After the first school lesson was over, all the club members gathered together in the club room. Akiko did not understand why they had been invited. Before that, they had been personally invited by Glenn, who was standing at the blackboard. Akiko told Glenn not to be lingering and to explain himself, and Yumiko asked what was wrong.
"I have a proposal to all of you, which you are free to refuse," Glenn added, after which everyone in the office fell silent. "I called you here for a reason, having considered at length what happened with the child."
"With the child?" said Tomoyuki, misunderstanding. "You mean your case about the missing boy you helped?"
"Exactly."
"What do you mean?" added Ryou, crossing his arms.
"I'm suggesting you join the social worker case."
After his direct answer, the audience quieted again for a brief moment. Tomoyuki pondered his suggestion thoughtfully while Akiko stared at the lowly Glenn.
"What the devil is a 'social worker'?" asked Akiko.
"It's a formal job that doesn't require any experience in professional fields only if you don't join the roots of those same professional fields. By value, for high school students or people looking for a quick buck — getting a job as a social worker is the best choice."
Glenn pointed his finger at the blackboard, and drew chalk diagrams on it.
"The job of a social worker is to help people from various walks of life on their own volition. Jobs are given by questionnaire, and if the task is successfully completed, a monetary reward is given."
"Simply put, settle in as volunteers, but get paid for it," Tomoyuki concluded, and Glenn nodded back at him.
"I work as a social worker, and the baby story is not a random thing, to put it bluntly."
"What is the global nature of this job?" asked Yumiko. "I seem to recall talking to you and Masumi-sensei recently about this subject."
"Not unlike when we were moving this topic around in the coffee shop," Glenn replied. "Look at the diagram."
In the form of a diagram, the young man drew intertwined rectangles with arrows.
Social Assistance: demand> signing forms and selecting categories - physical and legal assistance> recruiting volunteers.
"Let me explain thoroughly. People or companies in need of help or extra hands sign a questionnaire application and put the case out in the open. Volunteers from our Organization, on the other hand, choose the right one for their skills with these same questionnaires, and end up performing the task given to them."
"What is the peculiarity of an employee in the Organization?" asked Ryou.
"The organization where I take the job is called the Daisuke Corporation. Basically, people from all walks of life who want to work for the benefit of citizens or for money choose the field of social worker. By the standards of the Organization, such people are called "Keepers," in other words, keepers of people in need. To join this Organization as a Keeper, unfortunately, is not easy. However, I am able to get you there. Just think how many people you can save from the hardships that have befallen them."
Then Tomoyuki crossed his legs and leaned back slightly, the thing that worried him wouldn't come out of his mind. Not wanting to guess for himself, he decided to ask Glenn directly.
"What are you inviting us for?" he asked, whereupon Glenn took on a serious look.
"I see the potential in you. We've only just begun to get along, but I couldn't help but suggest you because I believe in your strengths."
"But if we don't want to waste our time on such things?" said Ryou, restlessly.
"That's all right," Glenn replied. "This work does not require constant activity, and the image of your work depends on your chosen free time for it," he added, soon lowering his eyes. "The situation with the child turned out to be much more complex than one would expect. Usually, people close the questionnaire in a day or two, depending on the overload of work and the keeper himself. Various psychologists or handymen along with white-collar workers moonlight in such organizations for extra money."
"Hmm?" marveled Tomoyuki. "For what do specialists or highly skilled laborers moonlight in these kinds of organizations? Are… the sums suggestive?"
Then Glenn turned back to the blackboard and began to draw numbers in chalk in large print. Then he stepped aside, and all the students sitting in their chairs marveled at the number he had written.
4,000 yen.
"The whole 4,000?!" raised Tomoyuki's mouth.
"But how?" complemented Ryou.
"The price varies with qualifications and education. I mean, an average schoolboy of eighteen can't have qualifications. So they're given a smaller amount."
Glenn wiped the number "4" on the board with a rag and drew a "2" instead.
"The bottom line is that the final amount is 2,000 yen for the completed questionnaire."
The club members were amazed at such figures, and their thoughts changed dramatically to a very different direction.
"Think about my offer now. We all need the money, but there is another reason to work as a keeper: to help people. I think my words carry weight."
"At the same time," Tomoyuki added, "This job will help us get to know each other better?"
"Not otherwise."
"I suppose you have another reason for inviting us," Ryou said skeptically. "Come to think of it, you wish for something in return, for no one would have presented us with such an invitation on a platter."
Glenn shook his head and smirked, "Other than wishing you happiness, I have no purpose. I could easily add you to my list of employees by taking advantage of my sheer activism."
Without much thought, Yumiko agreed. Glenn only answered her with a smile.
"I would expect nothing less from you, Yumiko-chan."
Soon, too, Tomoyuki raised his hand optimistically. "I could use the money, and I have plenty of free time. Isn't that a joy?"
"All right, I'll sign," he said, and looked back at the remaining ones. "And you, Ryou-kun, Akiko-san, agree?"
Ryou seemed concerned, and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Closing his eyes, he sighed tiredly.
"I agree."
Glenn nodded peacefully and turned to Akiko, who, meanwhile, could not give her answer and looked no less pensive.
"It'll be more fun together," Tomoyuki said affectionately, whose kind smile made Akiko flinch slightly.
Soon, too, she agreed to join.
"Fine," Glenn declared, clapping his palms together. "I'll take care of all the questions myself. All you'll have to do is sign the joining papers. I'll bring them to you at another time."
Still, Ryou misunderstood Glenn's thoughts and what drove him. To Ryou, his offer seemed too dubious, but he also couldn't help but think that he was only exaggerating his worries.
As of this day, they had, in effect, signed their own sentence, which could not be refused. Whether Glenn's self-serving thoughts really existed, or whether his worries were misguided after all, no one guessed. And why should they, since their relationship had only just begun to build into a more amicable one. One fact was clear – Glenn trusted his feelings and wanted to help Yumiko adapt to her new environment.