A Very Popular Idol Classmate Has Taken a Liking to Me, A Person Who Doesn't Want to Work for My Whole Life
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.Daininki Idol na Classmate ni Natsukareta, Isshou Hatarakitakunai Ore
Src: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2496gr/131/
Act 4 - The Past of The Shidou Family
35-3
"...That was truly a wonderful presentation, Rintaro-sama." (Sofia)
"Huh?" (Rintaro)
As I'm leaving the president’s office and heading back to the entrance, Sofia speaks to me.
Her blue eyes look straight at me.
Looking at her again… she really has a gorgeous face.
"After all that, the president had no choice but to nod in agreement. How did you develop such presentation skills?" (Sofia)
"Ah, well, it’s not like I ever consciously developed my presentation skills or anything like that..." (Rintaro)
I don’t feel bad being praised, but honestly, I don’t recall ever studying that kind of thing deliberately.
Though, if I have to guess, there is one thing that comes to mind.
"In the end, it wasn’t my father who wanted me to inherit the Shidou Group—it was my mother." (Rintaro)
"Eh...?" (Sofia)
"Now that I think about it, my father never once forced me to study business management or anything like that. It was my mother. She constantly made me do all sorts of annoying studies." (Rintaro)
I had tried not to think about the past, and because of that, I’d forgotten even that much.
It wasn’t my father who made me learn self-defense or business administration—it was all my mother’s doing.
She wanted to raise me into a respectable successor, so she gave me an elite education.
"I really did look up to my father, but come on—what kind of kid could read and understand business books from scratch? I couldn’t even read half the kanji. But my mother just forced all that stuff into my head anyway." (Rintaro)
"I see... I don’t even know what to say." (Sofia)
"Ah, no need to feel bad. I’m not bothered by it anymore." (Rintaro)
In the end, what was my mother trying to run away from?
The pressure of raising me? The loneliness of being ignored by my father?
No matter how much I think about it, I’ll probably never get the answer.
Maybe it’s better that I don’t.
Because, I don’t ever want to become as irresponsible a person as she was.
"Anyway, maybe some of the stuff she drilled into me back then included something about presentations. Honestly, I was too young, and I can’t remember everything clearly." (Rintaro)
"I see… I deeply apologize for asking something so insensitive." (Sofia)
Sofia-san bows her head to me.
What a proper and courteous person she is.
Even though I say I ain’t bothered, she still can’t let it go.
I can understand that feeling, so I decided to accept her apology honestly.
"…I should apologize too—for always lashing out all my frustration at you. It’s too late, but looking back now, I was being way too childish. I am truly embarrassed." (Rintaro)
"Please, don’t worry. I had already heard about your circumstances, so I wasn’t bothered. However..." (Sofia)
Sofia-san suddenly drops her composed expression and, as if pleading, clasps her hands together in front of me.
"Um… please, keep the fact that I gave you the company documents absolutely confidential." (Sofia)
"I understand. I don’t plan on making enemies on purpose, either." (Rintaro)
Her brows droop so much that I can’t help but let out a wry smile.
The truth is, she was the one who handed me those documents.
"Still, I was quite surprised when you suddenly asked for them." (Sofia)
A week ago, I had used the contact information I already had to reach out and negotiate with her.
Of course, she was hesitant at first. But the moment I told her this was something that would benefit the company, she agreed to help.
"But, I wondered… why did you cooperate so easily? No offense, but for all you knew, I could’ve just been messing around, trying to dig up information for fun." (Rintaro)
"Let’s see… I think it made me happy." (Sofia)
"Made you happy?" (Rintaro)
"Yes. Of course, I also knew that you're not the kind of person who would mess around for fun. But more than that――――seeing you, Rintaro-sama, who probably used to hate not just the president but this entire company, tried to do something for the company for the first time… That alone made me so incredibly happy." (Sofia)
"…I see." (Rintaro)
Seeing Sofia-san smiling brings me a sense of relief.
Of course, being accepted feels much better than being treated like a nuisance.
"Please feel free to visit again. You’ll always be welcome here, Rintaro-sama." (Sofia)
"…You’re not gonna follow that up with ‘take over the company’ stuff, right?" (Rintaro)
"Well~, who can say?" (Sofia)
With Sofia-san playfully smiling behind me, I step out of the Shidou Group building.
"Rintaro-sama." (Sofia)
As I'm about to leave, I'm called back, so I turn to look at Sofia-san.
