at the keyboard, cautiously spoke up.

“…Ahem, Yuria. Can I ask you something?”

“…?”

“Do you happen to have time this weekend?”

Time on the weekend? Well, I do have plenty of time.

I don’t have anything to do aside from this office job, so I’m overflowing with free time.

But why is he asking me that? Do I look like someone who’s busy on the weekend?

As I tilted my head, confused by his sudden question, he dropped his head as if embarrassed and answered my unspoken question.

“Well… it seems that Sabrina wants to meet with you personally to apologize. After what happened yesterday…”

“…!”

Ah, so he was conveying Sabrina’s message.

Well, a pretty childhood friend wouldn’t have any ill intentions, right?

But is it really something that requires a big apology?

Even if she touched my… chest, she’s still a girl.

If it were a boy, it would just be a matter of asking to be more careful next time.

But still, there’s no reason to refuse her apology if she wants to make amends.

Having sorted out my thoughts like that, I made a big circle with my arms.

It meant I wouldn’t mind meeting with Sabrina separately this weekend.

Maybe because I didn’t seem to care much about it, David, who had a somewhat gloomy expression, let out a deep sigh of relief and adjusted his glasses.

“Um, thank you. Sabrina will be happy. Oh, could you give me your terminal number? I’ll pass it on to her so she can contact you directly next time.”

“…?”

Terminal? I don’t have one of those…

I blinked in surprise at David’s unexpected request.

Did he notice my stunned expression? He asked with a puzzled look.

“What? You don’t have a terminal?”

“….”

“Oh, um, it’s better to have at least one. Not having a terminal in Night Haven can lead to a few inconveniences. I’m not trying to force you, though.”

David brushed off the topic nonchalantly, as if he understood that was a possibility.

After all, there are all sorts of people in Night Haven.

He probably felt it unnecessary to probe further into the details.

But for me, it was a moment of deepening concern.

Having one is definitely much more advantageous than not having one.

Shouldn’t I consider getting one for myself?

Well, I never really was one to use a smartphone for gaming or anything.

Most likely, its main use would be for communication or casual internet browsing.

But what if I got so sick that I couldn’t get out of bed or something?

Just thinking about such emergencies made it feel unwise to forgo spending the money on it.

‘Oh… but can I even use it without an identity? I have no idea how terminal activation works here, so I’m at a loss. I don’t think it’s possible.’

Oh no, the burden of being an illegal resident strikes again!

I scratched my head in frustration, but then lightly shook off my lingering regrets.

After all, even without a terminal, it wasn’t a huge inconvenience. And if I did get one, I’d still have to pay for the communication fees anyway.

Thinking about it that way, I didn’t feel too regretful.

Just a little regretful? Really just a little. Not even noticeable.

“I’m back.”

“Welcome back!”

As I settled my feelings and lost myself in thought, suddenly Raven and Alice returned.

It didn’t feel like they had been gone for more than two hours. Had they really finished that quickly?

I hopped off the sofa and rushed to the hallway to greet them.

As Alice shook off the snow from her clothes, she suddenly pulled me into a hug and rubbed her cheek against mine.

So cold. Her skin felt like ice.

“Yuria’s warm~ The perfect soft and warm Yuria~”

“…?”

Normally, I would have shyly pushed her away and rejected this kind of skinship.

But perhaps it was because it felt like she really just wanted to share my warmth rather than being cutesy like usual.

I didn’t resist too much and accepted her affectionate gesture.

Great job out there. Walking around in this weather is tough.

“Hey, hey. Don’t make a fuss in front of the door. Go inside and have fun. What are you doing in this cramped space right now?”

“Okay~ Let’s go, Yuria!”

“…!”

Alice, in response to Raven’s teasing, lightly lifted me up and strolled confidently into the office.

What kind of arm strength does she have? I felt like a stuffed toy being tossed around.

Then she gently set me back down on the sofa where I had been sitting, before huffing and taking off her coat.

“Ugh, Night Haven gets way too much snow. I think I understand what you meant the other day. Just a little walk and you quickly turn into a snowman.”

“Is it because it’s near the sea? Didn’t we have a lot of rain in the summer? The downpour was so bad that some places were flooded.”

“Really? I didn’t know that since I’ve only been here for less than half a year.”

“Well, usually it’s pretty pleasant unless you hit a period like this.”

Alice, now dressed in a light kimono, returned to the sofa, chatting with Raven as she came near me.

She then tucked me under her arm, between her legs, and the soft, cool feeling of her kimono made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Using a person as a heater so freely…

In retaliation, I straightened my back and forced my body against Alice’s plush chest.

How about this? If I lean like this, won’t it be uncomfortable for you too? Will you keep holding on like this?

It was more of a silent protest than anything.

“Yuria. Did anything major happen at the office?”

“…?”

“Good, that’s a relief. If you just stay like this for ten minutes, I’ll let you go. This much should be manageable, right?”

“…!”

Ten minutes. Yeah, I could stand that.

After receiving Alice’s promise to let me go, I finally started to move my body to find the most comfortable position against her.

Then, I picked up a chocolate cookie that had been on the table and started munching on it.

If being delicious is a crime, you are a serious offender. You little rascal, I’ll make sure you never see the sunlight again.

I mercilessly slaughtered the chocolate cookie brigade.

It felt like such an achievement.

*

So, time passed and with no new clients arriving, evening came, signaling the end of work time.

Alice had been leaving early every day, but recently the days she could rush home had become more frequent, coming in either two or three times a week.

“Then, I’m heading out first! Thanks for your hard work today!”

“Good job.”

“Thank you! Please get home safely.”

“…!”

Coincidentally, today was another one of those days where she had to leave early.

She hurriedly threw on her coat and bolted out of the office.

What could possibly be so urgent?

Since I had to stop by Greg’s shop anyway, I couldn’t help but shrug my shoulders. She must have her reasons.

“Well then, I’m also going… Goodbye, manager. Thank you for all your hard work today.”

“Uh, um… It feels a bit weird to be called ‘manager’ all of a sudden. Take care.”

“…!”

“Yeah, yeah, worker, hurry home too. Don’t catch a cold.”

Why was I the only one being told not to catch a cold?

I waved goodbye to Raven, who was worryingly ticking away, and quickly exited the office.

After grabbing a sandwich from my usual spot and having dinner at Greg’s shop, I trudged through the intensified snowstorm that night, making my way to our base.

“…?”

However, what awaited me there was not the familiar spot I had known.

What greeted my eyes was a frozen storage room, utterly ruined by the white snow that had blown in.

Week two of working at the office, and my home had collapsed.