She presented the map to the man, her eyes brimming with anticipation.
His expression shifted from surprise to contemplation, and then he locked his gaze onto hers.
"Wh-what is it?"
Feeling slightly unnerved under the scrutiny of his dark pupils, she hastily inquired.
He shook his head, a smile gracing his lips.
"No, it's nothing. I'm familiar with this area; just turn right at the next intersection, and you'll arrive."
Though she noted the pause in his speech, knowing she had queried the right person nearly made her want to dance with joy.
Indeed, she was close! She had sensed it! Yet, she could not fathom why she had been wandering aimlessly.
"Thank you! You've truly been a great help..." Haruko exclaimed gratefully, relieved by the man's assistance. After a quick glance at her watch, she couldn't help but lament, "I've been searching for this place for three hours now..."
Hmm...?
Three hours?!
It dawned on her, prompting a quick check of the time. Had she really spent that long?
"No worries. Just turn right at the next intersection," the man said, lingering a moment, smiling as though to see her off.
His smile made her cheeks flush. Did this man not realize how handsome he was? Such a genuine smile could surely stir feelings in a girl like her!
"Thank you!" She quickly turned away, heading in the direction he had indicated, careful not to glance back, fearing she might pounce on the handsome stranger.
"By the way, my name is Shu. Perhaps we'll meet again by fate."
At that, she turned back, but he had already disappeared. A flicker of disappointment crossed her; such a striking man was a rare sight, and she regretted not asking for his number.
Yet, she reminded herself, she had come to Tokyo to study culinary arts, not to chase after men.
As she mused, she spotted the intersection Shu had mentioned. To her right stood an older apartment building.
...And in front of the building, nearly two meters tall, a man with unruly reddish-brown hair loomed like a guardian.
Though clad in a suit, the red-haired man had rolled up his sleeves, revealing tribal-like tattoos on his arms. With an impatient expression and a cigarette dangling from his lips, he perfectly embodied the essence of a mobster.
But one should not judge a book by its cover.
While Haruko steeled herself with this thought, it seemed he had noticed her, rummaging through his jacket.
Perhaps due to her affinity for crime dramas, she braced herself for the worst, expecting him to draw a weapon. Instead, he produced a portable ashtray, extinguished his cigarette, and approached her.
"Miss Yamashita?" he inquired, casting a shadow that obscured her from the sun.
"...I am Haruko Yamashita, pleased to meet you." Recognizing the voice from yesterday's call, she straightened her posture, offering a professional smile.
"I am Shinya Lion, the person you spoke with yesterday." He raked a hand through his hair, looking somewhat flustered.
"I have brought my resume, which includes my work experience and address. I've also brought my identification for you to copy."
Seemingly taken aback by her enthusiasm, Shinya took a moment before replying, "Oh... alright..."
After that, they exchanged silent glances, with Shinya ultimately conceding and explaining the situation.
"Apologies, there was supposed to be another person in charge of hiring, but he has been busy, so I am filling in, although I'm not well-versed in this area."
"I see..."
So, was that an implicit rejection? Yet, she felt a strong urge to persist, especially since he hadn't even glanced at her resume. Gathering her courage, she said, "No, even if I am not hired in the end, I believe I can excel as the apartment manager!"
"I am very adept at cleaning, can handle heavy tasks, and can also manage the procurement of daily necessities."
"Please reconsider!"
With that, she confidently presented her resume.
"...No, that's not what I meant." Shinya accepted her resume, then clarified, "Now that you're here, you have essentially been hired. I will explain the work process, and whether you choose to accept is entirely up to you."
Haruko, who had been maintaining a professional demeanor, was taken aback, her mouth agape.
Was it really that simple? While the location might be somewhat remote, surely the interview process should be more rigorous?
As if reading her thoughts, Shinya suggested, "How about you take a tour of the apartment with me?"
The apartment complex comprised five floors. According to Shinya, not every room was occupied, but all residents belonged to the same company and referred to one another by stage names to protect their privacy; personal details were not to be inquired about.
The first floor housed a communal dining area, living room, kitchen, and laundry room. To her disappointment, the kitchen bore no signs of use. When she asked Shinya about it, he awkwardly scratched his head and replied:
"Uh... there isn't anyone among the residents who can cook."
This immediately reminded her of Chuko, who was waiting at home for her. She thought it best not to pry further.
After touring the communal spaces and hearing Shinya detail the supplies needed and areas requiring cleaning, her confidence in the job solidified. He then led her to the second floor.
"Well, as the manager, this will be your room."
He opened the door to Room 200, revealing a space infused with the scent of tatami mats. The windows were ajar for ventilation, but it felt pleasantly warm.
Beside the window sat a small desk and chair, while the center of the room featured a foldable round table next to a traditional Japanese wardrobe.
"Wow! What a lovely room!"
Seeing Haruko's delight, Shinya smiled back. When he did, he resembled a cheerful young man.
"So, what do you think...? Would you like to work here?"
"Honestly! Haruko, you lack foresight!"
Amidst the sizzle of charcoal and meat, Chuko's voice rang out, scolding her incessantly.
"Chuko, don't be upset! The meat is ready, let's eat." She attempted to redirect Chuko's attention by serving her some grilled meat.
"No, this time Chuko is right!" Fukuda chimed in, placing a piece of grilled meat into Chuko's bowl before adding one for Haruko as well. "How could you sign the contract without even thinking it through?! You should have at least taken the contract home to consider overnight!"
Upon returning home, although both Chuko and Fukuda were pleased for her and treated her to grilled meat in celebration of her new job, they had been scolding her since learning she had signed the contract.
Mmm, delicious.
The fresh, tender lamb was grilled to perfection, and Haruko took a hearty bite.
In truth, she had considered it, but upon reviewing the contract, she found the details to be nearly identical to the one her previous employer had provided, leading her to sign it on the spot.
However, what did that peculiar character in the contract mean?
A printing error?