The Name of the Game is a Kidnapping

1

The moment she mentioned the word marriage, I lost interest in the woman. I could only see her large chest, her slim legs, and even her smooth skin as the parts of a mannequin.

I gave her an unamused look and then got out of bed. I put on my boxers that I had tossed aside and fixed my rumpled hair while looking in the mirror.

What’s with that face? The woman raised herself halfway up, flipping her long hair. You don’t have to be so blunt and make such a sour face.

I wasn’t even in the mood to reply. I looked at the alarm clock. Five minutes before eight in the morning. Just the right time. I switched off the alarm that would’ve gone off in five minutes.

I’m already twenty-seven, okay? the woman added. You could stand to listen to a little of that.

I told you I’ve never thought about marriage, I said with my back still facing her.

You said you don’t think about it a lot. Not that you never think about it.

Is that right.

I thought it might be this way, but when I see through something, I get bored. I started doing pushups by the bed. I was careful about the rhythm, and when I flexed, I exhaled. Just like my gym instructor told me.

Hey, are you mad?

I didn’t answer. I’d lose count of my pushups. Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty, then it got a little harder.

Then let me ask, what do you plan on doing with me?

I went down on the forty-second pushup. I rolled on the floor like that and thrust both my legs under the bed. Setup for sit-ups.

I didn’t really have any plans. I liked you. I thought I wanted to sleep with you. So I did. That’s all there is to it.

Meaning that you weren’t thinking of marriage.

I thought I told you from the start. I wasn’t thinking about anything like that. Unlike you, I wasn’t thinking about it at all, and I don’t plan on starting now.

And if I say that I don’t like that?

It’s useless. You’ll need to find a guy who’ll think about marriage. It should be easy for you to find one.

You’re saying you’re tired of me?

It’s not that. We’ve only been dating for three months. But when there’s a difference in opinion, you can only give up.

The woman sunk into silence. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. She was a woman with a lot of pride, so she wouldn’t say anything unbecoming. While she was thinking, I started my sit-ups. Since turning thirty, it’d become easier for my belly to put on fat. I couldn’t get away with not doing this every morning.

The woman said, I’m going home, and got down from the bed. It was pretty much the answer I’d predicted.

While I did sit-ups, she put on her clothes. A black dress. Without fixing her makeup, she took her bag in hand.

You’re not getting any calls from me.

With those words, she left the room. I’d heard her voice still on my side by the bed.

She had a magnificent body, but it couldn’t be helped. It was true I was struck by that physique, but I didn’t feel like living with her for a lifetime. Of course, I could have used the technique of hinting at marriage as appropriate to keep dating her. Then, if the time came that I’d actually gotten bored, I’d just have to talk about breaking up. But doing it like that didn’t suit me. It wasn’t because it’d be on my conscience, but because it’d be a bother. I’d been in more romantic relationships than I could count now, including ones that were sustained through accumulating lies and compromises, but I knew deep down that it would do me no good.

By the time I’d taken a shower and shaved at the washbasin, I was no longer thinking about the woman who had left. Instead, the names of two others floated into my head. One was a model in the making, the other was just an office lady. I knew the phone numbers for both of them, but I’d never called them. I’d gotten a call from the model. The one I liked was really the office lady, but when we went out drinking before, I got the feeling that there wasn’t a lot of hope. I couldn’t find it in myself to do this and that and everything possible to woo her. I didn’t think she was worth it, and more importantly, I didn’t have the time.

I fried some ham and eggs, toasted bread, and warmed up canned soup for my breakfast. Lately, I was lacking vegetables. There had to be some cauliflower in the refrigerator so I decided I’d have a gratin with a lot of that in it tonight.

Changing into my suit, I booted up my computer and checked my email. Several items dealing with work. The rest of it was all trivial stuff. There was one from a hostess at a club I went to the other day. I deleted it without reading it.

By the time I left the room, it was a little past nine. That meant I’d taken more than an hour since waking up. I still had a long way to go using my time wisely. I walked at a brisk pace to the subway station. It took seven minutes.

My work was in Minato Ward. The ninth and tenth floors of a fifteen-story building were occupied by Cyberplan. I got off the elevator at the tenth floor.

When I got to my desk, a piece of paper that said, Come to my office –Kozuka, was on my computer. I put down my bag and headed on down the hallway.

The president’s office door had been left open. When it was closed, you weren’t to try to meet with the president except on very urgent business. If it was open, it meant that you could go in freely. It was Kozuka’s policy.

Kozuka was in the midst of discussing something with a female employee. When he noticed me, he cut off the conversation.

I’ll leave the rest to you. Anyway, don’t use that designer anymore, Kozuka told the woman. She answered that she understood and left the room. When she passed by me, she gave me a slight bow.

If I’m not mistaken, she’s in charge of producing a new game.

Well, games are hard. Kozuka closed a file that had been laid out on his desk. Please close the door.

It seemed he was preparing for a discussion about either a large amount of easy money or something serious. I closed the door and approached his desk.

We got word from Nissei Automobile, the forty-five-year-old president said.

