Part-time job, full-time shenanigans

Monday’s classes came and went like a dream sequence, scenes melting together and most of which likely were forgotten by the end of the day–that’s what studying at home or at the library was for, of course. As the last lecture for the day was dismissed, I headed outside into the cloudy afternoon. Instead of walking towards the dorms, however, I took a path towards the opposite side of campus. Today, I would go straight to the local bookstore to interview for a part-time position.

Between the past two weekends, it seems as though I received more than my fair share of surprises. From the Akihabara trip to the potential kidnapping situation at the convention, I feel my perspective of a ‘normal’ college life has been set off course quite a bit.

Never mind that, I was just reminded of an ‘emergency’ study session for those three…something along the lines of if they don’t get 30% on the next Japanese quiz, they’ll have to complete supplemental assignments over Golden Week.

I met the manager at the storefront, a guy in his thirties. Apparently, this store has been his family business for three generations, starting with his late grandfather, and even with the opening of other company-run bookstores, this one was still by far the most popular. He kindly invited me to his office, where we had the interview, though it only lasted roughly fifteen minutes. At the end of the interview, the manager smiled and started writing some things down on the application. “That’s all the questions I really had. How’s starting tomorrow sound?”

“That sounds good–heh, I have the job already?”

He chuckled. “Well, I was pretty certain about hiring you; the interview is really just a formality. Your application looked good, and one of our employees gave me a good impression of you already–”

One of their employees?

The front doorbell rang as the door opened. “Looks like she’s here!”

“Afternoon, Manager!” a voice rang from the front. “Iwasaki-kun! There you are!”

I stopped in shock. “Tachibana-senpai?”

The manager grinned. “Looks like you two are well-acquainted…Tachibana-san, why don’t you show Iwasaki-kun the ropes around here…if you don’t mind staying a bit longer, of course, Iwasaki-kun.”

“Not at all,” I replied. As the manager walked me out of his office, there waited Tachibana, sliding her bookbag off her arm with a sigh of relief.

“Monday classes always have me carrying around these heavy textbooks…I’m already winded–” she straightened her posture at that moment. “But! Getting to show my kouhai here around the shop shouldn’t be a problem.”

With that, Tachibana gave me a quick tour of the place, going through the storefront, the storage area, and the staff area, as well as a quick rundown of the workflow during shifts.

“How long have you been working here, Tachibana-senpai?”

“Mmm…about six months–” she replied, taking a seat in the break room. I took the seat opposite her. “Manager’s nice and so are the other coworkers – quite a few of them were my seniors and graduated in March. And that left me as one of the few left who can communicate with the English-speaking customers, which put the store in a bit of a pickle.”

“Explains the English recommendation–”

She grinned. “Exactly!”

“By the way," she continued, "the angling club is hosting an open recruitment event this Saturday, and it’ll be super fun—” she leaned in, as if sharing some top secret information. “We got group concert tickets to this popular J-rock group at Tokyo Dome!”

“A concert?” I couldn’t connect the dots. “This is the angling club you’re talking about–”

She laughed. “Yeah…our club name really doesn’t spell out what we do, unfortunately.” She moved her chair over. “I think the club, when it first started out as an actual fishing club, but over time it changed to be more inclusive of other activities. By the time I joined, it really was about having fun and hanging out with everyone.”

She placed a finger up in the air. “The club’s slogan is even more ridiculous–”

“What is it?” I asked.

“The world is connected by these oceans, so let’s fish together!” She giggled. “But I suppose the meaning could also be that no matter who we are or where we’re from, it’s better to have fun together.”

“So the club always had folks with all different career interests, and especially a strong bunch of international students.” She gave a thumbs-up as she said this. “Even so that the international programs chip in for our club activities, so others can see what us locals have to offer– including concerts.”

“Interesting–” I guess that explains how they were able to afford it.

“So, you and your girlfriends should totally –”

“Not girlfriends–we all live on the same floor.” I gave her the thirty-second version of what led up to my current living arrangement. She nodded along, almost like an older sister listening to their little brother’s first day at elementary school–oi, why am I roasting myself in this description?

“Welp, it happens,” she put her hands up and shrugged. “Co-ed dorms have been the norm in a lot of Western countries, and many universities have started warming to the idea of gender-neutral floors–”

“Just a word of advice–” her tone became more serious. “From what I’ve observed, you’re a good egg, but there are other students and staff to be honest, who aren’t pleased with the shift in traditional norms and stuff, and would likely be even less so if they knew of your rooming situation.”

