kscans

Chapter 79 - Turning Dreams into Reality

August 8th. Today is my birthday. A lot has happened since the beginning of August, but somehow I've managed to settle down and reach this day. Last night, Chika-san contacted me saying, "Tonight, why don't we invite Takahashi-kun and Suzuki-kun over to drink at Hiro-kun's place?"

(No matter how I look at it, they're probably preparing a surprise party)

Takahashi and Suzuki know where I keep my spare key. They've been unnaturally avoiding mentioning my birthday while asking what I want to eat, so it's definitely that. Probably Rika-chan and Hikaru will be there too.

(I'm happy, but it's a bit troublesome)

"Happy birthday! Let's have a party tonight!" That kind of vibe would be easier to handle. I mean, think about it. Is there any chance someone like me would forget my own birthday? People like Chika-san might suddenly realize as adults, "Oh right, today's my birthday," but me? My birthday is like a lucky day that comes once a year. "Alright! It's my birthday, so I'll splurge a little today!" I can legally spoil myself. If I buy something expensive, well, it's my birthday, right? There's no way I wouldn't take advantage of a day when I can make that excuse.

(I wonder if I can pull off a good reaction...)

Thinking about this as I headed to the office, when I arrived,

"Section Chief, happy birthday!!"

A female employee holding a large cardboard box gave me congratulations.

"This is from all of us."

"Thanks again this year. I'll gratefully accept it."

I carried the cardboard box to my desk. When I opened it, it was packed full of various snacks, from nostalgic ones to ones I didn't recognize.

(Oh, the three new employees too... how nice)

The reason I'm getting a cardboard box full of snacks as a present goes back to an old story. A junior colleague who looked up to me once tried to take me to an expensive restaurant, saying it was my birthday so they wanted to treat me. Even splitting it among several people, it would be a painful expense for young folks, so I declined. But since they insisted on doing something for the day, I said,

"Then give me the present I want. Snacks, give me snacks you guys like. Budget is up to 500 yen."

"500 yen..."

"Hold on, hear me out till the end. Just buying and giving presents isn't very creative, right?"

So I added that they should also include a presentation letter. I wanted them to really recommend the snacks they bought based on memories or the product's quality. The reason I added this condition was partly because I personally wanted to hear about it, but also to help develop their sales skills. What started small became more interesting and inexpensive, so more people joined each year until it became like this.

(Well, I'm grateful though)

It makes me happy. Honestly, I look forward to it every year. Not just the sweets, but reading the presentation letters that come with them is really fun. Probably because they're talking about things they like. You can tell the writers are enjoying themselves too. And sometimes there are presentations with incredible passion from people who are really obsessed with their favorites. Since it's not work, you can see personality in the writing, and some kids show off writing talent that makes you laugh until your stomach hurts. Last year, the one that made me laugh the most was from a kid who included stationery for sending letters to manufacturers, saying "Let's write to them together, Section Chief."

"Hehe... wait, no way! Wasn't this discontinued?"

Since I still had time before work started, I thought I'd enjoy myself a bit when I opened the box and got a shock...

"Ah, they started reproducing that again a little while ago."

"Seriously... I'm getting excited."

"Come to think of it, we're always making recommendations, but don't you have any memorable sweets, Section Chief?"

"I do. Tons of them. Some are in the presents, but I have plenty of others too."

"What are they?"

"Oh? Want me to talk about them? Really talk? It'll be long~"

And so we indulged in snack talk until work began. Once the work bell rang, I'm a working adult after all. I switched my mindset sharply to work mode. I immersed myself in work until lunch break, and when noon came, I took some snacks from the box and headed to the president's office with the lunch I'd brought.

"Sorry! I'm here to show off!!"

"What kind of greeting is that when entering a room? But I like that spirit. Well then, let me see that lunch."

I'd completely forgotten, but the reason I decided to go to cooking class was to show off to the president. Remembering this, I'd been training hard with Suzuki's help for the past few days. And today, I finally came to show off with full confidence.

"First, let me say this upfront. I'm throwing nutritional balance and all that out the window."

"Ho ho? What's this, what's this? Setting up petty defensive lines. Are you even a man?"

"...Heh."

"You snorted! What... where does that confidence come from...? What exactly did you..."

"Well, well, please go ahead without reservation."

"It's huge, and three tiers... like it's a sports festival... well, you do eat quite a lot, so naturally. Ah, this is thanks for before."

"Oh, thanks."

He handed me a paper bag. From the smell, bread. And really good bread, I could tell just from the aroma. The store name written on the bag... I don't know it. I'll ask him about it later.

"For now, try opening the top two tiers."

"Well then, right away... th-this is...!?"

His eyes widened in amazement. Half of the top lunch box was fried chicken. The other half was chicken nuggets and fried shrimp. The second tier had potato wrapped in meat, beef stir-fried with yakiniku sauce, pork ginger stir-fry, and sweet, sweet rolled omelet.

"If it's a lunch for yourself and not for someone else... you know?"

You should want to try it at least once. Didn't you think so as a kid? That you wanted to eat a lunch packed only with things you like. When you're in a position to make that dream come true, why not reach for it? Balance be damned. I really packed in only things I like. There's no lie in those words. If you did it every time, you'd get bored and it wouldn't be fun, but doing it occasionally gets your excitement through the roof even during the preparation stage.

"Today's concept is 'boyish heart'... turning childhood dreams into reality."

"Ah, ah, ah... something like this... such a thing...!!"

"Huh? What's this? President, you started cooking but... wait, you've never done this?"

"Ugh, ugh... grrrrr."

"Sorry about that somehow... hehe."

"Y-you... wait. There's no sausage? D-don't tell me!!"

Yes, you should notice. Someone like you would. A man of your caliber would. The president opened the last lunch box with anxiety...

"Om... rice..."

"The filling is naturally sausage."

"..."

"Hehe, well, I talked big, but if the taste is bad, it's meaningless. Come on, please try it."

"...How transparent of you. After getting me this excited, a little problem with taste won't matter."

Ho ho ho, he's making such a frustrated face.

"I gratefully... gratefully accept thiiiis! Woohoo!!"

Revenge successful. Being my birthday, everything's going well.