Actually, There’s Someone at Your Workplace Who Likes You ~ I’m Being Transferred to a Sales Office Filled With Only Beautiful Women!? - Chapter 61: Is It Better To Be Alone With Classmates?

“By the way, Nakajima-san and Totsuka-san. You’re going to have a meal with Hirabayashi-kun now, right? If you’d like, as a thank you, I’d like to treat you. Would it be alright if we join you?”

“Eh…? Ehhhhh!?”

At the manager’s sudden proposal, Totsuka screamed while striking a pose reminiscent of “The Scream” by Munch.

Come to think of it, Totsuka had just said that he preferred being just among classmates. So he was probably against having shochou and others join us.

“Ah, sorry, Shochou. These guys want to drink just among us…”

“Oh, is that so? That’s too bad…”

“W-w-wait a minute, Hirarin! Are you refusing the kind offer from your superior?! How dare you show such disrespect!”

Totsuka. Were you a period drama actor? What was with that manner of speaking?

“No, Totsuka. Like I said, Jinguji-shochou isn’t that formal of a person, so it’s fine. You said earlier that you wanted to drink just among classmates…”

“Ah… well, I take that back. I’m interested in seeing what kind of colleagues Hirarin works with daily, so I’d love for them to join us. Right, Nakajima? You think so too, don’t you?”

“Huh…? Ah, yes, that’s right. I completely agree!”

What’s this? Things had taken a strange turn.

“Then let’s all go together. Hono-chan and Ruka-chan, that’s okay with you too, right?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Yes, of course.”

—And so, somehow it was decided that Totsuka, Nakajima, and the members of the sales office would all go drinking together.

We headed to the izakaya where the manager and the others had planned to go. While walking there, Totsuka and Nakajima casually positioned themselves on my left and right. Then Totsuka whispered in my ear.

“Hirarin, this is an amazing group. They’re all incredibly beautiful women.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

That was an undeniable fact.

“So, Hirarin, which of those three do you like?”

“Huh…?”

Which one did I like? All three had their own unique personalities, and they were all wonderful people.

I answered Totsuka in a small voice so that the women couldn’t hear.

“Well… I like all three of them.”

“Whaaaat? You like all of them? Are you planning to build a harem?”

“I’m not building any harem! I meant as people, as workplace colleagues.”

“Is that so? But with three such beautiful women, it wouldn’t be strange to like one of them, right?”

“Wait, Totsuka. Do you think I could become their boyfriend?”

“No, I don’t.”

“That was a quick answer!”

If you didn’t think so, then why were you asking such things? Nakajima, who had been listening to our exchange, chuckled beside us.

“That’s true, Hirarin. Unfortunately…”

“Haha, I know. They’re all way out of my league, so they wouldn’t consider me as a romantic prospect.”

I never had any expectations to begin with, so I was not particularly disappointed. While we were having this exchange, we arrived at our destination izakaya.

We took our seats, placed our orders, and the drinking party began.

At the table, Shochou sat in the middle on the opposite side, with Honoka and Ruka on her left and right. On our side, I sat in the middle, with Totsuka and Nakajima on my left and right.

At first, both Totsuka and Nakajima were still extremely tense. However, as the alcohol flowed and they realized how friendly the three women were, they gradually loosened up.

Especially Totsuka, who had been drinking beer continuously and was getting quite drunk, became incredibly talkative. As expected of a man who casually picked up women. He was quite the smooth talker.

“—And then, this guy Hirarin, he said something like this!”

“That’s enough, Totsuka! Stop telling embarrassing stories about my past!”

Totsuka was telling amusing anecdotes about my high school days. Even when I tried to stop him, he just kept grinning.

“Hmm… so the serious and enthusiastic Hirabayashi-kun hasn’t changed since then?”

“Well… I guess so. Ahaha.”

It was somehow embarrassing to have my high school days brought up. So I just laughed it off.

“Listen, Jinguji-shochou. Hirarin is such a great guy, but he’s so serious and shy around women…”

—Hm? What was Totsuka planning to say?

“He never had a girlfriend at all, gahaha!”

—Hey, don’t “gahaha”!

Why are you revealing such embarrassing things?

“Hey, Totsuka. Let’s drop this topic. It’s embarrassing.”

“It’s fine, it’s the truth!”

“Well, yes, but still…”

“And when I asked him earlier, he said he still doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

“Come on, did you have to go that far?”

Totsuka just came out with that in front of the women.

Well, I’d already told Ruka about it, and it was the truth so it was fine, but… Having it announced openly like this was still a bit embarrassing.

“Hmmm… is that so, Hirarin?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

See? Now Honoka was grinning. She was definitely thinking, “Well, that’s to be expected.”

“But I think Hirabayashi-kun could get a girlfriend right away, don’t you think?”

“Huh…?”

Wow. Those were some encouraging words from Jinguji-shochou. She was being considerate of me by saying such things.

“That’s right. Rinta-senpai would definitely find someone soon.”

Ah. Ruka was being considerate too. She was speaking in her usual cool tone, but saying it with a straight face.

“Y-y-yeah, th-that’s right. I’m s-sure Hirarin could get a girlfriend right away. Ahaha.”

—Wow. Even Honoka, of all people.

Following the other two, albeit with a forced smile, I never expected Honoka to say something like that. I was so surprised I almost fell out of my chair.