They finally made a decision? Then we need arrangements for the first set of meetings. I can make an opening any time this week.

However, Kozuka remained seated with a long look. That’s not it.

This isn’t about the automobile park?

It is.

Then, do you mean that it’ll take some time before the decision is made?

No, the decision has been made. I just got word.

Then?

It’s been canceled.

What? Unable to comprehend his statement, I took a step toward him. No, I understood the meaning of it. It was just so idiotic that I couldn’t bring myself to believe it.

Canceled. The automobile park plan is back to being a blank slate.

But…how could that be?

I wanted to believe that Kozuka was telling a bad joke. But I didn’t sense that possibility in his expression. I felt like my blood was coursing backwards through my veins and like my whole body temperature had risen by several degrees.

I can’t believe it either, Kozuka shook his head. That it was canceled after making it this far.

What happened? Please explain the situation to me.

I’m going to ask about the details tonight—we’ve got a meeting then. Even so, they might just give us a formal notice.

Is it just going to be completely scrapped? Or do they mean that the chances of implementing it are low?

The chances of it are zero. The concept of the automobile park’s been rejected.

I balled my right hand into a fist and struck the palm of my left. Why, after getting this far…

The supervisor was also confused.

Of course. Considering how much time was used up for this project…

The person also said they would guarantee all the funds we’ve used until now.

I wouldn’t think it’d be a matter of money though.

Well, that may be the case. Kozuka scratched the side of his nose.

I stuck both my hands into my pockets and paced in front of the desk. Nissei Automobile was planning to announce a new car and wanted to launch an extensive campaign. While they were at it, they wanted to improve the image of domestic cars. They hoped for something like a car show, but not just a plain exhibit. To that end, they could use our help. Isn’t that what they said?

Of course it is.

Instead of contacting a major firm, they asked a mid-sized company like ours because, putting aside the budget, they hoped for a novel idea, right?

It was exactly that.

But then when the current plan was settled, and all that we needed was the go sign, they got cold feet, is that what you’re saying? The world-renowned Nissei.

Well, don’t get mad like that. I know it’s one of the largest jobs we’ve ever had and that you were fired up. But the client was the one who ran away so there’s nothing we can do. It won’t be the last time.

I can’t stand having these things happen, even from time to time.

The one who’s most annoyed about this is me. I have to redo our business plan all over again. Nissei says that it’s preparing to turn over another job, but we can’t expect much from them.

They’re just going to ask us to make another commercial with an idol anyway. May I also come with you to tonight’s meeting?

I’d rather you didn’t. Kozuka stuck out his right palm. If you go, you might fight with the other side. If we quietly suck it up, we’ll draw some favor.

That merchant-like thinking was very Kozuka. He wasn’t a creator, but a manager, I recognized anew. After taking a long breath, I asked him, Is the project team dissolved?

That’s what’ll end up happening. Tonight, once I hear about the situation I’ll email you, so based on that, write a directive to the members.

There will undoubtedly be others who’ll be even more upset.

Probably. Kozuka shrugged his shoulders.

—

I stayed at the office until late in the afternoon that day, but in the end I wasn’t getting much work done. Why? The sentiment kept bubbling up in my chest. I left early and headed towards my usual sports gym.

I rode on the cycles for nearly forty minutes and sweated a ton, but felt far from exhilarated. Feeling desperate, I went to train on the machines, but my body just felt sluggish. After completing three quarters of my normal regimen, I took a shower.

My cellphone went off just as I left the gym. I had some recollection of the number on the display, but I couldn’t remember exactly from where.

Sakuma? It’s me, Kozuka.

Yes, president. Did you finish your talk with Nissei?

It’s over. And so I have something I want to talk to you a bit about. I’m in Roppongi right now, could you come out here?

Yes, I can. Where’s the place?

It’s ‘Sabine.’ You know it, right?

I do. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.

After I hung up, a taxi came by with perfect timing. I raised my hand.

Sabine was a place a certain health food company managed for tax reasons. I’d been taken there by Kozuka a few times. It was excessively spacious and flashy and had a lot of hostesses. The interior, which was made up like a decorated cake, was the kind of affair that made you fed up just looking at it. I always thought that if only they would leave it to me I could make a place far more refined with half the money.

I got out of the taxi and got into the elevator of a building nearby.

A tall blonde and a man clad in black stood near the entrance. The male staffer extended an excessively polite greeting and the blond welcomed me in halting Japanese.

President Kozuka is here, right?

Yes, he is present tonight.

The establishment split to the right and left at the entrance. If you went left, that was where the hall was, and to the right were the counter seats. I was guided to the right, but Kozuka wasn’t waiting at the counter. In the back, there was a private room, a VIP space for special guests. But it wasn’t like Kozuka spent that much here. It was just that he could make some requests through a Dietmember connection. Even now, Kozuka was the brains for that politician’s image strategy.

In the private room, Kozuka was accompanied by two hostesses and drinking a Hennessy on the rocks. When he saw my face, he raised his hand slightly.

Sorry for calling you out here.

No, it was already on my mind.

