Side Effects of Impatience
I want a refund!!
I-I'm sorry...
...I'm apologizing again.
Are you talking back to me?!
N-no, I didn't mean— I'm sorry, Manager...
Huh...? Manager...? Why am I calling the customer that?
Safety this, safety that! Stop bringing it up whenever we try to do anything!
...Right. He hated me for always talking about safety and getting in his way.
You know how long I've been in this business? You think you can do this job by the book?!
You think you're the only smart one here... Just wait and see...!
I-I'm sorry...
...
...I hate myself.
I hate that all I ever do is apologize without saying what I really mean. I hate being such a coward.
I hate myself... so much...!
I-I hate...!
...?
...Huh...? Th-the office...?
...
...N-nyahaha... So it was just a dream?
You fell asleep again, didn't you? Every time you start reading, you're out in minutes.
Petra, you can't fall asleep.
The Bellaskiver Times crossword.
You promised to finish it.
I want the reward for solving it. Mm.
Oh, right, right. They're giving away keychain plushies as prizes, weren't they?
Mm. There's a rabbit, a fox, a tiger, and a meerkat.
I want them all. They look like us.
Am I the meerkat...?
Of course! You're part of Petra Construction too ♪
Then quit dozing off and focus already, would you?
All right, there's only... one more left.
Mm. What can you see while sitting down, but not when you're standing up?
Hmm... the last one's tricky.
Hmm...
Oh! Petra's genius brain's got it!
It's PANTIES ♡
Ohh, that makes sense! It's PANTIES!
But PANTIES doesn't fit the letter count.
P-please, stop saying panties...!
Mm... But what else could it be besides PANTIES?
...Is it really PANTIES?
...It's...
...I-it's SOLES!
...
Ooh!
Not bad, Captain!
Well, you're Petra's husband after all ♪
Thanks to you, we made it just in time, nyahaha!
This is nice. It looks like all of us.
Right? They're cuter than I expected ♡ And listen to this! Ding ♪ That sound when you squeeze them is adorable!
Yeah, I guess they're not bad once you collect the set.
Anyway, shouldn't we start working soon? How much longer are you going to put it off?
Aah... Here comes Marcille's nagging again.
Don't worry. Petra's already invented a bomb that'll finish everything in a blink ♪
I call it... the faster than a rabbit! bomb ♡
F-faster than a rabbit?! What does that even—
R-rabbits aren't that fast, you know...!
Huh? You don't like it? Aren't rabbits supposed to be fast and agile?
No. I'm faster than a rabbit.
Rabbits run slowly. Mm.
...O-oh, fast as in running...
Anyway! With the faster than a rabbit! bomb, we'll finish all our backlog in no time!
I put everything I have into making it explode in rapid succession!
When did you even make something that dangerous...?
Then again, if you made it, I guess it's safe enough.
Oh, this one's a bit risky! I focused so much on speed that I kinda... forgot about safety.
...What? Then it's actually dangerous?
Seriously? What if someone gets hurt? That's not like you!
Safety's important. We promised.
A promise is a promise. Mm.
Yeah. It's not like we're in a rush. Let's use a safer bomb—
...!
Safety this, safety that! Stop bringing it up whenever we try to do anything!
...No. I'm not the same as back then...
Huh? What was that?
...N-no, it's nothing ♪
Anyway, Petra realized something. I don't want to hold myself back in the name of safety anymore.
If I keep hesitating like that, I'll never surpass Kemet Industries—not even in a hundred years!
We'll just use it carefully! So let's speed things up a little this time and—
Excuse me, is this Petra Construction?
Yup yup ♪ What can we do for you? Got a job for us?
Ah, not exactly... My kids went ahead and hired you for a home remodeling without asking me...
If the project hasn't started yet, could you please cancel it?
I really don't need my house remodeled.
They meant well, I know...
But as a parent, I'd rather they save that money for themselves.
So if possible, I'd like to cancel to job... and get the deposit refunded...
...R-refunded?
I want a refund!!
Why does this keep happening...?
Well, maybe this one's fine... We haven't even started that job yet.
Just act reluctant and pretend it's a one-time service.
That's how Petra taught me to handle it. Mm.
Oh, thank goodness. Then I'll just take my refund and—
...
...Petra?
...No!
No way! Th-the contract c-clearly says non-refundable once the deposit's made!
S-so it's better... if you just quietly get out of here!
Whoa, wait! What?!
If you can't accept that...! Then I'll... I'll call the Town Guard!
Hey, calm down! It's not that serious! What's gotten into you?!
Petra, you can't do business like that. Mm.
Y-you two...!
...
I'm sorry, Petra. We don't want to get on the Manager's bad side again.
Yeah... It's business. You understand. Right?
Just business.
Let's just quietly refund him. It's not like we even started the job.
This time Petra went too far. Mm.
Ugh... Why does everyone keep... holding me back today...?
...Why does they all keep dragging me down...?
...Petra?
...No.
I'm the boss. So you'll do as I say!
Huh?! That's way too harsh—
I make the decisions! You're employees, so just follow my orders!
It's all just business anyway—
...Ah.
...
I-I'm sorry. That's not what I meant...
I... I just...
Petra stumbled backward in confusion. Then...
...Ah!
Beep-!
Her foot slipped, and the faster than a rabbit! bomb in her hand dropped to the floor.
A warning tone sounded as the bomb armed itself.
N-no! Stop! Stop-!
Petra quickly picked it up and frantically tried to disarm it, but...
Beep, beep, beep-!!
The rapid beeping only grew louder, signifying that it was on the verge of going off.
Petra!
...!
Hey, hey!!
BEEEEEEEP-!
Just as I moved to shield her, a white blur dashed past me, throwing its arms around Petra.
Tanya!
KABOOM!!
...Ngh...
Ugh...
Is everyone okay?!
While shielding Petra, Tanya had thrown the bomb toward the ceiling just as it went off.
The explosion blew out only the office ceiling, leaving the rest of us covered in dust and debris.
No one was seriously hurt, but...
T-Tanya...?
I'm fine. I'm faster than a rabbit. Mm.
Having taken the brunt of the falling rubble for Petra, Tanya's arms bore cuts and bruises.
Petra, are you okay?
I blocked it. You're safe. Mm.
You're... hurt...!
It's fine. Just scratches.
I'm tough. Totally fine. Mm.
Tanya... Marcille...
I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...
Petra broke down crying in Tanya's arms for a long time.