Chapter 404 - Your False Destiny
(1)
"Toya-san, please wake up. It is morning."
"Good morning, Airi..."
"Good morning. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm alright."
I get up and change my clothes.
My body feels somewhat sluggish.
What is wrong with me?
After getting ready, I eat breakfast... but.
That is strange, I have no appetite.
But Airi will probably worry.
I wash it down with coffee.
After that, I relax with Airi as usual before going to work.
"Please take care of your body. Have a safe day."
"Yeah, I'm off."
Arriving at the company, I prepare as usual, finish the morning assembly, and start work.
Today's schedule... there is no fieldwork.
Data entry work in the office.
As usual, an awkward atmosphere flowed through the office.
Kamiki-san silently doing office work alone.
When lunch break comes, she eats her bento alone and then sleeps.
Fifteen minutes before afternoon work starts, she begins doing a strange exercise.
And then, afternoon work begins.
Today, nothing happens.
Right at closing time, Kamiki-san begins preparing to go home.
"Toya, you've been told you can leave at closing time too, right? I've been handing over work with that schedule in mind, so you're good to go."
"Excuse me, I will excuse myself first. Thank you for your hard work."
Told by Tatsuhiko-senpai, I also begin preparing to go home.
"Toya, wait a moment!"
I am stopped by Tatsuhiko-senpai.
"You got a digit wrong here!"
Eh?
I look at Tatsuhiko-senpai's monitor. It is indeed clearly off.
"I am sorry, I will correct it immediately..."
"Ah, no. I'll do it, so it's fine. More importantly, are you alright? You've had a lot of careless mistakes lately."
"I am sorry, I have been trying to be careful, but..."
"It might be about time for some slackness to show. Or did you get a fever from studying for the exam?"
Tatsuhiko-senpai is laughing.
"What is the matter, Uehara?"
The President came.
"No, I was just warning Toya that he might be slacking off lately."
"Hmm..."
When Tatsuhiko-senpai says that, the President looks at my face.
"You look pale... Are you eating breakfast properly?"
"Yes, I am eating, but I have no appetite."
"Are you sleeping well at night?"
Come to think of it, I haven't been sleeping lately because of studying for the exam.
"I have been studying for the exam lately, so it inevitably gets late."
"Hmm... It might be summer fatigue. Go home and sleep well today. It would be troublesome if it interferes with your work."
"I am sorry."
"Katagiri-kun is serious, so he must be studying desperately, but it is better to relax a little. If only that man had that seriousness..."
"Well, I will excuse myself."
Saying so, I go home.
"I'm home..."
"Welcome back, thank you for your hard work. Toya-san?"
The moment I return home, my body suddenly becomes heavy.
I stumbled and ended up hugging Airi.
"You cannot do that. Please do that kind of thing later."
"Sorry..."
"Did something happen?"
"Ah, no. I'm fine..."
After changing, I eat dinner.
It is no use... I have no appetite.
But I have to eat...
"Um... was it not to your taste?"
"N-No, that is not it."
I force it down.
Seeing me like that, Airi falls into thought.
"What is wrong?"
"No, please take a bath."
"I understand."
After taking a bath, I go to the bedroom.
Airi was looking at a laptop with a serious gaze.
"Airi, the bath is free, you know?"
"Y-Yes."
Airi hurriedly closes the laptop and heads to the bath.
When Airi returns, she brings a glass filled with barley tea.
"Did we run out of alcohol today? Should I go buy some?"
"No! Please refrain from alcohol today."
What is wrong with her?
"...Once you drink that, please go to sleep today."
"But, my exam study..."
"Not today. Please. Go to sleep."
"What on earth is the matter?"
Then, Airi bowed her head.
"I am sorry, it is all my fault. Because I slacked off on managing Toya-san's schedule."
Eh?
"Toya-san seems to have summer fatigue. Please rest well now. I am sorry. I also had to be careful about the meals."
Airi is crying.
"Being a wife like this, I will be laughed at. I am a failure as a wife."
"Making my wife cry, I am still a failure as a husband too."
