Gossip (ゴシップ #彼女が知りたい本当の○○)

December

December

Accounting Department

Expense Report

Found it.

- Good work. - This way, please.

Hey, Niwa.

It seems that today's vote of confidence is only a formality.

Because of my best-seller streak,

I've gotten a couple of extra bonuses.

I mean, obviously, right?

Good for you. You're moving up the ranks.

You were a candidate for executive position, weren't you?

Don't let me move up there first. Thanks for your hard work.

We will now begin the Executive Committee Meeting for the election of Executive Officers.

Candidate: Takashi Hiraizumi, Head of the Publications Editorial Department.

Here.

All those in favor of Hiraizumi, please raise your hands.

Please excuse me.

Who are you?

Ririko Seko. I have been in this company for 9 years. I work in Accounting.

This is an important meeting. What does the Accounting want now?

I have a question for you, Head of Editorial Mr. Hiraizumi.

You heard them. It's an important meeting. It can wait.

I can't do that.

Chief Hiraizumi, what is this?

Receipt

This is a receipt for entertainment expenses that you submitted the other day.

I heard that you had a planning meeting

with your good friend, Nobuaki Honma, for his new work.

Yes. What about it?

However, I confirmed with his writing staff

that Mr. Honma was overseas at the time and was immersed in golf.

It doesn't match your statement that you were with Mr. Honma.

I made a mistake. Right.

It was another author I had a meeting--

On the same day, your wife posted on her social media,

"My family of four enjoyed an all-you-can-eat crab package"

at a family spa hotel with various heated pools.

It's a fact that the books you planned and published were often best sellers

and brought huge profits to the company.

Nevertheless, it's misappropriation

for an employee to use family vacation expense as a personal expense.

There are several receipts just like it.

This one,

this one, this one,

and this one too.

The Accounting Department will need a convincing explanation for all these receipts.

I don't know about any of this! This...This is a mistake!

The faces of Hiraizumi and the board members at that time.

The timing of your appearance

was perfect.

This executive sofa... it's going to take some getting used to.

It's all thanks to you, Seko.

Mr. Niwa, you asked me to find evidence of a supposed fraud.

I was just doing my job.

- You want a refill? - No.

You're the only one I can trust.

I thought so since we first met.

When you joined our company, you gave us this answer.

"To find out what I need to know."

Yes.

If your intentions remain the same... I have the perfect job for you.

January

January

Adultery, female analysts, ratings,

financial tips, cheating. useful goods...

The year has just started, and seriously, it's all crap.

It's nice to edit a news site.

You get a feel of the times.

But that's not even a big news site, you know?

I thought I was on the winning side when I joined this company.

You think I could suddenly get transferred?

One day, I wake up and find myself reincarnated in another world.

It's only been six months since you were assigned.

Sorry, I should get going.

I have to greet people for the New Year.

Here's the one I borrowed.

- Was it interesting? - Hmm.

- Yabe, you're amazing. - Hmm?

You're already in charge of a popular author in your first year.

No, no. I got in through connections.

Right. I know that.

I'm sure you will get transferred soon.

See ya.

When is that soon?

See ya.

How nice... a new office building...

Beep.

In comparison...

Kusunoki Publishing

ANNEX

it's old and cramped...

Ouch... That hurts!

You're in the way out there.

What's her deal?

Can't she at least say, "Excuse me"?

Good morning...

Huh?

Good morning.

Oh, Ms. Seko, you're here.

Huh?

Oh, Ms. Ichimoto, let me introduce you.

Ms. Seko, who came to join us starting today.

- Seko? - You are Makoto Ichimoto.

Joined the company in 2021. Wanted to work in the "Weekly Shonen Junks" department.

Monthly income: 220,000.

- What, leaking personal information? - Where are the others?

They've been working remotely lately, so they don't come to office except on once-a-month material meetings.

Remote work....

Hey, Shuto. Come on, let's go out together.

I'm not a home field kind of guy.

What the heck...

What!? Who?

Advantages of remote work #1: Reduced commuting costs.

Hey, that's...

You're getting old.

Advantage #2: Secure and prevent the influx of talented people.

Would anyone like to go for another round?

- Ten more times, please. - Thank you very much.

What the...

Seko!?

Advantage #3: Increased productivity.

Those are the reasons to promote remote work.

But for you people, it's the opposite. That's why...

Come to work, Shuto Shimouma.

Come to work, Mr. Seiji Kabatani.

Come to work, Michiharu Nezu.

Ichimoto, what the hell are you doing?

I just met her and she told me "I'm getting old".

No, it scared the crap out of me. You tattled, right?

No, I didn't tell her anything.

Besides, I have no idea which woman's house you've been staying at lately, Mr. Shimouma.

That's true... Then how?

The bracelet in Arisa Iwata from General Affairs social media post.

You were in Iwata's apartment from General Affairs?

Yes, I was...

Look at her social media.

Wow... She hinted me.

Social media is a treasure trove for checking employees' movements.

How did she manage to decipher it with just a few words?

We had a lot of fights when we were in training.

Colleague, huh? I see.

Umm... I haven't properly introduced her to everyone yet.

She's Seko Ririko. She's from accounting.

Accounting?

- AH! - Your voice is too loud.

This.

This is not an expense.

Not reimbursable.

Out of the question.

The Cerberus of the accounting department, Ririko Seko, the watchdog of hell.

Why would someone from Accounting come to our office?

Isn't it strange to get transferred at this time?

It's been 8 years since "Camphor NEWS" site was launched.

But page views are at a standstill. It doesn't have good ads.

This department is the company's burden.

Would you like to be more specific?

I've been transferred here with only one mission.

To upload articles that are likely to be talked about and gain page views.

In other words, you want to create buzz?

Make it 50 million page views per month.

50 million page views?

At best, we're at 500,000.

It's impossible. 50 million is 100 times that.

You talk big, but do you have a strategy?

I have.

We attack with gossip.

ECOTV Presents

#What she wants to know

The word "gossip" comes from "GOD"

and "SIBB" which means "kin"

and when combined becomes "godfather"

which in turn means "familiar gossip".

First time I've heard of it.

You're still carrying that around...

Why are you carrying that around?

I got poked with it earlier.

Gossip is not limited to scandals.

We'll use gossip to get people's attention.

Based on our own data gathering.

What? Data gathering?

We should get facts that no one else has.

Otherwise, the site will be shut down, and soon, this department will be disbanded.

Disbanded? What? So that means a transfer?

Still, isn't it difficult? To get 50 million page views...

Even if you put your effort into covering it, gossip won't get any buzz.

It's more efficient to write an article based on a summary.

Besides, we're doing our jobs properly, right?

Editor-in-Chief.

Oh, you're right.

It's time to start the material meeting.

- Okay? - Hey.

So, the material that will be uploaded this week is from Mr. Kaba.

Ah, yes.

- The latest rice cooker: A rice cooker championship. - Yes.

A wallet-friendly, money-saving guide from the legendary housekeeper Mrs. Uta.

A selection of gourmet products from the popular imported grocery store Corkado.

- Nothing fresh. - Huh?

Next, Nezu-kun?