[17:45]
The workday might be over for everyone else, but not for me. Nor the trucks nor the candidates are ready for tomorrow. This happens when you don't warn in advance, yet expect me to prepare everything for the next day. The next day! Who am I? A god? Well, technically, the exhibition is in two days, but we need at least one day, better two to set everything up. At least the weather is fine… the weather, yes. What a fine weather today! Can't choose whether to work, drink coffee or to hang myself!
I slapped my cheeks with both of my hands.
Come back to your consciousness, Fukuhara Kazuya! If not you, then who else? Besides, if I fail in the end, never am I being able to wash away this shame or dodge Yamazaki's sharp words. It is unacceptable. Despite my occasional enthusiasm and motivation, one thing remained the same.
"They are all mediocre… how am I supposed to sell them?"
Aaaaah! I started scratching my head.
***
[Akashi's POV]
"Yo, Ogawachi! How is your morning doing?"
"It was fine, until I saw you."
"Rude."
My seniors are all rude, at least it looks like this if you look at it from the side. But! I know that deep inside they are really nice. They won't harm a bug! Literally capybaras!
"Mhm" – I stretched my arms and neck – "yesterday was harsh, don't you think so?"
Ogawa nodded.
Now that I'm thinking of it, Kazuyachi's reaction was rather negative when he found out he was assigned to the exhibition.
"I wonder in what mood Kazuya will be today?"
We entered the company, greeted the young lady at the reception and took the elevator. A few minutes later, we entered our office hall. Every desk was free, we came first today. Although, it seems one desk is already being used, well, whatever. We have to leave for the exhibition soon anyway.
"Let's sit here?" — I pointed at a place in the third row. Ogawa nodded in response. I was about to put down my bag when a sudden voice appeared behind my back.
"Move."
I was irritated. It's just the start of the day and someone is already looking for a fight? I turned myself… and saw Kazuya with a cup of coffee. His shirt and necktie disheveled, enormous big bags under his eyes.
"Oi! Senior! What is going on with you?"
[End of Akashi's POV]
"Nhyaahh"
Another yawn and my jar will fall off. I took the cup, but unfortunately, it was already empty.
Sigh.
A small walk to the kitchen might be good for me. I stood up and went to the kitchen for a refill. If I'd know what awaited me there, I'd rather have sat and not moved an inch.
And so, two demons were standing in front of me at once. Their shadows appeared from nowhere. One unshaven, the other in a skirt. To say I got chills down my spine would be the least descriptive. Tsk, has the working day started? I thought I got a few more hours more to work in peace.
"Oh. There is our best employee!"
Yamazaki smiled sinisterly.
"You two have already met, haven't you, Yukiko?" - he looked at the woman next to him.
"Yes. Sir Yamazaki."
She also gave out her cold weak smile. I instinctively took a step back. However, when I met the obstacle of the table, I swallowed. There was nowhere to run. And anyway, what did Fujiwara do here?!
"How did you like the performance of our best employee?"
"Fine, fine. I'm sure he deserves a commendation."
"You think so?" — Yamazaki folded his arms across his chest.
"Yes."
"Hm. If Yukiko-chan insists so much, then…" — Yamazaki rubbing his chin – "oh! I know! Everyone needs a female assistant this time. Don't you think so, Yukiko?"
Yukiko nodded.
"Your words are as wise as ever, Sir Yamazaki."
I don't like their smirks. Those demons have something bad in mind.
"Yukiko, will you do me a favor?"
"Shall I tell Kasumi that our brave men need help in the exhibition?"
"Yes, yes."
Eh? Okay, that might not be bad, actually… but what do they want in exchange?
I glared at Yamazaki.
"And? What's the deal?"
"What deal?" — he asked, while chuckling.
"I may be tired, but I don't have amnesia, I still know who you are."
Yamazaki placed his hand on his chest. Was it unintentional, or he was enjoying his own artistic performance?
"Look at him, how strong he has grown. Well, if you want a deal, then I wait for a significant budget increase after the exhibition."
I shuddered. Yamazaki… he is always about money.
"What's with that reaction? Got no motivation? Hey, Yukiko, Kasumi-chan is not motivating him enough."
I gritted my teeth looking at them.
Fujiwara slowly came close to me and whispered into my ear.
"Remember our talk yesterday? I can help."
Yesterday? The talk… that talk…
My face flushed.
Fujiwara clapped her hands and turned back to Yamazaki.
"Done. Now he's motivated enough."
Once my coffee cup was refilled, I went back to my desk. This cup feels heavier than usual, I wonder why. My eyes are blurry. A few hours more work and I can rest for a bit. Hm? Who's standing in front of my desk? Is that Saru?
"Move."
Saru turned and looked at me, then shouted something out. Jeez, don't scream. I guess I can't take more time for preparations. It is what it is, I did my best.
"Take this" – I handed the updated stack of candidates to Masaru – "and you both, you don't have to sit down, we are going now."
We had to check the trucks once again. It's not like I didn't trust anyone, but better safe than sorry. Strange enough, Ishida was already there, waiting for us. She greeted us by raising her hand. When I came near her, she noticed my appearance and asked.
"Hey? When did you manage to die?"
"Do you really want to know?" — I responded with a calm, yet tired voice.
She stared at me for a second. Then sighed.
"At least it wasn't recognizable from your look."
"I am fine."
"Are you sure? Maybe you should take a nap today?"
And let you all alone? Hell no! I can't let you ruin everything without me. A few minutes later, Tachibana arrived, out of her breath. Instead of greeting us, she started bombarding me with questions if I was fine. Did Fujiwara tell her I was tired? Whatever, after I saw her, I felt a bit of relief. My body and mind recovered immediately.