Kozuka nodded as though to say, Of course.

The hostess asked how I wanted my drink, so I answered, Straight. The VIP room also had a dedicated counter. The hostess went to get a brandy glass from there. She filled it with Hennessy, but I didn’t feel like tasting it yet.

Sorry, but we have some business just for the two of us, Kozuka said, at which the two hostesses left with forced smiles.

So then? I tried asking.

Right, I got the gist of the situation. It seems the cancelation was decided at the board meeting the other day.

I understood that. I want to know the reason.

The reason—Kozuka chinked the ice together in his glass—is that they can’t expect effects commensurate to the large scale. In a nutshell, that’s what it comes down to.

Can’t expect? Whose call was it? Didn’t we temporarily have the green light because they judged it would be effective?

You won’t be convinced as long as I talk around the bush, so I’ll be straight with you. The one who protested the automobile park was Mr. Katsuragi, the newly appointed executive vice president.

When you say Katsuragi, you mean the chairman’s son?

Mr. Katsutoshi Katsuragi. Apparently he proposed rethinking everything from the beginning.

So the plan we worked on for weeks disappeared on some rich kid’s whim?

That man isn’t just a rich kid. After frontline stints in their sales and promotions divisions, he beefed up on marketing techniques at their American branch. He might have been appointed as the EVP before he even turned fifty because he’s the chairman’s son, but he has no reputation at all for being subpar.

Mr. Kozuka, did you meet him tonight?

I did. He had the gaze of a raptor. And he didn’t laugh even once. Maybe it was because Kozuka felt incredibly overwhelmed, but he gulped down the brandy in his glass in one go.

How awful. Enter a despot.

I reached for my glass too.

Mr. Katsuragi said he would give us one more chance.

Oh. With my glass in hand, I looked back at the youthful president’s face. In that case, the story’s different. Let’s rework the plan. This time we’ll come up with something he can’t complain about.

Of course, that’s what I intend, but he gave us two conditions. One was to highlight how they’re dealing with environmental issues. And it’s not just about exhaust fumes and energy conservation. He apparently wants to let it be known that Nissei takes environmental protections into consideration even within their manufacturing process.

That seems like it’ll become tedious. So, what was the other condition?

Yes, about that. Kozuka poured himself a glass. He didn’t try to make eye contact.

What’s the other condition? I asked again.

Kozuka breathed a small sigh before opening his mouth. That we need to replace the staff wholesale. In particular that we should switch out the leader, Shunsuke Sakuma.

Even though my name had come up, I didn’t immediately understand what he was saying. No, it was hard to take in because my name had come up. He wants me out of the picture?

Apparently, Mr. Katsuragi conducted a thorough review of your jobs until now. The results pointed to a certain conclusion. Remember, I’m not the one saying this. It’s the words of Executive Vice President Katsuragi.

Please tell me.

Mr. Sakuma’s way of doing things may be striking and attract a lot of attention in the short term, but he is missing a view of the long term. His ideas are simple and easy to get, but he is unable to tune into people’s hearts. The notion of building a pseudo-amusement park for a new car’s campaign is hardly novel, and the superficiality of his way of thinking is evident. Nissei’s customers purchase not only our cars, but pride. None would go to an amusement park to be proud. I want to entrust this next opportunity to someone who is able to figure out everything two steps ahead—those were Mr. Katsuragi’s words.

I was cemented in place still holding my glass. It was as though rage and humiliation were filling my entire body. I felt as though if I said anything, I’d yell, and if I moved, I’d throw my glass.

Did you miss that? Kozuka asked.

I shook my head. Basically, he said Sakuma from Cyberplan is incompetent…

He didn’t go that far. He’s just saying that you don’t match up with his policies.

Isn’t that the same thing? It’s because Mr. Katsuragi thinks of himself as the best. I gulped down my brandy. I felt the sensation of it moving down from my throat to my stomach.

Anyway, all our firm can do is accept the conditions. Tomorrow, I’m talking to Sugimoto.

Is Sugimoto my replacement?

That’s how it’s going to be.

Sugimoto the concert guy, huh? I laughed. Out of sarcasm, and as a bluff.

That’ll be all.

I understand. I stood up.

Why don’t you stay and drink for a bit. My policy is to keep company with a guy who needs to get wasted.

Please don’t be unreasonable. I raised both my hands slightly to beg mercy.

Kozuka nodded, muttering that it might well have been unreasonable as he lowered his glass.

When I left Sabine, I didn’t feel like going straight home, so I stopped by a bar I’d been to several times before. I swigged bourbon on the rocks in a seat at the end of the counter, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling I’d just swallowed lead. He is unable to tune into people’s hearts; the superficiality of his way of thinking is evident; I want to entrust this next opportunity to someone who is able to figure out everything two steps ahead—all of the words I’d just heard were managing to wreck my inner balance.

Give me a break, I thought. It had been four years since I was headhunted from a major ad agency, and since then there hadn’t been a single product I’d worked on that I hadn’t been able to sell. Whether it was a thing or a person, treasure or garbage, I had pride that