Chapter 60
One month…
On this day, Isamu comes to the Sundapole office.
Yes, today is the memorable day when Isamu is officially employed as a full-time employee.
He has come to complete various procedures accordingly.
Now, in a spacious conference room, he’s reviewing the employment contract handed to him by the Human Resources Department Head.
「Yes, everything looks fine,」 Isamu says.
「Great. Then, can I get your signature and seal?」
「Of course!」
Isamu responds energetically, taking out a ballpoint pen and seal from his bag, and proceeds to sign and stamp the document.
「Thank you. As I mentioned in the previous interview, once the results of your lectures are reflected in the numbers, we’ll make sure to properly compensate you for that, so do your best.」
「Yes, I’ll do my best!」
「I’m looking forward to it! Now, here’s this.」
Hitomi says, handing over a plastic card and a neck strap with a card holder.
It’s Isamu’s Sundapole employee ID.
His name and employee ID are clearly printed on it.
Seeing this, Isamu feels a renewed sense of joy at becoming a full-time employee of Sundapole.
「Always wear this when walking around the office. Oh, and don’t lose it!」
「Yes, understood!」
「Well, now that we’ve completed all the necessary procedures, I’ll give you a tour of the office. It’ll also serve as an introduction to everyone.」
「Thank you very much! I appreciate it!」
「Alright. Shall we go then?」
☆
About two hours later.
Having finished the office tour and introductions to colleagues, Isamu leaves the office.
(Alright! Since it’s a special day, I’ll treat myself to something delicious!)
With that thought, Isamu heads towards the station, intending to go to the bustling downtown area.
Along the way――
「Isamu?」
Suddenly, a voice calls out to him from the side.
「Hm?」
Isamu reflexively turns his face in that direction.
The moment he confirms the owner of the voice, his eyes widen.
「Yuya…?」
Standing there is a friend from his university days, dressed in a suit.
It’s Yuya—one of his best friends whom he had unilaterally cut ties with five years ago, feeling inferior due to becoming a shut-in.
Except for a slightly protruding belly, he looks no different from five years ago.
「Whoa, it really is Isamu!! It’s been so long!」
Yuya approaches excitedly.
「Y-yeah… It’s been a while.」
In response, Isamu adopts a formal attitude due to awkwardness.
However, Yuya doesn’t seem to mind and opens his mouth with a smile.
「Hey! Man, it’s really been ages! So, do you have time right now?」
「Ah, um… yeah.」
「Great! Then, I’ve got lots to talk about, let’s go to a café or somewhere!」
「Huh? But, aren’t you working…?」
「Ah, don’t worry about it! I’ve got a business meeting coming up, but there’s plenty of time before the appointment. Oh, look, let’s go in there!」
「O-Okay.」
☆
Entering the café and placing their orders, the two sit down at a table with coffee in hand.
After moistening their throats, Yuya starts the conversation.
「Anyway, I’m really relieved to see you looking well, Isamu! You suddenly became unreachable at some point. I was really worried that something might have happened.」
「Huh? Ah, um… I-I’m sorry.」
「You really had me worried! Well, I guess it was probably something like forgetting to set up your contact info after changing phones, right? I guess we should’ve exchanged phone numbers too, for times like these.」
Yuya says with a laugh.
It seems he believes the lack of contact was due to some physical cause.
Seeing Yuya like this, Isamu feels a sharp pain in his chest from guilt.
(I have to tell him…)
If he were to agree and say 「That’s right,」 everything would smooth over without causing any waves.
And they could become close friends again, just like five years ago, as if nothing had happened.
But Isamu chooses not to do that.
After all, someone as despicable as himself doesn’t deserve to be his friend.
「Yuya… I’m sorry, I—」
Isamu begins to explain how five years ago, feeling inferior due to his degenerate state, he unilaterally cut off their relationship for that reason.
For Yuya, this is shocking news.
After all, he’s being told that the friend he had been worried about all this time had actually cut ties with him for such a trivial reason.
He wouldn’t be able to complain even if he got punched.
「…So that’s what happened. Well, you know. I have a lot of thoughts about this, but I’ll let the past five years slide because of your honesty!」
At these words, Isamu, who had been looking down, suddenly lifts his face.
「Huh? Are you… sure?」
「Yeah! After all, we’re best friends, right?」
Yuya says with a grin.
