We're Not Even Related by Blood

I hung up on the call with a blunt, "I have plenty of money!" after someone offered to lend me some. That morning, I was catching up with Mother on the phone for the first time in a while. Why would she call to offer me money when she had plenty of her own? Was it just a random cold call from a loan shark that happened to reach her?

"If you don't have any money, don't borrow from places like that. Just talk to your son. I have a lot of money now," I said with a smile, watching my assets climb in real time thanks to the stocks. In another two or three weeks, it would be time to cash out.

-I still have most of the inheritance your father left me, and I'm working, so I don't need your money. Don't even think about spending it—focus on saving.

Mother had recently moved into a mansion in a safer neighborhood. The old place wasn't bad, but a woman living alone would naturally feel uneasy, so I'd told her to move somewhere better. True to form, she said "okay" and packed up immediately.

"I'm just saying it's better to take money from your son than borrow from strangers and pay interest. It's not like I'm offering you cash when everything's fine right now."

-Yes, I understand. If I need money, I'll call you. I have to head to work now, so I'll hang up.

"Okay~."

I ended the call, pocketed my phone, and left the room. It was 8:40—perfect timing for the morning commute. I breathed in the crisp morning air as I headed for the office.

It was the final week for Group 74, so there wasn't much to do. Today was the day the mock stock investment results would be announced. I figured our group would take first place. After all, I'd recommended Health Miracle.

When I gave them the tip, it was still possible to jump on at a good price. I told them to invest for real if they trusted me. As a result, everyone in Group 74 and most of the beautiful trainees from the other groups I'd approached early on put in between 200,000 and 300,000 yen. One girl from a wealthy family even invested a full million yen.

They would all become my informants eventually. Since they'd made serious money from the information I shared, their loyalty to me should rise even higher. The stock was currently trading at around thirty dollars per share, so even the people who invested the minimum 200,000 yen would see thirty times their money. I'd told them it would hit at least a thousand dollars, so none of them should have sold yet.

"Good morning!" I greeted the team members who had arrived before me and took my seat.

Team Leader Sinoe Misano had been absent since yesterday. Her husband had been delayed and only arrived yesterday—eleven days later than planned—and she had taken three days of leave starting then. No one knew exactly what they were up to.

"Taira Ryuta, what's your schedule today?"

It was Assistant Team Leader Suzuki Chisami, asking in a tone dripping with displeasure. Ever since I'd reported her for dumping a massive workload on me, she'd stopped hiding her hostility.

She's actually insane. Who was the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one in the wrong here?

"After regular duties and lunch, I have to attend the mock stock investment results as a mentor."

"Hmm... After the observation ends, I'll send you a few tasks by email. Finish them before you leave."

That's inconvenient... I'd been planning to throw a victory sex party with the winning team members after the event.

Should I needle her a little since she was already annoying me?

"Hmm... I suppose I'll have to call my mother and tell her I'll be home late."

"You...!"

"Is there a problem? I always have dinner with her. I'm just letting her know so she doesn't wait for me."

No matter how much she harassed me because she was on Taira Jiro's side, I couldn't understand what gave her the confidence to treat me this way. Did she really think Taira Jiro would protect her? He'd cut her loose like a lizard's tail the moment it became inconvenient.

"It won't be enough work to require overtime. There's no need to contact her."

I told you, I'm having a sex party after the observation. Still, I had no interest in raising my voice and fighting, so I simply nodded and sat down.

"You're probably the only junior who talks back to the assistant team leader like that," Mimata Chieri whispered in my ear as I settled into my chair. Her expression was one of pure satisfaction.

"Even without the team leader here, is it really okay to push work like that?"

"As you know, she nags subordinates even when the team leader is present. There's also a rumor that the HR director at the Talent Development Center is the assistant team leader's backer. That's why even the team leader can't handle her carelessly."

Oh! That's valuable information. It seemed highly likely the HR director was aligned with Jiro's faction. I'd have to ask Taira Yukiko about it later.

"Want to grab lunch together? It's been a while."

