章 7: Chapter 06
The Head Research Officer wanted to find a hole and bury himself within. It was his first day on a really huge project with two big shots. They were the big shots of big shots and this new employee was going to ruin everything for him. He turned to the two tall men and bowed deeply. "Mr Yamato, Mr Kaneku, I'm so sorry. It's my fault for hiring such an incompetent person. Please, clean yourselves up in my bathroom. I'll get someone to bring you a change of clothes."
Mr Yamato? Mr Kaneku?
Hiro felt like he had heard those names somewhere before. Where could he have heard them before?....
He suddenly recalled hearing about them on TV. Two men who quickly rose to become very successful businessmen straight after high school. The heirs to the two oldest and richest companies in Tokyo.
The YM Group and KK Entertainment.
His heart started to pound in fear. He had just offended two super-important men. He might even lose his job!
He quickly knelt on the dirty wet floor and bowed his head. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please, forgive me. I didn't realise you guys were behind me. I didn't mean to bump into you."
Some seconds of silence passed then Hiro heard someone chuckle. It was deep and condescending, denoting that the person held no regard for Hiro.
"So this is what the once mighty Watanabe Hiro has reduced to."
Hiro's eyes widened in shock. Did they know him? He raised his head to find the dark-haired guy looking down at him, smirking.
The blonde one smiled and waved a bit. "Long time no see, Hiro."
Hiro was dumbfounded while the HRO was stunned. "Mr Yamato, Mr Kaneku, y-you know him?"
"Of course." The dark-haired guy, Mr Yamato, spoke without looking away from Hiro. "He used to be our junior back in school."
"Your junior..." The HRO looked at the young man kneeling before the big shots in shock. Hiro seemed so unfortunate compared to the big shots. To think they even attended the same school. How could someone like Hiro afford it?
Hiro stared at them, desperately raking his brain, trying to remember who they were but he couldn't. They didn't look familiar to him at all. He couldn't remember ever having seniors like them. When was he the junior of the heirs of the YM Group and KK Entertainment? If he knew them back in school then they must have been very good friends who turned their backs on him when his family went bankrupt.
From his expression, it was evident that he couldn't remember them.
Annoyed, Mr Yamato stepped forward. "What? You don't even remember the senior you tormented so much?"
Hiro felt like a bucket of ice was poured all over his body.
Tormented? Did that mean he bullied the men before him when they were in school? So they weren't friends?
But that was impossible! He had never bullied anyone in his life. In fact, he was quite timid, especially around seniors. He couldn't remember giving anyone a hard time let alone a senior.
He lowered his head, unsure and downright frightened. He didn't want to lose his job. "I-I-"
The tip of a dark shiny shoe touched his chin and raised his head, making him meet the Mr Yamato's cold dark gaze. He stared into them, slightly shivering in fear. His heart was pounding within his ribcage and a bead of sweat rolled down the side of his face.
"Raiden" Mr Kaneku called, placing an arm on his shoulder. "We can't waste our time on the likes of him. Let's change and leave. Our schedule is tight today."
Hiro's eyes widened.
Raiden? As in Yamato Raiden???
A series of memories filled with repeated rejections, humiliations, and even a crisp slap flashed in his mind. His mouth went dry as he stared up at the man before him.
Yamato Raiden...
Fuck.
Hiro suddenly wanted to cry. Oh no. Oh no no no. Why did it have to be Yamato Raiden of all people? Hiro was paralysed with fear. He didn't want a repeat of history.
Raiden carefully watched the changes on Hiro's face and he smirked. "You remember now, don't you?"
Hiro didn't answer but the tears that welled up in his eyes gave him away. Raiden smiled and pulled back his foot, feeling satisfied.
"Shoji, what do you think we should do with our junior?" he asked, turning to look at his best friend. "He just ruined one of my best suits and shoes."
Shoji glanced at the trembling kneeling boy and shrugged. "Deduct it from his salary. I'm sure our dear junior wouldn't mind. After all, it's his fault."
Hiro shook his head, letting his tears fall. If they should do that, he would have nothing to eat. Nothing to feed his sister with.
"P-Please, I'm sorry" he stuttered. "I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He could only cry and apologise. There was nothing he could do to atone for the past. He had nothing. He was nothing. Life had already taught him that. And now, it was humiliating him before his seniors.
Besides, even if he worked in the facility for the rest of his life, he would not be able to generate even a quarter of the suit's cost not to mention the shoes.
They were successful while he was poor. They were standing before him while he was kneeling on the floor, drenched in dirty water, crying and begging.
He was pathetic.
Shoji chuckled. "What are you apologising for, dear junior? The suit or the past?"
Hiro lowered his head further, not knowing what to say. He could only utter the words; "I'm sorry..."
"Mr Lu" Raiden called and the HRO stood straight, awaiting orders. "Make sure you invite our junior to the opening tonight. We'll settle this incident then. We have to leave now."
The HRO nodded his bald head and bowed. "Of course, Mr Yamato."
Hiro stared at Yamato Raiden, feeling hopeless. He already knew that he was done for.
"Make sure you come, junior," Raiden said with a smile. "Almost all our old classmates will be there. If you don't, I'll be really angry and decide to take revenge. You don't want that, do you?"
In other words, he wanted to humiliate Hiro in front of their old schoolmates.
He said it with a smile but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Instead, it looked cold and sinister, making Hiro shiver. He lowered his head and gritted his teeth. "I-I'll come."
He didn't know exactly what Raiden would do but he knew that he could ruin his life in a second if he refused to go and he couldn't afford that. His sister was sick. He had to bear whatever Raiden would do for her sake.
Now Hiro had to face the consequences of his past actions. It's not like what he did was wrong. It was Raiden's fault at most but now, he had no right to say a word. No backers, no wealth, nothing.
He would just have to face his fate.
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