A Quiet Morning, and Then… a Case
Inside a dark car.
On the way back from the Libe City Fest, I stopped at a convenience store for a coffee, ready to unwind.
Right at that moment—ping—an email from my supervisor.
My gut instantly told me: This isn’t going to be good.
And you know what? Gut feelings are usually right.
I opened it, bracing myself, and there it was:
“I broke the office computer monitor.”
The tone? Completely flat—like saying, “I had toast this morning.”
In short:
Broke it → Using a spare monitor for now → Will explain in person tomorrow.
But to me, “broke it” instantly translated to “destroyed it,” and in my head I saw the special move Monitor Breaker!! being unleashed.
And not just any special move—this was the kind that pulls you into another dimension.
Just like my “50-Something Guy Goes to a Fest (Isekai Edition)” story…
Here we go again.
Back to another world.
1. The Silent Treatment Strategy
The next day, I arrived at work and… said nothing.
With these situations, it’s more satisfying to make them bring it up themselves. (Also, it’s more fun this way.)
But there she was—completely unfazed—leaning on her desk, smiling and chatting away.
And all I could think was, Is this really the smile of someone who just broke a monitor yesterday?
My typing may have gotten a bit… louder.
2. Playing the “Oh, First I’ve Heard of It” Card
Eventually, she walked over.
“I broke the monitor. I told Mr. So-and-so, and he swapped in the spare one.”
Ah, so she thought the supervisor had already told me.
But I went full performance mode: wide eyes, surprised tone—“Oh, this is the first I’m hearing of it!”
She must have been thinking, Why hasn’t he mentioned it? and finally caved.
Meanwhile, my inner voice said: Is there any heart in that delivery?
A little “Sorry about that…”—even if it’s just acting—goes a long way.
Sometimes we just need that tiny bit of performance to feel consoled.
And in that moment, I knew:
Advantage, 50-something guy.
3. The Price Tag Counterattack
Since she was being so casual about it, I casually mentioned the price of our most expensive monitor.
Her smile twitched.
“Oh, it wasn’t the expensive one. It was the other one,” she replied.
Sure, but “the other one” still isn’t cheap—it’s a leased unit.
Then she added, “If you need me to write an incident report, I will!”
…No, no, no. That’s not the point.
It’s not about filling out paperwork—it’s about sincerity.
With that attitude, even a love letter would sound like, “Here, I wrote it. Done.”
4. The Wall Incident – Now I Remember
Oh right—she’s done something like this before.
The “Momiji Wallpaper Incident.”
Back then, she explained, “I tripped on a chair and hit the wall.”
But when I saw it, I thought, There’s no way this hole is from a simple trip—it’s at kicking height.
That hole eventually got patched up—by me and Chappy (my AI sidekick).
We designed a cute image of my Shiba Inu, Momiji, printed it on A4 paper, laminated it for extra shine, and stuck it on the wall.
In the end, I forced the whole thing into a comedy bit…
Somehow, it turned into a “heartwarming story” that brightened the office.
(See related post: 🐕 Hello from the Other Side of the Wall – Momiji’s Healing Touch)
5. Detective Oji-san’s Theory and Honest Opinion
To be fair, you could frame this as “swift action to prevent disruption.”
But my detective brain leans toward:
“They took quick action because the evidence was obvious.”
If it had been their iPhone that broke, I bet the reaction would’ve been very different.
Still, work did go on without a hitch that day, and I admit I appreciated the quick fix.
But here’s my honest stance:
I’m not a fan of the “As long as the job gets done, it’s fine” mentality.
Why? Three reasons:
- Relationships are the lubricant of teamwork
Even if you’re skilled, you need others’ cooperation to achieve big results.
And if you’re a nice person, help comes naturally. (Bonus points if you hand out snacks.) - Character shows in a crisis
Whether people help you in trouble depends on your daily rapport.
Kind people get support when the printer jams at the worst moment. - People shape the workplace vibe
A cheerful coworker can lift everyone’s mood. (A sigh-heavy coworker is basically an air-conditioner set to “Arctic.”)
Without good character? No thanks.
Work takes up about a third of our lives—might as well spend it with people you click with.
That’s why I believe:
Skill + Good Personality = The Ultimate Combo
If I had to choose only one, I’d take good personality over speed any day—
And if they bring snacks sometimes? Even better.
6. Grateful for a Workplace Where We Can Laugh
Unexpected things happen—both in work and in life.
But behind every surprise, there’s usually someone moving to fix it.
That day, maybe she was just protecting herself, or maybe she truly cared about the team.
Either way, nobody was left stranded.
So the next time something happens (not that I’m calling it),
I’ll start by laughing, and then figure it out.
Because if we can laugh together—that’s already a form of contribution to others.
Related Articles
🐕 Hello from the Other Side of the Wall – Momiji’s Healing Touch
The full story behind the “Momiji Wallpaper Incident” mentioned here — how a Shiba Inu brightened up the entire workplace.
🎤 A 50-Something Guy Goes to a Fest – The Isekai Reincarnation Arc
Experiencing the surreal feeling of “arriving in another world” at the Libe City Fest — a perfect callback to the déjà vu in this story.
🐾 Because Family Deserves Better – Choosing PAW’S GREEN DELI
A firsthand story about caring for my Shiba Inu Momiji’s health by choosing a premium, additive-free dog food made in Japan.
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