Chapter 315: Third-Rate Play

“This should be the station nearest to the company.” [Ryouma]

I knew I was in an illusion, but the door that closed just now definitely belonged to a station I was very familiar with. Moreover, the sound of people quarreling over the phone, of the smell air dyed in fumes… Everything was indistinguishable from reality.

“Anyhow, I can’t be dawdling here forever—” [Ryouma]

“Supervisor!” [???]

“!?” [Ryouma]

The moment I gathered my wits about me, a familiar voice came from my right, and I found myself turning to it with my sword, but the sword was already gone, and in its place was a well-worn business bag. Moreover, the hand holding it also belonged to the former body of “Takebayashi Ryoma.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Umm, what are you doing?” [Tabuchi]

“Tabuchi-kun?” [Ryouma]

Before me was a slightly chubby man in a suit, and he looked curiously at me with that familiar voice.

“I don’t really get it, but since we’ve met up already, let’s go.” [Tabuchi]

“…Where to?” [Ryouma]

“Where else? For the farewell party, of course!” [Tabuchi]

“Farewell party?” [Ryouma]

“Anyway, let’s go. We can talk while walking.” [Tabuchi]

For a moment, I wondered what he was talking about, but it didn’t seem as though he was planning to attack me, so I decided to just follow for now.

“Ah, by the way… It’s been a while since I walked outside during the day for reasons other than work. It feels somewhat strange.” [Tabuchi]

“…Really? Well, I suppose.” [Ryouma]

I might have felt that way too when I first reincarnated.

“Supervisor, since going ahead of us and quitting yourself, have you gotten used to your new life? It was really tough for us after you left.” [Tabuchi]

“Tough?” [Ryouma]

“Yeah, because our company went under.” [Tabuchi]

“It did?” [Ryouma]

“We finished cleaning up today, so with everything settled, we decided to have a celebration with everyone. You were invited too, so we figured we’d go all out. Right. It’s a bit early, but congratulations on your reemployment!” [Tabuchi]

“Reemployment…” [Ryouma]

“Didn’t you tell me over the phone? You’re working at a laundromat now, right? It’s a completely different industry, but there’s no overtime, and your coworkers are nothing like your old coworkers. The section chief can’t bother you anymore too.” [Tabuchi]

Well, that’s true. The people at the laundromat are certainly better than some section chief.

“By the way, did you know that the section chief was hospitalized?” [Tabuchi]

“Umm, no.” [Ryouma]

“It was a huge commotion after you left. All the work you left got dumped on the supervisor. At first, he screamed at us to pick up the pace, but it eventually became apparent that he had to deal with it himself, but not long after he started working, he collapsed.

He was a lot more irritable too leading up to the collapse, but he couldn’t take it out on us, as that would only make the work take longer, so he started venting on the people who got in through connections. They still didn’t work much and complained a lot, and since they’ve never been the target of the section chief’s unreasonable demands thanks to their connections, they took the job lightly. When the section chief lost it and took it out on them, they threw in the towel right away and left.” [Tabuchi]

“…That does make me a bit sorry.” [Ryouma]

I found myself saying that as I realized that everyone else had to take over the work I left behind, but Tabuchi shook his head.

“There’s no need to feel sorry. Both the section chief and the people who got in through connections paid the price for throwing all that unreasonable work onto you and pretending not to know. It’s a problem to let one person handle such a ridiculous amount of work. Well, everyone else at the company was like that too. Everyone wanted to apologize to the supervisor. It was a black company where unpaid overtime was normalized, but it was only thanks to you that the work could somehow be completed.” [Tabuchi]

“Did they tell you that?” [Ryouma]

“Yeah. Well, everyone knew from the start anyway that you relied on your absurd stamina to support not just your workload but also ours. Everyone was grateful for that. It’s not like they realized it only after you left. It’s just that everyone got used to it, and without realizing it, they started relying on you for everything, thinking, ‘If it’s the supervisor, it’ll be fine.’ That’s why everyone wanted to apologize to you and decided to invite you to today’s celebration.” [Tabuchi]

“I see… I guess this counts as being acknowledged?” [Ryouma]

“Of course, everyone acknowledges you, Supervisor. If not for you, we wouldn’t have been able to continue working at a company like that for so long. Without your support, we probably would have broken mentally or physically or even both and quit a long time ago.” [Tabuchi]

Before we knew it, we arrived at our destination. A narrow road led to a familiar storefront. The location wasn’t very good, but I used it frequently because it stayed open late and the food was delicious. I couldn’t go home often, so I frequented it a lot.

The door creaked open as Tabuchi entered, and I followed him in, pushing aside the doorway curtains.

“Welcome! You have a reservation, yes? Please come right in.” [Waitress]

The part-timer girl knew us and led us to the back room. This girl has been working here for at least eight years. That’s a long time to be working the same part-time job.

