Tokyo Sound

"Thank you, I will try my best." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu answered seriously.

"The changing room is in the front. Pick out something that fits you." The store manager said to the young man behind him, "I'll tell you what to pay attention to later."

"I will keep the spirit of the service industry in mind and will certainly welcome the visit of God, the customer, with the best mental outlook!" The young man exudes passion and motivation.

The three of them passed each other.

Matsuoka Yoshitsugu walked out of the store and suddenly looked back with some confusion.

Huh?

Chapter 13: Black bow tie and white clothes

Sayako Tomoma, 27 years old, is a rare strong woman in this society. She currently works as a manager in a financial company.

Her vigorous and resolute way of doing things and her background as a master of finance from Imperial College London [Note: Imperial College London, one of the top public universities in the UK] make her invincible.

Years of studying abroad also broadened her horizons. After returning, she was deeply disgusted with the invisible injustice against women in the domestic workplace. And she fought back openly. With her extraordinary skills and business ability, she brought down her direct superior and replaced him, becoming a legend in the industry for a while.

The image and temperament a person exudes depend on his wealth and self-discipline.

Hayaseko has set herself three major plans of ten years and five minor plans of three years, covering all aspects including career planning, hobby learning, relaxing travel, and body care.

It is only through years of careful management and portrayal of life that today's bright and beautiful life is achieved.

But even such a talented woman could not escape the fate of being urged to get married by her family. If you are still unmarried after the age of 30, you are considered a leftover woman. Her parents are always worried and will call her whenever they have free time.

Hayaseko firmly believes that the happiness gained by women's independence will not disappear easily. She believes that the security gained from relying on others is unstable.

Having said that, she had to listen to her parents, and marriage occupies an important position in everyone's life, so she did not resist too much.

With a healthy and plump figure obtained through years of exercise, an elegant and sophisticated temperament cultivated through extensive reading and long-term business experience, naturally regular facial features and fair skin, as well as a high annual personal income, Chima Sayaka is definitely the most charming and dazzling rose in the blind date market.

Ever since her parents started introducing her to potential partners, a large number of men who also coveted her excellent qualities flocked to her.

At first, Hayako took it seriously and did have some intention of choosing a life partner from among them, but in the end, her patience was worn out by these vulgar men.

All they want is help to make their lives more comfortable. This is especially true as they get older. As they gain more experience, their hearts are no longer as soft as before, and they get used to weighing their choices based on the scale of interests.

Tomoma Sayaka looked at the man in front of her who was pretending to be reserved and listened to his boasting. She lost interest again and left despite the man's surprised attempts to keep her.

Walking on the ever-busy streets of Tokyo, staring at the rushing crowds of people, I felt a sense of weariness towards life for the first time.

She can't go back now, otherwise her parents will criticize her for not valuing her second half of life and nag her for hours. She should turn off her cell phone for the time being.

Zao Shazi wandered aimlessly in the city. The sky and her mood were as changeable. Dark clouds gradually rolled in, and the dense drizzle soon turned into heavy rain. The water curtain separated the sky and the earth, washing away the noise and vanity of the city.

She covered her head with her branded handbag and hid under a door eaves in panic. Her carefully groomed hair and makeup were gone, her coat was soaked, and rain water dripped into her shoes, making her feel uncomfortable.

Her mood also fell to the bottom. Hayako pushed her wet hair back, sighed, and sat on the steps.

A sense of alienation from my hometown arose.

Work can only provide survival capital, but cannot provide happiness and a sense of belonging. When she thinks about it carefully, she hasn't had anyone to talk to for a long time. Her parents only urge her. After all, in the eyes of the two elders, such an excellent and versatile daughter has only one shortcoming: she has not started a family.

Is that really the case... Hayako smiled bitterly.

The toughness in the workplace, the self-discipline in life, and the hard work when studying abroad are all achieved through self-denial and change. No one is born perfect, but they are improved later.

As for marriage and the rest of her life, she no longer wanted to control her emotions and accept it.

While I was thinking silently, I suddenly felt an umbrella open.

Hayako subconsciously looked up and saw an innocent young man in a white shirt and black bow tie holding an umbrella with an ancient wood grain handle and smiling at her.

"Your shoulders are wet."

The young waiter spoke softly, and gently wiped her hair and shoulders with a handkerchief. Although he was a bit of a germaphobe, this intimate gesture did not make Hayako unhappy at all. Perhaps it was because of the genuine concern in his words, or because his gesture was as gentle and considerate as treating delicate porcelain.

"The rain won't stop for a moment, why don't you come into the store and take a rest." The waiter remained bowed, like a medieval manor steward facing a noble returning home.

Hayako nodded subconsciously. Seeing this, the waiter hurriedly walked down the stairs a few steps. He did not extend his hand actively, but hovered in front of her for her to use as a handrail to stand up.

