Chapter 2: The Right Arm of the Executive

The following day was Saturday.

I was researching consultants from early in the morning.

Just as Shizune-san said, there are all sorts of consultants. Strategic consultants contribute to expanding a client’s business, accounting consultants improve financial operations, and there are others too, like business restructuring, human resources, and IT—consultants cover a wide range of fields.

Takuma-san seems to be a strategic consultant, but in my case, I think starting as an IT consultant, where I can leverage my existing knowledge, would be the better choice.

I’m not sure if it’s something I can aim for so easily, but that’s exactly why the Management Game exists. The more seriously I research business, the more I’m amazed by the game’s practical value.

This game shows me the possibilities of my future.

(I’d like to push a bit harder, but…)

A glance at the clock showed it was almost noon.

“…Alright. That’s it for today!”

Muttering to myself as if to cement the decision, I closed my laptop.

Ever since Tennouji-san pointed out that I was overworking, I’d decided to dedicate Saturday afternoons to rest as much as possible.

I’d feel bad making Tennouji-san worry again…

Tennouji-san herself said her grades improved after finding some mental breathing room, so I’ll trust her words and keep pushing forward without overdoing it.

(…Maybe I’ll bring Hinako a little something.)

It’s about lunchtime, so a drink should be just right.

After brewing some tea in the kitchen, I headed to Hinako’s room.

“Hinako, you in?”

When I knocked on the door, a lazy “Mmm” came from inside.

Stepping into the room, I found Hinako leaning back in her chair, her head resting on the backrest, staring—staring up at the ceiling.

“I’m sooo tiiiired…”

“Good work. I brewed some tea for you.”

I set the cup on Hinako’s desk.

Hinako must’ve been working on the Management Game too. On her computer screen, AI employees of the Konohana Group were bustling about at a dizzying pace.

“…Oh, this is good.”

Hinako took a sip of the tea and murmured softly.

“Really? It’s one Tennouji-san recommended…”

“…Actually, it’s bad.”

“Huh!?”

Why!?

“Just kidding. …It’s good.”

“O-oh, good…”

All that effort measuring the steeping time and cup temperature paid off.

“Any tea… if Izuki brews it, it’s always good. …Any tea.”

“Hinako…”

Seeing Hinako sip the tea so happily warmed my heart.

Though, her fixation on the tea leaves is a bit concerning. …Lately, she’s been eyeing Tennouji-san like a rival sometimes—maybe this is an extension of that?

“Izuki, you taking a break now?”

“Yeah. Though I’m planning to do some prep and review for classes after dinner.”

I’ll probably do some on Sunday too, so I’m just going to skim for now.

“Izuki… you’ve been doing great lately.”

“You think?”

“Mhm. You seem, like, relaxed.”

Does she mean I’ve got some leeway?

Come to think of it, back when the Management Game first started, Hinako brewed tea for me a bunch of times. She seemed to want to do it, so I let her, but I hardly ever returned the favor back then. …I didn’t realize it at the time, but I probably didn’t have the mental space to notice much around me.

“I’m gonna take a page out of your book and call it quits on studying for today…”

“…In your case, ‘relaxed’ feels more like ‘slacking,’ doesn’t it?”

I gave a wry smile as Hinako closed her laptop and flopped onto her desk.

Looking at her like this… maybe Hinako’s laid-back personality is exactly why she’s avoided burning out like I used to—or like Tennouji-san did.

“Want me to rub your shoulders?”

“…Please.”

Hinako sat up, and I started massaging her shoulders.

(Whoa… they’re surprisingly tense…!)

I kept quiet since saying it might make her self-conscious, but Hinako’s shoulders were stiffer than I expected. She looks like a delicate girl, but she’s the Ojou-sama of the Konohana Group. Those shoulders must carry a burden I can’t even imagine.

“Mmm~…”

When I worked on her neck, Hinako let out a pleased little sound.

At least for now, I want her to relax completely.

“Izuki… you seemed kinda worried yesterday. You okay now?”

Hinako asked without turning around.

“Yeah. I’ve decided to aim for being a consultant.”

“Got it. …I’m excited to see what you’ll become.”

Hinako said with a soft, goofy smile.

I’ll do my best to live up to those expectations.

“How’s this feel?”

“Mmm… feels lighter. As thanks, I’ll rub yours next.”

After finishing her shoulders, Hinako moved behind me.

As I sat in the chair, her slender fingers settled on my shoulders.

(Oh… this feels pretty good.)

I haven’t studied much today, but maybe I’m still carrying some fatigue from last night? After talking with Shizune-san, I stayed up late researching consultants.

“…”

Suddenly, Hinako’s hands paused.

At the same moment, I felt an odd sensation at the back of my head.

…What’s she doing?

I subtly shifted my gaze to the side, catching the window’s reflection. Hinako didn’t notice, but I could see her behind me in the glass.

She had a dreamy look, gently leaning closer to my head.

And then… sniff sniff, she was smelling me.

“…Hinako?”

“!”

Hinako hurriedly pulled her face away from my head.

“W-w-what…?”

“No, just now…”

“I-I wasn’t doing anything…!”

Hinako’s face turned bright red as she shook her head furiously.

She was so flustered, her face was practically sweating.

(…Guess I’ll wash my hair later.)

Maybe I had some bedhead sweat or something.

Body odor’s part of basic etiquette, after all.

◆

At one in the afternoon, I had lunch with Hinako in the mansion’s dining hall, and now I was washing dishes in the kitchen.

“Huh, so that’s what you’re up to these days?”

Yuri, washing dishes beside me, nodded as she listened to my story.

That day, Yuri was working as kitchen staff for the Konohana household. Since summer break, she’s been picking up shifts here on weekends.

“But honestly, I’m kinda nervous about whether I can handle being a consultant with basically zero track record.”

“Yeah, consultants kinda seem like they’re all about trust, don’t they?”

I handed Yuri a washed plate, and she wiped it dry with practiced ease before stowing it on the shelf.

“By the way, I’m just naturally helping out here, but you don’t have to stick around. Dishwashing’s part of my job, you know.”

“I’ve got time, so let me help with this much. I got proper permission from Shizune-san, too.”

“…Well, fine then.”

I’ve been proactively doing chores since I was a kid, so for me, this is a nice way to unwind. Cleaning or washing dishes gives you that instant sense of accomplishment—tangible results right away.

“Oh, speaking of, our shop’s sales have dipped a bit lately.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah. We’re still making decent money, so I’m not sweating it too much. But I wonder if a consultant could fix something like that.”

That’s Hiramaru for you—a diner loved by young and old alike. Even a dip in sales doesn’t faze their tough mindset.

Still, Hiramaru’s been a familiar spot for me since forever.

I couldn’t just brush it off, so I started thinking about why their sales might’ve dropped.

“…Hiramaru’s main sales come from set meals, right?”

“Yup. The daily special set’s probably our top seller.”

“I found out during summer break, but there’s a new bento shop near the station, yeah? Could they be stealing some of your customers?”

“…Do bentos and set meals really compete like that?”

“I think their target’s pretty similar. Plus, they’re a chain, so their cost ratios are probably lower.”

Feels like they’re fighting over the same after-work salaryman crowd.

The bento shop also sells side dishes and can flexibly discount them. For salarymen working late, discounted sides are an easy grab.

“They’re all about low prices, so maybe you could differentiate by focusing on quality. Hiramaru’s daily special’s a steal at 500 yen, but what if you raised it by 100 yen and used better ingredients instead?”

“Hmm…”

You’d probably need to tweak supplier arrangements, too.

Hiramaru’s daily special banks on being cheap right now, but getting into a price war with a chain is a losing game. Better to polish up the quality instead. Hiramaru’s food is genuinely delicious, so that approach has a solid shot at winning.

