Chapter 1

"Hmm..."

Sitting on a park bench, I gaze up at the sky and take a sip of the apple juice in my hand. The sky in mid-May is incredibly clear, and although it’s pleasant to look at, it feels vast and empty.

I absentmindedly glance at the ingredients of the juice and start to wonder what fructose-glucose syrup is made from, a trivial thought that only comes to mind when I have too much free time.

"It’s been a while since I’ve had free time."

Confused about what to do on my first full day off in years, I take out a slightly worn bag and pull out a clear file. Inside is a simple resume I bought from a convenience store. The content I filled out after a long time is so sparse that it can be read in a few minutes. Although I don’t have a clear idea of how to use it right now, it’s better to be prepared early.

Nanaka Nisou. Female, 21 years old, a part-time worker.

My highest education is junior high school, and I’ve worked in various jobs, from construction to day labor and pachinko parlors, leading up to my current situation.

In summary, that’s what my resume says.

Let me talk about myself a bit.

I no longer have my parents. They died in a car accident when I was in the third year of junior high school.

At the time, I was sad and struggled, but I didn’t have the luxury to dwell on it.

My maternal aunt, who became my guardian, lived in a family that could be described as a real-life Big Daddy, supporting a large family of 12 children.

My uncle earned a lot, but life was still tough. Adding me to the household made an already precarious situation even harder.

To make matters worse, the house was so crowded that there was hardly any personal space.

I knew I had no right to complain, but I was just an "outsider."

So, I decided to let my aunt and uncle have all of my parents' inheritance in exchange for helping me set up my own living arrangements.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but in the end, they understood my intentions.

Since then, I’ve been working part-time jobs to earn rent and food money.

The only jobs that would hire me without a word, given my junior high school education, were physical labor jobs. I think they were my calling, as I was good at physical work.

Since then, I’ve been doing physical labor jobs and sending rent money to my aunt and uncle from my earnings.

It’s been six years since I graduated from junior high school, and I’ve been earning my own living, which is a source of pride for me.

Incidentally, when I turned 18, I found out that my aunt and uncle hadn’t used the inheritance I gave them.

I was hit on the head and told, "Don’t worry about it, kid," and I remember crying for the first time in years.

The inheritance was returned, but I’ve kept it as savings just in case. It’s not enough to live on forever, though.

So, why am I just sitting around in a park on a weekday afternoon?

There’s a simple reason.

I’ve been working non-stop, but recently, the three part-time jobs I relied on all closed down.

It was a huge blow to me, who had filled my week with these jobs.

I was sad that all three places closed, and I was a bit disappointed in myself for not looking for new jobs after they decided to close.

I’ve been working non-stop for the past three years, and I can’t deny that I’ve been overworking. So, I decided to take a break and go out into the city.

But after an hour, I had no idea what to do, so I ended up spending the afternoon in the park.

"Should I go home?"

I throw the empty PET bottle into a distant trash can and stand up from the bench. There’s nothing to do here, so I might as well go home and sleep.

☆

10:00 PM. I wake up to the sound of an incoming call on my rarely used smartphone.

It’s an app that has become explosively popular in recent years, known for its chat and free call features. I only have one friend registered.

"Hello, Rin? It’s rare to hear from you."

"Well, it’s rarer for you to answer the phone, Nana."

"Ahaha, you’re right."

I agree with her exasperated tone. I’m usually unreachable because I work part-time jobs seven days a week.

Rin—Rin-chan, whose real name is Hayate Rin, is my only close friend.

We’ve been best friends since kindergarten, and it’s not an exaggeration to say we spent our entire childhood together.

I was feeling a bit excited about this rare call from her.

"Is something up? You usually just send messages."

"I have something I want to talk about... Nana, are you hiding something?"

"Eh? W-What do you mean?"

"Well, it’s unusual for you to answer the phone at this hour."

"Ugh... You’re the one who called me..."

"I just had a feeling you’d pick up."

I can’t help but groan at her reasonable observation. After all, night shifts pay better, so it’s not like I can answer the phone at this hour.

"So, that reaction means something’s up. Spill it."

"N-No, nothing’s up."

"Huh?"

"All my part-time jobs have closed down..."

I can’t resist her pressure. After my parents died, when I told her I was going to be a part-time worker, Rin said, "Being a part-time worker is a dead-end. I’ll ask my dad to use his connections to get you a proper job."

Rin’s father is the head of the "Hayate Group," a large corporation, and using his connections means getting me a job in one of the group’s companies.

Rin’s father is extremely indulgent and will do anything to help, but I refused. Rin has held a grudge over that, and I knew she would definitely say something if I ever lost my job.

Incidentally, her family is incredibly wealthy, and as the youngest and most pampered child, Rin has never known what it’s like to struggle. She’s given a lot of money and earns a lot on her own, so I can’t help but think that money tends to accumulate in certain places.

"All three places?"

"Yes..."

"Hmm... Well, maybe it’s for the best. I have a lot to say, but this is perfect timing."

"What are you talking about?"

I thought she would lecture me, but her response was surprisingly relaxed.

"Nana, are you free now?"

"I’m so free it’s scary."

"Prepare to stay over and come to my house by noon tomorrow. No objections."

"Eh, what’s this all about?"

"I thought about talking on the phone, but it’s better to meet in person. See you then."

"Okay, see you."

She hung up after quickly pushing her agenda, but I do have a lot of free time. I tilt my head at the sudden plan and open my closet to prepare an overnight bag.