Episode 96 - TOB

【TOB (Takeover Bid) Begins】

— July 1, 9:00 AM Japan time.

A red “Breaking News” ticker flashed across the TV screen.

》 “Breaking news."
》 "German investment firm Rhein Welt Asset has announced a hostile takeover bid for Japanese general trading company, Sunrise Global Trading—”

The moment the anchor’s voice read it aloud, tension rippled through Sunrise Global Trading’s offices.

“W-what!? A takeover!? Hostile!? By who…?”

In the emergency board meeting, President Sakurai and the executives were in chaos. The head of IR (Investor Relations) began his report with a pale face.

“The takeover price is a 30% premium over yesterday’s closing price… the stock is currently surging. The bidder is Rhein Welt Asset of Germany. The representative is… Mr. Hans Eisner. The filing has already been submitted to the Financial Services Agency.”

“What kind of name is that…?”

President Sakurai, from the founding family, turned pale. He had never imagined a hostile bid from an overseas investment firm. “Rhein Welt Asset… never heard of it. What on earth is their goal?”

One executive, who recognized the name, his face lit up. He had once been “adjusted” by Ryoko… and swayed toward Shota.

"Hark! Rhein Welt Asset doth flourish! Our illustrious queen and her noble consort hath triumphantly summoned valiant reinforcements!"

Another executive glanced around, looking slightly uncomfortable.

“Uh… in plain English, I think he means the TOB went through.”

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【Winning Over the Shareholders! Ryoko & Shota’s Negotiation Tour】

On the upper floors of Roppongi Hills, in the executive office of Rhein Welt Asset Japan, Ryoko and Shota—back from Germany—were in a final strategy meeting with Masako and Hans via web conference.

“From here on, this is your stage♡”

The materials Hans grinned and sent over contained a list of major shareholders. But the order was neither alphabetical nor by shareholding percentage.

“…What’s this order?” Shota tilted his head, and Masako answered.

“Fufu. The order I ‘saw.’ Think of it as an ‘easiest to win over’ ranking♡”

Ryoko picked up the documents, flipping through them with a sly smile.

“Let’s go, Shota-kun. In the end, company takeovers are won through ‘the human heart’♡”

— The “shareholder negotiation tour” began the next day.

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① Osaka – Elderly Heiress of a Conglomerate (3% shareholding)

In the guest room of a grand traditional Japanese house, afternoon sunlight streamed through the transom, gently lighting the tatami floor mat. The scent of tea, seasonal wagashi(traditional Japanese sweets), and peonies blooming in the garden—everything exuded a refined elegance nurtured over the years.

“…Sunrise Global’s stock, huh. My late husband left it to me, but I no longer have any attachment to it. There’s no longer a reason to move it.”

The elderly lady smiled as she spoke—tinged with sadness, but without losing her pride. In front of her lay an old shareholder register and a single photo album.

Ryoko straightened her posture and gazed directly into the woman’s eyes. In a soft voice, she spoke like a gentle whisper.

“But… if those shares could connect to the dreams of the next generation… If someone could inherit the ‘feelings’ that are about to be lost… wouldn’t that warm your heart, even just a little?”

At that moment, Ryoko’s eyes glowed faintly red, and her hormone manipulation activated softly. The room’s atmosphere seemed to wrap gently around them.

The elderly woman’s eyes shimmered faintly.

“…You have a lovely voice. Like the scent of tea. Nostalgic, gentle…”

The corners of her eyes crinkled as she let out a soft laugh.

“You two… it’s like watching a youth movie. It reminds me of when I climbed a hill on a bicycle with that boy one summer day.”

Ryoko bowed quietly, and Shota bowed earnestly beside her.

“…Very well. If this old woman’s belongings can move someone’s future—then I’ll sell them to you, young lady.”

Ryoko smiled warmly, quietly releasing her hormone control.

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② Shikoku – Charismatic CEO (3% shareholding)

At a hilltop villa overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, the shimmering water below and pine trees swayed in the sea breeze.

Waiting on the veranda was a local sports-minded CEO feared as the “Devilish Charisma.”

Sunglasses, aloha shirt, and a muscular build.

“You want me to sell my shares? Convince me in three minutes. Timer starts now.”

In that instant, something went kyuin♡ in Shota’s mind. Beside him, Ryoko casually let her eyes glow red.

— Hormone manipulation, activated.

Shota’s “presentation skills” suddenly maxed out—or rather, his “Ryoko-love speech power” was absurdly boosted.

“…I want to build the future Ryoko-senpai believes in—together with her!”

“I may not be the most reliable, but I’ll treasure her more than anyone!”

“I’ll protect her with my life! If she collapses, I’ll carry her home on my back with everything I’ve got!!”

By this point, no one knew what kind of presentation this was supposed to be.

But the CEO stroked his chin, gazing at Shota seriously.

“…Ryoko-chan, I like this guy.”

“So straightforward it’s actually charming. If I were 20 years younger, I’d have fallen for him myself.”

