CH 32

Chapter 32: - June 24 (Wednesday): Preparing For Business Trip

It was Wednesday, only one week left in June.

After the successful presentation, we had a meeting with the campaign staff agency to prepare for the event.

One of the biggest problems in event campaigns was securing the right people.

In particular, whether or not you could secure staff who could communicate would have a big impact on the outcome.

After the meeting, Otomizu and I got into a car and drove away.

“We’ve secured reliable staff, and now we just need to meet with our subcontractors in each area.”

The scope of this campaign was extensive; covering Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.

It was easy to take advantage of collaborations with V-tubers, but there was one problem ‒ it was difficult to manage.

As you could imagine, if you’ve never met them before, it was easy for miscommunication to occur.

No matter how widespread telecommuting had become, face-to-face meetings were still essential.

“We are going on a business trip on Friday, is Otomizu okay?”

“Yes! It’s my first business trip, so I’m looking forward to it!”

Her face was glowing with enthusiasm.

Otomizu seemed to be in high spirits today.

Normally, I would never go on a business trip with a female employee, but this time I was accompanied by an older female employee and my seniors.

No matter how it turned out, she would not make a mistake.

In spite of my worries, Otomizu clasped hands together like a maiden, immersed in her fantasies.

“Haa~, … A night view from a high rise in a new place; fancy dinner; a big bath and a beauty salon. This is what working people are all about, right?”

“There’s no way I’m staying at a place like that.”

Where the hell did you get this information from?

Why would a normal office worker on a business trip get the idea of staying at a luxury hotel?

It couldn’t be helped. Instead of getting excited when we get there, let me show you the reality first.

When we stopped at a red light, I took out my phone and displayed a picture of the inn where we were going to stay.

“It’s a cheap inn. By the way, they don’t serve meals, so you’ll have to buy your own breakfast at a convenience store beforehand.”

“… No breakfast either? And yet, it’s a ryokan1, which means it has a hot spring?”

…. Oi, oi. No, of course not.

“No, not that either. You have to go to the nearest public bath for a bath. On foot, of course.”

“Ehh~… That was the case in the Reiwa era …”

“It’s our company’s policy to cut expenses so that we can learn about the breadth of the world. Don’t cry from excitement.”

“Mou~~. Even though It’s a business trip with Sasamiya-san.”

Dejected after her expectations were shattered, Otomizu pouted her lips and gave me a look of discontent.

I liked this inn. However, I thought some women would be disappointed.

“Well, don’t be discouraged. I went here last year, and the owner is a very attentive person. I can guarantee your comfort. Also, there’s a pub nearby that serves excellent yakitori, and we’re planning to have a party there in the evening.”

When Otomizu heard the story, she put her index finger to her lips as if her imagination was growing.

“Delicious yakitori? Hmmm~, that might be fun. ……”

“My treat, of course.”

“I’ll be sitting next to you, Sasamiya-san.”

“All right, all right.”

“Fufufu～♪, I’m very happy then.”

Finally in a good mood, Otomizu sipped from the plastic bottle that was in the cup holder.

When I saw Otomizu gulping down a glass of mineral water, my heart was slighted swayed.

The line from her chin to her throat, and the angle of her profile, which she didn’t usually show.

The line from her jaw to her throat, and the angle of her profile that she didn’t usually show ‒ it was kind of … sexy.

“Ah~, that’s right. Sasamiya-san.”

“Oh … Oh.”

Otomizu, remembering something, suddenly turned to me and started talking to me.

I tried my best to act normal so that my ulterior motives would not be revealed.

“I was given the MVP award for the newcomer, was that okay? This presentation was mostly Sasamiya-san’s power, but …”

The Newcomer MVP Award was a reward unique to our company, where the most successful new employee was chosen every year and given a special bonus.

The amount of money received was not that much, but it was customary that the newcomer who got this award would be assigned to the ace team.

But there was one more thing ‒  …

There was a test for MVP winners.

“Take what you can get. But after that, it’s not easy.”

“What’s the catch?”

“The newcomer who becomes MVP must perform a one-shot presentation.”

“Eehh~! What’s that~!!”

I sympathize with her about her one-shot performance, but it was still nice to see a newcomer that I nurtured get the MVP award.

Then Otomizu pointed at me.

“Eh~. You’re smiling~. Do you really want to see my one-shot performance that badly? That’s awful!”

“Oops. Sorry, sorry. Just …”

It seemed that what I was thinking was inadvertently showing on my face.

It seemed that I had become much more expressive in less than a month.

I missed the days when I used to be an apathetic person.

Suddenly, the sound of high-speed continuous clicks echoed, <<click, click, click …>>

I slowly looked towards the direction of the sound and saw Otomizu holding her phone with both hands, her eyes swimming as she tried to pretend to know nothing.

“E~tto … It’s a precious expression of Sasamiya-san’s, so I thought I should take a picture. …”

“Delete them.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t delete images on this phone.”

“There’s no way that lie will work.”

Even the serious Otomizu sometimes joked around in this high school girlish way. …

Un. Ma~, I guess I could forgive her because I was a little careless this time.

I’ll ask her to delete the photo, though.

Oh. Otomizu is hiding her phone.

■――Afterword――■

In the next episode, Yuika has an unexpected reaction when she hears about the business trip!?