”Where is our next business meeting?“

”It's a company called AA Planning.“

Undergoing a depressing sales activity. Currently, I am accompanied by my boss, Section Chief Hirasawa.We are doing sales activities together.

　We are salesmen working for a distributor of an office equipment manufacturer ...... who are company stockbrokers. Today, as usual, we have no business meeting at all. Sales for this month are also hopeless.

　I'm in the driver's seat with my manager in the passenger seat, but I'm super depressed!

　This is Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture. I can see the majestic Mt. Fuji in front of me, but it looks kind of faded.

”......“

”......“

　This Chief Hirasawa is a salesman, but he always has a Buddha's face.

※Buddha's face：「仏頂面」It means expressionless. One of the Japanese expressions.

　He never engages in idle chit-chat or any other useless conversation.

　――Naturally, he does not sell. He lacks communication skills.

　Chief Hirasawa has a bad reputation within the company, and the Sales Section 3 he manages is regarded as a graveyard within the company.

I was assigned to such a section in October, and I, too, am an unsuccessful salesman.

”We have arrived at our destination. Please accompany me.“

”Yes."

I headed for the entrance of the customer's place with a sense of emptiness at the emotionless counter-attack.

”Thank you for taking care of me!"

”Hmm?　Oh, welcome!"

　It was still hot and humid in September. Even though the temperature was still too hot to wear long sleeves, I was greeted by a stout man wearing a long-sleeved jacket.

　I looked at his left arm and saw that he was wearing a heavy gold watch.

　――My nose detected a bad smell, something akin to putrefaction.

“Thank you very much for taking the time to see me today!”

”Oh, you're so energetic!　Are you newly assigned to the case?"

　I am the one who automatically smiles when I walk into a customer service office. In case you're wondering, I have a bit of a career when it comes to the customer service industry. In high school, I worked part-time at a restaurant. I was a magic bar waitress and an underground idol in college. I can easily put a textbook charm on my face.

※underground idol：「地下アイドル」。It means a small idol group that has not become famous.

“Well, you want a proposal for office equipment?”

“Uh, ......, yes!”

"Well, this way, please. ”

"Excuse me. ...... Ah!”

　The person in charge showed me and Chief Hirasawa into the reception room. But I stopped.

”I'm sorry!　I seem to have forgotten my proposal materials,...... so may I make an appointment for another day, just to say hello today?“

”Huh?　Oh, I see. I have no choice. Please call me again.“

”Yes. I'm sorry!“

　I bowed deeply and walked quickly to the entrance, ignoring Chief Hirasawa who looked at me curiously.

　My heart is beating fast.

　Chief Hirasawa with a Buddha's face, who did not seem to notice my unusual situation. But I'm glad he didn't say anything unnecessary in front of our guests.

　I unlocked my car and sat in the driver's seat, holding my chest with my hand to calm my heart.

"Hasegawa, you have the proposal, don't you?　Why did you drop the subject?”

"Because that company was a yakuza company. ”

“I see.”

※yakuza:gangster

　Huh?　What do you mean by “I see.”? Why are you so calm?

　I was angry at the Chief for seeming so calm when I was so nervous.

“What made you think that?”

“It's still too warm this year to be wearing long-sleeved jackets, isn't it?　Besides, the world encourages people to dress more roughly, and there are even people who work in polo shirts. And yet, the fact that he's dressed like that means he's hiding his tattoos.“

”Well, maybe he is, but maybe he's not?"

※tatoo：Tattoos are not common in Japan. Many people think that people with tattoos are related to the yakuza.

　The section chief asks with a strange look on his face.

　The very fact that he is so carefree is annoying me!

”Of course that's not all. There are unnatural blisters on his hands even though his business card says he is the general manager of the general affairs department, there are an excessive number of surveillance cameras, and the company car is smoked for some reason. And to top it all off, there's a kamidana!"

