"Wait a moment, Nagasaki-san! Nagasa—"
Halfway through his sentence, Tetsuya paused, suddenly realizing they had the same surname. Then, under the woman's smiling gaze, he continued:
"Soyo-san is still just a high school student! There's no way she can work as a consultant!"
"That's right, but isn't it a coincidence? Our company just happens to be running a bundled sales promotion right now!"
Faced with Tetsuya's objection, Soyo's mother replied in a completely serious tone.
"Little Tetsuya, you've only solved the sponsorship problem so far, but you haven't sorted out issues like sales channels, factories, and store locations, have you?"
"That's certainly true..."
Tetsuya nodded, but his expression remained puzzled.
"But what does any of that have to do with Soyo-san?"
"As long as you hire my Soyo, you'll immediately enjoy a direct line to our company's president! In layman's terms, an exclusive VIP channel!"
Soyo's mother gave him a thumbs-up.
"In addition to the above, we can also provide corresponding guidance on future management, marketing, and a whole series of business activities! There's no time like the present! Sign my Soyo right now and start the new journey for your personal brand!"
"...So that's what you meant."
Tetsuya finally understood what she was trying to say.
"Rather than hiring Soyo-san, you're hoping that I will cooperate with your company... is that right?"
"Oh my, don't put it so boringly."
Soyo's mother pouted.
"Although I have no intention of letting Soyo handle the management side, the formality of hiring her is a must. If you want to enjoy these 'benefits' from our company, then you must sign my Soyo."
"...Huh?"
Although the "services" she was promising were indeed what Tetsuya needed most at the moment, faced with such a bizarre condition, he really couldn't understand her intentions.
"Is that... really necessary?"
"Of course it is."
Soyo's mother answered without a moment's hesitation.
"I want that child to continue wearing that happy expression she had just now. To do that, I have to give her a little push... just like you said!"
"I still don't understand what you mean... And, putting your motives aside for a moment, shouldn't you at least ask Soyo-san's opinion on something like this?"
Tetsuya said.
"Even if you're her mother, being suddenly pushed into a job for someone else... that's probably not right."
"Ha? Do you really still need to ask about something like this at this point?"
Soyo's mother gave him a speechless look.
"But oh well, this serious personality of yours isn't a bad thing for your future... Hey, Soyo!"
Under Tetsuya's stunned gaze, she turned around, slid open the balcony door, and shouted to Soyo in the living room.
"Little Tetsuya and I have something important to confirm with you, come here for a moment!"
"Ah, yes!"
Soyo quickly stood up and trotted over to the balcony.
Then, she first glanced at the hesitant look on Tetsuya's face before asking her mother with a puzzled expression.
"What's the important matter?"
"Oh, it's just that little Tetsuya has run into a bit of trouble starting his own business, but with your help, these troubles can be solved immediately."
Soyo's mother said with feigned seriousness.
"Considering this might take up some of your time and energy, you are completely free to refuse—"
"It's no problem at all."
Hearing that she could help Tetsuya, Soyo made her choice in an instant.
She turned to the troubled-looking Tetsuya and asked very seriously:
"Is there anything I can help with? As long as it's something I can do, I'll do anything!"
"Uh... well..."
"Alright, that's all I needed to hear!"
Before Tetsuya could answer, a brilliant smile spread across her mother's face.
"Soyo, you can go back and have fun with your friends. I'll discuss the specifics with little Tetsuya."
"Huh? Is that all?"
"There, there, don't you worry. This is definitely a deal you won't lose out on."
Soyo's mother placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders and pushed her back into the living room.
"You'll definitely thank me for this later! So, just wait for my good news!"
"Eh, wait, hold on, Mother—"
Although Soyo was very curious about the "trouble" Tetsuya was in and the "deal" her mother had just mentioned, from the force her mother used to push her shoulders and the speed at which she closed the door, it seemed she had no intention of letting her join the subsequent conversation.
"What in the world is going on???"
And so, Soyo returned to the living room, completely baffled...
....
"See? What did I tell you?"
Soyo's mother spread her hands.
"There's no need to ask about something like this."
"That's because you didn't explain it properly to Soyo-san at all!"
Tetsuya was a little dumbfounded by the incredibly hasty confirmation process.
"Weren't those words a little too ambiguous?"
"Hmph hmph, perhaps the explanation was a bit vague..."
A "just as planned" smile appeared on her mother's face.
"But even with such an ambiguous explanation, that child still responded immediately, and even said she'd do anything she could! That's more than enough to show her attitude!"
At this, she suddenly rubbed her chin.
"Though, as a mother, hearing my own daughter so easily say such a dangerous line does make me feel a little complicated..."
"And whose fault is that for not being clear in the first place!"
Tetsuya didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Alright, in any case, I understand that you're dead set on helping me start my business. But let me be clear, I will pay your company and Soyo-san every yen they are owed, and I have no intention of making her do any work she doesn't want to—"
"What if it's work she likes?"
Before Tetsuya could finish, her mother shot back.
"What if she does it willingly... or even proactively?"
"Th-that..."
Faced with a question completely outside his scope of consideration, Tetsuya was stunned for a long moment before saying with great difficulty:
"If it's without her forcing herself..."
"Excellent! Then it's settled!"
Soyo's mother reached out and patted Tetsuya's shoulder.
"I'll draw up a specific contract when I get back to the company tonight, and have Soyo bring it to you tomorrow!"
"Signing a contract tomorrow? Isn't that a little too rushed?"
"Business is all about speed. Not to mention, this concerns a 'major event' for my daughter."
"Alright... I understand."
At this point, Tetsuya had given up on resisting this self-willed company president.
Rather than waste more breath on her, it was better to think about how to explain this strange, newly-formed employment relationship to Soyo tomorrow...
Looking through the glass door at the girl who was also looking back at him with a puzzled expression, Tetsuya couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.