Rewinding time slightly—the location was the President’s Office within the Nishikawa Headquarters.
"Yamasaki-san... I have extended certain favors to you because of our personal relationship, but this is going too far. Furthermore, now that I know you’ve even involved high school students, I can no longer overlook this."
The words being spoken refused to register in his mind.
High school students? He hadn’t received any such reports.
"As a corporation, there are times when one might dabble in gray zones. But this is excessive. It is a criminal act."
The monitor in front of him displayed footage of the social gathering Kazuma had been hosting until just a moment ago.
Despite being called a social gathering, it was nothing but rowdy debauchery.
They hadn't even bothered to hold a meeting or a briefing, even if only for appearances. They hadn't done even the bare minimum.
Moreover, they had invited representatives from their clients and were speaking to them in an incredibly blatant, transactional manner.
……And they were classmates?
Knock, knock...
"Enter."
Click.
"Pardon me. Satsukawa Senior Managing Director of Sawa Electronics has arrived."
Allowing a guest in under these circumstances meant the visitor had been scheduled from the beginning.
And as for the Satsukawa Senior Managing Director of Sawa Electronics... though he had no direct acquaintance with the man, even he knew the name.
Why at this exact timing...
"Well, well, Satsukawa-san. It has been a long time."
"President Nishikawa, I see you are doing well. My daughter has been in your care recently... I apologize for the trouble she caused you."
Seeing the two speak so familiarly, it was clear that beyond their professional lives, they shared a private connection.
The Nishikawa Group and Sawa Electronics—though their industries differed, it was a bond between two giants.
"No, no, thanks to your daughter, both Eri and I were saved. If anything, we are the ones who should be offering our thanks."
The two continued their conversation, exchanging pleasant smiles and handshakes.
The mention of the name Eri meant that their children were acquainted?
"Allow me to introduce you. This is the Representative Director of Yamasaki Industries, Yamasaki-san."
"How do you do? Ah, there is no need to exchange cards. I expect today will be the last time we ever meet, after all."
Satsukawa Senior Managing Director’s words were the height of rudeness in terms of business etiquette.
However, he surely knew that and was saying it with intent.
It seemed he shared the same objective as President Nishikawa.
"Our company has no direct dealings with yours, but I have already sent word regarding this matter to all affiliates of Sawa Electronics... Therefore, we will likely never have anything to do with you again, nor shall we ever hear your name."
In other words, in addition to the Nishikawa Group and its affiliates, he would also be blacklisted by Sawa Electronics and its related companies.
Loans, financing, and contracts would all be terminated. And on top of that, he was stuck in this current situation.
What... was this truly the end?
His mind refused to function; he couldn't comprehend what was happening.
The end? His company?
What had they done?
He had only continued doing exactly what he had always done.
Where did it go wrong?
Where? That much was painfully obvious.
Kazuma... that idiot son of his...
Yamasaki suddenly began to scream and rant.
"Are you guys out of your minds?! Why are you suddenly flirting in a situation like this?!"
When did things turn into that...
Ah, did she become unstoppable once I started praising Sara-san?
Regretfully, I tried to pull away, but Sara-san still wouldn't let go of me.
"What a truly noisy man. You've completely ruined the atmosphere. Just when Kazunari-san was finally being honest and letting me dote on him."
Sara-san's rebuttal, which was entirely out of place, was likely something she meant in all seriousness.
I couldn't see the others, but I felt like everyone was looking at me with scornful eyes.
"S-Sara-san, for now, let's let go!"
When I said that, Sara-san finally released me. Her face looked a bit dissatisfied, though.
However, she looked into my eyes and gave a small nod before fixing her gaze on Yamasaki and Yuzuha once more.
"...Could it be that you are envious? But for a scumbag like you, such a thing will be impossible for the rest of your life. At least one-tenth of Kazunari-san... ah, even that is an impossible figure for you. It is impossible for you to ever achieve happiness like ours."
Sara-san looked at Yamasaki with eyes full of pity, as if looking at a truly pathetic creature.
From Yamasaki's current perspective, it could only feel like he was being grandly mocked.
……She isn't saying that seriously, is she?
When I looked at Nishikawa-san, she shot me a brief scornful look.
"What the hell are you talking about?! Happiness this, that—so what?!"
Mocked from a completely unexpected angle, Yamasaki roared as if he were ranting.
"No, I simply thought it was pitiful. You have never felt happiness until now, have you? Using people, entrapping them, always thinking of nothing but wretched things... that was your version of fun, wasn't it?"
"Huh? ...What?"
Yamasaki seemed to have absolutely no understanding of what was being said to him.
Thinking about it logically, there didn't seem to be a single element in his life that would lead to true happiness.
"I am very happy right now. I have a beloved person named Kazunari-san, I have close friends... I am always smiling and having fun... You've never felt such emotions, have you? And what about you, Sasagawa-san? Were you happy as this man's lover? If you were, you are truly a singular individual."
Yuzuha had been looking at Yamasaki with a lonely expression ever since she saw us together. Even when faced with Sara-san's question, she didn't answer and continued to stare at Yamasaki.
"……Hey, Kazuma-kun. Was I really just a plaything? Did you only intend to use me? You seemed like you were having so much fun. You listened to my problems, we went out so much... We were..."
Yuzuha questioned Yamasaki, clenching her hands tight as if to endure her sadness.
