Chapter 23: Kaoruko Fujiwara
After receiving a scolding from the three girls, Yuuta decided it was time to leave home and seek employment elsewhere. His royalties would likely take more than a month to arrive, and he wasn't the type to idly wait for money to come his way.
To start earning some cash, he had to begin with day labor jobs. While he viewed the system missions as a bonus, Yuuta didn't want to rely solely on the system's unstable income in case something went wrong. His current funds weren't substantial, and he had been moderately spendthrift in the past few days, primarily to shield the three kids from worrying.
As he pondered the type of job to pursue, Yuuta pedaled his bicycle around the area, but there didn't appear to be any immediate job openings nearby. As he rode aimlessly, he passed by a rather upscale apartment complex and spotted an exceptionally beautiful woman descending from the building.
Yuuta resided in a student dormitory, and there was a nearby university just a twenty-minute bike ride away. This opulent neighborhood was home to the well-to-do, boasting a splendid environment.
In such affluent areas, the presence of strikingly attractive women wasn't out of the ordinary. With the earlier scolding from the three girls still fresh in his mind and other concerns on his plate, Yuuta merely gave her a passing glance before continuing on his way.
A little over ten seconds after passing her, Yuuta's phone rang, prompting him to halt his bike and inspect his phone. It displayed an unknown number.
"Hello, may I ask who this is?" Yuuta inquired.
"Turn back," came the reply from the other end of the line, delivered in a slightly mature female voice that was as soothing as a gentle breeze.
Yuuta curiously glanced back and noticed the beautiful woman he had just passed was holding her phone to her ear, her gaze fixed on him.
At first, Yuuta believed it might be a coincidence. But when he realized the woman's unwavering gaze upon him, he nervously turned his bicycle around and cycled back.
Before him stood an enchanting woman with a remarkable figure and striking spiral-shaped hair. She didn't seem particularly approachable, and Yuuta felt wary in the presence of such a person.
Though he had some experience dealing with women in his past life, Yuuta remained relatively innocent. He didn't anticipate any involvement with this woman.
"Hello? Have we met before?" Yuuta inquired cautiously, adopting a reserved stance when interacting with seemingly unapproachable women.
Despite his prior experiences, Yuuta remained, at his core, a genuinely pure-hearted individual and had no expectations of entanglement with this woman.
"I'm Kaoruko Fujiwara. You're a student at Shiun University, right?" Kaoruko Fujiwara looked at Yuuta and asked.
Yuuta didn't know how to react to this beautiful woman. If she didn't know his name and identity, how did she have his phone number?
The puzzle of how she had obtained his phone number weighed heavily on Yuuta's mind. He couldn't deny that her name was familiar to him from his original memories.
Kaoruko Fujiwara, an associate professor in the Faculty of Literature at Shiun University, specialized in Japanese classical literature, particularly "The Tale of Genji." She was 28 years old, held a disdain for men, and was single.
In essence, Kaoruko Fujiwara was an incredibly captivating and intellectually gifted beauty with a striking figure. She was always the center of attention and boasted numerous secret admirers at the school, making her the most popular female teacher.
In this world, "The Tale of Genji" was a classical literary masterpiece that wielded a profound influence on the development of Japanese literature, representing the pinnacle of classical Japanese literary achievements and ushering in the era of "mono no aware." Those who delved into this work held a status similar to those who studied "Dream of the Red Chamber" in the real world, but their standing seemed even higher.
Despite the knowledge of her background, Yuuta couldn't shake his curiosity about how she had managed to obtain his phone number.
"I'm a first-year university student. May I ask where you got my phone number?" Yuuta inquired, eager to understand the source of her information.
Kaoruko Fujiwara avoided a direct response and instead arrived at a conclusion. "You seem to be not very good at dealing with girls."
"Yes, I admit to that. Can I ask where you obtained... Well, I'm going to search for a job now. I won't trouble you with any more questions," Yuuta decided to relinquish the issue, recognizing that she wasn't inclined to disclose how she had acquired his phone number.
As Yuuta was on the brink of departing, Kaoruko Fujiwara finally spoke at the last possible moment, "I can introduce you to a job, one with daily pay."
"Really?" Yuuta swiftly halted his bicycle and dismounted, standing in front of Kaoruko Fujiwara. "Thank you so much! I really need a short-term job right now!"
Kaoruko Fujiwara turned and began walking toward the upscale apartment complex. "Follow me."
Though Yuuta sensed that something might be a bit off, as if there were unknown factors at play, he couldn't resist placing some trust in her. After all, she was a university professor. He pushed his bicycle and followed her promptly.