Chapter 7: Epilogue

“Don’t come to the office right now! We’re still getting interview requests for you, and it’s a nuisance!”

So, I had been working from home for a while. Work calls were being redirected to my cellphone. Most of them were happy reports.

“The additional stock sold out completely too! The sales of The MARIA Declaration are incredible. Although, Hinosaka-kun, your behavior was a total turn-off,” said Manager Ohashi.

“I only had about 1% expectation that you’d actually put us on a winning horse, thinking you’d used up all your luck landing a JC,” said Manager Wakiya.

“Orders from bookstores for the reprint are flooding in! It’s crazy! Though the craziest thing is your head, Senpai!” said Senga.

…I’ve accepted that everyone dissing me is just something I have to live with.

“Because you became famous, we can’t go out drinking anymore! How are you going to make up for this!?” Lemon Tsuta was rudely banging on the table with her chopsticks.

“Can’t be helped, so we’re drinking at home, right?”

“He’s got some nerve!?”

We were in the middle of preparing for a celebration party at Lemon‘s luxury condo. Lemon, saying “I splurged, so behold!”, had prepared plenty of wine and high-end cheese and ham.

“Splitting the bill for this might be tough with my financial power…”

“I wouldn’t make you two pay for this! Well, I’m writing it off as expenses anyway!”

Two weeks had passed since the release of The MARIA Declaration. Sales were in top form, and a third printing had already been decided. As the book sold, the evaluation of its content was also rising. The quality of the novel was high, and the overall finish of the book was receiving great praise.

“Where are the others!? They’re late!”

“They’re coming from work, after all.”

“I see. Unlike me, a freelancer, and Kenichi, who is unemployed.”

“I’m not unemployed! I’m just temporarily taking time off from coming to the office.” Honestly, after causing such a grand mess with the company name out there, I couldn’t complain even if I were fired.

“The clients’ bigwigs are saying things like, ‘What’s going on with your employee?’ but also ‘It seems there are interesting young people. I want to support him,’ and ‘Please don’t fire him.’ If we actually fire you, we’d probably get flamed for firing you, so what are we supposed to do!?” …The HR manager was screaming, so I should be safe… apparently (according to Section Manager Mizuno).

“Oh, Sumire says she’s arriving soon. Kaede is… calling. Hello.”

『Ken. I’m arriving soon, but I wanted to tell you this first. Can you check the net?』

“Lemon. Can I borrow your computer?”

“I shall lend you my monster-class high-spec laptop! Use it!”

『Check A&G for Shin-Nihon‘s PB books.』

As told, I checked the PB books that were being shut out on A&G’s online store.

“All of them… are showing as ‘In Stock’.”

『Check the search engine too.』

Before, only pages giving a bad impression of the PB books were hitting, but…

“Normal sales sites… pages with proper evaluations are being displayed!”

『The handling of Shin-Nihon PB books at A&G has returned to normal.』

“Does that mean…”

『Information from a reliable source. James Big Mountain, Executive Officer of the Book Division of A&G Japan, has been dismissed. Apparently, he’s being shipped off to a remote region in Africa. He has fallen.』

“Yes!!!!!!”

“D-Don’t shout so suddenly! You scared me!”

Even if we succeeded in selling The MARIA Declaration despite James Big Mountain‘s interference, we couldn’t call it a victory just yet. Because James might have used forceful methods in the future too. But the blow MARIA and I dealt on the live broadcast reached James‘s throat. We managed to get public opinion on our side and turn eyes of suspicion toward James. Furthermore, James‘s blunders and gaffes exposed on air were uploaded to video sites, spreading a bad impression. With eyes of suspicion poured onto A&G, they could no longer interfere blatantly.

『If it had been made into a normal article, it would have ended as just gossip.』 Just making a statement wouldn’t have reached the public. Because it was in the midst of that firestorm, it had meaning.

