Chapter 381 - First Day of Work
(1)
"Toya-san, it is about time to wake up. You must not be late on your first day."
"Good morning, Airi."
"Breakfast is ready, so please go get ready."
Airi said so, smiled, and left the bedroom.
From today, my life as a working member of society begins.
After finishing getting ready and changing my clothes, I eat breakfast.
It takes about 30 minutes by car to get to my workplace, the Segawa Tax Accountant Office.
Unlike during my university days, the mornings are early.
But Airi is managing the time for me.
When I finish drinking coffee with Airi at the dining table, it is just about time to leave for work.
"Well, I'm off."
"Ah, wait, Toya-san. You are forgetting your bento."
Airi brings over the bento box that was placed on the table.
"Thank you."
"Ah, your tie is crooked again. Honestly, you are hopeless."
Airi adjusts my tie. At that time, without forgetting a bird kiss.
"Ehehe."
"Well, I'm off. Be a good girl."
"Yes. Please be careful too, Toya-san."
Saying so, I leave the house and head to the company by car.
Since I have to cross two national highways, there is traffic, but I have searched for a shortcut route beforehand.
When I arrive at the company, I go inside.
The President was already there.
"Oh, Katagiri-kun, you're early. Wait in the back room."
As I enter the room as told by the President, employees enter one after another.
Every time they cross the room, I greet them.
Among them was Uehara Natsumi.
She also gives a light bow and passes by.
And then, the scheduled time arrives, the morning assembly begins, and I am called.
"This is Katagiri Toya-kun, who will be working with everyone starting today. At first, we will have him get used to the work. Until he gets his qualification, I think we will have him support Uehara-kun. Is that fine, Uehara-kun?"
"Understood~"
"Now, a brief greeting from Katagiri-kun."
The President says.
"I will be in your care starting today. I am inexperienced, but I look forward to working with you."
I am applauded by everyone.
"Now, today's speech is..."
During the morning assembly, it is decided that each person, in turn, gives a one-minute speech on a determined theme every day.
After that, there is an explanation of today's business content, and the work begins.
Having just joined the company, I receive various explanations from the office clerks.
There are two office clerks. One of them is Natsumi-san.
I receive my employee ID card. It seems the employee ID card serves as a replacement for the attendance record, which is read by the card reader at the entrance.
I am taught how to lock and unlock the security when arriving first and leaving last.
Additionally, it seems we are free to eat lunch at our respective desks or go out to eat.
I am guided to my seat.
At the seat, a desktop PC and documents are prepared.
After being taught various other administrative matters, the morning ends.
"Newbie~ I'll treat you to food. Want to go out to eat?"
"I brought a bento, so I'm sorry."
"A bento!? Did you make it yourself?"
"No, my girlfriend whom I live with makes it for me."
"Living together!? A girlfriend!?"
"Newbie! Come to this seat, let's eat together."
Since I was called by Uehara-san, I move my seat.
"What kind of bento is it... It's surprisingly normal!?"
Uehara-san was surprised.
He was probably imagining a very fancy bento.
Airi does not make that kind of bento.
Natsumi-san pours some tea for us.
Today it is a teacup for guests, but I was told to prepare a cup for myself.
"I also have Natsumi's loving wife bento! Right? Natsumi."
When Uehara-san says so, Natsumi-san looks down.
"Newbie... I'll call you Toya. You can call me Tatsuhiko too. From the afternoon, we're going to go around greeting the clients."
Many of a tax accountant's clients are small and micro-enterprises. He says there is work to do at the client's company and work to do after returning to the office.
My work for the time being is assisting with the work done in the office, but since there is no harm in having the clients remember my face, I tag along.
Nonetheless, even though the busy season has passed and the monthly audits are over, it really ends with just greetings.
"You have pretty good communication skills, they like you, that's amazing!"
With that kind of feeling, the greeting rounds end. When we return to the office, I am taught the work.
First, it starts with learning how to use the software.
There is a dedicated calculation software, and I must learn how to use it.
I learn them carefully, one by one.
While doing so, in the blink of an eye, it becomes the scheduled time to leave.
"It'll get busy next month, so since it's your first time, take it easy!"
Since Tatsuhiko-san says so, I decided to leave at the scheduled time.
When I return home, Airi welcomes me with a "Welcome home."
"How was work?" Airi asks, so I explain while changing my clothes.
"You said next month is busy, is the training camp okay?" she asks, so I explain, "It seems they will let me take time off according to the calendar."
