Unspoken Feelings
Mmm... Hmm...
Roberta! Eyes forward!
Ngh...?!
Ahh...
You okay? Something on your mind?
Ah, sorry. Just got lost in thought.
Sorry. I've got it this time.
Lately, Roberta's been oddly distracted during training.
She keeps making mistakes she normally wouldn't.
Is something bothering her...?
I'm... pretty sure I didn't say anything... crazy.
...
Or did I? Did I?!
I vaguely remember talking about leaning on him, or whining—something like that...!
And near the end...
AAAH! Damn it! That part's a total blur!
Ngh...! Maybe I should just quit drinking—
...
...Nope, that'd be impossible.
Still... this isn't like me.
I've never acted this stupid, no matter how drunk I got.
But when I'm around the Captain, I just... loosen up for some rea—
Ms. Roberta?
H-huh? L-Lugh! What's up?
Here are the documents you need to approve today.
Oh, right. Got it. Leave them here.
Also... did you happen to catch a cold?
A cold...? No, I feel fine... Why?
That's a relief.
It's just that... you're noticeably flushed, Ms. Roberta.
I was wondering you might have a fever.
I'm... flushed?
Yes. Enough for me to notice, that is.
R-really...?
Furthermore... you seem unusually startled today. Not quite your usual self.
Are you sure you're all right?
If you're forcing yourself to seem fine...
N-no— I mean, yes, sometimes I do pretend I'm fine, but right now I really am—
Huh? What was that just now?
N-nothing! Forget it! I'm fine! Really!
...Understood.
Ugh... So my face is that red...?
...Wait. Hold on...!
If you think about someone...
And your heart races and you start flushing, that means...
No way...
Ms. Roberta! Your symptoms can only mean one thing. That means...
N-Naru?! N-no, you've got it all wrong—
Do you have arrhythmia?!
...
If your heart is racing and your face is all red...
You should consult a physician immediately. Those are signs of arrhythmia!
Just give the word and I'll—
...Trainee Observer Naru. I'm fine. Go back to work.
But Ms. Roberta! Your health—!
I said I'm fine! Go!!
Roberta still didnt seem any better during training the next day.
Your face is pretty red. You sure you're not sick?
I told you, I'm not sick. And it's definitely not arrhythmia, so stop—
Oh! C-Captain...?!
Great. I'm zoning out again...
If you're having trouble focusing...
We should take a break for today.
S-sorry...
Hoping she'd recover a bit, I ordered her a sweet cold drink.
Thanks, Captain. I appreciate it.
...You said I could talk to you if something's bothering me?
I-it's not really "bothering" me...
You say that, but you look so tired lately...
I-I look tired...?!
W-well, I am tired... but work is always busy, so that's normal...
And you're having trouble concentrating...
I'm really sorry about that...!
I'll do better!
I won't let it happen again...!
Are you uncomfortable around me?
W-what?! No...!
I'd never feel that way about you! Why would I be?
It's just... you're not acting like your usual self.
Th-that's because...
It's not exactly "bothering" me, but...
Um, about the other night at the office...
I-I didn't... say anything weird, right? I didn't get clingy or anything?!
You didn't. Don't worry.
Is that what you were stressing over?
O-of course I'd worry about that...!
*Sigh...* So I didn't actually do anything ridiculous... Good...
Really. I mean it.
Whew... That's a relief...
Yeah, so no need to stress.
Feeling a little better now?
Yeah. Also...
There is... one other reason I've been distracted...
For some reason, Roberta's face was still bright red.
Gone was her usual steady composure.
She shifted nervously, unable to meet my gaze the way she always did.
It's just...
She played with her hair for a long moment before forcing herself to speak.
N-never mind! It's—
It's just, something on my mind, that's all.
Nothing you need to worry about!
Alright. But if you ever want to talk, I'm here.
Y-yeah! Okay!
Even after making you worry, you're still so kind to me...
Mm...! You really are dependable, Captain! Ahaha!
That's why I like you so much! Ahahahaha!
...
...Eek?!
I appreciate that.
...
...D-did I just...
...
C-Captain... What I just said...
...?
N-never mind.
Anyway! I should get back to work! Yeah! Since I messed up training, I've got to make up for it elsewhere!
You should get some rest too, Captain...!
I-I said I liked him. Out loud...
...Does that qualify as "I like you"...?
N-no! That doesn't count! Not when it slipped out like that!
Yep. Invalid. Totally striking that from the record!
Besides, he probably didn't catch it, right...?
Get it together, Roberta...!
Personal feelings aside... I have work to focus on...!
I have to pull myself together!
After that conversation, Roberta trained like her old self again.