The Production Procurement Section of Higashi Engineering Corporation was alive with its usual blend of chaos and routine. Phones rang from every corner, their sharp tones blending into a familiar background melody. Fingers danced across keyboards in a frantic rhythm, accompanied by the soft rustle of paperwork shuffled from one desk to another. Overhead lights bathed the room in a bright, sterile glow, but no one had time to notice. The air carried the scent of coffee that's strong, slightly burnt, and essential for survival.
"Anyone got the new price list from Kikuchi Trading?"
"Check the shared drive," someone replied without glancing up.
"Ugh, revised delivery schedule again?" a voice groaned. "Do they change it every damn week?"
The atmosphere was charged, buzzing with chatter, complaints, and the occasional sigh of frustration. Yet, amidst the flurry of activity, there was a rhythm—frantic, yes, but oddly synchronized.
"Kacho! Hokkaido's distributor is on line two!"
"Hmm, tell them I'll call back after lunch," came the reply, smooth and lazy, from the far end of the room.
At the corner desk, legs crossed and one arm draped over the back of his chair, sat Hasegawa Tetsurou—the section chief. His blazer was open, and his tie loosened. With a pen spinning effortlessly between his fingers and his eyes fixed on his phone screen, he looked every bit the image of someone completely detached from the surrounding chaos.
"Kacho, about the cargo discrepancy report—" a subordinate ventured.
"Uh-huh, later," Hasegawa replied with a flick of his hand, still scrolling through his phone. "Deadlines are important, but so is my peace of mind."
A collective groan echoed through the department. "Seriously, kacho…"
Their frustration was real, but so was their amusement. This was, after all, classic Hasegawa—infuriatingly carefree, yet somehow, the department always thrived under him. He had a knack for solving problems at the last second, usually with a grin and a half-assed explanation.
"Kacho!"
The sudden, sharp call made Hasegawa pause mid-pen spin. He lifted his eyes lazily to meet the wide, panicked gaze of Sakai-kun, his neighbor and the section's resident worrywart. The reflection on Sakai-kun's glasses flashed as he twisted around in his chair, his voice urgent.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the management meeting at 11 am?"
There was a beat of silence.
Hasegawa's eyes slid toward the clock on the wall.
[10:51 AM]
His smile froze.
A second passed.
"Shit—!!"
His chair spun violently as he shot to his feet, nearly knocking his coffee cup off the desk.
"Crap, crap, crap! I completely forgot!" His voice shot up an octave as panic crashed down on him, sending nearby subordinates into muffled laughter.
Scrambling like a man suddenly thrown into battle, he snatched his notebook, phone, and pen, fumbling them into his arms while his wallet slipped out of his pocket and hit the floor with a soft thud. He bent down, scooped it up in one swift motion, and straightened with the grace of a man used to chaotic exits.
"Don't slack off while I'm gone!" he barked, his usual grin returning even through his panic. "And if any suppliers call—" He pointed without hesitation, "Sakai-kun, you handle it!"
Sakai-kun's eyes widened in horror. "Huh!? Why me!?"
"You're the most reliable!"
"Since when!?" Sakai-kun wailed, his voice cracking with disbelief.
"You'll figure it out!" Hasegawa called back with a laugh, already halfway to the exit.
"Wait, kacho!" Sakai-kun's chair scraped back as he nearly jumped to his feet. "You're just dumping it on me!"
Hasegawa, with his hand on the glass door, glanced back with a teasing smirk. "Just stall them if you can't handle it! Or better yet—" he paused for dramatic effect, eyes glinting mischievously, "Make something up!"
"Make something up?!" Sakai-kun's voice shot up another octave, his face twisting into pure betrayal. "You're trying to get me killed!"
But it was too late. The only answer he got was the soft click of the door closing behind their chief.
The room fell silent for a moment. Then, a chuckle broke the stillness, followed by another, until the entire office burst into laughter.
"Classic Hasegawa-kacho," someone said, shaking their head.
"I give it ten minutes before he charms his way through that meeting," another added, grinning.
And then, Sakai-kun slumped dramatically against his desk with a defeated groan. "I swear… One of these days…"
His lament was met with more laughter. Because, despite the chaos and constant headaches, everyone knew no one ran the section quite like their new chief.