LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 2 - Hidetsugu Yamabuki's Complex [2]
After returning home, I sat in my room, facing my desktop computer.
While typing on the keyboard, I focused on the text displayed on the screen, trying not to miss a single word or make any typos.
What I’m doing is part of the Yamabuki Group’s work, given to me by my father. One day, I will inherit the chairmanship of the Yamabuki Group. In order to prepare for that time, I am learning through my work.
Even when it comes to studying, mistakes are not allowed. A single word error or a single digit misspelling could result in a loss for the Yamabuki Group.
My father does a lot of work for me, but he doesn’t indulge me just because I’m his son. If they judge that I am not competent enough, they will appoint someone else as his successor.
Just to be sure, I didn’t become his successor just because I was there. It was because I, myself, wanted to inherit the chairman’s position.
The Yamabuki Group was founded by my grandfather. Its predecessor was Shoji Yamabuki. At that time, it was just one of the small and medium-sized enterprises, but my father became the second president, Hideo Yamabuki. However, it has developed into a corporate group that Japan is proud of.
Today, Yamabuki Group has gained market share in a wide range of fields, making you wonder if there are any untouched businesses such as commercial, industrial, financial, insurance, convenience stores, hotel management, and restaurant management.
The Yamabuki Group has now come to be known as an “up-and-coming conglomerate.” My dad is a great man who accomplished this in his lifetime.
I’ll never reach it, but I want to be like my father as much as possible. I would like to see the same scenery if possible. That’s why I decided to take over as chairman.
My nerves tensed up as I continued to type on the keyboard.
Just then, I heard a ringtone coming from my smartphone, which was placed on the edge of the table. I stopped my work, picked up my smartphone, and checked the caller.
The caller was my father.
“Are you checking on the progress?”
While anticipating this question, I accepted the call and put the smartphone to my ear.
“Hello, Hidetsugu. How are you doing? ”
“Everything’s good, no problem..”
“I’m sorry for not being able to go home. Both your mother and I are busy.”
My mother, Sayuri Yamabuki, works as my father’s secretary, and they rarely come home. As a result, I was living alone every day.
Still, I have no complaints. I returned it to my father with a smile on my face.
“It’s a bit late now, isn’t it? It’s alright. If you can’t even live alone, you’re far from a full-fledged person.”
“It would appreciate it if you could say that.”
“Besides, don’t you have something else to do? I’m sure you didn’t call just to check on me, right?”
“Ah. I have a favor to ask of you.”
“A favor?”
Dad asked me as I frowned.
“Do you have a girlfriend now? ”
“Are you being sarcastic? Dad, you know about my complex, right? There’s no way I have a girlfriend.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to offend you. However, before I ask for a favor, I have to confirm it.”
My voice unintentionally turned sharp when I was poked at where it hurts. As if sensing my irritation, Dad hurriedly explained himself. I could almost see him smiling bitterly on the other end of the phone.
I let out a sigh.
“Well, fine. So, what is your request?”
When I asked him to continue talking, my father announced,
“Hidetsugo, I want you to go on a blind date.”
“……huh?”
I was stunned by the unexpected answer.
I was so shocked that I couldn’t even make a sound, but my father continued to talk.
“I was approached with a merger proposal from a certain corporate group, the Yamabuki Group. Since it was a beneficial offer for us, we decided to accept it. They want you to be engaged to the heiress of that corporate group.”
“Is this meant to symbolize the merger between our side and theirs?”
“That’s right.”
Even though there was a hint of sadness in his voice, Dad remained calm.
It’s a marriage of convenience, after all. Dad is trying to use me in order to smoothly proceed with the merger between the Yamabuki Group and that company.
When I heard this seemingly selfish request, what I felt was neither anger nor sadness.
Incomprehensible. In other words, it’s questionable.
Although my father was a busy man, he always came home to celebrate anniversaries like my birthday and Christmas. He attended milestone events such as entrance ceremonies and graduation ceremonies, and he respected my wishes regarding the future.
My father is very family-oriented and has never forced me to be unreasonable.
That kind of father is trying to get me into a political marriage. It’s natural to feel strange.
I don’t know my father’s true intentions. However, I’ve already decided on my answer.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept that request. I’m only sixteen years old, right? Even if it’s for the sake of the group, don’t you think it’s too early to decide on a mate?”
“Yeah. I understand exactly how you feel. I think I’m being unreasonable too.”
My doubts only grew stronger when my father backed down easily.
What does Dad want? What is your goal?
It’s so confusing that I furrowed my eyebrows.
My father continued, with a hint of meaning in his voice.
“But what if your arranged partner could solve your complex? ”
My eyes widened.
My father is a great man who has amassed a huge amount of wealth in one generation. Naturally, he has a good eye for people. The Yamabuki Group is what it is today because my father is a man with a keen eye.
In other words, my father’s words are true. The person I’m meeting with probably has the potential to eliminate my complex.
Honestly, I can’t believe such a person exists. No matter how much I trust my father’s words, I can’t fully believe them.
Still, for me, who was lonely and continuously sought human companionship, my father’s words were like sweet nectar. I couldn’t help but be interested in my arranged partner.
So I responded:
“…I just want to meet them, that’s all.”
While feeling a slight sense of defeat.