I swore to God, I didn't have any ulterior motives.
"…About that time we shared a bath recently."
Since the topic had come up, I decided to address the other incident as well.
Hinako looked away from me, her expression colored with embarrassment.
"T-That was, well… because I did something… strange…"
"…Well, I won't deny it was strange."
A small gasp escaped Hinako's lips.
But back then, I hadn't actually intended to scold her for the behavior itself. Since we were on the subject, I figured I should explain my reasoning.
"Remember when I first became your caretaker? I taught you the three-second rule, and Kagon-san scolded me for it."
Hinako gave a small, slow nod.
"I remembered that.…I’m sure you’ll be fine, but I thought it would be bad if you did something like that to anyone else.…That’s why I cautioned you."
"…I see."
Whether she truly understood my feelings or not, Hinako offered a gentle smile.
However, she soon tilted her head. "Hmm?"
"Itsuki.…What do you mean by ‘bad’?"
Hinako gazed at me with pure, inquisitive eyes.
"If I did something like that to someone other than you… would it trouble you, Itsuki?"
………… For a moment, I struggled with how to answer.
Thinking about it calmly, of course it would be a problem. It was the same as the three-second rule. If she did something like that, her perfect mask as a Young Lady would be stripped away. As her caretaker, it was my duty to prevent that.
There was nothing to be conflicted about. There shouldn't have been.
"Of course it would trouble me."
"…It would trouble you."
When I answered, Hinako's lips curled into a smug, satisfied grin.
"It would trouble you, would it? Heeh… Hmm……"
Looking extremely pleased with herself, Hinako smirked, the corners of her mouth twitching upward.
"…You don't have to worry. I won't do it to anyone but you."
"I-I see."
"Mm.…There’s no way I would."
Hinako stated this with absolute conviction.
Well, as long as she didn't do it to anyone else, I guess it was fine.…Wait. Was it really fine?
Oh well, I’d cross that bridge if a similar situation ever arose again.
"Hinako. I wanted to ask you something regarding the Management Game. Is that okay?"
Hinako gave a firm nod.
"Do large corporations generally prefer to handle every service in-house, rather than relying on other companies, if they can?"
"…That’s the ideal, but in reality, it isn't always the case."
Hinako answered thoughtfully.
"One reason is the issue of vested interests I mentioned earlier…"
I hadn't quite understood what she meant by "vested interests" before, but…
"After all… if you try to crush an existing service, you’ll invite resentment from all sorts of places.…So, unless a company is incredibly large, they won't even think about trying it."
Taking over a task that was previously entrusted to another company meant stealing their work. Just as Taisho and the others in the logistics industry were wary of every move Amazones made, it was certain to create friction in their professional relationships.
"The second reason is… the issue of know-how. Even if you suddenly try to handle a service in-house that you used to outsource, you won't have the expertise. The quality will inevitably drop compared to when you left it to the specialists.…It gets resolved over time, but customers won't wait."
"…I see. For a large corporation, it might be a long-term investment, but for the customers, the immediate drop in quality is the problem. It makes them want the company to just go back to the original provider."
"Exactly… and even if you try to get them to share their know-how, you run into the first problem, so no one will cooperate.…Yawn."
Hinako let out a sleepy yawn. Since it was finally our lunch break, I decided to leave the difficult talk at that.
It was only natural that a new business would lack know-how. That said, there was no way the party whose work you were trying to steal would provide you with that knowledge. To solve these kinds of problems, the core strength of the corporation was likely the key.
Narika’s company, Shimax, was currently operating its own e-commerce site according to my consulting advice. There didn't seem to be any problems for now, but hearing Hinako's words made me a little nervous. I would consult with Narika again to ensure we were aiming for higher quality.
(…Stopping Amazones is unrealistic, though.)
Shimax was a major corporation, but Amazones was on a whole other level.
The power of a company like Amazones was extraordinary. They could likely break through the two concerns Hinako mentioned with ease. It would probably be difficult to sap Amazones' momentum.
What should I do? Thinking that, I picked up the stack of papers I had placed on the floor.
"What are those…?"
"Materials on Jays Holdings and Moving Taisho. Looking at a monitor all day makes my eyes tired, so I printed them out."
"…I know the feeling."
Since the Management Game started, my time spent staring at screens had increased significantly, so I wanted a change of pace.
