Chapter 1: What Tomonari Izuki Should Aim For

“Everyone is splendidly on track, aren’t they?”

As soon as the tea party began, Tennouji-san said this first.

“Especially you, Tomonari-san. I hear you’ve been branching out quite a bit lately?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m working on building connections with various partners to expand our product line. Ever since that incident, I’ve been getting a lot of offers from others…”

It’s truly something to be grateful for.

Thanks to the partnership with Wedding Needs, our gift offerings for ceremonial occasions have become quite robust, and as a result, Tomonari Gifts’ sales are steadily climbing.

“Honestly, even in class, more people have been approaching Tomonari lately.”

“Yeah, yeah! One of my friends was saying just the other day that they went to consult with him.”

Is that so?

I hadn’t noticed at the time, but it seems one of Asahi-san’s friends came to me for advice too.

“Hehehe…”

“…And why are you looking so smug about it?”

Hinako was practically beaming with a “I’m so proud” expression, and Tennouji-san pointed it out.

Well, Hinako has been sharing documents and resources with me, so it’s no exaggeration to say that my current success is largely thanks to her.

But with all the praise I’ve been getting lately, I’ve come to realize something about myself.

Apparently, I’m pretty good at spotting reliable business partners.

Maybe it’s better to say I’m skilled at observing the human faces behind the data… Honestly, I don’t quite understand the logic myself, and relying on something as vague as intuition is a bit scary, so I plan to keep studying business management. Still, there are people like Takuma-san out there, navigating the world with terrifyingly sharp observation skills, so I think I should make the most of this strength of mine.

I’m more behind in my studies than anyone else at this academy.

If that’s the case, I should use every card I have to my advantage. I don’t have the luxury of being picky.

Lifting my teacup filled with black tea, I contemplated what I needed to do next.

“Lately, more people have been saying Tomonari-kun is pretty cool, you know~”

“Huh?”

I couldn’t help but set my teacup down without taking a sip.

I think I just heard something shocking.

“I mean, starting from a relatively unknown place and rising to the top so quickly—doesn’t that kind of success story just seem cool? …Oh, when I say ‘unknown,’ I don’t mean it in a bad way!”

“I get that, but… a success story, huh?”

Asahi-san probably means it was good that I rose to prominence in an unexpected industry, rather than just coming from obscurity.

A success story, though…

…I didn’t exactly plan to walk such a straightforward path.

In reality, it was a constant tightrope walk. The partnership with Wedding Needs saved me, but if they had turned me down, my company might have been swallowed up by Suminoe-san’s SIS by now. No matter how many times I think back on it, I can’t help but wonder if there was a better way.

“Man, as your friend, I’m super proud too! Don’t you think so, Konohana-san?”

“Yes, it’s something to be proud of when a friend is praised.”

Then why have you been kicking my shin under the table this whole time?

Ow, ow, ow… You’re going to ruin the Kiou Academy uniform that costs hundreds of thousands of yen per set!

“Well, Tomonari-san’s lack of restraint isn’t exactly new, is it?”

“Um, Tennouji-san? Could you maybe not glare at me like that…?”

Tennouji-san was directing a chilling stare at me, the likes of which I’d never seen before.

She doesn’t trust me. Why…?

Is she still holding a grudge from that time? When we were dancing together, she asked me to choose between her company and Hinako’s, and I couldn’t pick either.

“H-Hey, Asahi. What about me? Haven’t you heard any rumors about me?”

“I haven’t heard a single thing about you, Taishou-kun!”

“You didn’t have to emphasize it that much…”

Taishou looks like he’s about to cry.

Asahi-san, go a little easier on him…

“By the way, is anyone struggling with any assignments?”

At Tennouji-san’s question, we all exchanged glances, but no one spoke up.

“Assignments, huh…”

Narika muttered softly under her breath.

“Miyakojima-san, is something troubling you?”

“Oh, no!? It’s not like that…?”

Why did that sound like a question?

Narika shook her head frantically, flustered, as Hinako looked at her with concern.

“Well then, shall we call it a day? …The Management Game enters its second half starting today. Let’s keep our focus and do our best.”

At Tennouji-san’s words, each of us nodded in agreement.

It seemed everyone in the Tea Party Alliance was making steady progress.

◆

After the tea party ended, we each headed home.

Tennouji-san had a meeting with a classmate and went back into the school building. Taishou and Asahi-san hurried toward the school gate, as their rides had apparently already arrived.

“Sorry, I have to go too. I promised to help a classmate with something.”

I was so surprised by Narika saying something like that, I nearly dropped my bag.

“Help? You?”

“W-What’s wrong with that!?”

“No, it’s good. Really good.”

I was just shocked, that’s all. I don’t think it’s a bad thing in the slightest.

“Narika… you’ve really grown, huh?”

“Hmph, that’s right! I’m growing too! …So, uh, could you stop looking at me like a grandpa doting on his grandkid?”

Narika wore a complicated expression as she headed back toward the school building.

That left just me and Hinako.

Suddenly, Hinako let her perfectly straight posture slump, her back rounding.

“Phew… I’m exhausted…”

“Hey, hey, it’s too early to let your guard down.”

“Mmph… I just wanna get in the car already…”

I glanced around to make sure no other students were nearby, but if someone saw her like this, Hinako’s flawless “perfect Ojou-sama” image would crumble.

Just a little longer. Hinako started walking toward the gate with a lazy expression.

“Oh, Konohana-san! Sorry, could I ask for your advice on something?”

At that moment, an unfamiliar student called out to her from behind.

Hinako’s face visibly wilted. …Ugh, she was so close to dropping the act.

“…Want me to turn them away for you?”

“No… Even if I refuse, they’ll just message me in the game later. …I’ll go.”

“Got it. Let me know when you’re done.”

Hinako’s eyes looked dead.

Honestly, she’s had to deal with this kind of thing so many times at the academy—refusing a consultation only to get spammed with chat messages—that her decision was quick.

Being popular is tough. I’ve been getting more consultations myself lately, but nowhere near as many as Hinako.

“Do your best. I’ll sneakily grab some potato chips for you later.”

“…Yay!”

That seemed to perk her up, and Hinako headed toward the student who called her with renewed energy.

Shizune-san keeps telling me not to “feed” her, and I haven’t been doing it much lately, so I figure once in a while is fine.

But now I’m left with nothing to do.

