Finding a job.
Preferably a high-paying one. Ideally part-time. If not, short-term work would do—as long as the employer respected labor laws. Nine to five, weekends off.
Bathed in the light of the rising sun outside the window, Shimizu Koji sat on the sofa. In one hand, he held a steaming cup of water; in the other, a newspaper.
On the table lay an opened envelope. A closer look made it clear—it was a bill.
August Garden Maintenance Fee:Comprehensive landscaping services (including fertilization, pest control, irrigation, replanting, soil loosening, and trimming):360 yen per square meter × 430 square metersTotal: 151,200 yen
Koji hadn't expected the bill to arrive so soon, but thankfully, it had already been paid.
He had also contacted a real estate agency and listed his unused apartment for rent. If all went smoothly, it should bring in about 100,000 yen per month.
Future bills wouldn't be too overwhelming—but that didn't mean the pressure was gone.
Over the course of the morning, Koji went through nearly a week's worth of newspapers. There were plenty of part-time and short-term jobs offering standard hours.
But once high pay was added to the requirements, the options dried up instantly—like a waterfall suddenly cut off at the source.
After narrowing things down, only three jobs remained.
Two were located in Shinjuku:One from a place called Polaris Club,And another from White Dove Pharmaceuticals, recruiting security personnel.
The third was in Saitama Prefecture—too far away to even consider.
Still, the two Shinjuku listings were… strange.
Koji separated the pages with those advertisements and read them carefully.
[Polaris Club]Requirements: Male, ages 18–25
Job Description: To be discussed
Compensation: Based on circumstances
Guaranteed conditions:
Part-time shifts under 4 hours
At least 10,000 yen per shift
Part-time or long-term availableWork hours negotiable under special circumstances
[White Dove Pharmaceuticals]Hiring multiple security personnelNo gender restrictionsShort-term positions available
Interested applicants may submit resumes directly to postal code 161-0124Applicants who pass screening will be invited for further testing
Salary: 250,000–300,000 yen per month
From a pay perspective, both jobs were excellent.
One offered at least 10,000 yen for no more than four hours of work.The other paid monthly, but the salary was high enough to be ideal for summer or winter break.
That said, both listings were odd in their own way.
One left nearly everything "to be discussed."The other seemed almost too easy—just submit a resume and wait.
Shaking his head, Koji cut out both listings and slipped them into his pocket. He grabbed some paper and a pen, spent about ten minutes preparing a resume, and headed out.
Today was another peaceful day off.
Suzuki Private Hospital
The VIP ward doors were pristine white—so polished they reflected Koji's face clearly.
Expressionless, yet strangely captivating.
If one had to describe him in a word, cool sensuality might come close—though mixed with a youthful purity unique to adolescence, most evident in his clear, steady eyes.
As he entered, the nurse on duty glanced at him quietly, bowed slightly, and left without a word.
On the hospital bed, Miyano Akemi lay unconscious, an oxygen mask covering her face. The soft, rhythmic beeping of medical equipment was the only sound in the room.
Koji couldn't say he shared an unbreakable bond with her.
But seeing a life fading like a wilting flower brought back memories—her gentle smiles, her warmth—now tinged with a quiet, tragic beauty.
Seen this way, she truly was just a kind, ordinary girl-next-door.
After about twenty minutes, Koji left the room. Over the past week, he had been visiting every day or two.
Before leaving the hospital, he checked Akemi's treatment records. The cost wasn't listed, but he had done some research.
A rough estimate put it well into seven figures.
Shinjuku
After sealing his resume in an envelope and affixing a stamp, Koji personally dropped it into the designated mailbox for White Dove Pharmaceuticals.
Then he got back on his bike and headed to his next destination.
Polaris Club.
After parking and double-checking the sign, Koji looked at the half-closed door. It clearly wasn't business hours—but it wasn't locked either.
Someone was inside.
The alley was fairly wide, but under the midday sun, even Koji felt the heat. The street was nearly deserted.
Yet just outside the alley, crowds flowed endlessly. With that much foot traffic nearby, it didn't seem like a scam.
His gaze drifted past the crowd—to a pedestrian street diagonally across.
The large characters there made his brow furrow.
"Kabukicho Ichiban Street."
Still…
After a brief hesitation, Koji pushed the door open.
He was already here.
If it turned out to be that kind of place, he could just leave.
"Jingle—"
The bell above the door rang crisply.
Rather than a club, the interior felt more like a bar.
Shelves behind the counter were lined with various wines. The décor leaned heavily toward dark gold—chairs, counters, even the marble floor.
Looking deeper inside, however, it resembled a restaurant. Tables draped with pale pink cloths filled the space, and at the far end stood a stage reminiscent of an opera venue.
Overall, Koji's impression was simple:
A high-end bar.
Or perhaps—a liquor club.
"Sir, I'm very sorry, but we're not open yet. You've arrived early. Still, if you don't mind, I can offer you a drink."
A female staff member stood up behind the bar. She wore a black-and-white maid uniform, fatigue visible on her face. Though surprised by a customer, she suppressed a yawn and offered a professional smile.
Seeing that she was a female employee eased Koji's concerns slightly.
As long as it wasn't a host club.
"Ah, no need. I'm here to apply for a job."
He placed the cut-out advertisement on the counter.
The maid took it, rubbed her sleepy eyes, then looked up and examined Koji carefully.
Her eyes gradually lit up.
"Please wait here for a moment," she said politely. "I'll go get our boss."
"Thank you. I appreciate it."
She headed upstairs. Koji, left alone, casually surveyed the club again.
Yeah—this didn't seem like a shady den of vice.
If places like this had rankings, this one would probably fall into the classy tier.