A Unexpected Ordinary Day
"My presentation is ending here... You can give any comments." Everyone in the meeting room stays silent, a sign of approval. I nod and return to my seat.
"So what do you think of Yamamoto-san's idea?" the administrator asks everyone in the meeting room.
"Not bad. As he said, this project can improve our incomes by 25% of our normal incomes," one of my co-workers says.
"Good, I will report the meeting result to the boss and request his approval," the administrator says as she exits the meeting room with a piece of paper marked "Meeting Result." I also leave the meeting room without wasting any time.
Oh yeah, I didn't introduce myself. My name is Takumi Yamamoto. I'm 22 years old, an ordinary office worker at Tokyo Dynamics, a company that lights up every corner in Japan. Tokyo Dynamics was the main company that illuminated almost every city in Japan back in the 1990s.
It's 11:25 AM after the meeting. I slowly walk to the cafeteria and sit alone at my usual corner table in the bustling company cafeteria, idly stirring my half-eaten bento box. The lunch rush is in full swing, but I feel disconnected from the lively chatter around me, lost in my own thoughts.
Suddenly, a burst of laughter caught my attention, drawing my gaze towards the entrance. Among the crowd of coworkers, one figure stood out - a girl with soft pink hair, her vibrant presence lighting up the room.
As she made her way towards the food counter, her eyes swept across the cafeteria and met mine. I felt a jolt of surprise as she changed course, heading straight for my table.
My heart quickened as she approached, her confidence and energy palpable. I straightened up in my seat, a mix of curiosity and apprehension swirling in my mind.
"Mind if I join you?" her voice was warm and inviting as she reached my table, her smile infectious.
I blinked in surprise at the unexpected request, but quickly nodded, gesturing to the empty chair across from me.
With a graceful flourish, she settled into the seat opposite me, her presence bringing a newfound energy to the table. I couldn't help but return her smile, feeling a sense of warmth and camaraderie in her company.
"Hope you don't mind the intrusion," her tone was teasing as she spoke. "I couldn't resist the chance to escape the chaos and enjoy some peace and quiet with a fellow lunchtime recluse."
I chuckled at her words, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Not at all," I replied, grateful for the company. "It's nice to have some company for a change."
She smiles and asks me in a soft yet slightly flirtatious tone, "What's your name, big tough guy? I'm Mai! Mai Sato!" Really? I heard her name once... Oh, it's on the job application form. Sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I work as the general manager at Tokyo Dynamics. I smile back and answer, "My name is Takumi, Takumi Yamamoto-" She instantly perks up and says, "Takumi-san!!!" She laughs. I'm surprised by how cheerful she is and also feeling a little flustered. "W-What's wrong?" I ask. She replies with a smile while picking up her sushi, "Ah, nothing! Just can't resist the urge of calling a beautiful name!" This is the second time she's made me blush. Mai notices my blush and bursts into laughter, "Hahaha! A tough big guy melting, melting!" I feel very flustered and quickly cover her mouth with my palm. "Please stop, Sato-sama!". "Ok, ok, I won't do it again. Just take your big palm off my mouth." I instantly remove my hand and resume eating my lunch in silence.
After some chatting and finishing our lunch, she takes out her phone and hands it to me. "Takumi-san, give me your number so I can ask you everything about work! I'm newly recruited, so I don't know much about the company," she says.
I smile and reply as I add my number to her phone contacts, "Oh, ok. My position is General Manager, so you can ask me everything you want to know.".
After she leaves at the end of the workday, I assume she came to learn about company. I walk back home, eat dinner, take a bath, and go to bed without worrying about what might happen the next day.
Chapter 1 end.