It was this time of the year again. Various trees blooming their flowers, making the city sink under the pink waves of petals. The magnificent scent is piercing your nose. Ah, such a pleasure. Even the most injured souls are healed just by a simple walk outside. Everything is in place to inspire your creative endeavors. Drawing? Writing? Dancing? It doesn't matter. If only I could associate this period of year just with this beautiful view. If only I could…
"Oi~, monstrosities, are you ready for tomorrow?"
"…"
Can't you let me finish my thoughts in peace, at the very least?
Yamazaki's head poked out behind our monitors.
It was one of the few moments when all of us three had the same unpleasant expression on our faces and an uncontrollable shiver. It's only natural, after suddenly seeing a demon. Even Ogawa, who was sitting back to us, was a bit scared.
"I'm counting on you. Sweethearts."
His head started slowly disappearing, going down millimeter for millimeter, without taking his eyes out of me. I am starting to admire his talent… how does he scare me every time? I should have had a resistance already.
Once the head disappeared, I felt how my colleagues from both sides, confused, turned their heads to me and finally asked me.
"What for does he count on us?"
Right… the last time I was alone. I am still not entirely recovered since then. Brrrrrrh…
My head fell down, the hand raised and pointed to a direction. My coworkers turned their heads and found a poster.
…
ARER
Annual Reincarnation Exhibition & Reports
The Annual Reincarnation Exhibition & Reports once again presents you the most qualified products. Direct Contracts and reports of the last seasons from a decent number of companies for the sincerest customers.
…
"An exhibition? Nice! Can I come with you?" — Nakamura, who was sitting on the desk row behind us, saw everything. He was excited, as he stood up. The metaphysical tail was spinning from side to side.
Sorry, Nakamura, but after the office monkey, I could not stop imagining yourself as a dog.
"No. Sit down." — I cut him down.
"Owhhh…" — the puppy was visibly disappointed. Did I hear the dog's squeeze?
Sorry, but I have to save at least your innocent soul. You will thank me later. The other two had already understood that nothing about this was going to be fun. Just straight up pain and suffering.
***
11 floors. The first floor is basically just the cafeteria and hall, the second one is almost entirely for the IT department, apart from a few rooms for the medical team. 3 to 6 – the recruiters, 7 to 10 – the consultants like us. The last floor is irrelevant, it's our higher-ups that we never see. So what do we get? 3 floors, in each one there are two different teams of 50 people, so, 100 people per floor. 300 in total. 300 consultants, and I alone am the honored one? I have to deal with these exhibitions? Why? Is it? Always? Me? Argh! It's turning me mad. A break… a break? Right, I need a small break. I sneak out without anyone noticing me and exit the company. Taking a small walk would definitely help me for a bit.
***
It is a little windy, but I don't mind. The wind is accompanied by petals, making the view only more beautiful as it already is. I found a rock on the road and started kicking it while walking. One kick after another. By the way, it is like meditating, I didn't expect that. Did not even realize how far I had come away from the company, but I'd say I had a ~30-minute walk, probably.
"Erh? Is everything okay?"
Hm? A familiar voice. I lifted my head and found Fujiwara, holding a cigarette in her hand. She was staying near a convenience store's trash bin. It is hard for smokers nowadays, isn't it?
"What do you want? Don't bother me…" — I answered her and continued walking and kicking the rock.
I guess she did not appreciate my tone. Her face scrunched up, I think I might have angered the wrong person…
"It seems to me your love for Tachibana has died out like a candle already?"
"… I am s–"
"Kneel."
"Yes, ma'am…" — I instantly kneeled without even controlling my body, it fell down on his own… Demonic body manipulation arts?
Now, I am certain, Yamazaki is not my only source of fear in this company. I need to be more careful.
"So? Why does your face look bothered more than usual? Did something happen?" — she sat on a bench.
I wanted to answer her question and automatically lifted my head up, but before I actually lifted it, she ordered me to hold my head down.
"Erh… have you heard about ARER?"
"Hm? The annual exhibition?"
I nodded.
"What is wrong with it?"
"Last year I had to take care of it on behalf of our company. Yamazaki wants me to take care this year again."
"I know. Sir Yamazaki told me. So what?"
Why did he tell you that, huh?
"I don't want to do it."
"… tsk."
I don't know why, but her "tsk" was like a stitch in my heart. I am probably no better than a trash bin for her now. Please, just don't throw cigarette butts inside me…
Sigh, how long am I going to be humiliated by her? I got work to do. After a small break, I stood up and shoot out the dust out of me. Before going back, I thought I'll tell some of my thoughts out.
"It doesn't matter what I want or don't want. If I have to take care of it, I will."
"That is a slave mentality, you know?" — she looked at me. Does she laugh? Her mouth is closed and her face emotionless, but I definitely feel an internal laugh coming from her side.
To my regret, I cannot even be mad at her. She said the truth. Besides, what else can I do? It's not like I can resign anyway, accepting my fate is the best choice.
