Chapter 276: Koujiro Rinko
The woman’s name was Koujiro Rinko.
She was once a scientist and a member of Argus, the corporation that developed the world’s first VRMMO game, Sword Art Online, along with the NerveGear, alongside Kayaba Akihiko.
At that time, Rinko harbored feelings for Kayaba, and during the two-year SAO incident, she devoted herself to taking care of him during those two-year dive into SAO.
However, after the tragedy, the police eventually discovered the cottage where the two of them had been staying. While Kayaba Akihiko perished after permanently digitizing his brain into the network, Rinko was arrested by the police and awaited her trial.
During that time, her world seemed to collapse. Guilt and loneliness consumed her, leaving her in despair. She was imprisoned, abandoned by the man she had devoted herself to. It was then that Rinko began to question whether helping him had been a mistake.
But just as she reached her lowest point, Shido appeared and bailed her out. When Rinko first laid eyes on him, her mind felt dazed, yet a faint spark of hope flickered in her heart. She couldn’t help but wonder who the handsome young man who saved her was. However, she was shocked when she learned Shido’s true identity.
Even though Rinko was shocked to discover that Shido was a multibillionaire and head of a massive conglomerate, she still maintained her calm expression. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder why he had bailed her out and what he intended to do with her now as he asked her to follow him.
Yet, Shido’s following words were unexpected to her and it surprised Rinko as she didn’t expect Shido would invite her to work for him. Rinko’s eyes quivered because of his words thought about her situation before where she had nothing else in this world except loneliness. And now that her savior appeared in front of her and gave her salvation, Rinko would not waste the chance.
"Reaching out, she grasped the hand that would change her life forever. And so, Rinko became Shido’s secretary.
...
"So, what brings you here? Do you have something to report?" Shido asked as he turned off the television sine Kanzaki Elsa’s concert have finished.
He shifted his gaze to Rinko, who sat calmly across from him, and studied her expression before asking about her purpose.
After all, Rinko was quite a workaholic and would rarely take a break from her duties as his secretary. Shido had plenty of subordinates who could handle other tasks, but Rinko stubbornly refused to step back, insisting on taking care of the important matters herself.
Of course, Shido would sometimes use his authority to force her to rest whenever he noticed her overworking. This gesture warmed Rinko’s heart, and she could only respond with a helpless yet touched smile.
"Yes." Rinko replied with a nod, lightly tapping the tablet in her hand before continuing.
She began presenting her report with precision, outlining the quarterly performance metrics, recent market trends, and the expansion progress of each subsidiary under Shido’s conglomerate. She detailed revenue growth, risk assessments, and ongoing negotiations, ensuring every point was delivered with crisp, business-like professionalism.
"Continue." Shido said as he watched Rinko, genuinely impressed by her dedication to her work. Yet at the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a little helpless as she was working a little too hard that she often neglected her own health. If he didn’t occasionally force her to take a break every once in a while then Rinko’s health would be affected.
He know that she was doing this for him and showing her worth, but Shido was already happy with the way she was and Rinko didn’t really need to overwork herself just to earn his recognition.
"The acquisition of Shinsei Pharmaceutics and Yokohama North General Hospital has also been finalized." Rinko reported. As she spoke, she noticed Shido watching her intently, while a handsome smile hang on his face. The sight startled her, making her heart skip for a moment, but she quickly steadied herself with a deep breath before meeting his gaze once more.
As he look at her, Shido felt the strangeness of her gaze so he asked "What’s wrong?"
"...No, it’s just that, I was just wondering why you still secured ownership of that hospital when you already have so many hospital under your management."
"Oh, that." Shido nodded in understanding, then explained, "Actually, there’s something about that hospital that caught my interest."
Curious of what made Shido took interest with, Rinko couldn’t help but ask "Hmm? What is that?"
"Medicuboid."
The moment Shido said that, Rinko’s face fell into a surprise. Of course she knew exactly what it meant, after all, she was the one that provided that information to the government.
Medicuboid is a 3rd generation FullDive technology developed for medical purposes, designed to improve the quality of life and aid in the treatment of terminally ill patients.
As for how Rinko became connected to the Medicuboid project, it was during her time in custody. While she was being interrogated by the police for information about Kayaba Akihiko, Rinko obediently complied, providing them with the details she knew including the Medicuboid which was used by Kayaba Akihiko.
But what she had given them was only general information related to the NerveGear, while the Medicuboid itself had been developed by the government.
"Shido, the truth is..."
With a heavy sigh, Rinko confessed everything that had happened, the details she had shared with the authorities and the information she had provided. She had never expected that from her words, the government would go on to develop a third-generation FullDive technology.
Shido listened to everything she said calmly. In truth Shido already know her connection with the Medicuboid as he was doing research of it before. Rinko thought that Shido would be angry at her for not telling him about that but Shido simply brushed it aside since he didn’t really place much importance to the Medicuboid and only took some interest on it.
Also Shido wouldn’t blame her for not telling him, after all she had no reason to, even though she was now working as his secretary.
Seeing how nonchalant Shido was about the matter, Rinko let out a quiet sigh of relief. Still, she couldn’t help but smile wryly as she thought about his personality. At times, he could be cold and cruel, yet at other times, so carefree and lazy that she often wondered which side was the real him.
Rinko fell silent and stared at him in daze which made Shido let out a soft chuckle at how this woman would also have that kind of expression. Shido then said "Is that all for your report, Rinko?"
"Ah, yes..." Rinko was a little surprised when Shido called her name as she was in daze and make her cheeks blush. But she quickly recollected herself and replied.
"Then do you still have something to do after this?"
Rinko was a little confused why Shido asked her that but she still replied "...Well, I have to go back to the company and finish up some paperwork before tomorrow’s meeting."
Hearing her words, Shido could only sigh helplessly as she was still working a little too hard "I told you to also take a break, right? Do you want me to do ’that’ to you again so you would be obedient?"
As Shido said that, Rinko’s face grew hotter remembering that embarrassing moment when Shido’ played (massage) with her body when she was so exhausted because of work. Still, she must admit that it felt really good and his hands was really amazing as if he was playing a piano. It was strong yet gentle making her have a conflicting emotion and something strange rising within her.
"Eh? You’re not refusing?"
Shido was surprised when he saw Rinko blushing and didn’t say anything. But who could actually blame her, since Shido’s hands were like the hands of god.
"N-No, I... I..." Rinko stammered, flustered when she noticed Shido’s surprised face and she quickly tried to explain herself but she couldn’t really say anything as she was also anticipating it again.
Shido look at her a little speechless and thought that he had done it too much that she became addicted to his touch. He was only joking but it seems that she took him seriously. But he didn’t really mind if she wanted to do that again. He shook his head and said "Well, for now, why don’t you stay for a while? It’s almost lunch, let’s eat together. I’ll cook."
Hearing that Shido would cook, Rinko’s eyes lit up, though a faint trace of embarrassment and shame still lingered on her face. She had tasted his cooking before, and she had to admit, it was truly exceptional, far beyond anything served by five-star chefs.
"Is that okay?" she asked softly.
Even though he was her boss, she couldn’t help but be captivated by his cooking. What made it even harder to resist was how strikingly handsome he looked whenever he put on an apron and focused on preparing a meal.
"Of course."
"T-Then... I’ll take you up on your offer."
"That’s great." Shido smiled. "You can relax in the living room while I cook." With that, he turned and made his way toward the kitchen to begin preparing the meal.
"Ah, right, Shido."
"Yes?"
"The President of RECT Technologies Yuuki Kyouko wanted to have a meeting with you."
"Yuuki Kyouko?"