A Moment to Unwind
I was heading home later than usual after wrapping up a flood of tasks for the Journey.
A mouthwatering smell drifted through the air, and my stomach growled in response.
...A midnight snack wouldn't hurt, right?
Following the scent down a narrow alley, I came across a small food stand.
Boss! One bottle of the usual!
And make sure it's ice-cold!
Roberta, hitting a little harder than usual tonight?
*Sigh...* On days when I'm stuck doing paperwork till late...
You've got to wash the stress away with good food and a proper drink!
One bite of a perfectly grilled skewer...
Followed by a smooth, fragrant sip of alcohol...!
Ahh, yes! Now that's the stuff!
Whew... finally feels like I can breathe.
I thought I was going to lose it being stuck in that office all day.
Paperwork just isn't my thing, you know?
Oh! Welcome, sir! Please, sit wherever you like!
...A customer? ...Huh?!
Roberta?!
*Cough!* *Cough...!*
C–Captain?! What are you doing here?!
Oh, I smelled something too good to ignore.
Ah, yeah. The food here really is amazing. I just...
H-huh? You think I look startled?
I mean... it's just... uh...
Am I making you uncomfortable? Should I leave?
N-no, it's nothing like that! I just wasn't expecting you, that's all.
Didn't think I'd run into you somewhere like this.
Um... Er...
Ah, whatever. Since you're here, care to join me for a drink?
Don't just stand there, sit next to me! The skewers here are amazing.
Only the regulars know about this place. It's a hidden gem.
Pulling out the chair next to her, Roberta gestured for me to sit.
You come here a lot?
Pretty much. They know me here.
The food's incredible, and since it's tucked away, it's perfect for a quiet drink after work.
A little haven for overworked office drones like me!
So you prefer drinking alone?
Hmm... I-I wouldn't say I prefer it...
It's just... you know how it is.
If my team saw me like this, loosened up and drinking...
It's not the most inspiring image as a team leader, you know?
But if I'm alone, I don't have to worry about anything. That's all.
You're asking what I mean by an inspiring image as a leader?
Well, obviously...
Someone competent enough to handle everything their team's assigned.
Someone... who can calmly cover for their team when mistakes happen.
Someone who makes you feel safe just by being there.
And in that regard... I've still got a long way to go.
My predecessor set the bar pretty high. It's hard not to compare.
I try, but it doesn't always go the way I want.
It feels like I'm more trouble than help these days.
Are you talking about the train incident?
Fufu! Pretty much.
The repair costs for the train cars and facility were massive.
They acknowledged my reasoning, so it ended with a report, but...
When it keeps happening, you start looking reckless.
You didn't really have another option.
Huh? So you're on my side?
That's a surprise.
Surprising?
I mean, the Journey Captain carries one of the heaviest responsibilities in Lavistar, right?
You've probably got tons of rules and regulations you're supposed to follow.
So I figured you'd tell me to be more careful next time.
I was bracing for a lecture, honestly.
It was the best option you had.
Fufu! I think so too. If I had to relive it, I'd make the same call.
Above everything else, the first thing an Orbital Search Team member must protect is...
People's lives. Don't you agree?
If following protocol means hesitating long enough for someone to get hurt...
I can't accept that.
...Of course, that also means...
I must take full responsibility for the choices I make.
I'm not just another team member anymore. I'm the one in charge.
I want to be the kind of leader my team can rely on.
So you don't have to worry about me too much.
Even if it's tough, I'm not running away!
Roberta tugged her tie loose and topped off my glass with a steady hand.
Come on, have one with me.
When your head's full of complicated nonsense...
You knock it back and let it go with the liquor!
That's how you reset and come back stronger the next day.
True to her word, the skewers were absolutely delicious.
The clean, crisp drink washed away the greasiness—an unbeatable combination.
Ghh... That's the stuff...!
Whew... Fufu! It's been a while since I drank with someone. Kinda nice, actually.
You're a lot easier to talk to than I expected, Captain.
If you're okay with it... maybe we could do this every once in a while?
Of course.
Fufu! I like how decisive you are.
All right, one more. Bottoms up!
I spent the evening sharing small stories with Roberta over shared drinks.