Eh?
I rub Airi's back.
"I understand. I will rest well today. I do not want to trouble my wife any more than this."
"...Thank you very much."
"I am the one who should thank you, Airi. Thank you. And I am sorry."
After drinking the barley tea, I get into bed just as Airi told me to.
Airi is watching television.
I stare at Airi.
It seems Airi noticed that.
"Ah, the light bothers you, right? I will watch it in the living room. Good night."
"Are you not going to sleep, Airi?"
"I have some television I want to watch."
I see. Well, good night.
"Good night."
Airi left the bedroom and headed to the living room.
I seemed to be truly exhausted, and fell asleep immediately.
"Toya-san, it is morning."
"Good morning, Airi?"
Huh? Outside the bed today?
Looking at Airi's face, I noticed immediately.
She has dark circles under her eyes...
"It seems I stayed up a little too late last night."
Airi says so and laughs.
She is hiding something.
I knew immediately.
"Airi, what were you doing last night?"
"I got too absorbed in the television. I am sorry. Breakfast is ready, so please go get ready."
Airi says so and leaves the bedroom.
What is she hiding?
Looking around the room, I knew immediately.
After changing and getting ready, I go to the dining room.
And looking at the living room table, it is immediately obvious.
My reference books are lined up.
It seems Airi also noticed that I noticed it.
"I-I just got a little curious about what kind of qualification it was..."
I quickly look at the reference books and past exam question collections.
I immediately understood what Airi had been doing at night.
Countless sticky notes and memos written in key places.
What surprised me most of all was its accuracy.
For the exam, one takes a total of five subjects, choosing two subjects belonging to accounting and three out of six subjects belonging to tax law.
I had chosen Corporation Tax, Consumption Tax, and National Tax Collection Act, but I had not told Airi.
Yet Airi had intensively checked those three subjects and summarized them in a notebook.
"I thought it might be intrusive, but I wanted to be of even a little help..."
"...How did you know the elective subjects?"
"I knew immediately when looking at Toya-san's question collections."
Placing the book on the table, I approach Airi.
"I just wanted to help the hard-working Toya-san, so I couldn't help but interfere. I am sorry!"
I hug Airi tightly.
"Thank you. I am truly a lucky man."
"I am the lucky one. To have met such a wonderful husband."
After eating, Airi cleans up, and the two of us relax in the living room.
"Um, Toya-san. May I make a suggestion?"
"What is it?"
"I know it might be intrusive, but I really want to help Toya-san..."
"?"
Airi says.
"Please let me study with you," she says. She wants to work hard together. She says that my study schedule must, after all, be managed by Airi.
How admirable can she be...
I could not find a reason to refuse.
"Alright. But there is one condition."
"Whatever it may be."
"Can you promise never to do something this reckless again? It is pointless if you collapse, Airi."
"I understand. I promise."
"And, I will give you a punishment for doing something so reckless without telling me."
"Eh?"
Airi looks anxious. But that anxiety is quickly dispelled. Airi closes her eyes and accepts me.
"Toya-san is mean. A punishment like this makes me want to do it again."
"That is no good."
"Yes."
When the time comes, I go to the entrance.
"Well, I am off."
"Take care. Have a safe day."
By the way, Airi.
"What is the matter?"
"You really wrote that much in a single night. Were you up all night?"
"No, I slept, you know?"
Even though she had narrowed down the elective subjects, it was a splendid amount of writing.
The key points were accurately captured.
That was my doubt.
Airi dismisses that in a single word.
"I can understand that kind of thing at a single glance."
Airi was smiling brightly.
Only now did I remember that Airi was that kind of girl.
That day's bento was a spiced fried rice.
In her own way, she must have thought of it to prevent summer fatigue.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
(2)
"Kimoto-san, please come here for a moment!"
Again...
"What is the matter?"
"The dimensions of the opening here are completely different."
Eh?
When the craftsman measures it, it is a whole 50 mm different from the drawing.
"The dimensions of the counter top board to be fitted here will be completely messed up, so what are we going to do?"
