My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 596

So that's how it is. It seems she's no ordinary rich heiress.

Yukinoshita got up from her seat.

"We're having a meeting soon, right? Director Matsutani, be careful not to be late."

Then he turned and left, his long hair trailing a tail in the air.

When she came to her senses, all the employees around her were staring at her. At this time of day, everyone working was female, so they shouldn't be so captivated by Yukino's gaze; however, she seemed to possess some kind of striking quality.

I cleared my throat and said:

"The meeting will begin in thirty minutes. Please proceed to the first conference room."

They responded listlessly with "Yes—".

It was called a meeting, but the outcome was predictable. The same old business communications, the same unnecessary details. Even elementary school class meetings can be more exciting. The older you get, the less emotional you become.

However, I have a feeling something is going to happen today.

Something that wouldn't normally happen.

Like snow in the height of summer.

When I stepped into the meeting room, there were already about ten employees gathered inside.

The seating arrangement in the meeting room also reveals the true nature of interpersonal relationships. Veterans with over ten years of experience are all clustered in the back seats by the window. On the other side, slightly further back, are the capable young employees, while newer and less successful staff are scattered throughout. It's said that three people gathered together can form a faction, and this scene makes it immediately clear.

Hi, Songsong.

Yumihama Yuri gently waved from the front seat by the window. She beckoned to me with her slightly clenched fist, like a cat, beckoning me over. As a cat lover, it was impossible to resist this temptation.

I sat down next to her, and she happily started talking to me.

"Hey, what's the topic of today's meeting?"

She always had a smile on her face, I don't know what made her so happy. In this workplace that felt like the lowest rung of hell, she generously spread sunshine.

"Anyway, it'll probably be the same as usual. We'll listen to the section chief's valuable advice and announce last month's performance."

"Oh, I see—it's like going to school."

Yumihama slumped onto the table.

"Ugh, this is so frustrating. I barely met my sales target last month—"

"Isn't it enough if the target is met? Because whether or not the money is refunded depends on the customer's wishes."

Employee performance is often quantified using "repayment rate." Simply put, it's "whether the customers you're responsible for have paid back their money." If 100 out of 100 customers pay back, the repayment rate is 100%. However, this is impossible. High-performing employees typically achieve repayment rates between 65% and 70%.

"But—there are still people with very high recycling rates, like Kasumi."

"...Yes."

Yumahina's light, flowing hair swayed at the shoulders of her sweater. Her shoulders trembled occasionally; her seat was directly exposed to the air conditioning. If that was the case, she could simply sit somewhere else, but meeting seating was decided by faction and couldn't be moved freely. Even though she was more sensitive to the cold than the others. Not mentioning something so important beforehand felt a bit despicable… Wait, who said that?

"It must be cold in there, let me switch seats with you."

"Wow, Songsong is so gentle!"

Yumahama opened his eyes wide.

"If you catch a cold, the schedule will be empty. SV will be the one getting yelled at by the section chief then."

SV stands for on-site supervisor. This involves following the instructions of the section chief and leading part-time staff on-site. Managing shift schedules is also part of the job.

As we changed seats, we heard a voice behind us.

"Your relationship is still as good as ever."

"what?"

Yumahama turned around and saw a heavily made-up female office worker in front of him.

Sumo victory is beautiful.

She was accompanied by three heavily made-up companions—no, henchmen—all grinning maliciously. I really disliked that smile. The whispers of her henchmen beside me were also extremely grating. And then there was the smell of perfume. A pungent, overpowering odor.

No, it's not what you think.

Yumihama's naturally fair cheeks, which didn't need makeup, were stained red.

"Huh—? What's that? Hmm?"

She turned to her subordinates for their agreement. Then she gave me a meaningful look and gave them another sly smile.

Really...

That's why I hate women's workplaces.

Just a few words and baseless rumors start circulating. Are you some elementary school student who assumes two people are dating just because they talk to a girl? Yumahama is right, this is a school. An elementary school full of brats.

Just as I was about to retort, the meeting room suddenly fell silent.

Yukino Yukinoshita entered the meeting room.

Her silent, effortless walk and gently swaying black hair held everyone's breath in their throats. I, too, was captivated, lost in thought. It was as if I were watching snowflakes falling gently.

Yukino saw me and paused for a moment. Then she glanced at the sumo wrestler. The sumo wrestler was clearly intimidated by her imposing presence and retreated as if he had been pushed over. Yukino looked away listlessly and sat down at the very front of the opposite side, near the aisle. The male student working next to her was startled and moved to the side.

"How so?"

The sumo wrestler grumbled unhappily. He was probably angered by Yukinoshita's attitude or appearance, or perhaps both. She ordered her subordinates to sit down and take up seats at the back of the aisle.

The meeting room door opened again, and Section Chief Ye Gang walked in. He strode confidently, as if to show off his long legs, and stood in front of the whiteboard. All eyes were on him. He greeted everyone and began the meeting.

