Episode 85 - Ryoko and Sunrise Global Trading (Part 1)

【An Afternoon Café in Melbourne】

—This was back when Ryoko was still 24 years old and living in Australia.

“Ufufu♡ This foam thickness is as perfect as ever.”

Ryoko tilted her cup and admired the fluffy cappuccino foam.

Across the table sat Yumi, also with a cappuccino in hand, smiling leisurely.

“Right? I used to be all about long blacks, but I eventually settled on this. It’s the Melbourne way~”

The two weren’t at a local chain café, but rather a small, independently owned spot. Old wooden chairs, a handwritten chalkboard menu. Outside the window, a tram trundled slowly past.

“So, how’ve you been lately, Ryoko? Language school going okay?”

“Yeah, I’ve been swimming in English every day. I guess after six months I finally feel like I can breathe a bit. English is mostly fine now, but… the cost of living here is killing me.”

As Ryoko gave a wry smile, Yumi stirred her drink and looked up sharply.

“In that case, I might have the perfect opportunity for you♪”

“Huh?”

“Sunrise Global Trading’s Australia branch is looking for a short-term training assistant. They’ve got a project next month with interns coming from Japan, and they need someone to support them. You speak English, and you’re a med school grad? You’re perfect!”

Ryoko blinked in surprise.

“But I’m still technically a student… just at a language school. Wouldn’t it be a little too formal for me?”

“Nope, not a problem. I’m actually working there on assignment right now, so if I recommend you, it’ll fast-track everything. You’re reliable, and you can talk with the local staff just fine. I bet they’ll hire you on the spot♡”

“Wait… seriously?”

“Totally. Honestly, they’ve been shorthanded and looking for someone. And it’s Sunrise Global Trading, you know?”

Ryoko watched as the foam in her cappuccino slowly sank.

“…Fufu. Then maybe I’ll give it a try. Feels like… ever since I came here, things have really started moving.”

“Welcome to Melbourne, girl. You gotta chase down your chances.”

The two clinked their cups together. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft shadow on the foam.

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【Why Ryoko Came to Australia】

Yumi: “But seriously, Ryoko—why are you in Australia learning English after graduating med school? Weren’t you already lined up to work at some hospital or lab?”

Ryoko: “Well… I was scouted by a neuroendocrine research team at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute… but there were some family circumstances…”

Yumi: “Wait—RIKEN!? Like the RIKEN!? Are you insane!? If you’d started publishing papers from there, you would’ve automatically learned English! What kind of ‘family circumstances’ could possibly beat RIKEN!?”

Ryoko: “…I came here to meet the love of my life♡”

“…Huh???”

The truth was, a prophecy still lingered in her heart:

“Ryoko, while studying abroad in Australia, you’ll meet a best friend. That friend will introduce you to a company. And at that company, when you’re 28, you’ll meet the person you truly love.”

—One of those suspiciously accurate prophecies from her mother, Masako, popped into her mind.

That night, Ryoko wrote up her résumé and English CV, and applied to Sunrise Global Trading Australia as a short-term training assistant.

A few days later—she was called in for an interview and hired on the spot.

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【First Day of Work — Morning in Melbourne】

Sunlight streamed through the curtains as Ryoko got ready in her room at the share house.

With one hand carefully applying lipstick, she used telekinesis to multitask. A brush floated through her hair, clothes hovered out of the dresser, presenting themselves one by one in the air.

“Alright, I’ll go with this one today♪”

White blouse, navy slacks, hair styled more neatly than usual.

“Fufu. I’ve got this. My English, my honorifics (maybe?), my smile… and my psychic powers are all ready♡”

She winked at herself in the mirror and stepped out the door.

Ryoko made her way down the tram-lined streets toward the city’s Central Business District.

The Melbourne office of Sunrise Global Trading was on the 5th floor of a clean, modern building.

Yumi had given her the entry card the day before.

“Good morning!”

The receptionist greeted her with a bright smile.

“I’m Ryoko Takahashi. I’ll be starting today as the new training assistant♡”

“Ah yes! We've been expecting you. Please take the lift to the fifth floor.”

(Ufufu♡ I think I can manage this. Six months of English immersion weren’t for nothing.)

When the elevator doors opened, Ryoko found herself in an office that blended casual and professional in a way quite unlike Japan.

“Good morning, everyone!”

Yumi came jogging over, waving.

Wearing a casual jacket and sneakers, Yumi’s look made Ryoko feel a little overdressed—but also reassured her.

“Over there’s where the Japanese staff sit. Your supervisor is Mr. Saeki. The local staff are at the next pod. Oh, and coffee’s free—though it’s crazy strong.”