The student who approached Hinako seemed pretty formal, so it might take a while. I decided to wander around the academy to kill time.

Kiou Academy is huge. But after a semester here, I’ve more or less visited most places. The café, the sports field, the tennis courts, the library, the gymnasium. I’ve been slacking on exercise lately, so I figured I could use this as a chance to stretch my legs and check out different spots.

As I was about to pass by the school building one last time, I spotted Narika.

“Narika? You’re done with the consultation already?”

“Yeah. It wrapped up faster than I expected, so I’m just waiting for my ride here.”

Her ride must still be a little while away.

But Narika didn’t just look bored—she seemed a bit down.

“Well, it’s less that it went quickly and more that I couldn’t really help them properly…”

“…Is that so?”

“They wanted advice on managing a large company. But I mostly operate on instinct, so I couldn’t explain things well… I feel bad for them.”

As companies grow larger around this time, some students struggle to adapt to the changes. The person who consulted Narika was probably one of them.

I’ve gotten similar consultations a few times myself.

“No need to beat yourself up over it. I get like that sometimes too.”

“R-Really?”

“They probably don’t expect you to have all the answers. …More importantly, since when did you become the go-to person for classmates? Didn’t you say not too long ago that you still hadn’t settled in with the class?”

“Oh, uh, yeah. Since the Management Game started, people have been approaching me more. They say my company’s doing well and want tips.”

The Management Game really does spark more interaction between students.

This environment might just be the perfect chance for Narika to make new friends.

As I was thinking that, Narika suddenly broke into a weird, goofy grin.

“What’s with that face?”

“Nothing… I just realized you really pay attention to me, Izuki.”

“Well, yeah, you’ve come crying to me enough times.”

“Ugh… Y-Yeah, I guess that’s true.”

Narika, who had been looking delighted, visibly deflated.

…But that’s not the only reason.

It’s true that her constant venting has made me worry about her, but there’s another reason I keep an eye on Narika.

It goes back to the day of the athletic festival—

—It’s only you, Izuki!

That day, Narika said to me,

—The only special person to me is you, Izuki! Forever and always, only you!

Those words still echo in my ears.

I told Narika I hoped she could find more special people to connect with, like I do, but she shook her head, half in tears. That wasn’t it. I was the only special one to her.

…Ever since then, I can’t help but be hyper-aware of her.

When it’s just the two of us, those words sometimes flash through my mind. What did she mean by “special”? What was Narika trying to tell me?

For now, I’ve been trying not to read too much into it, since overthinking could make things awkward. …Knowing Narika, it probably doesn’t have some deep meaning. She might have just meant that the friends she’s starting to make are different from me, her best friend.

There’s no way it could be romantic.

Right? I mean, it’s Narika…

(…For now, I’ll just put it out of my mind.)

The right time to deal with this probably isn’t now.

If I overthink it and make things weird, it’ll put Narika in a tough spot too. With the Management Game entering its second half and demanding our focus, adding complications isn’t a good idea.

Besides… Narika still relies on me a lot.

If things got awkward between us, she might end up with no one to turn to, and that could really hurt her.

When I think about it that way… it’s hard to push further.

“Hm?”

Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Narika spotted something and walked over to it.

“Izuki! There’s a soccer ball!”

“…Someone must have forgotten to put it away.”

Narika looked at me excitedly as she found the ball.

If only she could show this carefree side in front of everyone…

“Pass!”

The ball rolled gently to my feet.

Narika’s pass was soft and easy to trap. It wasn’t about showing off her skill but was carefully controlled to make it easy for me.

As always, she’s so skilled when it comes to sports.

It’s rare for someone to have such clear strengths and weaknesses.

Now it was my turn to pass the ball back to Narika.

“It’s been a while since I kicked a ball.”

“At Kiou Academy, we play soccer in our first year, but you transferred in this year, right?”

So I won’t get to play soccer in class anymore, huh?

Well, even without classes, I can always play as long as there’s a ball around.

“Here, Izuki!”

“Whoa!”

Narika deliberately lofted the ball, so I trapped it with my chest.

My uniform might get dirty again. Shizune-san will probably scold me later… but seeing Narika’s joyful expression, I can’t help but get caught up in the moment and feel like a kid again.

…Yeah, keeping this easygoing dynamic with Narika is probably the way to go.

At least for now, that’s what I think.

“At the tea party earlier, Tennouji-san asked if anyone had any issues, right?”

After a few more passes, Narika started talking.

“For a moment, I thought about asking everyone for advice… How do you all talk so confidently with people you’ve just met?”

“…What do you mean?”

I wasn’t sure what she was getting at, so I kicked the ball back and looked at her.

“Since the Management Game started, I’ve had to talk to a lot of people I don’t know. Thanks to you, I’ve been making more friends little by little, but… some people are still scared of me when we first meet. It’s caused a few meetings to stall.”

The Management Game has probably given Narika more chances to interact with strangers, which seems to have brought up a new worry for her.

Maybe the consultation earlier went south for the same reason.

Real-world interactions are crucial in the Management Game. In fact, Tomonari Gifts’ partnership with Wedding Needs only happened because of my real-world negotiations with Ikuno.

“If I could be more confident, I think people would naturally stop misunderstanding me. But when I see someone looking scared of me, I just freeze up and can’t talk properly. Those frightened eyes make my mind go completely blank.”

Narika once told me that being feared by everyone at last year’s athletic festival left a deep scar.

Hearing her now, I’m certain of it. She still hasn’t fully overcome that trauma.

It’s only natural. For nearly a whole year, her classmates were terrified of her. She puts on a cheerful front with us, but the negative image that kept her on pins and needles won’t vanish easily.

(The athletic festival helped clear up some of Narika’s bad reputation, but… maybe she needs to change even more herself.)

She’s definitely moving in a positive direction, but it’s not enough yet.

At the very least, she doesn’t feel satisfied.

But this kind of thing…

“…Isn’t it just a matter of gaining experience?”

Realizing I answered too curtly, I added,

“I think that’s what the Management Game is for. It’s about racking up business experience now so we don’t make these kinds of mistakes in the real world later. That’s the whole point of the game.”

“…You’re right. Struggling is kind of expected, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. So I think it’s okay to mess up right now.”

Even as I said that, I was racking my brain for more concrete advice.

But honestly, feeling awkward with strangers seems pretty normal to me.

