"My grades are still perfect as always, and no test papers were handed out today either." Hiko shook his head. "I'm just a little upset, that's all."
"It seems quite serious then," Ichigo leaned forward with interest. "Were you rejected after confessing?"
"No," Hiko sighed. "Besides, I wouldn't confess unless I was absolutely sure."
Ichigo walked out from behind his desk and patted Hiko's shoulder. "Life is long, try to look at things more openly."
"I haven't had a breakup. Anyway, that's not important."
Hiko could tell Ichigo already saw him as a poor soul whose confession had failed. He wanted to explain, but decided there was no need to clarify. Instead, he said, "I don't even think Miyako is suitable to be Ai's manager."
"It's not about what you think, it's about what I think," Ichigo cut him off without pause. "Only Miyako and I are the most suitable to be Ai's manager in the company. But since I'm the President and can't do it, only Miyako can."
"I think I can be Ai's manager." Hiko said it casually, without much hope.
Ichigo had already settled the matter of Ai's manager, leaving him no chance. It was impossible.
Although Hiko had expected this from the beginning.
"Why do you want to do everything?" Ichigo grumbled. "Last time you wanted to snatch Ai's management rights too. Before that, you wouldn't even show your face here."
Ever since Hiko met Ai, he, who originally never contended for anything and wasn't interested in much, kept wanting to involve himself in matters concerning her.
The more Ichigo thought about it, the more he found the possibility likely. So he asked, "The person you confessed to, it wouldn't be her, would it?"
"I already said I haven't confessed! Why won't you listen to me!"
Hearing Ichigo's question, Hiko couldn't help but shout back. "Are you deaf? Have you gotten Alzheimer's at your age?"
'Why is everyone's brain running on pure suspicion today?' Hiko felt like pulling his hair at this moment but he had to maintain his composure.
"You brat! Do you still want to get close to Ai?" Ichigo dangled the bait. "If you really like her, it's not impossible for me to let you be her manager."
"Yes, I like her," Hiko answered instantly, without hesitation, though he knew Ichigo wouldn't actually let him be her manager now.
"No hesitation at all," Ichigo shook his head with a smile. "I said I might give you a chance to be her manager, that's all."
"So you're going to renege?" Hiko deliberately lowered his voice, making it deep, his tone edged with anger.
"I don't intend to renege. But you're still young, and not capable enough yet for the position. I'll have to wait until you grow before the role can be yours," Ichigo said, already prepared with an excuse.
"So you planned to renege from the start, didn't you?" Hiko pressed him without hesitation. "Later, I'll go tell Miyako I always see you in the dance practice room, deliberately watching the pretty ladies, staring at them intently."
Ichigo felt a headache coming on. He wished he hadn't made that promise, letting this brat seize another opening. He had to calm him down first. "It's not that I want to renege. Being a manager isn't easy. At the very least, you need to learn how to negotiate and bargain first."
"For example, right now, you have no choice but to give me this position. Isn't that negotiation?" Hiko's eyes on him were as if looking at trash.
"This isn't negotiation at all! You need to learn, systematically, formally!" Ichigo insisted, laying out the conditions to block Hiko from finding loopholes.
"So if I learn all this, you'll let me be Ai's manager?" Hiko pressed again.
Ichigo leaned back in his chair, opened a folder on his computer, and said, "Come look at these. These are the prices negotiated by the company's managers along with the initial offer tables."
Hiko glanced at the tables and found them odd. "Why keep these comparative prices? Don't people usually only record the agreed ones?"
"Digital documents don't take much space. Recording them makes them useful for study and reference. They're excellent teaching material."
Ichigo puffed up proudly. "How about that? Didn't expect it, did you?"
"Indeed, I didn't expect it," Hiko said. He actually already knew, but humored Ichigo's pride. There was no need to contradict him constantly; that would only create needless opposition. Moderation was enough.
"If you really want to learn, I'll find a teacher for you. But at that time, you can't abandon your lessons midway for other things!"
Ichigo's expression grew serious, his tone solemn.
He had always hoped Hiko would learn at the company, to study management. But before, he'd never been able to persuade him.
And he couldn't force Hiko into tutoring either, knowing being pushed to learn something you dislike is a miserable experience.
"If you can keep your promise, I'll learn," Hiko said vaguely, without a direct yes.
"As soon as you finish learning, I'll give you an opportunity to be Ai's manager. If you seize it, you can become permanent." Ichigo promised without hesitation upon hearing his willingness.
"Then I'll learn. You can arrange it these next two days, but it has to be after five o'clock. I still have schoolwork to finish and other things to do."
Hiko left himself some time. He had to complete his homework at school and also tutor Ai.
Although their relationship wasn't good at the moment, he felt that by implementing his own ideas, in a few days Ai at least wouldn't resist him anymore.
"You can look at the materials on my computer to preview them. I'll go make a call to arrange someone for you and see when they're available."
Seeing Hiko's eagerness to work hard because of Ai, Ichigo immediately picked up his phone, found a number, and dialed.
As the call connected, Ichigo stood and offered his seat to Hiko. Then he walked straight out of the office.
It seemed he didn't want Hiko to hear the content of his conversation.
Hiko didn't mind. He sat in Ichigo's chair and looked through the data, text, and images on the monitor.
A while later, his phone rang.
The caller ID showed Maeda Daiko. He answered at once.
"Hello~ Is this Hiko-kun?" a mature female voice came through.
"It is. Is Ai leaving the company?" Hiko skipped the pleasantries and asked directly.
"Yes, I saw Ai walk out from inside," Daiko replied.
"Good! I'll be right there!"
Hiko hung up, dashed out of the office, and rushed toward the company entrance.
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