Living in Tokyo, starting with a lifestyle-related job

"That guy is surprisingly slippery."

"But it certainly didn't break our agreement."

"An agreement?" Maki Mizuno was taken aback.

The supervisor explained somewhat embarrassedly:

"Actually, when you and I came here before, the store was quite short of part-time staff."

"However, I think Kamishiro-kun is doing a great job, so I asked him to help train any new staff members and also to take good care of the kitchen."

"And he did do a good job, so we gave him a slight raise on his hourly wage."

"Around 1200 yen per hour."

"Huh?" Mizuno Maki stood there, stunned. "1200 yen per hour?"

If you say so.

I can work five hours a day.

1200 yen per hour.

Doesn't that mean that Kamishiro-kun used to earn 1,000 yen more a day than I did?

One thousand yen more per day.

Seven days is seven thousand yen.

this.

Fortunately, Kamishiro-kun brought it up himself.

If I don't say it.

She probably will never know that this thing exists.

That means she'll get an extra 1,000 yen every day from now on.

This was a very good thing for her, who didn't have much money to begin with.

Thinking about it that way, I do owe Kamishiro-kun a favor.

The foreman continued speaking to himself:

"But now that Kamishiro-kun is telling you this, he probably thinks you're capable of handling this task."

"That's definitely the case now."

"Alright then, starting tomorrow, Mizuno-san, you'll take over the role of looking after the newcomer."

"As for the hourly wage, it's the same as before, 1200 yen per hour."

"Mizuno-san, what do you think?"

Maki Mizuno nodded without hesitation:

"Yes, I accept."

"That's good." After replying, the supervisor suddenly asked curiously, "By the way, I forgot to ask you before, how is Kamishiro-kun doing these days?"

It was only then that Mizuno Maki remembered that the supervisor had apparently asked her about Kamishiro-kun's recent situation, but she had forgotten about it.

So she briefly explained why Kamishiro-kun went to open a shop.

As for the bet, she felt it was better for Kamishiro-kun himself to explain, so she didn't say anything.

The foreman was dumbfounded:

"what?"

"He went to open a shop?"

"Go and take over that unprofitable coffee shop?"

"Kamishiro-kun, you really have guts."

"Hopefully he can succeed."

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now," Mizuno Maki asked.

"Okay," the supervisor replied. "Although I didn't bring my bicycle today, it's still raining heavily, so please remember to be careful while walking!"

After nodding, Mizuno Maki opened her umbrella and left, heading home.

That's what she thought, but her feet still involuntarily led her toward the coffee shop.

Mizuno Maki's beautiful eyes held a barely perceptible anticipation, and her heart was pounding wildly.

But when she reached the alley, she couldn't find the familiar figure.

All that could be seen was that the coffee shop at the very back had its doors tightly shut, and the inside was pitch black.

You can tell at a glance that the people inside have already left.

Mizuno Maki's wildly beating heart gradually returned to its usual pace, and her expectant eyes dimmed slightly.

Right

Business at the store may not be very good.

The rain seems to be getting a bit heavier now.

Kamishiro-kun was probably worried about a downpour, so he went home alone early, right?

Yeah, that should be it.

Maki Mizuno silently left the place and slowly walked on her way home.

However, she walked a little faster than usual today.

I don't know if I was worried about the heavy rain coming, or if I was thinking about something else.

Tick ​​tick tick~

The rain gradually intensified.

As the raindrops slapped against Maki Mizuno's umbrella, they also fell into puddles on the ground, splashing onto her black pantyhose.

However, Maki Mizuno was completely unaware of the slightly cold touch on her black pantyhose; her eyes remained fixed on the passersby holding umbrellas ahead.

But after scanning around, she didn't find anyone wearing the private Xiujin clothing.

Mizuno Maki remained silent, slowing her pace slightly.

Not a moment.

She walked to the familiar Hibiya Station.

Maki Mizuno folded her umbrella and prepared to head towards the platform.

Her little black leather shoes tapped lightly on the floor, making a soft pattering sound.

Drop~

Maki Mizuno just had her transit card scanned by the machine and entered the subway.

I just came in.

Suddenly, she noticed a boy wearing the uniform of the private Xiujin Academy walking in front of her.

The person's height and hairstyle seem to overlap with someone else's, and their back view also seems somewhat similar.

Mizuno Maki suddenly felt a little short of breath, and her delicate little hands nervously clenched the hem of her clothes. Then she quickened her pace a few steps.

Just as she was about to overtake that person, she turned her head and glanced at him.

But with just that one glance, Mizuno Maki turned back, feeling somewhat empty and lost, and silently walked down another path.

She walked to the platform.

By this time, there weren't many people waiting for the bus anymore.

There were only a dozen or so people.

Not a moment.

The tram stopped in front of Maki Mizuno.

She walked up without a word, found an empty seat, and familiarly took out her English notebook from her bag to start memorizing.

But even after the train arrived at Shibuya Station, she still hadn't been able to remember many words.

As Mizuno Maki walked to the exit, looking at the dark night sky and the torrential rain, she suddenly thought of something.

But she immediately shook her head, quickly shaking away her strange thought.

She gently opened her umbrella and strolled alone in the heavy rain.

Alone, I listened to the pitter-patter of the rain.

Alone, I headed towards home.

Very soon.

She walked to that fork in the road.

But we didn't encounter that stray dog.

It seems they've run off to somewhere to take shelter from the rain.

Maki Mizuno silently returned to her apartment and locked the security chain.

She placed her umbrella in front of the door and opened it, intending to let the rainwater evaporate on its own.

Maki Mizuno then took off her slightly damp black leather shoes and stuffed dry newspaper inside to absorb the moisture.

Then she reached inside her skirt and gently pulled down her slightly damp black pantyhose until her fair, smooth, and delicate little feet were revealed.

Maki Mizuno took her change of clothes to the bathroom. First, she threw the pantyhose she had just taken off onto the washbasin, then her school uniform, and underwear of different colors.

then.

She walked to the bathtub, looked at the hot water tap, but still couldn't bring herself to turn it on.

After briefly cleaning herself with the showerhead, Mizuno Maki continued studying until 11:30, just like before.

Then, feeling a bit sleepy, I went back to my bed and lay down.