A New Start
The next day, I woke up earlier than I expected. My headache is gone along with my vertigo, I feel refreshed and comfortable all over my body, and my mind is a little clearer.
"This may be the effect of my meditation yesterday night. I should have done this the moment I woke up in a different body yesterday, if only I know, I could have avoided that annoying headache."
I stood up from my bed and washed my face. I looked around and saw a single toothbrush, so I brushed my teeth with it, not minding that someone may have been using it other than this originals body's owner. After cleaning myself, I took a quick bite from the leftover roasted potato that I didn't finish eating last night.
I went out of the house and greeted the villagers with a smile. I already know where I can apply for work. In the original anime, Ranmaru worked as an apprentice in a shop called the Curry of Life Shop after Raiga died in battle with Naruto, Rock Lee, Neji Huga and Tenten.
I walked for a few hundred meters, a little further away from the village, I finally saw the shop I was looking for on the roadside. The shop was a two storey building with red-orange painted walls and a windmill on the side of the shop.
When I got nearer I saw what was written on the plaque, saying, 'Inochi no Kare ya', meaning The Curry Of Life Shop. I went to the front door, fortunately they were open and have few customer inside enjoying the hot and spicy curry that is said to be able to revive a dying person back into full health.
I went near to the counter and a young man noticed me immediately when I stepped inside the shop.
"Welcome to the Curry of Life Shop where you can taste the most delicious curry in your life!" The young man enthusiastically introduced their specialty.
"ah-ehh, about that, I came for another thing here." I awkwardly said while scratching the back of my head and looking down embarrassedly.
"ohh… Tell me kid, what is it?" the young man looked at me and asked while raising his right eye brow.
"Ok, it's like this. I was wondering if you needed some help around the shop. I am currently looking for a job to earn money for food and my other necessities in daily life."
I looked at him in the eye after realizing that I need to toughen up or thicken my skin in order to succeed in life. Timidity will lead me to inferiority, and more importantly, I won't be able to achieve my dreams if I am always like this and can't overcome this little obstacle.
The young man looked at me up and down, observing me with his eyes, not understanding what he was thinking in his mind while looking at me.
Then as if came up with something, he nodded his head slightly and turned to his left side and said in a loud voice.:
"Mom, there is someone I would like you to meet! Hurry up."
"Ok, wait a moment, I am coming in a minute, I just need to finish the curry I am cooking." A slightly hoarse voice of a woman answered back.
The young man looked at me again and said:
"Sit first over there, mother will come to you in a while." I nodded at him and thanked him with a smile, then I turned my back to him and to sit on an empty chair on the corner.
After waiting for a few minutes, I saw an old woman with rounded glasses. While standing, she is only a few centimeters higher than me.
She talked to her son and her son pointed at me. At his que, I approached the old lady with a smile and introduced myself to her.
"Hello, good morning!" I said in a slightly high pitched voice.
She was observing me with her small eyes through her glasses when I came near and smiled kindly.
"I heard from my son that you are here for work, is that right?"
"Yes ma'am! My name is Ranmaru, and I am four years old. I can do a lot of work, just like cooking, cleaning, washing dishes, serving food, feeding the farm animals, and many more. I can also sing and dance if you want. " I said in a cheerful voice.
" Haha..ok, ok stop. I heard enough." The old woman nodded and told me to stop.
"Where are your parents? Why are you here for work? You are still too young to work." She said.
"I am an orphan so I can only support myself and I needed this job, so please accept me!" I bowed at her, then she hurriedly stopped me and said: "ok, for now, help my son here, Karashi in delivering orders to the customer's table and clean the tables after the customer leaves, understood? As for your compensation we will talk about it later, ok? There are still customers coming in so let's get to work."
"Hai.!!"