Otaku Translation: Absolute Number One C99

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Chapter 99: Captivating

"By the way, Neiko-nee, there's a letter for you." Yamagami Aiko was thrilled with the pile of gifts she had received, but suddenly remembered the letter she found in the mailbox ten days ago. She quickly fetched it and handed it to Hakuba Neiko, who had just returned to Tokyo.

Hakuba Neiko thanked her and took the envelope, but found it peculiar. She didn’t have many friends and certainly didn’t expect to receive personal letters. Moreover, this one wasn’t mailed—it must have been hand-delivered. Who could it be from? Curious, she tore open the envelope and pulled out two thin sheets of paper. As she read, her eyes gradually narrowed, and a smile spread across her face.

She hadn’t expected to reply to her brief note, but somehow, it fit his character—what little she knew of him. They’d only met three times, and she barely remembered one of those encounters. In her mind, Chihara Rinto was a somewhat serious young man, especially with those intimidating eyebrows that made people instinctively use honorifics when speaking to him. Yet, during their casual chat, she found him gentle and knowledgeable—a pleasant conversationalist. Now, here was a polite, almost formal letter responding to her note. Perhaps too formal.

A rigid office worker, yes—but the letter itself was entertaining. It recounted anecdotes from Osaka, critiquing the city’s faux sophistication with sharp wit that perfectly captured . Of course, he probably didn’t know the recipient was herself a Kansai native. Still, it was amusing. And so, he had gone to Osaka for filming? Working at a TV station must be exhausting—his fatigue practically seeped through the words.

Hakuba Neiko finished reading, her smile deepening. Aiko, curious, asked, "Neiko-nee, who sent this?"

She had thought the letter strange when she first found it in the mailbox, but naturally, she hadn’t opened someone else’s mail. Now, seeing her cousin’s delighted expression, curiosity got the better of her.

Hakuba Neiko folded the letter back into its envelope and smiled. "It’s from Chihara-san. By the way, Aiko-chan, have you been keeping up with the apartment cleaning?"

Aiko didn’t respond immediately; she was lost in thought. Chihara Rinto was indeed a master of television drama, full of clever tricks. Before she knew it, he and her cousin were exchanging letters. She regretted not tossing the letter with the junk mail when she had the chance.

Seeing that she didn’t respond, Hakuba Neiko asked in surprise, “Aiko-chan, did you not show up for the cleaning?” It was already a bit improper to have someone fill in for her, but for that substitute not to show up at all—that was even worse.

Seeing Neiko’s questioning gaze, she snapped out of it. "No, I’ve been going regularly, but he hardly ever seems to be home. The place is always tidy—I mostly just dust."

Hakuba Neiko nodded in relief. It was normal for Chihara Rinto to be absent during her cleaning shifts. After thanking her little cousin warmly, she retreated to her room, sat at her desk, and began drafting a reply to Chihara Rinto, recounting her travels in over the past ten days.

Meanwhile, Aiko sat in the living room, troubled. Something about this situation felt off. This “weasel” wasn’t your average wolf—he was crafty. Was her cousin in danger? Should she warn her? But without evidence, would Neiko even listen? Interfering in her private affairs might upset her. Unlike secretly tampering with things behind the scenes, this was different...

She pondered this through dinner, discreetly observing Neiko’s demeanor. Finding nothing unusual, she relaxed slightly. After dinner, as the restaurant opened for business, she wandered outside twice, half-expecting Chihara Rinto to show up uninvited. Instead, she encountered her close friends Nishino Sagiri and Futazeno Seiko.

Surprised, she asked, "What are you two doing here?"

Seiko tilted her head. "Didn’t we agree last Tuesday to watch the new drama together tonight?"

Aiko slapped her forehead. "I almost forgot! Did you bring snacks?"

Sagiri held up a bag cheerfully. "No purchase necessary—my dad prepared Spanish cheese crisps. Let’s devour them all tonight!"

"Let’s go upstairs then!" Aiko led her friends to the small lounge. The restaurant was tiny, and her parents managed fine on their own. With Hakuba Neiko helping out, Aiko was essentially free.

The two greeted Aiko’s parents, who simply smiled and left them be. They were used to these visits—their daughter either hosted her friends or disappeared for days at a time. Sometimes it felt like they had no daughter, other times like they had three.

Aiko settled her friends in the lounge, served tea, and brought out the gifts Neiko had brought back. Sagiri’s eyes lit up as she grabbed a "One Crane Chicken Leg," a local specialty, and examined the pickled olives. "So Neiko-nee went to Kagawa Prefecture?"

"Probably," Aiko replied absently. She debated confiding in her friends about Chihara Rinto’s apparent intentions, but hesitated. This now involved her cousin’s privacy—was it appropriate to discuss?

