Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk.

"Ah."

Don't you think this is a serious matter?

"No."

"That's Yayoi-san!"

"so?"

Kenta Sasaki took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and spoke in a heavy tone as if he were announcing the end of the world:

"A nemesis has appeared."

The bespectacled man finally looked up.

He wore thin-rimmed glasses, had a cold and stern face, and a detached gaze, making him seem like the kind of person you shouldn't mess with.

Arima Kishou.

Graduated from the Faculty of Law, Waseda University.

He and Kenta Sasaki were university classmates and had also rented a small apartment in Takadanobaba.

One of them was arguing, and the other was being cold.

They miraculously spent four years together.

Arima Kishou adjusted his glasses, his tone calm:

"Sasaki."

"Ok?"

"Yayoi-san doesn't know that you like her."

"..."

"Therefore, Kiryu Yaya is not a nemesis."

"..."

"You only lost on one side."

Kenta Sasaki looked as if he had been shot in the chest, and froze on the spot.

The door in front of the training room was pushed open.

A man who looked to be around fifty-five years old walked in.

He was not tall, and his hair was already gray, but it was neatly combed.

There was no smile on his face, his suit was buttoned up neatly, and his leather shoes were polished to the shine.

Head of the General Affairs Department, Takafumi Todo.

He worked at Mitsubishi Bank for over thirty years, rising through the ranks from the lowest-level sales counter, general affairs clerk, seal management, and personnel transfer to become a department head.

Many people in banks are afraid of the financing department, the debt management department, and the branch manager.

But those who truly understand how banks operate internally know...

The head of the General Affairs Department is definitely not someone to be trifled with.

Because the General Affairs Department handles the most trivial and problematic matters.

Seals, documents, archives, meeting minutes, authority, regulations, and procedures.

Any mistake in any detail could turn into an accident.

Takafumi Todo placed the training materials on the podium, looked up, and gazed at the newcomers in the training room.

He didn't exchange pleasantries.

The first sentence is:

"The bank won't forgive your carelessness just because you're new."

The training room fell silent.

Takafumi Todo picked up a summons and held it up in front of everyone.

"A single wrong number could result in a customer's account having an extra or missing ten million."

He picked up another seal.

"A single incorrect stamp could render a guarantee invalid."

Then he picked up a sample contract.

“A single discrepancy in dates could give the opposing lawyers leverage over the entire document during litigation.”

He put the things back on the podium.

"Therefore, today's training topic can be summed up in just one sentence..."

"Details determine everything."

Takafumi Todo's voice was not loud.

But every word is as clear as a ruler tapped on a table.

"Banks don't operate on enthusiasm."

"It doesn't operate on intelligence either."

"Banks rely on processes, reviews, and every individual to prevent even the smallest error from occurring."

After he finished speaking, he gestured to the staff of the general affairs department to distribute a stack of documents.

Each new employee was given a set of simulated business materials.

The title is:

Application materials for short-term working capital from Osaka Foods Corporation.

Fujido Takafumi said:

"This is a mock loan application. It contains several deliberately designed questions."

"You have twenty-five minutes."

"Find the problems and write them on the answer sheet."

"The final results will be entered into your files."

"Time begins."

The sound of turning pages immediately filled the study room.

The newlyweds began to look down and check their documents.

Kiryu Yaya also turned to the first page.

A copy of the business license, application form, tax payment certificate, loan details, hand slip list, guarantee documents, board resolution, and representative's seal certificate.

At first glance, the information appears complete.

But if you look closely, you'll find quite a few problems.

The application was dated April 31st.

April does not have 31 days.

The borrowing details show that Sumitomo Bank borrowed 30 million yen, but this was not included in the total liabilities column.

The edges of the representative's imprint on the seal certificate and the imprint on the application form have subtle differences.

The due date on the hand-shaped list is June 30, but the original copy says July 31.

The tax payment certificate has expired after three months.

The date of the board of directors' decision is earlier than the date of the notice of the meeting.

There is also an error in the consumption tax calculation on the quotation.

Kiryu Yaya picked up a pencil and began writing down line by line.

Just then, a suppressed, excited voice suddenly came from the side.

"It's Kiryu too."

Kiryu Yaya raised his head.

Kenta Sasaki was staring at him.

That look wasn't like looking at a colleague, but more like looking at a rival destined by fate.

"I heard you're very capable."

Kiryu Yaya was silent for a second.

"Fortunately."

"Since that's the case, do you dare to have a match with me?"

Several newcomers in the training room looked up.

Mizuna Yayoi was also stunned.