Tokyo, 1991: Starting as a bank clerk.

Kiryu Yaya carefully counted on his fingers, then said:

"Not too many, only four or five."

"This is terrible. How long has it been since I've let loose like this?"

Keiko Miyazawa sighed, but there wasn't a trace of genuine complaint in her voice. She looked at Yaya Kiryu and suddenly laughed:

"Kiryu-kun."

"Ok?"

"I'm so happy today. I haven't been this happy in a really, really long time!"

Keiko Miyazawa put her hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly, and a sly smile appeared on her face:

"So, in return, I'll give you a surprise tomorrow."

Kiryu Yaya blinked.

Is there a second level?

He tried to bargain:

"Give me a little hint?"

"No."

Keiko Miyazawa shook her head, her eyes clearly hiding an undisguised smile:

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise."

Chapter 13 Heading to Fuji Metals

[World line converging - three forks selected]

[A cash reward of €5 has been deposited into the bank account]

Kiryu Yaya escorted Miyazawa Keiko to the subway station entrance, where the two stopped in front of the ticket gate.

"Goodbye."

Keiko Miyazawa, carrying her handbag in both hands, bowed slightly.

See you next time.

Kiryu Yaya put his hands back in his pockets:

"Be careful on the road."

"Kiryu-kun, please be careful on the road."

She turned and walked into the ticket gate, then turned back after a few steps and waved to him.

Then her figure blended into the scattered crowd of people leaving get off work and was slowly carried down by the escalator.

Kiryu Yaya stood there for two seconds, and after confirming that she didn't turn back, he turned and walked towards the parking lot.

At a convenience store next to the subway station, he stopped, dropped a ten-yen coin into a public phone, and dialed his bank account inquiry hotline.

A mechanical female voice came through the receiver.

He entered his username and password as prompted and waited a few seconds.

"Normal deposit...high deposit...ninety-three thousand two hundred euros."

Sure enough, the system rewards of €5,000 and €50,000 have been credited to my account.

When I checked yesterday, it only showed 38,200 euros.

Kiryu Yaya hung up the phone, a slight smile playing on his lips.

With over 90,000 yuan in savings, although it's still far from paying off the loan, at least I have much more money to spare.

A pound of pork costs 500 euros, and a cafeteria lunch costs 150 euros. 90,000 euros is enough for him to eat for a long time.

However, this money cannot be spent recklessly.

I still have over four million in scholarship loans left. Based on my current annual salary of four million two hundred thousand euros, if I'm frugal, I can pay it off in no time.

But before that, I should get my motorcycle driver's license first.

Commuting by bicycle every day is not a good idea.

"Today is a good day; all my wishes will come true!"

He hopped on his bicycle, humming a tune, and pedaled toward Eban.

Forty minutes later.

Esaka.

Kiryu Yaya locked the bicycle downstairs and checked the lock twice.

The five-story old apartment building stood silent in the night, with a few windows still lit, emitting a warm yellow light.

He returned home, hung his suit on the hook behind the door, and loosened his tie.

Wearing a suit definitely makes me look more presentable than wearing cheap clothes, but after wearing it all day, my neck is sore and aching.

He moved his neck and made two crisp cracking sounds.

Then open the narrow wardrobe.

There aren't many clothes hanging in the closet.

Two spare shirts, a suit jacket that had been worn for three years, and a neatly folded navy blue bathrobe.

He took out his bathrobe, then took out a few hundred-yuan coins from the shoe cabinet in the entryway, and went out.

The public bathhouse is less than a five-minute walk from the apartment. At the entrance, a half-length noren (traditional Japanese curtain) hangs with the words "Yamato-yu" (大和汤) written in blue on a white background, swaying slightly in the night breeze.

The entrance to the men's bath is on the left.

He lifted the curtain and went inside, handing three hundred euros in coins to the proprietress sitting behind the high counter.

The proprietress was an elderly woman in her sixties with her gray hair tied in a bun. She was watching a variety show on the small TV on the counter and didn't even look up when she took the money.

Also good.

No need for small talk or socializing.

He actually prefers the atmosphere of neon lights.

Upon entering the changing room, half of the lockers were empty.

At this time, the late-returning office workers haven't arrived yet, but the housewives have already finished washing.

Kiryu Yaya folded the clothes and put them in the locker, picked up the faded towel and soap dish, and pushed open the glass sliding door.

The bathroom was filled with steam.

He placed the soap and towel in front of one of the shower stalls, sat on a small plastic stool, and turned on the tap.

Hot water sprayed from the showerhead, splashing onto the tiles and creating tiny droplets.

In the morning, I climbed the stairs to get to the morning meeting; in the morning, I ran with the Chihaya group to the reception room; and in the evening, I ran from Shinsaibashi to Dotonbori and then to Esaka.

Not only do I spend half a day working, but my commute takes a long hour and a half.

It needs a good wash.

He lathered the towel with soap and started wiping down from his neck.

However, there were many gains as well. Not to mention the increase in savings, the most valuable thing was the positive feedback from Chihaya Yuri.

This is of great significance to the newcomers.

In the Japanese workplace, the evaluation of senior colleagues can determine the fate of newcomers.

After wiping his body, Kiryu Yaya put the soap back in the box, picked up a plastic basin, filled it with hot water, and poured it over his head.

The water washed away the foam, and then he stood up and stepped into the bath.

The hot water washed over my shoulders; the temperature was just right, slightly scalding.

He leaned against the wall of the bluestone pool, draped his arms over the edge, and let out a long sigh.

Taking a bath is still the most comfortable.

Kiryu Yaya closed his eyes.

There should be a result regarding President Nomura's matter tomorrow.

If an on-site investigation confirms that there is a problem with the batch of raw materials, the loan will be formally rejected.

I've finally caught the eye of Section Chief Chihaya.

Oh right, I need to go to the cafeteria to find Yayoi Mina tomorrow.

Today I taught her the basic principles of organizing materials; tomorrow I can teach her some other things.

She learns very quickly and is a diligent person.

And there was the surprise that Miyazawa mentioned.