[50] Reluctance (II)

On the same day and time, Kaoru was leading a meeting in a brightly lit conference room. With a confident and clear speaking style, he smoothly explained the details of upcoming projects, impressing every team member. Kaoru appeared highly experienced and knew exactly how to convey information in a motivating manner.

"As we discussed earlier," Kaoru began, "this project will be a significant milestone for our company. We have accounted for all aspects, from product development to marketing. I am confident that we can meet this target with the right strategy."

The employees, sitting attentively in their seats, nodded in agreement. Kaoru continued his explanation with in-depth details, outlining the necessary steps and targets to be achieved.

"Additionally," Kaoru added, "we have also arranged for salary increases for all team members involved in this project. We want to ensure that you feel valued for your hard work. Not only that, but your working conditions will also be improved to ensure optimal comfort and productivity."

A satisfied smile spread across the faces of each employee upon hearing the news. They exchanged looks, clearly showing that their motivation had soared.

"Kaoru-sama, this is incredible!" exclaimed one of the employees, full of enthusiasm. "With all the support and facilities provided, we truly feel more excited to contribute to this project."

Kaoru nodded with pride. "Thank you. We believe that with our combined hard work and dedication, we will achieve outstanding results. Please do not hesitate to offer ideas or feedback, as the success of this project will be the result of our collective efforts."

The meeting ended on an increasingly positive note. Each employee felt motivated and ready to face the challenges ahead. Kaoru, feeling satisfied as he saw his team inspired, was confident that the upcoming project would go smoothly due to the newly found spirit and commitment within his team.

After the meeting, Kaoru returned to his office. The air-conditioned, comfortable room helped him relax. He sat at his desk, reading some documents and searching for new resources to develop the entertainment company.

Kaoru focused on selecting talented musicians who were often overlooked. He felt frustrated because many entertainment companies now only cared about the latest trends. "It's quite amusing," he thought. "A person's talent shouldn't be judged by trends alone. Art cannot be measured solely by surveys or what's popular."

He reflected on how music tastes had changed over time. In 2022, popular music might have been phonk or brutal remixes. In the 1980s, pop music was the pinnacle with icons like Michael Jackson and Queen. And now, in 2082, music trends had shifted again. Kaoru, who was from Earth in 2022, felt confused by the strange music trends of the present.

"Current music trends might sound foreign to me," Kaoru said to himself, "but I believe that true talent will always find its way. I will continue to seek out and support musicians with potential, even if they don't fit the current trends."

With renewed determination, Kaoru continued his work, confident that he could make a difference in the entertainment industry by prioritizing true talent over just following current trends.

Kaoru's first step in developing his company was to focus on music. He was completely obsessed with the idea of finding and promoting talented musicians, who were often neglected by fleeting trends. In his busyness, Kaoru even forgot to repair his old phone, the only communication tool that could connect him with entities that might bring him back to his original world.

Kaoru, absorbed in his work, was unaware of the phone's importance. "Ah, this phone," he murmured, glancing at the old device lying in the corner of his desk. "I should fix it someday."

While Kaoru was engrossed in handling some documents in his office, his eyes were suddenly drawn to the view from a raven he had instructed to monitor Asuka. The image from the raven's perspective showed a suspicious situation—Asuka and her friend were surrounded by a group of men, one of whom appeared threatening and rough.

Kaoru zoomed in for a clearer view. "Ah, so this is what made Asuka act strange yesterday," he murmured, frowning. "Someone dares to touch my woman so casually, hmm~ Should I intervene?"

Kaoru smiled with a sinister expression, a side of him rarely shown in public. Although Asuka was not officially his girlfriend yet, Kaoru had already displayed another side of himself—a protective playboy who cared deeply for those important to him. In Kaoru's mind, Asuka held a special place that needed protection, even if their relationship was not officially established.

"Well then, it seems it's time for me to show who truly holds the power here," Kaoru added in a low, determined voice. He closed his documents and stood up, ready to take action. "Raven, keep monitoring them. I'm heading to the location."

With firm steps, Kaoru left his office and headed out, his mind and heart focused on one goal—to resolve this situation and protect Asuka from the looming threat.

In no time, Kaoru had strategized and prepared everything to ensure he could handle the situation effectively. "Time to show who's really in charge here," he said with a cold smile.

As Kaoru opened his office door to leave, Shiranui unexpectedly appeared in front of the door, just about to enter the room. They met by chance, and their gazes locked.

"Oh, Kaoru-kun!" Shiranui greeted, surprised but friendly.

Kaoru looked at her with an expression of urgency. "Shiranui-san! I'm glad you're here. I have an urgent matter that I need to attend to immediately. Could you handle the rest while I'm away?"

He grasped Shiranui's shoulders firmly, closing the distance between them. Shiranui, a woman in her thirties, felt her cheeks flush slightly. "Um… but…"

Kaoru didn't give her a chance to explain further. "Alright, I'm off then!" he said with determined tone, not waiting for Shiranui's response and walking past her.

Shiranui stood frozen in front of the door, confusion and frustration clear on her face. She tried to understand what had just happened, but there was too little time for an explanation. "Wait, Kaoru-kun!" she tried to call out, but Kaoru was already too quick to be stopped.

As Kaoru raced toward his destination, his thoughts were focused on his urgent mission—to save Asuka from the impending danger. In his mind, there was no room for doubt or mistakes; he had to act swiftly.

Shiranui, still standing there with mixed feelings, felt frustrated at not being able to convey what was on her mind. Although she didn't fully understand the urgency of Kaoru's situation, she knew something important was happening. After a moment, she sighed and decided to continue with her work, though with lingering curiosity and concern.