“Look at you, pulling it off.”

“Huh?”

“That right there? That’s consultant work, isn’t it?”

She said it so casually, my brain froze for a second.

“…You’re right. That was consulting.”

Maybe I was overthinking it.

A consultant’s job is basically being an advisor to executives, right? That’s not so different from what I’ve already been doing.

Lately, classmates have been coming to me for advice a lot. That’s consulting in its own way, isn’t it?

Sure, I’ve got plenty to learn, but… maybe there’s no need to feel so anxious.

“As thanks for the advice, here.”

Yuri handed me a cold cup.

“…What’s this?”

“A prototype dessert. Tokoroten ice.”

What’s with that combo?

Inside the cup, ice cream sat atop a bed of tokoroten.

Hesitantly, I scooped some ice cream and tokoroten and popped it in my mouth…

“Whoa, this is good!?”

“Sweet! If you’re saying that, it’s a win!”

The ice cream was rich with raw caramel, blending perfectly with the light tokoroten. They must’ve softened the ice cream on purpose—it melted just enough to mingle with the tokoroten.

“I’m adding this to our menu.”

“Sounds good, but you’re cool deciding based on my opinion?”

“Pfft, who do you think’s been training your taste buds all these years?”

…Fair point.

I haven’t been eating Yuri’s prototypes since we were kids for nothing.

“Hey, can I call Hina—er, Konohana-san over? Might as well have her try it.”

“Uh, sure, that’s fine…”

I almost slipped and called her “Hinako” in front of Yuri since that’s what I use around the mansion.

I’ll grab Hinako from the dining hall where she’s chilling and let her try the tokoroten ice.

“Oh, Izuki-san.”

On my way to the dining hall, Shizune-san called out to me.

“Sorry to bother you during your break, but the clothes from the cleaners are back. Could you help bring them in?”

“Got it.”

Shizune-san knows I like doing chores to clear my head.

I don’t have much going on back in my room anyway, so I’ll pitch in with the mansion’s work today. I’m getting a hefty salary—might as well earn it.

“Hinako, Yuri made a dessert and—”

I called out to Hinako in the dining hall before heading off to help Shizune-san.

◇

Hearing there was a tasty dessert, Hinako headed to the kitchen.

There, she found Izuki’s childhood friend, Hirano Yuri.

“Um… Tomonari-kun called me over, so I came…”

“Oh, yeah…”

They exchanged awkward bows.

“…”

“…”

A full minute passed with both of them silent.

(This… this is so awkward…!)

Hinako fidgeted with her lips, staring at the floor.

There was a reason for this painful silence.

At the end of summer break… Hinako learned what love was for the first time. The one who taught her was the girl standing before her—Yuri.

But in the end, Yuri declared herself Hinako’s rival in love.

…We’re in love with the same person.

Since realizing that, Hinako and Yuri had been avoiding being alone together. They’d always used Shizune as a go-between for borrowing manga, so it hadn’t been an issue. But facing each other now, the tension was unavoidable.

“…How’s it going?”

Yuri asked in a small voice.

By “it,” she obviously meant—Hinako’s love life with Izuki.

How should she answer…?

Should she bluff? Or be honest and say “no progress”?

Hinako spun her ultra-high-performance brain, inherited from her parents, at full throttle—

“…Oh, it’s, like, totally going great.”

She chose to bluff.

“H-huh. Really. Wow, that’s… something.”

Yuri acted like she couldn’t care less.

Probably a bluff too… but since Hinako was bluffing, she couldn’t call her out.

The standoff dragged on pointlessly.

“…Like, what’ve you guys done?”

“Huh?”

Yuri’s question caught Hinako off guard, and she faltered.

Panicking, she blurted out a recent event.

“W-well, let’s see. The other day, I took a page from that manga you lent me and took a bath with him—”

“—Hold up.”

Yuri’s face twitched.

“You… you actually did something from the manga in real life…?”

“? Yeah, I did… Is that a problem?”

For Hinako, shoujo manga were her love textbooks.

What’s wrong with following the textbook?

With that thought, Hinako looked puzzled, but Yuri, wearing a complicated expression, explained.

“L-look, Konohana-san. Manga aren’t real life, okay? Doing manga stuff in the real world… it’s kinda intense, you know?”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, I lent them to you for reference, sure, but those are for enjoying as fiction. If you straight-up do that stuff for real, it might actually scare people off.”

“—!”

Hinako was speechless.

Could it be… she’d been making a massive mistake?

“S-so, for example? Like, say, in the manga you lent me this time, there’s a scene where you get all close in swimsuits and subtly show some skin. Doing that in real life would…”

“…That’d make you look like a total creep in real life.”

“Guh!?”

Hinako’s face twitched.

“…What? No way, you actually did that?”

“N-No, I didn’t. I absolutely didn’t do anything like that.”

“Oh, come on… That reaction? You’re totally guilty.”

“I didn’t do it. I swear I didn’t.”

Hinako denied it stubbornly, her face flushed bright red.

Yuri’s gaze pierced Hinako, as if screaming, You’re so guilty.

(Was I… maybe making Izuki uncomfortable…?)

She recalled the incident in the bathroom.

So that’s why Izuki’s reaction was so weird back then…

It seemed she’d done something far removed from typical romantic games between guys and girls.

“W-What about you, Hirano-san?”

Desperate to change the subject, Hinako decided to ask about Yuri’s side.

“…Me? Nothing special’s going on.”

“Oh… I see.”

Hinako gave Yuri an indescribable look.

“Ugh, don’t look at me like that! Besides, if you think about it, it’s your fault Izuki and I got separated in the first place!”

“…I’m truly sorry about that.”

“Ahh! Kidding! I was kidding, so don’t get so down about it!”

Yuri panicked as Hinako looked genuinely apologetic.

“Look, I’m even working at your house now, right? It’s actually a valuable experience, and I’m grateful for it.”

“Still… what I’m doing feels like something a villain in a manga would do…”

“Like I said, manga and reality are different. I’m not holding a grudge against you, Konohana-san.”

Yuri seemed to mean it from the bottom of her heart.

Hinako thought Yuri wasn’t just kind but had a strong spirit. She didn’t blame others and always saw things positively. That’s why Yuri never resented anyone. If anything, she’d blame her own shortcomings before pointing fingers.

“Here, try this if you want.”

Yuri handed Hinako a cup.

Oh, right—their original purpose was to taste test desserts. Hinako took the cup, tilting her head for a moment at the mysterious combination inside, but when she tried it…

“…It’s delicious. The texture’s so unique.”

“Heh… Not bad, right? Even I’m impressed with myself.”

Yuri beamed as Hinako ate, hiding a smile behind her hand.

They locked eyes—and both burst into laughter without prompting.

“Ha… Alright, enough. If we keep getting like this every time we meet, I won’t be able to handle it.”

“You’re right.”

Hinako agreed wholeheartedly.

“I mean, falling for the same guy? It’s probably not that rare.”

Yuri stretched her back and said casually.

Now that she mentioned it, it made sense. If Hinako found someone attractive, it was only natural others would too.

“So, like, we can just be normal about this, right?”

“…Yes. I want to keep getting along with you like always, Hirano-san.”

Their relationship didn’t need to be some dramatic shoujo manga plot or a serious rivalry. There were no villains here, no protagonists.

Things could just stay as they were.

Normal, as always—

“…Hehe.”

“What’s so funny?”

Hinako let a small laugh slip, shaking her head at Yuri’s question.

Ever since she was old enough to understand, she’d lived as the Konohana Group’s heiress. She’d always watched people living peaceful lives from the sidelines, assuming her own would be one of constraint.

But love was different.

When she was in love, she was just an ordinary person…

No matter how perfectly she played the refined ojou-sama, this was one thing she couldn’t fake.

