Chapter 339
339 – [OVA] Fixer Kim Yu-Seong
The fixer’s work usually ends around 1 a.M.
This is because the law stipulates that entertainment establishments can operate until 1 a.M.
Of course, there are bars that illegally operate beyond this time until 4 or 5 a.M., But large stores usually close at 1 a.M. Even out of fear of fines.
Of course, my working hours had to be adjusted accordingly.
Today, after starting work at 5 PM and walking around Shinjuku for about 8 hours until 1 AM, I returned home exhausted.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
When I press the password on the door lock and carefully enter the house, I see the inside of the house is dark because the light is not turned on.
Rika and Karen seemed to be already sleeping.
I walked quietly to my room inside, trying not to make any sound.
Sweet!
“Phew-“
I guess I can live now.
I took off the flak coat I always wore at work, pulled off the tie around my neck, took my underwear, and went into the bathroom.
I really want to take a bath, but it takes an hour to get water, and because of my size, the bathtub seems rather small, so I tend to prefer public bathhouses.
After simply washing off the sweat in the shower, I changed into my pajamas and quietly headed to the kitchen.
Slowly!
When I open the refrigerator, I see beer cans filling one compartment.
I took one of them out, opened the lid, and took one shot at once.
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
“Big!”
What does beer taste like right after taking a cold shower?
For me, who was unnecessarily healthy, alcohol was just a food of choice.
Still, I don’t have any problems with the taste, so I drink it often.
After crumpling up the finished beer can and putting it in the trash can, I went straight back to my room, turned off the light, and laid down on the bed.
I don’t know if it was because I was leading a regular life, but I fell asleep right away when I closed my eyes.
‘Good night.’
Mumbling something I didn’t know who I was saying, I slowly headed into dreamland.
***
“…”
When I opened my eyes again, it was 7 am, exactly 5 hours later.
I woke up hungry to the delicious smell coming from the kitchen, and when I headed to the kitchen to find the source of the smell, I saw the back of Karen wearing her apron and humming her song.
“Ah, are you awake?”
Karen must have sensed that I was being popular, she said and turned around.
Since the hair that now reaches her waist her is tied in a ponytail, her hair moves dynamically like an animal’s tail.
Tojo Karen, 28 years old.
Former national kendo representative, current housewife.
Unlike in high school, when she was close to being stunted, her body grew explosively as she entered her 20s, and she grew into a slender beauty who resembled her mother her her, Mr. Kiseki.
Since the people around me are glamorous people like the Chairman, Rika, and Sasha, I seem to be concerned about my breast size, but why don’t I know that it is a rarity in itself?
“What’s on the menu this morning?”
As I sat down at the table asking that question, Karen picked up the contents of her pot with chopsticks and showed me.
“Karaage and foil-grilled salmon.”
“Oh.”
Both are my favorite menu items.
“What day is today? Suddenly I made only the food I like.”
I said that and stopped drinking water.
… Huh?
“Is it your wedding anniversary today?”
“No.”
“Then your birthday?”
“No.”
“Oh, then is it Rika’s birthday?”
“Not even that.”
… What? What is it?
As the case became more and more mysterious and my expression became serious, Karen sighed and said as if she was dumbfounded.
“How come you don’t even know your birthday?”
“Ah.”
Only then did I realize that today is March 28th, that is, Kim Yu-sung’s birthday.
“I was so busy with work that I completely forgot.”
When I said that and smiled shyly, Karen sighed as if she was dumbfounded, shook off the karaage that had just been taken out of the oil, and placed it on top of the shredded cabbage.
“I know that because I skipped work today because I told my dad.”
“Huh? Is that okay?”
“Isn’t it weirder to go out and work every day without any holidays in the first place?”
Karen, who put down the plate of karaage on the table, glanced at me and said.
“By the way, I’m going to take the train to the hot spring village for lunch.”
“Hot spring? What kind of hot spring all of a sudden?”
“You said you wanted to go while watching TV the other day. So I made a reservation in advance for your birthday.”
“Karen…”
“Well, I didn’t prepare anything specifically for you?! So, eat quickly!”
Karen said that and presented the freshly made gobong rice.
Whether it was during school or now, being dishonest is the same.
