Oneshot: The Story of the Missing Senpai

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Translator: Soafp

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“Senpai! Please don’t quit! If you leave, things will get really bad!”

I clung to Senpai, who looked exhausted.

I knew it was cruel, but I was desperate.

“I’m sorry, Misa-chan… I’m just so tired…”

Senpai had been called in because of a married company employee.

The employee was a man with a wife and children who approached Senpai.

Senpai always hid her beauty, keeping her hair in a bun, wearing glasses, and using plain makeup—she had gone through a lot of unpleasant experiences with her appearance in the past. Still, the man had noticed she was beautiful, and while that might deserve some praise for his sharp eye, it didn't give him the right to pursue her.

To make matters worse, he was popular with the female employees – I don’t know how it happened, but before I knew it, rumors were spreading that Senpai was flirting with him.

Because of the scandal, Senpai was forced to resign.

“Misa-chan, you’ve already taken over my work, right? You’re talented, so you can handle it from now on.”

Wow, Senpai is really holding a grudge!

“Well… if it’s just your work… I can manage…”

The men in our department did nothing to deny the rumors about Senpai. In fact, they went as far as to forget all the help she’d given them and trashed her behind her back.

“That’s enough. You just need to handle your own work.”

Senpai smiled at me, her smile so beautiful it almost made me stop in my tracks.

She had already used up her paid leave, so her resignation was official, and today was her last day at work. She packed her things and left.

That was the last time I saw Senpai before she disappeared.

I looked over at the empty seat where Senpai used to sit, then glanced back at the papers I was holding, sighing… This kind of thing happened the next day to several people.

Well, to be honest, it happened to everyone in the department.

“Komiya-senpai, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, Misa-chan… I just realized Kanagawa isn’t around anymore.”

I gave a wry smile.

“Everyone’s saying the same thing. You all were the ones who made a fuss and forced Senpai to quit, weren’t you?”

Komiya-senpai looked guilty.

“Well, that’s true, but—”

“The work Senpai was doing… isn’t just something I can pick up.”

I gave a derisive laugh.

Komiya-senpai had been dumping her work on Senpai.

It wasn’t just Komiya-senpai, though.

When I joined the company, they had me take over Senpai’s work as if they were trying to force her out.

As I was learning from Senpai, I realized something.

It was that everyone in the department was offloading their work onto Senpai—Kanagawa Haruka-senpai.

She was probably doing half of the department’s work on her own.

I took over her official duties, but I didn't take on her unofficial tasks.

“I can’t do it. I'm just a new employee, and I'm already struggling with my own work.”

I told Komiya-senpai, who was glaring at me.

“You'll have to take care of your own work from now on.”

Haruka-senpai was gone, after all.

---

I was the one who noticed Senpai was missing.

Worried because my messages were no longer being read, I visited Senpai’s apartment.

The familiar building manager opened the door for me, and what I found was a table with an unfinished beer and half-eaten snacks. Her smartphone and wallet were still there. It seemed like Senpai had just stepped out for a moment, but she was nowhere to be found.

I contacted everyone I knew, but Senpai couldn't be found.

Senpai had disappeared.

It seems her parents reported it to the police, but she still hasn't been found.

Where did Senpai go?

---

The hole left by Senpai's absence was growing bigger by the day.

The delays in our department's work began to affect others, slowly bringing the company to a standstill.

“Why is this work not getting done?!”

The section chief screamed in frustration.

Well, of course, right?

Senpai had been handling half of the department’s workload alone.

The section chief’s work was mostly done by Senpai.

“Kanagawa's gone, so…”

Komiya-senpai made an excuse.

“I'm doing Senpai’s work. But… I'm not doing the work that you all should have been doing.”

I said firmly.

“Now that Senpai's gone, you all have to take responsibility for the work you dumped on her. You knew that if you forced Senpai out, you’d have to do her share, right?”

Everyone froze in place.

“Misa-chan?”

“Huh? Didn't you notice? You thought you were the only ones who offloaded work on Senpai? Senpai was doing your work too, you know? She was handling half of the department's work. Now that Senpai’s gone, you'll have to do it.”

I stood up from my seat.

“Section chief, I finished my work, and it’s time to go home.”

“Nishizaki-kun, you were close with Kanagawa, right? Do you know where she is?”

I tilted my head.

“I’ve already checked everywhere. I couldn't find her, so I contacted her parents.”

Serves them right.

---

That person was incredibly beautiful.

Her long hair fluttered in the wind, and though she wasn't wearing much makeup, there was a natural, radiant beauty about her.

But I knew exactly who she was.

“Senpai…”

“Misa-chan, it's been a while.”

“Senpai! Where have you been?! I've been so worried!”

It was Haruka-senpai.

She smiled awkwardly.

“Did I make you worry? I'm sorry. Um, should we go somewhere?”

We went into a café, where Senpai had been planning to meet someone.

“So where were you? I was so worried!!”

“Well, I don't know if you'll believe me, but… I was in a country in another world called Shumurai.”

From there, Senpai explained briefly that she had been summoned to solve a problem in another world.

It had all started while she was drinking beer, and she ended up solving the problem.

She was planning to marry a man she met there.

“Eh?!”

“So I asked them to let me come back here temporarily. I wanted to say hello to my mom and dad.”

Senpai, blushing as she said this, looked even more beautiful.

“But Senpai, it's been three months since you disappeared…”

“That's the issue.”

She had been in that world for three years.

“It seems time flows differently there compared to here. As long as the connection is open, it's not an issue, but if we cut the connection, time will start to move differently again.”

That's why she could only return temporarily.

“I'm glad I could see you again, Misa-chan. I'm glad I could say goodbye properly.”

“Senpai… I wish you happiness…”

The company tried to retract Senpai's resignation and searched for her just a month after she left.

By then, she was already in another world.

Later, a silver-haired man came to pick her up.

He seemed to be Senpai's husband.

I hope they're happy together.