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

The drinking party with my classmates and workplace members ended up like this, with me being the center of conversation throughout.

Since I was the connection between everyone, I suppose that couldn’t be helped. Besides, I was happy that everyone had such a good time.

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and we started discussing what to do next.

Totsuka blabbered something about “still wanting to hang out with the beautiful ladies”. However, if this entire group continued to a second venue, it would likely inconvenience the members from the sales office, so after talking with Nakajima, we decided to part ways with the women here.

In other words, just us three classmates would go to a second venue. All three women apparently planned to head home from here.

“Well then, we’re heading home now, but make sure you don’t drink too much and become unable to get back.”

The branch manager seemed unusually sober today, perhaps because there were outsiders present. This was the first time I’d seen Shochou so composed at the end of a drinking party, haha.

She probably said that with boss-like, parental concern, so I’d keep thoughts like “that applies to you…” to myself.

“See you later! We’re off!”

“Please excuse us for leaving first. Take care.”

Honoka raised her hand with a snap, and Ruka bowed politely as they walked toward the station. Then we men changed locations and entered a stylish shot bar on a back street. The three of us sat in a row at the counter with me in the middle.

Totsuka seemed to have calmed down from his earlier excitement, perhaps as his drunkenness subsided. Jingling the ice in his highball glass, he spoke to me in a somewhat reflective tone.

“Hey, Hirarin…”

“Hm?”

“You’re really loved by everyone at the sales office, aren’t you?”

“Loved? You think so?”

“Yeah, that’s right. You said they don’t pay attention to you, but I bet they think highly of you.”

“Ah, that. I think so too.”

Nakajima chimed in from the side in agreement.

“I mean, Kozakai-san calls you ‘Hirarin’, Aido-san calls you ‘Rinta-senpai’, and you were calling them by their first names, Honoka and Ruka.”

“Ah… well, that was actually Ruka’s suggestion, to help me blend in with everyone quickly. It’s just a means to that end, not related to how they feel about me.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

Nakajima tilted his head, looking unconvinced.

“It’s not just about what you call each other… it’s like, how do I put it… I can’t explain it well, but their tone and attitude toward you seem friendly and positive.”

It was true that they interacted with me very favorably. I felt that too. But that was—

“Yeah, I appreciate it. But that’s just as work colleagues, right?”

“Well… I wonder? I can’t say for sure.”

Nakajima gave a wry smile. Then Totsuka cut in from the side.

“Well, maybe. At first, I was thinking of asking you to introduce them to me, but you seemed to be on such good terms with them that I decided against it.”

Totsuka laughed heartily before continuing.

“By the way, I think Kozakai-san is great. She’s bright, fun, and cute like an idol.”

“I see. That fits your cheerful personality, Totsuka.”

Today, Honoka had apparently restrained her usual spontaneous behavior, probably because she was dealing with people from outside the company. When she was like that, she was definitely bright and cute, so I understood what Totsuka meant.

“Ah, I’m team Aido-san!”

As if to counter Totsuka, Nakajima suddenly spoke with emphasis, even raising his index finger to make his point.

“That somewhat cool and reserved type. But she’s such a perfect beauty. Makes my heart flutter!”

“Um… guys. Is this your way of asking me to introduce them to you?”

When I got flustered, both of them burst out laughing in unison. Then Totsuka patted me on the shoulder repeatedly.

“No, no, that’s not it, Hirarin. They’re originally way out of our league, so I don’t think we could date them anyway. And as I said earlier, seeing how much they care about you, I wouldn’t make such a tactless request. Just think of it like discussing which celebrity we like. Right, Nakajima? You feel the same, don’t you?”

“Yeah, that’s right. But to be surrounded by such beautiful women who think so highly of you… Hirarin, I’m so jealous!”

“Y-yeah. Thanks…”

Not knowing how to respond, I just thanked them for now.

“—So, with that said, Hirarin’s treating us tonight!”

“Yeah, Hirarin’s treat!”

The original purpose of today’s gathering was to thank these two for their help with the Kagaya Manufacturing case. I was planning to pay from the first venue, but Jinguji-shochou had covered it as a company expense. Therefore, I came here intending to pay.

“Of course. I’m truly grateful to both of you. Thank you.”

“No, no, we should be thanking you. Today was fun and gave us experiences we rarely get.”

Totsuka smiled refreshingly. Nakajima teased him.

“Various experiences… like getting rejected while hitting on someone, being mocked by playboys, but still getting some satisfaction.”

“Nakajima… I told you to stop bringing that up…”

Totsuka glared at Nakajima with a pathetic look. Their exchange was so funny that I burst out laughing.

“More importantly, drinking with such beautiful women was the best part. It’ll be a lifelong memory.”

“That’s an exaggeration, surely.”

Even I had to interject at that point… But Nakajima cut in from the side.

“No, no, Hirarin. It’s not an exaggeration, it might really be true.”

Indeed, the chance to drink with three such beautiful women might never happen again in a lifetime. In that sense, I could say I was incredibly fortunate with my environment.

“Anyway, today was really fun! Hirarin, Nakajima, let’s go drinking again!”

“Yeah, for sure, Hirarin.”

“Definitely. I’d like to go again too.”

It really made me happy that they wanted to go drinking again like this. The three of us firmly shook hands, and with that, the day’s drinking party came to a close.