When I arrived back in Records, all of my Team 4 coworkers jumped out of their cubicles to surround me.

"Congrats, Loren," said Soma.

Bayu sighed. "But what are we going to do without you?"

I looked over their worried faces. "I'm sure my replacement will fulfill their duties well. And AM Young's expectations are in the gutter, so there's no need to worry."

Forest fiddled her thumbs. "Loren," she called softly eyes shifting from side to side. "Actually, I got a second email. They're offering me Team Leader, but it's up to me. If I refuse, they'll find someone else. I'm not sure what to do."

I couldn't identify with Forest's nervousness. She was levelheaded and capable, never displaying a lack of confidence and doing her job well, so her current demeanor felt odd and out of place. Unable to muster up sympathy, I could only handle her confession logically.

"I believe in your capabilities, but that's useless if you don't believe in them yourself. Don't do it if you have doubts. People will only stress with an uncertain leader."

Forest frowned, bottom lip twisted as if in pain. "Wow. It's been a while."

Confused, I looked at my coworkers for cues only to see them frowning or making unpleasant faces as well.

Clearly I had said something wrong. As I thought back over my words to locate my mistake, the others dispersed.

Bayu sighed again while tilting his head. "Will he really be okay in the Upper Division?"

Soma tilted his the other way. "He's not wrong, but the wording..."

There was nothing I could add for good measure as I'd already said I believed in her. "Sorry I can't offer anything else," I said openly.

With wide eyes, and a lip shrug, Forest just replied, "No, my nerves are gone now." Though she didn't look any bit relieved, only annoyed. "I can only sort out my feelings and decide for myself."

I was glad she'd returned to her usual countenance. "You've been here the longest so I doubt they'll offer the position to anyone else on the Team." Guilt shouldn't be a factor. Watching her annoyed and deep-in-thought expression, I frowned and asked, "Are you actually unconfident or is it the extra responsibility that has you reluctant?"

She held up a hand and turned away. "Loren, please. Nobody likes being read like a book."

I took that as my cue to withdraw. If that had been her worry, I don't understand why she didn't just say that to begin with rather than acting coy.

I told everyone, "I'm going to Team 2 to tell Bradley."

"Take some tissues."

"Wait, Loren, should we have a going away dinner? I can make the reservation."

I shook my head. "For just the four of us? No need. I'll be busy the next few evenings so we can just grab lunch. I appreciate the thought, though."

As I left, I overheard Soma begging Forest to take the Team Leader position so they wouldn't have to deal with a stranger's new leadership style.

Bradley's eyes glistened as I informed him of my transfer.

"Do you really have to go? You're so amazing; what are we going to do without you? What will I do?"

Seeing him misty-eyed and considering Darcy's stagnancy, I decided to ask him what I'd been wondering for some time. "Bradley, do you mind telling me why you got demoted?"

In the privacy of the hallway, Bradley shifted his big eyes and then took a deep breath, looking down and playing with his fingers. "I was a technician working at the terminal for the portal. An investigation team was due to return from a mission late at night. I had been low on sleep so while waiting, I ended up dozing off and missed their return signal. Because of the time conversion, they were stuck in that world for another day." His hand covered his face, highlighting his shame.

The demotion was understandable. It wouldn't have been my choice of action, but I could understand his superiors' reasoning. I decided it probably wasn't a good idea to encourage Bradley's reinstatement to the RRR Department. I'd really have to apply more pressure on Darcy.

"I can't depend on you anymore," Bradley sighed. Then his large round eyes gazed at me, sparkling. "I can only take your advice from the past several months. I'll work hard to return to the Upper Division and become someone worthy of being by your side!"

I tried to manage my expression, forcing away the distaste from twisting my features. Bradley hadn't done anything wrong, even if his affection made me uncomfortable, so I didn't want to hurt his feelings. "Um... Do you mean working by my side or..."

His fingers fidgeted with the hem of his polo. "Well... H-honestly..."

I could feel the corners of my lips sinking and brow tightening.

His cheeks flushed. "I've kind of... about you..."

It was a positive thing if he could muster the courage to confess, though I hoped my rejection wouldn't put him back into his shell.

"No!" He threw out his hand. "Now's not the right time." He looked back up at me. "When we reunite!"

I couldn't let him waste his time holding onto futile hope. "I'm sorry, Bradley, but I—"

"Not now!"

"P-please stop yelling." If his team members weren't already eavesdropping, they would be soon with all his shouting.

"You can't reject me until I say it. I'll definitely be a different person next time we meet."

I tilted my head. "What if we meet in the courtyard?"

Bradley rolled his eyes. "I mean after I get back to RRR."

"Oh." This way of confessing seemed very inefficient. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

I sighed. "Okay, if that's your decision, I'll respect it. Though, you should work hard for your own sake. I'll forget this ever happened, okay?"

"I'd appreciate it."

I nodded and refrained from patting him on the shoulder. "Work hard." Then I left.

Seeing me come back to my desk with an exasperated frown, Forest mumbled, "Karma."

I decided to leave a canned hot chocolate on her desk that afternoon because I couldn't afford to accidentally make enemies in this world too.

As per the instructions from HR, that evening, I went home to tidy up and sort out what I wanted to take to the company apartment. They said the place would be furnished unless I had a preference for my own furnishings and sent over a photo. The simplistic off-white sofa and rotund-shaded lamps with silver bases seemed fine to me, and I wasn't particular about bed frames or dishware.

I made sure to have all my PlushFriends in one area of my living room so they wouldn't get separated in the move. I placed my favourite blanket and memory foam pillows in a neat pile, then made sure everything in my fridge was grouped by type so items could stay orderly in the movers' cooler.

After placing my hygiene and personal care belongings in separate toiletry bags, I reread the section of HR's moving instructions about clothes. I needed to ensure I wasn't mistaken in reading that I could leave them in my closet and drawers and they'd be transferred exactly as is. I had my doubts, but any failures on their part could be easily resolved, so I simply left my gym bag out to house my dirty clothes, and then went to bed satisfied.

The next morning, I entered the CenUMR building dressed in casual clothes and headed straight to HR on the Upper Division's 7th floor. They'd told me to come any time between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., but my biological clock had already woken me up for regular work hours, so I figured I would continue to follow it's natural course. As I opened the office doors, a chime rang, signaling the start of the workday. The sound was especially loud as the source of it was this very office.

Once it finished, I went up to the wall-to-wall main desk where a staff member was restocking forms in a sorter.

"Please sign in for the record," they said, pointing to the kiosk atop the desk.

I scanned my work communicator and a form appeared on the screen. After pulling out an e-pen from my flight jacket I reiterated my name where indicated and jotted down "transfer" under purpose, making sure to keep my writing neat so the handwriting could properly convert to text.

After I clicked submit, the staff immediately picked up a e-file, but before they could say anything, another chime blared, causing me to flinch.

"Happy Tuesday, CenUMR employees. This is Holton of HR with the morning announcements."

This announcement came every morning so I felt a bit silly for not preparing myself. Luckily, the person speaking had a soft and gentle voice which was not nearly as loud as the chime. I looked above my head to see an unnecessary speaker.

The person at the desk held up a finger to indicate I should wait, then walked behind the right-side wall to god knows where.