My Boss, A Clear And Perfect Beauty Who's An Elite Police Bureaucrat, Turns Out To Be My Sweet And Doting Childhood Friend Who Loves Me Dearly At Home. - Chapter 9

Shinichi’s Teasing

If only that incident hadn’t happened… Shinichi couldn’t help but think. If that had been the case, Shinichi and Maho would be doing…

Thinking about this, he concluded that probably nothing would have changed.

Maho was a person from different kind of world, who just so happened to be his childhood friend.

The two of them got into a small elevator together. The next day was Saturday, their day off. Unlike new police officers, as a police sergeant, Shinichi wasn’t bound by the singles dormitory’s curfew, and staying out was allowed.

(Or rather… am I going to be staying out?)

The reason why Maho invited Shinichi in was unclear, and he didn’t understand that part very well.

Even in the elevator, Maho continued to hold onto Shinichi’s arm.

“Um, Maho? It’s about time…”

“Oh, I’m sorry…”

Flustered, Maho let go of Shinichi’s arm. Then, she took a quick glance at him.

Maho was tall for a woman, and Shinichi was only slightly taller.

So, their eye levels were almost the same. Even after letting go of his hand, Maho still stood close beside him.

Being alone in a confined space made things a bit awkward. Maho was fidgeting.

“I wonder if this is how it feels when lovers living together come home together…”

“I wouldn’t know… I’ve never lived with a girlfriend.”

“Did you have a girlfriend when you were in college, Shinichi?”

“Do you want to know?”

When Shinichi asked back, Maho shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

“I guess not. I might get jealous.”

“Eh, jealous? I see…”

“Don’t get me wrong! I’m not saying that I’m jealous of the girl who was dating Shinichi, or that I wanted to be Shinichi’s girlfriend…! I was just saying that I’m jealous of the concept of having a lover in general!”

“As I’ve said before, I thought that a beautiful woman like Maho would have at least one or two boyfriends.”

As I mentioned earlier, if it was Maho, men wouldn’t have left her alone.

Maho didn’t answer unnaturally. What’s wrong with her?

Just at that time, the elevator arrived at the fourth floor where Maho’s room was.

The door opened.

Shinichi held the door, and Maho went out first.

When Shinichi got off the elevator, Maho turned around.

She folded her hands behind her back and looked down shyly.

“I’ve never had a boyfriend.”

“Eh?”

“I’ve never had a lover in college or since I started working.”

“Is that so? That’s surprising…”

“Is it bad that I’m still a virgin!?”

“I didn’t say it was bad!?”

“Just so you know, it’s not like I wasn’t popular, okay? I just couldn’t find a man worthy of me, or something like that…”

Maho becomes flustered. Somehow, I feel like I’ve done something pitiful.

If Maho was as cute as this, it would be natural to think that she would have at least one boyfriend in college, let alone busy working adults.

However, upon reflection, it might not be so surprising. For one thing, Maho might have been busy studying in college.

More importantly, a beautiful, tall, intelligent, and strong-willed woman might not be surprising for men to avoid. Maho was the type to express her opinions clearly to anyone, and she may have been considered unapproachable.

Many men cannot accept a woman who is more successful than themselves.

Although this is not correct from the perspective of gender equality, it is true that such values are deeply rooted in reality.

For example, Kana would be popular in that sense. She’s cute, charming, friendly, and approachable.

Maho might have a pride like “I won’t date trivial men,” and she might have high ideals.

And because of Rikako’s incident, it’s understandable that she can’t trust men.

Nevertheless, it is certain that Maho is an attractive woman.

Shinichi, being ordinary, also liked excellent people.

“It’s just that the people around you didn’t have the eyes to see.”

“Do you think I’m cute, Shinichi?”

“I’ve always thought you were cute since the old days.”

When Shinichi said that, Maho turned her face away in a huff.

Did I say something to upset her?

Calling a woman cute, especially when you’re not dating and she’s a colleague, might be considered sexual harassment.

However, Maho was the one who asked…

The reason Maho turned her face away was something else entirely.

“You never said that when we were in high school…”

“Did you want me to say it?”

Shinichi unintentionally let out a light remark.

Maho glanced at him.

Her cheeks were bright red.

“What do you think?”

“Well…”

“Don’t stare at me too much. My face is probably red…”

“It’s been red since earlier.”

When Shinichi said that, Maho looked surprised and then shyly moistened her eyes.

“Shinichi, you’re mean.”

Eventually, they arrived at room 403 in the middle of the hallway. It seemed to be Maho’s room.

There was a black, inorganic door.

“Can I come in?”

“Of course. Everything is properly tidied up.”

With her cheeks still red, Maho chuckled.

Then, she opened the front door vigorously.