FRAGILE - Chapter 1

While you may already be familiar with these terms, I’ve provided their English definitions for those who may not be. I’ve also changed the name order to First and Last, rather than the Last and First order used in the original Japanese text.

1. さん (san): This is a general, respectful suffix used to address or refer to someone. It's similar to "Mr.," "Mrs.," or "Ms." in English. It's commonly used for people of all ages and social statuses in both formal and informal contexts.

2. 君 (kun): This suffix is often used for addressing younger males, or in a more familiar or casual setting. It can be used with people of the same or lower status, and it's commonly used among friends, students, or in professional settings where there is a clear hierarchy (like between a superior and a subordinate). 

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It was nothing impressive. At best, he might have added his own twist, but simply copying a concept seen elsewhere without any originality was utterly pointless. After reading the first page and stamping it as "no good" in his mind, continuing any further felt like a tedious chore.

When a female staff member came around serving tea, the Assistant Manager Tomomi Okouchi took the chance to toss the proposal onto his desk. Even trash like this deserved advice, meaning he’d have to skim through it to the end. With a sigh, he picked up his mug, grimacing at the cheap coffee aroma, and turned around. The sky outside the office window ignored the three o’clock hour, appearing dim as if it were already evening.

In the past few days, clear skies had been rare. It was the rainy season in June, but even so, the frequency of rain seemed unusually high. This month, there had even been two weddings to attend. Though understandable in other countries, Okouchi couldn't grasp why anyone would choose such an unstable season here to hold a wedding.

Though cloudy, it hadn’t started raining yet. There was no urgent work; maybe he’d leave early today. Just as he picked up the proposal again with that thought, he heard a voice.

"Hey, Aoki, where do you think you’re going?"

The urgent tone of the section chief, Isono, made Okouchi look up. Tatsurou Aoki was striding toward his desk, his expression tense, his eyes glaring at him with unmistakable hostility. Why the scary face? Okouchi furrowed his brow, tilting his head slightly, only to notice the office scissors clutched tightly in the man’s hand. The unusual atmosphere, the scissors, the sharp gaze—Okouchi felt a chill run down his spine.

Something’s wrong. This isn’t normal.

An alarm went off in his mind. Following the warning signals rushing through him, Okouchi hastily stood. At that moment, the man broke into a run. Okouchi threw down the proposal and leapt toward the opposite side, away from the man circling his desk from the right. He tried to make his way across the office toward the hallway, but a seated employee blocked his path, their chair jutting into the aisle, slowing him down.

"Move… Get out of the way!"

He roughly shoved the employee’s shoulder to clear a path, only briefly catching a glimpse of her indignant expression before focusing entirely on the door ahead. Just a little more, and he could grab the doorknob—but at that moment, his collar was seized, yanking him back mercilessly. His throat tightened, and he let out a strangled, duck-like sound: “Guh!”

“St-stop…”

As he was dragged backward, he lost his balance and collapsed onto the floor. The pressure on his throat released momentarily. Sensing that Aoki had let go, Okouchi crawled forward, but in an instant, his ankle was caught, and he was pulled back again.

Pinned face-down on the floor, Okouchi struggled under the weight of the person straddling his back. Flailing his arms and legs desperately like a turtle flipped on its shell, a surge of anger welled up inside him. Why do I have to endure something so outrageous?

"Hey!"

Twisting his neck awkwardly to look up, he saw a silver blur flash past his cheek. A loud, metallic clang reverberated near his ear.

"Aaah!"

A scream, sharp as tearing silk, pierced the air. Stainless steel scissors were embedded in the office carpet. When Okouchi gingerly touched his tingling cheek, his fingertips came away sticky and red.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Still facedown, Okouchi let out a primal scream. I’m going to be killed, I’m going to be killed... The thought of death looped endlessly in his mind. His hair was yanked, forcing his head upward. Through his hazy vision, he saw Aoki, hair disheveled and face twisted like a demon, raising the scissors high.

"Stop it! Don’t do something so stupid!"

Suddenly, someone grabbed Aoki’s right hand. The weapon fell to the floor with a dull thud. The grip on Okouchi’s hair loosened, and he collapsed back onto the floor, clutching his head as he whimpered, "H-hhhn… hhhn…" His body shook uncontrollably.

“Let me go, let me go!”

