nhp | (Sutamai) ‘Can't Handle This ♡ Present on Christmas Eve’, Part 4

31.

-Investigation & Planning Division-

The following day, it was December 25th.

Seki: ——So in other words, the exchange condition that the First Division have handed down for providing us the information is the statistics on drug related crimes.

I hate to suddenly add onto your load, but could I get you to hastily collect the data together into a file by noon?

Rei: Yep, no problem. Just leave it to me!

Seki: Thanks. Since it’s an urgent matter, I’ve also got the go ahead from Hattori-san that he doesn’t need me to check over it.

Rei: ……! I’ll do my best.

(So what he means is that he wants me to demonstrate how much I can handle on my own.)

Seki: That positive response is reassuring. You’re even more full of energy today.

Rei: Of course, because this is the utmost I can do as I am right now.

(...... I’m grateful that there’s work I get to seriously tackle.)

(My connection with everyone from yesterday was also one that was formed through my job after all……)

Alright, I’ll work hard!

Thanks to the pleasant events of Christmas Eve, I cheerfully greeted this Monday morning.

34.

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Rei: (It’s almost noon…… But at this pace, I should have it finished just in time!)

Okay…… I’m done. All that’s left is to print it out and—

Natsume: What’s this now? You’ve got a breezy face going on there.

Aoyama: Yeah, and it doesn’t look like it’s just for show either. That’s a relief.

Rei: W-What’s up with you two??

You’re peering at me with such compassionate-like eyes. Did something happen?

Aoyama: Yesterday was Christmas Eve. I thought for sure you’d come into work looking dejected.

Natsume: That, or you’d be hungover from going through so much alcohol by yourself.

Rei: H-How rude! Even I so much as had plans to spend Christmas Eve with others.

(...... Although it was something decided on the day.)

Natsume: Huh? What’s with that? Don’t tell me you spent it with someone?

(Here I was thinking that I’d definitely receive a LIME message from you, so I had been hoping to go out for drinks together……)

Aoyama: (I thought that I’d definitely receive a LIME message, so I was going to get her to eat the stollen that I made too much of……)

…… What’s the meaning of this?

Yui: You spent time with another man besides me!!??? It couldn’t be that you were made to go as far as having your blood test taken, right!??

Rei: W-What sort of Christmas is that??

Um, even if I say that I spent it with someone—

Watabe: Merry Christmas, Rei-chan.

Rei: W-Watabe-san!

Watabe: Did you manage to properly give the present you were preparing yesterday to that younger guy?

Seki: Huh?

All three: What……

Imaoji: ……!

Rei: (Oh god, just because I pretended to show off a little, the conversation is steadily blowing out of proportion!!)

37.

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Seki: What’s the meaning of this, Watabe?

Watabe: I happened to bump into Rei-chan yesterday and was made to consult on a present~

Imaoji: …… That’s right. Rei-san and I met yesterday as well.

I believe she picked out some protein as a present for a doctor with strong muscles.

Watabe: …… Huh?

(It’s not a kid of a relative’s, but a doctor? Then by younger… he’s a medical intern?)

Seki: So someone younger than Izumi and is a doctor with strong muscles……

Natsume: Just how deep of a character is your boyfriend, Rei-chan?

Rei: No, um, they’re not my boyfriend.

(Now that they’ve come this far talking on the basis that it’s my lover, it’s painfully difficult instead to come out with it. But……)

E-Err, l-listen…

When I opened my mouth to explain as I checked on the documents coming out of the printer…

Sugano: Yahoo~! It’s midday, Rei!

Rei: S-Sugano-kun!?

Sugano: Oh, sweet, you’ve got the file ready just in time.

C’mon, You-san’s tired of waiting so let’s get going over to ours already.

Rei: W-Wait, I still have something to say here……

Sugano: Huh? What is it? Is it to do with work?

Rei: …… Not at all. It’s fine.

(Oh well, I guess it’s okay to clear up the misunderstanding with everyone right after I come back ……)

Sugano: Well then, I’ll be borrowing Rei~

Watabe: …… He comes in like a storm and steals away the princess just like so.

Natsume: No, the princess bit is taking it too far.

Seki: …… Just what type of man exactly did Izumi spend her Christmas Eve with…

Aoyama: Couldn’t the joke be that it’s some female doctor that loves bodybuilding?

Seki: It’d be nice if that were true……

(But it somewhat bothers me. What on earth is this off feeling?)

(It’s like I’m overlooking something essential……)

40.

-CIU First Division-

Hattori: Goodness, I see.

So this is how you’re going to play it.

Rei: Y-Yeah.

(I don’t think there’s any which way to play it for statistical data though……)

Hattori: Matori-chan, this is all rejected.

Rei: !!???

Sugano: Uh-oh~ Don’t let it get to you.

You-san, are you actually going to make even Rei go through the demon’s paperwork writing?

That 1000 piece practice?

Rei: (D-Demon’s paperwork writing? 1000 piece practice??)