Anyway, it seemed like a surprise event that Karen had specially prepared for my busy working day, so I gladly accepted her favor.
***
That afternoon.
We took the express train from Shinjuku Station and headed to the Hakone hot spring village near Tokyo.
If you go by car, it takes about 2 hours one way from Tokyo to Hakone, but if we take the express train, it takes less than that, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
“What do you want to eat ekiben?”
“Anything.”
We could have eaten lunch in Hakone, but since we couldn’t resist the ekiben, we decided to have a quick lunch at the canteen on the train.
Japanese ekiben is famous for using a lot of local specialties, and the one I chose was a rice ball with eel.
“This is my first time eating eel this year.”
I said that and took a big bite of the rice ball.
Except for the seaweed covering the outside, the rice soaked in the unique flavor of the eel sauce and the rich taste of the eel spreads in your mouth.
Would you say it tastes like an eel rice bowl condensed into one lump?
It wasn’t as bad as I thought.
“…”
Karen, who was on the sports team and had a bigger appetite than she expected, was staring at my rice balls, so I silently dropped one of the rice balls into her lunch box.
Then Karen cleared her throat, saying “Hmm! Hmm!” And she handed over a fried shrimp that was in her lunch box.
This is like bartering.
“It would have been nice if other people could have come too.”
As I muttered that while looking out at the scenery outside the fast-passing train, Karen said with a shy expression.
“I had no choice because I made a reservation in a hurry.”
“Next time, let’s come together.”
“Yes.”
Karen answered like that and took a bite of her rice ball. She looked surprised and said, “…!” And then she ate the rest of the rice ball in one go, as if she was hiding her eyes.
It seems that it suits my taste well.
***
It was around 2pm when we arrived at Hakone Yumoto Station.
Since it was lunchtime on a weekday, there were relatively few people wandering around even though it is a famous tourist destination.
“It’s been a while since I came here.”
“The last time we all came together was three years ago?”
“It’s probably about that time.”
This is the third time we have come to Hakone to enjoy hot springs.
During the first and second visits, all eight wives came together, but after that, we didn’t have time to get together and go to the hot springs, so it had been a long time since we came.
We walked the streets of Hakone Yutomo while sharing hot spring manju that we bought at the station.
“No matter when I come here, nothing has changed.”
“That’s actually an advantage.”
“Well.”
If it were our first time coming to Hakone, we would have bought the Hakone Free Pass and explored various places, but unfortunately, since this was our third time here, we didn’t really feel the need.
So, I walked around while looking at the scenery of the hot spring town and headed to the ryokan I had booked today.
“I made a reservation under the name Tojo Karen.”
“Ah, yes. You are Karen Tojo, who said you would come at 3pm today, right?”
The staff member checked Karen’s name on the guest list and guided us directly to our room.
“The hot springs are divided into men’s and women’s baths, so you can use them at any time. If you plan to use the family bath, please inform the counter in advance.”
“Yes, thank you.”
After listening to the ryokan staff’s explanation, we entered the room where we would stay today and were amazed at the sight of the Japanese garden directly in front.
“It’s pretty.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
As expected, it is an expensive inn, so it seems like you get your money’s worth.
It was so well decorated that it couldn’t be compared to the inn we stayed in as a group when we went on a school trip to Kyoto.
After unpacking our luggage in the room, we changed into the yukatas provided in the room and decided to take a hot spring bath.
“Then let’s meet in an hour.”
“Yes.”
I wanted to enjoy the hot springs together, but it seems that the only time the family baths can be used is in the evening.
So, for now, I was thinking of just doing it alone.
After parting ways with Karen in the hallway, I entered the men’s bathhouse with bathing equipment and saw that the people who had entered first were soaking in the large open-air hot spring.
I saw that out of the corner of my eye, and was afraid that other people would be surprised to see the Buddha tattoo on my back. So I went to a corner, washed my body quietly, and entered the hot spring, covering my lower body with a towel.
“Whoa-“
As I soak in warm water, tension naturally eases.
So, without realizing it, I smiled softly, and one of the men watching me from the side cautiously approached me and asked.
“Hey… “What organization are you from?”
“Yes?”
From noble mtl dot come
Suddenly?
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