"Can we not shave the top board?"
"The top board is fine, but what about the lower storage? It is an integrated unit, so it will have to be remade, you know?"
That said, we cannot shave the pillars.
I report to the Director.
"Make the contractor who made it without measuring the actual dimensions remake it on their own responsibility."
I convey the Director's intention.
"That is why I told you to send the actual dimensions when you made the design drawing!"
"I-I am sorry."
"Also, even though I said to install the window top board before putting up the plasterboard, the plasterboard is already up! What are we going to do?!"
Checking the site, the plasterboard is indeed put up.
I call the interior construction contractor.
I question why they put it up.
"When I checked with the other supervisor, he said it was fine to put it up, so I did?"
I speak to that supervisor. A slightly older man.
"Did you write that properly on the whiteboard?"
"I wrote it."
Returning to the office, I look at the schedule.
It is written down precisely.
"Ah, I did not check it. Sorry, sorry."
"Sorry, sorry," he says...
"What are we going to do? We cannot secure it like this, you know?"
I ask the Director.
"Just screw it in! Or rather, do not ask me about every single detail, make your own decisions."
Fixing it with screws, what about the appearance?
"Are you sure screwing it in is fine?"
"Yeah, that is fine. We have no time left before the deadline! We cannot exactly replace the boards, can we?"
I convey that.
"Kid, do you understand what you are saying? The appearance will be ruined, you know? Besides, the opening will change, so we will have to take it back to the factory and redo it. That will incur labor costs, you know?"
I apologize profusely and have them remake it.
Once we enter the finishing phase, this kind of trouble is a daily occurrence.
Well, it has been nothing but trouble since construction started.
During foundation work, the foundation shifting by 10 mm is a daily occurrence. There are even times when we open it up to find the reinforcing bars completely exposed.
I am called out every single time.
And today was the worst day.
"Kimoto-san, come here for a second!"
What is it this time?
"Why did you install the toilet bowl first?! It makes it hard to do the finishing."
I hurriedly call the contractor.
"Because the delivery date was three days ago. I spoke properly to the Director."
I look at the schedule.
It is indeed three days ago.
I convey that to the interior contractor.
"Even Kimoto-san knows that the schedule is delayed! Get it together!"
We cannot exactly remove a toilet bowl once it is installed. I bow my head and have them proceed with the work.
And so the day ends... there is no way.
From here is the real deal.
I single-mindedly do office work.
A site manager's duties include construction site schedule management, work instructions, budgeting, ordering, briefings, and handling complaints.
Furthermore, I have to prepare ISO documents.
While doing such things, it passes midnight.
Once the site starts, commuting from Monday and returning home on Saturday morning is common.
Being able to participate in Saturday drinking parties is not because I can rest on Saturday and Sunday; I am immersed in the site from Monday to Saturday.
Naturally, there is no change of clothes.
My fellow site managers quit one after another.
Even so, when the building is completed, I get a sense of fulfillment.
But that is also short-lived.
The client files a complaint.
I am chased by handling that complaint.
And I strictly keep my promise to Kana.
Pushing my fatigued body, I present her with a day.
Seeing the delighted Kana, I feel relieved.
A fleeting day of rest in name only.
Yes, it ends in a single day.
And on Sunday, I go out.
"Do not push yourself too hard."
Those words are my only solace.
I go outside. Summer had already arrived.
(3)
Clang-clang.
"Hello."
Cafe Blue Bird.
Arriving there, Airi, Emi, and Akira.
The usual customers had come.
"Welcome."
Misato's voice saying it listlessly.
"The order is the usual, right?"
Saki's voice, in contrast, bright.
And the gossip session by the housewives of the Watanabe Group begins.
Usually it starts with complaints about their husbands, but today was different.
It seems each of them harbors anxiety about their husband.
It is not dissatisfaction, but rather they are genuinely worried about their husbands' well-being.
All three husbands finished their trial periods and became regular employees.
Naturally, their responsibilities also become greater.
Though in Sakai-kun's case, it was a heavy responsibility from the start.