“I’m… normal right now, aren’t I?”

Hinako murmured, and Yuri tilted her head.

“Hirano-san, want to eat together?”

“Oh, sure. Sounds good.”

Hinako lightly patted the chair next to her, inviting Yuri to sit.

Yuri sat down, her expression stiffening just a bit.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just… You’re so beautiful, Konohana-san, I get a little nervous sitting next to you.”

“Oh, I’m nervous too. You’re such a wonderful person, Hirano-san.”

“W-Wait… You can just toss out compliments like that?”

It wasn’t a joke, but… Hinako decided to stay quiet, not wanting to fluster Yuri further.

Maybe—just maybe—she could tell Yuri her true self.

Yuri would probably understand and even help her out, accepting Hinako’s lazy, unrefined side as part of her “normal” charm.

She considered it… but decided against it.

That secret was something she wanted to share only with Izuki.

It might be a little unfair, but Hinako hoped Yuri would forgive her for that much.

Hirano Yuri—Izuki’s childhood friend, with a strong heart and a wealth of knowledge Hinako didn’t have.

Konohana Hinako often found herself jealous of her.

◆

Monday.

The Management Game—two weeks left.

Now in the second half, the classroom buzzed with even more heated discussions among students. Talks of partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, or even negotiations like the one I had with Suminoe-san about dividing markets. Some students debated with tense expressions.

At this stage, everyone was thinking about how to wrap up the game. Some aimed to maximize their market value, others to protect their brand until the end, and some scrambled to minimize damage after failed strategies, focusing on business recovery.

Amid all that—I was in the rare group starting a new venture.

“…Alright.”

Today was the usual tea party.

At this meeting, I planned to tell everyone I was aiming to become a consultant.

“Sorry, Tomonari! Got a meeting, so I’ll be a bit late to the tea party!”

“Sorry, Tomonari-kun! I’m gonna be a little late too!”

Taishou and Asahi had some business to attend to and gave me a heads-up.

(Hinako… looks like she’ll be late too.)

I glanced at Hinako, who was in the middle of the classroom, fielding questions from classmates. Even students from other classes were lining up to consult her, forming a long queue.

Our eyes met, and she gave me a subtle nod.

Taking her cue to go ahead, I headed to the café alone.

“…Oh.”

At the café, I spotted a stunning girl with golden blonde hair in vertical rolls—Tennouji-san.

Narika hadn’t arrived yet, it seemed.

Tennouji-san was alone, engrossed in a book.

(Studying, huh? …She seems busy too.)

Muttering to herself—Hmm, I see, so that’s how it works—Tennouji-san flipped through the pages, deeply focused. Not wanting to disturb her, I quietly pulled out a chair.

But as I did, I caught a glimpse of the book’s cover.

—Even a Monkey Can Understand: The Art of Romantic Pursuit!

…Tennouji-san?

What are you reading in the academy café…?

“…Um, Tennouji-san.”

“!?”

I couldn’t help but speak, and Tennouji-san slammed the book shut.

“That book you were reading…”

“N-N-N-No misunderstanding, please! Konohana Hinako said it was for studying, so I was just curious…!”

Tennouji-san shook her head frantically, flustered.

“Yeah, I figured it was something like that.”

Since no other students were around, I dropped the formalities.

“…You could stand to misunderstand a little, you know?”

For some reason, Tennouji-san pouted.

Misunderstand… Did that mean Tennouji-san was interested in romance?

She’d had an arranged marriage proposal before. Though it fell through after some twists and turns, maybe that experience made her start thinking seriously about love.

“…What kind of person do you like, Tennouji-san?”

“L-Like!?”

“Oh, uh, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to…”

Her reaction was bigger than I expected, so I gently suggested we could change the topic.

But Tennouji-san, cheeks flushed, answered anyway.

“W-Well, yes! They’d need to be suitable for the Tennouji family, of course! Proper etiquette, resilient, pure of heart, and capable of inspiring others—”

“That’s… a pretty tall order.”

“Oh!?”

I gave a wry smile, and Tennouji-san’s eyes widened as if snapping back to reality.

“N-No, that’s not it. Those were just… ideal conditions for the family…”

Apparently, those weren’t her personal preferences.

She shook her head hastily. Probably, in the spur of the moment, she’d listed what her family would want.

My weird question put her on the spot. My bad.

“My type… would be someone serious, kind, always striving to improve even if they’re not perfect now… and someone who’d stand by me no matter how weak I get.”

Her cheeks grew even redder as she glanced at me, saying this.

Back when she was first faced with that marriage proposal, she probably would’ve only given the family-approved answer. But now, Tennouji-san was different—she was thinking for herself, not just her family.

“…You’ve really thought this through.”

Knowing she was facing her own feelings head-on made me feel oddly sentimental.

But—

“…”

Wait, why is she glaring at me…?

Isn’t this the part where we both get a bit emotional?

“…So, what about you, Izuki-san?”

“Me?”

Tennouji-san looked straight into my eyes.

“Do you remember what my father said to you?”

“T-That’s…”

Of course I remember, but…

“‘How about joining our family?’ …I don’t believe I’ve heard your answer to that question.”

It was after the exams, when Hinako and I visited Tennouji-san’s house.

Because I helped Tennouji-san express her true feelings to cancel the engagement, her father took a liking to me and said something like that.

“T-That was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, right?”

“…Do you truly believe that?”

She looked up at me, and I faltered, choking on my words.

If I agreed, she’d probably think I was shallow.

But if I denied it… what was I supposed to say?

Her gaze was so direct it made me too nervous to think straight.

As I floundered, the sound of a phone vibrating broke the silence.

“O-Oh, that’s mine.”

Tennouji-san picked up the smartphone on the table.

“…It’s from Suminoe-san.”

It wasn’t a call but a message through an app.

As Tennouji-san replied, I asked,

“You’ve been keeping in touch with Suminoe-san since then?”

“Yes. It seems losing to you hit her hard—she’s been working even harder and boosting her performance lately.”

It sounded like any lingering tension between them was completely gone.

I already knew Suminoe-san’s company, SIS, was doing well.

She was probably in her true element now, not when we were competing. If I went up against the current Suminoe-san—focused, driven, and growing—I might actually lose this time.

“Sorry for the wait, you two!”

Asahi-san’s voice called from a distance. Behind her were Hinako, Taishou, and Narika.

Tennouji-san discreetly slipped her book into her bag.

The tea party was starting… Thank goodness that conversation didn’t go any further.

◆

The tea party’s usual agenda was sharing updates and discussing challenges.

But now, in the game’s second half, everyone was locking in their strategies, so there was less to share. Plus, everyone here was so capable they handled most issues on their own without a hitch.

So…

“As expected, everyone’s doing splendidly.”

Tennouji-san was right—everyone reported smooth progress.

All their businesses were growing, with no clear obstacles in sight.

Except… that didn’t include me.

“An alliance of overachievers can be a problem. It leaves us with little to discuss—”

“Sorry to interrupt. I have something to share.”

I raised my hand, drawing everyone’s attention.

They seemed bored with no topics, so it was perfect timing.

“I’m planning to start a consulting business.”

Everyone’s eyes widened, but I pressed on confidently.

“It’s something I decided after a lot of thought. I’m going to let go of my current company, Tomonari Gifts, and start a new consulting firm.”

“…With only two weeks left? It’ll be tough to produce results.”

Tennouji-san’s caution was fair.

But…

“Even so, I believe this is the best choice for my future.”

I made this decision with the Management Game’s bigger picture in mind.

I wasn’t becoming a consultant just to win the game. I wanted to gain experience here to prepare for a future as a consultant.

Asahi-san and Taishou nodded at my resolve.

“I’m all for it! I think it suits you, Tomonari-kun!”

“Same here. I’ve always thought you’re easy to talk to, Tomonari.”