Before she decided, Seiko pulled out a poster and proudly displayed it. "Look what I got!"

Sagiri and Aiko glanced at it and groaned. "Why do you need this? The trains are plastered with them!"

Unfazed, Seiko taped it next to the TV. "It sets the mood. I think it’s well-made, and the tagline is intriguing."

Sagiri scrutinized it while munching on an olive. "It does have a certain gravitas. But who’s this Sugano Makoto? Have you seen any of his shows?"

"Nope." Seiko and Aiko shook their heads. They had no memory of the actor, but they weren’t interested in him—they were drawn by the fact that Chihara Rinto was the show’s chief supervisor. Seiko emphasized, "The cast doesn’t matter. If it’s Chihara-sensei’s work, it’ll definitely be good."

Sagiri shrugged indifferently, watching TV purely for leisure. Aiko, however, pursed her lips. While she admitted Chihara Rinto’s scripts were engaging, she distrusted his character.

Quick to voice her opinion, she countered, "Workplace dramas are usually boring, or they masquerade as romance. I doubt it’ll be interesting. Don’t get your hopes up, Seiko."

Seiko immediately defended her idol. "It won’t disappoint. I trust Chihara-sensei’s talent!"

"He’s only got one decent work under his belt."

"One success can lead to another!"

Their banter continued until eight o’clock, when a piano melody shifted from light to somber, drawing their attention. To their surprise, the drama began without warning.

The story opened with an interview scene, the protagonist’s face from the poster now front and center. The grayscale tones and fading background music created a weighty atmosphere brimming with historical resonance. , the main character, smiled gently and spoke earnestly: "...After my father’s death, our small factory nearly collapsed. Thanks to the ’s support, it survived. So, I want to join Central Industrial Bank to repay this debt of gratitude."

His sincerity captivated the trio instantly. Yet, as they focused, they noticed something deeper in his expression—an undertone of mockery in his eyes.

Seiko and Aiko exchanged surprised glances. They hadn’t expected such an opening. Meanwhile, Sagiri leaned forward, intrigued.

The scene transitioned to Hanzawa Naoki being hired by the bank. During the new employee induction ceremony, he met university classmates Kondo Naosuke and Tomari Shinobu, each expressing their aspirations. Tomari aimed for the project financing department, dreaming of handling billions. Kondo, less ambitious, trusted the bank’s assignments.

Hanzawa listened quietly, his dark pupils reflecting depth. When asked, he revealed his ambition—to rise within the ranks and become a top executive.

Seiko gasped. "This guy... He’s not here to repay kindness, is he?"

Aiko agreed. "He’s a great actor. Why haven’t I noticed him before?"

Sagiri remained silent, captivated by the opulent hall. "So this is how elite bankers work. Fascinating!"

The extended first episode was tightly paced, leaving little time for reflection. From the induction ceremony, it jumped to the bursting of . Central Industrial Bank merged with Tokyo First Bank, becoming , setting the stage for factional struggles. Tension mounted.

The scene shifted to Osaka years later. Hanzawa Naoki, now head of the West Osaka Branch’s loan department, evaluated a precision parts factory seeking a 30 million yen loan. After thorough investigation, he confirmed the factory’s commitment to production and promised to secure funding.

"Banks shouldn’t act like parasols—offered in fair weather but retracted in storms." Seiko mulled over this line, oddly moved. Despite not knowing why, she felt Hanzawa Naoki embodied integrity, unlike the greedy bankers her grandmother often described.

Aiko forgot her earlier skepticism about workplace dramas. The rapid pace demanded full attention. Watching Hanzawa’s loan proposal rejected in favor of prioritizing a 500 million yen loan to —a move touted as securing the "Best Branch Award"—she was hooked.

Hanzawa inspected Nishi-Osaka Steel, finding disorderly operations. He opposed the loan, but under pressure from , he reluctantly completed the paperwork overnight. However, before verifying details, Asano submitted the documents directly to headquarters, absolving himself of responsibility.

With no choice, Hanzawa secured approval for the loan, earning the branch accolades. But three months later, Nishi-Osaka Steel collapsed, losing 500 million yen. Asano immediately shifted blame onto Hanzawa, demanding a public apology. After prolonged silence, Hanzawa vowed to recover the lost funds.

As the episode ended, immense challenges loomed before Hanzawa. Seiko stared, stunned.

Is this the adult workplace? Subordinates bear the burden of superiors’ mistakes? So cruel and shameless?

Hesitant, she turned to Aiko. "Did you find it interesting?"

Aiko hesitated. She had never seen such a drama before and admired the resilient workplace portrayal. But admitting Chihara Rinto’s work was exceptional felt awkward. Before she could answer, Sagiri’s eyes sparkled as she declared, "It was amazing! I can’t wait for the next episode!"

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