I Was Abandoned by My Fiancé and Betrayed by My Best Friend—A Story from Rock Bottom - Chapter 9

When I opened my eyes, I saw a white ceiling and caught a faint whiff of disinfectant.

I was on the bed in the infirmary.

The feel of the firm mattress and fluffy futon brought reality crashing down on me.

“…You’re awake.”

I turned toward the low voice and saw Kiryū-san sitting in a chair.

His expression was blank as he crossed his arms and legs.

—Ah, right.

I’d fainted during the first day of the board meeting.

“S-sorry…”

My voice came out pathetically hoarse.

—A new secretary collapsing on the first day of the general meeting.

I must have already been labeled as hopeless.

Kiryū-san let out a deep sigh as he looked at me, now awake.

“Are you okay…? Don’t collapse next time.”

“Yes! I didn’t know that person was the company chairman.”

Hearing that, Kiryū-san’s expression changed ever so slightly.

“Hm? What do you mean by that?”

I explained how Ayano-san had introduced me for the secretary interview without giving her surname.

“…That’s how it was. But Ayano-san really didn’t tell me her family name.”

Kiryū-san put a hand to his chin and nodded slightly as if something had clicked.

“I see, so that’s how it is. That’s typical of that sly old fox.”

As he said this, he showed a smile I’d never seen before.

My heart suddenly skipped a beat.

“What do you mean?”

“Hm? It’s nothing you need to know. If I had to say one thing—she must have seen something in you.”

“Huh?”

“I think she hid her surname because she didn’t want you to realize anything about the company either. Well, that’s what makes her a fox.”

“…I, I see.”

I didn’t really understand.

But his tone was slightly softer than his usual cold impression.

“Come see me before you leave once you’ve recovered. Later.”

Just as Kiryū-san was about to leave the infirmary, I clenched my small hands.

“…Um, I can work. Please let me come back this afternoon.”

Kiryū-san turned back, narrowing his eyes slightly.

“…Is that so? Don’t push yourself.”

With only those words, the door closed quietly.

◇ ◇ ◇

The afternoon atmosphere in the secretary department floor was calm.

When I returned to my desk, all the surrounding gazes turned to me at once.

—They’ll laugh at me, scold me…

I braced myself with that feeling.

“Wow, you made a legend on your first day!”

A senior employee’s light banter eased the tension in the air.

Amidst this, Ohara-san threw me a lifeline with a smile.

“But the chairman said, ‘That girl seems serious.’ So don’t worry.”

I couldn’t help but blink.

Even though they were laughing at me, there was a strange warmth to it.

“…Thank you.”

“Let’s do our best without overdoing it.”

Everyone gave me light pats on the shoulder, and my body, stiff with tension, relaxed slightly.

◇ ◇ ◇

From the afternoon onward, work came relentlessly.

Answering phones, scheduling adjustments, organizing documents.

Tasks came one after another in rapid succession.

But multiple windows opened in my mind, and I calmly organized and moved my hands.

“Kiryū-san, tomorrow’s meeting is from three.”

“Four. Fix it.”

“Understood!”

Kiryū-san took a sip of coffee and told me.

“…You can add a bit more sugar.”

(Huh? But last time you said you wanted it black.)

“Wha—!? Um, sorry!”

I took back what I’d served and efficiently adjusted and re-brewed it.

“Here, how about this one?”

Kiryū-san brought the re-brewed coffee to his lips.

“Yeah, this passes.”

“Understood!”

(Yes, I’ll remember this amount!)

His expression remained the same, but there was no irritation in his tone.

If anything, I felt like he was properly watching over me.

In the evening, when I turned pale after messing up the order of documents, he said one thing.

“Not bad. This happens when you’re in a hurry.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

I couldn’t tell if it was comfort or evaluation.

But deep in my heart, I felt a little warmth.

Today, I took three steps forward and two steps back.

◇ ◇ ◇

After parting with Kiryū-san in front of the station, I realized I’d forgotten something and returned to the company to get it.

The nighttime office was quiet, and my footsteps echoed loudly.

Just as I got off the elevator, I unexpectedly ran into Chairman Ayano.

“Oh, Arikado-san. You’ve worked late today.”

“Ayano sa—, I mean, Chairman!!”

I instinctively straightened my back.

Ayano-san wore her usual elegant smile.

“Hehe, Ayano-san is fine for now. Do you have a moment?”

“Y-yes.”

Urged inside, I stepped into the chairman’s office, where a fragrant cup of tea was already prepared.

Sitting across her surprisingly modest desk, she quietly tilted her cup.

“I heard you were taken to the infirmary? Are you okay now?”

“Yes. I didn’t know Ayano-san was the chairman. I was so shocked today that I fainted.”

“That’s terrible… I’m sorry.”

“N-no, it’s in the past now…”

I voiced my thoughts.

“But why did you keep it a secret?”

Ayano-san narrowed her eyes, took a sip of tea, and answered.

“I thought if I introduced myself properly, you might not have accepted this position.”

“…”

“And I didn’t want you to feel awkward around me, since you saved my life. Though it ended up causing you trouble instead.”

“N-no, not at all… I’m the one who should be thanking you! I wanted to say it directly.”

At my words, Ayano-san smiled warmly.

“I’m glad to hear that. Do your best from now on, okay?”

“Yes!”

Smiling at my response, Ayano-san continued.

“And you have a good look on your face now.”

“Eh…”

“Naoya seems to be paying attention to you too, and I have high expectations. Don’t rush, but don’t stop moving forward either.”

Her voice was gentle, but there was a penetrating strength behind it.

An indescribable sense of relief mixed with tension that straightened my spine.

“Y-yes… thank you.”

“Hehe. You should go home now. You’ll catch a cold.”

When I bowed deeply and left the room, I felt like someone was watching me from behind.

A strange sensation—as if I was being watched over by someone.

◇ ◇ ◇

I’m still scared of the unfamiliar secretary work.

—But I won’t run away anymore.

Thinking back, today I properly moved both my hands and my head.

Sure, I made quite a few mistakes, but…

Considering it’s my first time in this industry, my first time in this role—it’s more than enough progress.

It was a day full of various experiences.

But I definitely felt the distance between Kiryū-san and me had shortened just a little.

Compared to our first meeting, that’s significant progress.

From tomorrow onward, I’ll keep doing my best.

—With heartfelt gratitude for this opportunity Ayano-san has given me.