Narika’s destined to lead a major company someday, so I get that “normal” won’t cut it for her. Unfortunately, I haven’t reached that level myself, so I don’t have much to offer.

“What are you aiming for, Narika?”

I found myself asking her.

“Not just in the game, but what kind of person do you want to become in the end?”

“Mmm… That’s a tough question.”

I’d probably agonize over it for a while if someone asked me the same thing.

So I wasn’t about to rush Narika, no matter how long it took her to answer.

“I know it’s a bit of a lofty goal, but…”

Narika said hesitantly, almost shyly.

“In the end, I want to stand side by side with people like Konohana-san and Tennouji-san…”

Despite her usual negativity, Narika’s refusal to settle for less is one of her best qualities.

And that goal? It’s exactly the same as mine.

“Let’s both keep at it, then.”

Narika and I might be starting from completely different places, but having someone close who shares the same goal made me oddly happy.

Yeah, that’s right…

We want to stand shoulder to shoulder with those two.

We’re around them so much every day. I’m sure Asahi-san and Taishou feel the same way deep down.

As a quiet surge of motivation welled up inside me, my smartphone buzzed.

A message from Hinako popped up in the app: “All done~”

“Alright, I’m gonna head out.”

“Got it. Thanks for listening, Izuki.”

“I don’t feel like I helped much, though.”

“N-no way that’s true! The Miyakojima family creed says, ‘Never fear a meeting.’ Thanks to Izuki, I remembered that… I’m going to try talking to people without fear!”

They have a creed like that…?

I headed toward the school gate. …But before that, I turned back just once.

“Narika, I wasn’t sure if I should say this, but…”

Seeing Narika tilt her head, I felt a pang of awkwardness.

I should probably say it so Narika doesn’t end up embarrassed later.

“Uh… I think you shouldn’t raise your legs too much when you’re wearing a skirt.”

“Huh…!? Oh!”

Narika’s face turned bright red as she pressed down her skirt.

I hope she notices sooner next time.

◆

Back at the Konohana estate, I called Takuma-san to update him on the game’s progress.

“Things are on track, huh?”

Takuma-san’s voice came through the smartphone’s speaker.

I’d already shared the game’s status with text and screenshots, and it seemed he’d thoroughly reviewed them.

“So, what’s next? What’s your plan moving forward?”

Takuma-san asked.

“I think you can feel it too, Izuki-kun, but the current market is small. You might see a bit more profit, but it’s probably going to hit a ceiling soon, don’t you think?”

“Yeah… honestly, I feel like we’re nearing the top.”

I don’t think my choice to target the niche gift market was wrong. Suminoe-san being a rival was unexpected, but there were hardly any other competitors, and we got off to a great start.

Still, when I talk with Hinako, Tennouji-san, or Narika, the sheer scale of their businesses sometimes overwhelms me.

Honestly… I’m jealous.

I want to handle bigger numbers too.

At the end of summer break, I swore to Hinako at my old house that I’d become someone who could stand as her equal someday. One of the benchmarks for that is becoming someone who can shoulder big responsibilities like they do.

I think Tomonari Gifts has grown impressively, if I do say so myself.

But if I want to take on even greater responsibilities—this company isn’t enough.

“…Can I start a second business?”

“Good. I wanted to hear those words from your own mouth.”

Takuma-san always guides me to make important decisions myself.

This guy would make a legitimately great educator… Relying on him was the right call.

“I’m all for starting a new business. But you should think about what to do with the current company. Sell it through M&A and use the profits to start the next one? Or prepare a successor to take over? There are lots of ways to handle business succession.”

Running the current business while starting a new one is, unfortunately, beyond my resources. Takuma-san knows that, so he’s moving the conversation forward assuming succession.

Since Tomonari Gifts’ only employees besides me are AI, internal succession would mean an AI becoming president next. On the other hand, with M&A or external succession by bringing in an outside executive, I could potentially hand it over to a human player instead.

It’s a company I poured my heart into building, so if possible, I’d like to entrust it to someone I know.

“Even if I have an acquaintance take over, I can still sell the shares, right?”

“You want to sell the shares you currently hold, huh? Of course, that’s possible. It’ll be a bit more complicated than a simple transfer, but it depends on the other party.”

Starting a new business requires capital. If possible, I’d prefer to sell rather than just transfer.

The content of the next business and securing capital—I need to think about both in parallel.

“From here on, it’s up to you to decide, Izuki-kun. I’m looking forward to the results.”

With that, Takuma-san ended the call.

I let out a small sigh and relaxed my shoulders.

Nine o’clock in the evening. Just about time for the game to wrap up.

After school, I secretly bought some potato chips behind Shizune-san’s back and headed to Hinako’s room with them in hand.

“Hinako, you in there?”

“…!?”

When I knocked and called out, I heard a loud thump-thump-thump! from inside.

After waiting a bit, I got a “C-come in…!” so I entered.

Hinako was sitting at her desk.

For some reason, her face was bright red and sweaty.

“Uh… you okay? I heard a noise.”

“I-I was just studying… I’m fine.”

She’s definitely hiding something.

Glancing around the room, I noticed the blanket on her bed was unnaturally puffed up.

“…This?”

“Ah…!?”

When I lifted the blanket, I found a shoujo manga hidden underneath.

“Manga you borrowed from Yuri, huh? I mean, Shizune-san might care, but you don’t have to hide it from me, you know?”

“W-well… maybe.”

Hinako gave a vague response.

Well, I feel like even Shizune-san would probably let manga slide. …Though depending on the content, she might confiscate it, saying it’s bad for her education.

…Could this manga be one of those?

I tried flipping through it to check—

“N-no, don’t read it…!”

Hinako hurriedly rushed toward me.

“I-I mean, I haven’t read it yet…!”

“O-oh, my bad.”

I wasn’t planning to spoil anything… but since it’s something Hinako borrowed, I get that she’d want to read it first.

“…Just so you know, Shizune-san probably won’t let anything too intense slide, okay?”

“I-it’s not like that, so it’s fine…!”

Apparently, she wasn’t hiding it because the content was intense.

Wait, so Hinako knows what “intense” stuff means…?

“I-Izuki, it’s about… bath time.”

Hinako glanced at the clock and said.

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go.”

I was thinking of munching on some chips, but I decided to take a bath first.

◇

That day, Konohana Hinako was determined.

