Coincidence

[Kamitakamatsu-cho, Kyoto]

[Nintengu Headquarters]

The CEO, Tempaku Yamamoto, who was already 58 years old, sat down with his son to examine the new Lego set from the rival company, KiShin Merchandise.

"What a brilliant and noble idea. Why didn't I think of this sooner?" remarked the son beside the CEO.

"Takuza, let's not shower too much praise on our competitor's product..." Tempaku said, although he couldn't help but admire it as he stroked his chin.

Takuza chuckled and replied, "True, but with KiShin entering the toy market, who will buy our toys now?"

"You don't appear to be concerned," Tempaku remarked, a bit surprised.

"Why should I be? Worrying won't change anything," Takuza said with a smile, shaking his head.

"With that attitude, I'm amazed Erica hasn't left you yet," Tempaku said as he settled into his office chair.

"She's head over heels for me. My relaxed personality is part of the charm," Takuza teased. He added with a smirk, "And what about your second wife, Narumi? Is she content with an older man like you?"

Tempaku snorted, "I may look older on the outside, but if you saw my muscles, you'd know I'm stronger than you."

Takuza burst into laughter. "Haha, you certainly know how to lighten the mood, old man."

Tempaku appeared provoked and seemed on the verge of stripping off his suit to demonstrate his muscular physique to Takuza.

"Hey, old man! Stop what you're doing! It's not good for my eyes!" Takuza abruptly ceased his laughter, urgently imploring his father to halt his impromptu strip show.

"I'll prove it to you, brat! My body has more muscles than your pudgy, jiggling stomach!" Tempaku exclaimed, genuinely considering disrobing. However, Takuza rushed over and managed to prevent him, resulting in an impromptu wrestling match between the two.

- Outside the office -

The commotion from the father and son reached the hallway.

"Those two are at it again," Erica said helplessly.

Narumi, a 30-year-old woman, laughed gracefully. "They do share the same genes, after all."

A slender man nearby asked with concern, "Is the CEO going to be alright in there?"

Narumi simply smiled, unworried. "Don't worry. I know my husband well."

---

"You're quite impressively strong, you brat," Tempaku chuckled.

"You're strong too, old man. You've still got it even in your old age," Takuza replied with a smile, feeling relieved that his father's health was holding up well.

Later, Takuza turned to his father and said, "Don't worry too much about the KiShin Lego, Father. I'll find a way to compete with their product," offering reassurance with a smile.

Tempaku simply smiled in response, "Oh, I'm not worried, you brat," he chuckled.

However, deep down, Tempaku was already formulating a plan to ensure his company's survival in the face of this formidable competitor.

Takuza smiled knowingly at his father's words, understanding the potential headache that this Lego situation could become.

Considering the estimated Lego sales and the advertising on KiShin's anime program on Asahi TV, daily sales had soared to an astronomical 13 thousand units.

Takuza nodded to his father and stated, "Very well, I'll begin by investigating KiShin Merchandise before developing a strategy."

Recalling Sun Tzu's wisdom, he continued, "Sun Tzu said, 'Know your enemy first; then you will know yourself, and you will win a hundred times every time.'"

Tempaku chimed in, "The CEO of KiShin Merchandise doesn't matter; it's the parent company behind it that we need to understand."

Takuza agreed, "I'm aware of that, but I still need to track the movements of KiShin Merchandise."

As Takuza bowed to leave, Tempaku suddenly remembered something and urgently called out, "Wait, Takuza!"

Takuza was taken aback by his father's sudden outburst and turned to face him in surprise.

Tempaku suddenly spoke up, "Before you go, your Uncle Asahi has already provided me with a photo of the owner of KiShin Merchandise parent company." With that, he opened his office desk drawer and retrieved a photograph.

Takuza was taken aback; they already had a photo of the mastermind?

Takuza approached his father, who handed him the photograph. Tempaku commented, "It's rather unexpected, but the CEO of KiShin Merchandise parent company, the one who initiated it all, is a young man." He scratched the back of his head in bemusement.

Takuza nodded as he examined the photograph. It displayed a black-haired young man.

'Wait... Why does that face seem so familiar?'

His eyes suddenly widened in shock.

'This... Isn't this the young man I helped?'

Takuza thought in disbelief.

Tempaku noticed his son's astonishment and chuckled, "I know what you mean. He looks too young... When I first saw it was a young man, I had my doubts, but according to your Uncle Asahi's investigation, it's indeed accurate." Tempaku assumed his son was surprised by Shin's youthful appearance.

Takuza gazed earnestly at the photo of Shin and asked, "Father, can we trust this information?" He found it hard to believe that the struggling young man from his past memory had risen to such swift and remarkable success, nearly taking the business world by storm with his exceptional products.

Tempaku nodded, affirming, "The information is accurate. It came from Asahi Tanaka, after all. He's the chairman of a major corporation." He glanced at his son, who seemed deeply engrossed in the photo, and sensing his son's confidence might be shaken, he added with concern, "Don't dwell too much on that young man. Your Uncle Asahi mentioned that the young man is named Shinro Suzuki, the son of Shiro Suzuki, the chairman of the Suzuki Group."

Takuza, already shocked, found this revelation surprising. After all, his initial impression of Shinro was that he struggled to secure funding for his startup. Now, it turned out he came from a wealthy family.

Takuza chuckled, looking at his father, and remarked, "Don't worry, Father. I know what you're thinking. You must be wondering if my confidence is affected because someone younger than me is more successful." Takuza locked eyes with his father, who initially tried to conceal his guilt but couldn't hide it.

Seeing this, Takuza reassured him, "Don't fret, old man. I'm not that kind of man." With that, he walked away, holding the photo.

Tempaku smiled helplessly at his son's straightforwardness.

---

Erica spotted her husband emerging from the CEO's office and greeted him with a warm smile.

Takuza acknowledged his stepmother, Narumi, with a respectful bow and formal greeting, "Hello."

Narumi simply nodded in response.

They engaged in light conversation for a while before Takuza awkwardly bid farewell, "We'll be on our way now, Mom." He felt a bit uncomfortable using the term 'mom' for a woman just a bit older than him, eager to leave with Erica as he had something important to discuss with her.

Narumi seemed to understand and nodded in acknowledgment.

After Takuza and Erica departed, Narumi couldn't help but chuckle at Takuza's apparent haste to get away from her presence. "Am I that intimidating? Why is he acting so unusually today?" she mused with amusement.

---

As Takuza and Erica exited the building, Erica couldn't help but notice Takuza's flustered demeanor. She knew he felt somewhat awkward around Narumi, but this seemed different.

"Takuza, why do you seem so flustered back there? I've seen you be awkward around her, but this is the first time you've been this flustered," Erica inquired, puzzled.

Takuza shook his head in denial. "No, I'm not flustered," he claimed.

Erica looked at him with confusion. "Then why were you acting so strangely and in such a hurry back there?" she asked, genuinely perplexed.

Takuza grinned and explained, "The reason I was in a hurry is because I discovered something interesting today..."

Intrigued, Erica gazed at him, prompting him to continue.

Takuza nodded and proceeded to recount his encounter in the CEO's office, sharing the information about Shinro Suzuki and passing her the photo.

Erica's eyes widened in genuine surprise as she listened to the unexpected revelation and examined the photo in shock.