Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 169 Nanchansi Residential Area!? [Second Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets]

When the Keihan Railway stopped at Demachiyanagi Station, it was already 9:00 AM.

The four of them walked out of the platform and their view suddenly opened up.

The surface of the Kamo River rippled with tiny golden waves in the morning light.

The cherry blossom trees on both sides of the riverbank have long since shed their petals, leaving only branches full of new green leaves swaying gently in the wind.

Several middle school students in school uniforms ran across the riverbank, their laughter carried far by the wind.

"We need to transfer to the Randen here —"

Mizuna Yayoi stood in the station square, looked around, then let out a soft "ah," turned to Kiryu Yaya, and said apologetically, "Senpai, to get to my house from here, you don't actually need to take the Randen. It's about a fifteen-minute walk."

Kenta Sasaki, carrying his travel bag, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this: "Walking is better; my back is stiff from sitting on the train."

Arima Kishou glanced at him and said in a flat tone, "You've been sleeping since you got on the train. Your back is stiff because of your posture."

"Could you please stop adding insult to injury right after I finish speaking?"

Sasaki said in grief and indignation.

"Can."

Arima Kishou paused for a moment: "But there's no need."

Kiryu Yaya chuckled and looked at Yayoi Mizuna: "Let's walk then. We can enjoy the scenery."

Yayoi Mizuna gave a soft "hmm" and turned to lead the way.

Head south from Demachiyanagi, pass through Maruta-cho, and then turn east onto a quiet alley.

The surrounding scenery gradually transitioned from the hustle and bustle of the city to an almost frozen tranquility.

On both sides of the road are rows of dark gray stone walls, with neatly trimmed pine branches and maple leaves peeking out from the tops, and occasionally a corner of a tiled roof or a wooden door peeking out.

Kiryu Yaya walked around, looking at his surroundings.

Each house here occupies a large area, with fine white sand paving the front yard and stone lanterns standing in the corners.

"This area—"

Kenta Sasaki gradually noticed something and unconsciously lowered his voice: "It seems to be an upscale residential area around Nanzen-ji Temple."

Arima Kishou pushed up his glasses, said nothing, but his gaze swept over the outer walls of those mansions.

Mizuna Yayoi walked ahead without looking back, her pace neither fast nor slow.

After walking for about five more minutes, she stopped at the entrance of a narrower alley.

"arrive."

Kiryu Yaya raised his head.

Before me stood a dark gray stone wall, its top covered with dense ivy.

The main entrance consists of two black lacquered wooden doors that open outwards. A small bronze plaque, about the size of a palm, is embedded in the doorposts, bearing two characters in neat regular script—

"Yayoi"

Kenta Sasaki stood at the door, looking up at the door and then down at the convenience store gift bag he was carrying, his lips twitching slightly.

"—Yayoi-san, you live in a place like this?"

Yayoi Mizuna turned around, tilting her head in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?!"

Kenta Sasaki's voice suddenly rose half an octave, then, realizing his lapse, quickly lowered it: "A place like this—around Nanzen-ji Temple! One of the most expensive areas in Kyoto!"

He stretched out his hand and pointed to the stone wall: "Count how long this wall is! The area occupied by just this one wall is enough for me to buy an apartment in Osaka!"

Yayoi Mizuna blinked, seemingly genuinely unaware of the question: "—Really?"

Arima Kishou, standing to the side, added expressionlessly, "Sasaki, don't you think it's impolite of you to comment on the Yayoi family's assets?"

"I'm not expressing an opinion, I'm just shocked!"

Kenta Sasaki turned his head and glared at him.

"Sasaki-kun".

Yayoi Mizuna interrupted him softly, looking a little embarrassed: "Um—I'll go in and open the door first."

She walked to the door and pressed a small button on the inside of the doorpost.

A few seconds later, a soft footstep sound came from inside the door.

The black lacquered wooden door was pulled open from the inside, and an elderly man with gray hair, dressed in a dark gray butler's uniform, appeared behind the door.

He stood ramrod straight, his face bearing the restraint and respect characteristic of an old-fashioned butler.

Upon seeing Mizuna Yayoi, he bowed slightly.

"Mina-sama, welcome back."

In Japanese, "様" is a very respectful suffix, equivalent to "大人" or "殿下" in Chinese.

Mizuna-like.

The moment those three words were uttered, Kenta Sasaki seemed to freeze in place.

He slowly turned his head to look at Arima Kishou, his lips moved a few times, but no sound came out.

Arima Kishou remained expressionless, only adjusting his glasses.

Kenta Sasaki slowly turned his head to look at Yaya Kiryu.

Kiryu Yaya was slightly taken aback, but quickly regained his composure and gave the butler a slight bow.

"Sorry to bother you."

The butler stepped aside to make way and slightly raised his hand: "Are you friends of Mizuna? Please come in. Madam has been waiting inside for quite some time."

Kiryu Yaya stepped across the threshold, and behind him came Sasaki Kenta's extremely low voice: "Arima—did you hear that? He called her Mina-chan—"

"I heard you."

"No, aren't you all shocked?"

"fine."

"How is this 'okay'?! You call a family like this, with a butler, living next to Nanzen-ji Temple, and called 'Minami-sama' 'okay'?!"

Arima Kishou stopped and glanced back at him, his tone as calm as ever.

"Sasaki, you're standing right in front of someone's house, and your voice is loud enough for the homeowner inside to hear you."

Kenta Sasaki immediately covered his mouth.

Mizuna Yayoi stood in front of the entrance hall, turned her head slightly, and said with a hint of apology on her face, "Um—my house is indeed a bit big, but it's really not a fancy place. Everyone—please don't stand at the door, please come in."

Kiryu Yaya took off his leather shoes and stepped onto the wooden floor of the entryway.

The entryway was much wider than he had imagined. The dark wooden floor was polished so much that it reflected his image. To the left was a row of neat shoe cabinets, and to the right was a shoji door leading into the interior.

"Sorry to bother you."

As he spoke, he handed the souvenir in his hand to Mizuna Yayoi.

Yayoi Mizuna took it, glanced down at the words "Kitahama Old Shop" on the wrapping paper, and gently curved the corners of her mouth: "Thank you, senpai."

"It's not appropriate to show up empty-handed."

Kenta Sasaki and Kishou Arima also took off their shoes and handed over the souvenirs they were carrying.

Just as Yayoi Mizuna received it, a very light footstep sound came from the corridor at the end of the entrance hall.

Then, the shoji door was gently pulled open.

A woman dressed in a simple kimono stood behind the door.

She was in her early forties, her hair was neatly pulled back, and she wore no heavy makeup except for a light touch of color on her lips.

The kimono had a dark blue background with white lilies printed on it, and the obi (sash) was tied very neatly.

Her features bear a striking resemblance to Mizuna Yayoi's. The same eyebrows, the same nose, and the same lip contour.

She simply possesses a composure and gentleness that comes with the passage of time, unlike Yayoi Mina.

Yayoi Kazuko.

She stood behind the door, clasped her hands in front of her, and then bowed slightly to the three of them.

Welcome!

"Mizuna has always been grateful for everyone's care."

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