Episode 20: A New Job
Hayato was looking up at the main entrance of the Tetsumura Group headquarters building. The blue windowpanes of the skyscraper reflected the autumn sunlight, mirroring the sky like a giant looking glass. For a moment, he felt that he never would have imagined being summoned to a place like this.
“I was told casual clothes would be fine, but…”
Hayato looked down at his attire—jeans and a casual jacket—and muttered anxiously. The question of whether a suit wouldn’t be more appropriate for entering such a high-class office building welled up within him.
The people walking around were all impeccably dressed in expensive-looking suits. Thinking he stood out in such a crowd, he entered the building.
The entrance hall was as luxurious as he had expected, the marble floor echoing his footsteps. Potted plants that seemed to reach the ceiling were arranged around, and the walls were adorned with photographs and art narrating the history of the Tetsumura Group. As he approached the reception counter, a woman in an elegant suit smiled at him.
“My name is Hayato Sato. I have an appointment with Tetsumura Gou-san…”
Hayato stated his name, feeling a little nervous.
“We’ve been expecting you, Sato-sama.”
The receptionist responded politely, as if his visit was a matter of course.
“Please take this temporary visitor’s pass. I will guide you to the special conference room on the 14th floor.”
“Ah, yes. Please.”
Hanging the temporary visitor’s pass he was given around his neck, he followed the woman who said she would guide him. As they boarded the high-speed elevator, Hayato, inside the silently ascending lift, pondered the reason Tsuyoshi had summoned him.
The previous job overseas had its share of incidents, but it should be considered a success for now. Could it be that he needed help with something else?
Getting off at the 14th floor and following her directions down the corridor, they arrived at a door labeled “Special Conference Room 3.”
“Please wait here for a moment.”
“Understood.”
Upon entering the room, he found a reception set, and a sophisticated space spread out before him, offering a panoramic view of the Tokyo cityscape from the window. However, Tsuyoshi was not there.
As he waited, he noticed water and tea had already been prepared on the table. Then, the woman who had guided him left. It seemed he was supposed to wait here.
I’ve never been in such a magnificent conference room in my previous jobs. In fact, this might even be my first time inside a skyscraper.
Hayato stood by the window, deciding to wait while gazing at the urban landscape sprawling below. It was a different view from his days as an ordinary office worker, where he had spent most of his daily life. A different view, too, from his days of adventure in the other world. He keenly felt the strangeness of the place and situation he was currently in.
A few minutes later, the door burst open, and Tsuyoshi rushed in. Following behind him was a large man with a stern expression. He was clearly a bodyguard, but Hayato hadn’t seen him during the previous overseas job.
“Sorry, Hayato. Did I keep you waiting?”
Tsuyoshi said, slightly out of breath, with an apologetic look on his face.
“It’s fine. I haven’t been waiting that long.”
Hayato replied, not seeming to mind. He imagined how busy Tsuyoshi must be and was rather grateful that he had rushed to meet him.
“Let’s sit.”
“Yeah.”
While the two sat facing each other, the man who had entered with them remained standing near the door, waiting silently. His posture exuded a tension and vigilance honed by years of training.
“So, what’s this about today?”
Curious about the reason for Tsuyoshi’s summons, Hayato asked directly.
“Do you remember the attack overseas the other day?”
“Of course, I remember.”
As Tsuyoshi began, Hayato nodded immediately. That incident was still vivid in his memory.
“Regarding that matter, it’s been resolved for now.”
“Is that so? That’s good.”
Hayato genuinely thought so. He had left all decisions regarding how to handle it to Tsuyoshi’s judgment, so he didn’t know the details. Hearing it was resolved, he honestly felt relieved.
“And so, the security company that dispatched the bodyguards is currently undergoing a complete review.”
“A review?”
Tsuyoshi explained with a serious expression.
“Yes. A review of the entire organization and retraining of personnel are planned.”
“That sounds like a lot of work.”
Hayato thought, listening to him, that it would indeed be a painstaking task.
“It seems they’re in the midst of planning to build a more robust system taking this opportunity.”
“I see.”
Hayato nodded in understanding.
“And so, I was thinking I’d like you to cooperate as well, Hayato.”
“Me?”
“I want you to take a job at Shield Agent Security Co., Ltd., a company funded by the Tetsumura Group.”
“A job… at a security company?”
Hayato couldn’t help but raise his voice at the sudden proposal.
Tsuyoshi nodded slowly and continued his explanation.
“Yeah. Shield Agent is a new security company that we, the Tetsumura Group, established three years ago as the primary shareholder. They handle a wide range of services, from VIP protection to facility security, but they’re still young and in need of talented personnel and a proven track record. That’s where the recent failure occurred.”
“Ah.”
“If we don’t manage to rebuild it somehow, the losses will be significant. That’s why I want you to help with the reconstruction. I’ve prepared a position for you. We can proceed with the paperwork to hire you as a full-time employee right away.”
Listening to those words, Hayato couldn’t quite grasp Tsuyoshi’s true intentions. However, a warm light, considerate of a friend, dwelled in his eyes. Hayato strongly felt that Tsuyoshi had gone out of his way to prepare a job for him.
“You’ve done this sort of thing before, haven’t you?”
Tsuyoshi leaned in and said in a low voice. His words made Hayato recall.
“Come to think of it, something like that did happen.”
Hayato understood that he was referring to his memories from the other world. Back then, they had experience training the kingdom’s knightly order in a practical format for about half a year.
Hayato replied, feeling a sense of nostalgia. But the next moment, hesitation flickered across his expression.
(In this world, I was just an ordinary office worker. I didn’t practice martial arts in my student days, nor did I achieve any outstanding results in sports. Is someone like me really suitable?)
The image of Riri’s performance at the tournament he had seen the other day resurfaced in Hayato’s mind. Her brilliant figure playing badminton. At that time, she had naturally incorporated her experiences from the other world into modern techniques.
I see.
He came to a realization. Not just her, but Tsuyoshi, Josuke, and Seika too, were all utilizing the powers inherited from their past lives in their own ways. Each of them was living while harmonizing their past memories with their present lives.
In the first place, hadn’t he himself naturally utilized his experiences from the other world while overseas? Reading the enemy’s intentions, sensing danger, protecting his comrades—that was his essence, and it hadn’t changed at all in this world.
Hayato solidified his resolve and looked at Tsuyoshi.
“Alright. I’ll accept that offer.”
Hearing those words, a smile of relief spread across Tsuyoshi’s face.