Being approachable was an undeniable strength for a consultant.

Like Shizune-san, they believed I was cut out for it.

“O-Of course, I support you too! I was just concerned that if you’re aiming for the student council, this might put you at a disadvantage…”

So that’s what Tennouji-san was worried about.

I’d thought about that too and shook my head.

“Right now, compared to Konohana-san or you, my grades are undeniably lower. I don’t have Narika’s family background or a standout talent either. Even with the Suminoe-san incident, playing it safe won’t get me elected to the student council.”

“…So you’re going on the offensive?”

“Exactly. One more bold move can’t hurt.”

I didn’t think fending off Suminoe-san’s takeover would instantly earn me the trust of the student body. I needed to make another leap.

Twice. I’d rise up twice in this Management Game.

Then everyone would see—it wasn’t luck, but skill.

“…I ended up making a rather uncharacteristic observation, didn’t I?”

Tennouji-san flashes a fearless smile.

“To push forward even further right after achieving results… that attitude is worthy of praise! I have high expectations for your next leap, Tomonari-san!”

With heartfelt encouragement, I bow my head and say, “Thank you very much.”

“I agree as well.”

And Hinako, too, voices her support once more in front of everyone.

“Looking back, it was you, Tomonari-kun, who brought this group together. I’ve heard that connections are crucial for a consultant’s work, so maybe this path was always meant for you.”

The first time this group gathered was, if I recall, shortly after I enrolled. I felt reluctant to keep turning down Taishou and Asahi-san’s invitations, so I ended up spending time with them after school. And while we were at it, I invited Tennouji-san and Narika too.

To think she still remembers that moment… it’s, well, deeply gratifying.

Finally, Narika looks at me and speaks.

“I’m in favor too. And on top of that… please! Will you hear me out?”

Narika clasps her hands together and bows her head.

What could she want to talk about…?

“The thing is, my company is planning to launch an online store.”

“An online store?”

As I echo her words, Narika nods.

“I want to create a specialized online store for sporting goods under my company. But we lack the know-how to build it, so I was going to consult you anyway… If you’re becoming a consultant, I’d like to formally request your services.”

In other words, Narika wants to hire me as a consultant for her new e-commerce venture.

—Not a bad proposition.

Narika’s company, Shimax, is an industry giant. Successfully consulting for such a company would be a clear feather in my cap. Plus, since I’ve run an online store myself, this is familiar territory.

But… is this really okay?

Can I handle a major corporation like this right off the bat without messing up?

(…No.)

I don’t have the luxury of hesitating over a golden opportunity like this.

Remember who you’re trying to catch up to. Asahi-san, Taishou, Narika, Tennouji-san, and Hina. —These aren’t people you can reach by passing up chances like this.

“Narika. Let me take it on.”

“Y-Yes! That’s a huge help!”

And so, my first client became Narika’s company—Shimax Co., Ltd.

◆

After school, back at the mansion, I immediately set to work on my tasks.

“Tomonari-kun, let me confirm one last time.”

The voice of Ikuno, the president of Wedding Needs, comes through the smartphone’s speaker. His tone is firm, and even over the phone, I can sense the tense atmosphere.

“You’re absolutely sure about this, right?”

“…Yes. Please go ahead.”

It was a decision with no turning back.

I nod in response to Ikuno’s final confirmation.

“Understood. Then—I’ll take full responsibility for managing Tomonari Gifts from now on.”

One major decision was settled.

The succession of Tomonari Gifts. —I concluded it by selling all my shares to Ikuno.

“As promised, I’d appreciate it if you could aim for an IPO.”

“Of course. You’ve supported me too, Tomonari-kun, so I’ll do my utmost.”

In arranging the succession of Tomonari Gifts, I made two requests of Ikuno.

First, that Tomonari Gifts would not be absorbed into Wedding Needs but would continue to operate as an independent company.

Second, that Tomonari Gifts would be listed on the Standard Market.

We’d already aligned on this during our business partnership, but my perspective on business closely matched Ikuno’s. That’s precisely why I judged him capable of taking over Tomonari Gifts.

Additionally, since Wedding Needs is listed on the TSE Prime, Ikuno has the expertise to navigate both the IPO and subsequent management. Just to be safe, I asked about his strategy for going public, and he explained several ways to increase revenue by leveraging the bridal market Wedding Needs had developed. Hearing that, I reaffirmed my decision to entrust the company to him.

To gain experience, maybe I should’ve done it myself, but realistically, balancing an IPO with consulting work is beyond my current capacity.

(…It’s a bit lonely.)

Letting go of a company I poured my heart into nurturing is, well, pretty bittersweet.

Farewell, Tomonari Gifts.

From now on, soar high under Ikuno’s leadership.

“Alright… next up.”

No time to get sentimental.

After ending the call with Ikuno, I immediately dial Narika.

Narika picks up right away.

“Narika. You free right now?”

“Yeah, I’m good!”

While working on my laptop with one hand, I ask Narika a question.

“About the online store—did you prepare the materials I asked for?”

“The documents with the budget and stuff, right? I think they’re ready. I just sent them over.”

“Got it. I’ll use those as a reference and select the outsourcing partners.”

A message from Narika arrives in the Management Game’s mailbox.

I quickly skim through the attached documents.

“I did some research too, but if we’re running a website, should we set up a dedicated maintenance department?”

“Yeah. If you just wanted to build an online store, a revenue-sharing model might’ve worked, but you want Shimax to handle everything in-house, right?”

“Exactly. I think that’s clearer for customers.”

“Got it. We’ll outsource the site’s creation, but maintenance and inspections will be Shimax’s responsibility. Start preparing to hire people who can hit the ground running.”

“O-Okay, got it!”

Revenue sharing, in simple terms, is a contract where multiple companies collaborate on a single project. But since Narika wants Shimax to run the site independently, even if we outsource the creation, Shimax’s employees will need to handle operations afterward.

That said, running a site perfectly from the start is tough, so we’ll likely outsource both creation and initial operations. From there, we can gradually transition to in-house management.

“Setting up your own servers is costly, and you’ll want to test the waters, so we’ll use a public cloud this time, okay?”

“Hm? …Oh, yeah! That works!”

“I’ll send you the details later, so don’t worry.”

“S-Sorry…”

I could tell Narika was pretending to know what I meant, probably to avoid slowing me down, so I reassured her to ease her anxiety.

Narika’s no IT expert, which is why she came to me in the first place. We can share the finer details later.

“Still… wow, Shimax is impressive. To think its stock price surged this much in just a week.”

A week in the real world. In the game, that’s half a year.

Seeing the extraordinary revenue growth, I’m genuinely impressed.

“I know it sounds weird to say, but Shimax was already a huge company. It had the perfect environment for me to pursue whatever I wanted.”

“Sure, that’s part of it, but…”

With her deep knowledge of sports, Narika keeps coming up with brilliant ideas. And Shimax has the resources to turn those ideas into products. Thinking about it, Narika’s talent and Shimax’s current state are a perfect match.

“Does running a big company come with a lot of pressure?”

“Ugh, yeah. When the game started, I was sweating bullets. …Ugh, just thinking about it makes my stomach hurt…”

I can hear the strain in Narika’s voice.

“…You’ve got a pretty normal sensibility, don’t you, Narika?”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Take Konohana-san… or especially Tennouji-san. If I asked most people at Kiou Academy that question, I feel like they’d just say, ‘That’s just how it is, right?’ like it’s no big deal.”

“Oh… yeah, I get that.”

Even Hina, who grumbles about things being “a pain,” somehow shoulders the burden in the end.

Compared to Hina or Tennouji-san, Narika’s worries are pretty ordinary. Struggling with communication, buckling under pressure, not being great at academics… I knew plenty of people with similar issues at my old high school.

