I Joined the Agency as a Manager to Support a Vtuber, but Somehow I Ended up Becoming the Face of the Company as an Official Staff Member? - 2

Chapter 2: Dear Mother, I Became a Victim of Mass Layoffs at the Age of 23

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“Haah…”

I returned the booklet of job listings to its original spot and let out a sigh.

“Nothing really catches my eye…”

Ah, I should introduce myself. My name is Ren Hiori. For various reasons, despite being only 23, I ended up coming to the Hello Work (public employment office) like this.

“…Who am I even introducing myself to?”

I still hadn’t shaken the habit of talking to some imaginary person in my head whenever I wanted to escape reality. I sighed again and started heading for the exit.

“Hey there, young fella. What’s wrong? You’ve got a pretty gloomy look on your face.”

Please help me, everyone. A random homeless-looking old man just started talking to me.

“H-Hello… I don’t have any money, if that’s what you’re after…”

“Hah! I’m not trying to shake you down for cash, kid. Just figured I’d check in on you. I mean, seeing a young guy in a suit hanging around this place, it’s bound to raise questions, you know?”

Is that really so? 

I’d heard more and more people were becoming shut-ins or NEETs. I didn’t think it was that odd for someone young to show up here. Still, he didn’t seem like a bad person.

“I-I see. So, um… What can I do for you?”

“Nothing much. Just curious, is all. Never seen you around before.”

I decided to take a seat on one of the chairs by the window.

“Um… Do you come here often?”

“Yeah. Staying in one job too long just doesn’t suit me. Plus, I live by the motto ‘never carry money over to the next day,’ so I burn through cash pretty quick and end up back here.”

“S-Sorry to hear that…”

“Don’t be. I’ve got no regrets.”

As he said that, the old man looked me straight in the eyes.

“I’ve worked all kinds of jobs, looked into all kinds of people’s eyes. Yours—they’re filled with regret.”

“Y-You think so?”

“If you want, talk to me. Sometimes, just sharing your story helps you see something new.”

“…You’re right. I guess I’ll talk.”

Urged on by the old man, I began to share my story up to this point.

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After finishing a fulfilling college life, I finally stepped into the world of adulthood. The company I chose to work for was a small trading firm. My starting salary was around 150,000 yen. The company was small but hectic—I often had to give up my days off to work.

About a year into the job, I became the textbook example of a corporate slave in a black company. I spent nearly all my time at the office. The only times I went out were for business rounds. I ate and slept alongside the same few coworkers I had every day.

“Hey, let’s play billiards with the wireless mouse!”

“Hey, are you sure Hiori? If we do that, all the company’s mouse are gonna get wrecked!”

“I’m in! Everyone, bring eleven mouse!”

“Uh, what excuse are we giving the boss?”

“Say we found cockroaches in the company car or something.”

“Nice! That gives us a reason to freak out, too!”

We were overworked, but working with those guys was fun. Then, that day came—

“Uh, well…This is truly unfortunate news to bring, but we’ve decided to let you go from the company.”

Apparently, the company president had been falsifying revenue reports and pocketing part of the profits. He got caught. The president was arrested for tax evasion, and a new president took over. A massive restructuring followed. And I was one of its casualties.

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“—And that’s what happened.”

“I see. You’ve had a rough ride too, huh?”

“Thanks to that, I’m back on the job hunt.”

“But if you worked at a trading company, shouldn’t it be easy to find another job? You speak English, you’ve got people skills, and you’ve got specialized knowledge. You should be able to land something at another trading firm.”

It felt a little odd hearing this old man use the term “people skills,” but I nodded.

“Yeah, I thought the same at first but… Nothing really felt right.”

That was why I was still here. I couldn’t decide on my next step.

“So, how do you usually find your next job, sir?”

“Me? Well…”

He paused dramatically for a full three seconds before replying.

“To put it simply—by chasing dreams.”

“…Dreams, huh?”

What was this old guy even talking about?

“Hey, you’re thinking something like, ‘What’s this old fart doing talking about dreams when he doesn’t have much time left?’ right?”

“I wasn’t thinking anything quite that harshly…”

“I walk 10,000 steps a day, you know. Don’t underestimate the elderly.”

“That’s impressive…”

“Listen up. I think dreams are the most important thing in life. They’re what drive people. They give us a reason to strive forward.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m the kind of guy who gets a new dream the moment I accomplish one.”

“That’s why you change jobs so often?”

“Exactly. Once I fulfill a dream, it loses its shine. What about you, kid?”

“What about me?”

“Didn’t you have at least one dream when you were a kid?”

“…Hmm, when I was little, I wanted to be an idol producer.”

“You were into Idolma◯ster even back then?”

“No, no, that’s not it.”

Wait, does this guy understand otaku culture too? Even at his age?

I dreamed of becoming a producer because my cousin had said she wanted to become an idol. She was so cute, she could boost your eyesight just by looking at her. I genuinely believed her beauty should be shared with the world, even as a kid.

…Well, due to various circumstances, that dream didn’t pan out.

“Then why not try aiming to become a producer now?”

“Nah, I don’t really have the experience or the skills. It’d take a lot of time to learn.”

“Still, your interests lie in entertainment or showbiz, right?”

“Yes. That’s what I’m most interested in right now.”

“Hmm… If you’re not looking for something requiring specialized skills, what about becoming an idol’s manager?”

“A manager, huh…”

Manager【Manager】

① Director. Executive. Administrator. Supervisor.

② Someone who supports players in school sports clubs.

③ Someone who manages the schedules and affairs of entertainers.

(Excerpt from Kojien, 7th Edition)

In this case, it would be refer to meaning number ③.

“If you worked at a trading company, you probably have some connections with international companies, right?”

“…Yeah, I guess you could say that.”

“And you managed schedules for external affairs too, right?”

“Of course.”

“Sounds like you found your calling.”

“…Ugh.”

“What? I’m telling you, that’s the best idea I’ve got.”

“Well… To be honest, I’m just not interested in idols right now.”

“Then how about a regular talent agency? Got any actors or actresses you like?”

“I don’t really watch much TV…”

“Maybe that made sense back when you were working for that black company, but what about back in college? Wasn’t there some stunning celebrity who caught your eye?”

“Even in college, I watched more OurTube than TV.”

(*OurTube: One of the world’s largest video and live streaming platforms.)

“Man, kids these days really do live on their smartphones…”

“…Wait. Hold on.”

If I were to get into talent management, there was an industry I used to be obsessed with.

VTubers. People who used motion capture to animate 2D illustrations and streamed primarily live content online. Back in college, I’d followed one VTuber’s content religiously.

VTubers. They stood out from behind the screen, connecting people and drawing others into their orbit. If I were going to work somewhere, I’d want it to be a VTuber agency—the one that person belonged to.

In my last job, I helped bridge the gap between overseas businesses and Japanese companies. At the core, the workload wasn’t all that different. Now I’d be helping bring the charm of a talent to the viewers beyond the screen. Supporting the talents in a new way.

“…That face says it all. You’ve made up your mind, huh?”

“Yeah. Thanks to you, I figured out what I want to do.”

“That’s what I like to hear. Then don’t waste time. I’ve still gotta do job hunting, so I’ll catch you later.”

“Yes, sir!”

I said goodbye to the old man and walked outside with a spring in my step. It was still cold in February, but I felt a spring breeze blowing through my heart.

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