Tokyo Sick Girlfriend

Chapter 180 Questions
Meeting Rin's gaze, Shiratori Seiya was startled. Feeling the soft touch on his fingers, he unconsciously imagined the scene of making love with Rin...

Do we really need to compare these things?

Shiratori Seiya could vaguely sense Rin's inner longing, like a flower that had been parched for a long time, whose roots, after being nourished by rain and dew and touching a water source, desperately wanted to stretch out and take root.

If I were to do as Lingyin wishes, and then Xiyin found out, I'd be ruined...

He couldn't help but shudder as he imagined himself every day with disheveled hair, a stubble beard, unfocused eyes, and a will worn down to nothing.

No, absolutely not.

He could roughly sense that Lingyin was about to go astray, and after thinking for a moment, he said:

“Lingyin, let’s not rush to talk about this. You’re not in college yet, so let’s focus on planning for the future first.”

Her resolve was cast aside, and the flame that had just ignited in Hojo Suzune's heart was extinguished. Her eyes widened for a moment, and then she pondered Shiratori Seiya's words and understood his meaning.

Meeting Shiratori Seiya's gaze, a conflicted look flashed between her brows, her cherry lips moved, and she muttered in a sorrowful tone:
"But how long will it take for Rin to finish?"

With Hasegawa Saori and Takahashi Mio surrounding him, Kiyoya is like a pack of wolves lurking around him. If he doesn't step up his efforts and just waits passively, he might not even get a chance to drink the soup in the end.

Although Kiyoya's words had lessened her initial feelings of being 'lacking in talent' and 'inferior to them', she still couldn't help but feel a little worried.

After a pause, she couldn't help but ask again to confirm:
"Kiyoshi, is Suzune really... not bad?"

She originally wanted to ask, "Are you really no worse than your sister?" But when the words were on the tip of her tongue, she felt that asking such a question would dampen her spirit and make her seem really pathetic.

Shiratori Seiya looked at Rin's small face. He rarely saw Rin like this. Although she was always as docile as a puppy in front of him and was very petite, just like a little sister, she was actually very proud at heart.

But at this moment, she kept confirming it with herself.

I felt a pang of sympathy for her, but I also knew very well that even if I comforted her now and smoothed out her fur, she would still overthink things because of my oversight.

Girls are such sentimental creatures, and even someone as proud as Rin is no exception.

Or rather, because of her own reasons, Suzune has reached a point where she can no longer fully trust herself.

In truth, it all stemmed from myself...

However, gentleness is not very useful in such situations.

Since that's the case, we must solve the problem from another perspective.

Shiratori Seiya thought for a moment, then loosened his grip on her, deliberately showing a look of disappointment on his face, and sighed:

"Lingyin, don't you believe me? Or do you think I'm lying to you? Why would I lie to you? If you really don't have any talent, I won't waste my time on you at all."

He paused for a moment, then continued:
"Lingyin, didn't you say you trusted me? If you like each other but don't trust each other, no matter what, your hearts will drift further and further apart, right?"

"If you don't believe me, then there's nothing I can do."

Seeing that Shiratori Seiya looked disappointed in her and loosened his grip on her, clearly trying to push her away, Hojo Suzune panicked.

"I believe! Rinne believes!"

Afraid that he would leave her and she would lose the most precious thing in her heart, she hugged him tighter and quickly said:

"Rin trusts Seiya the most. No one else trusts Seiya, but Rin trusts Seiya. Whatever Seiya says is right."

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again, her red lips pursed so tightly they could hold a weight, and she said with a wronged expression:

"Kei-zai, please don't leave Rin-ne behind..."

Seeing her anxious and uncertain expression, Shiratori Seiya felt a pang of pity, but still said expressionlessly:
"Since you trust me, then stop asking yourself if you can do it. Actually, I've already made arrangements for your future. First, you need to pass the entrance exam for the Tokyo University of the Arts..."

Before he could finish speaking, his cell phone suddenly rang in his pants pocket.

'Buzzing.'

The phone vibrated, but Hojo Suzune remained clinging to his neck like a koala as he struggled to pull it out.

【Iguchi Kazue】

Looking at the name, he patted Lingyin on the shoulder and gave her a look. The latter reluctantly let go of his hand, but still didn't leave his side. She tilted her head and leaned on his shoulder.

Shiratori Seiya pressed the answer button.

"Hello? Assistant Iguchi?"

Ok?
Upon hearing the unfamiliar name from Shiratori Seiya, Hojo Suzune's heart skipped a beat, and a look of doubt flashed in her almond-shaped eyes.

Although it's normal to have a company assistant, why does it feel like the other person is a woman?

Won't they become my enemies?

A sense of vigilance rose in Lingyin's heart.

"Ah...it's me, the president."

Meanwhile, sitting in her office, Kazue Iguchi felt a sudden tension rise in her heart upon hearing Seiya Shiratori's voice.

Approaching thirty years old and having already been navigating the complexities of society for over six years, this was the first time Iguchi Kazue had encountered someone like Shiratori Seiya.

