Actually, There’s Someone at Your Workplace Who Likes You ~ I’m Being Transferred to a Sales Office Filled With Only Beautiful Women!?

That evening, after returning to my apartment, I sat down and started thinking about how to tackle Kagaya Manufacturing. Then, I suddenly remembered something the sales manager used to say back when I worked in Tokyo.

“Listen, Hirabayashi-kun. When you’re thinking about how to approach a client, make sure you get to know them as well as possible. So, think about how you can learn more about them.”

Right. Kagaya Manufacturing was an influential company here in Shimizu City. And fortunately, I was from this area.

Maybe someone I knew was working at Kagaya Manufacturing. If I could talk to them directly, maybe I’d get some useful information.

And if I was lucky, they might even be able to set up a meeting with the company president.

With that idea in mind, I immediately began reaching out to old friends from middle and high school, people I had been relatively close with back then, through calls and messages.

I must have contacted around 20 or 30 people.

However, the responses I got were mostly along the lines of, “I don’t know,” “I have no idea,” or “I have a distant relative who works there, but I can’t get any details about the company.”

“Hmm… not much luck so far… Well, I guess that’s how it is. I’ll keep trying and not give up.”

With that thought, I decided to continue reaching out to more old friends in the coming days.

On the third day of my contract-expansion efforts with Honoka—Wednesday—I was out visiting companies to gather information on those struggling to secure talent. I returned to the office just before closing time.

As I opened the door and entered the office, I found Luca focused on creating materials on her computer. Honoka was talking on the phone with someone.

“Ah, yes! I understand! That’s really great news! Please do your best!”

After hanging up, Honoka had a beaming smile on her face. Her big, double eyelids were squinting as she grinned from ear to ear. It seemed like something good had happened.

“Ah, Hirarin, welcome back!”

Her voice was bubbly, full of energy. She was practically bouncing with excitement, and her chestnut-colored hair was bouncing along with her.

She must have had some good news.

“Hey, I’m back. What’s going on?”

“Look! Look! That thing, that thing!”

“…That thing?”

I was confused. What was she talking about?

“Look, remember Tanaka-san, the woman who wanted to decline her job from WebAd? She called me today.”

“Ah, right. Come to think of it… it was today that the top HR employee and the HR manager from WebAd headquarters were coming to have a meeting.”

“Yes, exactly! And after today’s conversation, Tanaka-san has decided to join WebAd! She called to let me know!”

Honoka winked and gave a thumbs-up, as if making a “like” gesture.

“Ah, that’s great! I’m so glad, Honoka!”

“Yeah! Thanks, Hirarin!”

“Congratulations, Honoka-senpai!”

Luca stood up from her chair and clasped her hands in front of her chest, joyfully raising her voice. It was rare for Luca, who was usually so composed, to show such excitement in both her voice and her expression.

It really was great news!

Just then, the phone at Ruka’s desk rang. It was the internal phone from the office reception, signaling that a visitor had arrived.

Nowadays, many companies didn’t have a receptionist, so there was a phone at the reception area. Visitors used that phone to dial the extension for “reception”. The receptionist’s phone in the office then rang, allowing the visitor to communicate with them.

“Yes, this is the Rikuado reception… Yes… Oh, it’s always a pleasure working with you. Yes, please hold on a moment.”

Luca put the call on hold and looked at me.

“The HR manager from WebAd has arrived. They’re sorry for the lack of appointment, but they want to greet you…”

What?

The HR manager was here!?

I was surprised by the sudden news.

“Got it. Ah… Luca, please show the HR manager to the reception room.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Honoka, come with me. I’ll introduce you.”

“Ah, okay… The HR manager, right? From WebAd headquarters…?”

Honoka suddenly looked flustered, her face showing signs of panic.

“So, yeah. We’ve been taken care of by them, so we should thank them. Plus, it might be useful for you to have a connection with the HR manager for future things.”

“Y-yeah, you’re right… I got it…!”

Honoka was flustered by the sudden meeting with the HR manager. She shook her head back and forth, causing her loose, fluffy hair and her large chest to sway.

It was funny how someone like Honoka, who often acted so confident, could still get flustered and nervous like a child in situations like this.

Honoka and I walked together toward the reception room where the HR manager was waiting.

“Excuse me!”

“Ah, Hirabayashi-kun! It’s been a while!!”

As soon as the HR manager from WebAd, Hiramatsu, saw my face, he spread his arms wide with a big smile.

Hiramatsu, who seemed to be about 50 years old, was a very dandy and friendly person. I could tell that he was genuinely happy to see me again, which made me feel good too.

“It’s been a while, Hiramatsu-san!”

“I really appreciate all the help you’ve given me this time, Hirabayashi-kun. Thank you, thank you!”

“No, thank you for following up with Tanaka-san. When I first called, I didn’t think the manager himself would come to help.”

“What are you saying, Hirabayashi-kun? Aren’t we the ‘Hiramatsu-Hirabayashi’ duo?”

──Wait. I didn’t recall ever forming such a duo.

He said it seriously, but I could tell from his tone that he still loved to joke around. And just like that, Hiramatsu chuckled with a mischievous grin.

“Haha, I was just kidding, Hirabayashi-kun. I just wanted to see your face again after so long.”

“Thank you, I’m really happy to see you again too, Hiramatsu-san.”

“Well, if you want to talk about who’s been wanting to see you more, it’s probably this Aihara here, not me! Ahahaha!”

With that, Hiramatsu-san turned to look at a tall woman standing beside him. She had short, light brown hair, and her features were strikingly beautiful, almost with a hint of being mixed-race.

She looked like someone who was very capable at work, with a small face and a kind expression, but still very beautiful and elegant. And as always, her body was well-proportioned, with her legs looking particularly lovely, extending from a short skirt.

“Stop it, Hiramatsu-shochou! Don’t say such things!”

She gave Hiramatsu a slightly pouty look, clearly a bit embarrassed.

“Sorry, sorry, Aihara-kun! I just said the truth, haha!”

And that was when I realized—this was the HR ace I had asked for help with the interview follow-up: Aihara Mei-san, from WebAd’s HR department.