Working Girls
Chapter One
Ultimatum
Chieko's mother actually said what all the sisters were hoping to hear. She wasn't going to sell Amamizukan. Kuranosuke exchanged glances with Tsukimi. He was so ecstatic that he could have kissed her. Wasn't this perhaps the fourth time since knowing her he felt the urge to kiss her? It was becoming a problem now. He had to remind himself he was in drag and standing in Amamizukan. Dressing up as a woman was starting to wear down on him. More and more he just wanted to be himself.
Chieko and the others chased after the owner and brought her back inside.
"You thought I was going to fall those landsharks at Global City Create?" Chieko's mother was saying. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Just the other day," Chieko said desperately. "The building was blocked off. I was worried you gave the okay."
"Are you kidding me?" Chieko's mother gasped.
"We tried to climb barricade," Banba recalled. "Mayaya could have broken her neck from falling."
"Oh, the horror!" cried Mayaya.
"But it was a misunderstanding," said Chieko. "The contractors mistook the neighbors that moved recently."
"Yes, I noticed the lot is vacant," frowned Chieko's mother. "Sad to hear about it. I liked them." Chieko's mother sighed and rubbed her head. "This isn't good."
"What do you mean?" asked Kuranoske in his fake female voice. "You're not going to sell, right?"
Chieko's mother gazed at the stylish crossdresser. "I don't think I have met you yet. You moved in recently?"
"I'd sure like to," Kuranoske answered.
"Mom, this is Kurako," Chieko introduced. "She visits every so often."
Chieko's mother nodded. "Well it's nice to meet you. Just call me Chiyoko."
"And you remember me mentioning Tsukmi to you, right?" Chieko gestured to Tsukimi.
"Ah yes," Chieko said. "You came to Tokyo to become an illustrator, right? How is that coming along? You like the school?"
Tsukimi fidgeted. "Well you see, I—ah-didn't enroll."
"I didn't know that's why you came here," Kuranoske said. "You miss the deadline?"
She shook her head. "I visited the campus but I—when I saw all those stylish people—well—I. I decided that I couldn't do it."
"Which campus?"
"Waseda university," she replied.
"That's where I go!" Kuranosuke exclaimed and the girls looked at him. "I mean—not me—ah—my twin brother yeah! I visit him sometimes but I'm not a student myself."
"You have a twin?" Chieko said. "I didn't know that."
Kuranosuke chuckled nervously. "Must've slipped my mind!" Nice save. Telling the others that Kurako and Kuranosuke were twins. The sisterhood bought it.
So Tsukimi tried to go to his school. He could have walked by her even. He might have been able to spot her that day but he was always surrounded by a bunch of shrieking girls. Being popular had its ups and downs.
Chiyoko frowned. "So, you're not in school then?"
Tsukimi shook her head.
"I see. Have a job then?"
The girls gasped and Kuranosuke rolled his eyes. Amazikuan was his home was from home and the sisterhood was his second family but he couldn't get over their "rules." He wished they would make changes.
"Mom, what's with the third degree?" Chieko inquired.
"Has anything changed since I left this place to travel in Korea?" Chiyoko asked sternly, turning to her.
"We've got a pet jellyfish," whispered Jiji, pointing at Clara's tank.
"Yeah!" Tsukimi rushed to it. "This is Clara. Kurako and I saved it. You see, the store clerk put a moon jelly in the same tank with Clara—Clara's a spotted jelly-a spotted jelly can't be in the same tank as a moon jelly or they'll die so Kurako bought her for me and helped me take her home!"
"It's how I met Tsukimi and the others," Kuranoske explained.
"But the rest of you, still no jobs or school? Training of any sorts? Boyfriends?"
When the girls all petrified save for Kuranoske, Chiyoko sighed and shook her head.
"I think I'll have a look around," Chiyoko said, turning for the stairs. "Has there been any problems with the plumbing or electricity? Any leaks?"
"Nothing serious," answered Chieko as she and the others followed her.
Chiyoko opened the door to Tsukimi's room. Drawings of jellyfish were on the walls but the room is neat order. She looked in Banba's room. More train related merchandise than she remembered. Same for Mayaya's room. The dolls in Chieko's room multiplied. Jiji's room gave the feel of a nursing home with the pictures of old men all over the place. She checked the storage room.
"We need to clear some of this out if we want to rent this room," she stated.
"But you didn't' say anything when you left," Chieko said. "I left it as is."
"Though we took a look once to sell some things at a flea market," Tsukimi pitched in. "Old tea sets and trinkets like that."
"Oh yeah, I remember those," said Chiyoko. "It was an old tradition that we would donate one to lodgers when they left. I forgot to do that when I took over. My late husband's kimonos are still there though?"
"I don't remember coming across them when we were going through the boxes," said Kuranosuke.
