Episode 144: Gathering Information

The day after I heard the story from Sara and the others.

I decided it’d be better to dig up as much as I could on my own before I heard back from my father, so I contacted a secretary I have a personal relationship with.

I talk about private stuff with this person, and since they know I loathe Yamazaki, it was easy to ask for help.

When I told them I’d heard some nasty rumors from an acquaintance, they agreed to talk to the people in charge who have contact with Yamazaki’s company.

Two days later, the secretary contacted me surprisingly fast.

「A mixer?」

「Yes. A new employee of ours was apparently invited to a networking event by a friend who works at Yamazaki-san’s company. It seems the son is the one organizing it. Just between us, the son doesn’t really remember the faces of the participants well, so it seems like they even let in a few participants from outside. The content is basically a mixer, and since they don’t actually discuss business, he knows even less.」

I don’t know what he’s thinking doing something like that, but having people from the company participate without even remembering their faces… that company won’t last long either way.

「There’s one thing in the report that bothered me, besides the possibility that there might be minors among the participants. Eri-san, um, do you understand what’s meant by “take-out”?」

Take-out?

If it’s leftovers or a souvenir, I’d get it, but you wouldn’t ask like that.

Something hard to say, taking home… a mixer… taking them back with you? Eh!?

「Is it… women?」

Hearing my words, the secretary gave a small nod. It looks like I was right.

「The son doesn’t seem to be forcing it, but if things go that way between participants, he turns a blind eye. Or rather, he basically gives permission to the men participating. That’s why it seems the son is the one gathering the women, too.」

That means he’s using women as bait for some purpose.

That total sleazebag. Oh, wait, Eri, your language is getting a bit rough.

「It doesn’t look like they’re taking money, and on the surface, they’re taking the stance that it’s the individuals’ own free will. But if there’s an unspoken understanding, it could be seen as gray-zone prostitution brokerage…」

「Thank you, that’s enough for now. Just hearing it makes my skin crawl.」

I didn’t know, but the thought that I was being hit on by such a worthless piece of trash makes me shudder.

Since it’s come to this, I want to find out his purpose and how he’s gathering the female participants if possible.

No matter if he’s the president’s son, I don’t think a high schooler could gather that many women.

In that case, there has to be someone supporting him from behind.

The highest probability is his father. And if it’s the father, it means he’s turning a blind eye or even encouraging it.

「Can you ask if that new employee can participate one more time? Could we send him as a secret internal investigation for a business partner? Of course, make sure he’s absolutely not pushing himself.」

「Understood. I’ll approach him with that angle. If it’s an investigation, we might find out the purpose or something else. Is it necessary to have him carry a voice recorder or a camera for filming?」

The only thing left is to hope it goes well.

It’s gotten a step fishier than what I heard from Sara and the others.

Maybe the timing was just right, because an event was held soon and it didn’t take many days.

And when I received the report, it was beyond just being fishy.

Right now, on the TV in front of me, a rowdy mixer that’s a「networking event」in name only is being played back.

The purpose isn’t entirely clear, but there’s no doubt that the participants being gathered are related to Yamazaki’s company. And they’re all young people.

At that time, someone from a business partner apparently participated, and there was footage of Yamazaki entertaining them over there.

「If there’s a girl you like, as long as it isn’t by force, taking them home is fine. I mean, I’ve gathered girls who are easy to take home, so please do as you like.」

Whoops, that’s an important statement.

I won’t let you talk your way out of this.

In other words, this is entertainment for business partners. It sounds nice when put that way, but it’s definitely not the good kind.

The audio on the voice recorder included conversations with the participating women, and there were statements that hinted, albeit indirectly, at mediation by Yamazaki’s father.

In other words, Yamazaki Kazuma is doing this under his father’s instructions, or if not instructions, with his encouragement and support.

It looks like they heard talk about that sex offender case too, and as expected, it doesn’t seem like Yamazaki was directly involved, but there’s no doubt he introduced the victim to the culprit.

And the biggest shock was that there were high schoolers mixed in with the female participants.

Clear testimony that they were invited by Yamazaki Kazuma has been recorded.

They seem to have been invited as just a mixer, but do they know that Yamazaki is recommending the men take them home?

I don’t know the connection, but if they’re just being used by Yamazaki, I want to save them somehow.

「Thank you. I’d like to give a special bonus or something to the employee who pulled this off. Ah, you’re not going to tell me that person took someone home too, are you?」

「That’s fine. He got in a pickup car halfway through and went straight home. I’ll arrange the bonus for him on our end.」

Hah… it looks like I’d better report this to everyone soon.

I have to report to my father too, but I’ll have to explain the information source.

Let’s consult with everyone about that during the report.

Of course, I’m going in person this time.

Part of it is that I want to see Sara and the others for the first time in a while, but they sounded like they were having so much fun, even if it was over the phone.

I won’t allow myself to be the only one left out.

「Kazunari-san, I’ve heard from Eri. Apparently she’s found out all sorts of things, and she wants us to gather as soon as possible. What should we do?」

Sara-san called out to me as she was cleaning up the kitchen, her RAIN message alert ringing.

It was just after dinner, and I was clearing off the table.

「Ah, Kazunari-san… haven’t I always told you I’ll do that too?」

Turning around to look at me, Sara-san raised her voice in warning.

Even if she says that, I don’t like having nothing to do, and I don’t think it’s right to leave everything to her.

I’m hoping that if I just keep doing it like this, she’ll eventually get used to it and let me share at least a little bit of the load.

Well, putting that aside, if she found out all sorts of things, it must mean she found some material to corner Yamazaki.

In that case, it’s time to decide how to use that information and how to move.

Fortunately, it’s the weekend starting tomorrow.

「It’s just the weekend, so let’s ask everyone’s schedule. If possible, Sunday would be good so we can use the whole day.」

「Understood. Then I’ll check with Natsumi and Eri.」

Now, I have to call out to Yuji this time too, and ask Todo-san… I’ll need to ask Todo-san to contact Hanako-san and Tachikawa-san.