The Story About How I Was Fired From My Company and Then Picked up by a Possessive Streamer With Over 5 Million Subscribers - Chapter 160-161

Chapter 160: What Can We Offer?

Sumeragi Mitsuhiko’s words froze our spines.

Joining the Sumeragi Group… That was the condition for the support the AO Britia and the Sumeragi Group would give us.

From this alone, it seems like an incredible offer. Just by joining, we’d receive help. Plus, being part of one of the three major conglomerates guarantees a secure future. There’s no reason not to accept. But…

“…Why is that?”

I couldn’t help but speak out as I was too curious about it.

Indeed, KANNA, the new generation rookie, and the diva, all popular streamers in the public eye, were all gathered here.

But it was happening too fast. The Sumeragi Group recommending us when we hadn’t even been established for six months was unusual.

That’s why it felt too eerie. That was the question weighing on my mind.

Had the chairman read my thoughts? Without changing his expression, he continued to smile and spoke.

“Your company, Able, is indeed small right now. But it’s only a matter of time before you grow. So, isn’t it strange to scout you before you get big?”

He continued, staring at me intently.

“…I’ve taken a liking to you because my daughter likes you.”

Everyone froze at his words. But I had expected this to some degree. After all, it was so obvious.

I felt my heart race, and I whispered the name.

“…………Sumeragi Rinmei. She’s the chairman’s daughter?”

“That’s right! Correct! How do you like that? Doesn’t she look exactly like my daughter? I mean, I hate to say it, but bloodlines are truly frightening.”

He laughed loudly, but it was only the chairman who did. The president, Kirigiri, and the three others were all stunned, their mouths open.

“R-Rinmei-chan is the Sumeragi chairman’s daughter…!?” Makoto muttered, astonished. Well, it’s no wonder they’re shocked. I never expected to meet Rinmei’s parent either.

“…I won’t ask about the chairman’s family matters. But what exactly is it that you want?”

“Exactly what I said. They say children resemble their parents, right? Personally, I’ve become interested in you, Yusuke Kojima.”

…It’s hard to deal with such an intense gaze.

But as expected from Rinmei’s parent. Upon a closer look, his gestures and demeanor were very similar. Although, I’m not sure about his personality.

“So, what’s it going to be? Will you join the Sumeragi Group? Or not?”

He spoke as if testing us, and his words echoed quietly in our ears. I looked at Souji, who was still stunned.

…It wasn’t a situation where I could respond.

Joining would surely lead to great growth in the future. But…

“…Sorry. I can’t accept the offer to be scouted.”

“…Oh?”

“Y-Yusuke?”

The chairman narrowed his eyes, and Souji, now snapped back to his senses, turned his gaze toward me. Makoto and Yuna were the same.

“Can you tell me why?” the chairman asked.

“It’s simple. We want to do what we want to do. If we’re forced to stop what we want to do, then there’s no point in starting this company.”

That’s right. Just like how Yuna once suffered because of her environment, I don’t want anyone else to feel that way.

“…If you just join, we’ll give you as much freedom as we can. If you can collaborate with Britia, you can also join large projects.”

President Kuwashima added pressure, but I didn’t change my answer.

“Even so, we still want to pursue our own activities in our own way.”

“…Then, what exactly can you offer us?”

…Something we can offer them…

“…Chairman, you said that you scouted me because you wanted me. If that’s the case—”

“—How about, after this project ends, I become yours?”

…This was the maximum concession I could offer them. The three of them were once again stunned, but I couldn’t involve everyone in this. Even if it made everyone hate me, I didn’t mind. I spoke those words with that resolve, facing them directly.

—

Chapter 161: The Deal and Feelings

“Heh… So you’re offering yourself, not Able. You’ve got guts, huh?”

After hearing my words, the chairman’s face looked like a child who had just found an interesting toy.

But I didn’t have the luxury of caring about that. I silently stared into his eyes.

