The Guy Who Messed Up Is Gradually Doing His Best

It’s ten minutes before the start time, and all the men are already here. Honestly, I’m surprised. This means the men are more reliable than I thought. Though their appearance is something else…

At that time, I thought it was just me, but later I found out that the men, who were always late, were told to come 30 minutes earlier than the official start time. Me? I had a special makeup session, so I arrived even earlier, so it didn’t matter to me.

Since it’s an annual event, the organizers must be used to dealing with men.

Among those men, about 50% were in matching sweat outfits, around 20% in tracksuits, about 20% in pajamas-like attire, and around 10% in suits (formal wear)… 10%…

Everyone had similar body types (overweight), and there wasn’t a single thin man…

——Huh?

To my surprise, there was a man wearing stylish clothes that looked like something out of a men’s clothing store. He was wearing a collared shirt with the top button undone, along with a jacket…

The hairstyle also seems somewhat similar to the one I had when I was in the band… or is it just my imagination…?

Given the situation, he stood out quite a bit by dressing stylishly.

In contrast, the women all looked stunning in their glamorous dresses and perfectly done makeup, as if they were attending a matchmaking party. There were many beautiful women.

Those women are fixated on him or watching the men in suits despite it being before the start, but their expressions are stiff, and they seem tense.

Well, even though I look like I’m in a suit (thanks to special effects makeup), it seems like no one is interested… While I was thinking about such things and checking the surroundings,

“O-Okada-sama.”

“Yes…? Ah, thank you.”

Suddenly, I was called by a staff member (an older staff member who is always stationed at each table) and handed ten cards.

——? …What is this?

I quickly skimmed through it and understood.

・Ootaka Nozomi, 31 years old…

・Uchiki An, 29 years old…

・Futoi Tomiko, 22 years old…

・…..

・…

These are the profile cards of the women sitting at the same table.

I glanced at the woman sitting at the same table, but she seemed completely uninterested.

On that card, there were numbers for the women along with their names, ages, heights, weights, measurements, occupations, contact information, hobbies, and points of appeal.

Depending on the person, there are some who only include their name, age, and occupation, so the items to be filled out seem optional.

It seems that the women participating in the matchmaking party have several profile cards, and at the moment they take their seats, the staff member standing by receives only one of those profile cards.

So, they collected the profile cards and handed them out to us men, but I wonder if these profile cards are always given to the men sitting at the same table.

However, this profile card handed to me before we even exchanged words might have a strong connotation of social niceties… I think so precisely because she doesn’t seem interested in me.

——But, just as everyone said…

Everyone at school told me that students who can’t get pregnant right after marriage (because of their studies) can’t participate in matchmaking parties, but it seems that this also applies to university students. All the women participating are working professionals…

“…”

It seems there are unemployed women too, but let’s not worry about that.

“…I don’t need it!”

However, the young man is sitting in the chair with his arms crossed and leaning back. I think that’s an unacceptable attitude.

The young man tosses the handed profile card onto the table without even glancing at it.

“Bring me something to eat instead of this!”

A young man demanding food from the staff and guards standing nearby.

There were about five or six other young people who exhibited similar problematic behaviors.

As a fellow man, I felt a bit embarrassed.

“Men are just the worst, aren’t they…”

Huh?

Suddenly, I heard that voice. It was a voice I had heard somewhere before. I was curious as I turned my gaze towards the direction the voice came from…

——Ah…

It’s Nene-san. She’s wearing makeup, but it’s probably not a mistake. Matsukawa Nene-san was dressed in a glamorous gown and was sitting at the next table.

Even in a dress, Nene-san’s characteristic is sitting with her legs crossed.

Nene-san is a classmate of Kaori and has one child, but she is using “Childbearing Selection” and is not married.

So it’s not strange for her to be participating in this matchmaking party…

But well, in my current state, she probably wouldn’t notice… Just as I thought that our eyes unexpectedly met.

——Oh?

I wondered if she would notice, but Nene-san furrowed her brow, tilted her head slightly, and then looked behind me. Why? I thought, but then it hit me immediately.

Nene-san knows about Mil-san.

Nene-san’s gaze had been directed at Mil-san and turned back to me. She had a slightly surprised expression, but then immediately smiled and gave a small peace sign.

I was noticed. She definitely noticed me. I mean, considering the number of people participating, what are the odds of running into someone I know? As I was thinking about such things,

“Um, it’s a bit early for the scheduled time, but since everyone is here, I would like to start the matchmaking party. Um, I am Hayose Iko, and I will be your host for today…”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice echoes through the venue. She seems a bit nervous, speaking a little too quickly.

After giving Nene-san a small wave and saying “See you later,” I turned my gaze forward and saw an elderly woman greeting everyone with a microphone in hand.

“Uh, first, I would like to invite Mayor Nishikawa to say a few words of greeting…”

As if reacting to the words of the host, Hayose-san, the venue suddenly darkened, and a young woman was projected onto the lowered screen.

——This person is the mayor…

“Aaah… ahem.”

People in high positions tend to talk for a long time… If their speech goes on too long, I’m just worried that the men at this party will start causing a ruckus.

While thinking about such unnecessary things, I focus on the woman being projected on the screen.

“This is Mayor Nishikawa. Everyone! Please do your best to make today’s encounter a good one, a good memory. That’s all from me.”

——?

As Mayor Nishikawa slowly bowed her head, the video abruptly cut off, and when the venue was once again illuminated, the host, Hayose-san, immediately began to speak.

“Thank you very much. Uh, well then, next…”

Short!? The mayor’s greeting was really surprising in just one word. After that, there was about five minutes of explanation about the matchmaking party.

“Um, well, I would like to move on to the talk right away, but it seems everyone is a bit tense, so I think we should play a light game to ease that tension first…”