kscans

Chapter 34 -

The Day of Trial

As I was enjoying my routine after-work smoke on the rooftop before leaving the office,

"Section Chief, do you have a moment?"
"Oh, what is it, Matsumoto? And that's... Kawada from the Information Systems Department, right?"

Matsumoto came to me with an employee from another department.
I can immediately match faces and names in my own department, but it took me a moment with someone from a different section.

"Eh? Ah, you know me?"

Kawada blinked in surprise.

"Yeah. You and Matsumoto joined the company at the same time, right? I know you, I know you."

Remembering people's faces and names is an essential skill for salespeople.
To hone that skill, a senior colleague I looked up to in my rookie days told me:
First, memorize the faces, names, and basic profiles of the employees in your own department.
That senior quit to take over the family business, and now we only exchange New Year's cards... I'd like to see him again sometime.

"So, what's up? Got some trouble?"
"Well, not exactly trouble... Section Chief, you go to bars, right? Not okama bars, but those fancy regular ones."
"Yeah. I basically cover any place where you can drink."

I even go to host clubs, you know.
Not too often, but entertaining hosts can be quite fun in its own way.

"H-hey, Matsumoto... I don't think this is something we should be asking Section Chief Sato about..."
"Don't be stupid. Sato is the biggest player in our company. If you ask him, you can't go wrong."
"Hmm?"
"Well, you see. Kawada here is interested in those fancy bars. You know, it's cool to drink at places like that."
"H-hey, you... Stop it, it's embarrassing!"
"No, no, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. Actually, that was my reason for going the first time too."

Just because it seemed cool. Really, that was the only reason.
I remember casually frequenting bars and learning how to enjoy them from other customers and bartenders. Those were the days.

"That's so like you, Section Chief. Well, you might not care, but those places have a pretty high threshold, right?"

What's with that phrasing? It makes me sound like a rough guy. Not that I can deny it.
Anyway, I get what you're trying to say.

"So you want me to give you a quick lecture, is that it?"
"If it's not too much trouble..."

Kawada takes out a notepad. It seems he really intends to just talk.
I think he could be a bit more brazen... but I guess it's hard to be too casual with a superior. Especially from a different department.

"It's no trouble at all. Alright then, this old man will treat you tonight."
"No, no, no! That's not what we meant..."
"It's fine, it's fine. Matsumoto, you'll join us too, right?"
"I'll gratefully accept."
"Good, good. Now then, let's..."

Just then, my smartphone vibrates. I check it and...

"...Sorry, something urgent came up. I can't make it today. How's your schedule for tomorrow?"
"I'm free."
"M-me too... yes!"
"Then let's do it tomorrow. I'll make sure it's extra fun to make up for today. Really sorry about this."

I stub out my half-smoked cigarette and toss it in the ashtray. I down my coffee in one go and leave the rooftop.
Leaving the company, I head to a café run by the Mutual Aid Society.
It's a café on the surface, but there's a facility for members in the back, accessed by manipulating space.
It's basically like the adventurers' guild you see in fantasy stories.
There are several such facilities in Tokyo, and the one I'm visiting now is the one I use often.

"Sorry for the sudden call."
"No, it's fine. I told you to contact me if anything came up with those kids."

"Those kids" refers to Rika and Hikaru.
They've been taking on simple requests as training with an instructor about once or twice a week, though not too frequently.
They've gotten pretty used to it, so today they were supposed to take on a slightly tougher request to get a glimpse of the harshness of the hidden world...

"More importantly, Senpai... is Yoshino-san okay?"

Apparently, his wife suddenly went into labor, so he couldn't accompany them at the last minute.
Normally, today's request would be canceled at this point, but good requests suitable for newcomers aren't always available.
If they miss this one, who knows when the next opportunity will come. You might think we could just let another freelancer lead them, but it's not that simple.
The role of instructor is only entrusted to those the Mutual Aid Society has complete faith in.
Long ago, there were cases of people pretending to be freelancers, joining the Society, and then influencing newcomers to poach them for their own organizations.
That's why the Society is so strict about selecting instructors, but the downside is that they don't have enough personnel to quickly find a substitute.
However, this time I was available, so we decided to at least go through with the briefing.

"Yes. He's at the hospital with his wife now."
"I see, I see. Well then, can you tell me about the request assigned to the two of them?"

Apparently, they haven't explained it to the two waiting in another room yet because they don't know what's going to happen.
I need to listen carefully.

"Here are the documents."
"Okay, let's see... Ugh!? Eh... this kind of thing? And two cases at that..."

I involuntarily grimace, and the receptionist looks troubled.

"This is sort of like a rite of passage in our world..."
"I-I understand, but..."
"We don't have anything more straightforward at the moment..."
"...Give me a moment. I'm going to consult with Chika-san first."

Hikaru might be okay, but Rika...
I quickly take out my smartphone and send a message. The reply comes back:



I can imagine her face twisted with bitterness as she sent this reply.
Chika used to handle these things without batting an eye, but now that she's gained more common sense, even she would naturally be put off by this. I totally get it.

"...Looks like it's okay. I'll take on the role of escort."
"Understood. I'll take care of the procedures."
"Thanks."

Sighing, I head to the room where Rika and Hikaru are waiting.

"And then! The transfer student's chest was so huge! It was like, boing boing, I've never seen boobs that looked like they'd make sound effects before!!"
"Um, Saionji-san?"
"That's practically 'Boob-zinger.' Sounds like a robot name, doesn't it?"
"...It's not really appropriate for girls to talk like that..."
"Akatsuki-kun, you're too uptight~ Girls talk about dirty stuff too, you know? Don't have such illusions about girls."

...Looks like Rika will be fine.

"Ah, Uncle! Yahoo~"
"Yahoo. I'm sure you've heard, but I'll be leading you this time."
"Thank you in advance."
"Yeah. Now, shall I explain today's request?"

As I say this, the two straighten up.
I don't mind doing it myself, but it's hard to have kids deal with this...

"--I need you two to deal with some perverts."