Aoki’s shouts echoed through the room. In that moment, the weight on Okouchi’s back lifted.

“Assistant Manager, Assistant Manager!”

At the sound of the voice, Okouchi sluggishly began to lift himself off the floor. His gaze remained vacant, fixed on the carpet below, until Isono gripped his shoulders and shook him firmly.

"Are you alright? Are you injured?"

Awareness began to return. As his interrupted thoughts started to work again, Okouchi slowly turned around. Aoki was thrashing about wildly, pinned down by several employees as if he were a raging bull.

“I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you!”

The man’s sharp glare bore into him, spewing terrifying threats. It was impossible to believe this was the same person who, barely thirty minutes ago, had been hanging his head dejectedly in front of him. Now, he was a beast baring its fangs, ready to pounce if even one hand released its grip. The sheer ferocity of his rampage made Okouchi turn away in fear.

Suddenly aware of how undignified he looked, still sitting on the floor, he forced himself to stand. His hip ached from the fall, and the discomfort in his throat from being strangled by his shirt hadn’t eased. He tried to straighten his twisted collar and tie, but his trembling fingers struggled to cooperate.

“Isono-kun, could you call the police?”

The man, who usually sprang into action with any command, hesitated uncharacteristically.

“Th-the police?”

“Assistant Manager, isn’t that a bit…”

One of the employees holding Aoki down, Minegishi, who was older than Okouchi, muttered with a furrowed brow. Okouchi spread his arms in an exaggerated gesture, almost like a foreigner.

“You think I’m overreacting? If you all hadn’t stopped him, I might have been seriously hurt, or even killed.”

“Why don’t you just die!”

At the sound of the mad dog’s snarl, Okouchi’s back tensed in a shudder.

“Enough already.”

Even scolded by Minegishi, Aoki’s torrent of abusive language didn’t stop.

“I’ll take him outside to talk.”

Pulled along by Minegishi and a few others, the beast was led out into the hallway. Even after the door closed, fragments of his shouting echoed, then gradually faded into the distance.

As silence returned to the office, a prickling discomfort spread over Okouchi’s body. Everyone had either stopped their work or stood up, staring at him. “Sorry for the disturbance. Please, get back to work,” he called out, and then, as if fleeing from the awkwardness, he stepped into the hallway.

He went to the restroom and looked at himself in the mirror. The cut left by the scissors, a red line staining his cheek, was smaller than he had expected when he wiped it with a damp handkerchief. But the red mark crossing his cheek was still unmistakably noticeable. Sighing, he left the restroom and ran into several male employees who had helped restrain Aoki.

"Assistant Manager, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Nodding vaguely at the concerned voices, he scanned the group to make sure the mad dog wasn’t among them.

“I’m sorry for causing you trouble, everyone. By the way… where is Aoki now?”

The employee standing directly in front of him looked away uncomfortably.

“He’s in the conference room. He’s still agitated, so Minegishi-san is trying to calm him down.”

As Aoki’s superior, he couldn’t just leave him alone, but he also felt that Aoki might jump at him again if they met. Even so, he made his way to the conference room but found himself unable to knock on the cream-colored door. Pressing his ear to the door, he heard nothing from inside.

Exhaling softly, Okouchi leaned back against the wall opposite the door and reflected on Tatsurou Aoki.

He was a quiet man. Four years younger than Okouchi, who had recently turned thirty-one, and aside from being tall, his appearance was unremarkable. The tasks he was assigned were completed with almost neurotic perfection, often exceeding expectations. His meticulousness and the obvious talent he displayed were, to Okouchi, nothing short of an unbearable thorn in his side.

Aoki never talked back or resisted, so Okouchi had been harsh with him, using that as an excuse. He scolded him more than others and, despite knowing his competence, never gave him any significant assignments. He was aware that his bullying caused Aoki stress, evidenced by Aoki’s constant reliance on stomach medicine and his repeated claims of stomach ulcers or perforations, leading to multiple hospital stays. Still, he never imagined the man would snap like this.

He couldn’t possibly continue working with such a violent man. He would report the incident to his superiors and make sure Aoki faced the consequences… As he was thinking this, the conference room door opened. Startled, he took a step back, but it was only Minegishi who came out alone.

“Oh, Assistant Manager. You’re here,” Minegishi said, managing a strained smile as soon as he noticed Okouchi’s presence.

“And Aoki…?”

