A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

Chapter 5: It’s easier to see stars on a clear night (three chapters in one)

"I didn't expect it to be a high school student..."

Chihaya Tetsuya looked at the girl in front of him in disbelief:

"How old are you this year?"

"Sixteen years old, currently a freshman in high school."

As Shoko Toyokawa spoke, she took out her student ID.

After Chihaya Tetsu received the student ID, the shock in his eyes intensified again.

"Higaoka Girls' Academy, Class C, Grade 1..."

(Isn’t this the high school Aine is going to? And she’s also a first-year student…)

Thinking of this, Chihaya Tetsuya looked up at Toyokawa Shoko again.

She sits upright, behaves politely, and her elegant words and actions all demonstrate her extraordinary upbringing and character.

The amber eyes were looking at him neither humbly nor arrogantly at this moment, and this serious and focused expression made her already pretty and lovely face even more cute and well-behaved, which made people feel good about her.

Generally speaking, only children from wealthy families will show this unique temperament, but if that is the case, why would this child come out to work?

"...Does your school allow students to work part-time?"

"Yes, our school doesn't have any rules prohibiting part-time work."

Toyokawa Shoko nodded.

"Also, I saw that the time period for this job is after school, so it will not affect my studies."

"Well……"

It is not difficult to see from this decisive and appropriate answer that she had already thought about how to respond to the question she just asked.

But it was precisely because of this thorough consideration that Chihaya Tetsuya's doubts deepened even more.

(My working hours were from 6pm to 10pm... even children from ordinary families, let alone wealthy families, would be unlikely to work during this time... not to mention that the other party was a 16-year-old girl.)

Chihaya Tetsuya rubbed his chin.

(What on earth is this kid named Toyokawa Shoko?)

Just as Chihaya Tetsuya was still lost in thought about the many contradictions in Toyokawa Shoko, a waiter suddenly came to the two of them with a tray.

"Hello, here are the two cups of Mandheling coffee you ordered."

"Ah, thanks."

"?!"

Toyokawa Shoko, who had been extremely calm, became noticeably shaken after seeing the coffee in front of her. She hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Mr. Chihaya, this cup of coffee is..."

“Mandheling coffee is my favorite coffee bean.”

Halfway through the conversation, Chihaya Tetsuya suddenly noticed that Toyokawa Shoko seemed to be a little hesitant...

"Ah, maybe Toyokawa-san doesn't like coffee—"

"That's not the case!"

Before Chihaya Tetsuya could finish his words, Toyokawa Shoko interrupted him.

When she realized that her attitude seemed a little out of control, she quickly straightened her sitting position and said calmly:

"It's just... well, Mandheling coffee is a pretty high-end coffee, right? Well, the price..."

"..."

Hearing this slightly guilty answer, Chihaya Tetsuya felt as if he had found a crucial piece of the puzzle.

In order to fully understand the truth, he needs to continue testing.

"Don't worry, this drink is from me."

Chihaya Tetsuya said:

"This is a small gesture of sincerity from me as an adult and an interviewer. Toyokawa-san, don't take it too seriously."

"Yes, really."

Toyokawa Shoko's expression visibly relaxed a bit.

"Then I shall be grateful for your kindness..."

After saying that, she gently picked up the coffee cup in front of her and took a sip gracefully.

The long-lost rich aroma instantly filled Toyokawa Shoko's consciousness. With a lingering sweetness, she subconsciously blurted out:

"It's delicious! Ah, no... I, I want to say... thank you very much for your generosity..."

"As long as you like it."

After seeing Toyokawa Shoko's series of reactions, Chihaya Tetsuya nodded secretly in his heart again.

"Well, let's get down to business then."

"!"

After hearing this, Shoko Toyokawa quickly put down the coffee in her hand and straightened her back.

"Please tell me."

"First question, Toyokawa-san, do you usually sew by hand or by machine?"

"Hand sewing."

"That's great."

As Chihaya Tetsuya spoke, he took out a sewing box, a piece of linen, and a very common four-hole button from the bag he was carrying.

"This is my interview topic. It's very simple. All I have to do is sew buttons onto this piece of cloth."

After saying that, he placed the materials on hand in front of Toyokawa Shoko.

Faced with the sudden practical skills inspection, Shoko Toyokawa hesitated for only a moment, then immediately took the sewing box and began to select the sewing needle and thread she would use.

