Kiraina Otoko - CH 7

The New Year started, and at the end of January, Mukai resigned from the company on good terms.

A new employee was assigned to the Sales Promotion Department, scheduled to start in the spring, so Chihiro’s plan to transfer to a different department fell through.

Hata remained in charge, but Chihiro heard that Niwa was transferred somewhere else.

“Well it can’t be helped. The employee turnover rate is high in this industry.” Hata said in his usual good mood.

They restarted the improvements on the EC store that Mukai had worked on launching, and Chihiro proactively started attending internal and external company study groups.

Up until now, he had always thought that doing your work quickly and succinctly was the most important. Put in minimum effort and get the maximum return. It was okay to not have the most successful career; he wanted a decent position that was just enough to be comfortable in.

Miyashita-san from Sales Section 1 or Toono-san from Corporate Planning Office. There was no harm in having future executive candidates and management remember your face and name. He thought of such a thing unconsciously.

━━“For someone like Minami-san, it would be sensible to stay and be protected by the company you joined as a new graduate.”

It was frustrating, but what Mukai had said was true.

But he couldn’t bring himself to defiantly say, “So what?”

At the end of April, the fresh recruit was assigned to sales promotions.

Ochi was taciturn and difficult to deal with because of his introverted personality, but Chihiro guided him patiently.

“I thought as a senpai, you would be more indifferent, Minami-san. It’s unexpected.”

Because Chihiro was not the type to show immediate results, even if he made arrangements in advance, something would hold him back. Hata was oddly impressed by how he had devised a way to prevent Ochi from shrinking into himself and also to not cause any trouble for Hata himself.

“The atmosphere has changed considerably now that you’ve got yourself a kouhai.”

“That’s true. After all, I’m also growing up a little.” Going along with Hata, Chihiro gave a wry smile. If I’ve changed, it’s not because I got a kouhai.

⬧⬨⬧⬨

The planning and development for their company’s in-house manufacturing was finally stabilized, and an EC division was established in the Sales Department. The marketing campaign was left to Ochi, and Chihiro was invited to meetings in the Product Development department.

Analyzing the questionnaires conducted as part of sales promotion, creating materials, and giving feedback.

As Chihiro was gradually finding the fun in work, by the time he noticed, spring came around once again.

“Minami-san, since joining the company, it seems you haven’t transferred even once?” On their way back to the office, Ochi asked suddenly after the conversation had turned to talking about the past year.

“Yeah that’s right. The timing was bad.”

“This doesn’t mean that you’re planning to go soon, does it? If you leave, Minami-san, I’ll be uneasy so please stay a little longer, okay?”

“Even if you ask me that…company employees just follow orders.”

At some point, he was able to talk and laugh like this with a kouhai that had once been reluctant to talk and unable to open up his heart.

“Minami-san”

As he was waiting for the elevator with Ochi, someone called out to him from behind. It was Nanase.

“It’s been a while.”

“Mhm.”

Nanase was striking  in her stylish pantsuit outfit, and Ochi, as if entranced, gave a slight bow.

“Sorry for not attending the farewell party.”

Nanase was resigning at the end of the month. Chihiro had heard that she was planning to work at some place in the beauty industry, but he wasn’t really familiar with it.

“It can’t be helped that you had the business trip. If you feel bad, how about a private farewell party?”

“Then, should we go have lunch with Ochi, too?”

“No thank you, I must decline.” Ochi waved his hands around flustered. “I’ll return to the office first, so take your time, Senpai!”

Since it was their midday break period, the two decided to go to the cafe next to the company.

“You know, it’s been bothering me this whole time, but I wanted to say sorry about that time.” While eating lunch, they updated each other on what’s been happening in their lives, and then Nanase broached the subject with some difficulty. “You might have already forgotten, Minami-kun, but I did something really rude to you back when Mukai-san came in between, didn’t I?”

“You did.” In the past, Chihiro would have acted as if he had completely forgotten about it, but he just smiled bitterly. “To be honest, I was pretty depressed about it.”

“I’m sorry!” Nanase bowed her head slightly. “It’s been bothering me all along. I’m truly sorry.”

“It’s not really something you have to apologize this much for. It’s not like we were dating or anything.”

“Yeah, that is true I guess. …….I was rejected by Mukai-kun, you know.” Nanase shrugged.

“Is that so?” Chihiro had been enjoying their vague relationship back then, but he was surprised to hear that her feelings for Mukai were that strong.

“There was zero romantic interest, and that time was the only time we went anywhere together. Even so, I really fell for him. Doing something like confessing…I haven’t done that since middle school.” Nanase took a sip of water from her glass in embarrassment.

“But the weird thing is, after gathering my courage to confess and then being rejected, I felt really refreshed, you know.”

Nanase did indeed look more lively than before.

“Mukai-kun has a cool vibe, but he was really kind in his rejection and kind of like full of sincerity? That’s why at that time I was sad, but afterwards I was gradually filled with energy.”

Just by looking at her, he could tell that she wasn’t just putting up a show of courage. Moreover, what Nanase was saying, Chihiro himself had also suddenly understood it.

They parted ways with a promise of meeting again even though they both knew it wouldn’t be kept.

On his way back to the office, for some reason or other, Chihiro looked up at the sky. The sunlight had softened completely, and the trees lining the promenade were swaying their fresh leaves.

I wonder how Mukai is doing these days.

It was also during this season that Mukai had joined their company.

If he asked Hata, he’d know immediately about what Mukai was up to, but he deliberately didn’t ask, and whenever Hata was about to gossip, he’d casually change the topic.

Despite all that, from time to time, he’d end up thinking about Mukai.

They had worked together for less than a year, but Mukai had certainly left an impact on Chihiro.

━━“A pushover and petty, and even though you can’t really do much work, your conceitedness is insanely cute.”

When Mukai had looked down on him back then, he had felt humiliated and frustrated. Even now, he still felt hurt from those words.

On the other hand, it was a necessary and deserved criticism for him.

Can’t do much work and become conceited━━it really was like that.

Of course, he also couldn’t forget how he was forcefully kissed at that time. He was angry at being forced against his will, and it was something unforgivable, but if he thought about his attitude that led up to that moment, he knew that it was wrong to arbitrarily pretend to be a victim.

Moreover, in all honesty, with the passing of time, Chihiro felt strangely agitated.

There was not even an ounce of affection in that one-sided kiss. If anything, it felt like retaliation against Chihiro who was doing nothing and acting conceited about being favored. Even so, there was passion there, and even now, Chihiro was burning with that heat.

When he had been in front of him, Chihiro couldn’t honestly admit it, but along with the feelings of hate, he had just as many feelings of admiration towards Mukai.

We’ll probably never meet again, thinking about Mukai, he suddenly sobered up. You can be proactive in anything you do.

That’s enough.

He had thought that, but shortly the next year, he met Mukai once again.