Episode 36 - Section Chief Ryoko Takahashi (Part 2)

Ryoko vs. Yamada – An Unprecedented Showdown

Meeting room.

Ryoko and Section Chief Yamada faced each other.

Yamada, 35 and single, was known around the office as a good-looking manager. He had the athletic build and refreshing charm that made him popular with the female employees.

—But he held a secret no one else knew. The truth was, Yamada was harboring romantic feelings for Shota.

"Section Chief Yamada."

"What is it, Ms. Takahashi?"

"I want Shota-kun as my subordinate. You don't have any objections, do you?"

Yamada’s expression briefly darkened, but he immediately adopted a firm stance of refusal.

"I haven’t heard anything about this. Shota’s at a crucial stage right now. I need to properly train him in sales fundamentals—"

Ryoko sighed and stared calmly at Yamada.

(Well, normally I’d just use some hormone manipulation to relax him and settle things quickly.)

—However.

"...Hmm?"

Ryoko’s hormone scan picked up something unexpected.

Buried deep in Yamada’s heart was a feeling toward Shota that was clearly “more than just a boss-subordinate relationship.”

(...Wait. Is this...?)

She suddenly remembered something Shota had said:

"Yamada sometimes gets really close, like too close. He massages my shoulders a lot, and last time I think he... might’ve touched my butt?"

(Wait, that’s seriously not okay...)

And then—

"Takahashi... If only you weren’t around, Shota would be mine!!!"

Yamada exploded into a frenzied scream.

(Wait, what!? This is... way outside the standard playbook...)

Ryoko faltered for a moment—but then, her mind instantly recalculated Yamada’s status.

“Coworker” → “Enemy targeting Shota”

Ryoko’s logic was simple and, in a way, very egalitarian:

“If you try to take Shota from me, I don’t care if you’re human, Chihuahua, or alien—you’re my enemy.”

(My control is absolute. That rule never changes.)

Closing her eyes quietly for a moment—

—The next day, Yamada was (predictably) gone.

And Shota was summoned by the department director.

"Shota-kun, starting today, you’re being transferred to a new division."

"Huh...?"

"You’ll get the details from your new boss."

Following the directions, he arrived at—

A newly created private office labeled “Special Assignment Sales Division.”

Shota’s anxiety was through the roof.

Bracing for the worst, he knocked and stepped inside—

“Welcome, Shota-kun, to the Special Assignment Sales Division ♡”

Ryoko greeted him with a dazzling smile, seated regally in a high-backed chair.

"..."

Shota realized it.

(Once again... there’s no escaping Ryoko-senpai...)

—And so, the “Special Assignment Sales Division” was born. And at the same time, the line between Shota and Ryoko’s ‘public’ and ‘private’ selves became so faint, it was almost invisible.