The Guy Who Messed Up Is Gradually Doing His Best

“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…”

“Haah… Seriously?”

“Ugh, this is so annoying.”

“Such a hassle~”

・

Such voices quickly started coming from the men. It was the expected reaction, but the number of voices was fewer than I thought.

——Could it be that…?

In the invitation document for the matchmaking party, there were several points to note regarding participation.

One of them stated that appropriate measures would be taken if someone was deemed uncooperative at the matchmaking party.

The most effective measure for men that comes to mind immediately is cutting the male allowance…

If the male allowance is stopped, it will be effective for men who have no other income.

The invitation document didn’t specify in detail, but there are more older men who have attended the matchmaking party at this venue at least once than men who are attending for the first time.

Those men are all listening attentively to the host’s speech, so it must be something like that. No, it might even be reasonable to expect a heavier punishment…

Well, if they participate with a proper attitude and take it seriously, there shouldn’t be any problems.

“Um, well then, let’s move on to the game right away… Gentlemen! Could you please stand up?”

——Oh? Just all the men.

I didn’t expect any instructions directed at the man, but all she had to do was stand. Without a second thought, I heard the host’s voice and immediately stood up.

I stood up immediately and was the first. Naturally, I attracted the attention of the women, but once I stood up, it didn’t get any faster… Not at all, huh?

About ten people stood up immediately, but the rest were slow. There were even men who didn’t stand up after about three minutes.

One person is the man at the table next to Nene-san. That man looks like he’s in his pajamas, with messy hair, eyebrows that seem like he has never been shaved, faintly connected, and a chubby young man with no sign of having shaved his beard.

That young man was smirking and looking at me with a mocking gaze as I stood up immediately.

Well, since there’s no need to face the other person directly, I immediately look at the host…

“Uh, gentlemen, you’ve all stood up. Next, when I give the starting signal, you’ll go around shaking hands with all the women sitting at the same table and finally return to your seat to finish. For this, we have prepared prizes for the first 20 men and all the women sitting at their table, so please do your best!”

There were a few men who hadn’t even stood up yet, but the host continued without caring.

The content is just a game where men go around shaking hands with women sitting at the same table…

Well, they said it was a simple game to relieve tension, and at a matchmaking party, this kind of thing is probably fine. As long as it creates an opportunity to get closer.

Unfortunately, it seems impossible to play the game because the table next to where Nene-san is sitting has a young man who shows no signs of getting up from his seat.

Nene-san seems to have understood that and has given up. But even if she’s just bored, it’s really uncomfortable for me when she keeps looking at me. Especially since we know each other. Well, I do shake hands with her…

“Okay, gentlemen! Are you ready? Here you go. On your marks… Go!”

When the background music changes to a song that would play on a sports day, my mood lifts too.

Alright. Which one first…

——Oh? Was that Ootaka-san I just made eye contact with? Then I guess I’ll go clockwise.

“Hello. I’m Okada Kento. Um, you’re Ootaka Nozomi-san, right? Nice to meet you today.”

The woman had a name tag with her name and number on her chest, so I looked at the name tag to confirm her name before extending my right hand.

“Y-yes. I-I’m Ootaka Nozomi. P-pleased to meet you.”

Ootaka-san seemed uninterested and cold towards me as she responded in a flustered manner when I extended my right hand to shake hands, but she ended up biting her tongue quite a bit.

Perhaps not used to men, she wiped her hands vigorously with her handkerchief, her eyes welling up with tears, and shook hands with both hands.

Next is, huh? What?

Ootaka-san wouldn’t let go of my right hand and then she suddenly realized and blushed deeply when I said, “Let’s move on to the next thing,” and quickly released both hands.

“Hello. I’m Okada Kento. Uchiki An-san, nice to meet you today.”

“I am Uchiki An. Nice to meet you.”

Since her bangs are long and her eyes are not visible, Uchiki-san gives a slightly dark impression even when wearing a glamorous outfit.

She was mumbling, making her words hard to catch, but as soon as I extended my right hand, she grabbed it tightly with both hands.

Huh?

Since Uchiki-san didn’t let go of my hand right away, when I said I had to move on, she reluctantly released both hands.

“Hello. I’m Okada Kento. Futoi Tomiko-san, thank you for today.”

“Yes, I am Futoi Tomiko. Okada-san, it’s a pleasure to meet you too~”

Futoi Tomiko-san was as plump as Mil-san after her transformation.

With a gentle tone and impressive chest, Futoi-san seemed to be someone of high status. However, the accessories she wore all looked expensive, not gaudy but rather elegant. She might be wealthy.

Huh?

I wonder why. Even here, when I extend my right hand, she grabs it with both hands and won’t let go easily. After saying, “Let’s move on to the next one,” I finally got her to let go.

“Hello. I’m Okada Kento. You must be Otaku Kana-san. Nice to meet you today.”

“Hehe. I’m Otaku Kana. Nice to meet you.”

A woman with straight bangs and glasses. Despite her slim figure and great style, Otaku-san, who has a suspicious tone, was 20 years old.

When I extended my right hand, she quickly grabbed it with both hands, but the next moment, it turned as red as a tomato. Thus, she’s bleeding from her nose.

Despite that, I gently declined and pulled away from Otaku-san, who, as if following a script, wouldn’t let go of my right hand.

The next time, and the time after that… After repeating the same kind of exchanges over and over, we finally took our seats and managed to get the prize in 18th place.

I share my joy with everyone and start to feel their gazes from the same table. Maybe it’s because we shook hands, but I feel like the distance between us has also become a bit closer.

I see.

It wasn’t just our table. The men and women at the table who received prizes like us, as well as the men and women at the table who were close to getting a prize, were also chatting more and seemed to be in a good mood.

I was impressed that the management side was also thinking quite well.

So, the atmosphere at Nene-san and her friends’ table, who couldn’t even participate in the game, seemed even worse… Nene-san looked bored, resting her elbow on the table.

Oh, I made eye contact with Nene-san, so maybe I should show off the prize. Huh? She’s mouthing something… Ah? I? Will? Go? With? You♡ (the ♡ is a wink)? …I’ll come later, okay♡? Huh? Oh no. It seems Nene-san is coming over later. Plus, she even winked, so she’s definitely up to something. I might have gotten a bit carried away. I should have just let it go.

Then, the prize for this game was a 3,000 yen gift voucher for a cake shop famous for its delicious treats in the local area.