"I still have a bit more to discuss. Could you wait outside for a few minutes?"
Taking Masaomi-san’s word for it, I left the Special Room ahead of the others and sank into a sofa in the hallway, letting out a heavy sigh of relief.
The meeting had ended in a flash. While an ominous air had hung over us at the start, by the end, I felt like I’d actually been able to speak quite freely. I suspected the President’s kindness—stemming from the way he doted on Sara-san as if she were his own biological grandchild—had indirectly extended to me as well.
That being said, I had just inadvertently learned that Masaomi-san would officially be stepping into the role of Next President. What worried me was what came next. When Masaomi-san was formally inaugurated as President, would our daily lives change? Or would things stay the same?
One thing was certain: Mayumi-san, currently a member of the founding family, would gain the new title of President's Wife. Her daughter, Sara-san, would likewise become the President's Daughter.
Wait.
Hold on a second.
Does that mean...
Since I’m to be adopted by Masaomi-san and the others, does that apply to me too?
No, we aren’t related by blood, so maybe not?
I wasn't sure.
"My, my. Talk about a timely visitor."
"Eh?"
As I leaned back into the sofa, lost in these vague thoughts, someone suddenly spoke to me. He was a somewhat portly man in a gray suit and glasses, appearing to be about a decade older than Masaomi-san.
Standing behind him was a young man who looked to be around the same age as the trio from earlier, watching me with a similar intensity.
"Um... yes?"
"Oh, don't mind us. The fact that you’re here suggests you were either summoned by the President or have business of similar weight. I’m not casting suspicion on you. Besides, I saw you earlier when you were with the Senior Managing Director and his wife."
"Oh... I see."
Ignoring his somewhat theatrical delivery, it seemed that, unlike the trio from before, he wasn't going to start interrogating me immediately. Still, I could vividly sense that this conversation was heading down a very similar path.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Yukihiko Yamanashi. I serve as the Managing Director here at Sawa Electronics. A pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise. I’m... Kazunari Takanashi."
"Takanashi... Takanashi... Hmmm. To the best of my memory, no officers or title-holders by the name of Takanashi exist in this company. Do you know of anyone, son?"
"No, Father. As far as I know, there is no one named Takanashi either."
"I see. Well, no matter."
The man who introduced himself as Yamanashi—the Managing Director—exchanged a look with the young man behind him. Then, once again, he began to scan me from head to toe with an inquisitive gaze.
Man, this was uncomfortable.
"Is there something I can help you with?"
"Hm? No, it’s not as if we spoke to you because we had any particular business..."
"Is that so? Well then, if you'll excuse me—"
"It’s just that... we were planning on asking the President to put in a word for us afterward. We’re hoping to arrange a private meeting with the Senior Managing Director's Daughter. Since she rarely appears in public, today is a golden opportunity."
"...Excuse me?"
What did this man just say?
A meeting with Sara-san?
"Ha. I see your expression has changed."
"!"
Seeing my reflexive reaction, the Managing Director’s expression shifted. His eyes suddenly grew sharp.
In the background, the young man watching me chimed in.
"Father, about that..."
"Be quiet for a moment. This is not something that should be overlooked. Depending on the circumstances, I—"
"Depending on the circumstances... what exactly?"
"W-Whoa!? Well, well..."
A voice suddenly cut through the Managing Director’s words as a figure emerged from the shadows of the hallway.
She stepped forward slowly and physically placed herself between me and the Managing Director, shielding me. This woman was, of course, the person I loved most in the world.
"S-Sara..."
"!"
The one who whispered that name, sounding almost as if he were in a feverish trance, was unfortunately not me.
The young man standing behind the Managing Director had called her by her first name, the same way I did, while staring at her with a passionate gaze.
I was shaken to my core. As for Sara-san herself...
"Would you mind not addressing me so familiarly? There is only one man in this world who is permitted to call me by that name."
I couldn't see her face from behind, but the disgust and irrepressible indignation in her voice were unmistakable.
"To begin with, I see no reason to be addressed by name by someone I don't even know."
"No, you and I have met several times before, haven't we?"
"...I have no memory of you."
"I-Is that so? That’s truly a pity."
Faced with Sara-san’s flat denial, the man's shoulders slumped. However, he seemed to recover instantly, looking forward with strange intensity.
"Um... do you really not remember me? It’s true we haven't met properly in a while, but we spoke several times before that."
"There are certainly a few people I may have exchanged words with at this party, but I do not remember who they were."
"I was one of them! I’m so glad you at least remember that much!"
"Good grief..."
Completely undeterred by the fact that Sara-san was clearly keeping him at arm's length, the man remained bizarrely optimistic. In contrast, Sara-san sounded as if the life had been sucked out of her by his sheer persistence.
I, meanwhile, felt a growing sense of panic. This was unfolding in a way I hadn't expected, and I couldn't find an opening to interject.
This was bad.
"Hahaha, this is perfect. I was going to speak to the President and the Senior Managing Director first, but since we’re here, why don't we move somewhere else and have a quiet chat, just the two of us?"