I need to make Izuki’s heart skip a beat already.

She was desperate to make this shameless, oblivious guy aware of her.

Today’s tea party had given her the push she needed. She had noticed Izuki getting attention from girls lately, but she hadn’t realized it was that kind of talk.

(If this keeps up, the whole world will notice Izuki’s charm…!)

In Hinako’s vivid imagination, Izuki was surrounded by a hundred girls, casually tilting a wine glass with a “Hahaha.” She couldn’t let this future come to pass.

Just moments ago, she’d been reading the manga she borrowed from Yuri to prepare for her strategy. When Izuki showed up, she hurriedly hid it.

Luckily, Izuki didn’t seem to know what was in the manga. Her plan was still safe.

Now was the time to act—

“…Alright!”

After changing into her swimsuit, Hinako psyched herself up and headed to the bathroom.

“Izuki… sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Oh, hey.”

Izuki was already in the bath.

He was soaking his feet in the tub, reading some kind of document.

“Is that a balance sheet? You can read it…?”

“Yeah. Takuma-san told me I should learn how to.”

A balance sheet is a document summarizing a company’s financial status.

He didn’t even know what a BS or PL was before, but now he can understand them.

She wanted to praise him honestly, but she wasn’t in the mood for that.

…Her brother again.

Is her brother getting in the way again?

“Hmph…”

“…Oh, my bad. Should I drop the Takuma-san talk?”

Izuki gave an awkward smile as he set the document aside. Seeing his face, Hinako realized she was making a grumpy expression.

(I’m an adult. I’m an adult. I’m an adult. …Okay!)

She mentally chanted three times to calm herself.

Pushing thoughts of her brother out of her mind, Hinako plopped down next to Izuki.

“A-ah… I’m, like, super tired today~…”

She said, stealing glances at Izuki to gauge his reaction.

“I could really use someone to wash me~…”

“…Huh?”

Izuki froze.

“W-wait, we agreed you’d wash yourself, right?”

“But I’m, like, so tired today~…”

Hinako said, inching closer to Izuki bit by bit.

“…Could you wash me~…?”

She looked up at him with doe eyes.

Izuki’s cheeks were slightly flushed.

It’s working…!

Feeling a spark of success, Hinako decided to go all in.

“Like, here… could you wash here~…?”

“W-whoa!?”

She slipped the strap of her swimsuit slightly off her shoulder and said it.

Izuki visibly panicked.

But Hinako was just as flustered.

(W-wait, I might’ve gone too far…!)

The shoujo manga made it look like this, but maybe it was too soon for her.

Something’s off… In her head, she was supposed to be giving Izuki a sultry, mature smile by now. Her cheeks were burning, and even though she’d just gotten in the bath, she felt like she was overheating.

What was… Izuki’s reaction?

Nervously checking his expression,

“…Izuki?”

Izuki was looking away, his face a terrifying mask.

He looked like the right half of a Nio statue.

“Hinako, we need to talk.”

“…Y-yeah?”

With a stern expression, as if he was forcibly suppressing a surge of emotions, Izuki spoke.

This… wasn’t the reaction she expected.

“That kind of thing… it’s, well, improper.”

“I-improper…!?”

Gong! A sound rang out in her head.

She never imagined he’d react like that.

“It feels way too late to say this, but women shouldn’t expose their skin carelessly. I mean, really, way too late, but…”

Izuki said with an incredibly awkward expression.

“W-whose…”

Hinako’s face turned bright red, trembling with embarrassment.

“Whose fault is that…!?”

She only tried so hard because Izuki was so oblivious…!

Hinako fixed her swimsuit strap and let out a slow breath to vent her frustration.

“…Wash it.”

She said without meeting Izuki’s eyes.

“My hair. Hurry. Wash it.”

“Y-yes, ma’am.”

Izuki cautiously began washing Hinako’s hair.

◇

Izuki was heading to Hinako’s room with potato chips in hand.

Receiving this report from a subordinate maid, Shizune stealthily followed him to catch them in the act, heading toward Hinako’s room.

But there was no response when she knocked on the door.

Were they in the bath? Thinking so, Shizune headed to the bathroom. Sure enough, their clothes were in the changing area.

She peeked inside quietly and witnessed the whole scene.

(Ojou-sama… you’re rushing things too much…)

Izuki cares deeply for Hinako. That’s why he won’t cross certain lines lightly. In this regard, Shizune had absolute trust in Izuki.

If Hinako seriously wanted to win him over… she’d probably need a heavier, more sincere mood. Also, he seems like he’d be ridiculously weak to established facts.

(…No, no, why am I even thinking about this?)

She must be shaken from seeing that bizarre scene. To calm down, she stepped away from the bathroom.

There was a shoujo manga on the bed. Picking it up and flipping through it, she understood. So, Hinako had tried mimicking this manga.

She couldn’t help but sigh, pressing a hand to her forehead.

It’d take a while for Hinako to learn that manga isn’t reality.

Just then, a call came in.

She checked her smartphone screen… another source of sighs.

Reluctantly, Shizune answered the call.

“Wrong number.”

“No, it’s not.”

She nearly hung up instantly, but the other side was quick to point it out.

That man—Konohana Takuma—was probably wearing his usual frivolous grin right now.

“It’s been a while, Shizune. Got a minute?”

“No, I don’t. Unlike certain people, I’m very busy.”

“Managing busyness is part of the job. You’re the head maid now, so you should delegate more and distribute tasks properly.”

She meant it as sarcasm, but he responded seriously.

What an infuriating guy.

“I need some data for work, but I’m out and don’t have access. Could you send customer lists D7 to D9 from the head office server to my PC?”

“…Understood.”

If she refused, he’d just ask someone else, increasing someone else’s workload. So Shizune begrudgingly accepted the task.

“Takuma-sama. What are your intentions with Izuki-san?”

“Hinako asked me that same question before.”

When Hinako realized Takuma was Izuki’s observer, she suspected he was up to no good and contacted him once. That’s probably what he meant.

“Izuki-san is progressing smoothly in the game. …Honestly, faster than I expected. That’s why I’m curious about what you plan for him to achieve next.”

“That said, there’s only about three weeks left until the game ends. His growth rate is incredible, but the results might end up being fairly standard, you know?”

“It’s not just about the game.”

Also, she had a feeling the game results wouldn’t be standard either.