Yuzuha certainly had her childish side, but even so, she must have truly loved Yamasaki.
Even though she surely already knew the answer, she couldn't help but ask.
"…Yeah, that's right. I always thought you were a nuisance. You're an annoying, stupid woman. Not once did I ever think I liked you."
On top of being a sore loser, Yamasaki had nothing left to lose and had become desperate; a rational conversation was no longer possible.
Having heard the answer she already knew, Yuzuha hung her head.
"Haa... I've seen plenty of hopeless idiots before... but to think such a worthless human being existed. The world truly is a vast place."
When Sara-san resumed, Yamasaki's face twisted with rage once more.
"You damn bitch... looking at me with those eyes like I'm an idiot just because I'm keeping quiet..."
"Not 'like,' you are a certified, genuine idiot."
Sara-san glared at Yamasaki with a face tinged with cold anger.
"What did you say, you—"
"Be silent, you scumbag. Crawling around in the shadows like a cockroach, attempting things far beyond your station with your non-existent wit—that is why you have invited this result. How does it feel to have lost everything? Smile; isn't this the result you wanted?"
"Wh-What..."
"Ignorant of happiness, seeing everything in terms of money and gain, finding pleasure only in the misfortune of others... you are a truly shallow human being. Isn't it perfectly fitting? Even that papier-mâché facade of yours is so thin that your filthy inner nature shows right through it."
Without allowing any rebuttal, Sara-san continued to dismantle Yamasaki. Perhaps she had accumulated a great deal of stress, for she wouldn't stop.
……And there is only one action an idiot takes when they can no longer win with words. I sharpened my vigilance.
"I will never forgive anyone who causes Kazunari-san pain. I have already finished everything you own so that even that head of yours, which lacks any sign of intellect, can clearly understand. So, literally, go to your ruin—"
Before Sara-san could finish her sentence, Yamasaki lunged.
Sara-san seemed to have expected it as she braced herself, but I jumped out in front of her.
It would have been cool if I could have skillfully stopped Yamasaki's arm, but unfortunately, I wasn't capable of that.
Just as I thought, Yamasaki's fist approached, easily slipping past my extended hand. An impact surged through my right cheek.
However, I didn't let the force blow me away.
Since Sara-san was behind me, I planted my feet and endured it.
As the impact stopped, I grabbed Yamasaki's right arm. Yamasaki tried to shake me off, but it seemed I was the stronger one... or maybe Yamasaki was just that weak.
Before I could punch him back, I decided to give him one last sarcastic remark.
"…Thank you. Thanks to you guys, I met the best woman in the world. Considering my luck, the past is nothing more than having tripped on a small pebble named Yamasaki."
"A pebble?!"
"Yeah, a pebble. You—"
Thud...
SMACK!!!
I wasn't able to finish my sentence.
Why?
Because Yamasaki, with his arm held by me, was unable to react as Sara-san suddenly closed the distance and shoved him away.
He staggered backward, and although he managed to stop, his balance was broken. At that moment, he was struck on the right cheek with tremendous force, collapsing to the floor.
"You scumbag... to Kazunari-san... I will never forgive you!!!!!"
Sara-san, looking more furious than I had ever seen her, screamed at Yamasaki.
Yamasaki, who had fallen from the sudden shock, scrambled to get up in a panic. As if waiting for exactly that, Sara-san closed in with incredible speed.
SMACK!!!!
A clear, high-pitched sound echoed through the venue, as sharp as a whip.
This time was even more intense. Yamasaki, who had been raising his upper body, was struck hard on the right cheek and slammed back down onto the floor.
Wait... I was the one who was supposed to punch him back...
"For the likes of a piece of trash, not only did you make Kazunari-san suffer, but you also made him anxious and caused him mental exhaustion—your very existence is an eyesore!!! If you've lost everything, then disappear quickly because you're in my way!!!"
Screaming at the fallen Yamasaki, Sara-san was now completely snapped, losing all awareness of her surroundings.
"Hieeee..."
"Whoa... that person is terrifying..."
"S-She's amazing..."
While Hanako-san and Todo-san were trembling and holding hands, Tachikawa-san was staring at Sara-san with sparkling eyes.
Nishikawa-san and Hayato were staring blankly.
"Your actions up until now, as well as the fact that you punched Kazunari-san, have all been recorded on video."
I told that to Yamasaki and the person who had come to relay the message to him. This person seemingly didn't understand the situation and had been flustered the entire time.
"I will compile all of that later and add it to the evidence of your crimes. Be prepared..."
Whether he no longer had the will to stand or the strength to argue, Yamasaki remained collapsed and showed no reaction whatsoever.
As if she no longer had any interest in Yamasaki, Sara-san gave him a single glance before returning to my side.
Having confirmed that, Nishikawa-san gave instructions to the guards and the man.
"Well, you came to call for this man, didn't you? I'll have them drag him out, so take him away!!"
Yamasaki was forcibly pulled up by the guards. He was limp, as if he no longer had the strength to stand on his own.
Whether it was the shock of being beaten down by a woman...
Whether he had finally realized that he had lost everything...
Or whether he was contemplating the future that awaited him...
Without uttering a single word, without looking at us, at Yuzuha, or at anyone else, he left the venue while being half-dragged away.
Nothing good awaited that guy from here on out.
That much was certain.