Ryoko smiled sweetly.

“Ufufu♡ He’s a bit of an idiot, but he’s honest to the core.”

“…I like it. I’ll give you all my shares. I’m investing in your future!”

— Later, the “Shota Fan Club – Shikoku Chapter” was quietly established in his hometown, but that’s another story.

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③ Chubu – Truck Company President (2% ownership)

In the suburbs of the Chubu region, in an area lined with warehouses and logistics centers, there was a man known among his employees as the “Running Philosopher.” Igarashi—the president of a mid-sized trucking company—was a veteran with graying hair, living by his convictions and pride in his craft.

Seated deeply in his chair in the reception room, Igarashi slowly spoke.

"I believe the transport industry has a future. But Sunrise Global Trading… they never changed. Even if they’re bought out now, what’s going to happen?"

Shota leaned forward.

"…But now, Sunrise Global Trading has Ryoko-senpai! I’ve been running after her with everything I have! I believe there’s light in the future of logistics, too!"

But the president kept his arms folded, his face stern.

"I understand how you feel. But dreams alone can’t carry cargo."

That’s when it happened. A sweet air softly filled the room. Ryoko stepped forward.

"Ufufu… Mr. President ♡ You care very deeply about the future, don’t you?"

Her eyes quietly, but unmistakably, glowed red. The next moment— Igarashi’s expression softened, his eyes beginning to glisten, his breathing filling with a sweet, intoxicating sensation like honey seeping into his lungs.

"…Ah… Ahhh…"

"You know, Mr. President ♡ I think when it comes to ‘carrying’ the future, we can become your partners."

Ryoko slowly crouched beside the president’s chair and gently placed her hand on his.

"This boy is still inexperienced, but he’s straightforward and incapable of lying. That’s why we’d like someone like you—someone who seriously faces the future, just like your company—to be on our side ♡"

Igarashi gazed at Ryoko’s hand for a moment, then stood up and took a deep breath.

“Lo, I find myself utterly wearied. Such persuasion hath ne’er graced mine ears! I shall bestow upon thee my treasures. Proceed, and shape thy destiny with valor!”

Shota bowed deeply at those words.

(Shota: …Are we still in the president’s office, or did I just step into a medieval RPG cutscene…?)

"Thank you, Mr. President! …Wait, Senpai, what did you just do…?"

"Hm? Just a little ‘adjustment’ ♡"

—Later, on the way home, President Igarashi muttered to his assistant:

"Ah, the maiden's gaze… it hath ensnared mine entire heart… yet, in peculiar delight, it bringeth joy. I yearn to behold her once more!"

(Shota: …Yup. Definitely an RPG.)

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④ Tokyo – Mysterious Major Shareholder (9% ownership)

In a quiet residential neighborhood in Tokyo, passing through the gate of an old single-family house led to a garden with a well-tended plum tree. Greeting them was an elderly man with a cane. His back was slightly bent, but his eyes held an unwavering light of intelligence.

"You’ve come to persuade me? You’ve got some backbone for someone so young."

In the reception room, where tea was served, an old pendulum clock ticked away the time. Sitting in seiza posture beside Ryoko, Shota bowed deeply.

"…Yes. We want to protect Sunrise Global Trading."

The old man remained silent, slowly gazing at Shota. His eyes held the quiet sternness of one who had seen the ideals of many young people.

"Sasaki… Is that your husband’s name?"

At the sudden question, Ryoko smiled and nodded.

"Yes ♡ He’s my greatest weapon."

As Shota looked down, embarrassed, Ryoko gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He wasn’t asked, and he wasn’t ordered—he said from the heart, ‘I want to protect your company.’"

The old man’s expression softened slightly. Then, with a faint smile, he murmured:

"…You remind me of my younger self. Running straight down the path you believe in. Never stopping, even when you’re covered in wounds—there are still people like that in this country."

Quietly, the old man stood and walked to the safe in the back of the room. He placed a thick envelope on the table.

"This is the future I entrust to you. Use it as you wish."

While Shota bowed over and over, Ryoko smiled gently. She hadn’t used any hormone manipulation—this was simply a moment where “Shota himself” moved someone’s heart.

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Thus, Ryoko and Shota steadily laid the groundwork for the success of Rhein Welt Asset’s TOB.

The dramatic buyout also became a hot topic in various circles:
• Economic magazines ran a special feature,
• On the company’s internal bulletin board, speculation spread about “Who’s the next president?”,
• On social media, “#DawnOfSGT” （#陽光の夜明け）trended.

It was truly a “dramatic acquisition saga” that swept public opinion.

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【Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting Decided】

And in just two weeks after the TOB began, Rhein Welt Asset secured a majority of the voting rights.

"We have officially notified the convening of an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting."

The message from Hunts arrived on July 15. The date of the shareholders’ meeting—August 29.

At last, the time for the decisive battle was drawing ever closer.

To be continued