Takuma seemed to share that hunch, deliberately speaking vaguely.

“What kind of person do you ultimately want Izuki-san to become?”

At that question, Takuma fell silent for a moment.

That’s rare. For him to struggle with a response.

“…At first, I planned to make him a serial entrepreneur.”

A serial entrepreneur is someone who starts a company, gets it on track, sells it, and uses the profits to start another company, repeating the cycle to keep earning.

“But he had more business talent than I imagined. If that’s the case, maybe taking detours isn’t the best path for him.”

“Was being a serial entrepreneur a detour?”

“Ah. It was always meant to be a stepping stone for learning management.”

I see. Indeed, experiencing the founding and selling of multiple companies would thoroughly hone management skills.

But to call it a detour means—

Takuma wasn’t seeking to make Izuki a person with vast management knowledge.

“What you ultimately want from Izuki-san is…”

“Exactly. —Someone like me.”

I understood the full picture of what this man wanted to make of Izuki.

It’s not impossible. No, rather—it might be ideal.

He’s definitely suited for it. In that field, Izuki could surely shine.

“Don’t you think he’s a good target?”

Takuma says with a cheerful laugh.

“…Are you trying to create a clone of yourself?”

“Exactly. Ideal, isn’t it? If there were a clone of me in this world, I could handle twice the work. Things I thought impossible in my generation might become possible.”

“Izuki-san won’t become like you.”

“Hinako said the same thing.”

A low chuckle from Takuma echoes.

“So, Shizune. Can I borrow Izuki-kun this Friday?”

“What are you planning?”

To the suspicious Shizune, Takuma replies.

“A field trip.”

◆

Three days later, on Friday.

Since Fridays during the Management Game are holidays, I planned to study in my room at the mansion. But after breakfast, Shizune-san calls me to the office.

Takuma-san is there.

Without much greeting, Takuma-san tells me he has a task for me.

The task is—

“A field trip?”

“Yep.”

Takuma-san nods.

“I’m heading to a shareholders’ meeting for work, and you’re coming along.”

“…A shareholders’ meeting? Isn’t that something you can’t just casually attend? You’re not using some shady connections again, are you?”

“Hahaha, what are you talking about? You’re an apprentice judicial scrivener, attending a shareholders’ meeting for training, right? Lucky that the training office happens to have ties with the company.”

As expected, he’s using some shady connections.

So I’m finally tapping into Takuma-san’s absurd network? …If anyone’s being inconvenienced, I’m sorry.

“Please, let me join.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

For someone like me, who feels they still have much to learn, there’s no reason to refuse this offer.

“So, Hinako. Could you stop glaring at me now?”

“…”

Hinako, standing behind me, is staring straight at Takuma-san.

She came along to the office, insisting on joining to keep an eye on things, but hasn’t said a word since seeing Takuma-san. Instead, she’s been shooting him sharp, piercing looks.

“…If you do anything weird to Izuki, I won’t forgive you.”

“I wouldn’t do that. I’m not you, Hinako.”

“Wha…!?”

“Oh? Did you actually do something? Judging by that reaction, it was recent. Yesterday? The day before… no, three days ago, I bet.”

“W-W-What…!?”

Takuma-san gauges Hinako’s reaction while making his guess.

Hinako’s face turns as red as an apple, her mouth opening and closing wordlessly.

Is she remembering that night in the bathroom three days ago? …This is awkward for me too.

“Y-Y-You… idiot…!!”

Hinako, in a huff, storms out of the room.

Worried about her, Shizune-san hurriedly follows, leaving the office.

“Well then, shall we go?”

“…Yes.”

As if nothing happened…

…Will I be okay? Can I really keep up with this guy?

With that unease, I leave the mansion.

◆

“During the ride, I’ll have you learn about general shareholders’ meetings, Izuki-kun.”

In the car, Takuma-san says this and hands me a tablet.

The tablet screen shows the world’s most famous video site, with the words “shareholders’ meeting” entered in the search bar.

“There are videos of shareholders’ meetings online?”

“For the big ones, yeah.”

For now, I check out a video with high views.

I feel a bit carsick, but the audio conveys enough, so I look away from the screen, skipping parts as needed while watching.

Twenty minutes later.

“…I’ve got the gist of it.”

“Any thoughts?”

Takuma-san asks as I hand back the tablet.

“I thought shareholders’ meetings would be more like heated debates, but they’re not really like that…”

“Yeah. It’s less a discussion and more a report. There’s Q&A, but it’s mainly about fulfilling accountability to shareholders with opinions.”

The shareholders’ meeting in the video was mostly the president’s one-sided presentation.

During Q&A, shareholders voiced opinions, but there was no talk of future plans—just feedback on decisions already made.

As Takuma-san said, it feels more like a reporting or presentation event than a meeting.

“The flow is roughly the same for any shareholders’ meeting. Business reports, changes to articles of incorporation, dividend distributions, and director appointments are voted on, followed by Q&A. Got that?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me briefly explain this shareholders’ meeting.”

Takuma-san continues.

“We’re attending the shareholders’ meeting of Taiyo Construction Co., Ltd. Capital of 20 billion yen, 2,000 employees—a mid-sized general contractor. They’re strong in marine civil engineering and operate overseas.”

Taiyo Construction… I’ve never heard of it, but it doesn’t sound small.

“But this company is facing a certain problem right now.”

“A problem?”

“I’ll explain the details on-site. That problem will come up during the meeting, so look forward to it.”

Takuma-san grins mischievously.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Soon, the car stops in front of a large office building. This must be the venue. I follow Takuma-san, who seems at ease, into a rented meeting room inside.

At the reception, a woman in a suit looks at me and bows slightly.

“You’re the trainee, right? We’ve been informed. Here’s your name tag.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Sorry, I’m actually just a student…

Next to me, Takuma-san hands something small to the receptionist.

“Takuma-san, what did you submit?”

“A proxy voting form. Like a ballot.”

A new term. …I’ll look it up later.

Inside the meeting room, tables and pipe chairs are neatly arranged. We find empty seats and sit together.

“Ahem, we will now commence the 97th Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting.”

The president of Taiyo Construction, serving as chairman per the articles of incorporation, signals the start.

—Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting.

A mandatory meeting held once a year by companies.

First, the procedure is explained. In summary, the company reports on business strategies and resolutions.

Then, there’s Q&A, followed by voting, and it concludes.