“In the end, maybe it was thanks to my junior’s achievement too. …Probably.” However, there was a possibility that the battle would continue, and a long-term battle would have been disadvantageous. The one who put a period to that battle might have been the dark horse, Ayako Senga.

James committed misconduct mixed with personal feelings and exposed his ugliness on a TV program. That said, I don’t know if he was demoted just for that. However, that information exerts maximum effect by flowing it to the appropriate place. In other words, she leaked the information to James‘s rivals within A&G. Senga had grasped via overseas sites that several people including James were engaging in factional strife aiming for the next president’s seat within A&G. Then, fully utilizing the connections of Renji Kimisaka, President of KIMISAKAYA Bookstore, she obtained the contact information of those rivals and sent a report via email.

“Being a first-class gossipper means checking overseas sites too~. It’s common sense.”

“Definitely not common sense.” Honestly, it’s at a level that’s a bit creepy.

From the perspective of overall sales impact, it might be trivial. But from the perspective of political enemies within the company, that blunder is perfect attack material. It would also be a problem for internal compliance. If he were a subordinate, it might have been covered up, but against political enemies, that didn’t work—there might have been such a story. Accurate internal information of A&G cannot be obtained. I only hear rumors leaking out. Nobody knows the respective stories behind the scenes. Just actually, there was a reply of “Thank you” to Senga‘s information. Since we made a noise flamboyantly, A&G headquarters probably found it hard to pretend they didn’t know.

『Now we can raise a toast without reserve.』 I hung up the phone saying “See you later.”

“Was it Kaede? What did she say?”

“It’s a complete victory against James. …A bit too perfect.”

“That’s not true! I was convinced it would turn out like this with Kenichi‘s success!”

“Was there any element to expect that much from me?”

“Because the protagonist threw away his life—prepared for social death—to save the girl.” To me saying it jokingly, Lemon grinned.

“There’s no way a protagonist who risked his life would lose to an enemy who didn’t even risk his life, right?” Lemon‘s eyes, speaking with conviction, emitted a glaring, suspicious light.

“…And, calling again.” It was a call from an unknown number, but I had a premonition of who it was. Such things often visit with surprisingly good timing.

“Hello.”

『…Hinosaka, Kenichi?』

“That’s me. Who are you?”

『It’s James… Big Mountain…』 The caller was James Big Mountain.

“Do you need something?”

『…Don’t misunderstand. I never… lost to you… A&G… won’t blame anyone as long as they produce results, no matter what they do.』

“Hmm.”

『The only miscalculation… was Arisa… To think Arisa would grab people’s hearts so forcefully… The wind of public opinion changed, and KIMISAKAYA Bookstore‘s shareholders… refused to sell their shares. Thanks to that, I…』 It seems it looks that way in James‘s eyes. That too is probably a true story.

『Do you understand what it means… for an elite like me… to be sent to a remote region in Africa with the lowest sales scale…?』

“Who knows? Isn’t it fitting for your caliber?”

『Hinosaka…!』

“If you have no business, I’m busy, so can I hang up?” I have no intention of dealing with him any longer.

『…Remember this.』

“I don’t feel like I’ll lose to you. You lolicon pervert bastard.”

『I don’t want to be told that by you of all people!!!!!!!』 With a shout, the phone cut off.

Since he’s apparently being exiled from the country, I probably won’t meet him again. Just if there is an aspect to evaluate James a little, I want to acknowledge his stance of trying to crush us head-on until the end. If we hadn’t appeared on the TV program, our chance for reversal might not have emerged. I can acknowledge at least that thorough aesthetic of James‘s. Even so, I can’t forgive what that guy did.

“You seemed to be having an interesting conversation? Tell me later. I definitely want to use it as material to write a novel.”

“I think it’s interesting, but I’ll let it sit for a while longer.”

The intercom rang announcing a visitor.

“Finally here!” Lemon went noisily to unlock the auto-lock.

