Chapter 86: You’re the One Who Doesn’t Understand Reality

Chapter 86: 86: You’re the One Who Doesn’t Understand Reality

"Ed?"

Barry sounded incredulous.

I quickly stepped in front of him to cover for her.

"I told you we were senior and junior at university. We stayed in touch now and then. I suppose the habit of greeting me like that stayed with her."

It was a fast excuse. Would he buy it?

"...Really?"

He did.

Barry looked between Hana and me, then covered his forehead with one hand.

"What a coincidence. I planned to introduce you at the workshop. Ed, as I said, this is Hana, my fiancée now. Been a long time since you saw her, right?"

"Yes. A long time since I saw her pussy—her."

"...What?"

It was not an accident. I had done it on purpose.

A small way to fuck with him.

"Hana, this was your university senior, right? He works under me now, handling miscellaneous errands. Ed."

Barry introduced me in his own obnoxious way.

Hana ignored him and bowed a little to me.

"It’s been a long time, Ed."

"Hana, we aren’t at university anymore. You don’t have to greet me so formally."

Barry apparently disliked the respectful tone.

Fortunately, Hana had understood the situation and was performing our supposed reunion well.

"No. Calling you Ed like this feels more natural to me."

"Haa... Do what you want."

Interesting.

Moments earlier, she had cowered like a student being scolded by a teacher.

Now she stated her preference clearly.

"Assistant Manager Barry."

"What?"

"I didn’t imagine what I just saw, did I? It looked like you were about to hit Hana."

"What? Hit her? When did I do that?"

As expected, he denied it instantly.

He laughed as though I had said something absurd.

"Wow. You’re making me sound like some kind of monster."

"I saw you raise your hand."

"What are you talking about? Are you seriously trying to frame me?"

So that was the game.

"Hana, you were there. You know."

"H-hm?"

"This basta—this man says I was about to hit you. Was I?"

He tried to intimidate his fiancée into covering for him.

Too bad, Barry. That would not work.

"I... didn’t see clearly."

An ambiguous answer.

She really might not have seen. Her head had been lowered when he raised his hand.

Barry took it as vindication.

"You hear that? The person involved says I didn’t. Why are you accusing an innocent man?"

"I saw it."

"Haa... What is this nonsense? Do you have proof?"

"Of course."

I pointed at the ceiling.

A CCTV camera was aimed directly at him, installed to catch people loitering in the break room.

"..."

The sight of it silenced him.

Then he chose a different approach.

"Fine. Suppose I did. So what? Mind your own business and do your job. Why are you inserting yourself into another couple’s affairs?"

"You can’t ignore someone being hit."

"Anyone would think I beat her with my fists. I didn’t even touch her."

He strode toward me.

Was he about to hit me too?

Hana caught his arm.

"B-Barry... Don’t do this to Ed."

"What? You should be on my side. Whose side are you taking?"

"Please calm down first."

He shook her off and jabbed a finger into my shoulder.

"What is wrong with everyone today? You two are pissing me off. Ed, you keep picking fights without understanding your place. What do you think will happen?"

"My place?"

"Yes, your place. You became permanent and suddenly think you own the world? You’re just a common staff. I’m an assistant manager. Do you still not understand reality?"

"You’re the one who doesn’t understand reality."

Who was the lowly assistant manager strutting around this company as though he owned it?

Barry clenched his fist.

"You’re driving me insane. Ed, you fucking bastard."

"Now you’re cursing in front of your fiancée too."

"So what? What can a worthless little shit like you do?"

He drove his fist into my chest again and again, almost shoving me.

It honestly hurt.

But I had a great many people behind me.

"Even a worthless little shit can do quite a lot."

"Like what? Tattle? To whom? Who do you think has more connections in this company, you or me? Go cry to HR, you fucking bastard."

"Maybe I will."

I laughed and turned my head.

A crowd had gathered behind us, drawn by the noise.

And among them...

"What happened? Ed!"

Manager Selena forced her way through, staring at us in alarm.

"Assistant Manager Barry. Staff Member Ed. What are you doing?"

"Damn it... Manager Selena, this isn’t the place. I’ll submit a written explanation later."

Barry tried to leave.

"Assistant Manager Barry!"

He stopped and turned. Selena spoke firmly.

"Cool your head, then come see me later."

"...Understood."

He waved dismissively and left.

That confidence meant he believed he could still win even if the matter grew.

No actual blow had landed. As he said, he could reasonably expect his connections and office politics to bury me.

Of course, one call from me would change the situation entirely.

"Ed, are you all right?"

"Hm? Oh, Manager Selena."

"Did you fight? Did he hurt you?"

"I’m fine. Just two men getting into it."

"...As long as you aren’t hurt."

She worried about me first. Admirable.

"I’ll handle this formally and firmly. For now, take a moment and calm down."

"All right. But..."

"Yes?"

I walked toward Hana, who stood behind us clutching the lunchbox anxiously.

"I think she needs calming down too."

"...Hana?"

Manager Selena had met her once before.

"Let’s go."

"...Ed."

I caught Hana’s wrist and led her from the break room.

Selena watched us with a complicated expression, so I whispered in her ear, "I’ll explain later."

"...All right."

***

I brought Hana to the rooftop garden.

The confrontation had made me hungry.

After checking that no one else was around, she spoke carefully.

"Ed."

"Yes?"

"You’re the Ed I know... right?"

"You should know that better than anyone."

"I knew it..."

She nodded.

She did not seem as shocked as expected.

Her fiancé had nearly hit her and then fought another man in front of her, yet she remained surprisingly composed.

Maybe things like this happened often. Given Barry’s personality, it would not surprise me.

He was the kind of man who shouted like a child and raised his hand at someone in the office just because he couldn’t hold his petty arrogance.

"Thank you for saving me, Ed."

"Hm?"

"I actually saw it. I saw him raise his hand."

"Oh."

So she had seen.

"Does that bastard hit you often?"

"He doesn’t actually hit me... He only pretends. But it scares me."

"And you still planned to marry him?"

"..."

Hana could not answer.

Instead, she suddenly held something out to me.

"Ed."

"Yes?"

"If you haven’t eaten... would you share this with me?"

"The lunch?"

"...Yes."

"This tastes amazing. He left something this good behind, then yelled at you for bringing it? He’s insane."

I meant it. The food was excellent.

The presentation was good enough for a series of husband-lunch videos that would be flooded with recipe requests.

Hana and I shared it. There was enough for both of us.

After watching me eat happily for a long while, she spoke.

"Ed."

"Mmm?"

"I’m going to end the engagement."

"Sure, whatever—what?"

I looked up.

Hana’s expression was resolute.

"I’ll end it and marry you instead."

...

Was this for real?