Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk.

"Kiryu-kun."

"Yes."

"Welcome to the Financing Review Course!"

This statement was made very casually.

It felt more real than many formal welcome speeches.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Some people were talking about land prices during the bubble era.

Some people have complained that our store's review criteria have changed again recently.

Some say the people in the debt management class are getting increasingly fierce.

Kiryu Yaya mostly just listens.

He only answered briefly when asked.

When it came to the second round of drinks, Kiryu Yaya took the initiative to call over a staff member to confirm what everyone wanted.

"Section Chief Yamada, beer again?"

"Ah."

Where is Hashimoto-senpai?

"I also drink beer."

"Chief of the shore, oolong tea?"

"Thank you for your help."

"Chihaya Section Chief?"

"Hot tea."

"clear."

He noted down the order and made no mistakes.

A few minutes later, the drinks were served.

Kiryu Yaya first placed the hot tea in front of Chihaya Yuri.

Chihaya Yuri glanced at the cup, then looked at him.

"You adapted very quickly."

Kiryu Yaya said in a low voice:

"Still studying."

"In banking, learning too quickly is sometimes not a good thing."

"why?"

"It's easy to get crammed with more work."

Kiryu Yaya was silent for a second.

"I've already experienced it."

Chihaya Yuri picked up her teacup, and her lips seemed to twitch very slightly.

The smile was faint and fleeting.

Around 8 o'clock, Masakazu Yamada checked his watch and announced that it was almost time to wrap things up.

In Japanese workplaces, drinking parties are not usually left to simply dissipate naturally.

Especially gatherings within the classroom.

There should be someone to give a speech at the beginning, and someone to close the event.

Masakazu Yamada picked up his cup.

That's all for today. There's still a lot to do after the Shiraishi Refrigeration case; we'll get back to work tomorrow. Kiryu.

"Yes."

"After the official assignment, don't rush to prove anything. First, solidify your basic skills."

"I've got it."

"Chihaya."

"Yes."

"Don't ruin the newcomers."

Chihaya Yuri answered calmly:

"I will use it according to the regulations."

Everyone laughed again.

Masakazu Yamada chuckled, then said seriously:

"Well then, one last drink. Kiryu, welcome to the Financing Review Division."

Everyone raised their glasses.

Kiryu Yaya held the cup with both hands, and his posture was more upright than before.

Please guide me in the future.

Chapter 32 Mizuna Yayoi's Growth

Friday, April 26th.

Midosuji still carried a hint of the chill of last night in the early morning.

As soon as Kiryu Yaya entered the financing review department on the third floor, he could clearly sense that the atmosphere in the financing department was different from yesterday.

Several colleagues from other departments looked up at him, their gazes now filled with scrutiny.

The completion of the procedures for the Shiraishi Refrigeration case, the formal assignment of the financing review department, and the notification from the human resources department—these events combined were enough to make him, a newcomer who had been with the company for less than a month, the most prominent name in the entire Osaka branch recently.

Meanwhile, after last night's welcome party, he clearly felt that the senior members of the financing review department were much more enthusiastic towards him.

Even if they don't say hello when they meet, they'll at least nod.

Clearly, last night's political drinking session yielded considerable benefits.

But Kiryu Yaya did not feel relieved because of this.

in contrast.

The greater the fame, the easier it is to be forced to do work.

As it turned out, his judgment was very accurate.

Just after nine o'clock in the morning, Chihaya Yuri placed a stack of documents on his desk.

"Kiryu-kun."

"Yes."

"This execution review form was completed this morning. The post-loan inspection plan for Baishi Refrigeration needs to be drafted before the end of the day."

"……Yes."

Kiryu Yaya looked down at the thick stack of documents on the table and suddenly missed the days when he first joined the company, sitting in the corner pretending to read the business manual.

Although we were poor back then, at least no one treated him like livestock.

10:15 a.m.

Masakazu Yamada poked his head out of the section chief's office.

"Kiryu."

"Yes."

"This internal document was sent to the sales department, and after Section Chief Takei signed it, it was brought back."

"clear."

Kiryu Yaya took the summons and got up to walk downstairs to the business office.

In banks, the first-floor branch is always more like a battlefield than the third floor.

The sounds of the female clerk at the window greeting customers, the telephone ringing, the printer clicking, and the rustling of slips being turned all blended together.

As Kiryu Yaya walked into the inner area of ​​the sales department, he heard a somewhat impatient male voice coming from not far away.

"Yayoi, send this document up immediately. The client is coming to confirm it this afternoon, so don't delay any longer."

Kiryu Yaya paused slightly in his steps.

The voice came from Tamura, a customer manager in the sales department.

Standing in front of him was Mizuna Yayoi.