I (30), Who Works for a Black Company and Died While Regretting My Gloomy Life, Started Over From High School! - Chapter 41

41. Pressure interview, Starts.

How did this happen?

That was the only thought that crossed my mind right now.

I’m currently in the study of the Shijouin family’s house, facing Shijouin-san’s father, Tokimune, at the other end of the table.

(Dang… my stomach is starting to churn rapidly..! What kind of torture is this, to be facing her father who sees me as a pest?)

“Niihama-kun, was it? I’m sorry this old man called you when you should be relaxing.”

“No, no…”

His calm expression and the tone of his voice are scaring me.

“First of all, let me introduce myself. I am Tokimune Shijouin, Haruka’s father. As you may know, I’m the president of the Senshuuraku Bookstore.”

“I’m Shinichirou Niihama, a classmate of Haruka’s. From what I knew about Tokimune-san even before I met you today… You are a well-known person who built a bookstore chain in a single generation…”

“Oh, I see. I’m honored that a young man like you knows me. So, here’s my story…”

I swallowed my spit.

I’m scared… and I don’t want to be here for a second longer…

“As a father, I want to express my gratitude first.”

“Eh…?”

“The improvement in Haruka’s grades has been impressive and it was clearly because she was taught by you. It’s very difficult to achieve such results, and as a parent, I can only thank you for your kindness and efforts.”

“No, no… it’s not that big of a deal…”

To my surprise, Tokimune-san sincerely expressed his gratitude to me.

It seems that he was really grateful to me for tutoring Shijouin-san.

“You didn’t neglect your own studies and finished in first place, and you’re… a hard worker. At your age, you probably want to play around, but you still choose to do your best.”

“No, I’m from a single mother family… and I’m a worry-wart, so unless I do what I can now, I feel anxious about my future.”

“That’s a good aspiration. It’s important to have that kind of righteous fear.”

Tokimune-san was surprisingly praising me.

I thought he was going to be very blunt with me… Was this an oversight?

“That’s it.”

“—-!?”

And then, the atmosphere has completely changed.

A gentleman with an intelligent and calm look on his face wears an aura that overwhelms others.

(This kind of feeling…! It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced it…!)

I’ve seen this kind of intimidation from powerful people several times during my company slave days.

This kind of pressure is emitted by CEOs of big companies and major politicians.

Those who spend their lives fighting in politics and business possess the same intensity as a warlord, and they can grab the hearts of ordinary people just by staring at them.

“You’re just Haruka’s friend, aren’t you?”

“That’s…”

“You don’t have any ulterior motives for my daughter, do you? You just helped her out of pure goodwill and have no romantic feelings for her… is that right?”

Tokimune looked into my eyes.

(What he’s saying was just a line of an overprotective doting father, but from his gaze and voice… I can’t stop myself from sweating!)

When it comes to negotiations and interviews, eye contact is an extremely important factor.

After all, the eyes show everything.

The pain that a person endured, their endless regrets, the courage that they’ve acquired after going through various hardships, and the unrivaled dominance that no one can match.

The act of eye contact is akin to gauging each other’s accumulated strength as a human being – and of course, the weaker one will be eaten away.

(Don’t get swallowed down by this…!)

I have an urge to look away right now, but if I do, everything will be over at that moment.

Once you avert your gaze it means you’ve admitted defeat, and after that, there’s no longer a fight to be fought… you’ll be nothing but… a person who’s… scared of what others say.

“How is it? Answer my question, Niihama-kun.”

You can lie if you want to make yourself comfortable.

If I were to say that I have no ulterior motives for his daughter, Tokimune-san would immediately stop his intimidation and would probably even smile.

(I can’t do that…! I would rather die than lie here!)

No matter how overprotective and doting Tokimune-san is, he is serious as a parent when it comes to his daughter.

He’s trying to get me to show him my true intentions.

(No lies or makeshift solutions! I have to hit him back with 100% of my true feelings…!)

My body was still rigid.

My whole body was trembling from the intimidation of an outstanding person living in the business world.

Sweat poured out of my body, and my stomach churned with a twisting pain.

But――

That’s all it was.

If it’s just hard and painful, I can bear it.

I squeezed both of my left and right thumbs tightly with my four remaining fingers as if trying to crush them.

This has been my ritual since I was a company slave.

When I’m faced with a large amount of work with an impending deadline, a negotiation where I can’t make any concessions or a client with an unreasonable demand.

It’s a switch that I use to turn myself on when I’m confronted with a project that I can’t back down from no matter what.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

My name is Tokimune Shijouin.

In my study, I confronted a boy named Shinichiro Niihama and asked him a question, “What do you think of my daughter?”

(Now, tell me, Niihama-kun.)

He was a “friend” that Haruka had invited, but it was obvious that he was a hungry wolf who was licking his tongue for my daughter.

(You insolent bastard…)

I appreciate the fact that you taught my daughter and I greatly appreciate the results of your efforts.

But this and that are different stories.

(She is an angel who attracts men, but at the same time, she is too naive and pure. I have to screen boys thoroughly so that she doesn’t fall prey to pests…! )

In front of me, who had released a powerful sense of intimidation as a company president, the boy, Niihama-kun, was sweating all over his body, and his five senses were being dominated by the heavy pressure.

Of course.

I’m hitting him with the bold power that I’ve cultivated as a company president.

I’m holding back to a certain extent, but the pressure is enough to make even a strong businessman who is used to negotiating soaked through to his pants in a cold sweat.

It’s not something that a high school student can withstand.

(Now, let me hear your answer. Those who can’t resist this pressure and say what they feel are not qualified to approach Haruka..!)

After all, it’s impossible.

Painful, isn’t it? Go ahead and raise the white flag.

And realize that your feelings only amount to this much.

(……?)

Why are you squeezing your fingers…?

(Is that … supposed to be a routine?)

A routine is a set of actions that you perform when you are concentrating or switching your mind.

It’s a very simple type of mental control, but many top athletes and prominent entrepreneurs have adopted it.

(What is this? Niihama-kun’s atmosphere is…)

Niihama-kun, who was supposed to be at a loss for an answer, was receiving my gaze without wavering.

The atrophy on his face was wiped away and was soon replaced by a determined look.

“I will answer your question, Tokimune-san.”

Niihama opened his mouth without hesitation.

The words he spoke held a certain force.

“I like your daughter, Haruka-san, and I’m proud to say that this feeling is second to none.”

(Wha…!?)

He answered.

In front of this Tokimune Shijouin, the president of a large company and the next head of the Shijouin family, told me head-on that he loves my daughter.

In this intimidating atmosphere..!

(That’s ridiculous…! A high school student did not give in to my intimidation and hit me straight back with his words!)

Some people are oblivious to the tension.

If that’s the case, no amount of intimidation by anyone will have much effect.

(But that’s not the case with… this boy, the intimidation was surely working earlier. The pressure was so heavy that it tightens your guts, and yet he endured it head-on!)

Then it struck me.

I suddenly realized what was hidden behind his eyes.

There is a saying that eyes speak louder than words, and I believe that the emotions at that moment and the mental background of a person can be seen in their eyes.

I felt that I was seeing deep anguish and grief in his eyes.

A multitude of deeply carved wounds and a heart that was strengthened sadly by that pain.

(What the heck is this…? Why would I feel something like this from a high school student who hasn’t even lived for 20 years?)

On the outside, he looks like just another ordinary boy.

But in reality, he is facing me in a way that doesn’t take a step back from me.

(What the hell is this boy…?)

TLN: Sorry for the delay, I’ll upload 2 chaps tomorrow, the rest of Shijouin papa confrontation.