"Unfortunately, I can't today. I have an outside assignment."

Right. Because I'd taken on the mentor role, Mimata Chieri had been handling all the external tasks in my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠place during the training period. I did feel a little guilty.

"It's because of me, isn't it? I'm sorry, senior."

"Hehe. The team leader gave me the corporate card for business trips. It's a chance to eat something delicious, you know?"

"Still, I feel bad. I'll buy you a drink next time."

I didn't know when that would be, but I promised to repay Mimata Chieri for the inconvenience and started my morning work.

"Hello. Education Team 1 Leader. Thank you for looking after our Group 74 members yesterday."

After lunch, I went to the auditorium for the observation and greeted the Education Team 1 Leader, who welcomed me warmly.

"Hehe, taking care of one extra group is nothing to me. So, did the director enjoy her time at Disneyland?"

"Yes. She got to rest after a long time. Of course, I mentioned you to her. I told her that thanks to you taking care of my group, I was able to escort my mother."

When I said I'd told Taira Yukiko about him, he looked overjoyed. I hadn't actually mentioned it yet, but I probably should. Having the HR deputy director as a suspected Jiro ally was bad enough—I didn't need to make an enemy of the Education Team 1 Leader too.

"By the way, your Group 74 took first place in the mock stock investment competition. How on earth did you achieve nearly 20,000 percent returns?"

"Half the members invested in stocks they chose themselves, and the other half followed my recommendation."

"Hehe, I didn't realize you had a talent for investing. Any tips for me?"

"I got lucky, honestly... If I come across a good one next time, I'll let you know."

There was no reason to give stock recommendations to the education team leader. I brushed it off by saying I'd tell him later. From the conversation, since our group had taken first, it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠meant the individual winner wasn't from Group 74.

Who could it be? The best performer in our group had multiplied their capital 230 times—that's 23,000 percent. Health Miracle was obviously a huge factor, but they'd also succeeded with their other investments to reach that figure.

Then how much had the individual winner earned? Of course, since it was all mock trading, no real money had changed hands.

"Do you happen to know who took first place individually?"

"Ah, it's Masato from Group 45 over there. That young man."

Masato... When I looked where the leader was pointing, I saw a male trainee who looked like he'd just graduated college. He was quite handsome, but my sharp eyes immediately noticed the wig.

This Masato guy... At his age, it probably wasn't total baldness—more likely early hair loss. While looking into hair loss treatments, he must have learned about Health Miracle and gone all-in, which propelled him to first place.

The members of our group had split their investments, so they couldn't compete with someone who bet everything on that one stock.

This time, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no chairs were needed. All the trainees stood in the auditorium. The Education Team 1 Leader who had been standing beside me had already made his way to the podium.

When our return was announced, the entire auditorium buzzed. The most common reaction was disbelief—19,100 percent? Is that even possible?

"Each member of Group 74 will receive a 100,000 yen gift certificate from Taira Electronics. As for the mentor of Group 74, Taira Ryuta from Education Support Team 2... let's give him a big round of applause."

I'd been expecting something for myself too. What a prank. My disappointed expression must have been funny, because both the trainees and mentors laughed as they clapped. Still, being applauded didn't feel bad at all.

The group members' faces were all bright—they'd each received a 100,000 yen gift certificate.

"Group 74, you may step down. Now we will announce the individual return winner..."

As I descended from the podium, the Group 74 members swarmed me. They linked arms, hugged me from behind, and did everything they could to cling to me.

"We got the gift certificates thanks to you, mentor~!!"

"Thank you, mentor!"

There were too many eyes watching, so I smiled and told them to return to their seats. They wouldn't listen, so I promised we'd have a celebration party after dinner tonight. Only then did they finally disperse.

"You can't forget the promise~!"

"That's right! It was so lonely at Disneyland yesterday without you, mentor!"

Hmm. Sorry, but Taira Yukiko is far more important than all of you. I answered them inwardly and returned to my spot. As for not being able to guide them at Disneyland yesterday, I'd just have to repay them with my body.