After returning to the Konohana family manor, I called Takuma-san to give him an update on my progress in the game.
"It seems you've gotten things on track," Takuma-san’s voice crackled through the smartphone speaker.
I had already shared the game’s status with him via text and screenshots, but it was clear he had reviewed them thoroughly.
"So, what's next? What's your strategy moving forward?" Takuma-san asked. "I'm sure you've noticed as well, Itsuki-kun, but the current market is quite small. You might see a bit more revenue growth, but aren't you about to hit a ceiling?"
"You’re right... To be honest, I feel like I'm nearing the limit."
I didn’t think my choice to focus on the niche market of gifts had been a mistake. Having a rival like Suminoe-san was an unexpected hurdle, but otherwise, there were almost no competitors, allowing me to get off to a flying start.
However, whenever I spoke with Hinako, Tennoji, or Narika, I sometimes felt overwhelmed by the sheer scale of their businesses.
To be honest... I was envious.
I wanted to handle much larger numbers myself.
At the end of summer vacation, I had made a vow to Hinako at my old house. I told her that one day, I would become someone who could stand on equal footing with her and the others. As a benchmark for that goal, I wanted to become a person who could shoulder a heavy burden of responsibility, just like them.
Tomonari Gift had grown quite robustly, if I do say so myself.
But if I wanted to shoulder even more responsibility—this company wouldn't be enough.
"...Would it be alright if I started a second business?"
"Good. I wanted to hear those words from your own mouth."
Takuma-san was guiding me so that I would make the vital decisions myself.
The man was truly an excellent educator... I had definitely made the right choice in relying on him.
"I agree with starting a new venture. However, you should think about what to do with your current company. You could sell it via M&A and use the profits to establish your next one. Or, you could find a successor and leave it to them. There are various ways to handle business succession."
Unfortunately, with my current resources, it was impossible to manage my current business while starting another. Takuma-san understood that, which was why he proceeded on the premise of a hand-off.
Since all the employees at Tomonari Gift Co., Ltd. besides me were AIs, an internal succession would mean an AI becoming the next president. On the other hand, through M&A or an external succession where I invited someone from the outside to take over as an officer, I might be able to leave the company to another player.
It was a company I had raised with my own hands; if possible, I wanted to leave it to someone I knew.
"Even if I have an acquaintance take over, I can still sell the shares, right?"
"So you want to liquidate your current holdings. Of course, that's possible. In that case, the hurdles are higher than a simple transfer, but it'll depend on the buyer."
I needed capital to start a new business. If possible, I wanted to pass the company on through a sale rather than a free transfer.
The details of my next venture and securing the capital—I would have to consider both in tandem.
"From here on, it’s for you to decide, Itsuki-kun. I’m looking forward to the results."
With that, Takuma-san ended the call.
I let out a small sigh and relaxed my shoulders.
It was 9:00 PM. Exactly the time the game ended for the day.
Clutching a bag of potato chips I had bought behind Ms. Shizune’s back after school, I headed toward Hinako’s room.
"Hinako, you in there?"
"...!?"
When I knocked and called out, I heard a series of heavy thump-thump-thumps from inside.
After waiting a moment, she replied, "C-Come in...!" so I stepped inside.
Hinako was sitting at her desk.
For some reason, her face was flushed and beaded with sweat.
"Uh... you okay? I heard a loud noise."
"I-I was just studying... I’m fine."
She was definitely hiding something.
I scanned the room and noticed the duvet on her bed was bulging unnaturally.
"Is it this...?"
"Ah...!?"
When I pulled back the duvet, a shoujo manga was revealed.
"Is this the one you borrowed from Yuri?...You don’t really have to hide it from me, even if you would from Ms. Shizune, right?"
"Well, I guess... maybe."
Hinako gave a noncommittal response.
I had a feeling Ms. Shizune would forgive her for a mere manga, but... depending on the content, she might decide it was bad for a young lady's upbringing and confiscate it.
...Was this manga one of those?
When I tried to take a look at the pages—
"D-Don't read it...!"
Hinako rushed over to me in a panic.
"I, um, haven’t even read it yet myself, so...!"
"O-Oh, I see. My bad."
It wasn’t like I intended to spoil it for her... but I could understand the desire to be the first to read something she'd borrowed.
"Just so you know, Ms. Shizune probably won’t allow anything too extreme."
