Estimated reading time: ~7 minutes
Chapter 42
The next day.
「Good morning.」
「Oh, good morning!」
「Morning!」
Isamu arrives at the office and greets everyone as he takes his seat.
Immediately after, his subordinate sitting next to him speaks up.
「Today’s finally the day, huh? I hope he’s not a weirdo.」
「Yeah. Well, rumors are just rumors. He might turn out to be surprisingly nice in person.」
「I hope so… Ugh, I’m nervous.」
「Come on now. He’s not coming until after noon, so there’s no point in worrying now—」
「G-good morning!」
A middle-aged man rushing towards the sales department interrupts Isamu’s words.
「Oh, good morning, Section Chief!」
「Morning! Just barely made it in time today, huh?」
「Good morning!」
The Section Chief, breathing heavily, sits down across from Isamu.
Isamu looks at the Section Chief with an exasperated expression and opens his mouth.
「…Section Chief. As I always say, you’re a working adult. You should try to be a bit more punctual.」
「Well, I know, I know. But I’m just not a morning person.」
「No excuses!」
「Y-yes! …Geez, I can’t win against you, Mr. Taida!」
「Good grief…」
As the Section Chief laughs while scratching his head, Isamu shrugs with a resigned look.
The other team members laugh at the sight of the two, whose positions seem to have completely reversed.
This camaraderie is the charm of the sales department, and Isamu loves the department, the company it’s in, and his job.
「Alright, it’s time. Let’s start the morning meeting. Mr. Taida, if you please.」
「Yes. As everyone knows, the new department head will be arriving today at 1 PM. Sorry, but please try not to overlap your break times so we can all be here for introductions.」
「Yes!」 everyone responds in unison.
「Now, for my schedule today—」
After the morning meeting, the sales department gets to work.
Isamu works busily, and before he knows it, it’s 1 PM.
「Ah, looks like he’s here.」
A female office worker sitting diagonally across from him whispers.
「Ahem. Everyone, please pause your work for a moment.」
The Section Chief’s voice comes from behind.
Isamu turns around to see a dejected-looking Section Chief and a man in his early 40s wearing an expensive-looking suit.
「Um, this is Mr. Hidou who will be taking over as our department head starting today. Please, introduce yourself.」
「Hmm.」
The man responds curtly, then moves to the department head’s desk at the end of the sales department island, the only desk positioned sideways.
After eyeing each member of the sales department one by one, he opens his downturned mouth.
「I’m Hidou Kuzuhito, taking over as department head starting today. It seems my predecessor was too soft, but I’ll be cracking the whip. From now on, you’ll follow my way of doing things, got it?」
At these words, the sales department members exchange glances.
After a moment’s pause, they give scattered responses. Hidou slams his hand on the desk.
「What’s with those half-hearted responses?! I’ll ask one more time. From today on, my word is absolute. Understand?!」
「Yes…」 they respond in unison.
「I can’t hear you!」
「Y-yes!」 they answer more loudly.
「Good. Now get to work immediately! And Section Chief, what’s this?」
Hidou points at the computer monitor and asks the Section Chief.
「W-what do you mean by ‘what’s this’…?」
「I’m asking why there’s only one monitor! I’m the department head! Prepare at least three! And what’s with this mouse? It doesn’t have side buttons! And this keyboard too. Do you think I can work with such an ordinary keyboard?」
Hidou crowds the Section Chief, spitting as he berates him.
At that moment, every member of the sales department thinks the same thing:
This guy is bad news—
☆
A few days pass.
「Erika, come here for a second.」
Hidou says, standing behind the female office worker and placing his hand on her shoulder.
The woman’s body suddenly tenses up.
To check what exactly happened, Isamu stands up, pretending to go to the bathroom.
As he glances at the desk diagonally across from him, he sees Hidou placing his hand over the woman’s hand gripping the mouse.
(That bastard!)
Yes, it’s sexual harassment.
However, Isamu can’t confront Hidou.
Because he’s a superior, and moreover, the company president’s brother-in-law.
Isamu knows what challenging him would mean.
So, feeling frustrated at his inability to do anything, Isamu heads to the bathroom.
「Oh!」
「Ah, good work, Mr. Taida.」
There’s already someone in the bathroom. It’s the Section Chief.
「Good work to you too, sir. Um, about the department head… he was sexually harassing someone again just now…」
「…I see.」
The Section Chief bites his lip, looking frustrated.
He must be feeling upset and ashamed at his inability to protect his subordinates.
After a few moments of silence, the Section Chief says he’s going to a meeting with a client and leaves the bathroom.
After forcing himself to use the facilities, Isamu returns to his desk to find Hidou back in his own seat.
The woman looks relieved to be free.
Confirming this, Isamu resumes his work, feeling helpless.
☆
A few more days pass.
「Good morning.」
Isamu greets as he arrives at work, causing his subordinates to flinch.
Immediately after, they turn around to see Isamu and let out a collective sigh of relief.
「Oh, it’s just you, Mr. Taida. Good morning.」
「Good morning…」
「Morning…」
Due to Hidou’s repeated power harassment and sexual harassment, everyone in the sales department is on edge.
Feeling sorry that he can’t do anything to help, Isamu sits down at his desk. His subordinate sitting next to him mutters softly.
「…Mr. Taida. I can’t take it anymore.」
「Huh?」
「I’m sorry, but I’m at my limit too…」
「Me too…」
Other subordinates chime in one after another.
(I see. Everyone’s already…)
Isamu is also subject to power harassment, and it’s certainly tough and painful every day.
But he can still endure it.
However, it seems his subordinates have reached their limit.
After thinking for a while, Isamu makes a decision.
「…Alright. I’ll protest to the department head.」
「What? N-no way! If you do that, Mr. Taida, you’ll—!」
The Section Chief, who had arrived without anyone noticing, says anxiously.
「Oh, good morning. I’ll be fine.」
「No, but…」
The Section Chief trails off.
Silence falls for a moment.
「Phew, it’s hot today. …Hm? What’s this, no greeting for the department head when he arrives?」
Hidou arrives a bit late for the start of the workday.
「…Good morning. Um, Department Head, could I have a word?」
「A word? Don’t be ridiculous, I’m busy.」
「I’m sorry, but it will only take a moment.」
As Isamu speaks with a confident attitude, Hidou clicks his tongue before responding.
「Fine, if I must. But if it’s something trivial, you won’t get off scot-free.」
「Yes, thank you. This way, please.」
Isamu leads Hidou to the conference room.
「So, what did you want to talk about?」
Hidou plops down in a chair while Isamu remains standing.
「…Department Head. Regarding your recent behavior, some of it has been quite excessive. I know it’s not my place to say, but could you please be more mindful of your words and actions?」
「Hmm? Taida. Do you understand what you’re saying right now?」
「Yes. If things continue like this, the sales department will fall apart.」
As Isamu says this, Hidou lets out an exaggerated laugh.
Then, standing up from his chair, Hidou pats Isamu’s shoulder and says:
「I see, I see! I understand perfectly. I’ll take it to heart. Well then, I’ll head back first.」
Hidou leaves the conference room with a cheerful tone.
(This should do it. Now I just need to endure…)
While it would be ideal if this led to a change of heart, Isamu knows that’s unlikely.
The goal this time was simply to redirect the harassment towards himself.
Given Hidou’s response, it seems to have worked.
What awaits him now are surely hellish days, but in exchange, his subordinates and the Section Chief will have it easier.
If that’s the case, Isamu is prepared to endure any harassment thrown his way.
That’s what Isamu thinks at this moment.
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