...Ishihara-kun is also like that, running an entertainment agency alongside his main business.
Both of them were not very talkative to begin with, but apparently they have become even less so.
"My husband also stopped coming home until the weekend since he became the current site manager."
He is not going out to play.
He is staying overnight at the site office for work.
It seems it is scheduled to be completed by the three-day holiday of Marine Day, but I am anxious about his physical condition.
Katagiri-kun also seems to have suffered from summer fatigue.
Airi was blaming herself.
Everyone is pushing themselves to work.
That is the same for Kanna, Honoka, and Ai.
Everyone is having a hard time.
It was when they were talking about such things.
Clang-clang.
It seems to be a new customer.
"Welcome... wait, Ayato?"
Misato said, looking at the couple who entered.
"Big Sister, it has been a while."
The person addressed as Ayato called Misato "Big Sister."
Are they siblings?
"Why are you all the way here? You are supposed to be at Beppu University, right?"
Misato is surprised. A person from Beppu University.
"I was worried about you, Big Sister, so I came to see how you were doing. I heard from Mother that you started living together. Both of them were worried."
"...For now, just sit anywhere."
The two sit at the counter seats.
"Misato, introduce them."
Saki says.
"Yes, my younger brother Kitamura Ayato, and..."
"Nice to meet you, I am Matsumoto Haruka, and I am dating Ayato-san."
The woman greeted them, saying so.
The two met at a welcome party. Her parents' home is said to be in Yoshino.
And it seems they dropped by on their way back from greeting Haruka-san's parents.
"Are both of you doing circle activities or something?"
Saki-san asked.
"I came to consult with you, Big Sister, partly because of that matter."
Ayato-san says.
He says there is a dating circle called Legalis at the university in Beppu.
The two hit it off at their welcome party, but apparently the circle's behavior is strange.
Both of them left immediately.
They heard it was a rumored matchmaking circle, but apparently the content was completely different from the rumors.
That was when he remembered that Misato was in the rumored circle.
He says they would like both of them to be let in there if possible.
Emi, who was listening nearby, said.
"Why not let them in?"
The two were surprised.
"That is true. Their backgrounds seem fine, so it is okay. I will take responsibility."
Saki says.
"Um, who are you all?"
"Nice to meet you. I am Takemoto Saki, the university student representative of the Watanabe Group."
When Saki introduced herself, everyone introduced themselves.
"To think everyone was in the same group."
Ayato-kun is surprised.
"So, what will you do? Will you join?"
"If we can be let in, we want to join. Right, Haruka?"
"Yeah. But what kind of things do you do?"
"Since there are working adults too, exchanging messages is the main thing, and after that, drinking parties a few times a month, and this month maybe going camping at the sea."
Saki explains.
"Then there is no problem, right, Haruka?"
"Yeah, please look after us."
When the two say so, Saki exchanges IDs with them.
And then she invited them to the Watanabe Group.
"Do you commute from Yoshino to Beppu?"
Saki was asking Haruka.
"Just returning to my parents' home about once a week, and otherwise staying over at his place."
Ayato apparently lives alone in Beppu.
"And there is one more worry."
Ayato explains.
It seems threats have been continuing since the two left Legalis.
"Do not think you can leave easily."
"Do you think it ends with just 'I am leaving'?"
"You know what will happen, right?"
It seems they are troubled by such messages arriving every day.
Both of them can do enough to protect themselves.
Even so, it must be terrifying for a woman.
Emi, who was listening to that, laughs.
"Reply right now, 'Because I joined the Watanabe Group.'"
The two sent back the message as they were told.
No reply came.
"After that, you can just block and delete them. That solves it."
"What kind of group is the Watanabe Group?"
Ayato asks.
"It is nothing to be so afraid of, it is a group just like the rumors say."
Emi answers.
"I will set up a welcome party even this weekend, so please come."
When Saki says so, the two left.
When the two left, I asked.
"Do you know about Legalis, Emi?"
"Yes, I think they were running wild at the Private University before."
Was that what the delinquents by whom Mikoto and Gaku had been targeted called themselves?