"Even though your work is hard, is it okay not to rest on your days off?"
"Work is hard, but there are things I have to do."
"Is there something?"
I hug Airi.
"I have to do maintenance to make sure my wife isn't overworked and tired."
"Thank you very much."
After eating the meal Airi made and taking a bath, I wait for Airi in the living room.
Airi, having finished cleaning up, comes out of the bath, takes a drink from the refrigerator, and hands it to me.
"What did you do today, Airi?"
"I was just doing housework normally."
"You didn't go to the Blue Bird?"
"I'm still not used to things, so I didn't have that kind of leeway."
"...We have to take a proper rest on Saturdays and Sundays."
"Why is that?"
"I have to check so that Airi doesn't overwork herself."
"Please worry about your own body more than mine, Toya-san."
"Both are important."
"Yes."
Around 22:00, we enter the bedroom.
"Good night."
"Good night."
And so, the first day of work ended.
(2)
"This is Ishihara-kun, who will be working as a full-time employee starting today. Train him thoroughly."
"I look forward to working with you."
Clapping can be heard.
The content of the work also became harder than ever before.
Even so, I handle it. I was desperate because I didn't want people to think I joined the company through my wife's influence.
The incident occurred on the second day after joining the company.
"Ah, excuse me, Ishihara-kun."
I was called over by the chief.
"Did something happen?"
The chief silently handed over a file.
I looked at that file.
Nonsensical numbers are lined up.
This is terrible.
"This is the file of Kisaragi-kun, the home worker you were in charge of, but every single one is a terrible job... Could you speak to him?"
"I am very sorry, I will have him redo it immediately."
"That's fine, since it won't make the deadline, I'm having someone else do it. Could you tell him to be careful from next time?"
"Understood, I apologize for the trouble."
Leaving the office, I call Kisaragi-kun.
"Hello."
"Kisaragi-kun! Even data entry is an important job. You have to input it after checking properly! It's completely nonsensical!"
"If you know it's a mistake, can't you just fix it over there?"
"You are contracting this work! Do you have any awareness of that?"
"I'm not doing this because I want to! I'm only doing it because I was told to, so I have no choice!"
"If you keep doing things like this, you'll lose your job, you know? You have to pull yourself together!"
"I get it, I'll check from next time!"
"I'm counting on you, pull yourself together."
"Well, see you."
When I return to the office, a memo is stuck to the monitor. It seems there was a contact from Emi.
Although it is a side job, she is also the president of an entertainment agency.
Is it about that?
Since I also have something I want to convey, I call her.
"Oh, Nozomi? Do you have a moment now?"
"I do, but what's wrong?"
"I'd like you to stop by USE on your way back?"
"Is there some problem over there too?"
"No, I just have a small consultation regarding the two aspiring actor and actress. More importantly, did you have a problem over there?"
I told Emi about Kisaragi-kun.
"...Understood. Leave that side to me. I will handle it on my responsibility. I cannot forgive causing trouble for my husband."
"I'll leave it to you. Well, I'll go over there tonight."
After finishing the phone call, I complete today's portion of work, and when the scheduled time comes, I stop by USE on my way back.
"Nozomi. Good work."
"Thank you, so what is the consultation?"
"First, let me introduce you. This is Hagiwara Seijin-san, who does acting instruction."
"Nice to meet you."
I greet Hagiwara-san.
"And? How are those two?"
"They have motivation and good aptitude; with that, they will probably pass auditions soon."
That was good.
"However, if they rush forward on talent alone, they won't last long. It is my personal wish, but I want to put them in a theater troupe in Fukuoka."
I want to have them firmly learn the basics of acting in a theater troupe.
Through the theater troupe, they can also have industry people remember their faces.
They can also make connections within the theater troupe.
Hagiwara-san speaks so.
"I believe polishing those raw stones is the most important task."
"For us, they are our first actors. I also agree with Hagiwara-san's opinion. There is no need to rush their debut. What do you think, Nozomi?"
"Will the office cover the living expenses for the two of them?"
"Yes, if they have time to do part-time jobs, I want them to devote themselves to practice."
"I think that's fine too."
"I am grateful for your understanding. I will convey this to the two of them immediately."
Saying so, Hagiwara-san left the room.
"Emi, how soon at the earliest?"
"Small jobs are already coming in. Like commercials."
She says there are also times when offers come directly to the theater troupe.
Those two will probably be able to make their actor debut relatively quickly.
Emi says so.
