It had surprised Akari when Mitsuko had been assigned a project involving the company’s actual products. Most of the women spent their days on one miscellaneous office task or another. Not that Akari was looking down on office tasks, of course.
“You’ve got to be doing better than just about any other woman in the company, Mitsuko. I’d better step up my game and try to follow your example.”
As long as it doesn’t mean going above my pay grade, Akari thought wryly as Mitsuko blushed.
On the way to the rooftop, they encountered a man who was barking in a loud, angry voice as he loomed menacingly over some of the other employees.
“The blasted Raiju! Thundergod or not, I don’t give a damn! It’s destroyed our company dorm! Now we need to waste money rebuilding! This is going to hold back company advancement!”
“And this is why we have the Narrators? They treat those yokai like pets! And they get paid OUR tax money to keep the public safe. What a joke!”
The group of men walking the girls’ way in the hallway were all in their forties or fifties. From the way they comported themselves, they seemed to be top management. Sumimata Corp. traded goods to the major department stores and did other big, impressive business-type things. A lowly assistant like Akari had never had a reason to come face-to-face with management before.
Once the men had gone and they’d checked that the roof was empty, Mitsuko sighed heavily.
“Ever since the Raiju attack, people have been publicly speaking out against the Narrators and the Kotogami like that.”
“So it’s gotten even worse than usual.”
Akari frowned. The company’s prime location in the heart of expensive Marunochui was proof alone of its supposed quality. You’d think its top employees would be able to have a conversation without squabbling like children.
Actually, maybe the company being so big and all was the reason why these people were so self-assured about their views. Akari realized all over again that she was going to need to make sure the truth about her living in a Kotogami Bookhouse never got out.
She’d do the work she got paid for and be thankful for it. She wanted nothing more from this company than what she was owed.
“Also, Chief Gosaka didn’t seem too happy about you taking time off from work, so you’d better watch out for him.”
“Hmph. Sounds like he’s still vexed that I asked him how much longer those documents would take. Or maybe he’s still sore from when I pointed out that mistake he made. Oh, I also pointed out a translation error he made in another document.”
“I…I think all that may have contributed, yes. Everyone really depends on you in this company, don’t they?”
Mitsuko blinked at Akari with reverence. Avoiding the other woman’s gaze, Akari felt a touch of pride, but it was bittersweet.
Gosaka was a notorious offender of the crime of dumping his workload off on the female employees, who were all sick of him. He was also constantly making mistakes in his work, which he not only refused to own up to but also blamed on the female employees.
Before Mitsuko had been transferred to another department, she’d been Gosaka’s favorite target. Akari had stepped in to help her out countless times. All part of the job, Akari thought.
Making a mental note to watch out for Gosaka, Akari sat down on a bench and unwrapped the cloth containing her lunch.
“Oh, Miss Akari. That bento seems a little different from your usual.”
“My housemate made it for me, actually.”
Akari normally brought a wicker basket with a few rice balls in it for lunch. She’d never used a fancy bento box like this, formed from a curved sheet of wood.
Akari opened the lid as Mitsuko looked on with interest. The inside was crammed with all kinds of goodies. Stuffed sweet-and-sour pork, spring rolls, and various side dishes consisting of lightly stir-fried vegetables. Half of the box was filled with yellow rice, which looked on closer inspection to be egg fried rice.
It seemed Mayoi could cook Chinese cuisine as well as standard Western fare. What a marvelous Kotogami she was.
Akari quickly got out her chopsticks and dived in to the side dishes. The sweet-and-sour pork lived up to its name and was delicious. The fried rice was crumbly and tasted so different from ordinary white rice.
The spring rolls were fried with a crispy exterior. The chef had paid close attention to achieving a variety of textures and mouthfeel as well as taste.
“Miss Akari…where are you living now?”
Akari stopped savoring the lunch and paused. Mitsuko was staring at her in bewilderment, her own bento box left unopened. It was the obvious question, but how to answer it? She couldn’t tell the truth—that she’d taken on a custodian role at a Bookhouse.
“I have this…acquaintance…and they said I could live at their house if I helped with chores and so on. Kind of like a lodger? But I pay for my keep by helping around the house. Anyway, they like cooking food from different cultures, and they were generous enough to share with me.”
“Oh, I see…”
“Never mind that, though, Mitsuko. How’s work really? No one’s trying to make you do their share as well, are they?”
Akari was concerned about Mitsuko, who seemed rather gloomy. The other woman paused for a moment before smiling and shaking her head.
“I’m so glad for you, though, Miss Akari!
“It’s going to take at least two months for the company dorm to be rebuilt, so I’m thinking about staying with them until then.”
“I see. So you’ve figured something out on your own… How resourceful you are.”
“Oh, it’s not that impressive, Mitsuko.”
Akari hadn’t really done anything. She’d kind of fallen into the arrangement. It wasn’t anything to admire.
As Mitsuko continued to gaze at Akari with reverence, Akari popped another bite of sweet-and-sour pork into her mouth.