After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back Chapter 97 Mari and Mari Enterprise

Kagura Hikaru and Ayakoji Chiyoko had another argunt.

To outsiders, their interactions seed normal, just like before, chatting and acting without any sign of avoidance.

Only the parties involved knew that they were truly at odds with each other.

Moreover, this ti the conflict was not a one-sided mistake on Kagura Hikaru's part but a purer clash of values.

Therefore, the atmosphere was even tenser.

Kagura Hikaru couldn't accept the attitude of Ayakoji Chiyoko treating Saijo Mari as a tool and himself as a gigolo.

Ayakoji Chiyoko also couldn't accept his insubordination for the sake of an outsider.

So, the two began to give each other the silent treatnt.

Regrettably, or perhaps fortunately,

since both individuals were very rational in nature, whether it was physical training, preparing for the sports festival, working for the Disciplinary Committee, or attending classes, they would still do these activities together.

They were adept at separating personal matters from professional, a trait that made them superior to the average person.

From this perspective, these two were quite a match.

Of course, in terms of a collegial relationship.

This atmosphere lasted for about a day.

Three days before the sports festival was about to begin, Ayakoji Chiyoko called Kagura Hikaru to the Disciplinary Committee.

"You should rember, during the departnt eting, Kiryu Hina ntioned that the sports club was discarding old sports equipnt and passing on the procurent of new ones to the Sports Committee," Ayakoji Chiyoko said straightforwardly.

"I rember, it was a purchase of a substantial amount," Kagura Hikaru asked, "Is there a problem with that?"

"A big one."

Ayakoji Chiyoko threw a docunt in front of Kagura Hikaru.

He picked it up and saw it was a financial report of a local company nad 'Mari'.

It showed that the company was in a dire financial situation, having incurred losses for three consecutive years, with dismal revenue.

Even after borrowing three hundred million yen from banks for cash flow, there was no sign of improvent.

Given that it was not a publicly-listed company, the financial report should only be circulated within the bank and the company. Ayakoji Chiyoko had procured such information from sowhere...

Kagura Hikaru rely skimd through this part since the content was very clear; his attention eventually settled on the enterprise's brand logo.

It was a white bird printed on a round green background.

It looked familiar... that's right, it was on the discarded sports equipnt!

Previously, when he and Ayakoji Chiyoko went to the school gym, the gear that the Discipline Committee mbers were moving had this logo on it.

That ant Mari Enterprise was the producer of those sports equipnt.

"This enterprise, they've been taking orders at a discounted price recently, madly accepting orders from across the country at sixty percent off," Ayakoji Chiyoko explained.

"Isn't that a good thing? It shows they're trying to recover from their losses."

"Well... you could say that, but by discounting so much, they'll also have to bear higher cost pressures, possibly even owing employees' wages. Can this enterprise really have such high morale?"

Ayakoji Chiyoko was doubtful about sothing, and he guessed what it was.

An enterprise on the brink of bankruptcy suddenly starts taking orders at a reduced price, and on a large scale at that.

This unusual act could easily lead to speculation of absconding with the money.

If that were the case, Uka High School would also suffer because they had just placed an order with Mari Enterprise for new sports equipnt.

Typically, school procurents like these would only go to established companies, with rarely any change.

If sothing went wrong, it would be a major embarrassnt for the Sports Committee.

Thinking of the Sports Committee, Kagura Hikaru rembered sothing.

"Speaking of which, this Mari Enterprise's na, it coincides with Saijo Mari's, that's quite a coincidence."

"You've got it backward."

"What?"

"It's not 'Mari Enterprise's na coinciding with Saijo Mari', it's 'Saijo Mari's na coinciding with Mari Enterprise'."

"...Sorry, I don't understand the difference between the two."

Kagura Hikaru frowned in confusion.

"Which ans," Ayakoji Chiyoko tapped on the table, saying, "Saijo Mari's na cos from the na of this company, because the chairman of Mari Enterprise is her father."

He suddenly realized.

So that's how it is, no wonder.

...No, that can't be right—if that's the case, wouldn't it be very troubling?

["The atmosphere at ho has been bad lately." "Father said he wants to take the family on a vacation to Arica." "Mom and Dad had a fierce argunt, and they talked about getting a divorce." "Mom resigned from Dad's company and is looking for a new job."]

The words Saijo Mari had said swept through his mind one after another.

"Tch..."

"What's wrong, did you think of sothing?"

Seeing he had a lead, Ayakoji Chiyoko imdiately pressed for more information.

"Give so ti." Kagura Hikaru put away the financial reports, "I need to leave early this afternoon, cover for . Also, I'll need to borrow these docunts for a while."

"The least you could do is tell what you're going to do—hey, are you listening!"

Ignoring the shouts of Ayakoji Chiyoko behind him, Kagura Hikaru rushed out the door with the docunts.

If this speculation is correct,

Saijo Mari, your family problems are far more complicated than just your parents getting a divorce.

At this rate, even maintaining a normal life could beco an issue.

...

Mari Enterprise.

As a sports brand rchant with a small reputation in Tokyo, with more than thirty chain stores across the country, its headquarters was an unremarkable, gray three-story office building.

For so reason, even without entering, he felt a heavy sense of gloom.

Perhaps this was also a result of preconceived notions.

Kagura Hikaru tightened his tie and strode towards the office building.

Now, he looked completely different from the student in school.

In fact, he didn't look like a student at all, but rather, he had the air of a working professional.

His hair was combed neatly, he wore leather shoes, a deep blue suit, a white shirt with a red tie, a watch on his wrist, and carried a docunt bag in his hand.

Like a corporate white-collar worker straight out of a magazine, tall and slim, incredibly handso, and turning heads as he walked.

No bystander could ever have guessed that this was a high school student, whose suit and watch were both rented.

Upon entering the office building, he saw the Mari Company logo and knew he was in the right place, heading straight to the reception desk.

The receptionist had been playing with her phone, but she looked up at the sound of footsteps, her eyes lighting up as she quickly straightened her attire and hair and stood up with a smile: "Welco, how may I help you?"

...You should represent the face of the company, not a hotel hostess.

Kagura Hikaru thought doubtfully upon hearing her.

He responded with a warm smile, further uplifting the receptionist's spirit, then said: "Hello, this is Mari Enterprise, right?"

Find your next read on empire

"Yes!"

"Good. I'm here on behalf of my client to discuss an acquisition. Could you take to see your leader?"

"Acquisition?" The receptionist paused, her face slightly stiffening.

Kagura Hikaru noted that, after learning about the matter, she didn't seem pleased but instead had the expression of soone witnessing a person fall into a pit.

[Acquisition? At this ti?]

[No, no, can't let the guest feel uncomfortable, must react quickly...]

[You've gained through "Insight into the Heart": Swimming 2]

[Swimming lv5 (Cannot be raised)]

Another skill had reached maximum level.

Well, it's not like he particularly cared about such things.

The receptionist quickly composed herself and actively led the way.

All the way, she chirpily tried to wheedle out Kagura Hikaru's contact information, which was a bit troubleso to manage.

While humoring her, his gaze was constantly taking in the interior of Mari Enterprise.

Hearing is not like seeing.

The real state of this company, he would confirm with his own eyes.