“I-I... could never forget that day...”
Tennoji-san’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson.
What exactly did she mean by that? I wanted to ask, but the words caught in my throat. I had the feeling that if I pushed any further, I would be crossing a point of no return—
“Wait... for real, aren’t those two giving off a really good vibe?”
“Right? My heart’s actually pounding just watching them...”
Voices of female students drifted in from the classroom. Their gazes—which made me feel like we were being caught doing something we shouldn't have been—snapped Tennoji-san and me back to our senses in an instant.
“I-It is almost time for class!”
“Y-Yes! Well then, I’ll see you after school!”
I hurried back to my own classroom. I was relieved we were picking this up after school; for the moment, I didn't think I could talk to Tennoji-san properly at all.
◆
After school. As planned, I headed to the usual cafe.
I had told Hinako beforehand that I had plans and wouldn’t be able to walk home with her today. Lately, she had been showing some fairly extreme reactions whenever Tennoji-san was involved, so I hadn’t specified exactly who I was meeting. When I had quietly explained the situation to Ms. Shizune, she had said, “It is indeed better to keep this a secret from the Young Lady for now,” so I figured I’d made the right call, despite the guilt.
Tennoji-san arrived shortly after I settled into the cafe.
“Tomonari-san, I apologize for the wait.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Tennoji-san pulled out a chair and sat across from me. Then... she asked in a low voice.
“...What exactly is this situation?”
“I’d like to know that myself.”
I scanned the room with my eyes alone. The cafe was crowded beyond all normal levels. The students at every other table were staring intently at us.
“It seems someone must have overheard our conversation during the break. Though I must admit, I didn’t expect to draw quite this much attention.”
Tennoji-san wore a troubled expression. Apparently, girls were more fond of this brand of gossip than boys, as the tables were occupied almost entirely by female students. They were fidgeting restlessly while clearly straining to catch our conversation.
...Do high-class young ladies really have this much free time? That shouldn’t be possible, but...
“Um, can we try to get to the point?”
“I suppose so. Perhaps everyone will settle down once they see that we have a serious relationship.”
With that, Tennoji-san set her laptop on the table. When I moved to sit next to her so she could show me the screen, I heard an excited squeal from a girl nearby. For a second, Tennoji-san and I both froze, but we mutually decided to pretend we hadn’t heard a thing.
Information about Tennoji-san’s company appeared on the monitor. Since she was managing multiple firms, her screen was packed with data, looking nothing like my own simple interface.
“You’ve been running a textile company, right, Tennoji-san?”
“Yes. This company here.”
The details for the enterprise appeared. Being ranked second in the industry, its capital and employee count were in a completely different league compared to mine.
“Now then—here is a question for you.”
Tennoji-san looked over at me.
“I actually just made a certain decision regarding this textile company. Please try to guess what it was.”
I was a bit taken aback by the sudden quiz, but I took a moment to think it over. Tennoji-san’s company was second in the industry. In that case, wouldn’t the most important thing be avoiding being swallowed by the market leader?
However, since she had used the word “decision,” it didn’t seem like she had just chosen a path of steady growth.
“...Did you form a business alliance with another company to take on the industry leader?”
“A good guess, but incorrect.”
Tennoji-san shook her head.
“The correct answer is—I sold it.”
I sat frozen for a long while at that unexpected answer.
“Sold it?”
“To be precise, I have entered an agreement to do so. The buyer is the industry leader. This was the prior engagement I mentioned having after school.”
In other words, rather than trying to overtake her rival, she had handed her entire company over to them. Why would she do that? Sensing my confusion, Tennoji-san explained.
“Naturally, selling a company yields a profit. The company I sold is second in its field, so the profit is immense. I intend to invest this into a new venture.”
Tennoji-san took a sip of her tea before continuing.
“By my estimates, this will increase the total valuation of the group more effectively in the long run.”
I was truly stunned and stared silently at the screen. Seeing me dumbfounded, Tennoji-san gave a small chuckle.
“The interesting thing about management is that even a competitor isn’t necessarily an enemy. You mustn’t make enemies unnecessarily, you know?”
“I’ll... take that to heart.”
