Chapter 10

I was a little confused. I hadn’t known something like this.

First, when I asked him to teach me how to use the computer, he unexpectedly agreed. That was a surprise.

That part was good. He seemed hesitant at first, but in the end, he agreed to teach me—most likely because the “best friend” brainwashing had worked really well. That made sense.

And once the lessons started, his explanations were easy to follow.

That was good too. He probably had a real talent for teaching. That also made sense.

The problem came afterward.

"You’ve already learned it? That’s amazing. I wonder if I could’ve done it that fast."

"R-Really…?"

There it was. While he was teaching me, Shin kept praising me way too much. I had never experienced anything like this before, and honestly, I didn’t know how to handle it.

Every time I succeeded, even a little, he’d go out of his way to praise me—his over-the-top reactions were annoying...

……And just a little—only a tiny bit—but it made me feel shy.

"You’ve got the typing down now, so let’s try saving the document next."

"…Okay."

Still, his teaching was easy to understand.

A far cry from those worthless instructors in the other world.

…No, maybe comparing him to them is just plain rude?

Those scumbags acted like it was natural to say nonsense like “Figure it out by watching” or “Just memorize it.” I can understand that approach when it comes to something like craftsmanship that relies on intuition, but they applied the same to stuff like report formats or how to write regular updates—things you need to be taught properly. They just tossed us into the deep end and expected us to pick it up by watching.

And despite their half-assed training, they’d blow up the moment I made a mistake, acting like I’d committed some kind of crime. Then they’d try to dock my pay under the guise of punishment.

“I'm busy,” they’d say. As if I didn’t know they were just using patrol duty as an excuse to sneak off to brothels.

"Haa… haa…"

"Yuu, are you alright?"

"Eh…? It’s nothing."

…No good. I let myself get angry again. I have to calm down. Acting out of emotion never leads to anything worthwhile. That’s something I learned in the other world.

Especially now—right now, I’m actually being taught properly. Letting my thoughts wander is just plain disrespectful.

I looked up and met Shin’s gaze. He was looking at me with a puzzled expression.

…Just an ordinary face. Not particularly handsome, not ugly—just normal.

…?

Why does it feel so… new?

I’ve been seeing this face almost every day for the past two weeks.

I was puzzled, and when I thought about it for a moment, I realized the answer.

It was his eyes.

Shin was looking at me with gentle eyes.

Not the kind of eyes that royalty or nobles have when they look down on something beneath them, nor the eyes of religious fanatics who see nothing but tools.

Not the eyes of soldiers who see monsters, or the lecherous stares of bandits.

His eyes held kindness—affection, even. The kind you’d give to someone dear to you.

That’s how Shin was looking at me.

"Yup. You saved it just fine. Good job."

"…Thanks."

"Next is… actually, let’s stop here for today. This is a good place to wrap up. If there’s anything we did today that you didn’t understand, just ask me anytime. No need to hold back."

"…Okay."

Shin began tidying up the materials he had spread out.

Naturally, his eyes drifted away from me—and I felt, just a little, disappointed by that.

When did he start looking at me with those eyes?

Just now? Since yesterday?

Maybe… maybe he’s been looking at me like that all week?

…That’s possible. Probably since a week ago.

That’s when I set him up to see me as his “best friend.”

"……"

I don’t feel guilty for the brainwashing. That other world was hell, and I survived there for years.

To me, Shin is nothing more than a convenient, naive person softened by peace.

…Or at least, that’s how it should be.

And yet—for some reason—my chest ached, just a little.