This flow seems standard for shareholders’ meetings. The video I watched in the car was similar.

“Now, we will explain Taiyo Construction’s growth strategy.”

The chairman plays a pre-prepared video.

It’s well-prepared, but it’s essentially the same as the financial reports we did with the Tea Party Alliance. The difference is that this is for shareholders, so it includes dividend explanations.

…Seeing this, the Management Game really is serious business.

Familiar terms like sales and operating profit pop up repeatedly.

“Next, we’ll discuss the resolutions. The first agenda item is the distribution of dividends—”

The video ends, and a slide appears on the screen.

Resolutions are matters that need to be decided.

The first is dividends. They’re slightly higher than last year, which shareholders would welcome, so no one’s likely to oppose.

“The second agenda item is the appointment of directors.”

The president, acting as chairman, switches slides and explains.

“As this meeting concludes, the terms of all current directors will expire. Therefore, we ask for your approval to appoint new directors.”

Since the current directors’ terms are ending, new ones must be chosen.

The slide lists the director candidates prepared by Taiyo Construction, but…

(…Is he nervous?)

The chairman’s expression seems stiff.

The explanation continues with the appointment of auditors and executive compensation resolutions.

“Next, the sixth agenda item. Ahem… from here, we have shareholder proposals.”

The room stirs faintly.

Shareholder proposals…?

This wasn’t in the video I watched.

In fact, the video’s meeting didn’t have this many agenda items.

“These are the director candidates proposed by Suzuki Fund.”

The slide displays multiple candidate names.

Directors proposed by Suzuki Fund?

Not Taiyo Construction…?

“Alright, let me explain. Read these materials while listening.”

Takuma-san hands me documents as he speaks.

“The issue here is the director appointments. The conflict is between two groups: Taiyo Construction and Suzuki Fund.”

Suzuki Fund.

The term the chairman mentioned earlier.

“As a shareholder of Taiyo Construction, Suzuki Fund has long proposed reforms like launching new businesses. But Taiyo Construction has consistently rejected these.”

I nod, urging him to continue.

“Suzuki Fund didn’t give up and even suggested a takeover bid, but those talks stalled. Frustrated, Suzuki Fund announced they’d propose their own director candidates. That’s what this agenda item is.”

“…So, Suzuki Fund is challenging Taiyo Construction’s director candidates, trying to get their own elected instead?”

“Exactly. It’s a battle between Suzuki Fund and Taiyo Construction for director positions.”

I recall the typical shareholders’ meeting from the car video.

Normally, only the company’s director candidates are presented, and shareholders judge their suitability.

But here, Suzuki Fund is proposing entirely different candidates.

Shareholders must choose between the two sides.

“…If Suzuki Fund’s candidates win a majority, what happens to Taiyo Construction?”

Takuma-san flashes a sly grin.

“What do you think?”

Well…

If that happens, the board of directors—the company’s decision-making body—would be dominated by Suzuki Fund’s people, meaning Taiyo Construction…

“…The company gets taken over?”

“Correct.”

Takuma-san narrows his eyes at the chairman.

The chairman, still pale and sweating, is understandably tense. His company could be taken over.

“By the way, voting’s already done. We’re just waiting for the results.”

“…Was that the form you submitted at reception?”

“Yep. That’s when shareholders exercise their voting rights. Those not attending vote by mail or online.”

Now I understand why Takuma-san called it a ballot.

“Who do you think will win, Izuki-kun?”

I think for a moment before answering.

“…Taiyo Construction, right?”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because entrusting directors to outsiders suddenly feels risky. Other shareholders probably think so too.”

“Good, good.”

Seems I got it right or close. Takuma-san nods, satisfied.

Suzuki Fund’s tactic is straightforward. They want to reform Taiyo Construction their way, so they’re pushing their own directors.

To me, it feels overbearing. It reminds me of when Suminoe-san acquired our fund—using money to force compliance.

“As you said, it’s rare for shareholder-proposed directors to be elected. But Suzuki Fund knows that.”

Knowing that and still proposing means…

“…They have some kind of confidence, don’t they?”

Takuma-san nods.

“Check page seventeen of the materials. It lists the profiles of Suzuki Fund’s candidates.”

I flip to the page as instructed.

Reading the profiles of Suzuki Fund’s candidates… I’m stunned.

“What the… they’re all big shots!”

“That’s their confidence.”

It’s a lineup of executives from companies every Japanese person would know.

To gather such people… who even is Suzuki Fund?

“Ahem, the voting results are in. For the second agenda item, seven directors were approved.”

The chairman announces haltingly.

His cold sweat… doesn’t stop.

“For the sixth agenda item, eight directors… were approved.”

Seven for the company, eight for the shareholders.

In other words—

“Suzuki Fund… won.”

“The other shareholders must have felt Suzuki Fund’s passion. They thought, ‘If they’re this serious, let’s give them a shot.’”

The room grows noisy.

Ignoring the surrounding buzz, I calmly reassess the situation.

“Could this be…”

Gaining a majority to take over the company. This feels familiar.

As if reading my realization, Takuma-san smiles faintly.

“Yep. —It’s an acquisition.”

I knew it.

The complex information was dizzying, but at its core, it’s just an acquisition.

“I hope this shareholders’ meeting helped you understand, Izuki-kun, but a company’s direction is basically decided by shareholder votes. Roughly one vote per hundred shares, so influence varies by ownership ratio.”

Someone with a hundred shares gets one vote, but a thousand shares means ten votes. The more you invest, the more influence you have. Those who take bigger risks get stronger voices.

Thinking that way, business feels fair.

Maybe there’s less injustice in this world than I thought.

“TOB is one thing, but the ultimate goal of M&A is to win this vote. Holding a majority of the target company’s shares means you can win any vote, no matter what.”

Indeed, if you secure a majority of the votes in advance, you can control any resolution as you please.

So that’s how M&A works…

It’s a topic we’ve touched on countless times in the game, but I hadn’t grasped the real-world flow.

“In the Management Game, it’s hard to feel what’s actually happening, right? In the game, once you acquire a majority of the shares, the company automatically becomes a subsidiary.”

That’s exactly it. That’s why I thought studying beyond that wasn’t necessary.

So in reality, this is where a company’s direction gets decided.

“…But this acquisition isn’t normal, is it?”

