Chapter 5: 5

When Chihiro was in middle school, he joined the track and field club. 

The track and field club had both boys and girls practicing together, and so because of that, there was an unwritten rule: dating within the club is prohibited.  

In that club, there was a girl in the same grade who was exceptionally beautiful and was part of the medium-to- long-distance runners group.  One of Chihiro’s closest friends ended up falling for the girl, and for all three years of middle school, he held onto that one-sided crush. 

Although the girl knew that confessing was not allowed, she still manipulated his friend. She would act coquettish or flaunt the fact that she got along well with other boys. Occasionally, she would put on a sweet face. And oftentimes, she would act selfish and test his friend’s feelings. 

Whenever Chihiro had noticed that, he’d warn his friend over and over to stop, but his friend would always insist, “She can be a bit selfish, but she’s really a good girl.” No matter how you looked at it, he was seeing her through rose-tinted glasses. 

Even though Chihiro had completely forgotten about that old event, the reason he had suddenly recalled it was because he realized that he himself was acting like that girl. 

——A girl with such a rotten personality, you’re too good for her. 

Even though he had said that to his friend, he was acting the same way now. 

“Mukai-kun, can I ask Niwa-kun to take care of this?” As soon as Chihiro called out to him, Mukai, who had been busily leafing through some documents, raised his head. This year the overtime dragged on. October came, and they once again got used to wearing their suits. 

“Which one?”

“This. Niwa-kun seemed like he wanted to do it, so I said okay.” 

Mukai had a troubled expression on his face. But soon enough, he agreed with a reluctant, “Understood.” 

It wasn’t a lie that Niwa wanted to handle the data processing for the publication. Enthusiastic about working with his idol Mukai Shinya, Niwa kept trying to contact him and take on all sorts of difficult tasks. Hata had apologized to Chihiro with a wry smile, but Chihiro was not particularly concerned about it now. 

Niwa’s idol, Mukai Shinya, was interested in him. 

Chihiro’s friend back in middle school had been the medium-to-long-distance record holder. He was a bit of a celebrity in the track and field world in that region, so whenever it was Valentine’s Day season, he would receive cutely wrapped gifts even from girls from other schools. But even so, he would be used by classmates that only had their good-looks going for them. They’d ask him to do the cleaning in their stead or help out with keeping records. 

Chihiro couldn’t figure out what was so good about that girl, and even now he couldn’t understand his friend’s feelings. But, he did start to kind of understand the feelings of the girl that had toyed with his friend. 

She was always the scorekeeper at their matches. Even though the boys and girls never competed with each other directly, there might have been some mixed feelings. A classmate who could easily make it through to the prefectural tournament, but in the field of love, he wasn’t able to win at all because he wasn’t even able to participate in the match. He could not deny (her) selfishness. 

Chiriro was able to picture the convoluted feelings now. 

Mukai too was overlooking Chihiro’s selfish behavior. 

There may be some restraint due to their difference in position, but Mukai was a man that originally said what should be said to anyone. He had seen Mukai arguing with the Product Development and Sales teams many times. It was true that he had a soft demeanor, but he could be quite aggressive and definitely not one to back down.

But only towards Chihiro did his tolerance level of ‘it can’t be helped’ become wider. Naturally, Chihiro too, tried to refrain from unsavory matters, but he wanted to draw out Mukai’s concession from trivial things. He couldn’t help but feel good that Mukai would treat only him sweetly. 

His friend had quit the club and confessed to the girl. Ultimately, he was rejected and decided to move on, but for some reason, the girl had looked more hurt, and that had left a lasting impression on Chihiro. 

Every time Mukai conceded and indulged Chihiro, he felt a sense of superiority along with a prick of pain. What could that mean?

“Oh right, there was a phone call earlier.” When Mukai had stepped out for a moment, Chihiro had taken a memo from the factory. 

“Thank you.” Taking the sticky note memo, Mukai confirmed it and then put it in his drawer. 

“You’re not throwing it out?” The distance between him and Mukai had certainly shrunk, and these days, he had even taken to making these sort of almost-jokes. 

Mukai, aware that Chihiro was watching him, closed the drawer, “It’s my collection.” 

“Weird hobby.” 

And the more the distance shrank, the more the relationship took on a precarious balance. 

“Hata-san sent a demo of the promotional video, have you checked it out?” 

“Mhm. I don’t really have any input, so you can decide how to reply to it.” 

Answering him insincerely, Chihiro picked up his suit jacket that was on his chair. Mukai said nothing even to that kind of half hearted reply. 

“Wakita-san called for me, so I’m gonna step out for a bit.” 

“Don’t forget we have a briefing session at 3 o’clock.” 

“I’ll head to the meeting room after I’m back!” 

It was true that he’d been called by a senior employee in the Sales Department, but while it actually wasn’t that urgent, Chihiro deliberately put his jacket on hurriedly. Even if he wasn’t here, the promotional work that Mukai was in charge of would progress smoothly. Both the test sales and website advertisements were well received, and the sales target had also been set. It was also scheduled to be included in the mid-to-long-term business plan for the next fiscal year. 

If the company can establish a foothold for its own brand, it will also focus on advertising.  Everyone acknowledged that Mukai would be the center of it all. 

“Just by having created a brand under the NITTA name, he would be able to get a contract with any agency. He’ll probably only be working with you for a little while longer, Minami-san~” 

That’s what Hata had said a little while ago. 

“Niwa also mentioned that, and so he’s been sticking to Mukai-san’s work saying he wanted to absorb a lot of things while he’s still around.”

As usual, Niwa had been proactive in his Mukai-san Mukai-san and so he was entrusted with the assistant-like duties for Mukai. Chihiro was stuck doing the simple data checks and dealing with any troubles. 

