Episode 397: Takenaka-san

We easily slipped through the already crowded reception (it was a breeze thanks to Takenaka-san), and after safely stepping into the venue, Takenaka-san and I looked for a seat… though since this party is a buffet style, we managed to barely secure a corner of one of the few sofas placed along the walls.

When I looked around the room again, the thing that caught my eye was the large chandelier… The chandelier emitting a distinct presence near the center of the room had a luxurious appearance as if it were studded with jewels, and its brilliant light further enhanced the glamor of the interior.

Furthermore, in the back, there is an exaggerated staircase that looks like it’s from some movie set. It splits left and right from a wide landing in the middle and curves slightly to connect to the balcony seats on the second floor, as if it is practically begging to be used for event staging.

To rent out a hall like this, it really is a major event party…

「Phew… I’m glad we were able to secure a seat more easily than I expected.」

「Right. But there are many crowded places around here, so I hope we can meet up with Sara-san and Mayumi-san successfully…」

Currently, the range visible from here is quite limited, and with so many people crowding around… I feel like it might be better to move further inside once the timing is right.

That way, it would be easier for us to find each other.

「Ah, as for that, please rest easy. There are guides over there as well, and if we have trouble meeting up, we can communicate via radio.」

Takenaka-san said that and pointed to the earphone in his ear, then took out something like a terminal from his pocket.

I see. I thought he was wearing hands free earphones for a smartphone, but that was actually a transceiver.

「Even so… haha, what a strange feeling.」

「Takenaka-san?」

Takenaka-san suddenly let out a laugh and turned an interested gaze toward me…

「I never imagined the day would come when I would reunite with that high school student like this. Moreover, that I would be calling you Bocchan, there really is a mysterious fate between us.」

「Ahaha… those are my words exactly. I also thought that incident was the last I would see of Takenaka-san and Masaomi-san.」

I simply returned a lost wallet to the police, and the owner and the people involved came to say「thank you」.

Normally, that would be the end of it. To think one of those people back then was Sara-san’s father, and would become my father in law, just how strange a coincidence is that… And because that coincidence happened, I have reunited with Takenaka-san like this and have the chance to talk again.

「When I first heard the story from the Executive Director, I truly doubted my ears, but as a fact, Bocchan is here now, so this really is reality.」

「Ahaha… were you surprised after all?」

「I was more than just surprised. In the first place, to win the heart of that young lady… wait, sorry. I can’t carelessly let this story out yet, so anyway, I was surprised in a twofold, threefold… no, a fourfold or fivefold sense.」

「Fourfold or fivefold… that much?」

「Yes. For anyone who knows the circumstances even slightly, there is no way they wouldn’t understand how important and significant this matter is.」

「I see…」

By now, I have seen plenty of people who knew Sara-san be astonished by my existence, so that is nothing new… And for Takenaka-san, who is directly connected to Masaomi-san, it must be surprising that I am becoming Masaomi-san’s adopted son, but is there still something else?

「Anyway, since Bocchan has become Bocchan, there will be more opportunities for us to see each other in the future, so I look forward to working with you again.」

Takenaka-san said that and softly held out his right hand with a refreshing smile.

So I…

「Yes. Likewise, I look forward to working with you.」

I firmly shook Takenaka-san’s right hand and gave a short but clear greeting.

I’m sure that in the future, if I get a job at Saba, there will be opportunities for Takenaka-san to take care of me.

「Fufu… Takenaka-san, is there something going on with that boy?」

「Hmm? …Ah, Ueyama-kun.」

The person who suddenly spoke up was a young woman with glasses and light brownish semi long hair, wearing a white party dress.

Of course, I have never met her, but she is likely Takenaka-san’s colleague or something like that.

「Good work, Takenaka-san.」

「Good work. What happened to the others?」

「Tanabe-san and the others should be here in a little while.」

After saying that, the woman stood on the opposite side across Takenaka-san, showing curious eyes behind her glasses, and compared me and Takenaka-san at the same time…

「So Takenaka-san, what is the deal with this boy?」

「Stop calling him ‘this boy’. Don’t come crying to me if you end up in trouble later, okay?」

「Ehh, what is with that mysterious phrasing?」

Takenaka-san gave a teasing, mischievous smile toward the woman… wait, even this person shows a face like that normally.

It’s not strange, but I had an image that he wasn’t the type to do things like that based on our conversation and the atmosphere so far.

「Well, I thought I would wait until everyone was here, but I will introduce him to you now. This is Takanashi Kazunari-san, today’s…」

「Heh…? T… Takanashi Kazunari-san…?」

Upon hearing my name, the woman looked at Takenaka-san with a heavy movement, as if a creaking sound could be heard…

「U-um, Takenaka-san? By any chance, could this person be…」

「Haha, it is indeed that ‘by any chance’. That’s why I told you, right? That I won’t know what happens if you get in trouble later.」

「Wait, what!? Why didn’t you tell me sooner!? H h h hello, Sat… no, Takanashi-san!! I-I am Ueyama Sanae, and I work in the same department as Takenaka-senpai…」

I wouldn’t say her face turned pale, but the woman… Ueyama-san, began bowing her head repeatedly with a desperate expression that made me feel apologetic just watching.

Why did it suddenly turn into this?

