The CEO I Insulted in the Elevator Is Now My Mentor Manga y Cómics IA

Aiko Tanaka had three problems. She was twenty-one, broke, and exactly six minutes late for the most important scholarship interview of her life. “Please hold the elevator!” Aiko sprinted through the marble lobby of Kisaragi Tower, one hand clutching her university portfolio and the other trying to stop her coffee from spilling everywhere. The elevator doors began to close. A polished black shoe appeared between them. The doors reopened. Aiko rushed inside. “Thank you!” Then she looked up. The man beside her wore a charcoal suit that probably cost more than her tuition. He was tall, composed, and annoyingly handsome, with dark hair swept neatly away from sharp gray eyes. He glanced at the coffee dripping onto her sleeve. “Rough morning?” “You could say that.” “What happened?” “My train stopped, my umbrella broke, and I'm about to miss an interview that determines whether I can afford university next semester.” The stranger nodded thoughtfully. “That does sound inconvenient.” Aiko stared at him. “Inconvenient?” He raised an eyebrow. “What would you call it?” “A complete collapse of civilization.” For the first time, he smiled. The elevator chimed. Thirty-second floor. Aiko rushed out. “Thanks again!” “You're welcome.” She ran down the hallway without looking back. Which was why she never noticed the small gold lettering beside the elevator. **EXECUTIVE FLOOR.** --- Twenty minutes later, Aiko sat in a conference room trying not to panic. Three executives sat across from her. The scholarship she had applied for was funded by Kisaragi Holdings, one of Japan's largest technology companies. The center chair was empty. One interviewer checked his watch. “Our president should be joining us shortly.” The door opened. Aiko turned. And nearly fell out of her chair. The man from the elevator walked inside. Charcoal suit. Gray eyes. That irritatingly calm expression. He sat in the empty chair. “Good morning.” Aiko stared. He looked directly at her. “I'm Ren Kisaragi, CEO of Kisaragi Holdings.” Silence. Then— “Complete collapse of civilization,” he said. One corner of his mouth lifted. Aiko wanted the floor to swallow her. --- Against all expectations, she received the scholarship. But there was one condition. Kisaragi Holdings wanted recipients to participate in a six-month student mentorship program. And somehow— somehow— Aiko was assigned directly to Ren. “This has to be a mistake,” she said. Ren continued signing documents. “It isn't.” “You run a billion-yen company.” “Correct.” “I'm an architecture student.” “Also correct.” “What exactly are you supposed to teach me?” He finally looked up. “How to arrive on time.” Aiko narrowed her eyes. “I don't like you.” “You've mentioned that.” “I've known you for three days.” “And you've mentioned it nine times.” “Ten.” Ren almost smiled. --- Their meetings became the strangest part of Aiko's week. Every Thursday at six, she arrived at Kisaragi Tower. Sometimes they discussed careers. Sometimes architecture. Sometimes Ren simply handed her reports and asked what she thought of proposed building designs. Unlike her professors, he never dismissed her opinions because she was young. If she disagreed with him, he listened. If she challenged him, he challenged her back. And somewhere between arguments over sustainable architecture and late-night convenience-store dinners in his office, Aiko began seeing the person behind the title. Ren Kisaragi was twenty-eight. He had inherited leadership of the company after his father died unexpectedly. Everyone around him expected perfection. Employees bowed when he passed. Reporters analyzed everything he said. Investors watched every decision. But when the office emptied, Ren sometimes loosened his tie, ate instant ramen, and stared quietly at the city. One evening, Aiko found him asleep at his desk. She placed her jacket over his shoulders. His eyes opened. “Aiko?” “You work too much.” “So do you.” “I'm a student.” “That's not an excuse.” “Neither is being a CEO.” He looked at her. For several seconds, neither spoke. The city lights reflected against the glass behind him. Then Ren smiled softly. “You're the only person who talks to me like that.” “Like what?” “Like I'm normal.” Aiko shrugged. “You are normal.” Ren glanced around his enormous office. Aiko followed his gaze. “…Okay. Mostly normal.” He laughed. It was the first time she'd heard him laugh properly. And that was the moment she realized she was in trouble. --- A month later, rain poured over Tokyo. Aiko stood beneath the awning outside campus. She had forgotten her umbrella. Again. A black car stopped in front of her. The window lowered. Ren sat inside. “Get in.” Aiko blinked. “What are