Chapter 120 Harue’s Part
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Thank you very much. Please come again.”
”You’re getting the hang of it now, huh?”
”It’s all thanks to you. Really, thank you.”
Harue had been working part-time at a beauty salon near the train station for a few months now. She was finally getting used to the job.
She wanted to become a certified aromatherapist someday. But to take the exam, she first needed to earn a different certificate—one to be an “aromatherapy advisor.”
Neither of these are government-approved licenses, but the steps to get them were still kind of a pain.
For someone with no background, the only way to get the aromatherapist license was to take the exam. But how do you even qualify to take it? You have to join the Japan Aroma Association, pass the aromatherapy advisor test, and then take the one for aromatherapist.
To join the group, the sign-up and yearly fee together cost about 56,000 yen. And that’s just for one person. If you’re opening a shop or a company, it’s 660,000 yen total.
So, really, only members can get the license. And once you join, you might feel like you have to work in that field to make it worth it.
That’s why Harue took this job—to help with her studying. But… it was harder than she thought.
Back when she first started, she had to follow another worker around to learn. What happened on that first day still stuck with her…
* * *
”Excuse me.”
”E-excuse us.”
”Oh? Both of you today? Wow, what a treat!”
”I’m sorry. One of us is new. Would it be okay if she just watches?”
”You’re gonna play while she watches? Sure, that’s fine! Just thinking about it is making me stiff!”
”Thank you.”
”…Yes, thank you.”
The beauty salon wasn’t just for women—men came in too. And some of them were, well, a problem.
”You’re real pretty. How old are you?”
”I’m forty-one.”
”Forty-one?! You’re an old lady!”
”I—I’m sorry.”
”Coming to a salon at your age… You must be super thirsty for it, huh?”
”Wha…? N-no, that’s not it!”
Harue didn’t get why coming to a beauty place meant she was “frustrated,” but she knew enough to say no.
”You’re only working here so you can touch guys, right?”
(Ah… So that’s what he meant.)
”That’s not true at all.”
Now that she understood, Harue was surprised. But she kept a straight face and paid attention to what the staff was doing.
”Hey, I came for the full tour. At least talk to me, will you?”
”Yes. If there’s anything I can do…”
Harue could tell he wasn’t going to let her just watch. She sighed inside and gave in.
”You’re cute. If you take care of me, I’ll ask for you next time.”
”Take care of you?”
”Here. Look.”
He pointed down to his pants—where there was a clear bulge.
”How does it compare to your husband?”
(Yours is only half the size of Haru-kun’s…!)
She didn’t say it out loud, of course. But the man thought her silence meant she was impressed.
”You really are frustrated! Go ahead—touch it. I’ll book you next time.”
”Sir, we do not offer that kind of service.”
”Come on, you’re just an old hag with a pretty face. You won’t get any customers unless you do something extra.”
”We do not offer that kind of service.”
”Ugh. You’re no fun. I’m done with this tour. I’m leaving!”
He turned and stormed off. Harue looked at the staff member, who gave her a small nod.
”Thank you for your time. I’ll be going now.”
She had been warned that men like that came in sometimes. It wasn’t rare. The salon had clear rules against touching. Those were enforced. But creepy comments? Those were brushed off as “jokes.”
That’s why the staff member didn’t stop the man—just let it slide. That was part of the lesson.
But still, that guy wasn’t just saying gross things. His whole attitude was nasty.
Bang!
(Sigh… Can I really keep doing this…?)
That’s what Harue thought as she stepped out of the room.
Note: The “Japan Aroma Association” mentioned in this story is fictional. The membership fees are made-up too.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply