Living in Tokyo, starting with a lifestyle-related job

"Eh"

"It's a long story."

Chapter 96 Shiina Shoko? Bai Feng was amused.

2024-07-14

The takoyaki vendor sighed as he made takoyaki.

"Well, it's a long story!"

"Oh? Judging from your tone, it seems like something happened here?" Kamishiro Shiro asked curiously.

"Yes, although there wasn't much foot traffic here before, the shops in this alley were all managing to make a living." The takoyaki shop owner pointed to the coffee shop owner across the street and explained, "But one day, it seems that the coffee shop owner across the street offended some gangsters."

"Then those gangsters would bring a group of people to cause trouble from time to time, but they didn't do anything. They would just stand at the entrance of the coffee shop. They were big and burly. The police and the management of the shopping street would come and chase them away, but not long after, another group would come."

"After all, they didn't do anything. They didn't smash anything, they didn't curse anyone, they just stood there and glared at whoever came near!"

"In the end, the police and management had no choice but to let it go."

"Because of this situation, tourists who come here are scared away."

"There are already few customers in this alley, and the gangsters sometimes block it up, so the shops around here naturally can't do business."

"So naturally, it went bankrupt or was transferred."

"People naturally like to stick together."

"There are only a few shops open here, so there are even fewer customers."

"If I were the only takoyaki shop here, it certainly wouldn't attract many people."

"right?"

"I see." Shiro Shiro pondered for a moment.

If what the takoyaki shop owner said is true, then the actions of these gangsters are indeed disgusting.

They neither vandalize nor verbally abuse anyone; they drive away one group only to have a new one arrive.

More annoying than flies!

This is just disgusting!

No wonder even the shopping streets and the police couldn't do anything about them.

After all, they're not breaking the law.

They say they're tourists and just strolling around here, what can you do?

Nothing can be done.

"Then why are you still here?" Shiro asked.

The takoyaki shop owner lamented, "I wish I could, but someone has to want this shop first!"

"The rent here is paid annually, and the lease is for three years."

"The monthly payment is 200,000 yen, which adds up to more than two million yen a year!"

"If no one takes over, I'll lose this much money in a year."

"Do you think I can refuse to drive it?"

"Oh?" Shiro asked curiously, "How long have you been here?"

"It's been open for half a year now." The takoyaki owner felt more and more upset and complained, "Damn it, at first I thought that although the customer traffic here is not particularly high, the rent here is not very expensive."

"I was thinking of opening a shop here to make some money."

"Hey, I didn't expect that something like this would happen so soon after I arrived."

"This is absolutely infuriating!"

"I haven't made any money, but my debts are piling up!"

"We're losing money no matter what we do!"

Shiro Kaede looked around and found that there were a total of six shops here.

All four houses are now empty; they've probably moved out a long time ago.

The coffee shop and the takoyaki shop are still open.

Given this situation, I doubt anyone would dare to open a shop here.

"Have you asked the coffee shop owner what the situation is?" Shiro asked.

"Is there even a question? It must be that guy who owes money, which is why he messed with the underworld!" The takoyaki shop owner said angrily, looking at the coffee shop across the street.

"I see, I understand now." Although Shiro Shiro felt that there seemed to be something fishy about this, he didn't say anything more.

Zizzi~

The takoyaki vendor, looking at the takoyaki on the griddle, suddenly remembered something and quickly began to prepare it.

He then prepared a copy and handed it to Bai Feng.

He laughed awkwardly:

"Haha, sorry bro."

"I've kept you listening to this old man rambling on for so long."

"It's alright." Shiro Kaede took the money and handed the 800 yen to the takoyaki vendor.

He then took the takoyaki into the cafe.

The takoyaki shop owner was somewhat taken aback and puzzled after witnessing this.

I don't understand why this guy still wanted to go in after hearing his story.

at this time.

Upon entering the coffee shop, Shiro Kaede looked around.

The aroma of coffee filled the air as soon as I entered.

The interior space is not very large.

It's the kind of open-plan coffee shop.

The decor has a retro feel.

There are posters of some old celebrities on the wall.

There are a total of five booths.

The remaining seats are all next to the open kitchen.

Overall, it's fairly clean.

"welcome."

A man's voice slowly rang out.

Shiro Shiro turned his head and looked over, only to find a somewhat weathered middle-aged man.

He is probably in his forties.

She was quite tall, had her hair slicked back, and some stubble on her face.

As Shiina Hirosuke looked at Bai Feng, he continued wiping the cup and asked, "Would you like something?"

Shiro Kaede said, "I'd like a cup of your shop's signature coffee."

"Signature coffee, please wait a moment." Upon hearing Bai Feng's words, Shiina Hirosuke took out tools from the coffee machine and began to grind coffee beans by hand.

Without turning his head, he casually said to Bai Feng, "There are plenty of empty seats in the store, just find a place to sit."

Shiro Shiro didn't say anything and sat down in the seat next to him, opposite the boss.

Because Bai Feng is very close to the owner, he can directly see the owner grinding coffee beans by hand.

After grinding the coffee beans, Hirosuke Shiina poured the ground coffee into the filter cup, gently patted it flat, and made a small indentation in the center as a hot water inlet.

Then begin the blooming process, using a narrow-mouthed kettle to pour an appropriate amount of warm water into the concave area to allow the coffee grounds to fully bloom.

After the coffee grounds have fully bloomed, pour water in a circular motion around the indentation until the desired amount of coffee is reached, then stop pouring.

After the coffee is brewed, gently shake it to allow the coffee to fully blend, then pour it into a warm coffee cup.

After making a cup of coffee, Shiina Hirosuke served it to Kamishiro Hakufu in front of him and asked listlessly:

"A rare guest indeed. Judging from your school uniform, you must be a student at the nearby private Xiujin Academy, right?"

As Shiro Kaede accepted the coffee, she neither denied it nor denied it, nodding as she said:

"Yes."

Shiina Hirosuke suddenly asked:

“My daughter also attends that school, but I don’t know if you’ve ever met her.”

"Her name is Shiina Shoko."

“Shiina Shoko?” Kamishiro Shirakaze thought for a moment before replying, “I’ve heard of her but never seen her. I saw her on the report card; I think she was third in the first year of high school.”

"Haha, that girl's grades were really good." Shiina Hirosuke smiled nostalgically, but then he suddenly remembered something and asked curiously, "Wait, which class were you in again?"

"Class A".

"Class A? My daughter is in Class C, so it's normal that you haven't seen her."

"Shiina Shoko? Come to think of it, I remember she had excellent grades. The student council was planning to have her as the freshman representative, but unfortunately she didn't seem to come to school at that time. Was she sick and on leave?"

Shiina Kosuke was stunned, his brows furrowed, and his weathered expression carried a hint of helplessness:

"She's not sick, she just has some social anxiety and doesn't like going to school."

"That's it"

"But thank you too, otherwise I wouldn't have known that she didn't go to school after starting high school." Shiina Hirosuke sighed deeply, his face full of weariness and frustration.

Upon hearing this, Shiro Shiro remained silent for a while, without delving into the details of the other person's family, and simply replied, "It seems that the boss is a person with a lot of stories."