My Tiny Senpai (うちの会社の小さい先輩の話)

Alright, I think I'm done.

-Oh. Great work, Shinozaki! -You scared me, Senpai!

Are you finished with your meeting now?

Yep!

It went by quicker than I expected.

And you're done too!

That's what I like to see.

Great productivity!

Thanks for finishing everything up!

Oh. For sure.

It was pretty similar to my usual.

No need to praise me for that.

Well, in my opinion you should always be praised.

In that case, thank you very much.

You're welcome!

I'm so proud of you, Shinozaki,

and I'll always be here to support you no matter what.

One of my superiors at work, my Senpai,

is so small and cute!

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

Meow.

What's going on here?

You good?

Oh, Shinozaki!

It's good to see you.

Good to see you too.

Everything's fine.

But I just saw a cat jump into the bushes over there

and I was really hoping that if I meowed at it,

it might come out again.

So that's what you were doing?

It was the cutest little bean I've ever seen!

It was the tiniest, floofiest brown kitty cat.

The kind of kitty you can't help but wanna scritch

because it's so fluffy!

-You really are, yeah. -What?

I was talking about the cat.

Oh, I know!

Uh, I also meant the cat.

Oh, no, look at the time!

We'd better get moving, or we'll be late!

Yes! Right!

Excuse me?

When you have a spare moment

could you look at my entry for the competition?

Oh. Right now?

You know the deadline's not for a while, don't you?

Yep!

But since we're using the client's input,

the sooner it gets approved, the sooner I can make changes.

Ah, that makes sense.

Thank you for your diligence, Miss Katase.

Good call, Senpai!

It's something I always do.

Grown-ups should think ahead!

I gotta say, working at a desk

has really done a number on my shoulders and back.

Every time I move, something pops.

It doesn't help that you're on the computer a lot, either.

For real. I swear, it's like my shoulders are seized up

all the time these days.

I think there are a couple contributing factors there.

It's one of those things that makes you want a massage.

Awesome idea! I would love that!

Wait!

What did I just agree to?

Are we hopping the train to erotic massage town?

Should I rub your shoulders?

Please, if you don't mind!

Oh, yeah! There it is!

That's what I want.

Please, don't stop!

Oh, wow!

If you keep touching me like that.

I might...

Hey, is everything okay?

Yeah, yeah, I'm all good!

Nothing but pure thoughts here!

I get stiff shoulders a lot, too,

so I was fantasizing about massages!

Well, then it sounds like it's time for my kohai

to get some encouragement of the physical variety!

You really don't have to do that.

I can just go get a massage later.

Oh, I don't mind at all.

But you gotta promise not to fall asleep, okay?

Squeezy, squeezy, squeezy, squeezy, squeezy, squeezy.

Whoa, I'm getting massaged by her tiny hands!

Every squeeze is delicate bliss!

It's like she's making the world's fluffiest biscuits!

Goodness, Shinozaki.

I've never felt anything like this.

You're just so big and stiff,

and I really want to make you feel good.

But my hands are way too small to fit around all of you.

No, it's okay, Senpai!

I think that's enough for now, though!

Does that mean you're feeling better?

Uh-huh.

Probably too good.

Oh, uh, just forget I said anything. It's nothing!

So, um, "And that concludes my proposal. Thank you".

Right. That's probably okay.

Maybe I should go through it again.

"My name is Takuma Shinozaki with Dev Group 2's Team A.

My proposal today is in regard to the upcoming anniversary

of our company's primary mascot Meowtaro, which as you "

-Whatcha talking about? -

Sorry, I didn't see you!

Oops, I didn't mean to startle you!

Oh, no, that's alright.

My new employee presentation is tomorrow.

So, I wanted to be ready.

Aw, that's nice!

I remember my first presentation.

So, you see, if we were to start arranging collaborations

between popular sweets brands

and our company's mascot character, Meowtaro,

I really believe

we could hit an entirely new customer demographic

which would help boost our sales.

Oh, goodness! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!

I goofed up the materials for my proposal pretty badly.

But see, I managed to turn it around and I'm still here,

so I have total faith in you!

That's bizarrely motivating!

I appreciate the encouragement.

Well, the thing is,

I tend to get really bad performance anxiety

about these sorts of things.

But there's this superstition.

You write the word "person" on your hand

and if you swallow it, you calm down!

It's probably totally fake,

but I heard somewhere

that there are certain pressure points in the palm of your hand

and if you trace "person" into it,

-you can press them which... - Earth to Shinozaki!

Uh...

I wrote the word down for you!

This'll make you feel all better. So swallow it!

Come on. Better not waste it!

She's so close to me!

Senpai's tiny hand is inches from my nose!

I mean, it kinda seems like a waste to eat it!

I can always make some more for you, silly!

So go ahead and eat it all up!

I'm dying! She acts like a wife!

Well, in that case, I guess I'll eat it.

Mm...

Gosh, I'm so sorry!

Did my breath tickle you?

I'll be more careful!

Oh, no, it's okay! I didn't mind it!

Are you feeling any better?

I am! I can do this!

Thanks for your help.

Maybe you can write another one for me

before my presentation tomorrow.

I'll have one ready for you.

Whatever I can do!

Miss Yamagishi?

Will you be coming to this month's drinking party?

You bet I will!

I'll add you to the list, then.

Are you in charge of planning it?

Yeah. I drew the short straw this time.

Hayakawa, you coming to the party?

Or no?

Huh?

-Nah. -Oh, what a surprise.

You're as sociable as ever, huh?

Shut up, okay?

I went one time. Isn't that enough?

Uh-huh, only the first time.

-Yeah, and that was plenty. -Hmm?

Hm...

-Hm? -Hm?

Are you guys dating or something?

-Dating? -Dating?

Shinozaki seems pretty comfy talking to you, Hayakawa.

No, you've got it all wrong!

Hayakawa and I have been friends since we were kids, okay?

Yeah, exactly!

He and I just grew up together, that's all!

Does it seriously look like Hayakawa and I are going out?

Shinozaki?

You're super comfortable with Hayakawa, right?

You, too, Senpai?

Listen, it's not what you're thinking.

Please let me explain!

We were neighbors,

so we happened to go through preschool,

elementary, and middle school together.

And then through total coincidence,