Chapter 137: This Is a Trial

'I need to stay calm...'

After learning he was now the acting president of Dainippon Bank, Shirogane Miyuki had momentarily collapsed. But he forced himself to regain composure.

All those years of pretending to be calm and in control in front of Shinomiya Kaguya were finally paying off.

He sat up, laced his fingers under his nose, and stared straight at Kuroda.

"Mr. Kuroda, I'm new here, so please inform me of any immediate responsibilities I should be aware of."

Kuroda was momentarily stunned by the aura Shirogane exuded.

'I was completely against Chairman Katahara putting a high schooler in charge of the bank, but... this kid has presence. That piercing gaze—he's no ordinary youth.'

Because of all his late-night studying, Shirogane had deep dark circles under his eyes, and the whites of his eyes were slightly bloodshot. Combined with his intense stare, he looked downright intimidating.

"Shirogane-san—no, President Shirogane," Kuroda said with a bow.

"Routine matters don't require your personal attention. Sub-departments will handle those. You'll only be involved when major decisions arise."

"Understood."

Though he was inwardly dazed, Shirogane maintained his calm exterior.

"You may go for now. I'll take some time to familiarize myself with the bank's operations."

"Of course. There's an employee list in the desk drawer—please review it when you have time. Also, you'll find my office number in the directory."

"Got it."

"I'll be counting on your leadership this month."

With that, Kuroda respectfully exited the office.

---

Outside the office, Kuroda leaned against the wall and let out a long breath.

"Shirogane-san's presence is overwhelming… that look in his eyes—like he could see right through me. Now I understand why Chairman Katahara chose him… he must have quite the background too."

---

Meanwhile, inside the president's office…

Shirogane, who had been sitting calmly, immediately broke character. He grabbed his phone and dialed.

Beep…

"Hello?"

"RINJI! What kind of job did you sign me up for!? Why am I suddenly the president of a freaking bank!?"

"Didn't you ask me to find you a part-time job?" Rinji said with a laugh on the other end. "So I asked someone I know, and he said he could arrange something for a month."

"Just who do you know that can hand over the presidency of Dainippon Bank!?"

"The current president. Katahara Metsudo."

"…He's still president?"

"Sure. I just asked him to step down for a month so you could give it a try."

"…"

'Try it out?' That's how economic disasters happen!

"Relax, President. Your goals were to gain experience and earn money. Being president for a month sounds like a great opportunity, doesn't it?"

"This is too much experience!"

"You're looking at it wrong," Rinji said, suddenly sounding serious. "Your biggest issue right now is your lack of confidence. What you need isn't just skill—it's perspective."

"That…"

"When facing the Shinomiya heiress, you've always carried a sense of inferiority. You think your family background and talents don't compare to hers. Even though you've worked hard and surpassed her in some areas, that inferiority complex still hasn't gone away," said Takamine Rinji. "Now's a good opportunity. After a month of experience, you're one of the decision-makers of Japan's economy. If nothing else, you should gain some confidence."

"...You're right."

Shirogane Miyuki could feel the sincerity in Rinji's words.

"I'll hold this position for a month. Thanks, Rinji."

"As long as you understand, that's enough."

"That said..." Shirogane looked uneasy. "About managing the bank's operations... I hope the people below me will take care of that, because I honestly don't know much about how to run a bank."

He was worried he'd mess up.

"Oh, our original plan was for you to supervise while they handled the actual work. The operational decisions would be left to the team."

"That's a relief..."

"But then I thought about it. If you don't say a word and let them do everything, wouldn't that make you a figurehead? That's no good. So the final arrangement is: all decisions and orders must come directly from you."

"You've got to be kidding me!!!"

"That's the exact feeling we want—holding real authority, where every word carries weight. You have to experience it."

"Wait, the problem is—I know nothing about this!"

The hand holding Shirogane's phone started trembling. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"What... What happens if I say the wrong thing or make the wrong decision?"

"Not much. At worst, people will dislike you."

"That's not so ba—"

"At best. At worst, Japan's economy collapses, countless small and medium businesses go bankrupt, mass unemployment ensues, and urban suicide rates skyrocket."

"That's nowhere near 'not much'!!!"

"This is about feeling the weight of millions of lives hanging on your words. I believe this will be a meaningful summer break."

Rinji didn't care about any of the potential fallout. To him, they were just stepping stones for the student council president's personal growth. Sacrifices didn't matter.

But Shirogane Miyuki wasn't like Rinji. He had a conscience.

"...Can I resign?"

"You can, but dropping out at this stage would cause even bigger problems," Rinji said. "Besides, think about it—if one day you want to walk down the aisle with the Shinomiya heiress, don't you need something impressive on your resume? Lasting even a month in this role would look amazing."

"..."

Though silent, an inner war raged in his heart.

On one side, immense pressure. On the other, a hopeful future.

"..."

"So, President, what's your decision?"

"I'll do my best."

"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me," Rinji smiled. "Being the President of the Dainippon Bank is just a small role. Next time, I'll find you an even bigger one."

"Please, no. I'll find my next job myself."

After hanging up, Shirogane forced himself to suppress the anxiety and began combing the bookshelf in the office for finance-related books.

Looked like he'd be pulling more all-nighters learning new things.