“He’s inside. He said he wanted a bit more time alone to cool down. He’s a smart guy; he knows exactly what he’s done. But… it might be best if you don’t see him just yet.”

Minegishi’s warning held him back, and Okouchi didn’t have the courage to press further.

“In that case, could you let him know that he’ll face the necessary consequences for what happened today? And once he’s calmed down, tell him to go home.”

Minegishi gave a shallow nod and disappeared back into the conference room. Okouchi turned on his heel and started walking back toward the office. The cut on his cheek began to sting anew. He had no intention of forgiving that man; he fully intended to report the incident to his supportive supervisor, emphasizing Aoki’s violent outburst.

He thought he could hear the sound of rain. Glancing up, he noticed that the glass window at the end of the hall was blurred, hazed gray by the rain that had begun to fall.

◇:-:◆:-:◇

The presence of water was unceasing. Even though it was the rainy season, the continuous downpour hinted at a somewhat chilly summer. If the summer were cool, that would make it all the more comfortable, which would be welcome in its own way, but if there was one drawback, it was the wet, unstable footing on the commute.

Yet, none of that rainy atmosphere managed to seep into this underground bar. It was only visible in the damp shoulders of new patrons entering. Within the softly lit bar, where jazz played, Okouchi brought a glass of cold sake to his lips. After the smooth, almost water-like sensation down his throat, a gentle sweetness, reminiscent of fruit, spread across his palate. It was indeed a fine sake, just as the owner had recommended.

After finishing a client meeting with executives from Grevo Corporation, Okouchi had brought his subordinate, the planner Isono, to this bar on the outskirts of the downtown area. While partly because he wanted to come here himself, it was also a gesture of appreciation for Isono, who had worked tirelessly since the morning to prepare for the meeting.

Though Okouchi enjoyed all kinds of alcohol, when asked what he preferred most, his answer was always sake. In this respect, this bar, which offered a wide selection of high-quality ginjo sake from across the country in a quiet, refined atmosphere, had become one of his favorites.

During the client meeting, both Okouchi and Isono had made a good impression on Grevo Corporation’s employees, ensuring they would remember their faces. A head-to-head competition based purely on merit would have been a losing battle against rival companies; their own project was average at best, and they were painfully aware of it. That’s why these advance meetings, these little acts of flattery, were a critical part of the strategy.

There were colleagues who disliked Okouchi’s brazen tactics, but no matter how much they protested or insisted on fair competition, it was meaningless if the job went to a competitor instead.

The meeting had gone exceptionally well. One of the executives had even said, before seeing the proposal, “I’ll back your company.” This success was thanks in no small part to Isono, who had researched the preferences of Grevo employees, scouted an elegant venue, and even prepared witty entertainment. As a reward, Okouchi offered him a drink, but Isono, clearly not much of a sake drinker, turned bright red after just two glasses.

“Speaking of Aoki…”

Out of nowhere, Isono began to talk. In his current pleasant mood, it wasn’t a name Okouchi was keen to hear.

“When I called the office this evening, I heard from Minegishi-san that he finally handed in his resignation.”

Okouchi wasn’t surprised. If anything, he felt a sense of relief. Finally. Aoki had quit. The lingering unease that had weighed on his chest for so long seemed to dissipate in an instant. It had been a week since the day Aoki had attacked him with scissors, and since then, Aoki had been absent without leave notice. The incident, an act of violence against a superior, had been reported to higher management, and even if Aoki had returned to work, he would almost certainly have been pressured to resign before he could formally submit his resignation.

"I figured he’d quit," Isono said, swirling his glass lazily. "After that fiasco, and with all the rumors going around…"

He trailed off, leaving part of his meaning unsaid. The office was abuzz with rumors that Aoki had been a homosexual. Okouchi hadn’t expected the small, seemingly insignificant comment he had let slip to have such an impact. But it worked better than I could have imagined.

There was no hint of regret in Isono’s expression as he muttered with his head slightly tilted. The departure of Aoki, who had shared the same position as a planner, meant that Isono would now be the primary driver of new projects. The silent exit of a rival was undoubtedly favorable for Isono as well.

“Indeed…” murmured Okouchi, downing the last of his drink in one gulp.

“Aoki was a proud man. And hot-tempered. If he was going to work in a company, he should have learned to control himself a bit better.”

