"Oi, Fuku-chan, you didn't forget the report that has to be done by tomorrow, right?"
My life is nothing but miserable. Day by day, everything stays the same. Exploitation, stagnation, sadness, loneline-
"Kazuya, Kazuya! Do you think I can go like this to the restaurant?"
My life is nothing but happiness. Day by day, the grace of my angel is encouraging me to breathe, to live, to fight for my survival.
Mhm
I pointed both my thumbs up, nodded and unintentionally had a happy expression. How would I not have one? Impossible. I am a mere worker bee and she is my queen.
"Tachibana looks great!"
And here's the wasp. Or rather, the monkey. Tsk, don't ruin the atmosphere with your presence.
"I'll go get a refill, want one too?"
"No, thanks."
Don't fill your stomach with coffee, let space for meat as well, you maniac!
"Is it really okay if I come? I almost ruined everything…" — asked Tamayo, hiding her eyes. She may still be feeling sorry for what she had done.
"Everything is fine." — I answered with a smile on my face.
Honestly? No! You are the main reason why most of the customers were afraid of approaching us. If not for Ruo, you would have been my slave till you repay your sins! Argh, whatever. Tachibana would never let her alone here, and Fujiwara as well. My feelings wouldn't matter anyway.
Tsk
"Hm?"
Crap, that came out naturally.
"Ah, nothing, nothing. I'm just hungry, and the time passes really slow." — I started waving my hands.
"Is that so? Then, for an apology, you can have some of my food as well, later."
What's with this sudden generosity? Just make sure you will not mess up things from now on.
"What are you both speaking about?" — a head popped out of nowhere between us.
"Oh, Fuji-tan, nothing, nothing. I just wanted to apologize for what I did."
Yukiko shrugged her shoulders and gave a sight at me. Maybe my face was too dark…
"He. Kazuya, was the reward not enough for you already?"
Ishida tilted her head.
"What reward?"
"Oh? You don't know? Well…"
Oi, cut it!
"Our Kazuya did great back then…"
Oi!
"and good employees need good rewards, right, Tamayo-chan? What would you do for an employee of yours?"
Oi, I don't like where it is going, stop it immediately!
"…"
Ishida's face flushed, her eyes pointed at the ground.
Ishida! Since when do you have such thoughts?!
"Just joking~."
"…"
"…"
Jokes should be funny, you cold-hearted demon!
"He got a big bonus to his salary, isn't that right, Kazuya?"
I nodded twice.
"What else would be better than this?"
To be honest, some things… huh? Why is Fujiwara looking at me like this… why does she smirk? Is this an expression of a face full of pride? She doesn't know what I thought about, right?
Yukiko's mouth started moving, but no sound came out. Does she want me to lip-read?
"H-a-v-e-p-a-t-i-e-n-c-e"
"…"
She knows what I thought about…
I flushed and started coughing without an end. Oh, it's almost 16:00? I stood up.
"Then, shall we go?"
***
Ruo did me a great favor by buying all the candidates I had. Not only will I get a great bonus to my salary, but I also got a solid reason to see Tachibana outside the company. I will never forget your kindness, Master Ruo!
"My legs hurt! Why didn't we take the subway?"
Give me a break, you are puffing the whole day today.
"A-h small-h walk-h hasn't kill-ed anyone h-yet, stop whining-h, Saru."
It would sound more convincing if you weren't exhausted yourself, Ogawa…
"Nghhh…"
"Don't worry, Senior, burning calories before eating isn't a bad idea at all!"
"You say that because you're young, Nakamura."
The hell you are talking about?! He is one year younger than us both! Just accept the fact you are weak and lazy. You owl monkey!
Sigh
I should have kept it a secret and invited Tachibana only.
Hm? There it is. The neon sign of the restaurant, to which we were going to, appeared on the horizon, together with a human figure, resembling Hiroki.
"Cheer up, Saru, we are almost there" — I pointed at the restaurant.
The sign had something written in Korean and "Korean Barbeque" in a small font. But as far as I remember, it's called the Monkey's paw.
…
"Whassup, rival" — he raised his palm once I approached him.
"Hm? Oi?! How many people have brought with yourself?!
"You said you'll treat the whole team for a meal?"
"That's right, but…"
"Our team has 50 persons, should I call the rest?"
"…"
"I thought so."
