Ministry Meeting

The Ministry of Urban Development building felt exactly like what it was...a place where decisions moved slowly and money moved even slower. The conference room's fluorescent lights cast everything in harsh, institutional white, making the polished table look more like an interrogation surface than a negotiation space.

Kiritani sat at the head of the table, his tired eyes scanning through thick folders with the weary expression of a man who'd seen too many presentations that promised everything and delivered half. At fifty-three, he carried himself like someone who'd learned to expect disappointment.

Yamamoto occupied the chair to his right, younger by two decades but infinitely sharper in his attention. He hadn't touched the materials in front of him...instead, his dark eyes moved between Yua and Riku with the calculating interest of someone reading chess moves three turns ahead.

"Ms. Kanzaki," Kiritani began, settling back in his chair. "Your proposal mentions a complete digital overhaul. Walk us through what that actually means."

Yua opened her portfolio with practiced efficiency, her voice carrying the authority of someone who'd built her reputation on delivering the impossible.

"The Ministry of Digital Affairs is operating on infrastructure that's fragmented across twelve departments," she began, sliding a sleek tablet across the table. "What we're proposing isn't just an upgrade...it's a complete integration. Security protocols that actually communicate with each other. Data migration that doesn't lose critical information in translation. System compatibility that works in reality, not just on paper."

Yamamoto leaned forward slightly. The first sign of genuine interest.

"The scope is considerable," Kiritani observed, though his tone suggested scope was another word for expensive.

"So is the cost of continuing with the current system," Yua replied smoothly. "Every day of delay multiplies the security vulnerabilities. Every month of patchwork solutions increases the eventual migration costs."

She gestured toward Riku. "Mr. Asano has been analyzing the technical requirements. Perhaps he can address the implementation timeline."

This was his moment. Riku felt the familiar calm settle over him...not the artificial composure of his enhanced abilities, but something deeper. Natural confidence honed by preparation.

He stood, not to dominate the room, but to connect with it.

"Mr. Kiritani, Mr. Yamamoto," he began, his voice carrying just enough warmth to feel conversational rather than corporate. "May I ask you something? When was the last time your current system actually did what you needed it to do, the first time you asked?"

Kiritani's eyebrows lifted slightly. Yamamoto's pen stopped moving.

"Because that's the real cost we're talking about," Riku continued. "Not just the ¥1.2 billion in infrastructure investment, but the productivity lost every single day when twelve departments can't talk to each other efficiently."

He moved around the table, not pacing but engaging, making eye contact without invading personal space.

"The question isn't whether you can afford this project. The question is whether you can afford to keep losing operational efficiency while your international counterparts leap ahead with integrated systems."

Yamamoto spoke for the first time. "What makes you think you can deliver integration when three previous contractors couldn't?"

Riku smiled, and it was genuine. "Because we're not trying to fix what's broken. We're building something new that actually fits how your departments need to work."

He pulled out his own tablet, displaying a clean, intuitive interface mockup.

"This isn't theoretical. We've been running preliminary tests with compatible systems. The data migration protocols we've developed don't just transfer information, they optimize it during the process."

Kiritani leaned forward. "Show me."

For the next twenty minutes, Riku walked them through technical demonstrations that somehow never felt technical. He spoke in solutions, not specifications. When Yamamoto asked about security vulnerabilities, Riku showed him prevention systems. When Kiritani worried about departmental adoption, Riku demonstrated interface designs that looked like they'd been custom-built for government work.

"This is impressive," Yamamoto admitted, and Riku caught the surprise in his voice. "Did you design this?"

Here was the moment that mattered. Riku could claim credit, could position himself as the technical genius who'd solved their problems. Instead, he chose truth.

"This is a collaboration," he said easily. "The design came from the team. I just listened better than most."

The room went quiet. Not awkward quiet...thoughtful quiet.

Yamamoto exchanged a glance with Kiritani that lasted exactly two seconds too long. A decision was being made without words.

"The timeline?" Kiritani asked.

"Six months for full deployment," Yua interjected. "Three months for core integration."

"And if we need it faster?"

Riku stepped back in. "We can accelerate critical pathways, but quality doesn't negotiate. You want this done right, or you want this done over?"

Yamamoto smiled for the first time since they'd entered the room. "Both, ideally."

"Then we work within realistic parameters that deliver both," Riku replied. "No shortcuts that create future problems."

Kiritani closed his folder. That was either very good or very bad.

"Mr. Asano," he said slowly, "you've presented the most straightforward proposal we've seen for this project. No overselling, no miracle promises."

"Because the work speaks for itself," Riku said simply.

Yamamoto was already reaching for his phone. "I'll need to make some calls, but..." He looked directly at Yua. "When can you start?"

The question hung in the air like a gift waiting to be unwrapped.

Yua's smile was controlled, professional, but Riku caught the flash of something victorious in her eyes.

"How's tomorrow morning?" she asked.

Kiritani laughed...actually laughed. "I like working with people who don't waste time."

As they gathered their materials, Yamamoto approached Riku directly.

"That listening comment," he said quietly. "Most consultants come in here trying to impress us with what they know. You impressed us with what you heard."

Riku extended his hand. "That's the difference between selling and solving."

Walking out of the building twenty minutes later, Yua was uncharacteristically quiet until they reached the elevator.

"That," she said finally, "was not what I expected."

"Good unexpected or concerning unexpected?"

She looked at him with something that might have been admiration.

"Dangerous unexpected," she said. "For them... and for me."

The elevator doors closed, and in the polished reflection, Riku caught his own smile.

He was just getting started.