"I'm fine…" — I repeat myself.
We checked the trucks and once everyone came we hit the road.
***
After a half hour, we arrived at the exhibition hall. Thankfully, there was no traffic jam today and we didn't lose unnecessary time. Once we arrived, I instructed our men to set up our stand. When they went to take the equipment and other stuff out of the trucks, they found an unexpected surprise. A young boy sat between the boxes.
"…"
"What are you doing here, Inumaru?"
"Te-he~" – he stuck out his tongue, tilted his head and put his fist under his forehead.
"I told you to stay in the company…"
"But it's going to be fascinating! I swear, I won't be a burden!"
It's not that… sigh, anyway, I tried to save your innocent soul, but you refused on your own. It will be your fault now.
We started to carry the boxes to our stand, which, by the way, was almost in the middle of the hall.
The hall itself is enormously big. It could fit 3, maybe 4 whole floors of our building. Although not a single competitor of ours is missing his chance to participate in this annual exhibition, some of them should shame themselves and not appear here, like the "The Hero Consultations". But the profit is tempting, of course.
…
"Look who we got here? You again? This year, the victory will be mine!"
Someone from the stand next to us started to annoy me, so I decided to ignore him. I was not really in the mood for any fight. Moreover, what does he want from me?
"Who's that?" — asked Nakamura. He was standing with a tablet. However, with a sudden appeal, he moved his head to the talker and then to me.
I waved my hand, trying to say it's not relevant to know him, but Nakamura got only more curious. Did he become closer?
Sigh
"Mhm, it's a competitor I met last year."
"That's right! You are my rival!" — added the voice.
"He~, is it so?" — Inumaru's eyes sparkled in excitement. Tachibana's as well.
"No, just ignore him."
"Oi! How can you act like this?! You don't remember me?!"
I looked at him and thought for a moment. How was his name, once more?
"Amanashi?"
"It's Kanamashi Hiroki! Ka-na-ma-shi! Tsk, screw you, Fukuhara! How can you forget your rival?"
"I don't have any" – you're just delusional.
Suddenly, Tachibana covered her mouth and started laughing. Her laughter can cure all kinds of illnesses, a panacea, indeed.
Kanamashi, annoyed by the fact that I ignored him, took a big breath, pointed at me and declared.
"This year! This year, I'll beat you! You just wait."
I rolled my eyes.
"So what? Why does it matter?"
His eye twitched.
"I-i-if I win, you treat us all for dinner! And vice versa!"
Sigh, so childish. Who would be interested in treating or being treated for dinner by a stranger? This is ridiculous.
"…"
However, Tachibana's and Nakamura's eyes sparkled like never before. They looked at me — both resembled two cute puppies.
"…"
Tsk, ah, crap. I scratched the back of my head, trying not to look at them.
"Alright, if I win, you treat us to a dinner."
I didn't look back at Hiroki, but I could hear him celebrating and swearing he will not disappoint his company, "Divine Solutions Ltd.".
"So! Deal! Be ready to pay for dinner!"
"See you, Hanahashi…"
"That's Ka-na-ma-shi!"
Whatsoever, our stand is yet to be ready. One hour later, all the boxes were taken off the trucks.
"Few, finally, we are done."
Setting up the stand took us a good 6 hours, it's great that Nakamura sneaked, he did the most hard tasks.
For some time, I had a strange feeling that someone was observing me. Naturally, I thought it was Tachibana, if not her, then most likely my self-proclaimed rival. To my surprise, when I looked at the stand in front of us, I noticed a man who was staring me into my eyes. A familiar man, but I couldn't remember him.
Sigh
"Another delusional "rival"?" — I thought.
The man started walking towards me. Step by step, this familiar feeling strengthened.
"…"
No doubt, it's him. Now that I see how tall he is, I remembered everything. How was his name again? Okaf? Something like that…
"We meet again, insect" — the familiar man said with an aggressive voice.
Gulp
"Kazuya, you know him?"
Ogawa noticed that the man had strange intentions. However, he was standing too far.
"Huh. So the master was right, in the end. You insects do indeed stick together."
I knew this exhibition was no fun, but being beaten up by a dude with 2 meter height is not what I expected.
"So? What do you want?" — trying to keep composure, I placed my hands on the table.
"Do you remember me?" — he asked, with predator-like eyes, looking at his prey.
"Certainly. You are… Okaf?" — gulp — "Ukof…?"
I could hear his deep breaths. My guesses were wrong…
"My name is Uko."
What with my memory for names today? The lack of sleep is bad for my memory…
"R-right, Uko it was…" — I'll turn gray after this — "and what did you need me for?"
There was an awkward break after my question. He simply looked into my eyes, deep into my soul. Did he analyze me? It's not necessary, you beat me in all categories! Argh… someone, help me… I looked down at the ground, my breath became faster, I started trembling, but eventually, I calmed down. I saw a hand in front of me. Huh? It was this Uko's hand. What's the meaning? Is it a ritual before someone of his kind decides to kill someone…?
I lifted my head, his face was still emotionless, but I couldn't feel any aggression coming from out of him. What is his true intention? A hand… he wants to shake my hand? He won't squeeze it like a swam, will he?
Gulp
Well, I better shake his hand before he gets mad at me, right?
I stretched out my hand and…
"Hiyah!"
Bam
"…!"
"…?"
"…"
Tamayo, in the best timing ever, knocked him out with a kick to his side.
"O-o-oi!! Ishida! What have you done?!"
"Huh? He threatened you, no?" — she turned her head to me, standing over a defeated enemy.
And now, here we are, mere humans, standing in front of a knock-outed servant of god. Oh, dear heavens, what have we done…