Chapter 2
1091words
The wall clock showed nine in the morning. One hour remained until the department meeting.
Shin placed the newly bound proposal into the folder, neatly labeling the cover: "Umikaze Community Center Project Optimization Plan and Budget Re-estimation Report." It was half the thickness of the original, but each page contained precise calculations from his seven days of work.
The key members of Design Department One had already gathered in the conference room. Department Head Tanaka sat at the head of the table, with Kentaro Hashimoto to his right—the forty-five-year-old former manager of the Umikaze project.
"Today we'll be discussing the recovery plan for the Umikaze Community Center," Tanaka rapped his knuckles on the table. "Kijima-kun, are you ready?"
Shin stood and distributed his proposal to everyone. The rustling of turning pages filled the conference room.
"First, the structural optimization." Shin walked to the whiteboard and began drawing diagrams. "The original design placed supporting columns 8 meters apart on the second basement level. Considering the load distribution from above, I suggest reducing it to 6.5-meter spacing and adding shear walls at key nodes."
Hashimoto flipped through the proposal and sneered. "Kijima-kun, do you realize what adding shear walls means? More concrete, more steel reinforcement, more labor costs. This kind of 'optimization' will only blow the budget further."
"Yes, there will be increased usage in some areas," Shin wrote a string of numbers on the whiteboard. "But by redesigning the beam-column joints, substituting high-strength concrete in strategic locations, and optimizing the reinforcement arrangement, the overall material usage actually decreases by 15%."
The room fell silent as everyone calculated the figures in their heads.
"Impossible!" Hashimoto slammed his palm on the table and stood up. "Anyone can play these paper games! You think juggling a few numbers solves real problems? Kijima-kun, architectural design isn't some academic exercise!"
Shin ignored Hashimoto's outburst and calmly continued demonstrating his calculations on the whiteboard. Each step was methodical and precise, with every parameter clearly sourced.
"According to Article 3.2.1 of the 'Building Structure Load Code', the standard value for residential floor live load is 2.0kN/m²..." Shin continued calmly and precisely. "Considering the specific usage patterns in the Umikaze community, some areas can be calculated at 1.5kN/m², which allows us to optimize beam cross-section dimensions..."
Hashimoto's expression soured further. He clearly hadn't expected Shin to command the technical details with such authority.
"What about the budget?" Hashimoto forced himself to ask. "Even if the structure can be optimized, how do we solve the massive budget overruns?"
Shin turned to the last page of the proposal, which displayed a single number: 280 million yen.
A collective gasp filled the room. The original budget was 420 million, and after overruns, it had ballooned to nearly 600 million.
"280 million?" Department Head Tanaka frowned. "Kijima-kun, are you certain this figure is accurate?"
"I've verified all procurement records," Shin replied, his tone measured, "and found some... interesting discrepancies."
He pulled out another folder filled with detailed tables and calculation sheets.
"For example, HRB400 ribbed steel rebar. The purchase order shows 1850 tons, but the actual warehouse records only show 1650 tons. Those missing 200 tons, at market price, represent approximately 1.8 million yen."
Hashimoto's hands began to tremble.
"Then there's the concrete. The order was for C30 grade, quantity 3200 cubic meters. But Kawasaki Building Materials' delivery notes show they actually supplied 2800 cubic meters of C25 concrete. The volume difference and grade discrepancy amount to approximately 2.2 million yen."
Shin continued his methodical breakdown, each figure precise to two decimal places. The air in the meeting room grew thick with tension.
"These discrepancies total approximately 14 million yen. If we deduct these falsely reported expenses and implement my structural optimization plan, we can bring the budget down to 280 million."
Hashimoto's face turned ashen.
"Kijima-kun," Department Head Tanaka's voice turned grave, "are you suggesting... procurement fraud?"
"I'm merely raising questions," Shin said as he gathered his documents. "I suggest a joint audit by professional accountants from the procurement department for a more thorough investigation."
Tanaka picked up the phone on the desk. "Get Hana Sawamura to the meeting room immediately."
Ten minutes later, a woman in her thirties entered the room. Hana Sawamura, a senior accountant from the procurement department, was known for her razor-sharp mind and uncompromising efficiency.
"Ms. Sawamura, please examine these purchase records." He handed her the organized documents.
Hana Sawamura slipped on her glasses and began examining each item. Her fingers flew across the calculator, occasionally marking notes on the papers.
"Mr. Hashimoto," Hana Sawamura looked up sharply, "there's a discrepancy here. The payment voucher for Kawasaki Building Materials shows your signature dated April 15th, but the bank transfer record shows the funds were received on April 10th."
"That... there might be a clerical error with the dates..." Hashimoto's voice quavered.
"And here." Hana Sawamura pointed to another document. "For the cable purchase, you approved YJLV-3×185 specification, but what arrived at the warehouse was YJLV-3×120. There's a substantial price difference between these specifications."
"I... I..."
"Mr. Hashimoto, answer me directly." Hana Sawamura's tone cut like a knife. "Can you explain this 14 million yen discrepancy?"
Hashimoto glanced at Tanaka, then at his colleagues, and finally at Shin. Those cold eyes watched him steadily, betraying no emotion.
"I..." Hashimoto's voice dropped to a whisper. "I did... take some... kickbacks..."
Shocked gasps erupted around the table.
"How much?" Hana Sawamura pressed.
"About... about 7 million..." Hashimoto collapsed, slumping onto the table as he began to sob. "My family's struggling, my kid's starting university, the mortgage payments... I just needed to..."
"Enough!" Department Head Tanaka shot to his feet. "Hashimoto! Do you realize what you've done?"
Shin remained seated, his expression unchanged. He watched his once-imposing senior crumble before everyone, as if observing a mechanical process playing out exactly as expected.
"Department Head Tanaka," Shin finally spoke, his voice calm to the point of coldness, "If there are no issues with my optimization plan, the Umikaze project can resume construction within three months."
Tanaka looked from Hashimoto to Shin, then nodded firmly. "Kijima-kun, from today onward, you are officially in charge of the Umikaze project."
The expressions of the other colleagues had transformed completely. The previous mockery and contempt had vanished, replaced by respect and wariness.
Shin gathered his folders and bowed slightly to everyone. "I will make the Umikaze project stand again."
