Now then, how should I describe her current state of mind... Is it like a turtle with its arms and legs retracted into its shell, or like a curled up hedgehog, with its hair of spike, threateningly protruding over its body...? What is clear is that she currently has no intention of opening up to us.
Think, I should think of a way! Due to Fate-san's character, there's no way she would listen to me if I just tell her to work without thinking about it. It would be more ideal if I make her work on her own accord, but I think that is quite a difficult task.
On the other hand, if I don't talk to her, I won't be able to get a clue on how to handle this situation. I guess I should gently approach her first and try not to provoke her...
[...Fate-san, are you alright?]
[U- Uuuu... Kai-chan...]
When I called out to her as gently as possible, a teary-eyed Fate-san glanced at me through the gap in the blanket.
I guess it's safe to say that she's still on MAX alert, so my first mission here is to get Fate-san's face out of the blanket.
[...Kai-chan won't torture me anymore, right... I did my best, didn't I?]
[Y- Yes, I think Fate-san is doing a great job.]
[Right!? I mean, I've already worked two days in a row! It's the "longest time I ever worked". I've worked hard enough!]
Isn't your longest time ever hurdle too low!? This woman really hates working that bad huh... She has been saying that she wants to be a NEET, but I think she's NEET enough already.
N- No, this is no good... If I say anything negative, the mission immediately fails. This is where I have to firmly reply and lift up Fate-san.
[That's right. Fate-san worked really hard... I wasn't able to see you personally while you were working, but you were really cool when you entered the city!]
[...R- Really? I... was cool?]
[Yes. Of course... The usual Fate is cute and wonderful, but I also thought the serious Fate-san had a different kind of charm.]
[R- Really... Ehehe... I see~~]
To be honest, I think I was being exaggerated and lifting her too much, but it seems like Fate-san was happy to receive my praises, as Fate-san looked up from under her blanket with a bashful smile on her face.
Alright! The first barrier has been breached... She had somehow peaked out her face, so I think she's becoming a little less cautious.
However, just this is no good. I shouldn't get carried away by just achieving this, and it isn't a good time to be on the offensive just yet... So I should slowly lure her into my range.
[I think seeing Fate-san work would be wonderful but... Fate-san doesn't want to work anymore, right?]
[Unnn. I don't wanna work anymore~~ I just want to laze around. Work is boring...]
[Right? Fate-san is the Supreme God, so you would have to do lots of work... Moreover, it's quite terrible that it's being dragged on for so long,]
[It's really as you say! It was supposed to end yesterday!!! I really hate the word overtime!]
As I was earnestly affirming Fate-san and showing her that I'm on her side, little by little, she's getting on board with what I'm saying. The flow of the conversation is good... However, I would need to make another push here.
First of all, I think I need to get Fate-san's mind back to the point where she might be able to do some work.
Fate-san seemed almost uninterested in others, so she wouldn't be moved by something like the senators, Shea-san and Heart-san being in trouble.
Then, what I should do here... is to cite something fun for Fate-san to do!
[But, Fate-san. I need to remind you of one thing.]
[...What is it?]
[Fate-san, after you finish your job here, we're going on our date here, right?]
[U- Unnn. That's right.]
The date is no longer an option at this point. To be clear, I don't think she's the kind of person who would work without bait, so I think this level of concession is a necessary expense as a bargaining chip.
[Since we're going on a date, we would want it to be fun, right?]
[That's obviously correct...]
[However, I'm just a mere human... so I think some people would be bothered about it.]
[...Eh?]
Continuing to speak in a slightly depressed voice, I tried being careful so that Fate-san doesn't take it as something solely her fault.
[What if Fate-san got Chronois-san mad for not doing her job... I'm sure that I will be thinking about it while we're on our date. It would be nice if I could properly put that aside as Fate-san does, but I think it would be difficult for me to do so.]
[...Kai-chan.]
[That's why I'm a bit scared. I was looking forward to it so much. I was really looking forward to my date with Fate-san, so thinking that I may not be able to truly enjoy our date is...]
[....]
I'm not lying at all. I may be exaggerating it a bit... but I thought that it would be fun going out with Fate-san, so I certainly was looking forward to it.
It's also true that if Fate-san doesn't do her job, I will be concerned about it.
[K- Kai-chan... is looking forward to our date that much?]
As I told her my woes while showing a bit of exaggerated distress, Fate-san slowly pulls her upper body out of the futon.
It's here! The opportunity that I've been waiting for!!! This is the time I should attack! Let's press on and push further!
[Yes... In fact, I even prepared a "present" to give Fate-san on our date.]
[Present!? Kai-chan would give me one!?]
...Sorry, that one's a lie. H- However, if I dash off to buy her one while Fate-san was working, it won't be a lie, so there's no problem.
[Yes. I want to have the best date with Fate-san as possible. A date that both Fate-san and I can truly enjoy...]
[...U- Uuuuu...]
[That's why, Fate-san. Just for today, will you hold out for a bit more for me?]
[U- Unnnn... I- I don't know...]
She started wavering! Good, the flow of things is good... I need one more push, and I need to take out one more decisive card.
However, piling up more things regarding our date would be difficult, so is there anything else I could use?
T- That's right...
[If Fate-san comes home tired from work... Errr, should I give you a massage?]
[A massage!? Kai-chan would touch my body!?]
[Y- Yes, well... It's just going to be a massage though...]
I feel like I've moved the conversation to some weird direction, but my suggestion that I would give her a massage after she diligently did her work seemed to have piqued Fate-san's interest more than I expected, and Fate-san bounced off the blanket she was covered in and got up.
[...I- I guess it can't be helped... In order for Kai-chan to support me in the future, I have to properly make a good investment upfront... For Kai-chan's sake, well, I don't mind trying a bit longer...]
[T- Thank you!]
[Fufufu, alrighty, I'm motivated! Now then, I'll go quickly finish everything!!!]
[Ah, yes. See you later.]
It seems that I was able to successfully turn on Fate-san's motivation switch, as she ran out of the room at great speed.
It's not that I don't feel like I've exaggerated lots of things but... for the time being, should I say that it's Mission Complete?
As I was thinking about this while looking in the direction where Fate-san departed, I felt hands suddenly placed on both of my shoulders from behind me.
[...Eh? Shea-san? Heart-san?]
[...How much do you want? I'll pay you how much you want, and I will also ensure that you'll be treated well.]
[...Being able to make God of Fate-sama work... What a rare and wonderful talent you have. We can't let your talent be buried under the ground!]
[Huh? Eh?]
While grabbing my shoulders with their firm grip, Shea-san and Heart-san turned their eyes, which were filled with tremendous vigor, towards me.
I mean, this might even be the first time I've ever seen Shea-san make eye contact with me.
[...If you want, it's fine if you want to be the No.2 under God of Fate-sama's subordinates.]
[Yes! You'll be treated with the best possible treatment! I urge you to come to the God Realm!!!]
[....]
Those words sound like a very sincere and sorrowful plea... Fate-san... How often do you usually push your work towards your subordinates? Even Shea-san was looking at me with bloodshot eyes, you know?
Dear Mom, Dad——— I feel like this has happened to me before. To be specific, I remember being told the same thing by one of the Supreme Gods. It really seems like everyone is feeling troubled in regards to Fate-san, and because of the same reason———– The God Realm recruited me again.