That’s exactly why Narika understands regular people so well.

Like when she showed Kita, who was self-conscious about sports, how wonderful exercise could be—Narika has a knack for connecting with people who have everyday struggles.

That’s got to be an incredible talent.

Even in this unique environment, holding onto a normal sensibility that resonates with everyone—that, I think, is Narika’s true gift.

That ordinary sensibility is surely what’s earning her praise in the Management Game.

Just then—clunk—a noise comes from the other end of the line.

“Oh, sorry!”

Narika’s apology follows.

Then, I hear the sound of water hitting the floor.

It’s almost like… a shower.

“…Narika. Where are you right now?”

“In the bath!”

The bath…?

“I didn’t know when you’d call, so since I was the one who asked for your help, I felt bad not picking up. I’ve been keeping my phone on me the whole time!”

“N-No, you didn’t have to go that far…”

Another clunk rings out.

Probably the sound of a bucket hitting the floor.

“…Should we continue this later?”

“No, it’s fine! I’m about to wash up, so just wait a sec!”

I hear a squish, squish—likely the sound of her pumping body soap.

Unconsciously, I start imagining what’s happening on the other side of the call.

By the time I hear the scrub, scrub of her washing her body, I—

“…I’ll call you back.”

I hang up without waiting for a reply.

Suddenly, I feel inexplicably exhausted.

(…I need to clear my head.)

I lightly slap my cheeks to shake off distractions. Before my next call with Narika, I want to find a few potential outsourcing companies.

With two weeks left in the Management Game, succeeding as a consultant is a race against time.

As I focus on the computer screen, there’s a knock at the door.

When I respond, Shizune-san enters.

“Izuki-san, I’ve prepared the materials you requested.”

“Sorry for the trouble. Thanks a lot.”

“They were originally for supporting Ojou-sama, so this is no bother at all.”

I take the tablet from Shizune-san.

The screen displays data on various companies. I set the tablet on the desk and quickly flip through the pages.

“…You’re reading awfully fast.”

“I’m skipping over things like revenue or capital—info about the company’s scale.”

“Why is that?”

In business, numbers are arguably the most critical data. Curious why I’m deliberately ignoring them, Shizune-san asks.

“I want to avoid preconceptions. Judging based solely on the business itself feels fairer.”

“…I see.”

From playing the Management Game, I’ve learned that numbers can hide irrationalities. You might develop a top-tier product, only for trends to shift by chance. A leak from someone close could let competitors beat you to the punch. Numbers don’t account for these injustices. A company that could succeed with another chance might still be branded a “hopeless failure” by the data.

That’s why I look at the business first.

Then, I grasp the company’s philosophy—and look at the face of the leader behind it.

If that leader seems trustworthy, then I’ll consider the numbers.

“…This company looks promising.”

I find a few companies that seem compatible with Shimax and list them to share with Narika via email. I also roughly calculate the costs for each option.

A little later, Narika responds, choosing one of the companies.

Alright—next, I’ll set up a meeting with them. If all goes well, we can start building the e-commerce site.

◇

Shizune silently watches Izuki tackle the Management Game, juggling the computer and tablet.

Izuki has already forgotten she’s in the room.

His intense focus reminds her of Hina, Takuma, and even the family head, Kagen.

(I knew he was formidable, but…)

The air in the room seems to grow solemn, centered around Izuki.

It’s exactly like the atmosphere when Takuma or Kagen get serious about work. Having assisted both, Shizune keenly senses Izuki’s transformation.

—I’m skipping over things like revenue or capital—info about the company’s scale.

Shizune recalls the words Izuki said earlier.

—I want to avoid preconceptions. Judging based solely on the business itself feels fairer.

Hearing that, Shizune nearly burst out laughing.

It was just too outlandish.

“…You’re the only one who can do that.”

She murmurs softly, so Izuki won’t hear.

Perhaps Takuma could too. …But that kind of feat is likely limited to those two.

Normally, you can’t judge by business alone, so people rely on numbers. Business plans and philosophies can be laced with lies. Plenty of companies claim to serve the greater good while chasing profits behind closed doors.

Numbers, on the other hand, don’t lie. That’s why most executives and investors use them to size up others—but Izuki probably doesn’t need to.

Izuki has the ability to see through the lies in data.

That’s why, for him, the real focus is the philosophy, not the numbers.

(His encounter with Takuma-sama. And the opportunity of the Management Game. The perfect alignment of these two has led to Izuki-san’s rapid growth…)

He’s awakened. Fully.

Witnessing a person’s talent bloom before her eyes, Shizune feels an indescribable mix of emotions. Genuine support, awe at his efforts paying off, even a touch of morbid curiosity—all swirling together.

But one thing is certain: with talent like this, he might stand beside Hinako forever.

That, to Shizune, is more precious than anything.

(…I’m glad I chose this person as her caretaker.)

And having chosen him, she feels a duty to see it through.

Just how far will this boy go? …Watching Izuki’s back as he focuses on the screen, Shizune feels a rare spark of excitement.

◆

The next day at the academy.

“Izuki!”

During break time, someone calls out to me from the hallway.

I stand from my seat and head toward the girl who called me.

“Narika, what’s up?”

“I came to thank you for yesterday!”

Narika’s eyes sparkle as she speaks.

I can almost see a wagging tail and dog ears on her. The tail’s shaking so hard it might fly off.

“Not worried about people staring anymore?”

“Huh? …Eek!?”

Realizing eyes are on her, Narika blushes and ducks to a spot out of the classroom’s view. I thought it was rare for her to shout like that in public, but it seems it wasn’t intentional.

“I-I was in a rush, so I just…”

“You could’ve just sent me a report by email, you know?”

“What are you talking about! Things like this need a proper in-person thank-you!”

That’s where she’s diligent.

It’s one of Narika’s virtues.

“Ahem. …Seriously, you saved me yesterday! Thanks to you, it’s looking promising!”

“Glad to hear it. Since we’re still under contract, keep sharing the business data regularly.”

“Got it! I’m counting on you!”

The consulting contract with Shimax is set for a year. In real time, that’s two weeks—our agreement will last until the Management Game ends.

It might not need to be that long, but with the game nearing its end, we settled on a clean duration.

“I’ll settle the payment today! The transfer should go to that new company, right?”

“Yeah. Tomonari Consulting, please.”

Tomonari Consulting Co., Ltd.—that’s my second company.

Despite getting teased about the name before, I ended up with something similar again… but hear me out. When I decided to start consulting, Narika’s request came right away. It was a lifesaver, but it kept me insanely busy.

“I gotta say… your company names are still so straightforward.”

As expected, my company name was about to be mocked—.

“Hey, if you’re gonna say that, Shimax is just as straightforward, isn’t it?”

“Wha—!? A-Are you insulting my ancestors’ sense of style?!”

I didn’t want to be teased by Narika, who had a similarly simplistic naming sense, but come to think of it, in her case, the company name was passed down through generations.

“Shimax, you see, was named with the ambition of becoming the biggest—max, if you will—company in this island nation!”

“I-I see…”

Still, isn’t that a bit too simple…?

Well, in the end, a company name’s memorability for customers matters most, so Shimax might actually be a pretty good name from that perspective.

Parting ways with Narika, I head back to the classroom.

“Oh, hey, Tomonari-kun!”

This time, it’s Asahi-san calling out to me.

“Got a sec?”

“I’m fine, but is here not okay?”

“Hmm… I’d prefer to talk just the two of us, if possible.”

That’s rare…

Asahi-san, for better or worse, doesn’t usually care about others’ gazes, so for her to seek a private conversation… it’s the first time I can recall, at least.

But with the Management Game reaching its climax, many students want private talks, and most spots for one-on-one conversations—like stair landings or hallway corners—are already occupied. Even places usually empty are now constantly filled with someone.