「Bocchan, let me introduce her as well. This is Ueyama-kun, a junior who works in a different team within the same department directly under the Executive Director.」

「A department directly under Masaomi-san… so there is such a thing? Um, nice to meet you, Ueyama-san. I am Takanashi Kazunari.」

「Y… yes!! Thank you for the polite greeting!! Um, I have heard about Takanashi-san from Executive Director Satsukawa, and many congratu…」

「Ueyama-kun, do not say any more yet.」

「Ah!? T t t, sorry, it just slipped out…」

Being sharply warned by Takenaka-san, Ueyama-kun’s shoulders slumped visibly.

However, more than that, I have plenty of things to point out about the interaction so far… For now, I want her to stop that formal attitude and treat me a bit more normally, and I’m starting to wonder about Takenaka-san’s position.

Could it be that he is a quite high ranking person?

「B… by the way, why is Takanashi-san here alone? I totally thought you would be with Executive Director Satsukawa…」

「Umm, Masaomi-san had an urgent matter…」

「The Executive Director is handling an unexpected visitor, so I’m accompanying him instead.」

「Ah, so that’s how it was… No, even so, to think I would meet you so suddenly, I’m not mentally prepared yet…」

Perhaps she is very curious about me, because Ueyama-san frequently turned her gaze toward me while talking with Takenaka-san… It made me feel a bit restless.

And saying she isn’t mentally prepared, it’s quite an exaggeration just for meeting me.

「Yoo. Takenaka-san, Ueyama-chan, good work~」

「Good work, Chief. I just got word that the car carrying Executive Director Satsukawa’s wife and daughter has entered the underground parking lot.」

「Man, I’m seriously looking forward to meeting Executive Director Satsukawa’s daughter today. I couldn’t even see her face last year or the year before.」

「Totally. A beautiful girl like that is rare, it’s a perk of the job at times like this.」

「Wait, when did you become a lolicon…」

「Shut up. Looking at that young lady, there’s no way you’d call it being a lolicon.」

「Still, why did that young lady who hated men so much suddenly…」

「Shh!! Shh!!」

Ueyama-san repeatedly made a「shh」sound with a desperate look toward the group that had arrived while making a lot of noise.

Then the gaze of the group, who were looking at Ueyama-san’s behavior with curiosity, all gathered toward the side… toward me at once…

「Nn? Ueyama-chan, who is this boy?」

「Not Takenaka-san’s… right? He’s single.」

「Some kid you know?」

「You guys, stop that light talk right now. I won’t care what happens to you later… wait, the Madam and the Young Lady are entering the hall…?」

「Eh?」

As expected, just as Takenaka-san was about to give a warning like Ueyama-san did, he suddenly put a finger to the earphone at his ear, and the moment I thought he muttered something…

「「Ooooooooh」」

A sudden loud stir rose from the back of the venue, and people around here also began to rush out in a hurry, and soon something like a human wall began to appear.

What is that?

「It seems they have arrived.」

「Whoa… it is as amazing as ever.」

「Of course. The Madam rarely makes an appearance, and for those who want to sell themselves to the founding family, it’s a once in a lifetime chance. Also…」

「There are also countless people who want to target the only daughter of the next president, so people swarm around in a double sense…」

「Exactly.」

Looking at the scene in front of them, these people began to talk about checking the situation as if it were interesting… but setting them aside, judging by the conversation just now, the ones behind that human wall are.

「What should we do, Takenaka-san? I think the guys over there are handling it, but should we go to support them too?」

「I suppose… what will you do, Bocchan? We are heading over to welcome the Madam and the Young Lady now…」

「「「Bocchan?」」」

Because Takenaka-san called me Bocchan, the group that had been looking at me with slight suspicion until now showed confused expressions. And Ueyama-san looked more and more anxious toward that group… but that’s not the priority right now!!

Sara-san and the others are the priority!!

「I’m going too!!」

If Sara-san and the others are behind that human wall, there is no other choice but to head there as quickly as possible.

And if what I just heard is true, could there be… people around Sara-san? That is no joke!?

「Understood. Then, together.」

「Yes!」

Takenaka-san nodded with a smile at my reply and stepped forward just like when we came here. Then I followed him, and Ueyama-san stood right next to me in a panic, while the group that didn’t seem to understand what was going on followed behind…

「I will clear the path, so please follow behind me, Bocchan.」

「Understood.」

「H-hey, Ueyama-chan, who on earth is this boy?」

「T-Tanabe-san, don’t use such a rude way of calling him!! This is Takanashi Kazunari-san, and he is Executive Director Satsukawa’s…」

「…Eh.」

「T-Takanashi…?」

「「Whaaaaaaaaat!?」」

While thinking「not again」at the people shouting behind me… more than that, Sara-san and Mayumi-san are the priority right now.

I should leave the people behind me to Ueyama-san and just think about that for now.

「H-hey, you’re kidding, right!?」

「Why is he over here!?」

「Wait, I didn’t hear about that!!」

「Crap, I haven’t greeted him yet!?」

「Well then, Bocchan, here we go?」

「Yes.」

I gave a strong nod to Takenaka-san’s final check, while quietly eyeing the human wall in front of me…

Sara-san, I am coming right now!!