One day, when my company grows and I start new businesses, I might face similar problems. If a competitor is powerful, rather than fighting out of stubbornness, I should keep the option of stepping aside to secure long-term gains in my repertoire.
“Oh, a message...”
A bubble appeared on the monitor. It was a message from the student who was presumably the buyer.
『Regarding the M&A we discussed earlier, thank you! Since it’s your company, Tennoji-san, I can buy it with peace of mind!』
Looking at the message, Tennoji-san smiled with satisfaction.
“It seems it was a win-win transaction. That is a relief.”
By acquiring Tennoji-san’s company, this student’s firm would likely expand even further, growing to a scale that towered over the rest of the textile industry. This student must be seeing a brilliant vision for the future. The joy was evident even in the text.
“If you were to become the head of the group in reality, Tennoji-san, would you manage companies using M&A like this?”
“In reality, one cannot make such bold choices quite so easily. However, the day may come when I am forced to make such a decision even in real life. I am studying with this game now so that I will be prepared for that moment.”
I had to remember. This was a simulation. If she decided it would be more educational, choosing an action she wouldn’t take in reality was a valid approach.
“Thank you. This was very educational.”
“It was my pleasure. If it is a request from a comrade and an ally like you, I will take it on as often as you like.”
Tennoji-san wore a pleased expression, looking quite proud of herself. As usual, she seemed to enjoy being relied on.
“On that note, the rest of you should focus on your own duties now.”
Tennoji-san addressed the onlookers gathered in the cafe. The girls who had been staring let out awkward groans. Everyone had surely gathered here because they admired Tennoji-san. Being told off so clearly by her, they had no choice but to obey. The female students gave slight bows and dispersed.
As they left, I caught snippets of their conversation.
“...In the end, what is the relationship between those two?”
“...I want to keep observing them carefully for the foreseeable future.”
They clearly hadn’t given up. It looked like I’d be spending my days under constant scrutiny for a while. No... I didn't have time to worry about that.
“I need to work harder, too.”
The idea of starting a new business using the profit from an M&A deal hadn’t even crossed my mind. It was frustrating. I wanted to study more and stand on the same level as people like Tennoji-san.
As I was thinking that...
“Tomonari-san.”
Tennoji-san spoke with a solemn look.
“It is good to work hard, but you mustn’t push yourself too far, all right?”
“?”
Did she mean I shouldn’t overdo it? Well, I had no intention of doing that. I nodded and said, “I understand.”
◆
After parting ways with Tennoji-san, I returned to the Konohana family manor and headed to Hinako’s room. Next, I wanted to look into Hinako’s management style. Arriving at her door, I knocked.
“Hinako, do you have a moment?”
“Itsuki-san? Please wait a moment.”
Ms. Shizune’s voice came from the other side. The door opened, and I stepped inside.
“You were here too, Ms. Shizune?”
“Yes. I am supporting the Young Lady.”
“Supporting?”
Ms. Shizune waved the tablet she held in her hand.
“During the Management Game, I am serving as the Young Lady’s secretary.”
The tablet screen was packed with text and graphs. It was all company data, and the volume was staggering.
“Itsuki... what’s wrong?”
Hinako, who had been focused on her laptop, looked over. It seemed she was in the middle of a session.
“I’m looking into how different people manage their businesses as part of my studies for the Management Game. If you don’t mind, could I observe you?”
I decided not to mention it was an assignment from Takuma-san. Hinako tended to make a sour face at the mere mention of him.
“It’s fine. But I was planning to finish up soon...”
“According to the schedule, I will have you concentrate on the game for another hour.”
“Ugh...”
Hinako turned back to her computer with a dejected look. I wondered if I should have prepared some drinks, but looking closer, I saw a wagon with tea sets on the other side of the desk. Ms. Shizune must have brought it.
A chime sounded from Hinako’s computer. A message from another student appeared on the monitor.
『Um, Konohana-san. Could I ask for a bit of advice?』
Hinako replied immediately.
『Of course. What is the matter?』
『I’m considering selling a business, but the AI opposed it at the shareholders’ meeting. What should I do?』
That sounded like a difficult problem. After reading the message, Hinako reached her hand out toward Ms. Shizune.