"So, I was curious and had an investigation put in. ...It seems those guys made it again without learning their lesson."
A vicious circle following Egoist, Urbanity, and Stinger.
However, the scale is not that large, and few people join.
Apparently, some people leave immediately even if they join.
And they are afraid of being sniffed out by the Watanabe Group.
"So that is why you brought up the Watanabe Group's name."
When Airi says so, Emi nodded.
"They are just scared and cannot do anything anyway. If they do try something, I will dispose of them, so there is no problem."
Emi says.
"I see, then that is a relief."
Airi says.
"But Kana, are you alright? Only being able to return home once a week is abnormal, you know?"
Akira asked me.
"Apparently, being able to return once a week is on the better side. It seems there are even subcontractors who come to the site on holidays because there is no time before the deadline..."
As long as contractors come, the site manager has to remain at the site.
When I speak, Akira was making a phone call.
"Hello, Papa? ...I want you to come right now... Yes, the cafe called Blue Bird."
Thirty minutes after Akira made the call, Akira's father arrived.
"What is the matter, Akira? You said it was an emergency."
"It seems there is an incredibly incompetent person in Papa's company."
"What...?"
Akira is explaining what was just said to her father.
We could also tell that Akira's father was trembling with anger.
"Do you know where the site is, Kana-san?"
"I think it was Sumi's apartment."
"Ah, there... I did indeed hear that the schedule is delayed."
Saying so, Akira's father was making a phone call.
"Ah, it is me, is the branch manager there? Call him out immediately! If he is not there, tell him to contact me!"
A few minutes later, a phone call came.
"Are you the branch manager? Regarding the matter of the Sumi site, severely warn the Director! Our company has no need for an incompetent who cannot even manage a schedule satisfactorily! Also, terminate the contract with the interior company as of this site! There are plenty of better companies. There is no need to do business with useless people."
Akira's father scolded the branch manager for about fifteen minutes after that and finished the call.
Apparently, after strictly checking the current subcontractors, all incompetent ones will be cut off.
There are plenty of replacements, Akira's father says.
"Was it Kana-san? I have done a bad thing to your husband. I have spoken strictly so that such a thing will not happen in the future, so please forgive me."
"Ah, thank you very much."
Saying so, Akira's father left, saying he had an important transaction.
It is said that transactions with dozens of subcontractors were cut off after that.
(4)
"Well then, let us begin the welcome party for the two newcomers."
When Watanabe-kun says so, the banquet began.
A Japanese restaurant different from usual.
It seems Nishimatsu-kun found it.
A shop located on the outskirts of the downtown area.
They had ordered a pufferfish course.
At our table were Airi, the Watanabe couple, the Takemoto couple, Kitamura-san, Kuribayashi-kun, Ayato, and Matsumoto-san.
"Well, we gather and drink like this occasionally. Please take your time and enjoy yourself."
"Yes."
When Watanabe-kun says so, the two reply.
Even so, Legalis, huh.
They come out one after another without learning.
Though what they are doing is shabby compared to before.
Apparently, they hold drinking parties in the circle and charge exorbitant fees.
It is quite something that they can run it like that.
For the two, the threats apparently stopped completely from the day they joined the Watanabe Group.
Indeed, the name of the Watanabe Group is said to be strong.
"How did the two of you start dating?"
It seems Airi likes asking about such things.
The two were talking while blushing.
They apparently hit it off at the welcome party.
They exchanged contact information within that day, leading to the present.
Because returning to Yoshino is troublesome, she is staying at Ayato's house, it seems.
A semi-cohabitation life.
Airi and Matsumoto-san's group immediately hit it off.
"By the way, Toya, are you alright? I heard you collapsed from summer fatigue?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
There has been no particular problem since then.
Airi's schedule adjustment apparently has not declined as usual.
I am managing smoothly.
Now then, since we have eaten the pufferfish, though it is regrettable, shall I save the rest of the fun for later?
"Toya, where are you going?"
"Toya-san, what is the matter?"
Watanabe-kun and Airi ask.