“Supervisor, over here.” [Tabuchi]

At Tabuchi’s behest, we entered the tatami room. When the sliding door opened, I saw our former colleagues already starting the party.

“Oh! They’re here!” [Coworker 1]

“Tabuchi-san and the supervisor! Thank you for your hard work!” [Coworker 2]

“We’ve already started without you, though~!” [Coworker 3]

“You’re drunk already? Well, we did get let go from work, so I understand the feeling, but…” [Coworker 4]

“I’ll go get some water!” [Coworker 5]

“Come on, you two, don’t just stand there, come over here.” [Baba]

“Baba-san?” [Ryouma]

A voice called to us from the corner of the tatami room, and it belonged to none other than Baba-san, who was almost at the age of retirement.

“…Long time no see.” [Baba]

“Long time no see indeed..” [Ryouma]

There was an awkward silence between us. When we moved to a corner of the room, Baba-san opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“It feels strange, doesn’t it? We used to see each other every day at work, and there were countless drinking parties then too. Maybe it’s because it’s been a long time.” [Baba]

“That might be it.” [Ryouma]

“Have you been well?” [Baba]

“Yes, I’ve been doing well. That’s my one saving grace, after all, and now I’m blessed with good people around me.” [Ryouma]

“That’s good.” [Baba]

Baba-san used to work actively in the sales department but seemed to have been transferred to due to some conflict with the higher-ups. He became my subordinate due to the timing of my joining the company and his transfer, as well as the difference in work experience, but he’s much older than me. He was diligent, good at his job, and I trusted him in work, but we weren’t particularly close beyond that.

“I’ve been meaning to apologize to you, Takebayashi-kun.” [Baba]

“About work? I heard from Tabuchi.” [Ryouma]

“That too, but not just that. It’s about the time when I became your subordinate. I probably wasn’t very pleasant back then. I must have made you feel uncomfortable a lot.” [Baba]

“Well…” [Ryouma]

The relationship of a younger boss and his older subordinate was still unusual within the company when he and I first met. He must have faced a lot of prejudice and ridicule early on. Taking that into consideration, I carefully chose my words.

“To be honest, I was bewildered to suddenly have an older subordinate, and I struggled with how to handle it. It would be a lie to say that there were no unpleasant moments.” [Ryouma]

“…” [Baba]

“But as time passed, those feelings disappeared. Your work was at the level of a novice at first, but by following instructions properly, you learned what needed to be done. I also learned a lot about responsibility and the proper attitude a working adult should have from you. It might be a strange comparison to make, but any trouble you caused me was really nothing compared to the boss or those kids that got in through their connections.” [Ryouma]

“I see. Well, I suppose you’d be able to forgive most things when you compare it to them.” [Baba]

After that, he might have said ‘thank you’, but I couldn’t be sure, as the center of the room suddenly became lively.

“Supervisor! We have a surprise special guest joining us!” [Coworker 1]

“Special guest?” [Ryouma]

“After your retirement, we received a call from someone who couldn’t reach you, someone who wanted to meet you because it had been a long time.” [Coworker 2]

“I see.” [Ryouma]

“I’m sure you’ll be surprised!” [Coworker 3]

Who could it be? I watched as Tabuchi rushed for the entrance of the room and slid open the sliding doors. He paused for a moment to look back at us before finally revealing the surprise.

“!!” [Ryouma]

When I saw the two figures there, I was finally unsettled. Even though I knew it was an illusion, I couldn’t look away, and I felt my body stiffening.

“…Mom? Dad?” [Ryouma]

The words escaped my mouth, and my mother smiled, while my father awkwardly averted his gaze. Only my mother walked gently toward us.

“Ryouma, it’s been a while. You never come home, you don’t contact us at all. If you changed your contact information, well, you should have let us know. We had to contact your company just to reach you, you know? I’m so sorry to have troubled you all.” [Mother]

My mother bowed to Tabuchi and the others. As I stare in amazement, she turned her gaze back to me.

“Good grief, we finally get to meet, but you’re just sitting there, not saying a word. In that regard, you’re just like your dad. Darling, you come here too.” [Mother]

“Ah.” [Ryouma]

My father slowly approached at my mother’s behest. He was an unsociable man who was only interested in making swords. Evidently, he only came here after much hesitation.

“…I’ve caused you a lot of trouble.” [Father]

“Your father wants to apologize for everything so far. There were various issues in the past, and it’s understandable if you want to avoid us, but I would love it if we could live together again.” [Mother]

Her words resonated in my mind. I felt a strong pull on my heart, and all other sounds faded away as her hands gently reached for mine.

“So, let’s live together again, the three of us—” [Mother]

But before she could finish her sentence, I swung down with my sword and cut through her straight down from the head.

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