“Shizune.”
“Yes, Young Lady. It is this enterprise, correct?”
Ms. Shizune handed Hinako the tablet.
“Just in case, let us share this with Itsuki-san as well.”
“Thank you.”
Ms. Shizune handed me a smartphone. The screen displayed the same corporate information that Hinako was looking at.
『How about taking the company private? I believe that would make it easier to take command, and given your company, I think the disadvantages would be minimal.』
『Thank you so much! You even went to the trouble of researching my company!』
The other student was clearly moved.
『By the way, regarding that business—if you like, would it be all right if I bought it?』
『Eh?』
“Wait, what?”
I was just as surprised as the other student. I read through the data Ms. Shizune had given me. I checked the financials, but the business in question honestly didn’t look very attractive.
“Are you sure about this, Hinako? This business seems to be running a continuous deficit...”
“It’s fine... I can fix it.”
Hinako stated plainly. The other student also seemed taken aback.
『Um, are you sure?』
『Yes. To be certain, could you send me the data for that business? Please make it as detailed as possible.』
The student sent over the business data immediately. It contained even more detailed and vast numerical figures than the previous documents. Hinako stared blankly at the data on the monitor.
...Is she really going to be okay? Not knowing what Hinako was thinking, I felt a sense of unease. Seeing me like that, Ms. Shizune let out a sigh.
“I see. Perhaps because you are so close to the Young Lady, Itsuki-san, you aren’t very familiar with her talents.”
“Talents...?”
As I tilted my head in confusion, Ms. Shizune nodded.
“There is no need for concern. The Young Lady is someone whom even Kagon-sama has described as having ‘genius-level practical ability.’”
I felt a jolt of realization. That’s right. I’d forgotten.
Unlike everyone else at the academy, my image of Hinako was more focused on her true self. But Hinako was undeniably a scion of the Konohana Group, possessing the caliber to be called a perfect lady at Kikou Academy.
“Products... grasped.”
Hinako muttered in a low voice.
“Equipment... grasped.”
Hinako stared intently at the monitor. She was reading through the data at an incredible speed.
“Employees... grasped.”
The mouse clicked in rapid, short intervals.
“Suppliers... grasped.”
Hinako concentrated silently, as if diving deep into the figures. Eventually, she let out a soft breath.
“Nn. I’ve grasped everything.”
Hinako straightened her back slightly.
“The estimates are sloppy... there are a lot of overpayments, too. But if I scrutinize the contract details and fix those areas... it will be in the black in two years.”
I didn’t understand what Hinako was saying. I didn’t understand what she was looking at. However, I understood exactly what had happened. In just these few minutes, Hinako had mastered every detail of that business’s data. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to give such a clear conclusion.
I felt goosebumps.
Normally, there was no way someone could understand the full scope of a business instantly just by being handed data like that. It was only because I had started studying management myself that I realized her methods were on a completely different dimension.
Oblivious to my shock, Hinako sent a message.
『I would very much like to purchase it.』
『Thank you!』
I could only watch their exchange in a daze.
“The Young Lady is capable of perfectly grasping and utilizing the resources she possesses,” Ms. Shizune explained. “Of course, that is by no means an easy feat. Companies have a tendency to fall into unmanageable states the more they expand, often to the point where even the president cannot grasp the full picture. But the Young Lady is different. With her intellect, she can cover every single figure and lead them in the right direction.”
Ms. Shizune looked at Hinako. Her eyes were lit with heartfelt respect.
“Pruning away excess spending and maximizing the use of equipment and personnel... you could call it the most steadfast ‘Royal Road’ management style.”
Royal Road... I thought that was a perfectly apt description. I could understand why Kagon-sama would view Hinako with the eyes of a manager rather than a father. Hinako was undeniably made of the stuff that should stand above others. And since her public reputation was excellent on top of that, “perfect” was the only way to describe her.
“Phew... I’m tired.”
Having finished her discussion with the student, Hinako relaxed.
“Good work, Hinako.”
“Nn. Was it... educational?”