Strange, so strange.

I was promoting my product to him when we first met, but the next thing I knew, he was asking me if I had any plans to switch jobs.

At first, I thought he was joking with me. After all, although many companies no longer use long-term employment contracts after the economic bubble burst, it's hard to imagine that the other person has mental problems if he asks this question directly on the first meeting.

However, after tentatively asking him if he was 'joking,' he seriously started talking to me about salary and future development.

"Ms. Iguchi, you used to work in technology, right? But now you've switched to sales. Don't you think this company isn't really a good fit for you?"

"You're not even thirty yet, and the company's already put you in sales. What about later? Will you be relegated to a branch office in sales when you're thirty? Are you going to be doing cleaning and logistics at forty? Please forgive me, but I find it hard to be optimistic about your future."

"Ms. Iguchi, no one stays eighteen forever, but there will always be people who are eighteen. If a young person with even more energy than you appears in the future, what position do you think the company would assign you?"

'A talent like yours shouldn't be wasted in a place that offers no future.'

"Just from our conversation, I know you're actually a very talented person. Okay, I have to admit, you inspired me, which is why I think you shouldn't be overlooked here."

"I know you don't believe me right now. What's your current salary? I'm willing to give you a 20% raise and a long-term contract..."

"If you're willing, I can pay you this month's salary right now, Ms. Iguchi. I know this is sudden, but I hope you'll consider it carefully. I really need someone like you..."

That's what he said.

If she heard a friend tell such a story under normal circumstances, she would immediately assume that the person was a liar.

but……

For some reason, after Shiratori Seiya left and I returned home, his words kept replaying in my mind.

Yes, I've already switched from engineering to sales. Actually, the best career path is to work in technology for a few years and then move into management. But unfortunately, there are only one or two promotion positions available, and there are quite a few people who want to get promoted.

In fact, her boss had previously hinted that if she slept with him, she could get promoted.

But she simply couldn't bring herself to do that, so she was eventually transferred to sales, much to her dismay...

She was not married, but she never thought of using this method to climb the social ladder, nor did she ever think of relying on anyone.

Otherwise, why would I have spent my time in high school and university, working hard and studying late into the night while others were competing for attention, only to end up with menstrual irregularities?
If she really wanted to profit from her body, she would have done it already; she would have sold herself or worked as a prostitute. Besides, she's not bad-looking...

It must be admitted that every word Shiratori Seiya said hit the most vulnerable spot in Iguchi Kazue's heart. In fact, she had long been disheartened with her job at the company, but she still held onto a sliver of hope and was deceiving herself into believing that she still had a future of promotion.

But to be honest, the hope is slim.

The day Iguchi Kazue met Shiratori Seiya, he didn't sleep all night, so he called Shiratori when he got off work the next evening.

She was actually keeping a watchful eye on things. Although she had written her resignation, she didn't submit it. She wanted to see if Shiratori Seiya was just acting on a whim or if he had really decided to do it.

To everyone's surprise, after I called and expressed my willingness to cooperate, he didn't even ask me to sign a contract, but directly transferred 500,000 yen to me. He was incredibly sincere.

This 500,000 yen, though not a large sum—less than a month and a half's salary—was enough to make Iguchi Kazue make up her mind.

She agreed to Shiratori Seiya's offer that very night, and the next day she sent her resignation to the company manager, preparing to sign a contract with him.

However, when it came time to sign the contract, they discovered that he didn't even have a company yet.

Upon hearing the news, Kazue Iguchi almost burst into tears.

She felt incredibly stupid, utterly foolish, and had been deceived again.

However, Shiratori Seiya then offered her a personal assistant contract with lifetime employment (until retirement), and her benefits and compensation were significantly improved.

This further increased Iguchi Kazue's trust in Shiratori Seiya, while also arousing a strong curiosity about him.

This man...

it's wired.

He not only acts strangely, but he's also too decisive...

To be precise, it is a combination of decisive arrogance and an eerie composure.

Shiratori Seiya looks to be only eighteen or nineteen years old, maybe twenty at most, but his demeanor is completely inconsistent with his age.

On the same day after signing the contract, he directly explained his initial plan for setting up the company, the procedures for expedited company registration, and what Iguchi and Eda needed to do next.

After listening to his plans, Kazue Iguchi felt that he was like an old monster who had been fighting in the workplace for more than ten years.

The agreed-upon timeframe for company registration with the agency was fifteen business days. However, instead of waiting until the company was established before taking action, he started recruiting and looking for suitable positions within the company during this period.

Kazue Iguchi saw his timeline and realized that once everything was arranged, it would be exactly the day the company registration would be successful.

In other words, once the company is successfully registered, it will start making money.

At night, Kazue Iguchi carefully studied Seiya Shiratori's proposal. Just from the plan, she could feel her boss's immense ambition.

Unbeknownst to them, in just two or three days, Iguchi Kazue's heart had already begun to heat up because of Shiratori Seiya.