"Then there's no problem."
"The problem is Kisaragi-kun."
Emi says.
Even when Emi calls, he does not answer the phone.
Therefore, she called Asakura-san and decided to visit tonight.
"What time is the appointment?"
"By 19:30."
"We have to go soon or we won't make it in time."
We immediately head to Kisaragi-kun's house.
When we ring the doorbell, Asakura-san comes out.
"Please come in."
She seems tired.
The reason for that was understood immediately.
When we enter the room, Iori-san is doing the input work.
The Kisaragi-kun in question is sitting in an easy chair watching television.
Emi turns off the television.
"What are you doing!? I should have told you. Having her do the work is not allowed."
"Rather than checking them one by one, it's faster to have her do it from scratch!"
"It is your job!"
"I am signing it properly!"
"There is no meaning in that!"
Emi's anger is also reasonable.
This is only increasing Asakura-san's burden.
"Kisaragi-kun, even I can understand what you are lacking. It is a sense of responsibility!"
Since you said you would do it yourself, you must take responsibility yourself until the end and deliver the data.
"...Fine. I'll do it later."
"Isn't that data supposed to be sent within today?"
"It doesn't matter if it's delayed by about a day."
Me too, with my own regular work, the pressure of being the representative director of the entertainment agency even if it is a side job, and taking care of Kisaragi-kun.
Stress had also accumulated, and then, it exploded.
"Don't screw around! The person waiting for this data is still waiting at the company right now! Stop complaining and do it quickly!"
To the extent that Emi was surprised, I was shouting.
Whether overwhelmed by that intensity, Kisaragi-kun began the work.
When he finishes the work, I confirm that data.
And then send it to the company.
"Because I will come to check every day."
Saying so, I left the house.
"I am truly sorry for the trouble."
Asakura-san bows her head at the entrance.
"If you also care for Kisaragi-kun, you must not spoil him!"
Saying so, we went home.
The time had passed 22:30.
"It's late, shall we make dinner at a family restaurant?"
I say to Emi.
For some reason, Emi is depressed.
"What I am doing might just be placing a heavy burden on Nozomi."
Emi says so.
"The one who is bad is not Emi."
"Thank you. But I cannot increase Nozomi's burden any further, I will have Shinjo go starting tomorrow."
"Understood."
Saying so, I grasp Emi's hand.
Noticing that, Emi grasps my hand back.
When I look at her face, Emi smiles warmly.
I must also be careful so that Emi's smile does not cloud over.
After eating a meal at the family restaurant, we return home, take a bath, and get into bed.
When I wake up in the morning, Emi is already not in the bed.
Slowly getting up and changing clothes, I go to the dining room. And then I say to Emi.
"Good morning, Emi."
"Good morning, you could have taken it a bit slower though."
Seeing Emi's smile as she says so, I was relieved.
(3)
"Welcome!"
We, the new employees of the Department Store, receive new employee training together.
First, starting with greeting practice.
Your voice is too quiet, with a natural smile, politely and clearly.
We are made to redo it over and over until everyone can do it properly.
We receive thorough instruction for a month until we actually go out to the store.
We are finely instructed from the way of greeting to manners.
Even for a single piece of clothing, strict instruction is given.
Going to work with a bare face is out of the question.
We also receive firm instruction on how to apply makeup.
Wednesday is the regular holiday.
I head to the Blue Bird to heal my fatigue.
"Welcome. Ah, Kanna-senpai, is today your day off?"
When Saki welcomes me, everyone who had come to the shop looks this way.
Those who are here today are Akira, Kana, Emi, and Airi.
"By the looks of it, you seem to be getting thoroughly whipped into shape."
Emi says so and laughs.
"Well, yeah. How about everyone else?"
"Either here, or just going to see my husband's work performance."
Akira looks bored.
"Airi and I are just stopping by here to take a breather from housework."
Kana says so, and Airi nods.
"I am also here unless there is something major."
Emi says.
"How about you, Kanna?"
"Every single thing is so detailed, the stress keeps piling up."
I answered when Airi asked.
"Kanna-chan, is the weekend okay? Just in case, since everyone has work, we set it to start from Saturday night."
"Well, I'll make sure it doesn't interfere with the next day's work."
It is probably about the Watanabe group's cherry blossom viewing, right?
"Everyone has it tough."
Saki says.
"Well, we are getting paid for it, after all."
Furthermore, for the first month, it is equivalent to not doing any work.
Since we get paid for that, we are not in a position to complain.