you doing here?” “Passing by.” “You live in the opposite direction.” There was a pause. Ren looked forward. “My driver was passing by.” The driver very carefully avoided eye contact. Aiko smiled. “Sure.” She climbed in. --- Traffic barely moved. Rain streaked across the windows. Aiko rested her head against the glass. “Can I ask you something?” Ren looked up from his phone. “You usually do regardless.” “Why aren't you married?” The phone slowly lowered. “That was direct.” “You're rich, successful, attractive—” Ren looked at her. Aiko suddenly realized what she had said. “I mean objectively!” “Objectively?” “You know what I mean.” He smiled. “Please continue.” “No. I've changed my mind.” “A shame.” Aiko crossed her arms. Ren looked back toward the rain. “My father arranged meetings for me when I was younger.” “Arranged dates?” “Essentially.” “And?” “I hated every one.” “Why?” “Because nobody wanted Ren.” His voice became quieter. “They wanted the surname.” Aiko's teasing expression disappeared. He continued. “I eventually decided being alone was simpler.” Aiko watched him. “That's sad.” “Thank you.” “I didn't mean—” “I know.” She hesitated. Then smiled. “For what it's worth, I think you're pretty annoying even without the surname.” Ren looked at her. And laughed. “You truly have a gift for comforting people.” --- Their relationship changed slowly. A message after midnight. **Ren:** Did you finish your project? **Aiko:** Almost. **Ren:** That means no. **Aiko:** Why are you awake? **Ren:** Work. **Aiko:** Hypocrite. Then photographs. Aiko sent him pictures of terrible vending-machine coffee. Ren sent her photos of sunsets from his office. She started noticing when he was tired. He started remembering her exam schedule. He brought her coffee before presentations. She brought him dinner when he forgot to eat. Neither called it love. Not yet. --- Then the photograph appeared online. **KISARAGI CEO SPOTTED WITH MYSTERY WOMAN** Someone had photographed Ren holding an umbrella over Aiko outside a restaurant. By morning, her university knew. Her classmates whispered. Social media accounts found her name. Some claimed she was dating him for money. Others claimed her scholarship had been bought. Aiko stopped answering Ren's messages. Three days later, he appeared outside her university. She stared at him. “You shouldn't be here.” “I've called twelve times.” “I know.” “Then why didn't you answer?” “Because every time I'm seen with you, it gets worse.” Ren fell silent. Aiko's eyes filled with tears. “People think I earned nothing.” “Aiko—” “They think I got my scholarship because of you.” “You earned it before you knew who I was.” “That doesn't matter to them.” “It matters to me.” Aiko shook her head. “And that's the problem.” Ren's expression changed. She forced herself to continue. “You're my mentor. You're the CEO funding my scholarship. Even if what I feel is real…” Her voice cracked. “…how could anyone believe it?” Ren stood completely still. “What you feel?” Aiko realized too late. Neither moved. Rain began falling softly around them. Ren stepped closer. “Aiko.” She looked away. “Don't.” “Look at me.” “I said don't.” “If I don't say this now, I'll regret it.” Her heart pounded. Ren's voice softened. “I love you.” Aiko's eyes widened. “But I'm not asking you for anything.” He took a step backward. “Finish university.” “What?” “Build your career. Become someone nobody can claim I created.” “Ren…” “And when the mentorship ends, when your scholarship is no longer connected to me…” His expression softened. “If you still feel the same way, come find me.” Aiko began crying. “You're unbelievably confident.” “No.” For once, Ren looked uncertain. “I'm terrified.” That made her laugh through the tears. “So am I.” He smiled. “Then perhaps we finally have something in common.” --- One year later. Kisaragi Tower. Ren stepped into the elevator while reading an email. “Please hold the door!” His hand stopped the doors automatically. A young woman rushed inside. He looked up. Aiko stood beside him. Different hairstyle. Professional clothes. Architecture portfolio under her arm. No student ID hanging from her bag. Ren stared. “Aiko?” She smiled. “I graduated.” “I know.” “I got a job.” “I know.” “You've been checking?” “No.” She raised an eyebrow. He sighed. “Occasionally.” Aiko laughed. The elevator began rising. Ren watched the floor numbers change. “So…” He sounded strangely nervous. “Why are you here?” Aiko stepped closer. “You told me to find you if I still felt the same.” Ren stopped breathing for a second. “And?” She reached for his hand. “I still think you're annoying.” He smiled. “A promising start.” “And arrogant.” “Anything else?” “Terrible at taking breaks.” “Accurate.” She looked up into his eyes.