Chapter 50 The Man Who Started a Part-Time Job in Japan and the Curse of ‘The Handsome’
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
It was the third day since my return to Japan. Right now, I was working at the municipal pool, acting as a lifeguard, information desk attendant, and trash collector. Yesterday, I’d finally talked to Morisaki-san on the phone after several years. We were both so out of practice that there was definitely a nervous, slightly awkward vibe hanging over us… but since the reason for the call was decided, the conversation itself proceeded without any issues.
I asked about the part-time job again, and the terms were surprisingly good. The management company would hire me as a ‘temporary worker until I found my next job,’ so they said I could basically set my own hours. Better yet, it was daily pay, and the hourly wage was a decent ¥1200. That wasn’t bad at all.
Since I could quit at any time, the people from the management company didn’t bother trying to have too much communication with me. Plus, all the tasks were things you could pick up quickly after a short training session. The actual technical stuff—water quality control and equipment management—was handled by their regular employees. It was a huge relief not to be asked for any technical ability.
Apparently, for the management company, it was a common thing for the city hall to send people like me over, calling it ’employment support.’ Since they were contracted by the city, they had no reason to complain or treat me badly. In fact, they were probably being extra careful to avoid me going back to the city office and saying, ‘The workplace City Hall recommended was full of power harassment, and the working conditions were terrible!’
So, I started working right away. It was actually a shock that I could go in, just like that, after saying, ‘I can start tomorrow!’ This place was an indoor pool, and since you could enjoy it regardless of the season, there were a lot of families and elderly folks. The adjacent gymnasium was also used by local students for club training camps. I had maybe thought I’d see some cute girls in swimsuits… but women of that age bracket were practically nonexistent.
”Sigh… well, at least the transportation fee is covered, and eight hours of work gives me a decent amount of money… I can scrape together some stopgap funds.”
”But if you want a comfortable cushion of Japanese Yen, you’re going to need to work pretty frequently, right?”
”You’re right about that…”
Including the transportation fee, I was looking at receiving about ¥11,000 a day. Considering the rent and utility costs, I figured I’d need to work at least five days. But if I wanted to truly enrich my otherworld culinary lifestyle, I’d need to work extra. If there wasn’t an urgent problem in the otherworld, staying in Japan for a while to keep working was a definite option.
”Am I really doomed to never escape labor?”
”It can’t be helped, can it? Since you’re here, why don’t you go for a swim?”
”Why would I do that…?”
My main workstations were the pool and the gymnasium. When I clocked in, they’d tell me which one to head to. The jobs were basically the same either way, though. Also, there was a surprising amount of trash. Collecting garbage covered the entire premises. I found a fair bit dropped in the hallways, and emptying the trash cans next to the vending machines was also part of the job. You had to replace those garbage bags frequently or they’d fill up immediately.
One way or another, the first day finished up busy. I told them I’d be back tomorrow and headed home. Of course, I walked both ways. It was more than an hour on foot, but I intended to endure it as a form of exercise. Thanks to the evening cardio, I felt like my stamina had actually improved recently. My legs and lower back felt sturdier, too.
Day four of my return to Japan. When I showed up for the part-time job, they asked me to go to the gymnasium today. I headed there right away.
”Ooh…”
It reminded me of school. It was a pretty impressive gymnasium, I thought. I saw that a girls’ Kendo club was using half of the area for practice matches. The other half was being used by a local citizens’ group for volleyball until the evening, after which some adults would be using it for basketball.
”Let’s see… Kendo club is using it until 5 PM. No other plans after that… Got it.”
It seemed that students from various schools had gathered for inter-school matches. The energetic voices of the Kendo students were ringing out across the gymnasium from the morning. I watched the scene for a while, but then a few of the Kendo girls started squealing in excitement. Their eyes were fixed on the well-dressed man standing there—The Handsome Suit.
The Handsome Suit waved his arm at the Kendo students, his white teeth flashing, and the girls started making noise again. What in the world…?
”Hey, hey! Isn’t that him?!”
”Ehh, I’m seeing him for the first time!”
”Wow, it’s The Handsome!”
”Hey, hey! Is it true that you’ll get married right after you graduate?!”
He seemed to be connected to the Kendo students somehow. Well, as long as he wasn’t a suspicious person, I figured I could just ignore it. Besides, I didn’t even want to look at The Handsome Suit.
After that, I kept an eye on the court, handled inquiries about gym usage, and picked up trash. Before I knew it, it was past noon, and I moved to the staff room to start eating lunch. I also gave Ami-chan the rice ball I bought at the convenience store.
”This is my second day of part-time work… Do I get to go back to the otherworld tomorrow, then?”
”Well, the last interval was five days. I think so, but what are you going to do?”
”What should I do…?”
Should I go back now, or earn a bit more before heading off? Well, I wanted to try converting the stuff I packed into the Treasury, including the seasonings, into Resource Points. And it wasn’t like I couldn’t pay the rent immediately, so I guess I could go back tomorrow.
”For now, I’ll think about it while I work this afternoon.”
After finishing lunch, I didn’t head back to the gym but instead went on a patrol of the premises. Since the grounds were quite large, there was no reason to restrict myself to just the gymnasium.
