That day, I, Shindo Nanao was spending a fulfilling holiday.
At least, until 6 in the evening――
The phone call came at 6 PM on a Saturday evening.
I was just in my home kitchen, staring at the large pot of tonjiru 1 I made, smirking a big grin.
I lived at a timeworn wooden apartment constructed about 30 years ago.
In my modest 2K room 2 , the fragrance of the just dissolved miso 3 gently wafted through the air.
It’s simple, but there was no bigger happiness than this hearty tonjiru.
If I sprinkled shichimi togarashi 4 over it, I could eat 3 bowls of rice with just this.
The rice cooker 5 lively spouting steam beside me should soon chime the finished cooking melody. 6
Today, after a long time, I was passing the day by serenely.
The month before yesterday was truly awful.
I work at a reasonably big company called SE, but anyways it was overtime after overtime.
I wrapped up the hellish overtime by working on my days off and was finally welcoming my impeccable holiday today.
Unlike recently, I slept on my futon 7 like the dead, waking up at 3 in the afternoon.
After I changed my clothes and washed my face, I went out for a quick shopping trip to the supermarket.
Anyways, this month was overbearing. Returning home by the last train was the best I could ask for. Coming home by the first train, I only took a bath and reported for duty again, occasionally staying overnight at the company.
Under such circumstances, there was no way I could eat a decent meal. Rather, if I had that sort of time to spare, I’d sleep.
As such, I was currently starving for a warm meal.
What I wanted to eat at that time wasn’t a stylish pasta or an extravagant full course.
Simple white rice and miso soup that would soak in your belly. 8
That was the most supreme.
Buying as much as I could at the supermarket, I began making a large amount of tonjiru in my large pot that hasn’t had any spotlight recently.
Soup made in large quantities tasted better for some reason.
Since we passed the workplace crunch time, I likely had enough time to return home to eat dinner for around a week.
The season is winter.
Even if I left out the pot, if I frequently heated it up then it wouldn’t spoil.
Calculating with that as a basis, for this week, I made a large quantity of tonjiru that I could take 10 minutes out of every day to eat a large bowl of rice alongside it for breakfast and dinner.
Again, besides me was a rice cooker filled with cooked white rice.
I was planning to divide it into portions and freeze it for later.
Of course, I’ll enjoy it freshly cooked today as well.
Ahー, steaming hot rice and flavorful tonjiru. Is there any other happiness than this?!
In another 15 minutes, the time for supreme bliss would begin――
That instant――
My cell phone made a high-pitched noise.
It was at max volume, set back when it was crunch time at my workplace so I wouldn’t miss it. Furthermore, it was a shrill electronic sound that agitated my feelings of impending crisis.
Was there any person who wouldn’t get a bad feeling from this situation?
Eh, what is this strange flag-like event……
I had a feeling I heard a sound that would rupture my blissful holiday.
No, i-it must be my imagination.
With jerky movements, I turned my sights towards my cell phone.
Displayed on the screen were the words「President（Demon）」.
Without needing to be said, he was the president of my company. He was renowned as an ikemen businessman, but truthfully, he was simply a demon. Holding no guilt whatsoever for working his employees like cart-horses, he was an ogre-like person.
「Un…… For the time being, let’s pretend I was sleeping and didn’t hear. I’m super tired, so it can’t be helped if I didn’t notice.」
But President was tenacious. The phone rang endlessly.
Even though 10 minutes passed, the ring tone didn’t cut off. How pigheaded are you, President!?
To me and my tonjiru! And to my rest!
No matter how I screamed in my heart, there was no inkling that he would hang up.
「Ahー……」
With a groan, I stretched out my hand.
I hate myself for not setting the answering machine……
「Yes……」
I got annoyed at President who didn’t care about my gloomy voice and bellowed『you’re slow!』at me.
Today! It’s my long awaited! It’s my very long awaited vacation!
Why do I have to answer your stupid phone call!?
I want to scream. Really want to scream.
But I am a trivial salaryman. I am weak against the one who grants my wages.
「I’m sorry, I was sleeping.」
『Your voice, it’s super awake! Norーmally awake! Your morning voice is really erotic so I can tell right away!』
「Don’t call other people’s voice erotic! Sekuhara-President!」9
My excellent company employee mask was stripped off and I shouted on reflex.
Rather, no matter if he was an ikemen president or how the business magazines took to him, I believed I should speak to him without moderation. 10 Don’t think that if you’re an ikemen, you’ll be forgiven for everything.
『Rather, I need a favor』
「It’s impossible」
『Oi…… 』
President’s voice contained exasperation.
「No no no, it’s impossible. Do you understand, President? I was in a super death march 11 until yesterday, you know? I’m all wobbly. I can’t do anything.」
『Ohー, that’s a big relief. As expected of Shindo! If I leave it to you, everything will be OK! That being said, go to Oita for a bit for a business trip.』
「Ha……?」
『A business trip to Oita.』12
To the words spoken without a shred of restraint, my nerve was plucked. 13
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