Only when Hayako stood up could she see the waiter's appearance clearly.

He was meticulously dressed, had slicked-back hair, a perfect smile like a spring breeze, clear eyes, and a handsome face. He looked unexpectedly young, as if he was still a student.

"Please follow me." The waiter stepped aside and led her in.

It is a regular western-style restaurant with a great atmosphere. The simple, elegant and quiet atmosphere is soothing. A lot of money was spent on the decoration. The soft lights flow like fish in the neatly cut environment. Bach's English Suite is also playing in the store.

"Please take a seat." The waiter skillfully found a quiet and secluded seat for her and took out a chair. After Zao Shazi sat down, the waiter opened the menu on the table and took out a small notebook and pen. "Please see what you would like to eat."

Somehow, this inquiry back to the transaction broke the moonlight-like purity of the boy.

After all, this is a restaurant, he is a waiter, and he is just being solicited by customers.

Hayako said goodbye because she didn't remember to eat before. In fact, she was a little hungry, but she was not in the mood and just shook her head lightly.

"I understand. Please wait a moment." Although no order was made, the waiter nodded and left after thinking for a few seconds.

Zao Shazi was stunned for a moment, thinking that this was going to be a forced sale, and she couldn't help but feel a little angry.

But soon, the waiter came back with a towel and a pair of slippers.

"Please wipe it off. There's water in your shoes. If you don't mind, you can change into this."

"...Thank you." Hayako hesitated for a while and took off her boots. Her socks were already soaked. The waiter squatted down and took the boots and handed the slippers to her feet.

"Can I use a heat dryer to dry my clothes, shoes and socks?" the waiter asked cautiously, as careful as a young animal.

Hayaseko's feet shrank cutely. The sticky socks were very uncomfortable, but it was a bit inconvenient, so she evaded the question, "Don't you have something else to do? You don't have to worry about me. I'll call you when I want to eat."

"But you are my guest," the waiter said suddenly.

Hayaseko was startled for a moment, then a little embarrassed and annoyed. She pulled the menu over, flipped to the back, and pointed to an expensive dish. "Order this expensive one. You can leave now, right?"

"What you need right now is not foie gras caviar." The waiter lowered his head slightly, like a child being criticized, but still said sincerely, "What you need is clearly 'care'."

Hayako was completely stunned. She found that the boy in front of her was a little nervous but still looking straight at her.

How many men have looked directly at me during my blind dates? Their eyes were filled with desire fermented by alcohol, and the wrinkles of their pulled smiles were filled with greed. But there was no muddy turbidity in these eyes, only a hint of timidity and concern for fear of angering her.

The waiter was like a poplar tree in a snowy winter, covered with cool white ice crystals, standing tall amid the questioning and harsh criticisms of the steel scraper, without ever bending.

Hayako suddenly regretted speaking so harshly to this kind and handsome young man.

"Thank you, but I don't need it."

Women must wear armor to ignore doubts and injustice. Once they take it off, they will only be weak.

"Everything that has happened is just a prologue." The waiter comforted him softly, "No matter how long the night is, the day will eventually come. When you greet the sunrise, please stay healthy. I sincerely hope so."

Shakespeare's gentle words made Sayako feel like she was back in her college days. She had two boyfriends when she was in college, one French and the other British.

French boyfriends are free-spirited and romantic by nature. They always put effort into every little detail of life and are always ready to surprise her. He will calculate the trajectory of stars and investigate the weather, just to find a moonlit night with clear stars to talk with her on the rooftop and look up at the clear Milky Way. He will invite more than 300 foreign friends to record a video one year in advance, edit it and play it on her birthday. He will write "I love you" on a note in different languages ​​and hide it secretly in the pages of her book.

Tomorrow is like a delicious candy wrapped in a beautiful package, with the sweetness of peaches, the freshness of ice pears, and the mellow aftertaste of chocolate with liquor. Before going to bed, I am full of expectations for tomorrow.

Even though they broke up in the end, it was still a worthwhile relationship.

The British boyfriend Richard is not as passionately romantic, he just gives his respect and sincerity.

There is no love, but there will be morning greetings and a warm breakfast. There is no explicit declaration of love, but I will read Shakespeare with her by the fireplace while watching the snow outside the window. There is no grand vow, but I will carefully plan the future life and way out for the two of them.

But although Richard majored in finance from a prestigious university, he planned to return to his hometown to take over the farm and engage in agriculture. This was far from the modern life that Hayako had expected, and they finally decided to break up.

Many years have passed, and she has become a senior executive of a large company and has several houses in the port area where every inch of land is valuable. Richard has married and has children, but he still guards the family property and takes care of vegetables. In the family photos posted on social platforms, his smile is as sunny and cheerful as before.

She was richer and more sophisticated, but she could never earn that smile again.

As Hayako recalled the past, she felt mixed emotions. She looked at the innocent young man in white with red eyes, "Can you give me a smile?"