“I might also be transferring next year.” 

“Aa, it’s almost time for that?” Hata let out a regretful sigh. “We’ve been working together for a long while now, it’ll be lonely.” 

“It’s not decided yet though.” While laughing at Hata’s hastiness, on the inside, Chihiro was mentally half-way facing his next destination.

Due to issues with the number of personnel, Chihiro was assuming that his transfer destination would be the second division of sales overseas. It was supposed to be confidential information, but recently, a senpai in the second division had been casually calling out to him asking him if he was available to come help them out.

That same day, after finishing up writing the meeting papers he was asked to do, Chihiro dropped by the meeting room a bit later than the scheduled time. 

“Hata-san?”

Chihiro hadn’t needed to knock as the door was already half open. 

“Ah, Minami-san” 

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“Is something wrong?” 

Hata and Niwa were standing staring at the cellphone screen. And there was no trace of Mukai. 

“Where’s Mukai-kun?” 

“He just went to the Sales Department. It’s a bit of a difficult situation.” Niwa answered in Hata’s stead.

Chihiro knew there was trouble from his flustered speech. 

“What happened?”

“There’s news that Garden Securities is going to release security-related products,” Hata said as he turned his phone in Chihiro’s direction. 

Chihiro saw the logo of a security company on the phone’s screen. It seemed like it was a PDF document used for a conference. 

“Mukai-san said that according to an acquaintance, there seemed to be development in that direction, and although he couldn’t reveal the source, the information was reliable.” 

Upon closer inspection, it seemed that the documents were a record of the proceedings. The record mentioned that since their security contracts for private residences were favorable, they developed security products that make use of their knowledge so far.

“This… it’s exactly like our company’s, isn’t it?” Hata muttered in bewilderment. 

“How is this possible?!” Niwa grabbed his head exaggeratedly. 

If it was a rival company, the sales and material management departments for instance would have noticed, but the security company was in a totally different field. 

Thinking that far, Chihiro was startled. 

Mukai had shown him a new method that could predict new products and services by quantifying the number of advertisements placed on different media and their trends. So Chihiro was in charge of the data management as instructed. 

Every day, he would input the numbers from the same website into an analysis spreadsheet program that Mukai had created. The repetitive job of inputting the data of business jargon he barely even understood quickly became a force of habit. No one on the team had scrutinized the data, so he had accumulated a few day’s worth of data and then entered it into the program.

Chihiro had a bad feeling and checked his own phone. 

Looking at the last update date, it had been neglected for more than three weeks. But, the page showed that someone else had inspected the account. When he went to update, he saw there was data in the number columns that should have been blank. The data that Chihiro had neglected, someone was inputting it on his behalf. At the same time, the word CAUTION was flashing on and off in red letters in the top right corner. 

The only people who could access this page were the project members, and the one who had an M as the viewer profile was Mukai. 

No way, Chihiro suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck. 

Did they fail to catch the important information because of his neglect in inputting the analysis data…?

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting.” With a bustle of multiple footsteps, Mukai and some sales employees entered the meeting room.

“We just got the information. As expected, they are planning a large-scale promotion for house-hold security products. The preparations for year-end television commercials and advertisements in the train stations have also been completed.” Mukai reported the information to Hata and Niwa in a stiff voice. 

“It’s the worst possible timing,” The senior from sales that came along with Mukai groaned as he folded his arms. 

“Depending on the circumstances, we might need to have a talk with the production management department.” 

“The section chief is currently in the middle of a business trip, but as soon as we get in contact with him, we’ll discuss remedial measures.” 

It seemed that Mukai brought in a salesperson who was related to promotions for that purpose.

Seeing Chihiro with his phone in his hand, a complex emotion swam in Mukai’s eyes.  

So it really was like that, Chihiro was stunned. 

“This is beyond anyone’s control. It is no one’s fault.” 

At the grave mood, the sales senior employee patted Mukai on the shoulder as if encouraging him. 

“Hey, let’s switch it up. Once in a while, unfortunate things like this happen during this time, but a new chance will arrive afterwards.” 

In order to prevent that ‘unfortunate thing’ from happening, Mukai had taken proper countermeasures. If Chihiro hadn’t been lazy, they would have been able to catch the news much earlier. No, it’s the same either way. What difference would it have made to find out three weeks early? 

Thinking about it, Chihiro knew it was an excuse. Self-preservation and regret, feelings of guilt, and above all, intense self-loathing made Chihiro’s breathing turn shallow. 

“I’m sorry but until a course of action has been decided, please give us more time,” Mukai bowed his head and said to Hata and Niwa. 

While watching the scene in a daze, with no logical reason, Chihiro once again remembered his friend from middle school. 

His friend had quit the club, confessed, gotten rejected, and had drawn a line on his feelings. 

At that time, it was Chihiro who called the girl at the request of his friend. He waited a little further away, thinking that it would be better if he stopped him. 

But his friend came back with a strangely refreshed look and said, “I was rejected after all.” 

“She said she would date me if I say what her best time is in the 1500 meters, but I refused.” Having no way of knowing that, his friend smiled bitterly. Even though she was the one that had rejected him, Chihiro recalled the girl’s hurt expression at this point. 

While Chihiro did think it was terrible that his friend didn’t even know the best time of the girl he was interested in, nevertheless, he was unable to sympathize with the girl who was toying around with a guy that liked her. 

One was as bad as the other, and after that, Chihiro had cut off all contact with that friend. 

He felt something bitter welling up in his throat. 

He had been cutting corners, unconcerned, since he would be transferring soon anyways. 

He had felt a strange sense of victory that Mukai had let it all go. 

Because Mukai was sweet only to him. 

He would never be demanding with him.

And this was the result of him acting like a stupid middle schooler. 

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