Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 132 I Owe You a Favor [Third Update, Seeking Monthly Tickets]

She raised her wine glass, her tone earnest: "Without you, our department might still be struggling with that 800 million yen hole in the Higashi-Osaka case. If the Summer Prize is gone, and the promotion is gone, I don't even know how I'll pay off my mortgage."

She paused for a moment, then smiled again: "So this toast must be to you."

Kiryu Yaya stood up, raised his wine glass with both hands, and bowed slightly: "Nakamura-senpai, you flatter me. The fact that the case in Higashi-Osaka was recovered is the result of everyone's hard work in the department. I just did my job."

"It's my job?"

Yuka Nakamura laughed: "Your job is something that others can't do."

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The two clinked glasses.

After finishing her drink, Yuka Nakamura sat back down. Two female employees immediately came over and whispered to her, "What did you and Kiryu talk about?" She blushed and waved her hand without answering.

One person after another came to offer a toast.

First up is Wakako Kishi.

She walked over with a smile, holding a beer mug, and patted Kiryu Yaya on the shoulder: "Kiryu-kun, Chihaya-chan, although she's sharp-tongued, she actually really respects you. If you don't understand anything in the future, just ask her."

Kiryu Yaya glanced in the direction of Chihaya Yuri.

She was drinking tea with her head down, seemingly unaware of the conversation taking place.

"Thank you, Section Chief Ansho. I will."

Next up is Yusuke Hashimoto.

He sat down next to Kiryu Yaya, holding his wine glass, and without saying much formality, simply looked at him earnestly: "Kiryu-kun, I'm retiring next month. I've worked in banking for over thirty years and have seen many talented young people. But someone like you is rare."

"You flatter me, Hashimoto-senpai."

"That's not an overstatement."

Yusuke Hashimoto shook his head: "You know how to handle things. In that respect, you're better than many people who have been doing this for ten years."

"Although there were some unpleasant comments at today's mid-level meeting, please don't take them to heart."

He paused, then lowered his voice: "There are plenty of smart people in the bank. But smart people who know how to be tactful are few and far between. Keep it up."

Kiryu Yaya bowed slightly: "Thank you, Hashimoto-senpai."

Finally, there are Kenta Sasaki and Kishou Arima.

Kenta Sasaki held a beer glass, and the bandage on his arm was particularly noticeable under the light.

He stood in front of Kiryu Yaya, his expression complex, as if he were organizing his thoughts or struggling with himself.

"Kiryu, I'm not one to praise people."

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"What I want to say is—although you stole a lot of my thunder, you are indeed very capable. I admit that."

Kiryu Yaya smiled and said, "Thank you."

Kenta Sasaki paused for a second, then grinned and said, "Alright, bottoms up."

The two clinked glasses.

Kenta Sasaki tilted his head back, finished his drink, and turned to walk back to his seat.

Kiryu Yaya sat back down and took a sip of his beer.

The cup was empty, and the staff member next to it immediately came over to refill it.

When Masakazu Yamada walked over with a wine glass, the atmosphere at the table had already entered its later stages.

He stood next to Kiryu Yaya, not sitting down immediately, but looking down at him. He had already drunk half of the beer in his hand, and the foam clung to the glass and slowly dripped down.

"Kiryu-kun."

Kiryu Yaya stood up and bowed slightly: "Section Chief."

"sit."

Masakazu Yamada sat down next to him, placed his wine glass on the table, and remained silent for two seconds.

Kiryu Yaya didn't urge him, but just waited quietly.

"The Higashi-Osaka case."

Masakazu Yamada finally spoke, his voice lower than usual: "I owe you a favor."

Kiryu Yaya was slightly taken aback: "Section Chief."

"Let me finish."

Masakazu Yamada raised his hand, interrupting him.

"If this case is classified as an early-stage accident, I will be the first person held accountable. At best, I will be transferred; at worst, I will be forced to resign early."