"I am just going to greet the other tables."
Saying so, I go to another table.
First is Kimoto-senpai's table.
The Kimoto couple, the Sakai couple, the Ishihara couple, and Mustard and the group of four are there.
I asked the Kimoto couple.
"Ah, we have been doing fine since then. The Director also changed, and it seems we can complete construction safely. We will go to the sea."
"I am sorry, you know, because I also told Papa, 'Throw away the useless people who have only grown old.'"
The Shimizu family apparently likes ruining people's lives.
After talking for a while, I go to the next table.
It is Sasaki-kun's group's table.
Sasaki-kun, Kobayashi-san, Umemoto-kun, Sakuragi-san, Wakamiya-san, Suzumiya-kun, and the high schooler group of four are there.
"Are you enjoying yourselves?"
"It is my first time eating pufferfish. It is incredibly delicious."
"I am certainly interested in this taste. I hear there is rice porridge after this?"
"Katagiri-kun, do you not need to eat?"
Umemoto-kun, Sasaki-kun, and Kosei say.
"Yeah, there is just something on my mind."
"Something on your mind?"
"Yeah, it is nothing major, though."
"I would definitely like to hear it, I am interested."
Kosei and Sasaki-kun are asking.
"I will make talking with you guys another opportunity."
Saying so, I move to the next table.
The Tada couple, the Kiritani couple, the Nakajima couple, Urabe-san, Kanda-san. Yuki-san, Hasebe-san, Chi-chan, Takatsuki-kun.
"How is Eita? Is job hunting going well?"
"I got a job in route sales for medicine. I am starting work next month."
"Eita, is sales really alright for you?!"
"The interviewer said it is easy because you just visit fixed clients."
Makoto seems to be worried about Eita.
"The take-home pay is good too!"
Eita speaks proudly.
Only anxiety remains, but well, if he feels it is worthwhile, I guess it is fine.
"Work hard."
Saying so, I go to yet another table.
Haruto, Shiratori-san, Kamenashi-kun, Morizono-san, Misawa-kun, Kishitani-san, the Akiyoshi couple, the Kisaragi couple.
"What is the matter, Senpai? It is rare for you to go around greeting people."
"Once in a while. Are you enjoying yourselves?"
"It is my first time eating pufferfish! The deep-fried one is seriously delicious!"
It is delicious. Haruto seems to be moved.
"Arisu, is work going smoothly?"
"Yes, we have another expedition in summer vacation."
"We even got an appearance request from television the other day."
The two talk happily.
"Kamenashi-kun and the others also got jobs decided?"
"Yes, we got jobs decided at Akira-san's company."
"That is good."
"It is all thanks to Katagiri-kun."
"Well, let's not say things like that and just enjoy today."
"Yes."
Saying so, I go to the last table.
The Manabe couple, the Tange couple, the Shiina couple, the Mizushima couple, the Hiyama couple, the Nishimatsu couple, Takanashi-san, Tsukimisato-kun. Urabe-san, Kanda-san.
They are talking, cleanly divided into the medical department of the Watanabe Group and the others.
"What is the matter, Katagiri-senpai?"
Manabe-kun asked?
"Just a greeting round. Having fun?"
"Yes, we are having fun, you know?"
"How are Sa and the others?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary."
"I see..."
"Katagiri-senpai, are you plotting something again?"
Sakurako-san said.
"Nothing in particular?"
"If so, that is fine, but..."
"Well, do not think about anything and just enjoy yourself."
"Yes."
Saying so, I returned to my seat.
"Toya-san, thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you, Airi."
Airi pours beer into my glass.
"So, Toya. What is it? Suddenly?"
Watanabe-kun asked.
"Do you not feel it too, Watanabe-kun? The discomfort."
"...I see."
When Watanabe-kun says so, I nodded.
"So, what do you plan to do?"
"If we go on like this, we will implode."
"Indeed."
"In that case, there is only one thing to do."
"What to do?"
Watanabe-kun was asking.
"I will explain at the after-party."
I said so and ate the rice porridge.