Tokyo, 1994, starting with medical training

Chapter 62 Goodnight

But Kiryu Kazusuke pointed to the tool she was holding in her arms: "That 3000 yen wasn't for me, it was money I gave you to buy a baseball bat."

Saionji Mina opened her mouth.

It seems like I'm the one who's been using this baseball bat most of the time tonight.

No wonder Kiryu-san asked her for money in front of the general store; the logic is perfect.

"However, I'd like to invite you to dinner to express my gratitude..."

"No, it can't be exchanged for cash."

"Besides, I'm not asking you to go out for an expensive meal."

"I was thinking, if Kiryu-san doesn't mind, I could go to the supermarket to buy some ingredients and then cook at home..."

She stammered as she explained, her voice growing softer and softer towards the end.

This is the truth.

Although I have some savings in my bank account, about two or three hundred thousand yen, it is all from my frugal living.

In an era where layoffs are a constant possibility, this small amount of money is her last sense of security.

If you ask her to spend ten or twenty thousand yen to treat someone, she will really feel the pinch and won't be able to sleep for several nights.

But it's different when you cook at home.

By simply buying some discounted meat and vegetables from the supermarket, and combining that with her self-proclaimed excellent cooking skills, she can offer both sincerity and affordability.

"Making it at home?"

"Yes, yes, if I cook it myself, I can keep the cost under two thousand yen, but I can still make a very sumptuous meal..."

Are you sure what you made is edible?

Seeing her embarrassed expression, Kiryu Kazusuke asked her a question.

Saionji Mina had clearly thought about what had happened that morning.

She quickly ran after him, saying, "I can make curry! Curry is absolutely no problem!"

Kiryu Kazusuke slowed his pace and suddenly asked, "You work at the city hall, right?"

He looked the woman beside him up and down again.

Although I'm wearing some outdated sportswear now, the business suits I wear to work are inexpensive and still quite presentable.

Saionji Mina nodded.

Kiryu Kazusuke then asked, "Since you're a civil servant, your salary should be quite stable, so why does it sound like you're poor?"

Saionji Mina remained silent for a few seconds.

This is the umpteenth time someone has asked her this question.

In the eyes of many, city hall employees are a privileged class who drink tea, read newspapers, receive high salaries, and wait to receive huge retirement pensions.

"Actually... I'm not a full-time employee."

"I am... a temporary staff member."

Saionji Mina lowered her head and stared at her toes.

Upon hearing this, Kiryu Kazusuke raised an eyebrow slightly.

That's it.

1994 marked the beginning of a major upheaval in Japan's employment system.

In order to cut costs, companies have begun to drastically reduce the recruitment of "regular employees" and instead use "temporary employees" and "contract employees" who have no benefits and can be dismissed at any time.

However, he did not expect that even the city hall, which represents the face of the government, would start using this kind of cheap labor.

Regular employees are protected by a lifetime employment system, have generous summer and winter bonuses, comprehensive insurance and annuities, and their salaries automatically increase with seniority.

And dispatching employees?

With only a meager hourly wage, no bonuses, no transportation allowance, and a one-year contract, you could be laid off at any time.

They did the same work, or even more strenuous work, but earned only one-third of what regular employees earned.

Saionji Mina looked up at Kiryu Kazusuke, her eyes filled with a hint of apology.

"The current hourly wage is 900 yen."

"After deducting rent, utilities, and insurance, the remaining money is barely enough to live on."

"and……"

"I also send 5 yen back to my hometown every month."

"My father's back injury flared up again last year, so he can't do heavy work, and my younger brother is still in high school."

That was her only reason. There was no extravagance or bad habits involved; she simply did everything she could to survive.

Kazusuke Kiryu nodded.

He didn't ask any further questions, nor did he say anything like "You have to keep going" or other nonsense.

Excessive concern can sometimes be a burden.

"understood."

"No need to invite me to dinner, and I have no interest in going to your house."

"If the police come knocking on the door about what happened tonight, I'll pin it all on you."

After saying that, he walked straight towards the apartment.

……

Back in the apartment building, I climbed to the 3rd floor.

The lights in the corridor were still dim, and the faulty light bulbs made a buzzing sound.

Just as Kiryu Kazusuke inserted the key into the lock, Saionji Mina called out to him from behind.

"Kiryu-san..."

"tonight……"

"I'm really happy, thank you."

She spoke very seriously, and although she was still holding that seemingly violent baseball bat in her hand, a long-lost relaxed smile appeared on her face.

Go to bed early.

But Kiryu Kazusuke only replied with those three words before pushing open the door, entering the room, and locking the door from the inside.

The corridor outside the door returned to silence.

Saionji Mina stood there, staring at the closed door of room 302. After several seconds, she turned around and opened her own door.

Click.

After entering the room.

She stood in the darkness, gripping an aluminum baseball bat in both hands, twisting her waist and using her arms for leverage.

He made that swinging motion again, facing the air.

"Bang."

Saionji Mina gently uttered a plosive sound to accompany her action.

Then, she lifted her foot and forcefully flung her sneakers off.

Boom!Boom!

One shoe hit the shoe cabinet, while the other flew into the middle of the hallway and flipped over.

If a mother in the countryside saw such rude and ill-mannered behavior, she would definitely scold him for two hours.

But now she's all alone here.

"call……"

Saionji Mina let out a long breath, and as if that wasn't enough, she kicked the floor mat off the ground.

Screw the rules.

Screw etiquette.

She walked barefoot on the cold floor, without turning on the light, and like a triumphant little devil, humming an off-key tune, swaggered into the bathroom.

Hot water sprayed from the showerhead, washing over my body.

It washes over my body, and also washes away the crazy memories of tonight.

She looked down at her palms.

The area between my thumb and forefinger is red and slightly painful, marks left from swinging the baseball bat too hard last night.

After showering, I dried my hair.

Saionji Mina changed into clean pajamas and crawled into bed.

I used to toss and turn in bed for a long time, my mind filled with the grievances I suffered during the day and my anxieties about the future.

But tonight, she felt an unprecedented weariness and peace.

After thinking for a moment, she reached out and pulled the aluminum baseball bat that was placed by the bedside into the blankets.

"hiss--"

As soon as Saionji Mina's cheek touched it, she flinched from the cold.

The aluminum alloy baseball bat in the winter month was about the same temperature as an ice cube. She had wanted to hold it in her arms and sleep, but now she had to regretfully give up that idea.

However, she simply pushed the baseball bat next to the pillow.

It's within easy reach.

"Good night."

She whispered something to the baseball bat, then closed her eyes, and within a minute, she was breathing evenly.

(End of this chapter)