Episode 148: Implementation

「Sorry to keep you waiting, Yamazaki-san.」

When I arrived at the meeting spot, Yamazaki was already there waiting at the designated area.

As I got out of the car and called out to him, he flashed a perfect, practiced smile.

I’d always thought he was unpleasant, but knowing his true nature makes him look even worse.

「No, I just got here myself.」

I scolded myself as I nearly rolled my eyes at his cliché response. For now, Eri, just act normal.

「Well, shall we head out?」

Just being in the car with him made me feel filthy, and I struggled to hide the disgust that was threatening to show on my face.

…I’ll have to disinfect everywhere he touches later.

「I’m honored to be invited by you, Eri-san.」

Eri-san… huh.

I don’t remember ever giving him permission to use that name, but he’d started calling me by my first name before I even realized it.

Well, I don’t want to have any pointless conversation anyway, and today is the last day regardless.

I reluctantly kept up the idle chat until the car finally reached the venue.

In the lobby, about twenty of Yamazaki’s subordinates were hanging around.

Since this was a small party with some internal announcements, I’d told Yamazaki to only invite people from companies close to him.

Of course, I contacted him at the very last minute so he wouldn’t have time to think of anything suspicious…

「Yamazaki-san, thanks for the invitation today.」

「No problem. You guys support me all the time, after all. You’re the chosen members.」

Yamazaki said that with a condescending tone. I guess the people called here are the members he considers important.

Well, that works in our favor. I wonder how they’ll feel when they’re abandoned right in front of everyone…

The doors hadn’t opened yet, but Yamazaki and I went inside a bit early.

Since there weren’t many people, the space wasn’t that large.

「I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of announcement there is. Could it be there’s something about us, too?」

Yamazaki started saying that with a faint smirk.

Something about us… does this guy seriously think there’s gonna be some happy announcement about our future?

Gross… that’s my honest impression.

Let’s just get this over with.

「Yamazaki-san, please excuse me for a moment. I’ll be right back.」

「Sure, take your time.」

Leaving Yamazaki alone as planned, I stepped out through a different door.

Waiting there were Takanashi-san, Hanako-san, and Tachikawa-san.

After we nodded to each other, the three of them entered the venue just as I stepped out.

Alright, time to start the preparations…

「I’m so happy Hayato-kun invited me!」

When I contacted her on RAIN saying I needed someone to even out the numbers for a mixer, Sasagawa bit on the hook with an almost disgusting level of enthusiasm.

We met up and were now heading to the venue in a taxi.

「I can’t wait to see what kind of people are there~」

「What kind of people」… her attitude, like she was going to judge them, made a wave of disgust well up inside me.

「…Hey, about Kazunari’s middle school story.」

「Ah, do you know the rumors?」

How shameless… considering she’s the one who started them.

…It’s not in the plan, but I’ll ask a bit more.

「Is it true?」

「Yeah, it’s true. Kazunari is terrible, isn’t he?」

「A few things don’t add up, though. You said he’s been a stalker since forever, but based on your ages, that’d mean he was a stalker in kindergarten or elementary school. That seems impossible.」

「Eh………」

Sasagawa looked like she’d never been asked that before and was totally caught off guard.

「I can understand Kazunari hitting someone if it was for someone’s sake… but who did you hear the story from, Sasagawa-san?」

「Um…… from my boyfriend.」

Sasagawa Yuzuha answered fidgety and anxiously.

It seems she’s never been questioned like this before.

Even though there should’ve been people who noticed… there’s no doubt Yamazaki was moving behind the scenes.

While we were doing that, the taxi stopped, and we reached our destination.

「Now that we’re here, let’s head into the venue.」

When I spoke to her to reset the mood, she flashed a relieved smile and got out of the car.

「Yo Yamazaki, been a while.」

When I spoke to Yamazaki, who was facing the other way, he spun around in surprise.

And when he saw my face, his expression twisted instantly.

「…What are you doing here?」

「What do you mean? I was invited by Nishikawa-san.」

「Ha? Why would someone like you be invited?」

Yamazaki snapped back with a tone of pure contempt.

He really gets on my nerves every single time.

「It’s been a while, but you’re still the same. I’m here, so obviously I was invited. Why? How? You sound like a kindergartener.」

「Even if it’s the truth, it’s a kindness to stay quiet since he hasn’t noticed it himself.」

Hanako-san and Tachikawa-san looked down on Yamazaki right on cue.

It seems he finally noticed the others besides me.

「I was wondering who it was… I don’t know the connection, but who does this delusional trio think they’re talking to?」

「Whoops, that’s right, Yamazaki. I have to thank you.」

I cut in before he could start shouting, taking the wind out of his sails.

I don’t even want to hear his screeching.

「Thank me? What’re you talking about?」

He was clearly irritated, but being thanked in a meaningful way seemed to have piqued his interest.

He at least looked like he was willing to listen.