“Yeah, it’s an anomaly among anomalies. The Suzuki Fund only owns thirty percent of Taiyo Construction’s shares. Even so, they managed to pull off the acquisition by gaining the support of other shareholders.”

It’s not about trading stocks.

With a superior reform plan and an incredible lineup of talent, the Suzuki Fund managed to replace Taiyo Construction’s leadership.

—An acquisition like this is possible?

The shareholders around us are buzzing, probably because this is such an extraordinary situation.

“With that… I hereby declare the annual shareholders’ meeting adjourned.”

The shareholders’ meeting is over.

The chairman’s face is pale. I can’t help but feel sympathy for him.

“Is this, like, a historic moment or something?”

“Hmm, who knows. It’ll definitely make the news, though.”

It feels like I’ve stumbled into an unbelievable scene.

But if that’s the case, one question remains.

“…Why did you know this would happen, Takuma-san?”

Takuma-san seemed to have predicted this outcome from the start. That’s probably why he went out of his way to bring me to this shareholders’ meeting.

To begin with, what’s Takuma-san’s role in all this?

“Let me explain step by step.”

Takuma-san looks at me with amusement as I grapple with all sorts of doubts.

“There were three things I wanted you to learn today, Izuki-kun. …The first was to feel the mechanics of an acquisition firsthand. The second was to properly acknowledge the existence of shareholders.”

“Shareholders…?”

Not quite getting his point, I tilt my head, and Takuma-san nods.

“You have a talent for seeing beyond the data. You’re vaguely aware of that, aren’t you?”

He asks with such confidence.

I give a small nod. I’ve always had a knack for reading business partners, but what Takuma-san’s talking about is probably that.

“But it’s not enough yet. That sense of yours can be expanded further. …From now on, don’t just look at the faces of executives—look at the faces of shareholders too.”

The moment he says that, it’s like something clicks in my mind.

The face of Taiyo Construction’s president, who chaired the meeting. The shareholders, murmuring in shock at the board election results. I recall their reactions in my head.

“It’s a matter of intuition, so you don’t need to fully understand it right now. With more study, eventually—”

“…No.”

Cutting Takuma-san off, I shake my head.

“…It’s fine. I think I get what you mean.”

At that, Takuma-san’s eyes widen.

But soon, a smile curves his lips—

“I knew taking you as my disciple was the right choice.”

Takuma-san nods with satisfaction.

“Now, the third thing. This also answers your question—”

“Hey, Takuma-san! There you are!”

As we step into the building’s lobby, a man calls out from behind.

I recognize him—he was sitting near the front at the shareholders’ meeting. His imposing build made him memorable. He’s got this big-shot aura, and the Italian suit he’s wearing suits him perfectly.

Who is this guy? I tilt my head, and Takuma-san explains.

“Let me introduce you. This is Suzuki-san, the head of the Suzuki Fund.”

“Wha—!?”

The head!? I’m so shocked I yelp mid-syllable.

Introducing someone this huge out of nowhere…!

“Uh, Tomonari Izuki. I had the privilege of observing the shareholders’ meeting today.”

“Oh, you’re Tomonari-kun! Takuma-san’s told me about you—his prized protégé, huh?”

Prized… am I really?

Well, considering he’s giving me such a rare experience, I can’t exactly deny it.

“Um, what’s your relationship with Takuma-san, Suzuki-san?”

When I ask, Suzuki-san glances at Takuma-san.

Is it okay to answer? his eyes seem to ask.

Takuma-san nods and gives the answer himself.

“The outside directors proposed by the Suzuki Fund? I introduced all of them.”

“…Huh?”

Those heavy-hitter candidates?

That unbeatable lineup?

Takuma-san put it together… alone?

“Man, Takuma-san, you really came through for us. It’s all thanks to you.”

“You’re too kind. It was your financial backing and passion for Taiyo Construction that made it happen, Suzuki-san.”

“Haha, I appreciate you saying that. …Still, it’s a fact that two of our proposed candidates got rejected. I was hoping we’d get them all approved, but things don’t always go as planned, do they?”

“The two who were rejected were too closely tied to you. I told you, didn’t I? Independence is crucial for outside directors. The advisory firm pointed that out too.”

“You’re right… Those two were so motivated, so it’s a bit bittersweet.”

Suzuki-san says with a regretful look.

So it seems Takuma-san was really pulling the strings behind this whole thing.

…That’s why he could predict the outcome of the shareholders’ meeting.

I knew Takuma-san was incredible, but today might be the first time I’ve truly seen his work in action.

“By the way, Izuki-kun. If you were the president of Taiyo Construction, how would you have handled this situation?”

“Uh…”

Takuma-san throws the question at me out of nowhere.

I can’t come up with an answer on the spot. It feels like an unfair challenge… but then I notice Suzuki-san watching me with keen interest.

In that moment, I swallow my complaints and focus.

—Get your head in gear.

Right now, this moment is insanely valuable. I got to witness an unprecedented shareholders’ meeting, and the two key players behind it are standing right in front of me, ready to hear my answer.

I might never get a chance this rare again.

I’m going to learn as much as I can.

“…How about issuing golden shares?”

“Oh?”

When I offer my hard-thought answer, Suzuki-san lets out a small sound.

Golden shares, in simple terms, are stocks with powerful authority. If someone holds them, they could potentially overturn a shareholders’ meeting resolution. So if Taiyo Construction had a golden shareholder, they might have been able to change the outcome of this board election.

“If you’re issuing golden shares, there’s something you’d need to do first.”

Takuma-san says, looking at me.

Meeting his probing gaze, I return a steady one.

“Delisting the company, right? Taiyo Construction is listed on the TSE Prime, but the Tokyo Stock Exchange generally doesn’t allow golden shares.”

Golden shares are like a trump card, wielding immense power. But that power could undermine the principle of shareholder equality under corporate law, so the TSE basically bans them. In plain terms, if someone holds golden shares, it makes it harder for other shareholders to participate in management, which the TSE sees as unhealthy.

So to issue golden shares, you’d need to delist—go private—and free yourself from the TSE’s restrictions.

“Well, you’ve studied hard.”

Suzuki-san looks impressed.

“Takuma-san, he’s a student at Kiou Academy, right? Does the Management Game teach this much?”

“No, this is just him studying on his own.”

“I see… He’s definitely your prized protégé.”

Suzuki-san eyes me like I’m something fascinating.

