Actually, There’s Someone at Your Workplace Who Likes You ~ I’m Being Transferred to a Sales Office Filled With Only Beautiful Women!? - Chapter 62: Don't Get Carried Away With Compliments

“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.

Ah, wait a minute… This was what they called peer pressure. With the other two saying such kind words to me, it would be difficult for Honoka alone to say “He could never get a girlfriend.”

But it was clear that Honoka was also being considerate, trying to make sure I didn’t feel down.

Of course, I’d like to believe everyone genuinely meant what they were saying…

I’d seen many guys who took compliments too seriously and became delusional. Speaking of which, I made a similar mistake in my high school soccer club.

The other club members had praised me, saying I was enthusiastic, hardworking, and positive, and that those were my good qualities. So I thought those were good things and was always pushing everyone to do their best and give it their all.

However, some members weren’t actually that motivated, and I failed to notice that they’d found me annoying.

After our early elimination in the final district tournament of high school, arguments broke out about who was to blame, and the club members started fighting among themselves.

The guys who’d found me annoying had shouted, “You’ve been annoying us all along!”

Until that moment, I hadn’t realized that my attitude and approach had been disliked by them.

They’d told me not to force my ideas on others, telling me not to get carried away just because people complimented me.

They’d admitted that they had also complimented me at times, but had claimed that those compliments had sometimes contained sarcasm. Yet I had taken those words at face value, been happy about them, and mistakenly believed I should keep pushing my way of doing things.

I think during high school, especially when it came to soccer which I loved, I was more forceful about imposing my way of doing things on others than I was now.

So I’d learned from that experience. I didn’t take others’ compliments too seriously or get carried away with them. And I didn’t force my ideas on others.

That said—

I was genuinely grateful that all my workplace colleagues were being so considerate. All three of them were giving me compliments in a very natural way so that I wouldn’t feel down. They were all truly kind-hearted people, and I appreciated them.

—I was almost moved to tears by everyone’s thoughtfulness.

While I was feeling touched by everyone’s consideration, Totsuka went on to say something he really didn’t need to say.

“Actually, everyone, Hirarin says he doesn’t even have anyone he likes right now!”

“Hey, hey, Totsuka! You don’t need to go that far! Nobody wants to know that!”

“Really?”

“Yes, really!”

“No, no. Everyone looks very interested, you know?”

“No, they’re not!”

—No way they were.

I thought as I turned my gaze toward the women. But surprisingly, all three of them were staring at me intently.

“Huh?”

“Oh, well. As a manager, it’s natural to be interested in my staff’s lives. It’s the basics of management, you know.”

“Ah, yes, that’s true.”

What the manager said made sense.

“For me, it’s not so much interest as… I feel I should know as much as possible about my colleagues… that’s right, it’s a sense of duty.”

After saying this with a slightly flustered expression and averting her gaze, Honoka picked up the wine glass in front of her and took a big gulp.

A sense of duty, huh. Well, Honoka seemed uninterested in me at first, so I should be grateful that she even said that much.

“I’m… no, it’s nothing.”

Ruka started to say something but stopped. I wonder what it was?

—Just then, Totsuka spoke to Ruka as if to help her out.

“Well, all women generally love romantic talk, and they’re interested in whether someone has a crush or not, as a general rule. Right, Aido-san?”

“Ah, yes, that’s right.”

Ruka smiled slightly at Totsuka and nodded. I see, so that’s what it was. Just casual curiosity.

“By the way, Aido-san…”

“Yes?”

“Have we met somewhere before?”

“Huh…?”

What? Were Ruka and Totsuka acquainted? What kind of connection could they possibly have…?

“No, we’ve never met. Are you perhaps confusing me with someone else?”

Ruka answered with a puzzled look. What was this about? Was Totsuka mistaken?

“I wonder about that… Such beautiful women like you are quite rare.”

“Totsuka-san… you’re quite the smooth talker.”

Ruka’s expression became a bit troubled. Seeing this, Nakajima chimed in from the side.

“What’s with you, Totsuka? Is that what you wanted to say all along? You’ve got bad intentions.”

“That’s right, Totsuka. Stop hitting on my workplace junior.”

“Ah, no, no, I have absolutely no intention of hitting on her! I really did think that. But, um… it must be my mistake. I’m sorry, Aido-san.”

“No, no. It’s fine.”

Totsuka was looking quite drunk. Was he okay?

“—By the way, everyone!”

Perhaps trying to change the atmosphere, Totsuka suddenly raised his voice. Everyone turned their attention to him, wondering what was going on.

“Would you all please introduce some girls to poor, unfortunate Hirarin?”

—Whaaaaat?!

Totsuka, emboldened by alcohol, blurted out something outrageous.

“Hey, Totsuka! That’s going too far!”

When I looked toward the three women, they all froze in unison.

See, just as I thought. Being asked something like that, the three of them must be troubled about how to respond.

Since saying I could get a girlfriend soon was just flattery, being asked to introduce girls to me would naturally put them in an awkward position.

“Ah, well… y-yes…”

“Ahahaha, well, um…”

“Well, you see…”

See? None of them could come up with anything meaningful to say.

“Look, Totsuka! You’re making everyone uncomfortable!”

“Ah, sorry everyone. So… can you introduce some girls to Hirarin?”

“Well… I wouldn’t say we can’t…”

“Yeah… it’s not that we can’t, but how should I put it…”

“Right… rather than saying we can’t…”

Again, all three of them were frozen. A moment of silence passed.

It seemed all three were reluctant to introduce girls to me. Which meant… their earlier words about me “getting a girlfriend soon” were just said out of consideration for my feelings. I was relieved I didn’t take their words too seriously and get carried away.

“Hey Totsuka, stop it already. You’re making everyone uncomfortable, and Hirarin must be embarrassed too.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Nakajima spoke up from the side.

“Ah, you’re right… I’m sorry for saying something that made you all uncomfortable.”

Totsuka suddenly looked dejected, bowed his head to the three women, and then turned to me.

“Sorry, Hirarin. I was thinking about you, and I thought I was doing you a favor…”

I understood that Totsuka truly had my best interests at heart, but I didn’t want to make the three women uncomfortable.

“I just think Hirarin is such a great guy! And I want him to be happy!”

Totsuka suddenly sounded like he was about to cry and threw his arms around me.

This guy was hopeless. He was completely drunk. But I appreciated his concern for me.

“I see, thanks Totsuka. I really appreciate your feelings.”

“Oh, Hirarin! You really are a good guy!”

As I gently patted Totsuka’s back while he clung to my upper body, I turned my gaze toward the women.

“So everyone, please don’t mind him. It’s just the ramblings of a drunk.”

When I bowed my head and said this, all three women gave awkward smiles.

Shochou said, “Well, if an opportunity arises…”

Honoka said, “Introductions, huh… what should I do… ahaha,” in a vague voice.

Meanwhile, Ruka remained silent, looking at me with a complicated expression.

—I’m sorry, all three of you. For Totsuka saying something that put you in such an awkward position.

In my heart, I apologized to them once more.