Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk

Chapter 170 Yayoi Kazuko [Third Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets]

Kiryu Yaya immediately returned the greeting with a slight bow: "Mrs. Yayoi, I apologize for disturbing you. I am Kiryu Yaya from the Osaka branch of Mitsubishi Bank, and I am a colleague who joined the company at the same time as Mina-san."

"Kiryu-kun————"

Yayoi Kazuko's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, a faint smile appearing on her lips: "Mizuna often mentions you on the phone. You really are a very energetic young man."

Kenta Sasaki quickly stepped forward, bowing more deeply than usual: "Mrs. Yayoi, hello! I'm Kenta Sasaki, and I was in the same class as Yayoi-san! We were in the Logistics Department! Ah, but I'll be transferred to the Financing Review Department next week! Please take care of me!"

Arima Kishou followed behind him, bowing slightly: "Arima Kishou. International Finance Division, the Finance Review Division will also be reassigned next week. Excuse me."

Yayoi Kazuko returned the greetings one by one, her gaze lingering on each person's face for a moment.

Then she turned to the side, took three pairs of slippers from the shoe cabinet in the entryway, and placed them neatly on the floor.

"Please come in. The tea is ready."

Kiryu Yaya changed into slippers and stepped onto the hallway floor.

The corridor was long, and a faint floral fragrance, like lilies or gardenias, wafted in the air.

Mizuna Yayoi walked at the front, her steps much lighter than usual.

She behaves completely differently at home than at the bank.

At the bank, she always kept her head down and spoke softly, but at home, she walked with a light step.

"This way."

Mizuna Yayoi led the three of them to a living room at the end of the corridor.

The moment the shoji door was opened, Kiryu Yaya's gaze sharpened slightly.

The living room was bigger than he had imagined.

There are about twenty tatami mats, covered with dark green tatami mats, and a traditional Chinese ink painting of a landscape scene of Arashiyama hangs in the alcove.

One side of the living room features a floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking a delicate Japanese-style garden.

Stone lanterns, moss, crouching trees, maple trees, pine trees, and a small stone bridge spanning a dried-up mountain stream.

Kenta Sasaki stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, completely stunned.

"This, this—"

He turned to look at Yayoi Mizuna, his voice slightly trembling: "Yayoi-san, is this your home?"

Mizuna Yayoi stood in the center of the living room, her hands behind her back, tilting her head slightly.

"—Hmm. What's wrong?"

Kenta Sasaki opened his mouth, then closed it again, took a deep breath, and said in an almost solemn tone, "It's nothing. I'm just getting to know this world again."

Arima Kishou walked to his side, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard before finally settling on the stone lantern.

"That lantern is from the Edo period, isn't it?"

Yayoi Mizuna blinked: "It seems so—I heard the butler mention that they moved from the old house. I'm not sure which year exactly."

Arima Kishou nodded and said nothing more.

Yayoi Kazuko came in carrying a tea tray.

Five teacups and a pot of perfectly brewed sencha were placed on the tea tray, and the aroma of tea slowly diffused into the air.

She knelt down and placed the teacups one by one in front of each person.

The movements were very light and silent.

Please enjoy your meal.

Kiryu Yaya picked up the teacup with both hands and glanced down at it.

The tea soup is a clear, light green color, with a few tea leaves gently unfurling at the bottom of the cup.

He blew on it gently and took a sip.

The tea has a refreshing aroma with a hint of sweetness that slowly melts on the tongue.

"It tastes great."

Yayoi Kazuko sat in the seat of honor, her hands folded in front of her knees. Upon hearing this, the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

"I'm glad Kiryu-kun likes it."

She paused, her gaze falling on Kiryu Yaya's face, her tone gentle and natural: "Mina must have caused you a lot of trouble at the bank, right?"

Mizuna Yayoi was drinking tea when she heard this and almost choked: "Mom—"

"no."

Kiryu Yaya put down his teacup and said seriously, "Mizuna-san works very hard in the sales department. The documents she handles are becoming more and more standardized, and Section Chief Takei of the sales department has praised her several times."

A hint of a smile appeared in Yayoi Kazuko's eyes as she looked at Yayoi Mizuna.

Yayoi Mizuna lowered her head, her ear tips turning red again, and muttered softly, "Senpai—you don't need to speak up for me—"

"I didn't speak up for you."

Kiryu Yaya smiled and said, "I'm just stating a fact."

Mizuna Yayoi's ears turned even redder.

Kenta Sasaki sat to the side, glancing at Mizuna Yayoi, then at Yaya Kiryu, before taking a large gulp of tea, his expression clearly that of someone watching the drama unfold.

Arima Kishou picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "The tea is good."

"—Is that all you can say?"

Kenta Sasaki lowered his voice.

"Otherwise what?"

Arima Kishou lowered his voice as well: "Like you, every word you utter shows your complete lack of immunity to 'rich people'?"

"It's not that I lack immunity, it's just a normal social reaction!"

"A normal social reaction is not to shout loudly in front of someone else's house."

"—Can you please stop undermining me for even one day?"

"No, this is one of the few hobbies I have in my life."

"Damn it! You finally said it, didn't you? Let's duel, Arima!!"

"childish!"

'

'

Kenta Sasaki took a deep breath and, filled with resentment, drank the tea in his cup in one gulp.

The atmosphere in the living room gradually relaxed.

Yayoi Kazuko poured them another cup of tea, then got up and said she was going to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

"There were so many people today, I couldn't handle it all by myself, so I asked the lady next door to come and help."

She walked to the door, turned around, and her gaze swept across the four people's faces before finally landing on Yayoi Mizuna.

"Mina, take good care of the guests."

"Um."

The shoji door closed gently.

Only four people remained in the living room.

The sunlight outside the window fell on the stone lanterns in the courtyard, making the moss appear even greener.

Arima Kishou adjusted his glasses and suddenly spoke, "Yayoi-san."

"Um?

"Your courtyard is a work of 'Togetsukyo' landscaping, isn't it?"

Yayoi Mizuna thought for a moment and nodded: "It seems so—I heard the butler say that my grandfather hired a very famous garden designer in Kyoto back then."

Arima Kishou gave a soft "hmm" and said nothing more.

But Kenta Sasaki noticed that his gaze lingered in the courtyard for a long time, and the corner of his mouth seemed to twitch.

That was a rare moment when Arima Kishou showed interest.

Kenta Sasaki lowered his voice and whispered in Kishou Arima's ear, "Didn't you say you weren't interested in rich people?"

Arima Kishou didn't look at him, and said in a flat tone, "I'm interested in garden design."

"What's the difference between garden design and what happens when you're a wealthy person?"

"Gardening is an art; wealthy people are just the backdrop."

Arima Kishou paused for a moment: "When you visit an art museum, are you shocked to see wealthy people there?"

Kenta Sasaki opened his mouth, only to find that he couldn't refute it.

Kiryu Yaya sat by the window, looking at the scenery in the courtyard, and gently exhaled.

In May, the sun shines just right in Kyoto, neither too hot nor too dry.

A breeze blew in from the courtyard, carrying the scent of moss and earth, and a faint floral fragrance.

Mizuna Yayoi sat beside him and quietly refilled his tea.

"senior."

"Um?

""

"I'm so happy you could come today."

Her voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of being overheard.

Kiryu Yaya turned his head and looked at her.

Her profile looked exceptionally soft in the sunlight, and the wisps of hair by her ears swayed slightly in the wind.

"Me too."

He smiled and said, "Thank you for the invitation."

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