“Recess might be tough, so how about after school at our usual café?”

“Yeah, please!”

That café has tables spaced far apart, so if we speak quietly, no one should overhear.

Plus… maybe because of the rumors about the noble Tea Party, the table we always use somehow remains untouched by others. It’s treated like a reserved seat. That spot has the best view and is the most calming… I feel a bit bad, but this time, I’ll take advantage of it.

◆

And so, after school.

After telling Hinako and Shizune I’d be late, I visited the café with Asahi-san.

“So, what’s this about?”

After sipping her tea, Asahi-san opened her mouth with a serious expression.

“The thing is… I want to boost my company’s sales even more.”

A ten-second silence follows.

After some thought, I finally grasp her intent.

“…I see. You want to outmaneuver your competitors, right?”

“Exactly! You catch on quick, Tomonari-kun. That’s a big help.”

If it was just about increasing sales, she could’ve talked in the classroom.

The reason she didn’t was because she didn’t want anyone to overhear—which means she wants to move secretly to get the upper hand on someone specific.

“My company isn’t like Miyakojima-san’s, sitting pretty at the top of the industry. If my rivals catch wind of my moves, they could flip the rankings in a heartbeat. So it’s restrictive, but I can’t talk about this stuff openly…”

“…That’s a tough industry.”

Narika’s company, Shimax, has sales that dwarf those of the second-place companies and below. With that kind of lead, they can act boldly, but Asahi-san’s situation is different. J’s Holdings, if I recall, is fourth in the electronics retail industry.

“So, I was thinking of formally hiring you, Tomonari-kun! I saw you talking with Miyakojima-san earlier… looked like things were going well, right?”

“Well, yeah.”

“I wanna ride that wave too, y’know?”

With a playful glance, Asahi-san shoots me a sidelong look.

…She doesn’t need to do that. My answer’s already set.

“I’ll take it on. I owe you for introducing me to that marketing firm, after all.”

“Yay! Here, take this! It’s my company’s data!”

She’s well-prepared. Asahi-san must’ve expected I’d agree.

Handing me a tablet with the documents, she also launches the Management Game on her laptop and emails me the data.

I skim through J’s Holdings’ financial statements.

Thanks to Takuma-san’s guidance, I’ve gotten used to reading BS and PL statements. I can now grasp this kind of data way faster than before.

“…Your sales to seniors are low, huh?”

“Yeah, that’s the thing. Well, electronics might just be like that, though.”

Appliances keep evolving with new features every year. They might be tough for seniors to buy.

“You used to sell senior-friendly appliances, right? …Are you not making them anymore?”

“Nope. We even ran commercials, but the numbers were bad. With the aging population trend, we invested heavily in development, so the whole team was pretty shocked when it flopped.”

According to the documents, this was about three years ago—a real-world event, not part of the game.

The venture didn’t succeed, but they’ve already developed products once. With that foundation, we could craft a quick-response strategy for this sector.

“Asahi-san, what does this department do?”

“Hm? Oh, let’s see…”

The text was small, so Asahi-san leaned closer to my laptop screen.

Thud. Our foreheads bumped.

“Ah!”

“Oh!”

We probably both gasped at the same time.

Reflexively pulling back, we lock eyes.

“S-Sorry…”

“N-No, my bad…?”

Maybe because we were so focused, I misjudged the distance.

Asahi-san’s cheeks flush, and she looks awkward.

“…So even you get embarrassed, Asahi-san.”

“Of course I do! I’m a girl, y’know!?”

She glares at me.

“I kinda thought you’d just laugh this off…”

“W-Well, maybe with other guys, sure! But you’re different, Tomonari-kun!”

“Different?”

What’s that supposed to mean?

Tilting my head, I see Asahi-san’s face turn even redder as she flails in a panic.

“W-Wahhh!? Forget I said that!! It’s nothing, okay!?”

“Uh, sure.”

For now, I’ll go along with her, seeing as her ears are beet red.

“Well… since we’re here, I’ll just say it.”

Calming down a bit, Asahi-san starts talking.

“When you first enrolled, I was kinda worried about you. Y’know, Kiou Academy sometimes gets people who can’t keep up and drop out quickly. At first, you seemed like the textbook case for that…”

I can’t argue. Back then, I was a total commoner who looked like he’d never survive this place. Even now, if I let my guard down, I’d revert to that, so not much has changed at my core…

“But I was totally wrong. You worked your butt off and became a pro in no time. Konohana-san, Tennouji-san, Miyakojima-san—they all rely on you. And now, here I am, asking for your help too.”

Saying that, Asahi-san looks straight at me.

“To grow this dependable, this cool, in such a short time… I couldn’t help but think, ‘Wow, Tomonari-kun’s amazing.’ So, um…”

At that, her face flushes red again.

“N-Nope, forget that too! Pretend I didn’t say anything!”

“Uh, okay…”

I’ll act like I didn’t hear that either.

I try to steer us back to the Management Game, but… nope. The vibe’s way too awkward for serious talk.

Both our faces are burning red.

“Ugh, this got so weird! Argh, so embarrassing!!”

This isn’t like me at all!! Asahi-san clutches her head, and all I can do is force a “Haha” laugh.

Usually, we’re way more casual, so her suddenly turning the mood like this feels a bit unfair.

◆

The next morning.

“Tomonari! Help me out!”

Arriving at the academy, Taishou slams both hands on my desk and bows deeply.

“Uh, a consulting request?”

“Yeah!”

“I’d love to say yes, but I’m swamped right now. Can I hear the details first and decide?”

“Of course!”

Shimax’s consulting is still ongoing, and I haven’t even come up with a strategy for Asahi-san’s J’s Holdings. The work’s piling up, which is great, but I’m nearing my limit.

“Here’s the deal—e-commerce companies are stealing our business!”

Taishou covers his face with both hands and wails.

He’s like a tragic hero.

“…Come to think of it, there’s been some crazy movement in the logistics industry lately.”

“Yeah. A major overseas e-commerce company just entered the logistics game for real.”

The overseas e-commerce giant—Amazoness.

A familiar online retailer in Japan, this company recently announced its entry into the logistics industry within the Management Game. The service is already active overseas, and it’s said that Japanese logistics firms will take a massive hit eventually.

“Amazoness isn’t run by students, right? For a non-student company, they’re pulling off some wild moves…”

“Oh, you didn’t know?”

Taishou says, slightly surprised.

“Every year, when the game starts to stagnate, the academy throws in events to shake things up.”

“…I see. So Amazoness’s logistics entry is an event set up by the academy.”

“Yup. The logistics industry’s been stable since the game started, so it looks like we got targeted.”

Taishou says with a sad expression.

What a terrifying academy. They’re relentless in training top-tier executives.

“When events like this hit, it almost feels like they could happen in real life. That’s why I want to take it seriously and come up with countermeasures.”

“Got it…”

“I mean, this could actually happen. Amazoness currently relies on logistics firms for shipping, but they’ve got a globally recognized service and the foundation to start their own logistics. Logistics is critical for most industries, so even if it’s not Amazoness, someone else could disrupt us.”

As expected from the heir to Taishou’s moving company. He knows the industry inside out.

The academy’s higher-ups who designed this event must be brilliant too. With the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry involved in the Management Game, this scenario was likely crafted after meticulous debate by top professionals. That makes it highly credible.

“I know it’s a tall order, but you’ve run an e-commerce site, right? Any hints would be a lifesaver…!!”

“Yeah… it’s a tough one, so I’ll need some time.”

“Got it! If you need any internal data, just say the word!”

Clearly desperate, Taishou bows deeply again.

Since this could happen in reality, he wants solid countermeasures. I want to match his earnestness, but it’s a tricky problem.