“I heard from Kaede-chan just now! Justice prevails, congratulations!” Sumire said as soon as she entered the room. Seems she met up with Kaede. She is holding bags from the department store basement in both hands.

“The MARIA Declaration reprint commemoration, plus James repulsion commemoration, plus wedding anniversary party!”

“I told you we aren’t really getting married!” I quickly retort to Kaede‘s words.

“Hmm~, you say that in front of your bride~?” Pushed by Kaede from behind, Arisa enters the room.

“…Kenichi-san.”

“Oh…”

““…””

“Why are you two blushing! It’s weird! You’re fiancés… or rather, practically a married couple already, right!?”

“Don’t forget to add ‘fake’! Within this group!” Yes, what is about to be held is the The MARIA Declaration reprint commemoration, plus James repulsion commemoration, plus Fake wedding anniversary party. The only ones who know that was a fake marriage declaration to deceive the public are the people here. Outside, we are now the most famous fake couple in Japan.

“Then let’s start immediately! Wedding anniversary party!”

“Lemon. I told you to stop abbreviating.”

“But Ken, think calmly. Do you think you, who broadcast such a declaration to the whole world, can get married decently in the future? If you don’t taste the mood now, you won’t have a chance for the rest of your life?”

“No… I want to get married properly in the future too… Wouldn’t it be okay in about ten years…?”

“If there is demand for Kenichi-kun who has become around forty. I wonder?”

“Sumire‘s poison is harsh…” Sigh, I let out a breath. I have no regrets about this choice itself. But… thinking about my future life… I can’t help but feel a little gloomy…

“It’s okay, Kenichi-san.” Arisa, who sat next to me, says. Arisa in a pure white dress was, to put it plainly, like an angel.

“If push comes to shove, I’ll take you as my husband.” Bringing her mouth close to my ear, Arisa whispered.

It was no longer necessary for Arisa to marry me to protect KIMISAKAYA Bookstore. In the first place, Arisa and I won’t really get married. We won’t, but… I was happy she said that.

“Don’t flirt there! Why is Kenichi blushing! If you’re a fake couple, stay apart like fakes when it’s not necessary!”

“But Lemon-san. Don’t you think it’s important to be lovey-dovey usually so the fake isn’t exposed? Right, Kenichi-san?” Arisa leans her body against me.

“…You have a point.”

“Hey Ken. You definitely have ulterior motives.”

“Hello, is this the police? Right now an adult male in his late twenties and a fifteen-year-old are engaging in impure heterosexual interaction…”

“Sorry sorry, it’s a joke! We are a fake couple! Nothing more, nothing less!”

After The Epilogue

I wiped the sweat from my forehead with a handkerchief. There was nothing to block the sunlight, and it beat down mercilessly. However, compared to the ‘flaming’ I experienced, this doesn’t even qualify as “hot.”

“If you want to make me say ‘it’s hot’, you’ll have to bring something on that level…!”

On my way back to the office from a sales call, I glared at the sun. You’re so beaten by the heat you’re muttering stupid things to yourself, aren’t you? …I felt like I heard the retort of a junior colleague who wasn’t even there, but I ignored it.

Being proposed to by a fifteen-year-old middle school girl. Accepting that fifteen-year-old’s proposal. Even going so far as to cohabit with a fifteen-year-old. Above all, declaring marriage to the whole world.

I had successfully “full comped”—completed the full set—of flaming scenarios I never wanted to get involved with in my entire life.

I want to get married.

It’s a stretch to say my delusion summoned all of this. But it’s also hard to prove that the “spirit of words” doesn’t exist. Rather, if asked, I might actually say I believe in it.

Because—

A cool breeze blew. It cut off the surrounding heat, as if the space around her alone was a different dimension. A beautiful girl like an idol, without a single bead of sweat. That fifteen-year-old middle school girl, meeting me for the first time, fired these words at me.

“You. Live with me.”

And so, the burning season comes to me again.

The End