Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 151: Driving Into A Corner.

Driving Into A Corner.

A little earlier in time, at the Nishikawa Headquarters – Chairman’s Office

“Yamazaki-san… I’ve extended you certain courtesies over the years due to our personal association… but this is beyond acceptable. Dragging high school students into this? That’s something I simply cannot overlook.”

The words being spoken barely registered in my mind.

High school students? That wasn’t in any report I received.

“As a corporation, dabbling in gray areas is not unheard of. But this—this is criminal.”

On the monitor in front of me, the footage from Kazuma’s recent social gathering was playing.

A gathering? It looked more like a drunken circus.

Not even the pretense of a meeting or a briefing—nothing even remotely professional.

And he had invited a client representative… Only to act so blatantly inappropriate and direct?

…And his classmate was there?

Knock knock…

“Come in.”

Click

“Excuse me. Executive Vice President Satsukawa from Sanami Electronics is here to see you.”

If someone was being let in under these circumstances, then this visit must have been prearranged.

Satsukawa from Sanami Electronics—I’ve never met him personally, but I certainly know who he is.

Why now…?

“Well, well, Satsukawa-san, it’s been a while.”

“And you seem well, Chairman Nishikawa. Thank you for looking after my daughter… I apologize for the trouble she may have caused.”

The friendly tone between them suggested more than a professional connection—there was clearly a personal rapport as well.

Nishikawa Group and Sanami Electronics—different industries, but both major players in their respective fields.

“No, no. Thanks to your daughter, both Eri and I were greatly helped. If anything, we’re the ones in your debt.”

They shook hands warmly, continuing their friendly exchange.

The mention of “Eri” implied that their children had some kind of connection too?

“Let me make a brief introduction. This is Yamazaki-san, President and CEO of Yamazaki Industries.”

“Pleased to meet you. Ah, no need to exchange business cards. After all, today will likely be the last time we meet.”

Satsukawa-san’s words were, by all standards of business etiquette, extremely rude.

But he knew that—and said it deliberately.

Clearly, he was here with the same intention as Chairman Nishikawa.

“Though we have no direct dealings with your company, I’ve already circulated this matter throughout every related party within Sanami Electronics. So, you won’t be hearing from us—or anyone affiliated—again.”

In short, not only was the Nishikawa Group cutting ties, but Sanami Electronics and all its affiliates were following suit.

Loans, credit, business—all severed. And now, this public disgrace.

So this is it. The real end.

My head couldn’t keep up. I couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

The end? Of my company?

What exactly did we do wrong?

I’ve only been carrying on the practices we always followed.

Where did it go off the rails?

Where? …I already know.

Kazuma… that idiot…

Suddenly, Yamazaki burst into a rage.

“Are you people out of your minds?! What the hell are you flirting for at a time like this?!”

Since when did this become that kind of scene…?

Oh, was it when I started complimenting Sara-san? Guess it spiraled from there.

Reluctantly, I started to move away, but Sara still held onto me.

“You’re a noisy man, aren’t you? You’ve completely ruined the mood. Kazunari-san was finally letting himself be vulnerable, and you just had to spoil it.”

Sara’s response, seemingly out of place, was likely sincere.

Even though I couldn’t see it, I could feel everyone staring at us with silent judgment.

“S-Sara-san, I’ll step away for now.”

When I said that, she finally let go, though her expression was slightly displeased.

Still, she nodded as she looked back at Yamazaki and Yuzuha.

“…Could it be that you’re jealous? But for someone like you, happiness is out of reach. Even one-tenth of Kazunari-san’s worth… no, that’s far beyond your capabilities. Someone like you could never find the kind of happiness we have.”

Sara looked at Yamazaki with eyes full of pity, like she was staring at a hopeless case.

To someone like Yamazaki, it probably felt like outright mockery.

…She’s not serious, is she?

I glanced at Nishikawa-san—she gave me a side glance with visible exasperation.

“What the hell are you even talking about?! Happiness this, happiness that—who cares?!”

Mocked in a completely unexpected and humiliating way, Yamazaki exploded with fury.

“I merely felt sorry for you. You’ve never truly known happiness, have you? You manipulate and ruin others, always scheming… and you call that fun?”

“Huh? …What?”

Yamazaki looked completely lost, as though he couldn’t understand a word being said.

To be fair, it’s hard to believe someone like him could even grasp what happiness really is.

“I’m very happy right now. I have Kazunari-san, the one I love, close friends, and joyful days filled with laughter… You’ve never felt anything like that, have you? What about you, Sasagawa-san? Were you happy being with a man like this? If so, then you’re truly a rare kind.”

Yuzuha had been watching us sadly the whole time. Even when Sara posed the question, she said nothing—just kept looking at Yamazaki.

“…Hey, Kazuma-kun. Was it really all just a game to you? Were you only using me? But we had so much fun together… you even listened to my problems, we went out so often… and we…”

Yuzuha clenched her hands, struggling to hold back tears.

She may be immature in some ways, but she clearly loved Yamazaki.