"I hope you don't mind Mom; we were trying to save money to purchase Amazikan. Worse case scenario."
"No, that's fine," said Chiyoko told them. "Just keep your father's things if you please. Meijiro-Sensei is still, here right?" Chiyoko asked.
"Ah yes, but remember that she's anxious around people," Chieko told her.
Chiyoko knocked on the door. The sisterhood seemed to have jumped five paces back. Kuranosuke stared at them.
"What's with you guys?" she said.
"Sorry, Meijiro-Sensei? It's Chiyoko the owner," Chiyoko said clearly. "I just want to check in with you. Everything in your room okay? Any mold or electricity problems?"
To everyone's surprise, the door opened a crack. Chiyoko was nodding and whispering to Meijiro-sensei.
"Good to hear? And that manga, Still in production? Ah yes. And Chieko and the others—they are helping you still? How are they doing with that?"
Meijiro was speaking in a hushed tone. Chiyoko tensed and looked at them. "Really, you don't say. I'm sorry to hear that. You recommend they try looking elsewhere? All right then. Shall I get you something for your cold? No, you're all right? Nice talking to you. Thank you for your time."
The door closed and Chiyoko turned to her tenants.
"What'd she say?" the others were questioning. "What'd she say?"
"We've only used notes under the door to talk to Mejiro-sensei!" exclaimed Mayaya.
"Let's take this matter to the parlor," said Chiyoko. "Chieko, make some tea."
The sisterhood sat around with a cup of tea in silence while Chiyoko sipped on hers. They all wore nervous expressions, not touching their drinks. Their hearts were pounding.
"Mom, something wrong?" Chieko asked.
"I'm disappointed in you all," Chiyoko said. "It has been five years since I've left and although the house is not falling apart, your futures are."
"Our futures?" said Chieko. "We're doing fine Mom."
"No, you're not," Chiyoko said. "You had three dolls when I left and you have over twenty in that room! I almost had a heart attack when I saw their faces looking back at me!"
"To be honest, so did I," said Kuranosuke.
"Shh!" Tsukino said, "you're not helping."
"I remember when Meijiro-sensei and the others moved in," Chiyoko said. "You were eager to start your lives after leaving your family's homes. It was quite exciting. You all worked together. Sometimes taking turns with the chores. Assisting Meijiro-sensei with her manga. It was nice for a while. I thought after I left you would have created paths of your own. You have not done that. Your unusual 'interests' have gotten out of hand."
"What-what do you mean?" Chieko asked her.
"You're like a bunch of hamsters stuck in wheels. You're just going around in the same circle. You've been doing the same thing you did five years ago. I see we have a new tenant, but the rest of you are still here. Aside from Meijiro-sensei, none of you work."
"But we assist her with the manga!" exclaimed Chieko.
"I know," said Chiyoko. "And she seemed to appreciate that. But when she accidently got the deadline wrong and you were all rushing to finish, you made a lot of mistakes. She had to redo some of it."
"Meijioro-sensei! That is unfair!" cried Mayaya. "The store was out of the right pens!"
Chieko cringed. "Yes, it was a bit of disaster. Tsukimi was at the aquarium for most of the day. Banba's hair got in the ink. Jiji was adding more old men and got some saliva on it."
Tsukimi gasped. "Oh my gosh. I remember that! I'm so sorry. It was my first time wearing a kimono and I couldn't get it off and when I came out to ask Chieko for help Shu came in and-" Tsukimi stopped midsentence, grabbed her head and let out a frustrated groan.
"Tsukimi, what're you freaking out about? What happened?" Kuranoske asked her, shaking her by the shoulder.
"Shu?" Chiyoko questioned. "A man?"
"Yes, he's my older brother," said Kurako, still trying to calm Tsukimi. "He drove us to the Aquarium."
"I see—are you dating him?"
Tsukimi made a choking noise and fell into Kuranoske.
Kurako laughed. "Oh no, they're not dating. But you know the sisterhood—they get all—petrified around men. Calm down, Tsukimi, hon."
"Well, Meijoro-senei has expressed she wishes to just have Chieko assist her with her manga for now on," Chiyoko told htem. "Or him—to be honest—I can never really tell. Haven't gotten a clear look at our mystery tenant and they had a cold that made their voice sound quite deep."
The sisterhood exchanged glances.
"All right listen," said Chiyoko. "All though I do not wish to sell, some of our neighbors are already moving away. The vacant lots are a bit-disturbing. I hope the rest of our neighbors continue to protest. This used to be a vibrant community at one time. The college in this district is already gone. We're in the middle and they're after us. Without Amazukan, we lose the district. But that doesn't mean the redevelopers still might not try to build that hotel with the lots they do have. Can you imagine how it will be with a hotel looming over this boarding house?"