“I’ve gotten used to the coffee already♡”

A few staff turned to look at them and smiled.

“Are you the new intern?”

“Welcome to the team!”

English, Japanese, and Aussie laughter echoed through the floor.

A nameplate on her desk read:

“RYOKO – Intern Assistant”

As she sat down, Yumi leaned in and whispered:

“By the way, I heard one of the interns from Japan is a super hot guy.”

“Fufu. That sounds like something straight out of a trailer.”

“Exactly! That’s the real reason we take jobs like this♪”

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【Ryoko’s Meteoric Rise】

A month later.

Her main tasks at first were making copies, pouring tea, and booking meeting rooms—but Ryoko had a knack for acting before she was asked.

This came naturally from her fearless personality—and from her ability to sense emotions through hormone manipulation.

She prepped meeting documents in both Japanese and English the day before She jumped into small talk with the local staff and picked up natural phrases She supported the Japan interns with all the classic “I can’t English” struggles

One day, her supervisor Saeki muttered:

“I don’t think I can get those materials ready for this weekend’s meeting… and it’s too late to request a translator…”

Ryoko stood up smoothly.

“Would you let me handle it? I’m already familiar with the content—and I’ve drafted supplemental materials too♡”

“…Eh?”

____________________________________________________________________________________

【That Weekend — At the Negotiation Table】

Their client was a fast-growing local agribusiness firm.

Flipping through the materials, the CEO asked in English:

“How can you guarantee this model will function similarly for local governments in Japan?”

Saeki stumbled for a response—but Ryoko stepped in immediately:

“We believe so. In Japan, rural support structures vary, but we can align our model to meet their local governance standards.”

A brief silence. Then the CEO smiled.

“Smart girl. She knows what she’s talking about.”

That Evening — In the Office Kitchen

“…Seriously, what was that? You’re ridiculous.”

Yumi leaned in with a steaming mug.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Not just your English—your timing, your sense of the room… I’ve been here a year and a half and never once got called into a meeting like that!”

“Well♡ I’ve done tons of presentations in med school, so I’m used to it… and everyone’s just been really nice to me♡”

Yumi let out an exhausted sigh.

“So this is what it’s like to be a beautiful genius…”

“But it’s all thanks to you, Yumi♡”

Ryoko hugged her tight.

“Ahhh, I swear, your hormone-calming hugs are actual therapy…”

“Ufufu♡ This hug is reserved for Yumi—and my future husband~♪”

—Yumi practically melted.

____________________________________________________________________________________

【The Following Week — A Formal Promotion】

“Training Assistant” → “Local Business Analyst (Temporary Assignment)”

According to Saeki:

“It’s technically a trial position, but you’re way beyond assistant level now.”

____________________________________________________________________________________

【A “Scout” That Felt Like Destiny】

Three months into her analyst role, Ryoko had grown into a local legend. Balancing language school and work, no one called her an intern anymore.

One afternoon, she was summoned to a conference room and found herself on a web call with HR, PR, and the Head of Overseas Business from the Japan HQ.

“Nice to meet you, Ms. Takahashi. We’ve heard quite a bit about your work here.”

“Oh? What kind of things?”

“Well, it seems you’ve been directly involved in three client deals in the past three months. Your cross-cultural coordination and multilingual presentation support go far beyond an intern’s role.”

Then came the official offer:

“We’d like to formally invite you to work at our Tokyo headquarters starting next April.”

“While this is an exceptional case, we’d classify it as new graduate hiring due to your age and background.

However, we’ll provide a ‘special-track’ training and development program with treatment equivalent to mid-career hires.”

“Ufufu♡ You want me to join that badly? I haven’t even started job hunting yet, you know?”

“We understand. But frankly, we believe ‘someone like you needs to be secured before another company grabs you.’”

____________________________________________________________________________________

【A Toast with Yumi That Night】

“You got scouted!?”

Yumi practically spat out her cola.

“Wait, wait, hold on. Back in Japan, we have to go through entry sheets, multiple interviews, SPI tests—and you just got scouted out of nowhere!?”

“Fufu♡ I guess I’m an exception~”

“This is bad… Sunrise Global Trading’s totally in love with you. Like, seriously.”

____________________________________________________________________________________

【And So, Destiny Begins to Stir】

(I don’t have any other dream companies… and if Mom’s prophecy is right, I’m supposed to meet my prince here, right…?)

After a moment of thought, Ryoko made her decision and sent the following email to HQ:

“Oh, fine… I’ll join Sunrise Global Trading. Happy now? ♡”

→ To be continued in Part 2!