"Is Airi properly being kept company by Toya?"
"It seems I'm making Toya-san worry. Today too, Toya-san told me to go to the Blue Bird once in a while to take a breather."
"Does that mean Toya also doesn't have the leeway to keep Airi company?"
"No, he pays attention to me so much that I worry."
I'm jealous of Airi.
"Is there no overtime?"
Kana was asking Airi.
"Yeah, he says it's free until after the consecutive holidays, so he comes home at the scheduled time."
Airi says he is a kind person who comes straight home.
It seems Airi and Toya are doing well.
"How about Makoto-kun?"
Emi asked.
"He is away right now. Apparently, he will appear in tonight's match."
"He is already being fielded in a match!? That's amazing!"
"Well, it seems he is doing well."
"How is the new life, Kitamura-san?"
Airi was asking Kitamura-san.
"The things I have to do have increased, and I think I shouldn't have lived together."
"Doesn't Kuribayashi-kun help you?"
"He does help. Cooking is my responsibility, but he takes charge of things like cleaning."
She says that because he is a very picky eater, it is easier for her to take charge of it.
"I am relieved that everyone seems to be doing well."
Akira says.
"Are you not doing well, Akira?"
Airi asked Akira.
"Zen-kun seems to be struggling. Even though he is the president, he should just sit back and stay calm."
Becoming a president as a new graduate must also be incredibly difficult.
"But I'm relieved that everyone seems to have no complaints."
"Maybe there isn't even time to complain."
When Emi says so, Kana replies.
It seems Ai and Honoka are also having a hard time.
"My place is no good... It seems what I did backfired."
Emi says.
I read about that story in the girls' association group chat.
"That is 100% Kisaragi's fault, so it's not something Emi should worry about."
"But because it was the first time I saw Nozomi shouting, I got shaken up."
Ishihara has also become strong.
"I want to talk about those kinds of stories slowly at the cherry blossom viewing."
Airi says.
"By the way, how are this year's new recruits?"
I was asking Saki.
"It seems there are none particularly noteworthy. However, I heard from Sakura that there is an incredibly cheeky person at the Private University."
"That kind of person is more worth training. Male? Female?"
"Apparently, a female. She said she's a cheeky person who is riding high on selling her cuteness, and that the circle recruitment wars have started."
"Heh, I see. That makes it worth educating."
Emi and Saki are talking.
"Ah, I have to go home soon. I have to prepare dinner."
"Eh? Is it already that time? I have to do shopping too."
"Well, we will be taking our leave soon."
Leaving me behind, everyone went home.
Everyone has someone waiting for their return.
"Are you lonely, Kanna-senpai?"
"I don't even have the leeway to think about such things."
When Saki asks, I reply so.
Nonetheless, it's no use for me to be alone either.
"I'm going home too. Thanks for the treat."
"Yes, thank you very much."
The Blue Bird, which was that lively, is now quiet.
The past feels nostalgic.
They were an irreplaceable four years.
Leaving the shop, I return home.
When I return home, I eat a meal and turn on the television.
Makoto running around the pitch is being shown.
I was cheering for my husband alone.
(4)
The third day since starting work. I was inputting the data handed to me by Tatsuhiko-san.
When it becomes 15:00, the chime rings. It is a 15-minute break.
My smartphone rings.
It is from Natsumi-san. Natsumi-san still had my phone number, didn't she?
Which means, she remembers me?
"Which would you like, coffee or tea?"
She cannot speak. She communicates through messages.
"Coffee is fine."
When I tell her, she smiles warmly and goes to the hot water supply room.
And then, a mug containing coffee is placed on the desk.
Today everyone is out, and there is only the receptionist, the office clerk, and the President.
"I'm back!"
Tatsuhiko-san returned.
"Toya, how is it! Is the work progressing?"
"I can somehow manage the portion I was told to do within today."
"You're quick to understand! But it's fine to go slowly, so finish it accurately! Because if there's a mistake, it'll be a big problem."
"I am being careful."
"Then good! Tell them you'll be late on Friday night! It's a cherry blossom viewing and your welcome party. Rejoice! It's fugu, fugu!"
It seems he reserved a fugu restaurant in the downtown area. Is that even a cherry blossom viewing?
"The details don't matter!"
Saying so, he slaps my back.
It seems Tatsuhiko-san is acting as the organizer.
There was a word, "Because you're doing it from next time!"
"By the way, are you getting along with Natsumi? Since she is quite introverted, speak to her from your side. You were friends in middle school, right?"