"You really do resemble Yuutaro-sama." (Sofia)
Sofia-san says this with a gentle smile.
I can’t help but laugh out loud when I hear it.
"Haha! Give me a break. I’m definitely way more handsome." (Rintaro)
"......Fufu, you may be right." (Sofia)
With that exchange, I finally leave the company building for real.
When I look up, the sky is endlessly blue, and the autumn wind sweeps through.
With a refreshing feeling as if I had been reborn, I head home.
Alright, time to go home. Back to her.
◇◆◇
"President, Rintaro-sama has left." (Sofia)
"I see..." (Yuutaro)
Returning to the president’s office, Sofia reported to Yuutaro.
"...To think I would end up being persuaded by my own son. I never imagined something like this would happen." (Yuutaro)
"Indeed. I also never thought Rintaro-sama would try to get involved with this company." (Sofia)
Sofia went to another room to make coffee and placed it in front of Yuutaro, who had returned to his seat.
Yuutaro took a sip and let out a deep breath, as if finishing a major task.
"Um, President." (Sofia)
"Hmm? What is it?" (Yuutaro)
"Do you truly have no intention of making Rintaro-sama your successor?" (Sofia)
"Why do you ask?" (Yuutaro)
"I know it's presumptuous of me to say something like this from my position... but Rintaro-sama is undeniably a remarkable individual. Even if he’s not named the next president, I believe we should offer him a position right after he graduates from university." (Sofia)
Hearing Sofia’s words, Yuutaro burst into laughter.
Sofia, who had never seen him laugh like that, widened her eyes in surprise.
"That's true... Rintaro’s talent surprised me, too. But ultimately, the decision is his to make. I will never force it upon him." (Yuutaro)
Yuutaro set his coffee down on the desk and turned his gaze to the documents Rintaro had brought with him.
They were neatly organized, incredibly easy to read, and extremely well-prepared.
"Well, I won’t deny that our company wants him. Did you notice? While he was talking, he never once looked away from my eyes." (Yuutaro)
"His eyes...?" (Sofia)
"There’s a saying—‘The eyes are the window to the soul.’ A person’s eyes reveal their emotions. Rintaro kept looking into mine to read what I was feeling." (Yuutaro)
"That’s true... Reading emotion through the eyes is an important skill, but..." (Sofia)
"Rintaro is someone who can choose his words while sensing the other person’s emotions. It might sound simple, but it’s a very delicate and refined skill." (Yuutaro)
Rintaro had used this ability in the past to detect ill intent, sense lies, and navigate communication with others.
He wasn’t consciously aware of it himself.
But there was no doubt that his attentiveness came from this very skill.
"Now that I think about it... my ex-wife also had remarkable communication skills. That really brings back memories. Though, I have no idea where she is or what she’s doing now." (Yuutaro)
"......Would you like me to look into her?" (Sofia)
"No, that’s not necessary. As far as family goes, Rintaro is more than enough for me." (Yuutaro)
Slightly embarrassed, Yuutaro said those words, and Sofia couldn’t help but laugh.
She quickly covered her mouth to stifle the sound, but Yuutaro noticed anyway.
"...Did I say something that funny?" (Yuutaro)
"Oh... I apologize." (Sofia)
"…Well, never mind." (Yuutaro)
Yuutaro downed the rest of his coffee in one gulp, closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them.
"Alright, time to get back to work. We’ve got a dinner meeting tonight, don’t we?" (Yuutaro)
"Yes. It’s reserved in Shinjuku at 19.00." (Sofia)
"Noted. I’ll review as many documents as I can before then, so please get things ready." (Yuutaro)
"Right away." (Sofia)
Sofia collected Yuutaro’s empty coffee cup and headed toward the door.
"...President." (Sofia)
Standing at the office door, Sofia turned around and called to him.
"You really do resemble Rintaro-sama." (Sofia)
"...Give me a break. I’m definitely way more handsome." (Yuutaro)
"...!" (Sofia)
She was surprised not only because Yuutaro, who rarely joked, had said something humorous, but also because those were the exact same words she had just heard from his son.
To Sofia, it was a heartwarming moment.
Her smile came naturally—it was inevitable.
"――――No, truly. You both strongly resemble one another." (Sofia)
"...?" (Yuutaro)
Leaving behind a puzzled Yuutaro, Sofia exited the room.
~"(This is a Translation Content of pemudatunawisata[dot]my[dot]id. so, read only on there, kay~)"~
[End of Chapter]
Cya~!
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