Sigh.
The others are probably looking for me, I should go back. I turned around and was about to leave.
"Should I ask Tachichan to encourage you?"
I froze in place, shuddered and blushed.
"D-d-don't say any nonsense!" — I shouted out.
"Why?" — she tilted her head and smirked – "I know you want it. Just imagine her saying, "oh, Kazuya-kun! Kazuya-kun should do his best!!" Do you prefer something like "if Kazuya-kun does his work well, I will reward him" instead?"
Aaa! Perverse thoughts disappear! Perverse thoughts disappear! My Angel is pure and innocent! She would never ever tell me something like that!
Kazuya-kun!
…
But… it would be great if she did… especially if…
"Heh" – Fujiwara is having fun, as far as I can see… hear. It is difficult to say it looking at her face, so instead I had to hear her. She raised her hand and put an open palm in front of her mouth and said with a smile – "You imagined her saying it in a bunny outfit, right?"
"…"
She nodded her head twice, as she wanted to say that she was right.
Fuck you, merciless demon.
However, she looked straight at the distance and smoked once more.
"It may be difficult. However, I could create some excuses…"
What is wrong with her? A minute ago, she asked me to kneel, and now she is ready to help me with it. It would be so… Stop! Cut it off! It is a deal with a demon!
"N-n-no! F-f-forget about it, please!"
Fujiwara shrugged her shoulders. If I don't want to, she'll do nothing.
"Anyway, she would be happy if you do great" – Yukiko said at last.
I looked at Fujiwara with some doubt.
"You don't believe me?" — huh? Does my face expression reveal all my thoughts, or is she just that skilled in mind reading? She continued — "well, whatever, I don't care, you lose."
Tsk, decide finally! Are you on my side or not? If I stay here for a minute longer, I'll turn mad. It would be better to return to the office.
***
"…"
What the hell happened here?
I came back to the office and found Masaru and Ogawa lying on the ground.
"Inumaru!" — I shouted out his name but didn't find him anywhere, he was certainly not at his workplace.
"S-s-enior…"
I looked to the left and found a hand sticking out of countless boxes with papers in the storage room. What is it?! A corpse?! I came to the storage room and found Nakamura there.
"Just… what happened for the half hour I was absent?"
The sticking hand, out of a sudden, took my hand and held it tight.
"Senior. It is because of you!"
Hah?!
How am I involved in this? I felt a presence behind my back. Saru and Ogawa came back to consciousness. I am surrounded. 3 against 1 is unfair! You cowards!
"S-s-senior!" — Nakamura's and Masaru's eyes turned into a waterfall — "the devil forced us to prepare stuff for tomorrow!"
"…"
So, it was like this… I'm glad I went for a walk then… I felt how someone was pulling me by my shirt, I looked to my right, it was Ogawa, holding and pulling me by my shirt while trembling. Just… what exactly did happen?
***
After coming back to the office, I decided to take everything under my control. I asked some guys to take care of the equipment and other stuff for the exhibition itself and to put it in our trucks. Ogawa had to prepare the reports for all contracts signed in the last year, together with its reviews. Moreover, he had to prepare new contracts which we might sell tomorrow. Masaru… no way I'd assign him something important. He had to bring the contracts and other stuff from the archive for Ogawa. Nakamura assisted him in this task. Finally, I examined the list of the candidates for the exhibition. It's not a great list, but definitely not a bad one either. We might achieve something with a little luck.
As I examined a further page of that list, two hands suddenly fell down on my desk, making a big noise. Normally, it'd scare me, but after everything I had today, nothing could scare me until the night.
I looked up and saw Ishida.
"I will come with you."
"…"
I looked for a few more seconds at her, then turned back to my list.
"Hey! Don't ignore me! What's with that brick face of yours!?"
"What's the matter, Ishida?" — I asked, without taking my eyes off the list.
"To the exhibition. I will come with you" — she declared, crossing her arms on her chest.
"So? What do you need me for, if you decided for yourself already?"
"What?" — she was confused by my response.
Sigh
I let the list and turned to Ishida.
"You didn't ask me to come with me, you just informed me. Or am I wrong?"
"…"
Her face turned red. I guess it was not her intention to be rude to me.
"Besides, I didn't hear anything about a tech exhibition there. What do you want from it?"
"I-I can't trust all that equipment to you all without a technician!" — she scratched her cheek with a finger and looked to the side — "w-what if it gets broken?"
Can't tell if she is secretly interested in something that the exhibition will have, or she really doesn't trust the tech equipment to us. Whatever the case, I don't mind. A technician wouldn't have been unreasonable to have.
"Then go and help the guys to load the stuff in the trucks."
"For real?" — she didn't trust me at first.
"Sure" — I responded and turned back to my desk, then suddenly she hugged me.
"T-thanks!"
She disappeared as sudden as she hugged me. What the hell was that?
…