CHAPTER 17
Sang-Hyun leaned back in his chair, looking at Akito with a bored expression. The room was silent, except for the sound of the clock ticking
on the wall.
"so, it's been like 30 minutes and you still haven't made your decision. what would it be?" he says in a tired bored voice.
Akito felt the weight of the decision he had to make. The Pit or a promotion? The thought alone made his head spin.
He knew that choosing The Pit could lead to fame and fortune, but at the same time, it was also incredibly risky. He couldn't help but wonder what the consequences would be if he lost, or worse, got seriously injured.
"Give me a minute," he said, rubbing his temples as he closed his eyes. He tried to clear his mind and focus on the decision at hand.
He weighed the pros and cons of each option in his head, trying to find the best choice. The Pit was tempting, but the idea of risking his life for a chance at fame didn't sit well with him.
On the other hand, a promotion could mean a more stable career, but it would also mean sacrificing the chance of a lifetime.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he opened his eyes and looked at Sang-Hyun. "I think... um..." he trailed off, unsure of what to say. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. "If I choose The Pit, I could die," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sang-Hyun nodded, his expression unchanged. He knew that The Pit was a dangerous place, and not everyone who entered it came out unscathed. "Yes, that's true," he said simply, waiting for Akito's decision.
After a few more moments of silence, Akito finally spoke. "Yeah, I think... I'll choose the promotion for now," he said, the words coming out in a rush.
He let out a deep breath, relieved that the decision was finally made. He hoped he wouldn't regret it.
Sang-Hyun leaned back in his chair and twirled his pen between his fingers. "But you know, there are some who would still choose The Pit even if they know they might die," he said, his eyes glinting with a hidden meaning.
Akito looked at him curiously, wondering what he meant. "Why would they do that?" he asked.
"Because they believe in something greater than themselves," Sang-Hyun said, leaning forward and placing his elbows on his desk.
"They have a drive, a passion, that transcends their fear of death. They're willing to risk it all for the chance to prove themselves, to achieve their dreams."
Akito nodded thoughtfully, understanding what Sang-Hyun was saying. "But what if their dreams are foolish?" he asked.
"Ah, that's the question, isn't it?" Sang-Hyun said with a smirk. "But who am I to judge what someone else considers their dream?
As long as they're willing to work hard for it, and to suffer the consequences of their choices, then who's to say they're wrong?"
Akito nodded again, deep in thought. He picked up the paper on Sang-Hyun's desk and started to read it.
Sang-Hyun leaned back on his chair, staring at Akito with a look of genuine curiosity.
"You know, it's not often that I see someone like you who chooses the Promotional path over the Death Pit. Most people your age jump at the chance to fight in the Pit without even considering the consequences," he said, his face covered in band-aids and scratches from his own fights.
Akito nodded, understanding what Sang-Hyun was trying to say. He knew that most young people were driven by their impulsiveness and a desire for quick success, but he wasn't one of them. He had always been one to think things through, to weigh the pros and cons of each decision he made.
"I see," he said, taking the paper Sang-Hyun had handed him and scanning it quickly. "But I'm willing to work hard for this promotion. I know it won't be easy, but I believe I'm up for the challenge."
Akito furrowed his brow, wondering what Sang-Hyun meant. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Sang-Hyun leaned forward, his eyes intense. "I mean that the people who fight in the Pit are often looking for something that they can't find anywhere else.
They're looking for power, recognition, for a way to prove themselves. But in the end, all they find is pain and suffering."
Akito nodded slowly, taking in Sang-Hyun's words. He knew that there was truth in what he was saying.
He had seen it himself, in the way that some of his peers had thrown themselves into the fighting world without a second thought.
Akito tried to change the subject, "Uhm, anyways...not talking about that now. So, my new position would be in marketing or sales, right?" He looked at Sang-Hyun, hoping for some reassurance.
Sang-Hyun nodded, "Yes, that's correct. Is that alright with you?"
Akito hesitated before responding, "Yeah, sure, that's... alright for me, I guess." He knew he needed to step up and take on the challenge, but he was worried about his lack of experience in marketing.
"But I'm not very good at marketing strategies. I need to be creative and analytical to excel at this job."
Sang-Hyun leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath, "Don't worry too much, Akito. You will receive training and guidance to help you develop the skills you need for the job. And if you put in the effort, you'll do just fine."
After signing the paperwork, Akito handed it over to Sang-Hyun, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "Thank you, Sang-Hyun. I'll do my best," he said, giving him a small smile.
As he made his way toward the door, Sang-Hyun's voice stopped him in his tracks. "Akito," he called out.
Akito turned around to face him, waiting for him to speak.
"Since I might be resigning or whatever, will you do me a favor and kick the new boss's ass for me?" he asked, a small smirk playing on his lips.
Akito's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What? Why are you resigning?" he questioned, confused by Sang-Hyun's sudden confession.
"Some problems, I'll tell you maybe later," Sang-Hyun replied cryptically, his eyes downcast as he fidgeted with a pen on his desk.
"Alright, you can go now," he added, dismissing Akito with a wave of his hand.
Akito left Sang-Hyun's office, his mind racing with thoughts about his new position and his boss's mysterious resignation.
As Akito walked down the halls, his mind was still preoccupied with Sang-Hyun's sudden resignation. He wondered if there was anything he could do to help, or if there was something that he had done to contribute to it.
But he quickly shook those thoughts off, knowing that Sang-Hyun was a strong and capable person who wouldn't give up easily.
Lost in thought, Akito didn't see Yuzu approaching him until it was too late. He bumped into her, causing her to drop some papers she was holding.
"Hey, watch it!" Yuzu exclaimed, before looking up and seeing that it was Akito. "Oh, it's you. Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just a bit stressed out."
"It's okay, I wasn't paying attention," Akito replied as he helped her pick up the papers.
Yuzu gave him a small smile. "Thanks. So, how are you doing? I heard you got promoted?"
"Yeah, I did. I'm a bit nervous about it though," Akito admitted.
"Don't worry, Akito. You'll do just fine in your new position," Yuzu reassured him with a smile.
"So, can you tell me what your new position is?" she asked with curiosity in her voice.
Akito grinned, happy to have someone rooting for him. "It's somewhere around the sales team," he responded, waiting for Yuzu's reaction.
"W-WE'RE PARTNERS THEN?!" Yuzu exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. Akito couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction.
As Yuzu continued to express her excitement, her voice grew louder and more animated.
People passing by in the hallway stopped and turned to look at the two of them, wondering what the commotion was about. Akito couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by the attention.
"Uh, Yuzu, could you maybe tone it down a bit?" he asked, trying to keep his voice low.
But Yuzu was too caught up in her excitement to notice. "I can't believe it! This is gonna be so much fun! We'll make such a great team, Akito!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
Akito smiled at her enthusiasm but couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed. He wasn't used to this kind of attention and he didn't want to draw too much of it to himself.
"Yuzu, please, people are staring," he said, glancing around nervously.
Yuzu finally seemed to notice the looks they were getting and toned down her excitement. "Oh, sorry about that. I just can't help it, I'm so happy for you," she said, her voice now back to a normal level.
Akito breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Thanks, Yuzu. I'm happy too. Let's make the best of this opportunity," he said, feeling more confident with Yuzu by his side.