Even though she already knew the answer—she still had to ask.

“…Yeah, that’s right. I always thought you were annoying, clingy, and stupid. Not once did I ever think I liked you.”

Now reckless and with nothing to lose, Yamazaki had abandoned all reason.

Yuzuha hung her head in despair after hearing the answer she dreaded.

“…I’ve seen plenty of hopeless fools in my life, but to think someone this worthless existed… what a vast world we live in.”

As Sara spoke again, Yamazaki’s face twisted in anger.

“You bitch… You’ve been looking at me like I’m trash this whole time…”

“Not like trash—definitely trash.”

Sara glared at Yamazaki with a look of disdain, tinged with fury.

“What did you just—”

“Shut your mouth, you disgrace of a man. Creeping around like a cockroach, thinking you’re clever while digging your own grave. This is the result. So, how does it feel to lose everything? Go on—laugh. Isn’t this exactly what you wished for?”

“Y-You—”

“You’ve never known joy. Everything to you is profit and loss, and your only enjoyment comes from others’ misfortune. You’re paper-thin—a man so shallow, your filth shows through the mask you wear.”

Sara didn’t allow even a breath of retaliation, verbally tearing Yamazaki to shreds. It was clear she’d been holding this in for a long time.

And when a fool runs out of words, they turn to violence. I braced myself.

“I will never forgive anyone who brings harm to Kazunari-san. Even with your dim intellect, I’ve made it crystal clear—your downfall is already complete. So go ahead and collapse—literally.”

Before she finished, Yamazaki lunged forward.

Sara saw it coming, but I moved in front of her.

I wish I could’ve coolly caught his arm like in the movies—but no, I wasn’t fast enough.

Predictably, his punch slipped past my hand and landed squarely on my right cheek.

But I didn’t let the impact throw me back—Sara was behind me, and I had to stay standing.

Once the blow stopped, I grabbed Yamazaki’s right arm.

He tried to pull away, but I had the upper hand—either I was stronger, or he was just weak.

Instead of hitting back, I decided to leave him with one last parting shot.

“…Thanks, really. If not for you, I wouldn’t have met the most amazing woman in the world. In the grand scheme of things, stumbling over a pebble named Yamazaki means nothing.”

“A pebble?!”

“Yeah. A pebble. You—”

Thud…

SMACK!

I didn’t get to finish.

Why?

Because as I held Yamazaki’s arm, Sara suddenly stepped forward and shoved him—hard.

Staggering back, he lost his balance, and before he could regain it, Sara delivered a devastating slap to his face, knocking him to the ground.

“You worthless scum… I will never forgive you for what you did to Kazunari-san!!!!!!”

Sara, consumed by a rage unlike anything I’d ever seen, screamed at Yamazaki with fiery intensity.

Shocked by the sudden outburst, Yamazaki stumbled and fell. As he frantically tried to get up, Sara lunged toward him—almost as if she’d been waiting for that moment.

SMACK!!!

A crisp, high-pitched crack rang through the venue like a perfectly struck percussion instrument.

This time, it hit even harder. Yamazaki, who had just lifted his upper body, took a powerful slap across the right cheek and was knocked back onto the floor with force.

Huh…? I was the one planning to hit him back…

“You miserable excuse for a man—after everything you’ve done to Kazunari-san… not just hurting him, but making him anxious, pushing him to exhaustion… Your very existence is a burden! You’ve lost everything—so do us all a favor and just disappear already!!”

Sara screamed at Yamazaki, who lay crumpled on the floor. She had completely lost it—utterly consumed by fury, blind to everything around her.

“Eeeek…”
“Whoa… she’s terrifying…”
“I… I’m speechless…”

As Hanako and Toudou trembled, holding hands, Tachikawa gazed at Sara with wide, sparkling eyes—completely enamored. Nishikawa and Hayato stood frozen in stunned silence.

“All of your actions up to this point—including your assault on Kazunari-san—have been recorded.”

A man who had come to speak to Yamazaki delivered the warning. Clearly unfamiliar with the situation, he had been flustered from the beginning.

“We’ll compile everything and submit it as evidence of your crimes. Prepare yourself.”

Yamazaki didn’t move. Whether he had lost the will to stand or simply couldn’t find the strength to argue back, he remained motionless on the ground.

Sara glanced at him briefly, clearly no longer interested, then turned and walked back to stand beside me.

Seeing this, Nishikawa issued firm instructions to the security guard and the man who had come to fetch Yamazaki.

“Well? You came to get him, didn’t you? Then take him as he is. Drag him out of here!”

The guards pulled Yamazaki to his feet, but his body hung limp—as if even standing upright was beyond him now.

Was it the shock of being completely overwhelmed by a woman?

Was he finally realizing that he had truly lost everything?

Or was he already contemplating what lay ahead?

Without uttering a single word… without looking at me, or at Yuzuha, or anyone else… he was dragged out of the hall, half-limp.

What awaited him now would not be pleasant.

That much, we all knew for certain.