I (30), Who Works for a Black Company and Died While Regretting My Gloomy Life, Started Over From High School! - chapter 15

TL: Netori-Kun

ED: Anima

15.Company-slave presentation

　In the midst of our discussion, I suddenly stood up and attracted the suspicious gazes of my classmates.

　I ignored them, approached the luggage storage area at the back of the classroom, and carried up the office container box I’ve prepared.

“Huh? Hey, Nihama?”

“Nihama-kun, ……?

　As I walked towards the podium, I heard the surprised voices of Ginji and Shijouin-san behind my back.

“What the hell is that? Nihama?”

“Huh? What the fuck are you doing?”

“What’s with the …… luggage?”

　Akasaki, Noroda and Kazamihara walked up to the podium and looked at me dubiously as I placed down the container box.

“Kazamihara-san.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve got something to say. I’d like to borrow this place for a moment.”

　I said a few words to the festival committee member, but without waiting for an answer, I put my hand on the table.

　And then I took a big breath in front of everyone.

” How can we have such a stupid meeting? Aah aah aah!”

　I shouted as loud as I could.

　Kazamihara, who was standing beside me, Akasaki and Noroda, who were screaming from their seats, and the rest of the class were stunned and frozen in place.

    And then I quickly added- 

“Any further discussion is useless because nothing will be decided! So I’m going to make a proposal of my own, and I’m going to run this meeting until the class either accepts or rejects my idea!”

　For a moment, the entire classroom went silent.

　And then – a few seconds later, a response came back as expected.

“What are you talking about, ……? Don’t just come out of nowhere and start talking about bullshit!”

“You’ve been getting cocky  lately, you know that?！You got a big fucking face.”

“You’re not in charge! Stay out of this!”

(……8:1:1, I think)

　Seeing the reaction of the whole class, I divide the factions in my brain.

　Eighty percent of the students are confused or silent about the situation.

　They did not have a strong opposition to my proposal, and they would probably welcome anyone who has the power to change this stagnant situation.

　Ten percent of the students are hostile to me.

　They don’t like being led by the nerdy and weak Nihama, and they’re annoyed that I’m making my presence known with my higher grades.

　For example, there’s Tsuchiyama, who once set up a fake confession against me.

The remaining 10% are the exhibition advocates.

　The remaining 10% are those who want to avoid trouble and are pushing for an easy proposal, represented by Noroda, and are opposed to my proposal because it seems to be troublesome.

( It seems easy at first glance if 80% of the audience are welcoming it, but it’s tough to gather opinions with 20% of the most loudly opposing group……)

　And I now have to accomplish the opposite of being a loner – communicating my intentions to the entire class and getting them to agree with me.

　Despite the presence of this obvious hostile group.

(Okay, …… it’ s not a big deal. I’m just presenting my idea so we can decide on it instead of wasting time.)

“Well, look at this first!

　Ignoring the jeers, I took out a chart from the container box, about the size of two posters made with the school’s large format printer, and put it up on the blackboard.

I hear voices saying things like, “What’s …… that big piece of paper? and “Did you prepare  for this? but I ignored them.

“This is a graph showing the time remaining until the festival, the average number of days needed to prepare each idea, and other problems!”

　I tightened my stomach and raised my voice to an exaggerated level.

　This is especially applicable in meetings where there are opposing viewpoints, and there is no weapon more powerful than a loud and confident voice.

　No matter how good the idea is, it will not reach anyone with a low voice.

“There are a few ideas that are already impossible because we’ve wasted so much time already! Let’s cut them down first!”

　I extended the teaching stick and tapped the pasted graph.

   “ As you can see from this graph, the haunted house is absolutely impossible! Even if we started working on it right now, we’d never make it in time. The Japanese garden will be difficult for the same reason! As for the “Nagashi Somen”, I checked it out, but the permit from the health department itself was impossible to get in the first place!”

[TN:“Nagashi–somen” is an eating style of somen to catch and eat fine white somen noodles from cold running water.]

　Using the data and the graphs that made it clear as evidence, I put X’s on the candidates with a pen.

　It was much more convincing to visualize it than to say it out loud.

“There are two viable options right now: ‘Japanese coffee shop’ and ‘Takoyaki’! But we don’t have time to argue about which one is better! I’ll put this up, so take away that one!

“Yes, yes.”

　With the help of Kazamihara, who was standing beside me, I removed the timetable from the blackboard and put up another large document.

“So, I suggest that we combine the two into a ‘Japanese Takoyaki Cafe’!

　The document contains an illustrated explanation that gives an overview of the classroom layout, food menu, drink menu, etc.

“Takoyaki comes in five flavors! More drinks, especially juices! Moderate prices! No other class is doing powdered food this year, so there’s definitely a demand for customers! There are other classes that do coffee shops, but those are mainly cakes and drinks are tea and coffee! This one’s all about juice, so it’ll be sure to sell. There’s nothing to worry about! And it’s just a little bit of practice making takoyaki and taking out orders, nothing like making a haunted house!”

　As I laid out the benefits at once, my classmates’ interest grew: “Wow, ……”, “Not bad, huh?” The interest of my classmates increased.