At that moment, large tears begin to flow uncontrollably from Isamu’s eyes.
「…Th-thank you. I’m sorry. Thank you, Yuya…」
「H-hey, don’t cry! It’s embarrassing!」
Yuya hurriedly pulls out some paper napkins from beside the table.
Handed these, Isamu wipes his tears and then blows his nose loudly.
Seeing Isamu like this, Yuya gives a wry smile.
「Have you calmed down?」
「…Phew. Yeah, I’m okay now!」
「I see. Geez, tears from a young girl might be in demand, but not from a middle-aged man!」
「Haha, sorry!」
「I’m serious! So, Isamu. What kind of work are you doing now?」
「Ah, I’m working at a place called Sundapole. Actually, I just became a full-time employee today.」
Hearing this, Yuya blinks.
Then, leaning forward on the table and bringing his face close, he opens his mouth.
「Sundapole? You mean that Sundapole?!」
「Y-yeah. The Sundapole that makes games.」
「Wow, seriously?! That’s awesome! What, are you making games, Isamu?」
「Ah, no, I—」
Isamu explains that he works in a game called Dream Fantasy, giving lectures to beginners as his job.
「Huh, I don’t really get it, but sounds like you’re doing something interesting!」
「I guess so! What about you, Yuya?」
「Me? I’m still doing system sales as always. Oh, but I recently got promoted to section chief.」
「Oh, that’s great! Congratulations!」
「Haha, thanks! Though, to be honest, the salary and work haven’t changed much. Today too, it’s been meetings, meetings, meetings since morning… Oh crap! I’ve got to get going soon!」
「I see, good luck.」
「Yeah! Oh, right. We’ve got a lot to catch up on, so let’s go out for drinks again soon! We’ll invite Kousuke and Takeru too!」
「Ah, y-yeah! Definitely!」
「Alright! Here’s my ID, so send me a message later!」
Yuya takes out a business card and a pen, and writes some letters and numbers on the back of the card.
From the conversation, it’s probably his messaging app ID.
「Okay, got it!」
「I’m counting on you! Well, I’ve got to go! See you later!」
Yuya hurriedly stands up and leaves the store.
(That went well…)
Despite the terrible thing he had done, Yuya laughed and forgave him.
Having such a kind best friend makes him feel like the luckiest person in the world.
Isamu ponders this deeply.
(Well, I should get going too.)
After finishing his coffee, Isamu stands up and leaves the café.
Then, as originally planned, he moves to the downtown area and enters his favorite restaurant.
The food at this restaurant is always exceptionally delicious, but today’s meal tastes even better than usual.
☆
Five days later, around 7 PM.
Isamu, having finished another uneventful day of lecture work, stands in front of the entrance of a certain establishment.
It’s an izakaya they used to frequent with Yuya and the others in the past.
「…Alright!」
Isamu psyches himself up, then slides open the door and enters the shop.
Following the staff’s guidance, he heads to the farthest table on the second floor, where three men are seated.
「Oh, you’re here!」
「Yo!」
「It’s been so long!」
It’s Yuya, along with Kousuke and Takeru.
On the night of that day, Isamu had contacted Yuya, chatted a bit, and then was invited to their group chat.
There, Isamu explained his past mistakes to Kousuke and Takeru over a call and apologized.
Just like Yuya, they laughed and forgave him.
After exchanging messages among the four of them, they decided to meet up for drinks, which brings us to now.
By the way, due to his shift schedule, Isamu is the only one arriving late.
「It’s been a while! Sorry I’m late!」
「Hey, good work! Is beer okay for you too, Isamu?」
「Ah, yeah!」
Isamu answers Yuya while taking a seat next to Kousuke.
Then, Kousuke puts his arm around Isamu’s shoulders.
「It really has been a long time, Isamu!」
「I’m glad to see you’re doing well!」
Kousuke speaks with a smile, followed by Takeru.
Isamu responds, and as they’re all expressing joy at their reunion, the beer that Yuya had ordered earlier arrives.
「Alright, let’s do this again!」
「Well then, to our reunion after five years!」
「And to celebrate Isamu’s new job!」
「Cheers!」
With that, Isamu and his friends begin to catch up on years of conversation.
And so, Isamu regains the precious friends he had once lost due to his own mistakes.
Sub29: My Thoughts on ‘Tutorial Guy’ as the Series Nears Its End
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