“Yeah. It was a huge help.”
“Ehehe...”
Hinako smiled happily.
...I have to support this Hinako, too.
The perfect lady and the true Hinako. I was sure both were important to her. The scene I had just witnessed was incredibly impactful, and I felt a small amount of fear alongside my respect. Hinako’s behavior was so much like a perfect lady that I felt like my impression of the true Hinako I knew might get blown away.
Come to think of it, everyone at the academy must have been feeling this all along. When she was at the academy, while her behavior was an act, her abilities were undoubtedly the real deal. Even if she slipped up a little, she could forcefully cover it up with those abilities.
That was exactly why I, of all people, must not be deceived. I wanted to be someone who could stand by both sides of Hinako. To that end, I was aiming for a position as an executive of the Konohana Group—a status that could be considered somewhat equal to Hinako’s.
“I won’t lose to that self-proclaimed comrade,” Hinako whispered in a low voice.
Hinako, for her part, seemed to be harboring some mysterious resolve.
“Itsuki-san.”
Ms. Shizune called to me in a small voice. Her beckoning suggested she had a consultation she wanted to keep secret from Hinako. I approached Ms. Shizune, making sure not to be noticed by Hinako, who was focused on the game.
“What is it?”
“Will the next person you approach be Miyakojima-sama?”
“That’s the plan, but how did you know?”
“Given your connections, Itsuki-san, if the order is Tennoji-sama then the Young Lady, I can more or less guess the next person.”
Certainly, among the students with families on par with Tennoji-san and Hinako, and who were also acquaintances of mine, I could only think of Narika.
“I have one request. If you learn anything about Miyakojima-sama’s management, could you share it with me as well?”
“I think that should be fine, but what’s the reason?”
“The sales of Shimax, the company owned by Miyakojima-sama, are growing steadily. If there is some secret to it, I thought I might share it with the Young Lady.”
It seemed Narika’s company was growing in a place I didn't know about. The game had only just begun... or so I thought, but more than a month had already passed within the simulation. It wasn’t strange for differences in results to start showing.
“I am not asking you to be a spy, so if you cannot get her permission, that is quite alright.”
“I understand. Knowing Narika, she’ll probably give me permission.”
Narika wasn’t the type who enjoyed probing into others’ affairs. Even so... to think that Narika was producing such steady results. I couldn’t really have predicted it from her usual behavior, but I wondered what kind of management she was practicing.
◆
The next day.
“Tomonari, the ball’s going your way!”
“Got it!”
Physical education class in the second semester began with basketball. I picked up the ball that had been deflected on a rebound and dashed toward the opponent’s court.
“Go, Tomonari!”
When I went for a layup, the ball went through the hoop with a satisfying swish.
“Nice!”
“Thank you!”
I high-fived Taisho. By chance, the opponent’s court had been wide open when I got the ball. It was a lucky counterattack, but it put our team in the lead.
The whistle blew, ending the match. Our team was going to take a break for a while. I moved to the edge of the gym and wiped the sweat from my cheeks with the collar of my gym shirt. As I caught my breath, the conversation of some nearby students reached my ears.
“That idea I mentioned yesterday got a pretty high evaluation.”
“Heh... was it that system for developing new products for supermarkets?”
“Yeah. The idea was that if we do consumer testing during the development stage, the success rate would be higher. I wish they’d actually do it in real life.”
“If it goes well in the Management Game, I might be able to convince my parents.”
I processed the conversation between the two male students, trying to understand it. Normally, when developing a new product, only the employees would judge whether it would sell or not. But by having a large, unspecified number of consumers—customers who usually visit supermarkets—do it like a part-time job, they could evaluate products before they were released from a customer's perspective.
That’s interesting.
Unconsciously, my lips curved into a smile. Kikou Academy was gradually becoming entirely consumed by the atmosphere of the Management Game. It seemed I was the only one who had been flustered; the other students were calm... or rather, they seemed quite lively.
Come to think of it, the students of this academy must have been thinking about their families—that is, their companies—on a daily basis. The Management Game had simply become the trigger for those thoughts to come to the surface; they themselves hadn't changed at all.