“Understood,” I agreed. While those who knew my situation would likely be more amicable, from an outsider’s perspective, it was definitely odd, perhaps off-putting. Sticking out like a sore thumb was exactly what I was trying to avoid.

Among the student body, that information in the hands of someone who doesn’t particularly like me is like adding gasoline to a fire.

There are always bad actors out there, Ryuuto. Never forget that.

“Ah…sorry to bring down the mood,” she laughed awkwardly. “Anyways, I’m confident all four of you want to come, so I’ll give you the tickets in advance,” she said, whipping out four paper tickets. “There are a lot more people who filled out the interest form than we have tickets….so the four of you keep this a secret, okay?”

Before I could respond, the tickets had already traversed the table and landed a few inches from my arms. “Thanks, Tachibana-senpai.”

“That’s the spirit! Now just remember to invite me to the wedding-”

“Not happening.”

Being coworkers with Tachibana-senpai will be something alright.

***

Walking back home, I stopped by the store to grab some groceries. Eggs, some miso too… As much as I have appreciated the campus dining options and affordability, sometimes it is nice to treat myself to some home-cooked meals…and now that I have secured a source of income, perhaps I don’t have to be so scrutinizing on my expenses and allowances.

As if my three floor-mates ever had that worry since moving in, I thought sarcastically. Considering it does cost more to be an international student, barring financial aid or scholarships, it wouldn’t be too far off to assume the three of them are not in financial difficulty.

Reminds me of the other day I came back from classes and saw a stack of packages in the mail room. Watson had come down to pick them up– five boxes from online shopping, and they were heavy!

Returning to the dorms, I got onto the elevator to the 7th floor once again, checking the time on my phone. They must be in the common room by now for the study session. Right on cue, the door opened, and as I walked out, I spotted the three of them sitting at the common room table, study materials scattered across the top.

“Iwasaki….sensei!” Sato chirped and waved me over to the table, where Lafon and Watson were also writing on their worksheets.

“Sorry I’m late,” I placed the grocery bags in the kitchen fridge for the time being and sat at the table. “Was at the bookstore a bit longer.”

“No worries, how was the interview?”

“Guess you could say it went well,” I scratched my head. “I start tomorrow.”

“Congrats!” they replied, kind of in unison, before looking at their worksheets in confusion.

“This is so hard!!” Sato waved her paper in the air. No paper airplanes yet!

“Agreed.” Lafon sighed.

“My eyes are getting tired,” Watson yawned. Probably more than her eyes are tired.

“And I can’t stop thinking about that concert this weekend!” said Sato, and the two of them nodded in agreement. “Ever since Megumi sent that interest form in the group… do you think all of us will get the tickets?”

“We can only hope,” Watson replied. “It’s a lottery at the end of the day.”

“And we can still go to dinner,” Lafon noted, her eyes starting to glitter. Must have an attractive dessert menu.

“I put your name in the form as well, Iwasaki-kun!” Sato pointed at me. Against my will?! “It’ll be just like that first day we all went out!”

“Got it, well, as Watson-san said, no point in worrying about it right now; just try to finish these worksheets first.”

“Okay~”

***

They eventually got through the sheets, and though from the looks of it, one would have guessed they had just taken a final exam or something.

“Good job, you’ll be ready for the quiz,” I commented, reaching for my bookbag. “I do have a little reward for your hard work today.”

“If it’s not a million snacks, I don’t think it’ll revive my brain cells,” Sato groaned, massaging her temples. Watson and Lafon were also zoned out.

“Hmm ... .guess you don’t mind if I keep these then–” I pulled the four concert tickets out of my bag and fanned them out; the three of them caught a glimpse of the tickets and instantly perked up.

“THE CONCERT!” Sato shouted in joy. “But how?! Where?!”

“Funny story–I ran into Tachibana-senpai at the bookstore…which she also works at.” And she quite accurately guessed they all wanted to go this Saturday. The three of them exchanged high-fives, obviously excited to go. Even Lafon, who’s normally stoic about these types of things, seemed pretty hyped about the event. I mean, another strange coincidence is that this music group made the opening themes for Azure, so she must be quite familiar with their songs.

To say I wasn’t looking forward to the concert at least a little bit….would be false.