My colleagues greeted Hiroki and we entered the store. It is a very famous all-you-can-eat Korean barbeque. The interior fits its popularity, too. We were greeted by a beautiful waitress and then escorted to our tables.
I hoped to sit next to Tachibana, but in the end sat in front of her. That's even better… Can't say the same for the guys who sat to the right and left of me, Yamazaki and Ishida, respectively.
***
"Kyah! So tasty! Meat, meat, meat!"
Leave us some meat too, you sin of gluttony in human form!
It's embarrassing to sit with him in such a great restaurant. I guess I can't really blame a monkey for not having human manners, can I?
I looked down at my plate and saw a chunk of beef appearing from nowhere.
"What are you doing?" — I asked Ishida.
"Hm?"
Ishida reacted confused on my question.
"I said that you can have some of my food as well, didn't I?" — she answered, still confused.
Don't say that as if it were something natural…
"Just… eat your food."
She turned her head forward, with a visible disappointment on her face.
Don't make such a face just because I don't want to steal your food. You make me look like a villain in this situation.
I looked forward, too. I wish I hadn't done it.
Tachibana was observing us the whole time. I could tell, by her face expression only, that she had plenty of questions.
An awkward silence had been established between me and Tachibana, even though she still stared at me. Occasionally, Tamayo tried to put more beef on my plate.
"He~" — Tachibana finally did the first move.
"Kazuya and Tamayo seem to have become very close in the last time."
No! Your thoughts are incorrect, your grace!
Besides, what is this strange coldness and emotionless coming out of her? As if I would speak to Fujiwara or Ogawa, no, even worse than that.
"N-no, she just feels sorry for the thing back then."
"He~. Is that so, Tamayo-chan?" — she asked with the same cold and calm voice.
Tamayo raised her head and looked at Tachibana.
"Yhvs, phmnchinhg th bhmig ghuy whahs u mhistke."
Oi! Don't speak with the Angel with a full mouth!
"I understand."
What did you understand?! And if you did, please translate it for me as well!
This is no good. I don't like Tachibana's expression. Unusual emotionless, staring, this can't be good!
She lifted her head and took a big breath.
"I'm so happy Kazuya and Tamayo made up!" — Tachibana clapped her hands.
"…"
"…"
What was the meaning of all this… I am tired…
…
"Mhm, this thing, how is it called?"
Yamazaki pointed at a cup filled with a transparent liquid.
"Cheongju, sir." — answered the waitress.
"Hah?! It's sake, sake!"
Tsk
How can you get drunk that fast? I better call a taxi for you before you ruin everything.
Unfortunately for me, Yamazaki is sitting to the left of me. I will never forget the intense smell of alcohol coming out of his mouth, especially when hugging me and speaking direct onto my face.
Tsk
Ordering alcohol was certainly a bad idea. My soul still hasn't recovered from the consequences of alcohol the last time.
"Oi, best employee" — ah, here we go again.
We hugged me with his right hand, holding a cup of alcohol with his left one.
"I"— hiek! — "want to propose a toast to" — hiek! — "you."
Just make it fast and go home.
"You are a true prodigy for this filthy company" — hiek! — "Let's drink for your sake, so you can continue doing your miracles." — hiek!
Everyone took his cup and drank from it. Yamazaki thought a cup was not enough, and started drinking out of a bottle.
"Kyah! It's really great." — said a happy monkey.
"In the end, I'm delighted that senior can't go to work for that Ruo guy."
Yamazaki's eye twitched.
"Hm? Masaru-kun, who is Ruo?" — asked Tachibana.
Right, Tachibana doesn't know yet. Only Saru and Ogawa know of that dialogue I had.
Saru looked at me with a face that asked for permission.
Sigh
"You already started, finish it."
Akashi's eyes shined, he took a cup, drank from it and started.
"So, Ruo is an old customer of Kazuya. He offered Kazuya a contract for the position of branch-manager, with a salary of $20,000."
"Hrrrk hak hak hak"
Yamazaki choked on alcohol. Dumbass alcoholic. Maybe it will be a lesson for you for a moderate drink!
"So much?!"
Everyone reacted in unison. That's natural, can't blame them. I would have the same one if it happened to Saru or Ogawa.
"That was to be expected from my rival." — said Kanamashi.
Why are you making such a proud face?!
"And what was Kazuya's response?"