The waiter was puzzled for a moment, then smiled, simple and transparent, like a ray of light.

Hayako's heart suddenly began beating faster. She smelled the lavender scent on the boy and gazed at his beautiful face that was like her first love on campus, and a feeling of attachment and regret arose.

She is no longer young.

Hayako sighed with relief, and then smiled charmingly.

"I'm hungry, do you have any recommendations?"

"Our Ise lobster sashimi is particularly famous. It is a good choice to pair it with Pommery champagne." The waiter opened the menu and introduced the recommendation.

"I want this one." Hayaseko didn't even look at the price.

"Then I'll dry your coat and boots, too."

"And the socks..." Hayako blushed slightly, she bent down and took off her knee-length flesh-colored thin stockings, "Thank you for your help."

"This is my duty. Your happiness is more important than anything else." The waiter's smile is always as pure as ice and snow.

Table 13.

There is also a frustrated woman here. She suddenly grabbed the pure white sleeve of a passing waiter. She drank some wine and drunkenly gave out a business card, eager and shy.

"Why don't we exchange our names?"

"What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." The waiter took the card and replied with a smile.

The female customer was stunned and speechless, as if she had returned to her student days when she first fell in love. Her secret crush on the senior was a little secret in her drawer, which she carefully kept to herself and dared not speak out loud.

Unfortunately, when I came to my senses, the waiter had already left.

Yin Ze returned to the staff room, used a hair dryer to dry the clothes, and by the way, ordered a taxi to take the older, frustrated female president to her home according to the address on the business card he had just taken over.

Not only do you have to be sharp-eyed to attract customers, but you also have to act like a loving husband and care for others so that customers will reluctantly order food. The service industry in Japan is really hard.

The chef in the kitchen looked up in confusion when he heard about a four-pound lobster sashimi. He was currently processing a giant king crab.

Why is business so good tonight, and why do people always order expensive items?

Chapter 14: Late-night craving for meat and iced cola

The restaurant closed around 9pm.

The chefs would not stay to clean up, and the store manager would go home to take a bath in his car. The task of mopping the floor until it was shiny, waxing the table, and making the stove look brand new so that tomorrow's diners would enjoy their meals and be full of energy, thus accelerating the country's social progress, fell on the shoulders of the young and strong Heisei athletes.

Yin Ze dripped detergent on the sponge, rubbed out bubbles and applied them to the dining table. The oil stains were vigorously disintegrated and brushed away, and the same was true for the chairs. The clear water in the bucket turned turbid after multiple washings.

With a violent shrug of the shoulders, several tables soon became shiny, but then the waist began to feel sore.

He rested his back like an old man who was tired and exhausted after excitement.

It’s really hard to be a “traveler”.

Today he was as humble and attentive as the eunuchs who served the empress dowager in ancient times. His words and deeds set a model benchmark for the service industry. He even sold his body to make several older "sisters" laugh and shake their bodies to keep the customer flow.

Yin Ze looked at his slightly trembling hands and sighed inwardly.

As expected, Japan is a leader in the global corporate slave circle, and it is simply squeezing people's potential dry.

But this experience is also very valuable and can be used next time!

He is not the only one who wants to get overtime pay and subsidies. Not far away, there is a silent man who is pulling the mop hard, each time as steady as a rock. You can tell from his technique that he is a veteran.

Feeling the fisherman's presence and gaze, the man turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's okay, I'll take a break." Yin Ze stretched lazily.

"You've really worked hard today." Matsuoka Yoshitsugu nodded and said with emotion, "You have to be flexible in dealing with so many customers."

"If it weren't for that little bit of money, who would be willing to be the rich Wei Zhongxian [Note: "Rich Wei Zhongxian" here refers to the Japanese gigolo]." The man said quietly.

"Takizawa-san, are you short of money?" Matsuoka Yoshitsugu asked curiously, "You are still a high school student, and a Tokyo native."

"My parents are divorced, and I'm currently living on my own. Recently, I was ordered by my landlord to move out. It's really troublesome."

"I'm sorry... for asking a rude question."

"It's nothing. If you can make money to solve the problem, it's not a big problem. The natural and man-made disasters that cannot be reversed by human power are really helpless." Yin Ze said, "Mr. Matsuoka, you came from a far distance, and it's more difficult to work hard alone."

"After all, he is a boy. In comparison, there are some girls who are willing to make the same choice as me. That is real courage," said Matsuoka Yoshitsugu.

"Voice actor?"

"Well, my teachers back home also said that if you really want to do this, you have to come to Tokyo to have a chance. There are really many students in the training center who are in the same situation."

"It's not easy, but hard work pays off. It seems to be quite difficult to enter an office from a training institute." Yin Ze said with a smile.

"No, the teacher always mutters that the first year for newcomers is difficult."