Besides, paper was simply more convenient in some ways. Tablets and PCs were hard to use without a desk and chair, but I could just sit on the floor like this and read through a stack of paper.
Takuma-san had also used paper for a change of pace before. Looking back, he must have felt the same way I did then.
—You have a talent for seeing what lies behind the data.
On the day he let me observe the shareholders' meeting, Takuma-san had said that to me.
Behind the data. The truths that weren't easily visible on the surface. A hint might be hidden there.
…Search.
Look for strengths those two possessed that even they might not be aware of.
A weapon for Jays Holdings to outmaneuver its competitors. A weapon for Moving Taisho to repel Amazones.
Search. I was sure it had to be there.
(…Dammit, I need more time.)
I had to solve Asahi-san's problem and Taisho's problem quickly. That fact created a sense of urgency that blocked my deep thought.
The Management Game was already entering its final stages. If I wanted to produce results, I couldn't afford to hesitate.
If only there were a way to solve both at the same time…
"………………Ah."
Both at the same time. The moment that thought crossed my mind—the dots in my head connected into a single line.
Two difficult problems that I thought could never be linked were joined by a single answer.
"…Hinako, sorry. Could you head home by yourself after school today too?"
"…Did you come up with a good idea?"
"Yeah."
I could probably make it work. An idea had bubbled up that felt like it had real potential. All that was left was to research the feasibility and the necessary budget before presenting it to them.
Perhaps sensing my confidence, Hinako nodded with a somewhat happy expression.
"Mm… Then, I'll wait outside the Kikou Academy gate."
"You can just go back to the manor, you know?"
Hinako shook her head firmly.
"I want to hear what you’ve managed to do… as soon as possible."
It seemed she felt that even going home was a waste of time. She was looking forward to it—to what I would do from here on out.
"Understood. I'll do my absolute best to give you a good report."
"…I'll be waiting."
◆
After school. I invited Taisho and Asahi-san to our usual cafe.
Having the two of them sit side-by-side, I turned my laptop display toward them.
"Well… then, I'll begin the presentation."
When I said that, Asahi-san and Taisho clapped enthusiastically to liven things up.
"Yay!"
"To-mo-nari! To-mo-nari!"
"…Please, just act like normal."
It was honestly embarrassing, so I wanted them to stop.
Clearing my throat, I looked at them both.
"First, I'll re-summarize what you both consulted me about.…Asahi-san wants to increase sales to outmaneuver her competitors. Taisho-kun wants to take measures to avoid the impact of Amazones entering the logistics industry. Is that correct?"
After they both nodded, I moved forward.
"I'd like to solve these two problems with a single business venture."
"A single one…?"
I nodded at Asahi-san's murmur.
"I'll explain the approach for each case. First, for Asahi-san's company, Jays Holdings, there was a characteristic lack of sales among the elderly. However, as Asahi-san mentioned, this is something that can be said for the home appliance industry as a whole.…Conversely, if Jays Holdings alone can solve this problem, you can outmaneuver your competitors."
"…In other words, we start a business targeting the elderly?"
Exactly.
As for Asahi-san's challenge, it would be solved by starting a business geared toward senior citizens.
"On the other hand, regarding Taisho-kun's company, Moving Taisho, its greatest appeal is undoubtedly its long history. Moving Taisho is trusted by people of all generations, and furthermore, it has a massive number of branches, with a network that reaches even the smallest rural villages. This fine-grained delivery range is something Amazones cannot easily replicate."
"Yeah. In terms of branch count, we're number one in the industry!"
Right—that was what I focused on.
Moving Taisho had a strength that even Amazones couldn't copy.
"By blending these two approaches, I would like to propose a certain business."
I switched the slide shown on the display.
The new business written on the slide was—
"————Mobile sales of home appliances."
Taisho and Asahi-san's eyes went wide.
Mobile sales, put simply, is a form of sales where goods are loaded onto large vehicles like trailers and brought directly into residential areas. While roasted sweet potato trucks are a common example, there are many variations, such as lunch box shops that set up mobile stalls in front of office buildings.
And we would do that—with home appliances.
It was likely a combination that no one was familiar with. But that was fine. I would explain the win-condition I saw in this business step-by-step.
"Home appliances have a lifespan. The elderly are no exception to this. However, the reason the elderly don't buy many appliances is that they have no means of buying them."
Asahi-san nodded thoughtfully. This was surely something she had felt personally as well.