If this doesn’t work out, I’ll have to refuse… even if it means I’ll disappoint the three of them.

“Wait, please!”

Suddenly, Makoto shouted out in a panicked voice. Her loud cry drew everyone’s attention, and I was left with a ringing sound in my ears from the sudden shout beside me.

“Makoto… please don’t shout right next to me. It’s really loud.”

“S-Sorry… but that’s not what I mean!”

She shifted her gaze from me to the chairman and started talking.

“This whole thing was supposed to be our request. How did it turn into a discussion about scouting Yusuke?!”

“…Excuse me, but our position is higher right now. If the chairman is trying to manipulate our employees, this discussion is over.”

Souji quickly responded, confronting the chairman.

I looked at the two of them… and their eyes were filled with an anger I had never seen before.

Especially Souji, who rarely gets angry. Seeing him like that really frightened me.

“Ahaha! You’re right! Sorry, sorry, I went too far.”

“Chairman… please hold back unnecessary comments. What would happen if they lost trust in us?”

“No, no, I was just watching and it slipped out. Don’t be mad, Kuwashima-kun. I’m reflecting on it, okay?”

Under the glares from the two, the chairman, instead of defending himself, just smiled and apologized.

I was surprised by their reactions, but even more surprised by how easily the chairman shrugged off their serious anger.

“Senpai! What are you doing!? Don’t go along with that! I’m telling you, we’re going to get really mad!!”

“S-Sorry…”

Yuna angrily scolded me from beside me, and I instinctively apologized.

…Thinking back, was I doing something stupid?

No, more than that, I had been played by the chairman’s words. Even now, he’s looking at me without any hint of surprise… He’s not someone to be underestimated. He’s frightening.

“Well, anyway, I learned a lot about you all. You make a pretty good team.”

“…Even if you compliment us like that, I won’t let you take Yusuke.”

“Ahh, come on, don’t get mad. It ruins your cute face, you know? And don’t worry, I won’t say anything weird anymore.”

…Is that really true?

Seeing him smile even more now, I couldn’t trust him.

Is he really Rinmei’s parent…? Now I’m starting to doubt it.

“Well then, let me say it again…” The chairman straightened up and answered.

“The Sumeragi Group, just like Britia, will support Able. Could you accept this?”

“…I understand. Please, help us with the support.”

And so, after some turbulence, the meeting with AO Britia and the Sumeragi Group finally ended.

By the way, it goes without saying that Souji and Makoto were extremely angry with me afterward.

Also… I once again realized how scary those two could be.

◇

“…Are you sure? Not letting Able… or Yusuke Kojima join the Sumeragi Group?”

After the four of them left, Goro Kuwashima, the president of Britia, asked, as he looked at Sumeragi Mitsuhiko, who was gazing at the city lights.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I don’t need him right away. It’s better to leave a favor, you know? Plus, if they don’t have that kind of passion, it would be troublesome for me. I was worried, but… it looks like they’re fine.”

Mitsuhiko said, holding the locket around his neck and looking at the photo inside.

It was a picture of the wife he loved and their young child, peacefully sleeping.

“Man, I was really shocked back then… I thought you might have time-traveled or something and come back.”

He recalled the day half a year ago, the day before AO Britia had its scandal.

“…AO Britia will crash. Before that, put your group in.”

Just a single line. He could never forget his daughter, Rinmei, begging him while handing him the necklace.

“Hey, Kuwashima-kun.”

“What is it?”

“…What do you think of a father who lost his beloved wife and, not wanting to remember, abandoned his own child?”

“That’s…”

“Will you answer me? Or is it hard to answer? Haha, I asked something unpleasant, didn’t I?”

Closing the pendant, he returned his gaze to the city.

What did he see reflected in his eyes? Was it the glittering future of society? Or was it the image of the wife he once swore to walk alongside in the past?

Only Mitsuhiko knew.

Kuwashima, watching his back, felt a kind of loneliness.