With a pensive look, Isono furrowed his brow and propped his cheek on his hand, letting out a quiet groan.

“You were hard on him, Assistant Manager. Honestly, was his work that bad? None of his proposals ever got approved—they always stopped at your level.”

Okouchi shrugged slightly.

“Well, he’s gone now, so it feels a bit cruel to say anything, but to be frank… the quality of his work was like something a grade-schooler might put together.”

“I see…” Isono murmured, lowering his gaze, his cheeks still flushed from the sake.

"Actually, I got to see one of Aoki’s proposals that got rejected once. The perspective was fresh and unique… I thought it was really interesting."

Okouchi was surprised. He hadn’t expected Aoki to share one of his proposals with Isono, another planner. Within the same company, planners were in a constant state of competition. Normally, no one would show their unapproved proposals to others. If a colleague saw an idea in progress and adapted it for their own project, there would be no grounds to complain. The rule in planning was that the first person to present an idea won. Even the best concepts meant nothing if they weren’t turned into concrete plans ready for execution.

“Which one did he show you?”

Isono tilted his head thoughtfully.

“I think it was the sales proposal for Ennic’s soft drink, Priza.”

Hearing the name “Ennic,” Okouchi remembered it too. Aoki had devised a plan to conduct a promotional campaign for the drink, targeting teenagers and people in their twenties, focusing exclusively on online advertising. It was standard to promote drinks through TV commercials featuring popular young actresses or musical artists, but a campaign limited only to the internet—which, despite its spread, was still accessible in limited environments—was unconventional.

However, the internet had a significant advantage over television: there was no need to become a program sponsor, so promotional expenses could be significantly reduced. Aoki planned to release daily game-like ads online, with prizes accessible only to those who watched them. It might seem exclusive at first glance, but the strategy cleverly tapped into people’s subconscious, subtly stoking their desire to buy.

When Okouchi read the Priza sales proposal from Aoki, he was struck by its originality. It was backed by detailed data and research, with a specific plan of action. It was near-perfect—more than perfect, even. Yet Okouchi rejected Aoki’s proposal, citing that “the internet-based sales strategy would be ineffective in advertising.”

The head of Ennic’s sales promotion department loved new ideas, and Okouchi could easily predict that if shown Aoki’s proposal, they’d jump at it, risks and all. Even so, Okouchi had deliberately chosen not to endorse Aoki’s work.

“It was certainly a unique and interesting idea. But with drinks, TV commercials are a big factor that drives sales, so excluding that meant his plan was unusable. If he had produced something more realistic, it might have been approved. But he took pride in his work and wouldn’t listen to anything I said.”

Isono nodded gravely, taking Okouchi’s words at face value. Seeing his compliant subordinate, Okouchi smiled faintly.

“I was strict with him because I had high expectations, but he never understood that. Instead, he thought I was bullying him and ended up resenting me, leading to that incident. He was a disappointment.”

Accepting this explanation, Isono didn’t bring up Aoki’s name again. After midnight, with the effects of the alcohol wearing off a bit, Isono began glancing at his watch. Though Okouchi wanted to drink a bit longer, he let his subordinate, who had work the next day, leave first and stayed behind in the bar alone.

The owner, who knew that Okouchi only engaged in conversation when he initiated it, would check in only when his glass was empty, leaving him otherwise undisturbed. Alone with his thoughts and savoring the taste of the sake, Okouchi drifted into contemplation.

—Aoki Tatsuro. The thought that he’d never have to see that man again filled him with profound relief. After the attack, he had been honestly afraid to see him. So Aoki’s departure from the company without any further contact had been convenient.

He’d told Isono that Aoki’s proposals were like something a grade-schooler might put together, but those submitted to him, including the one for Ennic, were disturbingly polished. Isono couldn’t even hold a candle to him. Yes, Aoki had a genius-level talent as a planner. He could read the market, identify trends, not merely list ideas but formulate a plan, and even simulate the potential sales outcomes.

If there were any faults to point out about Aoki, it would be that he was an exceptionally talented planner and that he had been favored by Ueda, a man who had been at odds with Okouchi. Just the memory of Ueda’s name was enough to make Okouchi feel sick. Though Ueda had graduated from a university considered lower-ranking than his own, he was one year older, possessed strong leadership, and was terrifyingly well-liked.