"The elderly are almost always unfamiliar with IT and don't even look at e-commerce sites. This is also something I experienced at my previous company.…Therefore, young people buy appliances on behalf of the elderly through mail order or at major electronics retailers in the city."
Back when I was running Tomonari Gift, I had faced that very problem, which is why I created a catalog department to meet the demands of the elderly.
When targeting both the young and the old as customers, it is sometimes necessary to provide separate entry points for the service.
"That's where mobile sales come in. With mobile sales, the elderly, whose legs and hips may be weak, can purchase appliances directly without any burden. In other words, if you cultivate this path, you can capture a market for the elderly that your competitors do not have.…Moreover, Jays Holdings has a track record of selling appliances specifically for the elderly. Those former products might finally have a chance to see the light of day."
Asahi-san had said it herself. Because they had been developing them in earnest, the employees had lamented the discontinuation of production.…This would also be a chance to seek revenge for that.
"And for the logistics required for this mobile sales venture, we'll have Moving Taisho handle it."
Shifting my gaze from Asahi-san to Taisho, I continued the explanation.
"As I said before, Moving Taisho's appeal is the sense of trust felt by all generations and a delivery range that reaches even rural villages.…I think you're perfectly suited for this."
The elderly are very familiar with Moving Taisho. It’s easy for people to use a service they already know. This sense of security cannot be underestimated. The image of Moving Taisho, built up over many years, cannot be gained overnight and cannot be mimicked by Amazones.
"Additionally, while transporting precision instruments like home appliances is delicate work, it’s a chance to gain a vast amount of experience in that area.…If it goes well, I think your core moving business will become even more trusted. People will think of Moving Taisho as the experts for precision instruments."
With the advancement of technology, modern life is surrounded by precision electronics. The demand for the transport of things like PCs and gaming consoles is increasing every year.
Moving Taisho might be able to take a lead in that field as well.
"By the way, I’ve also looked up a model case.…Since there are examples like this, I believe the feasibility is quite high."
To add weight to the proposal, I introduced a model case.
I handed them the documents I had printed. It was material on a case where local shopping districts conducted mobile sales of food ingredients to compete with major online supermarkets. It was a business extremely close to what I was proposing—where a regional logistics company loaded ingredients from the shopping district's greengrocers, fishmongers, and butchers onto vehicles to sell them.
"So, what do you think of this plan?"
I asked them after they had spent a few moments reading.
However, neither of them responded.
"…Um, both of you?"
Was there some kind of flaw?
With that anxiety, I looked at them, but—
"This is…………"
"Yeah…………"
Asahi-san and Taisho both stared at the materials with wide eyes.
"………………Couldn't this actually be used in the real world…?"
Taisho murmured in a small voice.
"Tomonari. You might have come up with something incredible."
"D-Do you think so…?"
I was surprised, as I hadn't expected them to be that impressed.
Though, for my part—I had proposed this business with that very intention.
Asahi-san, who had failed once in product development for the elderly. Taisho, who wanted to counter Amazones' entry into the logistics industry. Since both of them wanted to resolve problems linked to reality, I wanted to provide a plan that could actually be used in reality.
"Let's do it. I'm all for this."
"Yeah, me too."
The flighty atmosphere from right before we started the presentation had vanished. Both of them decided to adopt my plan with solemn expressions.
"Tomonari. Is there anything else we should do?"
"Let's see… if I had to say, perhaps some kind of special packaging material for transporting precision instruments would be good."
"I like that! I'll develop it from scratch and get a patent for it!"
Taisho showed his enthusiasm.
"What about me!? Is there anything for me!?"
"Asahi-san, I think it would be good to secure engineers while you can. Let's revive the department that used to develop products for the elderly, even if only partially."
"Got it!"
Asahi-san also showed her enthusiasm. Their eyes were lit with passion.
"We can't just sit around… Sorry, I'm heading home now! I want to get to work immediately!"
"Me too!"
Taisho and Asahi-san, having packed up their laptops, ran toward the school gate. It seemed they couldn't wait for their cars to arrive and wanted to get even a little bit closer to home on their own feet.
"Tomonari!"
Taisho looked back from a distance.
"You're the best! You're seriously amazing! I respect you from the bottom of my heart!!"
Taisho shouted. It was undoubtedly the highest form of praise.
"Thank you very much!"
The words of gratitude escaped my mouth instinctively.
Somehow—my chest swelled with emotion.