I’ll need to strategize quickly yet carefully.

◆

Lunch break. On the rooftop of the old student council building, past the garden. As usual, Hinako and I are eating lunch alone together.

“Izuki… lost in thought?”

“Yeah. The requests from Asahi-san and the others are real challenges…”

While filling my stomach, I mull over the two tough problems.

Asahi-san wants to boost sales and outsmart competitors. Taishou needs a way to survive the storm of Amazoness’s logistics entry.

Both are tackling some steep hurdles.

“What’s next?”

“Hm… how about the tamagoyaki?”

I pick up a piece of tamagoyaki from her elegant bento box with chopsticks and bring it to her mouth.

“Here, say ‘ahh.’”

“A-Ahh…”

Hinako’s cheeks flush as she averts her gaze and opens her mouth.

Her reaction… it’s so different from before. When I first became her caretaker, she was so natural, like it was no big deal. But lately, it’s been awkward.

No, not just awkward—this reaction is…

“…Hinako.”

“W-What…?”

“Are you… getting embarrassed?”

“Mmph!?”

Hinako nearly spits out the tamagoyaki, quickly covering her mouth.

“You don’t have to hide it. It’s natural.”

Because I’ve been embarrassed from the start.

Honestly, for a healthy high school boy like me, these interactions are brutal on my heart. I’ve been holding it together, but inside, I’ve been a mess the whole time.

“Maybe it’s time we move on from this.”

“N-N-No, it’s not… like we need to stop, or anything…?”

“But if it’s that hard to eat, we should probably quit, right? We don’t want to be late for class…”

Saying that, I realize I’m feeling a bit lonely.

Sure, I’ve been flustered this whole time… but I can’t deny these moments have been comforting.

Should we keep this up or let it go?

A conflict brews inside me.

“And about bathing together… maybe we should rethink that too…”

“Wha…!?”

Hinako lets out a sound like a stifled scream.

“B-But that’s… my, um, vested interest…”

Vested interest? What’s that supposed to mean?

Lately, even bath time has felt off. Maybe it’s time to reassess our boundaries.

At least, that’s what I thought—but Hinako disagreed.

“…Is it…”

“Is what?”

With faintly teary eyes, Hinako looks up at me…

“…Is it… not okay?”

Her plea comes with a frail breath, as if she’s feverish.

…

……

…………

“…It’s not not okay.”

What am I even saying?

I should’ve thought this through more.

Ignoring my rational side, I bring a piece of fish to Hinako’s mouth.

“Ahh.”

“A-Ahh…”

Hinako chews happily, then beams with a bright smile.

“Delicious… hehe…”

The awkwardness lingers, but her blissful grin overshadows it.

(…Well, she’s cute, so it’s fine.)

Suddenly, everything feels irrelevant.

If she’s cute, that’s enough, right?

Honestly, this lunch break is precious for both Hinako and me. Stepping away from Kiou Academy’s intense atmosphere to catch my breath is vital for my mental health.

I just want to protect this time. Let’s leave it at that.

I swear to God, there’s no ulterior motive.

“…About the other day, when we bathed together.”

Since the bath topic came up, I bring up that incident too.

Hinako shyly averts her eyes.

“Th-that was, um… because I did something weird…”

“…Well, I won’t deny it was weird.”

A small “ugh” escaped Hinako’s lips.

But back then, it wasn’t really Hinako’s attitude itself that I wanted to call out.

Since we’re here, I might as well bring that up too.

“When I first became your caretaker, I got scolded by Kagen-san because of that three-second rule I taught you, remember?”

Hinako gave a tiny nod.

“That moment came to mind. …I think it’s probably fine, but if you did something like that with someone else, I thought it’d be bad. …That’s why I said something.”

“…I see.”

Maybe she understood my feelings, because Hinako gave a gentle smile.

But almost immediately, she tilted her head with a curious “Hm?”

“Izuki… what do you mean by ‘bad’?”

With pure, innocent eyes, Hinako gazed at me.

“If I did something like that with someone other than you… would that bother you?”

…For a split second, I hesitated on how to respond.

But when I thought about it calmly, of course it’d bother me. It’s the same as the three-second rule incident. If she did something like that, the perfect ojou-sama mask Hinako wears would slip. As her caretaker, I have to stop that from happening.

There’s no need to overthink it. None at all.

“Of course it’d bother me.”

“…It’d bother you.”

When I answered, Hinako broke into a sly grin.

“It’d bother you…? Heeey… hmmm…”

Looking utterly satisfied, Hinako’s lips curled into a mischievous smirk.

“…Don’t worry, I wouldn’t do it with anyone but you.”

“I-I see.”

“Yup. …No way I would.”

Hinako declared it with certainty.

If she’s only doing it with me, then I guess it’s fine. …Wait, is it really fine…?

Well, I’ll think about it if we end up in a situation like that again.

“Hinako, I’ve got a question about the management game. Is that okay?”

Hinako gave a small nod.

“Do big companies generally prefer to handle all their services in-house, without relying on other companies, if possible?”

“…That’s the ideal, but it’s not always the case in reality.”

Hinako answered thoughtfully.

“One issue is the vested interests we talked about earlier…”

The vested interests she mentioned earlier—I still don’t fully get what that means…

“As expected… trying to shut down an existing service stirs up resentment from all sorts of places. …Unless it’s a massive company, they wouldn’t even consider it.”

Taking over something another company was handling means taking their business away. Just like how Taishou and others in the logistics industry kept a close eye on Amazoness’ every move, it’s bound to create friction in relationships.

“The second issue is… know-how. If a company suddenly tries to handle a service in-house that they’d outsourced before, they lack the expertise, so the quality will definitely drop compared to when it was outsourced. …That can be fixed over time, but customers won’t wait.”

“…I see. For a big company, it might be a long-term investment, but for customers, the immediate drop in quality is the problem, so they’d just want to go back to the original company, right?”

“Exactly… And even if they try to get the know-how shared, it runs into the first problem, so no one’s gonna share it. …Yawn.”

Hinako let out a sleepy yawn. It’s the middle of lunch break, so maybe we should wrap up the heavy talk for now.

It’s only natural that a new venture lacks know-how. But there’s no way the company you’re trying to take business from would share their expertise. Solving these issues probably comes down to the company’s raw strength.

Narika’s company, Shimax, is currently running its own e-commerce site based on my consulting. Things seem fine for now, but after hearing Hinako, I’m starting to feel a bit uneasy. I should talk to Narika again and work on improving quality.

(…Stopping Amazoness is unrealistic, huh.)

Shimax is a big company, but Amazoness is on a whole other level.

The power of a company like Amazoness is extraordinary. The two concerns Hinako mentioned? They could probably bulldoze through them with ease. Slowing down Amazoness’ momentum is likely next to impossible.

What should I do…? As I mulled it over, I picked up the stack of papers I’d left on the floor.

“What’re those…?”

“Documents for J’s Holdings and Taishou Movers. Staring at a monitor all the time strains my eyes, so I printed them out.”

“…I get that.”

Since the management game started, I’ve been glued to screens more than ever, so I wanted a change of pace.

Plus, paper is just more convenient sometimes. Tablets and laptops are tough to use without a desk and chair, but with a stack of papers, I can just sit on the floor like this and flip through them casually.

Takuma-san used to use paper for a change of pace too. Thinking back, he was probably in a similar mood then.

—You have a talent for seeing the truth behind the data.

That day I got to observe the shareholders’ meeting, Takuma-san told me that.

The truth behind the data. The reality that’s hard to spot on the surface. There might be a hint there.

…Search for it.

The strengths of those two companies—strengths they might not even realize they have.

The weapon J’s Holdings needs to outmaneuver its competitors. The weapon Taishou Movers needs to fend off Amazoness.

Search for it. It’s got to be there.