I’m glad I looked beyond just winning the Management Game. If I’d been obsessed with only victories, I wouldn’t have gained this kind of knowledge.

“Oh, I need to get going.”

Suzuki-san checks his watch and says so.

“Takuma-san, let’s set up drinks sometime soon! My treat, of course!”

“Thank you.”

Takuma-san bows.

“Izuki-kun, see you around!”

“…Around?”

I can’t help but repeat, and Suzuki-san looks at me, puzzled.

“With how much you’re studying, you’ll end up in this world too, won’t you?”

For a split second, I’m stunned.

But then I take a deep breath—

“—Yes!!”

I answer loudly, and Suzuki-san laughs as he walks away.

Takuma-san and I don’t move an inch until his figure disappears.

“We were in the middle of our talk, weren’t we?”

Once Suzuki-san is out of sight, Takuma-san speaks.

“There were three things I wanted you to know, Izuki-kun. The first was the atmosphere of an acquisition. The second was the existence of shareholders. And the third was my work.”

Takuma-san’s… work?

Come to think of it, what’s his job?

“You probably figured it out from this, but my job is to support executives. To be their right-hand man, so to speak. I identify a company’s challenges, propose solutions, and, if needed, execute them.”

In fact, at this shareholders’ meeting, Takuma-san said he gathered the talent.

At the very least, it’s not just about tossing out ideas.

“It’s a job that demands vast knowledge and experience, plus light footwork. I’m a behind-the-scenes player who rarely steps into the spotlight, but the high degree of freedom and responsibility can make you a mastermind controlling the business.”

Takuma-san, pulling the strings behind the Suzuki Fund, was undoubtedly in a mastermind’s position.

A shadow player, yet a mastermind.

An executive’s right hand, and a ruler of business.

“People call this job—a consultant.”

With that, Takuma-san looks straight at me.

“Izuki-kun. This is what you should aim for.”

◆

After the field trip with Takuma-san, I returned to the Konohana family mansion.

Having finished my Management Game tasks, I was in my room, reflecting on everything I experienced today.

Before I knew it, it was dark outside. As I closed the curtains, there was a knock at my door.

“Pardon me.”

Shizune-san enters.

“A little something for you.”

“…Thank you.”

She’s brewed me some tea.

I take a sip from the cup, and the scent of herbs wafts through my nose. …I’m grateful. When I need to cool my head and think, something refreshing suits my mood better than something sweet.

“Shizune-san… Do you think I’m suited to be a consultant?”

“You are.”

She affirms it without a moment’s hesitation.

I’m so surprised by the quick acknowledgment that I blink in shock.

“Do you remember? You were almost fired as a caretaker once, Izuki-san.”

“…Yes. That was early in the first term.”

It was when Hinako had dinner with shipbuilding company executives. Influenced by me, she committed a breach of etiquette, and I nearly got sacked as her caretaker to take responsibility.

“Back then, you were able to stay on because Kagen-sama valued your network. Your ability to forge connections with people is undeniable.”

“Connections, huh…”

“And I’ve heard you’ve guided several people’s M&As to success in the Management Game. That’s unmistakably the talent of a consultant.”

She’s probably referring to when I chose Tennouji-san’s partner company.

I never imagined being so directly acknowledged for my talent, so I give a wry smile to hide my embarrassment.

“Where’d you hear that?”

“Ojou-sama mentioned it. She said lately, you’ve been getting a lot of attention from the girls in class and can’t stop grinning.”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

Seems she picked up some bad info along with it.

“Don’t trouble Ojou-sama too much, alright?”

“…I’ll do my best.”

Lately, if anything, I’m the one getting troubled more often. Like that bath incident the other day… Isn’t she a bit too influenced by shoujo manga?

“Do you have any resistance to aiming for a consultant role?”

“Not resistance, exactly… I just always thought I’d go into something IT-related. I’m a bit shaken, I guess.”

“How about an IT consultant, then?”

An IT consultant?

“There are all kinds of consultants. You could aim to be one who specializes in IT.”

“…I see.”

“Though, with your broad perspective, I think you could work in all sorts of fields.”

Shizune-san seems skeptical about me narrowing it down to IT consulting.

Specializing in IT might make my future path clearer… but no, that’s just me taking the easy way out. Just because I’m relatively good at IT doesn’t mean I should limit my horizons.

“What kind of consultant is Takuma-san?”

“A strategy consultant, so to speak, but he’s the type who doesn’t fit neatly into any box.”

He sounds like a tough role model to follow.

But on the flip side, it means there are consultants who don’t confine themselves to a single mold.

Takuma-san seemed certain I’d choose the consultant path, but ultimately, it’s my decision. I still have the option to dive headfirst into IT.

But then I recall today’s events.

After the shareholders’ meeting, I shared my thoughts on how Taiyo Construction could have survived, in front of Takuma-san and Suzuki-san.

—It worked.

The knowledge I’d worked so hard to build up actually held up with those two.

That made me so happy.

The things I’ve studied can hold their own in the consulting world. Feeling that certainty now, I’m genuinely intrigued by the world of consulting.

Plus, Takuma-san called consultants the right hand of executives.

If I could be in that position, maybe I could…

—Support Hinako.

Tennouji-san, Narika, Asahi-san, Taishou too.

I might be able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people who’ve helped me and contribute to their efforts.

That feels like the biggest motivation of all.

“This isn’t to say I’m endorsing Takuma-sama’s views, but…”

With that preface, Shizune-san continues.

“Sometimes, I think… If my family’s company had a great consultant, maybe it wouldn’t have gone under.”

At the end of summer break, Shizune-san shared a story from her past. Her family ran a clothing business that dated back to the Meiji era and was even listed on the stock exchange. But it collapsed after the bubble burst and they couldn’t keep up with the times.

I see—

A consultant’s role is to support executives.

So if I become a consultant, I could save companies like that.

…How appealing is that?

Since entering Kiou Academy and witnessing the heavy responsibilities borne by noble heiresses like Hinako, I thought the most I could do was lighten their burdens. After all, I don’t have a company. I don’t have capital. No matter how grand my ideals, once I leave the academy and become a working adult, I don’t have the backing to directly help them.

But as a consultant, I could do that.

I could help everyone with my own power.

And probably in the most direct way possible…

“…I’ll do it.”

I gave voice to the resolve that had ignited in my chest.

“I’m going to aim to become a consultant.”