Chapter 27: I'm Curious!
Hanamaru Kindergarten?
Yuta had never heard of this place before, so it was clearly not a kindergarten in his neighborhood. Still, the system had proven reliable in many situations, and Yuta trusted that the options it provided were good ones.
However, to complete this quest, he first needed to find a job. With less than a month until the start of the school term, what kind of job could he find?
Deep in thought, Yuta prepared dinner. After the meal, he set Hina up with some picture books and sat down with Sora and Miu.
Sitting at opposite sides of the small table were a middle schooler and an elementary schooler. They pulled out their summer homework and began working, only asking Yuta for help when they ran into something they didn't understand.
Yuta's expression didn't go unnoticed by Sora and Miu, who both assumed he was worried about money.
"Uncle, Aunt left us some money before she passed. If you need it, please don't hesitate to ask!" Sora wanted to do something to help Yuta.
She wasn't very good at cooking, they sent their laundry to the dry cleaners, and there wasn't much to clean in their tiny room. On top of that, she felt guilty for having caused Yuta more trouble with her own stubbornness.
Yuta smiled at Sora and said, "We're fine for now. Things will settle down soon enough."
Sora's money wasn't much—less than a thousand yen. It wouldn't help with their current situation, and Yuta didn't want to touch it.
Miu also wanted to say something, but just then, Yuta's phone rang.
When he checked the screen, he saw an unfamiliar number, though it wasn't one he didn't recognize.
"It might be a response about a job. I'll step outside to take this. I'll bring back some snacks when I return," Yuta said as he got up, ready to take the call.
Hina, hearing that her uncle was going out, eagerly chimed in, "Uncle, I want a popsicle!"
"Okay, be good and don't disturb your sisters while they're studying, alright?" Yuta patted Hina's head and gave some last-minute instructions before heading out.
After leaving the tin-roofed student apartment, Yuta answered the call.
"Professor, is there something you need?" Yuta wasn't particularly eager to accept help from his professor. He didn't want to think of himself as needing that kind of assistance just yet.
Yuta was skilled in many areas, with basic survival skills that would allow him to work on a construction site or in various technical positions.
Kaoruko Fujiwara, leaning back on her sofa, wasn't upset that Yuta had taken so long to answer the phone. She calmly said, "I've arranged a job for you. You're pretty good at housework, right? Since you've been taking care of three girls, you must have some experience in this area."
Yuta wasn't sure what Kaoruko was getting at and replied directly, "I'm only looking for a short-term job. I have no intention of becoming someone's housekeeper."
"I understand that. Don't worry; it won't interfere with your plans. You can give it a try, and if it doesn't work out, no harm done," Kaoruko said. She knew that if she framed it this way, Yuta would likely refuse outright. But by saying this, it meant she had a way to get Yuta to accept.
"Yuta, taking care of three kids can't be easy, and your university courses will likely suffer. Skipping classes is inevitable, but I can help ensure you don't get expelled for too many absences."
As a university professor—even just an associate professor—Kaoruko had enough influence to smooth over some of the more difficult issues Yuta might face.
Yuta understood this and, after considering it for a moment, said, "I want to know your real motive."
Kaoruko explained, "I've already told you—my purpose is to research The Tale of Genji. As I mentioned before, I'm not lying to you. As for my friend, she knows what I'm trying to do. You don't need to worry; she's not my subordinate. If you don't meet her standards, she'll kick you out."
Yuta still didn't fully grasp Kaoruko's intentions, so he pressed on, "So, what exactly would my job be?"
"It's simple: just help her with some housework. It should take about an hour, and then you can leave. The pay won't be much, but I can supplement it for you," Kaoruko patiently encouraged him.
Yuta wasn't convinced that Kaoruko would introduce him to this job without an ulterior motive. "I want to know more specifics, like who this person is."
"She's a very beautiful woman, doesn't talk much, has high standards, and has a severe father complex. She's not interested in young men like you," Kaoruko said, confident that without her guidance, Yuta wouldn't stand a chance of getting along with this woman. That was what made it interesting!
Upon hearing that his employer would be a woman with a father complex, Yuta frowned. "So, as long as I just do the job properly, that's all there is to it?"
"Otherwise, what did you think?" Kaoruko Fujiwara's tone had a teasing edge that could easily unsettle a teenager. "If you can manage to win her favor without my help, I might even give you a reward!"
"I'll take the job. I'm curious to see what a girl with a father complex is like," Yuta agreed to the job, his thoughts drifting to Hina. This made him all the more curious about what kind of person a girl with a father complex might be.
He was extremely curious!
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