Sugano: When I was hit with it last year, I felt like throwing up every time I saw a page of text after about the 900th type. Ahaha!

By the way, this year, Shu-san is admirably in the middle of practice.

Shiba: I c-can’t do this anymore! P-paperwork… impossible…… This paperwork is impossible, I’m telling you!!!

Rei: (T-There’s some sort of being here who’s about to lose it!!??)

Hattori: Who gave you permission to run your mouth uselessly?

Rei: …… Uuh.

Hattori: Shall I also give you plenty of paperwork seeing as you crave it, Natsuki~?

Sugano: Sorry~

Rei: (Sugano-kun really must have some nerves of steel……)

…… Um, I believe that I’ve precisely gathered all the data that you asked for.

But was there something unsatisfactory about it?

Hattori: If it’s simply just gathering data, then I have a number of connections for that.

And yet, I still went as far out of my way as to put it as an exchange condition and relied on the NCD. Why do you think that is~?

Rei: …… You wanted to check the judgement of the NCD as seen through the paperwork?

Hattori: Bingo. You’re right on the mark.

Well, let’s leave it as you lost the round but won the quiz this time, and—

Rei: Please give me one hour.

Hattori: ……

Rei: It’s just about time for my lunch break, so I’ll finish fixing it in that period.

Hattori: Goodness? Well, let’s see you go on and try.

Rei: Thank you.

(My job as a part of STAND is what tied me to wonderful people.)

(I’m more than fully aware that I lack in abilities, but I can’t allow things to end just like this!!)

43.

-Police Department: Conference Room-

Rei: Umm, in relation to the increasing abuse of dangerous drugs in recent years, tightening of regulations is proceeding—

Spurred on by Hattori-san’s words, I vigorously took on the task of amending the documents. However…

Rei: (...... This won’t do. Unless I can call on the data from the reference room, I can’t correct this bit here—)

Asagiri: I had heard that there was someone here who retorted back full of confidence upon being shown mercy from You-san, but…

Rei: Asagiri-san! Why are you here?

Asagiri: I heard from Natsuki about what it is exactly that you’ve started.

…… Hurry up and accept this.

Rei: This is—! …… Could it be that you’re lending me the Police Department’s file of statistics?

Asagiri: Please don’t get the wrong idea. This is simply out of self-preservation.

It’s not guaranteed after all that we won’t have another 1000 piece practice imposed on us depending on how your paperwork turns out.

Rei: I-I see. I’ll strive my hardest for the sake of everyone’s peace as well!!

Asagiri: Then this is where I leave.

Rei: Oh, Asagiri-san, um.

Asagiri: What is it?

Rei: Thank you for yesterday!

It was because of you that I got the party goods to go with Christmas and made the other person super happy.

Asagiri: …… Is that so?

Rei: (Wow, he’s fast with leaving today too…..)

…… Wait, huh?

There was a scrap note stuck in between the piled up high documents.

Rei: This is…… the page with the number of incidents caused by dangerous drugs.

And these are cases due to stimulants, the rate of reoffense……

(...... Honestly, now I’ve missed my chance to give my thanks for this……)

…… Alright.

Just you wait and see!!

46.

Thanks to the files that Asagiri-san left with me, I made progress in my work faster than I expected……

-CIU First Division-

Hattori: Goodness…… So now you’ve come on pushing with this.

Rei: …… What do you think?

Hattori: 38 points.

Rei: (S-So low!!)

Hattori: And minus a further 20 points because it seems like unwanted reinforcement came in.

Asagiri: ……

Hattori: Well, the highest mark is 50 points though.

Rei: Huh?

(So does that mean…… a 38 mark isn’t that bad?)

Hattori: The information gathering was sufficient so hurry up and be on your way back.

Rei: Wha—

(Somehow, it’s like I’m doubting myself and I don’t feel satisfied with things……)

Hattori: Oh, right, Matori-chan.

Merry Christmas.

Rei: …… Excuse me?

Hattori: I guess I’ll gratefully accept this.

I more or less got my hands on the information I wanted.

Rei: Right, okay… Good for you then……

…… Merry Christmas.

-Police Department: Outside-

Rei: Haah……

(I wonder if it’s okay that I just barely reached the level Hattori-san’s asking for.)

I’m kind of suddenly tired……

Arakida: …… Hey.

Rei: !

Arakida-san! What are you doing here?

Arakida: I’m just on my way out to a job for this and that.

…… Also, here.

Rei: (A bag…… from the convenience store?)

Inside the bag he handed to me was a pickled plum rice ball, a bonito flake rice ball, and a bottle of tea.

Arakida: …… I heard from Natsuki just before. If you were redoing the paperwork then you didn’t have time to eat lunch.

Rei: Uuh…… Thank you, Arakida-san!!

Arakida: …… You’re way too excited.

I’m going to be passing by the ministry, so I’ll give you a lift there.

Rei: Are you sure? Thank you!!

(I feel as if it’s my turn today to receive Christmas presents……)