Chihaya Tetsuya quietly watched Toyokawa Shoko's movements, taking in her every move and every detail.

…………Two minutes later…………

"finished."

Shoko Toyokawa quickly handed her work to Tetsuya Chihaya.

However, after receiving the work, Chihaya Tetsu only took a quick look at it, then took out a pair of scissors from the sewing box, and under Toyokawa Shoko's surprised gaze, he cut the thread on the back of the button directly -

"You just used a size 4 needle, didn't you, Toyokawa? Next, I'd like you to try again with a size 6 needle."

"……Yes."

The larger the sewing needle, the smaller its diameter.

Realizing that this interview wasn't going to be easy, Toyokawa Shoko took the button again, then, as Chihaya Tetsuya had requested, she picked up the No. 6 needle and tried again...

………Four minutes later…………

"finished……"

This time, Toyokawa Shoko took two minutes longer than her first attempt.

Fortunately, she managed to sew the button firmly onto the fabric.

However, before Toyokawa Shoko could feel relieved, Chihaya Tetsuya suddenly picked up the scissors again and cut off the button again.

"Next is the No. 8 needle... Of course, you can also take a short break before that."

Chihaya Tetsuya said calmly:

"Coffee doesn't taste good when it gets cold."

"……it does not matter."

Although her expression began to become increasingly nervous, Toyokawa Shoko still insisted on continuing the challenge.

"I'll work hard."

Then, Toyokawa Shoko took up the needle and thread again and started her third challenge -

…………Seven minutes later…………

"Finished, done..."

Toyokawa Shoko, who was already breathing slightly, handed the work to Chihaya Tetsuya again.

"Sorry, there were some mistakes along the way, so it took a little longer..."

"..."

After hearing this, Chihaya Tetsuya did not respond immediately, but carefully turned over the cloth and began to check the treatment on the back.

This time, Toyokawa Shoko finally couldn't hold back her inner turmoil and asked:

"Next...are we going to continue with the No. 10 needle?"

"…………"

Chihaya Tetsuya, who was still checking the stitches, raised his head when he heard this.

Finally, this last question made Chihaya Tetsuya completely clear about a fact.

"Toyokawa-san."

"Yes!"

"You... probably only learned a little bit of sewing knowledge in handicraft class."

In the extremely surprised look of Toyokawa Shoko, Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head.

"A size 10 sewing needle is usually used for sewing delicate fabrics like silk and would not be used to sew buttons on linen."

"!"

After hearing this, Toyokawa Shoko was shocked, and then she quickly changed her words:

"Indeed, that's exactly what happened! I'm sorry, Mr. Chihaya, I just couldn't remember it!"

"The speed of threading the needle, the technique of inserting the needle, and the treatment of the stitches... although it shows signs of practice, it is only at the level of everyday sewing..."

As an ordinary high school girl, possessing this level of sewing skills is enough to call her dexterous... However, if she wants to become his assistant, dexterity alone is far from enough, so...

"I'm sorry, Toyokawa-san, you didn't pass this interview—"

"Please wait a moment, and please give me another chance! Mr. Chihaya!"

However, before Chihaya Tetsuya could finish his words, Toyokawa Shoko immediately lowered her head deeply.

"Let me try again with a size 8 needle! I won't let you down this time!"

"........."

Chihaya Tetsu was also shocked by the sudden change in front of him.

He thought his response was enough to make this complete amateur high school student give up completely, but the persistence shown by the other party was completely beyond his expectations.

Was his words too euphemistic, preventing her from understanding his underlying meaning? Or... did this child have a reason to pass this interview?

Thinking of this, Chihaya Tetsuya once again turned his gaze to the girl in front of him who was almost pressing her forehead against the table.

"Please raise your head, Toyokawa-san."

"………………yes."

Toyokawa Shoko slowly raised her head, and her originally fair face turned slightly red due to having lowered her head for a long time and being emotionally excited.

"Would you let me try again?"

In her eyes filled with expectation, anxiety, desire and persistence, Chihaya Tetsuya's consciousness instantly returned to the time when he was still in the orphanage seven years ago.

That's the look a person with nothing has when he's trying to hold on to hope.

Decisions that are inconsistent with his words and deeds, hesitation when faced with high-priced coffee, and an expression full of persistence and perseverance.

Chihaya Tetsuya gradually had the answer in his heart.