”Please, stop this!”
That rather frightened voice reached me just then. I pressed myself against the wall and peered around the corner. Standing face-to-face were a black-haired beauty and a man in a suit. The voice belonged to the woman. Judging by her attire, she was one of the Kendo students. What was happening?
”What is it that you’re so displeased about?”
”Even if it is the weekend, coming all the way out here is a nuisance!”
”Haha. I only wished to watch my fiancée’s practice match. I’d like to tell your father about Reika-kun’s achievements, after all.”
Oh… that suit guy. Wasn’t that The Handsome Suit the Kendo girls were just squealing about? Damn him! Don’t bring your Handsome Suit self into my workplace!
But I was curious to know what they were talking about.
”I am telling you that is also a nuisance! In any case, please do not come here anymore.”
”Hmph… You’re talking quite haughtily for a girl, aren’t you?”
”Eh…?”
”You aren’t exactly unhappy that your friends are making a fuss because I showed up, are you? Go ahead and brag proudly. Tell them that you are going to marry that man in the suit. By having a man like me, haven’t you managed to reign supreme in the school’s social caste?”
…! Th-this guy…! I was sure of it the first time I saw him…! He was the male version of the Untouchable Beauty¹! He was aware of his own handsomeness, and since he’d never had trouble with women, he could deal with any beauty on an even footing. Now that he was an adult, he was the type who’d prey on attractive students. He had vast experience with beautiful women his own age. As an adult, he could easily wrap a student-level Untouchable Beauty around his finger. Just like that Handsome Teacher at Seikyo High School…!
It seemed the two of them were engaged. Seriously, was it even a thing to have an engaged couple with an adult and a student in this day and age…? What kind of rich boy and pampered daughter were they?
They continued their petty argument. The Kendo student apparently hated the fuss and commotion caused by The Handsome Suit showing up. The Handsome Suit, meanwhile, was saying something like, ‘You say you hate it, but doesn’t having me here stimulate your self-esteem and feel great?’
Looking at this, I could almost understand why female students would want an older, working boyfriend. It was a simple thing to brag about to their peers. They could claim they were with a working adult male who had an income, not some child like the boys in their class, which must be a status symbol.
This was a world that had almost nothing to do with me. We literally lived on different planets.
”Come on, isn’t that okay, Reika-kun…?”
The Handsome Suit reached a finger toward the Kendo student’s chin. But the Kendo student firmly swatted his arm away.
”I told you I would refuse all such contact before the marriage. Besides, to act like this in a place like this… I feel like I could sigh over your lack of self-control.”
”…”
”It is time. Please excuse me.”
With that, the Kendo student walked away toward the gymnasium. Hmm… the Kendo student was also quite a beauty, but she gave off an impression of being extremely strictly principled. The Handsome Suit, whose arm had been slapped away, watched the departing student with his eyes. He probably considered this type—the one with such high walls—to be too much trouble, both in his student days and now. He was the type of man who would flat-out declare virgins were too much of a hassle.
”Tch… fine.”
The Handsome Suit pulled out his smartphone, typing a message as he walked away from the spot.
—
Summary:
The grind of the mundane world catches up to Shimizu. He’s working a part-time job at a public gym and pool, calculating how many shifts he needs to fund his next other-world trip. His simple job of trash collection is suddenly interrupted by a very unwelcome sight: The Handsome, stirring up social drama with a group of kendo girls. The stage is set for an unexpected conflict.
—
Character Insight:
Shimizu finds the mundane world taxing, seeing his work only as a means to an end. His immediate and intense judgment of ‘The Handsome’ reveals a deep-seated contempt for men who effortlessly succeed based on social status and looks. He’s a cynical observer, prioritizing practicality over all else.
—
Behind the Scene:
This chapter establishes Shimizu’s current financial situation and his need to work, which acts as a practical anchor to the modern world before his next return to the labyrinth. The introduction of ‘The Handsome’ and Reika creates a subplot that will likely engage Shimizu’s deeply cynical and judgmental nature.
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T/L:
¹ Untouchable Beauty (Takanenohana) is an idiom meaning a woman who is highly admired but considered beyond reach, like a beautiful flower on a high peak. It implies she’s too good, too pure, or too high-class to easily date. ↩
Notes:
• Morisaki – A former high school friend of Shou’s who is now a successful civil servant. He contacts Shou after speaking with Shou’s brother, offering a legitimate job. His success is a source of humiliation for Shou.
• Ami – A palm-sized fairy-like being from a world separate from both Earth and the isekai realm. She has light blue hair tied in a ponytail, mischievous blue eyes, and tiny wings that flutter behind her. Her outfit consists of a provocative high-cut leotard and a short jacket that looks like a miniskirt from the back, leaving her legs bare. Despite her playful appearance, she is actively searching for a contractor who can protect her from dangerous pursuers in exchange for the powers she offers.
• Reika – A beautiful high school kendo student who is engaged to ‘The Handsome’ for what seems like familial or arranged reasons. She is a ‘guarded’ beauty. Sha has long black hair, intense eyes, and wearing kendo uniform.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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