(…Damn, I need more time.)

Asahi-san’s issue and Taishou’s issue—both need quick solutions. That reality fueled my impatience, interrupting my ability to dive deep into thought.

The management game is already nearing its endgame. If I want to deliver results, I can’t afford to dawdle.

If only there was a way to solve both at once…

“…Ah.”

Both at once. The moment that thought hit me—dots in my mind connected into a line.

Two seemingly impossible problems, ones I thought could never align, suddenly linked up with a single answer.

“…Hinako, sorry, but can you head home alone after school today too?”

“…Did you come up with a good idea?”

“Yeah.”

I think it’ll work. I’ve got a solid gut feeling about this idea. Now I just need to check its feasibility, budget, and pitch it to those two.

Maybe sensing my confidence, Hinako nodded with a hint of excitement.

“Okay… I’ll wait for you outside the academy.”

“You could just head back to the mansion, you know?”

Hinako shook her head vigorously.

“I want to hear what you’re gonna pull off… right away.”

She seems to think even going home would be a waste of time.

She’s got high expectations for me, for what I’m about to do.

“Got it. I’ll do my best to bring back some good news.”

“…I’ll be waiting, excited.”

◆

After school, I invited Taishou and Asahi-san to our usual café.

Sitting them side by side, I showed them the display on my laptop.

“Ahem… Let’s begin the presentation.”

At my words, Asahi-san and Taishou clapped and cheered.

“Woo!”

“Tomo! Nari! Tomo! Nari!”

“…Sorry, can you just act normal, please?”

It’s honestly embarrassing, so cut it out.

Clearing my throat, I looked at their faces.

“First, let’s review the issues you both brought to me. …Asahi-san, you want to boost sales to outpace competitors. Taishou-kun, you want to take steps to avoid the impact of Amazoness entering the logistics industry. That’s correct, right?”

They both nodded, so I moved on.

“I’d like to solve both of these issues with a single business venture.”

“A single…?”

At Asahi-san’s murmur, I gave a firm nod.

“Let me explain the approach for each case. First, with Asahi-san’s company, J’s Holdings, there’s a notable trend of low sales among seniors. But as you’ve said, this is true for the entire electronics industry. …In other words, if J’s Holdings alone can crack this, you’ll outshine your competitors.”

“…So, you’re saying we start a business aimed at seniors?”

Exactly.

For Asahi-san’s issue, the solution is launching a business tailored to seniors.

“On the other hand, with Taishou-kun’s company, Taishou Movers, the biggest charm is its long history. Taishou Movers is trusted by every generation, and it has an extensive network of branches, reaching even small rural villages. This fine-tuned delivery range isn’t something Amazoness can easily replicate.”

“Hell yeah! When it comes to branch numbers, we’re the industry’s top dog!”

That’s right—that’s what I zeroed in on.

Taishou Movers has a strength even Amazoness can’t mimic.

“By combining these two approaches, I’d like to propose a new business.”

I switched the slide on the display.

The new business outlined on the slide was—

“—Mobile electronics sales.”

Taishou and Asahi-san’s eyes went wide.

Mobile sales, in simple terms, involve loading products onto a large vehicle like a trailer and selling directly in residential areas. Think roasted sweet potato vendors, but it’s surprisingly versatile—lunch trucks showing up at office buildings, for example.

And we’re doing mobile sales—with electronics.

It’s probably a combination no one’s heard of. But that’s fine. I’ll explain the confidence I have in this venture step by step.

“Electronics have a lifespan, and seniors are no exception to needing replacements. But seniors don’t buy them often because they lack the means to do so.”

Asahi-san nodded thoughtfully, clearly following along.

She’s probably experienced this firsthand.

“Most seniors aren’t tech-savvy and don’t even browse e-commerce sites. I’ve seen this myself at my previous company. …So, younger people buy electronics for them, through online stores or big-city retailers.”

When I was running Tomonari Gifts, I faced this issue directly, which is why I created a catalog division to meet seniors’ needs.

Young people and seniors… If you’re targeting both as customers, you sometimes need to create separate entry points for your services.

“That’s where mobile sales come in. With mobile sales, even seniors with mobility issues can buy electronics directly without any hassle. By pioneering this path, you can capture a senior-focused market that your competitors don’t have. …Plus, J’s Holdings has a track record of selling senior-friendly electronics. This could be a chance for those old products to shine again.”

Asahi-san mentioned it herself—they’d developed those products seriously, and the staff were devastated when they were discontinued. …This could be their chance for redemption.

“And for the logistics needed for this mobile sales venture, I propose Taishou Movers takes charge.”

Shifting my gaze from Asahi-san to Taishou, I continued.

“As I said earlier, Taishou Movers’ strengths are its universal trust across generations and its delivery range that reaches rural villages. …It’s perfect for this business.”

Seniors know and trust Taishou Movers. A familiar service is easy to use, and that sense of reliability isn’t something to underestimate. The image Taishou Movers has built over decades isn’t something Amazoness can replicate overnight.

“Also, transporting delicate electronics is tricky, but that’s exactly why this is a chance to build a wealth of experience in it. …If this goes well, it could boost trust in your core moving business too. People might start thinking, ‘For delicate electronics, Taishou Movers is the way to go.’”

With technological advancements, modern life is increasingly surrounded by delicate electronics—computers, gaming consoles, and so on. The demand for transporting these is likely growing every year.

In that field, Taishou Movers could take the lead.

“By the way, I found a model case too. …There’s precedent like this, so I believe the feasibility is solid.”

To make the proposal more convincing, I shared a model case.

I handed them documents I’d printed at the academy’s printer.

It was a case study about a local shopping district combating big online supermarkets by starting mobile food sales. A logistics company in the area loaded up vehicles with produce from local grocers, fishmongers, and butchers to sell—a business strikingly similar to what I’m proposing to them now.

“So, what do you think of this idea?”

I asked the two, who’d been quietly reading the documents.

But neither responded.

“…Um, guys?”

Was there a flaw in the plan?

I looked at them with a twinge of anxiety, but—

“This is…”

“Yeah…”

Asahi-san and Taishou were staring at the documents, eyes wide.

“…Could this actually work in the real world…?”

Taishou muttered under his breath.

“Tomonari, you might’ve come up with something insane here.”

“R-really…?”

I didn’t expect them to be this impressed, so I was caught off guard.

Still, that was my intention when I proposed this business.

Asahi-san, who failed once with senior-focused product development, and Taishou, who wants to counter a potential real-world Amazoness entry into logistics—they both had real-world problems they wanted to solve. So I wanted to propose something that could actually work in reality.

“Let’s do it. I’m totally on board!”

“Yeah, me too!”

The playful vibe from before the presentation was gone.

Both of them, with serious expressions, decided to adopt my plan.

“Tomonari, is there anything else we should do?”

“Well… if I had to say, maybe look into special packaging materials for transporting delicate electronics.”

“Nice! Hell, let’s develop it from scratch and patent it!”

Taishou was fired up.

“What about me!? What should I do!?”

“Asahi-san, you should start securing engineers now. Try to revive the department that developed senior-focused products, even if just a little.”

“Got it!”

Asahi-san was just as pumped.

Their eyes were blazing with enthusiasm.

“I can’t just sit around… Sorry, I’m heading out! I wanna get to work ASAP!”

“Me too!”

Taishou and Asahi-san packed up the laptop and bolted toward the school gate.

They seemed too impatient to wait for their cars, eager to get home even a step faster on foot.

“Tomonari!”

Taishou turned back from a distance.

“You’re the best! Seriously freaking awesome! I respect you from the bottom of my heart!!”

Taishou shouted.

No doubt, it was the highest praise he could give.

“Thank you!”

The words of gratitude slipped out of my mouth instinctively.

Somehow—my chest felt warm.