"I'm not young anymore. Being transferred to a remote branch or subsidiary at this age basically means my career is over prematurely."

He paused, looking at the wine glass on the table, his eyes slightly red: "Everything you did, from getting Abeno's address from Nomura to arranging for Matsushita Saeko to call and lure Kajiwara into a trap, you risked your entire career."

He turned his head and looked at Kiryu Yaya.

"I know you didn't do it for me; you did it for the whole class, and for yourself. But no matter what, I still owe you a favor."

Masakazu Yamada picked up his wine glass, tilted his head back, took a sip, and put it down.

"I'm not good at saying nice things. But there's one thing I must say to you today, Kiryu-kun."

After he finished speaking, he extended his right hand.

Kiryu Yaya looked at his hand, paused for a second, and then reached out and shook it.

"Section Chief, you're too kind. I was just doing what I was supposed to do."

Masakazu Yamada squeezed his hand, then released it and stood up.

"Alright, I won't keep you from eating."

He patted Kiryu Yaya on the shoulder, then turned and walked back to his seat.

Kiryu Yaya watched Yamada Masakazu's figure disappear into the crowd at the other end of the long table and let out a soft breath.

It has to be said that today's gathering had a particularly somber atmosphere for him.

Around 8 o'clock, the dishes on the table were almost finished, and several rounds of drinks had been used up.

Wakako looked at her watch and said it was time to go home; her husband was waiting for her.

Several female employees also got up, picked up their coats and handbags, and prepared to leave.

That's all for today.

Masakazu Yamada stood up and picked up the bill: "I'll go pay the bill."

"Section Chief, let's split the bill."

Yusuke Hashimoto said.

"I said I'd treat, so I'll treat."

Masakazu Yamada walked towards the counter without looking back.

The group exchanged glances and then laughed.

Yuka Nakamura put on her coat, walked over to Yaya Kiryu, and whispered, "Kiryu-kun, I'm leaving now."

"Take care, Yuka-senpai."

She nodded, turned around, and left Takenoya with several other female employees.

Kenta Sasaki and Kishou Arima were also preparing to leave.

Kenta Sasaki had drunk quite a bit and was walking unsteadily. Kishou Arima supported him and said something expressionlessly.

"You'll definitely regret it tomorrow morning."

"I regret it now."

Kenta Sasaki clutched his head, looking pained.

Kiryu Yaya looked at the two of them and smiled: "See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Arima Kishou nodded and helped Sasaki Kenta out the door.

The corridor gradually quieted down.

Kiryu Yaya returned to his seat, picked up his coat and briefcase, and was about to leave when a voice came from behind him.

"Kiryu-kun."

He turned around.

Chihaya Yuri stood by the corridor, holding her coat in her hand, her hair still draped over her shoulders: "You've had a hard day."

"The same goes for you, senior."

Chihaya Yuri glanced at him, as if confirming something, and then said, "Be careful on the road."

"it is good."

She nodded, turned and walked out of the Takenoya.

A night breeze blew in through the doorway, causing her hair to flutter slightly.

Kiryu Yaya stood in the corridor, watching her figure disappear into the alleyway, then lowered his head, buttoned up his coat, picked up his briefcase, and walked out of Takenoya.

The night breeze on Midosuji was a bit cooler than in the evening, and it felt very comfortable on my face.

There were few pedestrians left on the street, with only a few taxis passing by, their taillights leaving a red trail in the night.

Kiryu Yaya stood at the intersection and took a deep breath.

The matter of Kiyomasa Ogaki is not over yet, but the clues are gradually coming together and the evidence is gradually accumulating.

The rest is just a matter of time.

He put his hands in his pockets and walked towards the subway station.

Behind me, the noren curtain of Takenoya swayed gently in the night breeze, and the white lettering of the shop name flickered under the lamplight.

The laughter and clinking of glasses had faded away, leaving only the early summer night breeze blowing from the direction of the Dojima River, rustling the ginkgo leaves of Midosuji.

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