Tachibana asked me, with some fear on her eyes.
Why are you all acting like I had a choice anyway?
"I declined the offer."
Tachibana sighed in relief.
For real, you don't have to make such a fuss out of this… I already accepted my fate.
beep-beep-beep
Oh? The taxi driver is calling me.
"Alright, Mr. Yamazaki, time to g-"
He suddenly grabbed me by my collar and started shaking me.
"$10,000 is the most I can give you for now. But it will get bigger soon! Just wait! Okay?!"
Hah?! Let me go, drunken pervert!
I hit my forehead against his one and he passed out.
Tsk
This night would be so great if only Tachibana and I came alone. I looked at her, she was laughing at us. Well, at least she seems to enjoy it. That is enough for me to be satisfied.
We stayed at the restaurant for a few more hours and left for our homes. It was definitely quieter without Yamazaki. But he had already done enough for the waitresses staring at us with a bit of contempt.
"We should do it often!" — said Tachibana with a happy face.
Everyone else nodded.
"I don't mind, as long as my pocket is not dried up afterward."
"Stop whining, Takahashi. It was you who proposed this competition of yours."
"It's Ka… whatever."
***
I woke up. Thankfully, I had no uninvited guests this time. My head was a little dizzy, but no comparison to how it was the last time I drank alcohol. I came to the conclusion that the most traumatizing experience you can get, after drinking, is the consequence of seeing a naked monkey. If I make sure not a single monkey can enter my house at night, then everything is going to be fine.
After a fast breakfast, I exited the apartment. Nakamura, as always, was waiting for me outside.
"G-good mor-ning…"
Huh, I guess not everyone is as fine as I am after the last night. Skill issue?
Inumaru almost fell down a few times during our walk to the work. Honestly, just take a day off if you feel so bad after alcohol.
***
At work, everything was as always, if we ignore Nakamura and Ogawa who suffered the entire day.
I saw Yamazaki a few times, he seemed like he couldn't recall the last night. Besides, I had a feeling, like he was friendlier to me than he usually is. Consequence of drinking? Whatever.
During the day, two of my colleagues recovered and felt normal. Ogawa, as typically, drank a coffee after another. Probably a matter of experience.
…
A few minutes before the workday ended, I got a notification on my smartphone.
"Ah, right."
It is the end of the month, payday.
I opened my bank app and looked at my account.
[+$37,000.00]
"…"
Huh?! The hell? This must be a mistake. Where is Yamazaki?
I stood up and started turning my head from left to right, in search for Yamazaki. Finally, I saw him packing his back and being ready to leave. I ran to his desk.
"Oi! Yamazaki, wait!"
"Hm?"
"What is this?" — I pointed at my phone.
"A smartphone?" — he responded.
"I know that, but here."
I handed him my phone and showed him my bank account.
"Hm… yes, that's certainly your salary for this month."
"$37,000?!"
"Yes?"
"…"
Yamazaki sighed.
"With all the contracts that bastard Ruo bought, you got a $25,000 bonus. Besides, you have sold 4 contracts this month, that's an additional $2,000."
"It should be $30,000 then, though?"
"No?"
"…"
What do you mean by no? My basic salary is $3,000?
"I said $10,000 is the most I can offer you right now. Have patience."
Huh? $10,000? Wait… he had said something like that the night before… Did he mean it? I mean… thanks?
I spent a few minutes just looking at my phone.
"S-senior? Is everything alright?"
Erh? Nakamura! Crap, why is he still here? Ah, right, he always waits for me after the work… not for long, though! With my salary, soon I'll buy a great house in a good neighborhood.
I wiped off my drool off my mouth, stood up and went out together with Nakamura.
***
The evening roads were empty and quiet. The sunlight slowly disappeared, and only the annoying singing of one person spoiled the beautiful silence.
"10,000~, 10,000~, 10,000~."
How few things do a man need to make himself happy? To love and be loved, and a high salary.
Damn, Yamazaki got one respect point from me, he needs another 99 for me to consider him an equal to me human being. But why is he suddenly so nice to me? Usually, I'd be worried, but right now, I can't think of anything to worry about.
Poor Hiroki. I could easily pay for everything if I had got my salary just a few days ago. Well, whatever, it is his fault! A lesson to not mess with me, the best consultant of Divine Reincarnation! He-he.
I didn't realize how much I would regret my salary bump.