"I decline. I have nothing to say to you, and the idea of being alone with a man like you is a sick joke."
"Ha... Haha. I’d heard the rumors, but you really are a blunt young lady."
"If I have offended you, then I apologize. However, this is simply my nature. Or rather, if you don't like it, you are welcome to leave immediately."
"N-No, wait, Sara! I... to someone like you..."
"I believe I told you not to use my name so familiarly. Furthermore, I have absolutely no intention of speaking with you—"
"Please, reconsider! Just give me a moment of your time! I want to get closer to you no matter what! So, at the very least, just let me speak my piece!"
"..."
Sara-san fell silent, cornered by the man’s desperate, frantic expression. I tried to think of a reason to cut in, but nothing came to mind.
Don't get near my Sara?
Sara is my fiancé?
But those were the very things Masaomi-san had strictly forbidden me from revealing. Besides, if I blurted that out, I’d look like a terrible person.
"Ugh... damn it..."
In my frustration and impatience, a groan escaped my lips. Sara-san glanced back at me, her gentle gaze seeming to reassure me that everything was fine.
"...In the first place, what exactly do you find so appealing about me? I’m well aware that I don't have a personality that most would find likable."
"The others were likely too obsessed with courting you to notice, but the sight of you looking so lonely left a deep impression on me. Even as you reject me and everyone else, you look so lonely trying to be on your own... That’s why I want to wrap you in kindness."
"I see. So that is how I appeared to you? I must admit, I don't remember anyone approaching me from that angle before."
"Y-Yes! I’m different from those other guys! I’m a man who can truly see the real you and understand you! If we just take some time and talk things over slowly, I’m sure—"
"Then, let me rephrase the question."
"!"
Sara-san ruthlessly cut off the man, who was starting to get worked up.
"What was the catalyst that made you notice me in the first place?"
"Eh...?"
Caught off guard by her sudden shift, the man looked at her blankly.
"I understand your feelings developed because you saw me that way, but that is a reason that came later. There must have been a catalyst that made you notice me to begin with, and that led to your current reasoning. What was it?"
"T-That’s... well..."
Put on the spot by Sara-san, the man began to falter. He didn't look troubled so much as... bashful.
"I... well... I fell in love with you at first sight."
He timidly made his declaration, looking quite embarrassed.
But to Sara-san, that was the ultimate insult.
"I thought so. I have no memory of having a proper conversation with anyone here, and scoundrels who talk as if they know me always say the same thing. That it was love at first sight."
"S-Sara...?"
"Don't make me repeat myself. How many times must I tell you not to use my name so familiarly? Do you not understand Japanese?"
"!"
The anger, indignation, and disgust in Sara-san’s voice were now impossible to hide. The man’s face twisted with panic and confusion.
"In the end, you’re just like every other man. You act as though you understand me, but it is beyond presumptuous to think you can understand someone you’ve never even spoken to. And since we're here, I’ll tell you the phrase I hate hearing the most. It is 'love at first sight.'"
"! T-That... well, but! I... the catalyst might have been that, but I truly adore you from the bottom of my heart—"
"Um... could we maybe leave it at that? You realize you’re bothering her, don't you?"
"Y-You..."
Finally, after agonizing over it, I forced myself to interject. The man looked at me, his eyes wide with surprise.
I didn't know how I’d be perceived for this, but I couldn't just stand by and watch anymore. In more ways than one!
"I’m sorry. I really struggled with whether I should cut in or not... but I have to say it. I—"
"You! I don't know what you think you're doing, but an outsider has no business interrupting a conversation between these two—"
"And who exactly is the outsider here? From our perspective, you and your father are the only outsiders in this hallway."
"The... the two of you?"
At Sara-san’s blunt declaration, the young man stood there in a daze. Beside him, the Managing Director looked as if he’d just swallowed a bitter pill, his gaze fixed solely on me.
"I see. So that is how it is."
"Yes. Quite frankly, if I had done this from the start, I could have saved myself a lot of trouble."
"S-Sara, that guy is—"
"That is enough. The only man permitted to call me by that name is Kazunari-san here. If you utter it again, I will not be lenient."
"!"
"...I had a feeling that might be the case. However... do you truly understand exactly who it is you are dating?"
"Pardon?"
The Managing Director focused his attention entirely on me, his tone becoming dangerously heavy. Understand what?
"The reason I’ve never heard your surname is because your parents are ordinary... it may be rude to put it this way, but they are clearly not people of standing within this company. Am I wrong?"
"...You’re right. My family is just an ordinary family, like any other."
"Indeed. A child born into such a household cannot simply—"
"You’re having quite the interesting conversation. I wonder if I might join in as well?"
"!"
Interrupting the Managing Director just as he was launching into his pompous lecture, another person emerged from around the corner.
"Mother..."
Her usual soft, healing-type persona was gone. She stared at the Managing Director with a gaze like a sharpened blade.
It was Mayumi-san.