I was merely standing in the square in front of the station. That was all I was doing, yet for some reason, I was drawing the gaze of everyone around me. It was a situation I had never truly experienced before, and unsure of how to behave, I could do nothing but stand perfectly still. Fortunately, the stares didn't seem to be filled with disgust or suspicion, but being subjected to the eyes of the curious for so long was a heavy mental burden.
As time ticked by, I felt a mounting sense of panic as the crowd of onlookers steadily grew.
"I wish someone would just get here already..."
A quiet complaint leaked from my lips. I had arrived a bit early because I didn't want to be late for our meeting, but if I had known it would turn out like this, I should have aimed for the last possible second.
While I was doing my best to endure the scrutiny, someone finally called out to me, as if my prayers had been answered.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kokonoe-kun. I'm a little late."
I noticed the atmosphere around us stir for a moment, but I hurriedly—or rather, with a deliberate, slow motion—turned toward the voice. Standing there was Hiiragi-san, dressed in smart casual clothes just like me. So this was the reason for the sudden buzz in the air.
My eyes widened in surprise as I took in Hiiragi-san's outfit. She wore a navy pleated maxi-dress as her base, paired with a small beige clutch, a pearl necklace and bracelet, a decorative belt with a sparkling metallic accent, and beige pumps. It was a simple yet calm and mature ensemble. Between her attire and her refined bearing, Hiiragi-san exuded the aura of a high-class young lady. That had to be what the people around us were reacting to.
"Ah, no. I just got here myself, so I haven't been waiting long. By the way, Hiiragi-san... you look like an elegant lady in that. It's very beautiful and really suits you."
"Thank you. Hearing you say that makes the effort I put into studying coordination feel worth it. I don't usually wear clothes like this, so I was a little worried if I could pull them off."
"Haha, I'm the same. I've been incredibly anxious since this morning about whether these clothes look right on me..."
"There's no need to worry. That outfit suits you very well, Kokonoe-kun."
Hiiragi-san and I exchanged smiles as we praised each other's smart casual styles, as if trying to reassure one another about our unfamiliar appearances. My family had told me I looked decent enough, but that was a family perspective. Being told I looked good by someone else finally allowed me to relax.
However, as I spoke with Hiiragi-san, the whispering around us grew louder and the curious gazes intensified. Why?
"...We're attracting a lot of attention, aren't we?"
"...Yeah, I guess so. It's been like this for a while, but I have no idea why."
"...Maybe our clothes look strange? Like we're kids trying too hard to look like adults?"
"No, no. People our age attend formal parties sometimes, so it shouldn't be particularly weird... I think."
Unless it was the holiday season or a special event, you wouldn't see many people dressed like us, but it wasn't as if we were nonexistent. So why were we gathering so much attention?
Could it be that, like Hiiragi-san said, it didn't suit us—that we looked like we were just playing dress-up?
"I suppose so..."
The stares from the crowd were impossible to ignore. When we subtly strained our ears, fragments of their hushed conversations reached us.
"Hey, look at those two. Do you think they're models?"
"Maybe. They're both so striking. Is there a photoshoot nearby?"
"No, wait, those two are..."
Upon hearing the content of their chatter, Hiiragi-san and I reflexively let surprise show on our faces. Wait, models? Who?
Facing the unexpected reason for the attention, we could only manage awkward, ambiguous smiles. We had both been worried that we looked out of place, but the evaluation was far beyond whether the clothes simply "suited" us or not.
"......"
Overcome by a sudden rush of self-consciousness, we averted our eyes, pretending to look at an advertisement on the wall to escape the crowd's gaze. Seriously, who would have thought people would take us for models? We were just high school students.
As we attempted to escape reality, we racked our brains for a way to get out of this situation. We wanted to run because staying here was unbearable, but we couldn't since we had a meeting scheduled. I considered contacting Yuji to change the location, but he had already messaged me saying he was about to arrive, so we were stuck. In other words... we had no choice but to endure the curious stares.
"Yuji... hurry up and get here."
"Hirose-kun... please, hurry."
Doing our absolute best to ignore the eyes of the public, Hiiragi-san and I waited for Yuji's arrival as if we were praying for a miracle.
The five minutes it took for Yuji and Juzo-san to arrive felt like an eternity. I never imagined that being subjected to such intense attention could be so mentally draining.
When Yuji and Juzo-san finally appeared, I greeted them with a beaming smile out of pure relief. Although, that smile earned us nothing but puzzled looks from the two of them.
"I see. So that is why you were wearing such broad smiles."
"Haha, yes. We ran into a few unfamiliar situations and got a bit flustered..."
"We didn't expect things to turn out like that..."
"Uh, well, sorry about that. I guess I should have gotten here sooner..."
After joining up with Yuji's group, we moved away from the station square—where the whispering had only increased—and boarded a train. We couldn't stay in a place like that forever.
Hiiragi-san and I offered our excuses, which were really just embarrassed explanations for our behavior, while Juzo-san looked at us with a hint of exasperation. Yuji, on the other hand, looked genuinely apologetic.
"Well, even if it is for the sake of today's discussion, I can understand feeling lost in unfamiliar clothes. However, if you let the clothes wear you, it will only give the other party a reason to look down on you during the negotiations, no?"
"Yes, sir..."
"That said, this is not something you can get used to just by being told. You have to learn it through repeated practice."
"Come on, Old Man, even if you say practice..."
"That is why I am accompanying you early today. There is a short time before the negotiations begin, so I shall drag you around a bit. Use it as practice to get accustomed to things."
...Hm? Drag us around? Practice? He had said we would have lunch together, but... wait. Were we doing something else first?