“Yeah, …… not bad, but a little plain, isn’t it?”

　There you are, stupid Akasaki. He doesn’t have any bad intentions, but he does have a habit of making things difficult simply because of his sense.

　You will definitely have a hard time when you get a job in the future.

　But if you’re asking me if attitudes  like his are unnecessary, I’d say no.

“Oh, I’ve thought of a few special items! For example, the Super Wasabi Russian Takoyaki! There’s one with wasabi in it, just like the regular Russian takoyaki, but this one is a very exciting version with wasabi in it up to the extreme! Even adults will definitely cry!”

“Wow, that …. sounds good. Sounds interesting!”

　Yeah, you’ve been talking about variety shows a lot.

　So I thought you would say that this kind of punishment game is interesting.

“Also, the person who takes orders should be dressed in a Japanese style yukata or kimono for a festival-like atmosphere. The person in charge of making takoyaki will wear a” happi coat” and a twisted headband!”

[TN:A happi (法被/半被) is a traditional tube-sleeved Japanese coat, usually worn only during festivals ]

“Hee-hee! That sounds great too! It’s a festival!”

“Wait a minute, we don’t have that kind of budget. ……!”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already negotiated with the rental store to lower the price, and I’ve made arrangements to rent it within our budget. Oh, and here’s a sample picture of the costume, put it on the blackboard.”

“Oh, you’re actually preparing all of that? … And why am I being treated like an assistant for a while now?

　Kazamihara, you’re asking me that now?

　The first thing you need to know is that if you had just said, “Let’s decide by majority vote,” then we wouldn’t be in this mess!

　When the girls saw the photos of the yukata on display, their responses were generally positive: “Wow, …… it’s a pretty cute yukata, isn’t it?”  “Hmm, I didn’t know you could rent one of these,” and “It sure looks like a festival when you wear it.”

　Not only the girls, but also the boys were curious and said, “Well, it’s true that the clothes for takoyaki are happi coats,” and “It looks like a food stall, so why not? Most of them were in favor of my idea.

(Well, everyone wanted to get rescued from that grueling meeting in the first place, so it’s no surprise that simply cutting off the options like this and presenting a compromise of the remaining candidates would get their approval.)

　But–

“Don’t you go babbling on like you know what you’re doing! No one’s going to agree to your plan!”

“I told you it’s too much trouble! I’m just saying it’s a pain in the ass!”

　Two more people – Tsuchiyama, who has been hostile to me since he failed to shame me with his fake confession, and Noroda, who definitely doesn’t want to make it a tedious event, are yelling at me.

　There are other people who are hostile to me and want to have an easy time with the exhibition, but they are really troublesome. Even though they could have read the mood of the class and said, “Well, if it’s like this, we can just go with the idea that Nihama proposed”

　And the only way to deal with these last opposing parties is to completely ignore them!

“Hey, look at me, Nihama! Don’t ignore me!

　Shut up, Tsuchiyama. There’s no point in listening to someone who is yelling at you out of hostility.

　In the first place, I have no intention of persuading you guys.

　The condition for my victory is to create an “atmosphere”.

　All I have to do is fill the classroom with a mood of support for my idea.

　And that’s why I’m going to play my trump card!

“Well then, I think I’ll let you try out my prototype takoyaki menu for the last time!”

“What?”

　I plugged in the electrical outlet to heat up the takoyaki machine and put the ingredients for the takoyaki on the table. As soon as I did, Kazamihara, who was standing beside me, let out an astonished cry.　

　It wasn’t just Kazamihara who was surprised.

　Everyone else was rolling their eyes at me for suddenly starting to cook at a teacher’s table.

“Oh, wait, …… did you …… get permission from the teacher to use the takoyaki machine in the classroom?

　Haha, don’t ask me something stupid, Ginji.

   I guess if it’s festival preparation time, but we’re still in the middle of a presentation meeting.

“There’s no way I’m getting permission! It’s completely unauthorized!”

“What, what, what, what?”

　Ginji shouts, as if he is quite surprised that I have committed such an act.

　While everyone was in a daze, the takoyaki sizzled and became crispy and fluffy thanks to the skills I had developed in practice.

“Ooh …… that smells good …”

“I’m kind of getting hungry.” 

“It works best before lunch, this sound and smell…”

　That’ s right, that’s right. Even if you are stunned by my actions, the sound of the dough baking and the smell of the sauce will make you hungry, right?

“Hey, it’s done! Don’t just sit there, come and eat! This is just another way of explaining my idea for the event!

　Everyone’s eyes were completely focused on the freshly made takoyaki.

　The sound of gulping and spitting can be heard from everywhere.

　But no one stands up, perhaps in fear of standing out …… from the class.

(Damn, …… it was going well, but the mood has stiffened here. What should I do ……?)

　If everyone comes to eat some takoyaki, my goal is almost accomplished.

　But how do I get people to do that ……?

　Just when I was feeling a faint sense of impatience…

“Yes, I’ll eat it! I want to try your takoyaki!”

　The goddess of salvation, Haruka Shijoin, stood up from her seat with a bright smile on her face.

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