15: Getting a Job

Dinner at Haibu's house is a simple Japanese family meal, but Erina makes it look like a ritual. Rice, miso soup, some small fish, pickles, fried eggs, and fried pork. There are vegetables and meat. In Mizuno's eyes, this is a very luxurious dinner. In her memory, a family dinner is rice, stir-fried vegetables, and miso soup.Dinner at Haibu's house is a simple Japanese family meal, but Erina makes it look like a ritual. Rice, miso soup, some small fish, pickles, fried eggs, and fried pork. There are vegetables and meat. In Mizuno's eyes, this is a very luxurious dinner. In her memory, a family dinner is rice, stir-fried vegetables, and miso soup.

After her parents divorced, dinner became unbearable. Mizuno often had to buy discounted bento boxes from the supermarket after work. If Mizuno didn't eat it that night, the next day would be bad.

As expected from a woman who can open a restaurant. Erina's cooking skills are much better than the convenience store lunch boxes. The woman has great control over heat and seasoning. Mizuno Sora feels that comparing the convenience store lunch boxes to Erina's is an insult to Erina's cooking skills.

Mizuno controls her appetite and doesn't eat too much. Mizuno imitates the other two and chews slowly.

"How does it taste? Is there anything that makes you unsatisfied?" Erina's face is no longer gloomy from the blow. She smiles as if nothing happened.

"It's delicious. It tastes good. I don't find anything wrong with it," Mizuno adds. "I have never enjoyed such a delicious dinner before."

"Eat more if it's good. There's not much that can be served at home. As long as Mizuno-kun doesn't mind." Erina then takes a bowl of rice for Mizuno. "In terms of cooking, Haisha is not worse than me. If she gets married in the future, her cooking..."

"Mother..." Haisha says weakly.

'Mother must have misunderstood when I came home with Mizuno-kun in the evening. Why does Mizuno-kun like someone like me?'

Mizuno pretends not to understand. She bites her food and cheerfully says, "Really? It's delicious."

"How is Mizuno-kun's relationship with Haisha at school?" Erina asks nonchalantly.

"Just... regular classmates." Haisha has food in her mouth, but she still answers anxiously, "We happened to finish school together today."

Mizuno Sora eats in silence.

"Mizuno-kun, Haisha is too closed off. This girl is easily taken advantage of. Can you help her at school?"

Hearing that she is the topic of conversation, Mizuno puts down her bowl and says, "Of course, Aunt Erina. As long as Haisha doesn't mind, with my presence being too troublesome, I'll be fine."

"How could that be, Haisha?"

"No, I don't mind." Haisha lowers her head to eat, and her face becomes even redder.

During the meal, Mizuno enjoys herself while eating. Erina watches the two of them while eating. Haisha is sitting on a pin, counting grains of rice while eating.

After a pause, Mizuno asks Erina, "Aunt Erina, I saw a recruitment ad outside the store. Is a high school student like me suitable? I have experience working at a convenience store, and I know a little about cooking, but I'm definitely not as good as you."

Erina nods and sincerely says, "You're welcome. Honest people like Mizuno-kun are the best. Is a 1200 yen per hour salary okay? I'll take care of your dinner."

A 1200 yen per hour salary, and Erina even takes care of dinner.

This is too good. The minimum hourly wage in Tokyo is less than a thousand, and a 1200 yen per hour salary is very good.