kscans

Chapter 198 - Right, I Forgot

"Alright, let's wrap up the talk-related stuff for now and move on to the reports."

In the first place, everyday conversation isn't something you can make a template for. The other person's reactions change in real time, so you have to adapt as you go.

...That said, I wonder if my conversation IQ will suddenly drop once I become a parent too.

When I think of it that way, I can't laugh at the moms and dads who were so diligently taking notes. You never really know until it happens to you, and it's not like there's zero chance of it happening to me.

"Okay, let's start with the classic Christmas presents."

It wasn't like this at first. I just happened to find out what a kid wanted for Christmas during a conversation, so I told their parents. But before I knew it, I was the one finding out all the kids' Christmas present wishes...

"Minakata-san."

"Y, yes!!"

Three years my junior. Minakata-mama from the office staff shot to her feet, memo in hand. I don't think she needs to be so wound up... maybe she's nervous since it's her first time participating. For the record, I'm just picking people at random. I'm calling on whoever catches my eye.

"It looks like your son wants the new enhancement item for Ultra Mask that came out a little while ago and is getting released next month."

The mid-season form, the final form, they have plenty of opportunities to make money. It's only natural they'd make one of them the centerpiece of the Christmas shopping season.

"Also, this is a little tricky, but he wants the one for Number Two, not for Number One Mask, so be careful."

Apparently, they're releasing enhancement items for both the main hero and Number Two, but he wants the latter. It's not that he dislikes the main hero, but he's just not feeling the current enhanced form.

"If you buy him the Number One item here... you get what I mean, right?"

"It's not that he wouldn't be happy, but he'd feel a little conflicted, wouldn't he. I have memories like that too..."

"Well then, do your best not to let your son taste the bitter memories of your youth."

It's not just about getting something you don't like. It's the part where you realize your parents don't understand you that stings in a subtle way. Judging from Minakata-san's reaction, she probably doesn't remember it herself. But from what I heard from her son, she should have heard him say that Number Two is cool a few times. For her to bring home a slightly off-the-mark present after that would be a little... you know?

"Alright, next up, Kitahara-kun. Your daughter wants some clothes, it seems."

"Clothes, huh... It's not character merchandise or anything, is it..."

"Nope. Not that kind of fan merchandise, she wants them for purely fashion purposes."

"Seriously... She's only in second grade..."

"No, no, Kitahara-kun, she's a girl. The early ones start caring about fashion even sooner than that."

"I think I was around the middle years of elementary school."

"Pardon me as I pass through, a girl who didn't care about clothes at all until I was in high school."

Alright, alright, that's enough talk about your fashion awakenings before we get sidetracked.

"From what I heard, she seems to want something in a girly style. I've gone ahead and picked out a few candidates from some online shops, so I'll send them to you later."

"...I appreciate it."

"Just to be clear, you should get other opinions too, okay? I'd be glad if all you ladies could help him out as well."
"Yes!!"

"Everyone..."

"Hate to interrupt while you're feeling moved, but when you ask for opinions, don't forget to show them a picture. They can't choose anything if they don't know what the girl who'll be wearing them looks like."

"Okay, next, Shiozaki-san. This is your chance!"

Shiozaki-san was one of the people who was just worrying about conversations with his kid.

"A chance, you say?"

"That's right. Your son wants a video game."

"A game... I mean, well, I used to play games back in the day, but it's been about twenty years..."

"I know. You quit cold turkey when you started studying for your university entrance exams, right? Well, just hear me out."

Shiozaki-san is three years older than me, and he said he graduated from gaming around the fall of his second year of high school. Still, since our ages aren't that far apart, we sometimes get excited talking about nostalgic old games.

"We talked about a bunch of stuff at that drinking party before, remember? The thing is, the vibe of the game your son wants seems like it would be right up your alley."

I can't say for sure, but he might feel a sense of nostalgia and get hooked. You know what comes next, right? I asked him with my eyes, and he nodded eagerly.

"...A chance to create a shared topic of conversation."

"Exactly! And if you're lucky, you could recommend something you used to like and expand the conversation even further."

For a kid today, it would probably seem old fashioned. But sometimes, retro games can be a surprisingly big hit with children. That's probably even more true if you have similar tastes and can enjoy the same kinds of things.

"You'll have to buy them secondhand, but it's not a bad deal for you either, is it, Shiozaki-san?"

They're from nearly twenty years ago. As long as they haven't become collector's items, you can get the console and the software for less than ten thousand yen.

"...You're right. This might be a good opportunity to play the games I used to love again after all this time."

"And in that case, since it's coming out of your own pocket money."

"I'll have a good excuse for my wife. Thank you!"

After that, I continued sharing information about presents and other personal matters that needed a little attention, and the report meeting ended on time. Lunch break was over, so I had to get back to work... but first, a smoke. We started the regular meeting with barely enough time to eat lunch, after all.

"Hey."

"President..."

"It looked like you were running long. I figured you might stop by before heading back to work."

The president offered me a cigarette. As I put it to my lips, he lit it for me with a practiced hand.

"Thanks for all your hard work again this year. You've been a great help in many ways."

"Not at all. Besides, I do this because I like it, and on top of that, you've been sweetening my paycheck for it."

It's true that there's work I can't turn down. But being a guide on the short trips is a job where I have a choice. And while I might use peer pressure to my advantage, I'm not the type to get swept up in it, so I can say no if I don't want to do something.

"No, but really, I think I should be paying you more, including the aftercare."

"Well, building smooth interpersonal relationships is part of the job too."

When you help someone out, it has a way of coming back to you. In fact, the employees with kids are always looking out for me when I'm busy. And by helping each other out, we can have fun chatting even on normal days, so it's all good.

"The way you say that so naturally... you're a rare talent. My insight for hiring you back then must have been too brilliant."

"I suppose so. You are quite brilliant, President."

"Isn't your gaze a little strange?"

"Not at all."

"Be that as it may."

"What is it?"

The president seemed to be choosing his words carefully, as if he found it hard to say. I urged him to just spit it out.

"...Well, you see... you came to me for advice before, didn't you?"

"?"

"Y, you know... about that hypothetical situation... right?"

Ah... right, right, he means Rika-chan. Everything worked out perfectly after that, so I'd completely forgotten about it. Right. Now that I think about it, I never told the president anything.

"It's fine, it all worked out. We have a good relationship now. And not in a weird way, you know?"

"I know that! But I see, that's a relief."

He looks incredibly relieved... I see, he was that worried about it. He probably wanted to ask about it when we hung out during the Obon holiday too.

...My bad, President.