Jiro walked down the stairwell to the first floor. He easily found the maintenance room and knocked on it. The always cheerful Soma opened the door. Soma was a chubby middle-aged unmarried woman. Ten years ago, she took the job of managing the apartment complex to move out from her parents' home. Back then, she didn't ask for much, just a roof over her head. Now, she lived in the apartment studio right next to the maintenance room.
The apartment complex collected monthly dues from each renter to pay for the maintenance. The dues were a small percentage of the rent. Soma was efficient at her job. Everyone was satisfied with her work.
When she saw Jiro she smiled. "Are you here to fill the landscaping job?"
Jiro nodded. "I heard Hiroyuki tell me about it."
Soma walked Jiro outside and explained to him what work needed to be performed. Then she informed him about the pay, including the free lunch.
Five thousand yen a day and all-you-can-eat free lunch was a terribly great deal. Jiro felt elated. He had never made that much in a day before. In the past, when he was still living with his mother, Jiro would do odd jobs around the neighborhood. He would receive less than half of the amount Soma was offering him.
The best news was that Jiro wouldn't have to commute to work. He would just have to walk downstairs. The work wasn't too grueling. The only drawback would be that he would have to work in rain or shine. However, that wasn't a big deal as he had a hand-me-down raincoat from Hiroyuki. Also, the garden tools, his work gloves and work hat, to keep out the sun, were all provided by the apartment complex.
"Is this amount of pay acceptable to you?" Soma asked the laconic boy in front of her.
"Yes," Jiro quickly answered. He was afraid if he didn't answer quickly enough, Soma might change her mind.
Jiro was well experienced with the fickle nature of the human heart.