NOVEL NEXT Volume 1 - Chapter 1.3
Chapter 1.3 – Manager Monou’s Request
[Translation By Divinity]
“N-No, it’s not like that, Manager! He was the one who— Huh, he’s gone?!”
While making excuses, I looked to the side in surprise.
Kutsuwa had suddenly disappeared.
It seemed he had quickly vanished somewhere while I was frozen in shock.
He’s so resourceful it’s infuriating.
I bet guys like him get promoted.
“Um, well, you see…”
“Why are you so flustered?”
Manager Monou asked me, looking puzzled at my faltering words.
Huh?
Could it be… she didn’t hear what we were talking about?
“…Ah, it’s nothing.”
Lucky me. That was close. What we were talking about was borderline sexual harassment. If she had heard, I can’t imagine how uncomfortable I would have made her feel.
As I sighed in relief,
“…I apologize for earlier.”
Manager Monou said, bowing her head slightly.
“Huh?”
“I shouldn’t have scolded you in front of others. I could have called you aside privately to address the quota issue…”
“Manager Monou…”
“No matter how bad your performance was.”
“Ugh…”
Manager Monou said, sounding slightly apologetic, but her words still cut deep.
Well, it can’t be helped.
My performance this month is a bit beyond excuses.
“…It’s alright. It’s only natural to be reprimanded if my performance is poor.”
I said, regaining my composure.
“I’m the one who should apologize. I’ll do my best to turn things around. Next time, I’ll make sure to earn your praise, Manager Monou.”
“Yes, please do your best.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“…Though, I’m not sure about your motivation being to earn my praise.”
“W-Well, that’s, uh, my immediate goal, you could say… Hahaha.”
“Honestly…”
As I gave a wry smile, Manager Monou also smiled faintly.
She rarely smiles, but she’s not someone who never smiles.
The atmosphere became relaxed, and just as I was about to head back to the office,
“…Hey, Sanezawa-kun.”
Manager Monou said.
Her tone was somewhat formal.
And her expression seemed determined.
“Are you free tonight?”
After work—
The izakaya she took me to was located a bit away from the bustling downtown area, crowded with people. There were no cluttered menu signs on the outer wall of the restaurant, just the restaurant’s name written in a simple font.
It was completely different from the cheap chain izakaya I sometimes go to.
It was a stylish and upscale place.
“I’m Monou, I have a reservation.”
“We’ve been expecting you.”
Manager Monou seemed accustomed to this.
We were guided by the staff to the back of the restaurant.
After being led to a slightly spacious private room,
“What’s wrong? You seem restless.”
Manager Monou said as she hung her coat on the hanger.
“No… I’m just a bit nervous. As expected of Manager Monou, you’re drinking at a nice place.”
“It’s not like I come here often. I was brought here once before by a client.”
After we sat down for a while, a small plate of appetizers was brought to us.
We also placed our drink orders.
“I’ll have a highball. Sanezawa-kun?”
“I’ll have the same.”
“…You don’t have to force yourself to match me. If you don’t like alcohol, you can have a soft drink.”
“No, it’s fine. I like highballs.”
The order was placed, and the server left.
I felt somewhat relieved.
“I never thought… Manager Monou would invite me for a drink.”
“I’m not the type for drinking parties.”
Manager Monou let out a small sigh.
“I’ve always turned down invitations from my superiors.”
“…Ahaha.”
“This might be the first time… I’ve invited a subordinate.”
“…Eh?”
My heart skipped a beat at her casually spoken words.
What did she mean by that? Was there some intention behind it, or was it just a simple fact? If it was a fact, then why did she invite me?—While I was agonizing over it, our drinks arrived.
We received two glasses of highball in turn.
“Cheers.”
“C-Cheers.”
We clinked our glasses.
About an hour had passed since we started drinking.
“—That’s why, you know, the publishing industry should seriously think about ‘selling.’ The environment surrounding the publishing industry is changing at an unbelievable pace. Yet, the higher-ups are still stuck in the fossilized mindset of ‘if we make good books, they’ll naturally sell.'”
Manager Monou spoke passionately.
At first, we were both a bit nervous, but perhaps thanks to the alcohol, we were able to talk naturally after about an hour.
Manager Monou was still on her second drink and wasn’t drinking at a particularly fast pace.
Maybe she’s not that strong with alcohol?
Her face was slightly flushed, making her look even more alluring than usual.
“Anyone can invest in advertising after a book has already sold, so we need to work more closely with the editorial department from an earlier stage—”
After speaking in one breath until that point, Manager Monou suddenly covered her mouth with her hand.
“…I’m sorry. Talking about work even in a setting like this must be boring.”
“No, I think it’s nice, it’s very you, Manager.”
I meant it as a compliment.
Something along the lines of, “I respect your dedication to your work.”
However,
“Hmm…”
Manager Monou pouted, her face looking a bit sulky.
“…What? Are you saying I’m a boring woman who’s only good at work?”
“Eh…? N-No, that’s not what I meant…”
Oh no.
