The elevator doors opened and I trudged out. Of all the times for them to work on my internet access, they chose the middle of a pandemic, and now I had to risk my health by driving into the office. At least I’d be alone. “I’m not even supposed to be here today,” I quoted to myself.
“I wish you weren’t,” came an unexpected response. I looked over to the reception desk and saw Shiho at her laptop, not even deigning to look up at me.
“Oh. Good. The Office Sunshine is still here even in these trying times. You’re what passes for essential these days, huh?”
“More essential than you are. What do you even do here, again?”
“Lots of stuff. Write reports. Send reports. Babysit morons who don’t understand how data works. Harass receptionists. I’m busy.”
“Too busy to annoy me?” she asked, suddenly cheerful.
“Never. When something’s important, you make time for it.”
She sighed deeply. “Lucky me.”
I smiled and waved to her as I passed through the doors to the office itself. “See you later, Sunshine!”
“Not if I see you first,” she called musically after me.