Until last year, Okouchi and Ueda each led separate planning groups in the Planning and Sales Department at Asai Advertising Corporation. In September of that year, they clashed over which group would handle a new promotional campaign for a women’s lingerie company that had come directly to the company. Eventually, it was decided that both groups would develop proposals, and the better one would be chosen.

It was an unspoken understanding that the head of the successful group would be promoted to Assistant Manager if their plan succeeded. Because of this, Okouchi couldn’t back down. In October, when both groups presented their proposals, Okouchi’s group’s plan was selected. Based purely on quality, Ueda’s proposal was far superior, but ultimately, the decision went in Okouchi’s favor.

The outcome had been decided even before the competition began. While Ueda stayed late, meticulously working with his team to refine his proposal, Okouchi spent his time drinking with upper management, escorted by his manager and department head. As an alumnus of the same university as the company president, Okouchi had earned special treatment and, on that occasion, was promised the role of Assistant Manager.

Frustrated by the outcome, Ueda confronted higher-ups directly, a move that garnered disapproval and soured his reputation. Once promoted to Assistant Manager, Okouchi became Ueda’s superior, but Ueda, harboring resentment, refused to cooperate. In return, Okouchi assigned Ueda only basic tasks—data collection and analysis that even a first-year could handle—and kept a close eye on him, ready to demote him at the slightest mistake.

But less than two months after Okouchi’s promotion, Ueda was headhunted by a rival advertising firm and left. With Ueda gone, his group disbanded. Two of his loyal followers resigned, but most stayed with the company and were reassigned to other departments. Among Ueda’s close protégés, Aoki was the only one who expressed a desire to join Okouchi’s group.

Knowing how fond Ueda had been of Aoki, Okouchi initially didn’t have a good impression of him. However, Aoki was unexpectedly quiet and compliant, to the extent that Okouchi figured his presence wouldn’t be a nuisance and allowed him into his group.

Yet, with Aoki, who had gained Ueda’s approval in that rigorously merit-based environment, it was clear he wasn’t just some mediocre yes-man. The first time Okouchi read one of Aoki’s proposals, he was stunned by its quality. He accepted it under the guise of “taking it under review.” Aoki continued to submit proposals to Okouchi afterward, and with each flawless proposal, Okouchi felt the undeniable weight of Aoki’s talent and skill. Gradually, he began to fear that this quiet man might one day threaten his own position.

In his own case, Okouchi had realized within a month of joining that this was not the company for “someone like him.” He had no talent for coming up with ideas, a nearly fatal flaw for a planner in an advertising firm. Still, he hadn’t considered quitting. Despite being a medium-sized company, Asai had potential for growth, and Okouchi had developed a certain attachment to it.

Yet, for someone without the ability to plan, reaching the top within the company would be a challenge. Okouchi, however, had a talent for winning people over. So much so that he’d earned a reputation for securing clients wherever he went. With no aptitude for planning, it seemed only natural for him to advance through sales and by currying favor with his superiors.

But for someone like Ueda, watching a man without real skill rise through mere words was unbearable. There had even been times when Ueda openly criticized him in front of everyone. Outwardly, Okouchi pretended to brush it off with a calm smile, but inwardly, he was seething with rage. Yet that bothersome rivalry was now a thing of the past. The man he hated, Ueda, was gone. And so was Aoki, the one who might have been a threat.

Before he knew it, the bar had emptied out considerably. A glance at his watch showed it was already two in the morning. This wasn’t an hour for a working man to still be drinking. With a wry smile, Okouchi settled his bill, sighed lightly, and stood up.

Partway up the stairs to street level, he could hear the sound of rain. The downpour showed no sign of letting up, and the sound of car tires slicing through water was a constant rhythm. On most nights, the area around the main street would be dotted with drunken salarymen stumbling around, but tonight, perhaps due to the rain, there were few people in sight.

He suddenly felt the urge to smoke in this kind of weather. But knowing he had no cigarettes left in his bag, he settled for idly nibbling at his thumbnail. In his student days, he had been a heavy smoker, going through five packs a day. But after joining the workforce, he quit completely, given that the business world was following a global trend toward no-smoking policies.

An empty taxi approached. Under his umbrella, Okouchi raised his right hand slightly. The moment he got in, the driver began chatting, which quickly wore on Okouchi’s nerves, so after giving his destination, he pretended to fall asleep to avoid further conversation.

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