「You were planning to mess with me at our school, weren’t you? Well, one thing led to another, and I got my hands on something interesting.」

「…What are you talking about?」

He twitched for a second but immediately played dumb. But looking away in a situation like this is basically a confession.

「No need to be modest. Thanks for the interesting bit about you introducing a victim to a sex offender named Sagawa.」

「Ha!?」

This time, his expression definitely turned to one of pure shock.

It was classic「a bolt from the blue,」and it was pretty funny to watch.

Snap.

Hanako-san took a photo of Yamazaki’s face with her phone.

Noticing that, Yamazaki’s expression changed as he glared at her.

「What do you think you’re doing!!」

「It was a funny face, so I took a commemorative photo. Your whole face was saying, ‘How do you know that?’」

「Hanako-san, show me later, okay?」

Yamazaki is looking pretty pissed.

Between being mocked and me intentionally talking over him so he couldn’t get a word in, he was clearly fuming.

「Hmph. Malicious accusations without proof are a serious matter. I’ll sue you immediately. I’m not like commoners like you.」

「Then I wonder how we know about it?」

「If you think the people who’ve gone this far haven’t grabbed anything, your head is as simple as your looks.」

And after hearing Hanako-san’s comment, Yamazaki finally seemed to realize the situation, showing obvious signs of agitation.

「Hmph… I certainly know about that story. But I only introduced them. I didn’t imagine what would happen next, and I wasn’t involved. Since I have no connection beyond the introduction, I don’t have any problems. Too bad for you.」

Suddenly turning confident, Yamazaki spoke with a strangely smug attitude.

It’s true that regarding this matter, just like he says, he probably just introduced them.

For our purposes, though, the fact that he was involved at all is more than enough.

「Right. From what we’ve gathered, it seems you really did just introduce them.」

When I admitted that honestly, he gave a smirk and started talking volubly.

「Exactly. Because that’s the truth. I don’t know where you got your info, but stop with the groundless talk. You guys were apparently invited by Eri-san too, so why don’t you act your age and stay quiet?」

That smug face of his is exactly the same as back then.

Wait, does that mean he hasn’t grown at all?

「Oh, it seems things are getting quite lively here.」

「Eri-san!」

Nishikawa-san appeared right as the conversation hit a lull.

Well, obviously, since I gave the signal.

Sara-san, who was standing next to her, had also changed into a dress for some reason.

It was the first time I’d seen her in a party dress… if it wasn’t for this situation, I would’ve given her a proper compliment.

「Pardon me, but who is the beautiful lady with you, Eri-san? If you wouldn’t mind introducing us…」

「Fufu… Kazunari-san, really. It’s a bit embarrassing to be stared at like that.」

Sara-san completely ignored Yamazaki and spoke to me.

She must’ve noticed I was mesmerized, because she gave a happy, shy smile.

Seeing the twitching smile on Yamazaki’s face, Nishikawa-san cleared her throat and acted like she was resetting the mood to introduce her.

「Let me introduce you. This is Satsukawa Sara-san. She’s a close friend of mine.」

「Satsukawa? Satsukawa as in that Satsukawa?」

Hm?

Yamazaki showed a strange reaction.

It’s not that he knows Sara-san, but did something come to mind?

「…I’m Satsukawa Sara.」

「I’m Yamazaki Kazuma. It’s a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman. I look forward to getting to know you…」

The expression on Sara-san’s face as she was being talked to by Yamazaki was more horrible than any I’d ever seen before.

She wasn’t hiding her disgust at all; it was like she was looking at trash or filth.

Yamazaki must’ve noticed something too, because he stopped talking halfway through.

「Um? Is something…」

「No. I’ve been reluctantly talked to by various men before, but this is the first time a simple greeting has made me feel this much revulsion. I’m actually surprised there was still a level above what I’d experienced.」

Sara-san mixed in some dialogue that was a bit different from the plan.

It’s too early to ruin the atmosphere… I guess she couldn’t help herself…

「……Ha? What do you—」

「Wait a minute~~? What are you doing here, Kazuma-kun?」

Yuzuha approached with a carefree voice.

Hayato, perfect timing.

「!? What are you doing in a place like this!!」

He was massively surprised, which made me happy too.

Hanako-san was smirking while taking photos.

Tachikawa-san’s expression was stiff.

And Sara-san… this is gonna be bad.

When our eyes met, Nishikawa-san seemed to notice my panic and gave a firm nod.

「Oh, do you know that person, Yamazaki-san?」

「N-no, she’s…」

「I’m Kazuma-kun’s girlfriend~!」

And there it is… Yuzuha’s air-headed comment.

And neither of them probably suspects that this comment is the beginning of the end for Yamazaki.

Nishikawa-san gave a smirk for just a split second.

「…Oh, Yamazaki-san. You had a lover? I see, I’m sorry. I’d misunderstood and thought you were making approaches toward me.」

Nishikawa-san started her blatant act with a slightly sad expression.

Now, let’s see how much this goes according to plan from here…