After announcing several communication items, the previous month's performance was then presented. For employees, this was a report card. Those with good performance received bonuses, while for part-time employees looking to become full-time staff, it was a turning point in their lives.

Ye Gang read aloud in a handsome voice.

"The top pick in June is Sumo Katsumi."

Applause erupted around them, and the sumo wrestler stood up triumphantly. Under the handsome man's gaze, a blush rose on his made-up face.

"Miss Sumo, if you have any secrets to successful recycling, could you please share them with everyone?"

Sumo wrestled her frail body from side to side. What was that? A courtship dance?

"Huh? No, not at all. What I value most is having a good chat with the customers. Maybe it's just that this work ethic that brought about the good result?"

She speaks like Natto, with every word stuck together.

Although I really dislike her, it's a fact that her sales performance is outstanding. I eavesdropped on her conversations with customers; the content was quite ordinary, yet for some reason, her return rate was frighteningly high.

Therefore, she has a great deal of influence in this team.

Even I, as an SV, couldn't resist her.

This is why she, still a young part-time worker, can reign supreme here as a "queen".

After the results were announced, Ye Gang looked at Yukinoshita and said:

"I think everyone knows that the bank people have been coming to inspect our area since yesterday."

As soon as Yukinoshita stood up, I could feel everyone holding their breath. I even heard Yumihama swallow hard next to me.

"I am Yukinoshita from the General Affairs Department of Maru-bishi Bank, and I will do my job as an inspection committee member."

She sat down after saying that.

A murmur of whispers and chatter filled the air. You could even hear murmurs like, "This person is so annoying." You didn't even need to turn around to know who was saying it.

Ye Gang cleared his throat to cover up the awkward atmosphere.

"That's it. Please get along well with her."

Yes—that was the lazy response from everyone. Sigh, it's starting to feel more and more like elementary school.

Yukinoshita's position is probably "Discipline Section Chief".

Then.

As a representative of the brats, what should I do?

A week later, as usual, I worked overtime, past 10 p.m.

"The schedule management is too lax."

Ah—go home, go home, hurry home! As I logged off, a flurry of snow fell. This guy's working overtime too, huh?

"May I ask what brings you here, miss?"

I coldly retorted without any mercy, but she remained unmoved and brought her work tablet in front of me.

"Five members of your team have a attendance rate of less than 80%. How can you allow such lax attendance?"

"If we're too strict, they'll resign, which would be counterproductive. We're already struggling to find a way to schedule shifts because we don't have enough staff."

"That's a completely different matter. Places without order cannot produce outstanding results."

When you're exhausted and someone comes to talk to you about ideals, it can ignite a nameless fire within you.

Just as I stood up, thinking, "I absolutely have to talk to her straight today," I heard a funny sneeze. Yukinoshita and I reflexively looked towards the source of the sound. It was the lounge, which was already dark.

"Hey, I haven't finished yet..."

Ignoring Xuexia's attempts to stop me, I stepped out. Entering the dimly lit lounge with only indirect lighting, I saw a snowman rustling around in front of the refrigerator in the corner.

"...Yumihama, what are you doing?"

His arched back trembled.

Yuri Yumahama, holding a nylon fiber rag, turned around and gave a wry smile.

"Clean the refrigerator."

"Well, you'll see."

I scratched my head, trying to remember. The employees take turns cleaning out the shared refrigerator once a month. I remember this month it should be sumo wrestler Katsumi's turn.

"Xiaoshengmei said she had something to do today and asked me to take her place."

"What's up?"

"She said she was going to Shibuya for drinks with the people from the censorship department."

"What? Didn't we just drink that before?"

"Hmm...they seem to have a very good relationship."

Yumahina breathed on her reddened hands. Even though it was the height of summer, defrosting the freezer would still result in them freezing like this.

"But why choose this time?"

"I've been busy sending faxes until just now. So many today—"

"But it wasn't your shift today."

"Yes, that's what Xiaoshengmei said..."

I sighed again.

Then, to Yukinoshita, who arrived a step later, she said:

I take back what I just said.

"What?"

"The schedule needs to be followed properly. You're right."

I took out alcohol spray and kitchen paper towels from the storage cabinet next to the refrigerator, and used the alcohol-sprayed paper towels to wipe away the dirt on the outside of the refrigerator.

"Songsong?"

"Hurry up and get it done."

Yumahina choked back a sob, then smiled and said, "Yeah!"

I was vigorously wiping the large, angular refrigerator when a snow-white hand suddenly reached out and probed the dusty, ivory-like fingers into the gap between the wall and the refrigerator—a gap no one wanted to touch.

"Yukinoshita, how come even you—"

"Didn't we need to get this done quickly?"

We silently and diligently clean the refrigerator. Mature adults are temporarily engrossed in "serving" tasks that don't even come with overtime pay and are outside the scope of their work.

Looking at the refrigerator that had finally become clean, Yumahina smiled happily, "Great!" Just seeing her smile made me feel relieved of my fatigue.

"Speaking of which," Yukinoshita began. She was wiping the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief.