When I Helped Out At My Classy Classmate's Family Home, They Started Going All Out To Close In On Me From Every Angle. - Chapter 4: The Story of How I Ended Up Working Part-Time at Japan's Top-Notch Traditional Japanese Restaurant――4

The Story of How I Ended Up Working Part-Time at Japan’s Top-Notch Traditional Japanese Restaurant――4

As May begins, the warmth and freshness in the air continue to grow.

Sitting on my bed in my room, I checked the contents of my wallet while bathed in the crimson sunlight streaming through the window.

A few bills. A handful of coins. The total didn’t even reach 1,000 yen.

I sighed.

“This is bad. There are so many things I want being released this month…”

Murmuring to myself, I turned my head to the left.

On the shelf within my line of sight were goods from games, anime, and VTubers. Behind them, three bookshelves were packed with manga and light novels.

As anyone could tell, I’m a die-hard otaku. And right now, I’m in a pinch because my funds for otaku activities are running dangerously low.

Living alone, I receive a monthly allowance from my mother, a single parent. Whatever I save from my living expenses becomes my spending money. To stretch my budget, I rely on supermarket discounts, loyalty points, and coupons, always striving to save enough for my hobbies.

But no matter how much I save, there’s a limit. And the truth is, my current financial situation is dire.

In times like this, increasing income is often a better strategy than cutting expenses.

“Maybe I should get another part-time job. Golden Week is coming up, so I’ll have more time on my hands.”

Just as I had done in the past, I decided to look for a part-time job.

Reaching for my phone to browse job listings, I was startled by the sudden ringtone.

Caught off guard, I quickly checked who was calling.

“Oh, it’s Mom.”

The caller was my mother—Kanda Shouko.

As a globally renowned photographer, my mom, despite her busy schedule, often reaches out to check on me living alone. This call was likely for the same reason.

Swiping my phone screen, I answered the call.

“Mom?”

“Hey, Tetsu! How’re you doing?”

“I’m good.”

“Are you eating properly? Not slacking off on the chores?”

“I’m eating three proper meals a day and keeping up with the housework too.”

“That’s what I thought! You’ve always been way more dependable than me! Honestly, my own lifestyle is the one that’s falling apart. I might not even have time to worry about you!”

“Do you even know the meaning of the phrase ‘missing the point’?”

Ignoring my sarcasm, Mom burst into laughter on the other end of the line. As always, her cheerfulness was infectious.

“As long as you’re doing well, that’s great to hear. Anyway, let’s get to the point.”

“Huh? You mean you’ve got something specific to talk about today?”

As I chuckled at her boundless energy, Mom smoothly shifted gears.

“Yup, that’s right,” she said before diving into her explanation.

“I got a request for you to take on a part-time job. It’s from the restaurant HanaMori.”

“HanaMori?!?”

I was taken aback by the unexpected name.

Unperturbed, Mom continued.

“Yep, yep. They’re hoping you can start on the third of this month. As for the job and the pay—”

According to Mom, the work involved chores like cleaning and dishwashing. It was hourly pay, and to my astonishment, the rate was about three times higher than that of a typical restaurant job. Additionally, the tasks could vary depending on my aptitude.

Even as Mom explained, my mind swirled with confusion.

Why HanaMori, of all places? Do they even hire part-timers? That doesn’t fit their image at all…

As these questions spun in my head, Mom wrapped up her explanation and asked,

“So, that’s the deal. Any questions?”

“Uh… are you serious about this? You’re not pulling my leg, right?”

“What do you take me for?”

“It’s just… I can’t wrap my head around the idea of HanaMori asking me to work for them. It’s almost unbelievable.”

I couldn’t help but feel skeptical, even if I felt bad about doubting my mom.

Taking a deep breath, Mom answered my question.

“Apparently, you lent HanaMori a hand when they were in a pinch. They were really impressed with how efficiently you worked back then.”

Hearing that, everything finally made sense.

Ah, I see. They were so pleased with my work that they wanted to hire me as an employee. The generous hourly wage might even be a gesture of gratitude for my previous help.

As I nodded in understanding, Mom leaned in with almost palpable excitement and asked,

“So? You’ll take the job, right? You’re taking it, aren’t you? You better take it!”

“Uh, isn’t that a bit… intense?”

“Just say yes! If you refuse, I’ll disown you!”

“That’s completely unreasonable!!”

Her extreme ultimatum made me let out a yelp.

Does she really want me to accept this that badly? Was Mom always this pushy?

Something about her attitude felt slightly off, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this.

Even so, the offer was undeniably appealing.

I had already been considering getting a part-time job, and the pay was shockingly good. Finding a reason to say no would be harder than agreeing to it.

In that case, the answer was obvious.

Alright, I’ll take it.

“Alright. I’ll work at HanaMori.”

“Yes!! That’s the spirit! Now that’s my son!”

“What’s with the over-the-top enthusiasm?”

“Don’t worry about it, don’t worry about it. I’ll go ahead and let them know you’re on board.”

While I was feeling a bit taken aback, Mom seemed to be in an unusually good mood.

Why, though? As I wondered about her behavior, Mom added one more thing.

“Do a good job, Tetsu.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll figure it out soon enough.”

With that cryptic remark, Mom ended the call.

“…She’s such a strange person.”

Staring at the phone screen, I tilted my head in confusion.