Eh?
"I heard! You rejected Natsumi's confession!? Because you already had a girlfriend."
How does he know?
"Ah, I talked about Natsumi's illness, right. Inside the house, she can speak only to me and Natsumi's family!"
I look at Natsumi-san; Natsumi-san seemed to be troubled.
You are terrible, Toya-kun.
Those words revive.
"Well, having said that, if you make a move on another man's wife, I won't show mercy! ...Wait, what's wrong, Toya? You look pale."
"I'm sorry, I will go to the restroom for a moment."
"Ah, did you eat something weird?"
An intense nausea washes over me.
Looking at myself reflected in the mirror, I regain my composure.
When I exit the restroom, Natsumi-san was waiting.
She offers a handkerchief.
"I'm fine, thank you."
"I'm sorry, my husband is always like that."
I should have said it at that time, but I couldn't.
"Sorry about that time."
I couldn't say that single word.
Instead, her single sentence pierces me.
"If it's about that time, I don't mind it anymore. It was an accident, right?"
For the first time, I felt like my heart was being seen through.
Is it fine to settle it as an accident?
"Um..."
Just as I was about to speak, Tatsuhiko-san came.
"Toya, are you okay? ...Wait, hey. What is this! You're creating a nice atmosphere! I told you not to make a move on another man's wife. I'll tell on you to your girlfriend!!"
Tatsuhiko-san said so and was laughing.
"It's nothing like that."
"Is that so, well, it's half a joke, so don't take it so seriously."
Tatsuhiko-san says.
In the end, on this day too, I return home after finishing work without being able to say anything.
"Welcome home, thank you for your hard work."
Airi welcomes me.
"Did something happen? You look pale."
"It's nothing, what is dinner today?"
"I made pasta and soup. Toya-san, you are fine with consomme soup, right?"
"I'm fine with it."
"I went to the Blue Bird today. It seems Kanna is also having a hard time."
"Is that so..."
"And you see, apparently Makoto-kun is appearing in a match tonight. Shall we cheer for him together?"
"A match all of a sudden, that's amazing. We have to cheer for him."
"Indeed."
Airi was as usual.
After eating dinner and finishing cleaning up, we each take a bath and watch the match in the living room.
The television might just be showing it that way, but I am chasing Makoto's play.
Just by chasing it, I don't really understand the development of the match.
In my head, I was thinking of something else.
"Ah, Makoto-kun scored a shot."
Beside me, Airi is frolicking.
The match was decided by that one point, and the local team won.
A first appearance and a first victory, huh. He will probably draw attention.
When the match ends, Airi turns off the television.
"Toya-san, shall we go to the bedroom?"
"Yeah..."
Moving to the bedroom with Airi, I turn on the bedroom television.
Airi sits on the bed and tells me to sit next to her.
When I sit, Airi hugs me.
"Did something happen at the company today? Your behavior has been strange ever since you returned."
I told Airi what happened today.
Airi was listening to the story intently.
And then she giggled.
"It might be just as Natsumi-san says. You might be worrying too much, Toya-san."
Is it really so?
"'Crying, we come; laughing, we go.' Those are the words you told me once, Toya-san. There is no use worrying forever, let's go forward laughing."
Airi smiled warmly and said so.
"Since Natsumi-san was also able to become happy, next is your turn to become happy, Toya-san. With that, both are happy. Isn't that fine?"
"...That might be so."
"It is so."
"Thank you, Airi."
"Because encouraging a tired husband is also a wife's duty."
I strongly hug Airi, who is smiling.
I guess there's no use regretting forever.
Let's change the subject. It will only make Airi anxious.
"...I don't need dinner on Friday. I'm going to eat fugu for the welcome party and cherry blossom viewing."
"Fugu, that's nice. Since even if I make it, it's only for one person, is it okay if I go out to eat too?"
"Go ahead."
"Please don't drink too much. Because Saturday is also cherry blossom viewing."
"Because I will do Airi's maintenance on Sunday."
"Won't it interfere with the next day's work?"
"Didn't I say I would balance both? It's fine."
"If so, it's fine, but... still..."
What's wrong?
"It's strange to have fugu even though it's cherry blossom viewing."
"Did you think so too, Airi?"
"Yes."
I stroke Airi's head.
"Shall we sleep soon?"
"...Yes?"
We fall asleep.
And then, we welcome the morning of a new day.
In that way, we spin our life with Airi.