SWNOVELXO Chapter 50 - First Meeting
I’ve just finished introducing myself, and I’m ready to get started on the work… But, there’s something I need to do first.
“Do you generally not participate, Director Mifune?”
Just because she’s in charge doesn’t mean the director can be there all the time.
“Yes, that’s correct. However, I will show up from time to time. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to come to my office. And though we’re primarily working with this group, there will be people coming and going.”
“Understood…then, who would be the temporary leader, or rather, who is the leader?”
“Hehehe…Surprise! The leader is – you.”
“…Pardon?”
“You’re the leader and advisor for this project.”
…Me, the leader?
“I wasn’t aware of this…”
“Yes, I just told you now. I was reluctant at first, but Tamura-kun was confident that you could do it… Of course, we did conduct a preliminary test.”
“Tamura…Kacho tested me? I don’t remember taking a test…”
“We observed your work and gathered feedback from those around you. Based on that, I decided it would be fine to entrust this to you.”
…Me? No, I should stop doubting myself.
For the sake of meeting the expectations of Tamura-kacho, who has helped me so much…
And to gain confidence in myself…
“Understood. I’m new to this, but I’ll do my best.”
“You’re so formal! You can be more relaxed. Nobody will blame you if you make a mistake. Think of this as a trial run. If you succeed, consider it a bonus.”
“Thank you. That does make me feel a bit more relaxed.”
“Hehe… It’s easy to see why Reina-chan and Tamura-kun like you.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself. All of you…”
“YES!”
“Good. From now on, listen carefully to what Mito-kun says. He’s competent and personable. He’s not the type to ignore opinions, so feel free to voice your thoughts.”
Each of them nodded vigorously…or rather, they’re shaking?
…Well, I suppose that makes sense. To the new employees, the director is a figure of authority.
After that, Director Mifune left.
Well…I guess I’ll start with introductions.
“All three of you, hold on for a moment. I’m going to greet the other two.”
After receiving responses from everyone, I headed towards the kitchen.
“Excuse me, is now a good time?”
“Ah! You’re the one from earlier! My name is Hanako Nakamura.”
“You must be the one. I’m Nozomi Seto. Nice to meet you.”
Nakamura-san is a robust, cheerful motherly type.
Seto-san is slender and gives off a quiet, maternal vibe.
The two of them, who are housewives, are in charge of cooking and provide a housewife’s perspective.
“My name is Yuma Mito. It’s a pleasure to meet you, seniors.”
“Leave it to us!”
“Yes, likewise.”
Phew…that’s a relief.
They seem willing to interact with me normally, even though I’m younger.
Director Mifune probably considered that when assigning roles.
“So the two of you are in charge of cooking, essentially?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“As much as possible, we won’t interfere with what’s going on over there.”
…I see.
As housewives who cook, they wouldn’t ignore their opinions…
The two veterans also have another role…
To train the three of them, and to evaluate what I will do.
“Understood. If there’s anything you need, please let me know.”
“Oh, you seem to understand…you catch on quick.”
“Yes, indeed…”
It’s just as I thought.
And… being called over means they think I need to adjust my approach.
After greeting the two of them, I returned to the three others.
“H-How was it?”
“W-Were you scolded?”
“What happened?”
“Hey, why are you so…?”
“Those two are long-time employees and really scary…”
“They complained about my hairstyle, my lack of cleanliness…”
“I was told I lacked friendliness…”
“I see… They must have high expectations for you.”
“Eh?”
“Think about it. If they didn’t care, they wouldn’t say anything. They’re saying all this because they have high expectations.”
In reality, I don’t know if that’s true…
They might just be pointing out problems…
“I-I see…!”
“I feel motivated now…!”
“Well…I guess I’ll try my best.”
At any rate, getting them motivated is – one of my first jobs.
“Do any of you cook?”
“I do a little…”
“I can’t at all…”
“I’m somewhat capable…”
“What do you like?”
“I like Western food.”
“I like Chinese food.”
“I like Japanese food.”
“We’re split pretty evenly…I like all types, but…let’s decide based on this for now.”
“YES!”
“Good answer. Let’s discuss.”
It feels nostalgic…
When I joined the company, it was like this with Sho…
After discussing, we decided on Western food for now.
This is because many Western dishes require a lot of time and effort, and it’s difficult for housewives to make them.
“Alright…let’s call it a day for now. It was decided that we’d work from one o’clock to four o’clock.”
I was able to make some small talk and get a rough idea of their personalities.
I’ll have to learn more about them as I work with them.
As I thought about what the future held, my phone vibrated.
It’s an email from Reina…how did she get my email address?
The content is simple.
“Hang in there, Mito-kun…I’m rooting for you.”
What’s going on with her? Isn’t this the kind of email a girlfriend would send?
Well, let’s return the favor.
“Thank you, Reina. I wish Sho could work on this with me.”
And just like that, the day is over.
A new day and a new challenge are about to begin…I don’t know where this will lead me.
However, I’m looking forward to it.
I’ll do my best and enjoy it.
With these thoughts, I wrapped up the day.