Uncle Hikigaya is Forever Young [43]

"Oh right, Miura-nee... This Hikigaya-san, how much does he earn per year?"

Machida-san pursed her lips, cheeks slightly flushed, eyes deliberately drifting elsewhere.

"About seven million yen, I suppose," Miura-san replied, quickly continuing before Machida Sonoko’s cherry lips formed an 'O': "But it’s definitely less now—haven't you seen the news lately? The economic crisis keeps getting worse and worse."

"That's okay, that's okay! Even affected by the crisis, he should still make about five or six million, right?"

"I’m not really sure. Everyone’s been having a tough time lately, and we haven’t gotten together often."

Being an editor was particularly grueling, and didn't pay much. Even when an author's work became wildly popular, the editor would remain forgotten in their shadow.

Newbie editors couldn't even afford to raise pigeons (referring humorously to authors missing deadlines—"pigeons"). They’d slave away for years, barely scraping by just to survive.

For Machida-san, who raised an entire flock of pigeons, her income was basically a not-very-high monthly base salary plus royalties, a biannual bonus, and some minor transportation and meal subsidies.

Monthly take-home was barely 200,000 yen; counting bonuses and royalties, her annual income floated between three to four million yen—barely reaching Tokyo metropolitan area's average.

But Machida-san’s family lived in Tokyo, she was an only child, and being a spendthrift, she still managed to live rather stylishly.

...

Alright, Miura-san was deliberately holding something back about Hikigaya Ryōhei-san.

His shortcomings, or rather, the problems he had—she hadn’t mentioned a word.

That idiot Sonoko didn't even ask.

Why don't you ask?

If you don't ask, how can I openly speak ill of someone else? Hikigaya-kun is an old friend, after all.

With just the conditions she'd mentioned, even those flashy little seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girls would be flocking after him already.

If there wasn't anything wrong, why would it be her turn to pick and choose here?

This silly child... already thirty-one years old, yet her mental age is still thirteen.

This wasn’t an older single woman at all! This was clearly an over-aged teenage girl!!

Watching this editor who had no intention of asking any more questions, Miura Fusako gently shook her head.

Then again.

Wasn't matchmaking always like this?

When you’re older and have been to many of these meetings, you'd understand.

It wasn’t exactly lying.

Worst-case scenario, even if things didn't work out, you'd still gain another friend, right?

Besides, Miura Fusako hadn’t seen Hikigaya Ryōhei for several months now; they'd known each other since high school, after all.

From his recent photos, he seemed to be doing pretty well, likely finally moving on from that messy divorce.

Machida-san repeatedly nodded, looking at the picture of Hikigaya Ryōhei.

To be honest, she was quite satisfied with Hikigaya-san's looks, even a little beyond expectations. (After all, she'd become much more realistic lately, lowering her standards further and further.)

He wasn't particularly handsome, but he wasn't bad either; a little scholarly-looking, mild-tempered.

Well, better meet him first!

"Please, Miura-nee! Could you help me arrange a time?"

Machida-san knelt properly on the sofa, her slender legs wrapped neatly in black stockings, and bowed reverently toward Miura-san, who was still wearing an apron.

"You sure you won't stand him up again like last time?" It wasn't Miura-san’s first time arranging matchmaking for her.

"Absolutely not! Tomorrow I’ll sacrifice two pigeons as an offering! I, Machida Sonoko, will definitely get married before turning thirty-two!" Machida-san’s delicate face lit up with murderous determination. Her right hand formed a blade, chopping downward sharply—a symbolic beheading of pigeons.

Miura Fusako didn't really understand what Machida was talking about, but she looked spirited enough.

"Alright, I'll talk to Kōzō the day after tomorrow. It should be fine this weekend. You get ready in the meantime. Hikigaya-kun’s our good friend, so let's treat it like a normal family gathering, alright?"

"Sounds great... wait, let me take this call first!" Machida-san was finally satisfied with her neighbor's arrangement, her face showing a rare anticipation of matchmaking, but was abruptly interrupted by the vibration of her phone in her pocket.

"Hey, didn’t you say you turned it off? How many times do I have to tell you—separate work from your private life!" Miura Fusako furrowed her brows in complaint.

"Got it, got it! The phone that contacts my family is off. This is my work phone. It’s Kasumi Shiko-sensei calling. Let me pick this up real quick."

Machida Sonoko, having just decided her matchmaking target—not even close to sealing the deal yet—was already slipping back into her old habits.

This was precisely why she couldn't get married—not purely due to bad luck or blind men.

This dutiful editor didn't shy away, answering the call directly in front of Miura Fusako.

"Hello, Shi-chan? Have you finally finished the manuscript? Eh? Tomorrow you have a delivery coming to the publishing house? You want me to sign for it? Okay, okay! No problem... By the way, about your deadline... You're writing? You said that last time, too..."

A few minutes later, Machida Sonoko hung up, irritated.

"‘I'm writing it, I'm writing it.’ That's all they ever say. Do they think we editors are idiots?"

When Machida-san turned around, she saw Miura Fusako crossing her arms, visibly displeased.

"Sonoko, the reason you can't get married is obviously because you still haven't reflected on yourself at all..."

Machida-san suddenly felt a headache coming on—why was Miura-nee sometimes just like an annoying old mom?

There was absolutely no way to argue with her in this state, so all she could do was hang her head for now.

...

Another Friday rolled around. Students whispered to each other excitedly, making weekend plans.

Although economic news was always grim lately, the world remained as peaceful as it had for a hundred years.

"Honestly! Why is it always me stuck doing overtime?"

On Friday afternoon, Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei had no classes, originally planning to clock out early and enjoy a drink at a distant bar.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, these are the notification forms for our recent applicants. Please call them individually to inform them of the results. Remember to speak in a gentle and polite manner."

And thus—

The beautiful teacher spent two hours in the faculty office making phone calls.

She'd already drained her water cup, feeling more exhausted than teaching all day.

"Almost... Finally almost done. Only the History department left."

Shizuka-sensei glanced at the list; only six people remained, four of whom were rejected.

No longer willing to speak directly, she sent automated texts from the school number to those four unfortunate souls.

Then came this one... such a young girl.

Numbly, Hiratsuka Shizuka dialed the number of the 21-year-old fresh graduate named Kirisu Mafuyu, reciting from the feedback form: "Hello, is this Kirisu Mafuyu-san? Normally, our school only accepts graduates from the top three teacher-training universities. However, you performed excellently in your interview, so we'd like to offer you an internship position teaching History. Would you be interested?"

"Of course, you can take your time. Please give us your answer by next Monday."

Shizuka-sensei spoke perfunctorily, face flat on her desk, and quickly ended the call.

She picked up the last notification form.

[Name: Hikigaya Ryōhei.]

Hmm?!

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This is a fan translation of 比企谷大叔永远年轻 by Stargazer All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!