"I-It’s not like that, so it’s fine...!"
Apparently, she wasn't hiding it because the content was inappropriate.
Though, I noticed Hinako actually seemed to know what "extreme" implied...
"I-Itsuki. It’s almost... time for the bath," Hinako said, checking the clock.
"Right. Let’s head in, then."
I had been planning to relax and snack on the chips, but I decided to prioritize the bath.
◇
On this day, Hinako Konohana was determined.
It's about time I made Itsuki’s heart skip a beat.
She was resolved to make this indiscriminately dense man see her as a woman. Today’s Tea Party had given her the final push. She had certainly noticed Itsuki being approached by girls lately, but she hadn't expected the rumors to be so widespread.
(At this rate, the whole world is going to realize Itsuki’s charm...!)
Inside Hinako’s vivid imagination, Itsuki was being swarmed by a hundred women while he casually sipped wine and laughed. She could not allow such a future to pass.
In fact, just moments ago, she had been reading the manga she borrowed from Yuri to prepare for today’s operation. That was when Itsuki had arrived, forcing her to slam the book shut in a frenzy.
Fortunately, Itsuki didn’t seem to know the contents of the manga. In that case, the plan was still a go.
Now was the time for action—
"...Okay!"
Now in her swimsuit, Hinako steeled herself and headed to the bathroom.
"Itsuki... sorry for the wait."
"Yeah."
Itsuki was already in the tub.
He was soaking in the water while reading what looked like a business document.
"Is that a balance sheet? You can read those now...?"
"Yeah. Takuma-san told me I should get used to them."
A balance sheet summarized a company’s financial state.
Even though he hadn't known the first thing about financial statements before, it seemed he was already proficient in reading them.
She wanted to praise him, but she wasn't in the mood for that right now.
...That brother of mine again.
Is he going to get in my way even now?
"Muu..."
"...Ah, sorry. Should we stop talking about Takuma-san?"
Itsuki smiled sheepishly and set the document aside. Seeing his face, she realized she was wearing a sour expression.
(I am an adult. I am an adult. I am an adult................Okay!)
She repeated the mantra to herself three times.
Casting her brother from her thoughts, Hinako sat down daintily beside Itsuki.
"A-Ah... I’m so much more tired than usual today..." Hinako said, peeking at Itsuki to gauge his reaction. "I'd really like it... if you washed me..."
"...Eh?"
Itsuki froze.
"No, I mean, we had a promise that you’d wash yourself, right?"
"But I’m just so exhausted today..."
Hinako moved closer to Itsuki, inch by inch.
"...Won’t you... wash it for me...?"
She gazed up at Itsuki with puppy-dog eyes.
Itsuki’s cheeks turned a faint shade of red.
It’s working...!
Feeling the response, Hinako decided to press her advantage.
"H-Here, for instance... I’d like you to wash..."
"Wait—!?"
Hinako murmured, letting the shoulder strap of her swimsuit slide down just a fraction.
Itsuki was visibly shaken.
However, Hinako was just as flustered.
(I-I might have gone too far...)
The girls in the shoujo manga did things like this, but it might have been too early for her.
It was strange... in her head, she was supposed to be looking at Itsuki with a mature, sultry smile. Instead, her cheeks were burning, and she felt lightheaded as if she were about to faint, despite having only just entered the water.
What... kind of face was Itsuki making...?
She nervously peered at him.
"............Itsuki?"
Itsuki had averted his eyes, his expression terrifyingly stern.
He looked like a wrathful Deva King statue.
"Hinako, we need to have a serious talk."
"...H-Huh?"
Itsuki spoke with a grim face, as if he were using every ounce of willpower to suppress the emotions surging within him.
Wait. This isn't the reaction I expected...
"That kind of behavior is, well... it's indecent."
"In... Indecent............!?"
A massive gong sounded inside her head.
She never dreamed he would react like that.
"I know it’s far too late to say this, but it’s not right for a woman to expose her skin so carelessly. Seriously, it's way past the point of me saying this, but..."
Itsuki looked incredibly awkward as he spoke.
"Wh-Whose..."
Hinako’s face turned a deep crimson as she began to tremble.
"Whose fault do you think this is............!!"
I only tried so hard because you’re so dense...!
Hinako pulled her strap back up and let out a long, quiet breath to release her frustration.
"...Wash me."
She said it without looking him in the eye.