She took it in the completely opposite way.
“I can make fun, drinking-party-like conversation too, you know.”
Manager Monou declared and gulped down her highball.
After setting the glass down with a clink,
“…Sanezawa-kun… d-do you have a girlfriend?”
Manager Monou asked.
She seemed a bit hesitant to say it.
The conversation suddenly turned mundane!
“Um, well…”
“…Well?”
She stared at me intently.
“…N-No, I don’t.”
I thought about various things in an instant, but before my thoughts could settle, I ended up telling the truth.
“Actually… I’ve never had one. Ahaha.”
“…Is that so?”
Manager Monou looked a bit surprised.
Oops. I didn’t need to share my past experiences… I should have played it cool and said something like, “I don’t have one ‘at the moment.'”
“That’s unexpected… Sanezawa-kun, you seem like you’d be popular.”
“No, not at all, not me. I’ve just never had much luck with that sort of thing.”
“Then, could it be that—”
Manager Monou said,
Leaning forward just slightly.
“—you’re a virgin?”
“Gah?!”
I almost choked on my drink.
A virgin.
I never thought such a word would come out of my strict superior’s mouth.
Is this the power of alcohol too?
“…Y-Yes, that’s right, embarrassingly enough.”
“I-I see…”
Manager Monou stared intently at me.
Ugh, this is bad. I feel incredibly embarrassed for some reason.
“S-So, you’ve never been to, like, those kinds of places?”
“I’ve been invited before, but… I-I was too scared…”
“Oh… So you’re a prude. T-That’s good, I think. It’s like you’re cherishing it.”
“…No, I’m just a coward… Ahaha.”
“…”
“…”
An unusual awkwardness filled the room.
As I was about to be crushed by shame,
“…I-I’m so sorry!”
Manager Monou suddenly bowed deeply.
“Huh?!”
“What am I saying…? Even if it’s a drinking party, asking a subordinate such a question… It’s completely sexual harassment. There’s no distinction between men and women these days.”
“I-It’s okay! Don’t worry about it!”
“But…”
Manager Monou looked bewildered and genuinely apologetic.
Seeing her like that made me feel even more sorry.
“It’s really okay! You know… um, sexual harassment is sexual harassment because it makes the other person uncomfortable, right?”
I said desperately.
“I don’t mind being teased about my virginity by Manager Monou!”
“…”
“If anything, I’m rather happy about it… Eh? Wait? No, that’s not what I meant…”
Huh? Wait?
No, that’s not right. Did I say something wrong…?
“…Pfft.”
Manager Monou had a dumbfounded look on her face, but after a short pause, she burst into laughter.
“Ahaha! What’s that? You’re like a pervert.”
She laughed openly and cheerfully.
It was as if her iron mask during work was a lie.
Ah, that’s right.
I know this.
Manager Monou is a very strict person, and she’s called the Empress, but she’s not someone who doesn’t laugh.
And sometimes, when she laughs from the heart—she laughs like a child.
“Sanezawa-kun, you seem serious but you’re surprisingly perverted.”
She stared at me intently.
“…You said my figure was irresistible.”
“Ugh?! S-So you did hear that…”
“I heard it. Honestly… Sanezawa-kun, you always—”
Manager Monou went into lecture mode.
Another hour later—
We left the izakaya and walked through the night streets together.
The night breeze felt good on my body, warmed by the alcohol.
“Thank you for the ride. I’m sorry for having you treat me.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s only natural as your superior.”
Manager Monou said. Her face was red, but she didn’t seem drunk, and she still looked like she had plenty of composure. I hadn’t drunk that much either.
Somehow.
We both had a good time drinking within the bounds of common sense.
“I should be the one apologizing for making you accompany an old lady like me for drinks.”
I shook my head vigorously at her light self-deprecation.
“What are you saying?! You’re not an old lady at all, Manager. You’re still beautiful and… uh, well… ahaha.”
“Fufu, thank you. You’re kind, Sanezawa-kun.”
Manager Monou smiled back at me as I laughed, embarrassed. Her flushed face looked exceptionally alluring, and it made my heart pound.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, but I felt incredibly light and happy.
Ah, this was a fun night out.
I got to see many new sides of Manager Monou, and the food was delicious too.
I felt like I had gained the energy to work from tomorrow.
“By the way, Manager Monou, where do you live? If you’re taking a taxi, I can hail one for you.”
“—Hey, Sanezawa-kun.”
Manager Monou said just as I was about to start walking.
I stopped and looked directly at her.
Somehow—she seemed a bit different from before.
Her face was still flushed, but her eyes were incredibly serious.
Yet, there was also a hint of fear in them.
It was as if she had made a big decision that could change her life—
“…Could you stay with me a little longer tonight?”
“Eh…”
I was a bit taken aback.
I wondered what she was going to say so seriously.
From my perspective, it was an invitation I couldn’t have wished for.
I also wanted to keep drinking with Manager Monou.
“Of course. I’ll stay with you as long as you need tonight.”
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