I shot a quick glance at Yuji to confirm. He gave a small sigh and shook his head slightly while looking at us.
"Now, there is no need to worry. I am merely going to visit a few shops I frequent for the sake of your practice."
"Shops you frequent... Old Man, the places you 'frequent' are all famous establishments or long-standing prestigious shops, aren't they?"
"Places like those are the only ones where you can practice dress codes and manners, no? Even for building your guts, using first-class shops makes for a better education."
"......"
Juzo-san made this outrageous proposal with the smile of a kindly grandfather. It took me a moment to process the meaning of his words, but as understanding dawned on me, both my and Hiiragi-san's cheeks began to twitch.
Wait. Are you saying we're about to be taken on a tour of high-end, prestigious shops?
"I have already told them that I am bringing my grandson and his friends for their education, so I asked them to be strict with you. I believe this will be a good lesson, not just for today, but for your futures as well."
"......"
"Now, now, everyone has a first time. It is only a few shops, so do your best."
And so, it was decided. Before our interview with the Association, we would be taken on a short-term etiquette training and guts-building tour produced by Juzo-san. I wondered... would we collapse before the interview even started?
As the time for the interview with the Association drew near, our short training trip finally came to an end. The three of us looked utterly exhausted, while Juzo-san looked somewhat impressed.
"Well, for the last-minute efforts of novices, I suppose it is a passing grade."
"A passing grade, huh?"
"Umu. To those well-versed in such ways, you may still seem green, but you have reached a level where most people would not find your presence unpleasant. If you have acquired that much in such a short time, it should be sufficient for this matter."
"Haa..."
I felt as though I had polished myself at the cost of considerable mental fatigue, but apparently, in Juzo-san's eyes, it was only a passing grade. Well, he wasn't wrong to call it the last-minute preparation of amateurs, so I had no grounds for rebuttal. Besides, it was better to keep quiet than to risk him scheduling another training session.
If it was enough to satisfy most people, I would accept it as a decent result.
"Now then, I could continue my critique, but we should settle this tedious business first."
"Ah, yes. You're right..."
I had almost forgotten because of the sudden etiquette tour, but our original purpose was the interview with the Association. However... thanks to that tour, the tension I had felt this morning had vanished completely. I felt like I could handle things with my usual composure now.
Did Juzo-san take us on that training tour with this in mind?
"It is within walking distance, but we shall use a taxi to make an impression. Yuji, go catch a taxi for us."
"Got it. I saw a few driving along the main road, so I should be able to get one right away."
With that, Yuji headed toward the main road to flag down a taxi.
Once he was sure Yuji was out of earshot, Juzo-san spoke to Hiiragi-san and me.
"Now, I shall tell you this while Yuji is away. Through our rounds of the shops, I believe you two have gained the composure necessary to face these negotiations. However, that is only enough to sit at the table. In these negotiations with the Association, it would be best if you two do not force yourselves to join the conversation. Do only the minimum required greetings and responses. Leave the bulk of the negotiation to Yuji, and you two simply sit there in silence while maintaining an air of composure. A composed presence can exert a fair amount of pressure on an opponent, after all."
"...Is it okay to leave the negotiation entirely to Yuji?"
"There is no guarantee that I can accompany you all the way into the negotiation room itself. Furthermore, that boy has been accompanying me to various parties and meetings since he was young. He should be capable of handling negotiations with adults without letting himself be disadvantaged."
"......Understood."
It was true. Rather than Hiiragi-san or me—who had no experience in proper negotiations—stepping forward for the sake of pride, it was safer to let Yuji take the lead. Hiiragi-san and I would stick to Juzo-san's suggestion and focus on providing silent pressure.
Seeing Yuji waving his hand to signal that he had caught a taxi, we hurried toward the main road.
After arriving at the specified Association branch, we had the receptionist contact the person designated as our contact. Since they were the ones who had specified the date and time, there were no issues getting through.
After waiting near the reception for about five minutes, a stylish, capable-looking middle-aged man with glasses walked briskly toward us from the elevators in the back.
"I am sorry to have kept you waiting. Even though we were the ones who called you here..."
"Ah, no. We apologize for not contacting you in advance with our estimated arrival time."
The middle-aged man and Yuji exchanged pleasant smiles and light handshakes.
"You must be Hirose-san, Kokonoe-san, and Hiiragi-san, correct? I am Miyashita from the New Dungeon Management Division. Thank you for accepting our request today despite your busy schedules."
"Please, don't mention it. I'm Hirose. It's a pleasure to meet you today, Miyashita-san. This is Kokonoe, and that is Hiiragi."
"I see. It is a pleasure to meet you, Kokonoe-san, Hiiragi-san."
"The pleasure is ours."
"And, uh... who might this gentleman be?"
Miyashita-san glanced at us with a polite smile, his expression momentarily tightening before he quickly smoothed it over and turned his gaze toward Juzo-san, who was standing behind us.
Meeting his gaze, Juzo-san maintained his kindly old man smile and looked at Yuji, signaling for him to handle the introduction.
"This is my grandfather, who is accompanying us today as a guardian. Regardless of the Association's request, we are still minors and high school students, after all."
"I am Juzo Hirose. I have come along as these children's guardian for this occasion."
"Ah, y-yes. Thank you for coming with them today."
When Yuji introduced Juzo-san as our guardian, Miyashita-san's eyes narrowed for a split second. I couldn't tell if he was annoyed by the extra person or if he thought their plans had just become more difficult, but as expected, this negotiation wasn't going to be straightforward.
I suppose that counts as a successful opening blow.