"Robby-sama, what's wrong?"
Christine tilted her head and asked. She had seen through the brief moment I was thinking about Cass.
"No, I was just thinking that what you said is true, Christine."
I gave a vague answer to brush it off.
"Yes, it's not something someone as old as me, with a husband and children, should be saying."
Christine's voice was starting to crack with tears.
But was it really okay to be doing this? Weren't the people in the Accounting Bureau aware we hadn't returned yet? Since everyone saw us leave, wouldn't they say things like "Those two aren't coming back, are they?"? As a coward, it worried me.
"Christine, won't it be bad if we take too long to return to the Accounting Bureau? People might start spreading weird rumors, you know?"
I asked. Surely she wouldn't say everyone already knew so it was fine. However, Christine replied,