”A kamidana?　Every company has one.“

”The problem is what is placed on the altar!　There was a bottle on it.“

”A bottle?　It must be filled with sake.“

”That size is just big enough for my finger to fit in. After receiving severed fingers, yakuza would put them in a bottle and put it on the altar for safekeeping. “

※receiving severed fingers：One of the actions for which the Yakuza take responsibility is the amputation of fingers. They take their severed finger to the person to whom they apologize.

For a moment, Chief Hirasawa rolled his eyes. But I was surprised at his expression.

“...... Heh.”

His mouth slightly twitched, and his eyes narrowed bewitchingly.

　――What, this sexy, bewitching smile is .......

　He is usually like a dead tree, not at all lifelike.

　But now he is kind of creepy. He is bewitching like a vampire. He has a magical aura that makes people nervous.

　――What?　You're Chief Hirasawa, aren't you?

　I headed back home, feeling a bit appalled at myself for having been so unexpectedly thrilled.

　◆◆◆

"Thank you for your hard work. Sorry, I'm late."

　After returning to the office with Chief Hirasawa, we headed to a pub for a drink that met our schedule.

　However, everyone was already drunk.

　The members of Sales Sections 1 and 2 were loudly sharing their stories of heroic deeds.

"Oh, here it is!　MS.007!"

"Please stop calling me that!"

　My nickname, “Ms. 007,” is a great disgrace.

　The company keeps track of my sales performance every month, but I cannot sell consistently.

　After two months of selling zero units, I can finally produce results in the third month.

　That is why they call me “007,” meaning zero, zero, or seven units.

"Now, keep on asking for more and more!　Order more for Hirasawa!"

　The male employees around me poured beer into my glass without mercy.

　ーーThese guys are trying to get me drunk so they can have me tonight.

　My nose detected a bad smell like putrefaction from the men in front of me.

"...... Are you drinking, Chief Hirasawa?”

"I can't drink. ”

　I called out to the motionless Chief next to me and tried to lose the men around me.

　However, the men were involved in a dull tangle.

"Hirasawa, don't tell me you can't drink. Come on, I'll order!

"Hey, ‘007’-chan. Order a drink for Hirasawa."

I asked the waitress for an oolong-hai, ignoring the sarcastic line.

ーーI'll have to show off the skills I trained at the magic bar.

　Chief Hirasawa can't drink at all. He must have a constitution that makes it difficult for him. Forcing him to drink is bullying. It's tacky.

　I took the oolong tea that was beside the female employee who was standing beside me and hid it in my right hand.

　Then, I took the oolong tea from the waitress with my left hand and intentionally staggered over to lean against the men.

“Hey, are you all right?”

“Yes”

I took advantage of everyone's ulterior motives and switched the oolong tea and oolong high behind me and handed the oolong tea to Chief Hirasawa.

”Thank you.“

”You're welcome.“

”Oh!　Hirasawa, you finally drank!“

　ーーWhat?　Again.

　I felt that the section chief, who was drinking oolong tea with a pouty face, was smiling mysteriously again.

　◆◆◆

“Um, ...... Chief, are you okay?”

“...... drunk."

Chief Hirasawa left the pub in a daze, and I followed him out of concern.

"Mr. Hirasawa, you weren't drinking, were you?　Did the smell get you drunk?"

"Yes"

The chief looks like he's in pain while holding his head.

"I'll support you, let's go home. "

"Thank you.

　I grabbed the Chief's arm and supported him as we continued on our way home.

　I followed the Chief's directions and continued on my way.

　About 10 minutes after leaving the pub.

　The scenery around him was changing.

"Huh?"

　ーー But I noticed something unusual.

　A lot of love hotels have been built around us.

※love hotels:Accommodation for sexual intercourse. Facilities unique to Japan.

　I was completely caught off guard because I thought the Chief was harmless.

"Hey, Chief ......!"

"Shhhh."

　Chief smiled a bewitching smile and put his index finger to his lips.

　The demonic aura like a vampire that he has shown from time to time.

　My heart began to beat faster and faster.

"Follow me."

"...... Yes."

I walked into the hotel, being led by the hand of the Chief, who had become the demon king of the night.