Breaking Down the Walls of Society

"They're saying they want an invoice."

That day, I received this message.

"Oh."

Although I said "Oh," I didn't quite understand what it meant.

She is the person who offered to pitch my ZINE to bookstores, driven solely by her desire to spread the word about "Nan no Hanashi desu ka" (What are you talking about?).

Her name is Haru Shibuki.

Also known as the "Nan no Hanashi desu ka" Division's point person. Or rather, someone please give her a proper title.

Thanks to her sales efforts, the "Nan no Hanashi desu Ka" ZINE will be sold at a certain bookstore, but I will write a proper article about that another day.

What I really want to tell you all today is about this incident regarding the invoice.

An invoice. I've seen them before, but for me, who is always the one being billed for romantic feelings, overflowing ulterior motives, or something else, they were things far removed from my life.

It's like a grimoire that clearly states items based on breakdowns and rates, and registers where to transfer money.

I can't make something like this.

A reaction that could be called a rejection response was happening in my mind, and my whole body was denying it.

We weren't on the same page. Haru Shibuki, sensing this immediately, contacted Maiton and the highly capable office worker Lee, and in seconds, they resolved it as if my conversation with her had never happened.

Maiton prepared a template, and Lee explained the mechanisms of society to me.

"President, please pull yourself together."

Bathed in the dazzling light of society, Lee asked me that.

I decided to think about it for one night.

Whether it was a good idea to start a business.

I had assumed that if I started a business, I would get contacts for dates disguised as meetings. However, the only messages I get are ones demanding that I act like a proper working adult.

I am not exactly a functioning member of society to begin with, so I keep shouting, "What are you even talking about?" I was starting to get a little worried that maybe the people in the back alleys are actually the ones who are well-adjusted in society.

Come to think of it, Maiton, who proudly proclaims his path of perversion, is actually a wonderful salaryman in his daily life.

I became more and more anxious.

Clutching at straws, I reread my own foolish articles, but the people in them were just the usual folks who never know "what the story is about," so it was of no help at all.

I was already thinking about giving up on starting the business. That was when Maiton's article finally came to mind.

I was already crying, having hit the wall of society known as invoices.

Rereading this article, there was one thing that caught my eye. It was a remark that felt like a ray of light.

I want to keep breaking down walls with you, no matter how far we have to go.

That is what it says. I will write it down one more time just to be sure.

I want to keep breaking down walls with you, no matter how far we have to go.

When I read this, it hit me.

Rii's words echoed in my head, accompanied by the image of her in a sweater with sleeves covering her hands.

"President, please pull yourself together."

Should Konishi Kinoko really be pulling herself together?

If I were to pull myself together, wouldn't I cease to be Konishi Kinoko?

I should not pull myself together.

"President, please pull yourself together."

Could the true meaning of that be,

perhaps, "We are here for you"?

Having hit the wall of society, I had completely forgotten to read between the lines. The world is supposed to be two sides of the same coin.

When that happened, it somehow started to make sense.

It's okay not to be composed, Konishi Kinoko.

Just keep going, staying all mushy and giggly, and find the path forward.

I felt like the wall had broken.

I contacted Maiton.

“Maiton, you said you were prepared, right? I don't understand professional Japanese, so I can never make decisions unless you translate them for me, you know?”

“That's true. It's a hassle.”

“I think we should really put that resolve into a concrete form.”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“I feel like I can't get by without going through you, Maiton.”

“Huh?”

“So, be the point of contact for 'What are you talking about?'. Be the one to steer the ship.”

“Huh?”

“It was written there. That you'd like to break down walls together, no matter how far we go.”

“Yes.”

“Are you lying?”

“I am not lying.”

“Then, it's a joint operation. I want to stay as I am. I don't know what direction 'What are you talking about?' will take from here, and it's hard to make decisions. I feel like I might just blurt out 'I like you' at any moment, and I don't have the confidence to handle things like a professional. I think this is a huge wall.”

“That is unsettling.”

“I want you to break down the wall of uncertainty. Who else can break it?”

“That would be me. I accept.”

It is resolved. With this, I can continue as I always have. I can live firmly as Konishi Kinoko. And, I have acquired the skills to properly deal as a working professional with the walls that stand in the way of where "Nan no Hanashi desu ka" is headed.

I am grateful. I will give shape to my resolve.

I intend to break down walls together with you, no matter how far we go.

If someone like this appears, I will entrust my dreams to them.

Because that is more interesting.

From now on, the point of contact for "Nan no Hanashi desu ka" will be,

entrusted entirely to the Apology Director, Emu no Maiton.

This means that I am entrusting "Nan no Hanashi desu ka," which I created for the first time, to someone else.

I don't know what will happen, but I want to entrust the steering firmly to them.

I am no longer alone; I will move with serious intent.

Everyone, I humbly ask for your support.

Nan no Hanashi desu ka

The actors who appeared in the main story

Role of the capable salesperson: Haru Shibuki

Role of the person often mistaken for a workaholic: Rii Ayano

Apology Director: Emu no Maiton

This is a true story.
The point of contact is Emu no Maiton.