The words Shiratori Seiya had once again spoken to him came to mind:
"Think about it, Ms. Iguchi. Although our company is just starting out, isn't it exhilarating to personally create something that will amaze others?"

Kazue Iguchi felt a long-lost sense of value and belonging...

"President, I've already contacted the company's finance and architect positions that you asked me to meet last time. But the engineers will have to wait a bit longer. Also, their contracts can only be officially signed and they can only start working after the company is registered. Would you like to meet them first, or wait until we sign the contracts to discuss it further..."

Such high work efficiency?
Shiratori Seiya was somewhat surprised, but after thinking about it, he felt it wasn't that exaggerated. After all, only five architects and engineers were needed initially, and in an era where companies frequently lay off employees, it wasn't too difficult to find them.

"I understand. How's the equipment procurement going?"

"I've already placed the order. I'll send you the total budget report now..."

"Thank you for your hard work, Assistant Iguchi. But once the accountant arrives, you won't have to work so hard anymore. I'll have to trouble you during this time."

Hearing Shiratori Seiya's sincere tone, Iguchi Kazue's heart stirred, and she suddenly felt less tired, chuckling softly as she said:

"It's alright, President... However, as for the arrangements regarding the person in the voice..."

"You don't need to worry about that. I'll find the person behind it myself. Assistant Iguchi, you've worked hard these past two days. However, there's one more thing I need you to do."

"Ah, President, you said..."

"Ms. Iguchi, do you usually like watching anime?"

"Eh?"

Kazue Iguchi was taken aback by his sudden change of topic, but after listening to Seiya Shiratori's explanation, she understood.

Shiratori Seiya meant that she only needed to stay home and watch anime series this week.

But it's not just about watching; it also requires analyzing online comments from otaku and designing surveys to identify the characteristics and personalities of the most popular female anime characters, as well as their frequently used lines...

Kazue Iguchi was a little puzzled, but he readily agreed.

Although she wasn't actually that fond of anime, she could earn money simply by watching cartoons at home and conducting surveys to gather information. Wasn't that much better than spending all day in the office as a salesperson?

Moreover, organizing the information is much easier than memorizing data for sales.

After hanging up the phone with Iguchi Kazue, Shiratori Seiya soothed the ringing for a while.

After sending her home to rest, I started thinking about the people I had interviewed.

Knowing that Mio Takahashi had class that afternoon, he sent her a message and then rushed over...

Room C-11

This was a class on the fundamentals of psychology. Shiratori Seiya entered through the back door, scanned the classroom, and then found Takahashi Mio's seat.

To his surprise, Mio Takahashi did not sit in the front row as usual, but instead sat in the back row where she had sat with him before.

In view, Takahashi Mio was wearing a pink Chanel-style jacket on her upper body and slim-fit jeans on her lower body. Her long, smooth black hair was draped behind her. From a distance, she already had the feel of a fashion star, which made her somewhat out of place among the students around her.

She raised her fair, smooth arm, rested her chin on it, and turned her head to stare out the window, lost in thought.

Shiratori Seiya took two steps forward and got closer, only to find that her desk was empty, without a single book on it.

Two seats away from her sat a boy who was clearly trying to strike up a conversation with her.

But seemingly restrained by Mio's aura that made her untouchable, he only dared to steal glances now and then, clutching a note in his hand, wanting to strike up a conversation.

Shiratori Seiya glanced at him, then tapped the table with his hand and calmly asked:
"Excuse me, may I sit next to my girlfriend?"

Upon hearing this, the boy was taken aback, then, displeased with Shiratori Seiya's words, he frowned, glanced at him, and asked:

"Your girlfriend?"

Upon hearing their voices, Takahashi Mio turned around, her gaze sweeping over them. Seemingly understanding something, she smiled sweetly at Shiratori Seiya and said:

"Ah, darling, you've come?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, the boy's face visibly flushed red.

Shiratori Seiya, not caring whether he was embarrassed or not, said directly:
"She's my girlfriend. Don't you use social media? The whole school probably knows she's my girlfriend, right? Are you trying to steal her away?"

"whispering sound……"

The boy glared at him, then grabbed the books from the desk and ran out of the classroom, looking disheveled.

The commotion attracted the attention of those around them, but Shiratori Seiya didn't care at all and simply sat down next to Takahashi Mio.

Seeing this, Mio Takahashi finally realized what was happening. She was somewhat surprised by Seiya Shiratori's words and clearly felt his possessiveness, which made her feel a sweet sensation in her heart.

"Keiji, you're so fierce, you scared him..."

She had only spoken halfway when she suddenly smelled a strong lime perfume scent on Shiratori Seiya.

Mio Takahashi's eyelids twitched, and she stopped speaking.

Seeing that she seemed hesitant to speak, Shiratori Seiya couldn't help but feel a little strange and asked directly:

"what happened?"

Upon hearing this, Takahashi Mio opened her mouth, a complex expression appearing in her eyes as she looked at him, and hesitantly probed:
"No, Kiyoya, what were you doing just now?"

【'Mio Takahashi' Affection Level: 85→83】

……
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(End of this chapter)