In general, Japanese high school students are allowed to work part-time jobs.
However, Japan's labor laws set certain limitations on minors' working hours and the types of jobs they can do to protect their health and ensure their education.
**Working hours limitation:**
High school students under 18 are limited to working no more than 5 hours per day and 30 hours per week during school terms.
**Nighttime work restriction:**
Students under 18 are prohibited from working between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the school term, and between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. during summer or winter breaks.
**Job restrictions:**
High school students are not allowed to engage in dangerous or hazardous jobs.
**School consent:**
High school students must obtain their school's consent to start working. The school may require job details to ensure the work does not interfere with their studies.
In order to start working, Shindai Hakuka needed to get a work application form from the school.
From 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., students and teachers had their lunch break.
After finishing his meal, Hakuka didn't return to the classroom right away. Instead, he headed to the teachers' office to find his homeroom teacher, Matsue Aimi.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
After knocking on the door, Hakuka opened it and stepped inside.
Numerous eyes turned toward him.
Teachers sat at their desks, some students assisting them with various tasks.
Some of the boys, who had thought of themselves as fairly good-looking, couldn't help but admit that Hakuka was on another level. Several female teachers' eyes lit up as they spotted Hakuka, glancing curiously at him and wondering which class he belonged to.
Hakuka scanned the teachers' office and quickly found his homeroom teacher, Matsue Aimi, sitting in the far corner.
She appeared to be engrossed in her lunch, unaware of his presence.
Hakuka quietly walked over to her desk.
He noticed that the petite and cute Matsue Aimi was munching on an oversized burger while watching a horror video on her phone, with earbuds plugged in.
The video was playing a gory scene, something similar to *The Hills Have Eyes*, filled with blood and guts.
Hakuka was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Matsue Aimi, who looked so small and innocent, to enjoy such gruesome content.
Aimi seemed to be thoroughly entertained, occasionally mocking the characters in the video for their poor decisions. "How could you get caught so easily? Idiot!" she muttered between bites.
"Sensei," Hakuka greeted, trying to get her attention.
With her earbuds in, Matsue Aimi didn't hear him. She kept swinging her short legs, wrapped in black stockings, as she happily chomped on her burger, absorbed in the horror film.
Hakuka glanced at the clock, noting that class was about to start soon. He didn't have the time to wait.
Knowing he had tasks to complete after school, he had no intention of coming back later, so he lightly tapped Aimi on the shoulder.
Startled, Aimi, who had assumed it was one of her colleagues, slowly turned to face him.
"Ahhh!" she screamed, nearly dropping her burger when she saw Hakuka standing there, as if he were a ghost.
Aimi hastily yanked out her earbuds and covered her phone screen, looking flustered. "Sh-Shindai-kun! What are you doing here?"
"Am I scarier than a horror film?" Hakuka teased with a smirk.
Aimi's face turned slightly red as she cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure. "N-No, it's not like that! I just wasn't expecting you… A-Anyway, what do you need?"
"I'd like to get a part-time job application form," Hakuka said casually.
"A job? Already? It's only the first day of school," Aimi frowned. "Are you that short on money? Are you sure it won't interfere with your studies?"
"I'm short on money, but I'm confident it won't affect my schoolwork," Hakuka replied calmly.
"I see… Well, it's possible, but the form requires your guardian's consent," Aimi explained, knowing that the school allowed part-time jobs as long as certain conditions were met. However, to ensure student safety, she always made it a point to check in with the students' guardians and follow up with their workplaces.
Hakuka was about to provide his guardian's phone number when Aimi interrupted him, already tapping on her phone screen. "No need. I already know your guardian."
Hakuka blinked in surprise, suddenly recalling that his aunt had mentioned knowing someone at the school earlier that morning. However, he hadn't expected that person to be his homeroom teacher.
Aimi scrolled through her contacts until she found the one labeled "Useless Woman." With a quick tap, the call screen appeared.
Within moments, the call was connected.
"Ayaka?"
"Mami-chan! What's up?"
"Don't call me 'Mami-chan'! I'm older than you!"
"Oh, come on, Mami-chan, what's up?"
"You useless woman! I don't even have the energy to argue with you right now. I'm calling because your nephew, Shindai Hakuka, wants to get a part-time job. I need your approval."
"Eh? A job? I just gave him 50,000 yen this morning!"
"Wait, what? You gave him that much?"
"Oh no, was he bullied by someone? Did they take his money? Is he too proud to tell me, and now he's trying to work to cover it up? Oh no, how could this happen?!"
"Your imagination is as wild as ever…"
"Oh no! Is he near you? Let me talk to him! I need to know if he's being bullied!"
Matsue Aimi glanced at Hakuka, now also concerned that he might have been bullied. She handed him the phone.
Hakuka, who had overheard the entire conversation, took the phone and was immediately met with his aunt's panicked voice.
"Shindai! Were you bullied? Please, tell me the truth!"
"No, you're overthinking things. No one's bullying me."
"But why do you need to get a job? Didn't I give you 50,000 yen?"
"..."
"Why aren't you answering? So, it must be true! You must have gotten too handsome after working out, and now a pretty girl is blackmailing you! You've lost both your money and your dignity, haven't you?!"
Hakuka sighed, feeling exasperated. He quickly came up with an excuse. "Stop overthinking things. I just figured that since you're always so busy with work, I'd get a part-time job at a restaurant, learn to cook, and take over making meals at home."
"Oh, is that it? Oh, Shindai, I'm so touched! Even though I love cooking—*cough*—if you really want to do it, I suppose I can let you."
"..."
"Why aren't you saying anything? Oh no, I'm sorry! I lied! I don't actually know how to cook. Erina is the same way. Neither of us can cook at all! So, if you want to take over, that would be great!"
"Alright, I'll tell Matsue-sensei then."
"Hehe, you know, you can call her 'Mami-chan.' She won't mind."
Matsue Aimi snatched the phone back, glaring at it. "I heard that, you useless woman!"