As proof, everyone seemed somewhat happy lately. Even students who were usually quiet were talking endlessly, like a burst dam, about the ideas they had only been thinking about in their heads until now. Influenced by that atmosphere, I was starting to enjoy myself a little, too.
I thought about the homework given to me by Takuma-san. To be honest, I had no idea what Narika’s management was like.
Tennoji-san and Hinako’s management styles were different, but both were excellent, based on knowledge and experience. However, I didn’t think Narika—who couldn't be said to be as smart as those two—could use methods like that. Well, to begin with, it was just that Tennoji-san and Hinako were exceptionally gifted even within Kikou Academy.
Even after hearing the story from Ms. Shizune, I couldn’t predict what Narika was doing.
When I turned my gaze toward the adjacent court, I spotted Narika, who had just started her break. Narika was captivatingly attractive when she was exercising. It was no wonder her reputation as a “cool beauty” was spreading. Perhaps because she hadn't quite shaken off the match mindset yet, many students were looking at her with admiration as she wiped away her sweat with a serious expression.
“Miyakojima-san! That shot just now was so cool!”
“A-Ah. Thanks.”
In addition, unlike before, Narika wasn’t always alone anymore. There was still some stiffness, but she was communicating properly.
She’s really grown. Knowing the struggles she’d been through, it was deeply moving.
“Narika.”
Since she happened to be resting nearby, I figured it was a good time to call out to her. Narika turned around with a broad smile and approached me.
“Itsuki! What’s up!?”
If she could show that dog-like friendliness to people other than me, she’d probably be even better liked by all sorts of people.
“Can I talk to you for a bit about the Management Game?”
“Nn... w-well, I don’t know if I can be of much help, but I don’t mind.”
Narika’s face twitched for an instant.
“How are you managing your company, Narika?”
“Even if you ask me how... I haven’t done anything very complicated. I don’t have any special knowledge or techniques, after all.”
“But your performance is improving, right?”
“It seems so. I don’t really feel it myself, though...”
“For example, what’s something you’ve done recently?”
When I asked, Narika thought for a moment before answering.
“I developed made-to-order running shoes.”
Narika continued her explanation.
“There are subtle differences in foot shapes even between the left and right. The height of the arch, the length of the toes, and so on. I thought I wanted to make shoes that fit each person’s foot shape, and when I submitted the idea, the evaluation was higher than I expected. Apparently, the method of scanning the foot shape with a machine and then manufacturing each part with a 3D printer was what led to the high evaluation.”
“I see... I’m surprised you thought of that.”
“The made-to-order concept itself has been popular in the sneaker and boot industries for a long time. I just used that as a reference.”
I didn’t own any made-to-order shoes, but I certainly had an image of high-end sneakers being painstakingly crafted by artisans for a single customer. The reason Narika’s idea was evaluated so highly was likely because the method of digitizing craftsmanship was innovative.
“Anything else?”
“Else...? Before the shoes, I developed compression wear for women.”
“Compression wear?”
“It’s sportswear made of a material like tights that lightly tightens the body. It has effects like fatigue recovery and performance improvement, but because it shows the body’s silhouette clearly, some people find it hard to wear. So, I tried to think if I could cover that drawback with the design. For example, to make the stomach silhouette look slender, I put white lines around here...”
Narika explained in detail while touching her own stomach.
...What was that about having no special knowledge or techniques?
You have it right there. Specialized knowledge. And of a kind that doesn’t allow others to catch up.
When it came to sports, Narika had always been invincible. To the point where even Tennoji-san and Hinako couldn't compete. Since she was energetically putting out ideas like this, and all of them were things that could be realized immediately, it was no wonder she was producing results that even Ms. Shizune took note of.
“H-How was it? Was it helpful?”
“Yeah. Honestly, I’m surprised. You’re taking this really seriously, Narika.”
“Y-You! What do you think of me!? Well, I suppose it might be hard to imagine from my usual self...”
She had a busy personality, getting indignant one moment and feeling down the next.
“Actually, I wanted to run a candy store.”
“Are you still saying that?”
“Yeah... I got seriously scolded for the first time in a long while.”