"Yeah, they've done that with highways before," said Kuranoske bitterly. "Build one next to some golden couple's house. I think that's sick."
Even though he hated politics and avoided it as often as he could, he still picked up on things. Thank goodness he learned about the redevelopment project when he did.
"We need to be a source of strength for the rest of the neighborhood," Chiyoko said. "If you continue to live as NEETs then I might have to ask you to leave and get tenants that can make a difference."
"Mom, please," begged Chieko. "Don't throw us out!"
"I won't evict you Chieko. You're still my daughter and the manager, after all. This place has been in the family for years. Not going to break the tradition if I can help it. But I think you should perhaps learn more about running a place. There's more than just sweeping cobwebs. And—I think you should try to find a husband too, to help you run the place."
"Get married?" Chikeo gasped.
"Yes, that's why I hung onto your father's things," Chiyoko told her. "When and if you find someone, you wish to spend your life with, I'd like your husband to inherit them."
"Father was so tall—even if I did manage to find someone—they're not likely to fit into his kimonos!"
"You know how to hem clothing," said Chiyoko as a matter-of-factly. "If they're too tall for your potential husband, you can make the adjustments. Now girls, I know you have unique skills and talents you can put to use to find work. If you are able to get into college however, work is optional. But please, please, please, do more than play around like you are still in high school!"
"But we can't find work!" Mayaya exclaimed. "It's not our fault but fault of the times!"
"You seriously expect me to believe that?" Chiyoko demanded. "You're not the only women in Tokyo you know. There are plenty of women in your age that are employed or in education."
"I'm actually eight," Bamba claimed.
"Leap years don't count," said Chiyoko. "Your body will still age the same as any one else."
"We are trying," said Kuronoske, "Tsukimi and I started a brand of dresses. We entered a fashion show and won."
"Oh, that's nice," Chiyoko said, slightly relieved that one of the tenants was doing something worthwhile. "Sell any yet?"
"Well, no, not yet," Kuranoske said. "But we will. We've only just started."
"Tskumi, I recommend you give college another try," Chiyoko said. "It's common to get culture shock. You should be over it already. You've been here, seven months now?"
"Yeah, around there," mumbled Tsukimi.
"Take some fashion design classes to help you with your hobby," Chiyoko told her.
"I dunno," Tskumi whispered.
"I think it's a great idea!" exclaimed Kuranoske. "If you apply now, you should get in the next semester in the next couple of months. My brother will help you."
"B-but," Tsukimi swallowed. She was the only one in the sisterhood that knew Kuranoske's secret.
"Should—should we try to find more people to rent out to?" said Chiko inquired.
"Fine with me," said Chiyoko with a shrug. "That might increase our chances of keeping the redevelopers from trying to take over. And it doesn't matter to me anymore if you make this a coed building or keep it women only."
"R-really?" Kuranoske asked her, leaning forward and beaming. "You'll allow men to stay?"
"At first we decided to make it women only but right now—desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Living in this place with men?" cried Mayaya. "Unspeakable!"
"I wouldn't mind," whispered Jiji with a slight grin. "If they were retired."
"I'll have to run this by Meijoro-sensei," Chieko said.
"Fair enough," said Chiyoko. "He-or-she seems very reliable. I understand she volunteered to put down the first payment?"
"Yeah, she did," said Kuranoske
"How very generous of her," said Chiyoko. "All right, I'm going to give you all some time. So, six months should suffice. I'll call once a week and visit monthly if possible. After the six months are up, I'll return then to see how you are doing. But if none of you have shown any improvement, then I'm afraid you can no longer live here."
"But Mom," Chieko said.
"No buts," Chiyoko told her. "This has gone on far enough. If you have done all I asked then I may allow you to become the new owner, Chieko."
"You'll sell it to us?" said Kuranoske hopefully.
"Sell, in a sense," said Chiyoko. "Sure, the down payment Meijro-sensei offered should be enough if I decide it's necessary. I suppose I can use that to find a more permanent place in Korea. Then I'll have Chieko inherit the building. That's how we did it in the family back in the day."
"But jobs—I don't even know where to start," Banba said.
"Don't you have a keen eye for finding the best meat at the supermarket?"
"Well yeah but-"
"Start there," Chiyoko told her. "Followed by delis. Some cooks don't even have your skill. You should take advantage that. Besides, think of the employee discount you'll get."
"Whoa, yeah, that's a good idea," Banba said.
Chiyoko turned to the quiet spoken Jiji. "I recall you tried to work at a classic café once?"
Jiji nodded. "They already hired someone, though."
"There are others. And you have some skills with computers."
"Th-that's right. It's been a while though."
"Try being a bookkeeper or secretary. Heck, even volunteering may be an option to at least get your foot in the door."
"What about me?" Mayaya demanded. "I've had the worse luck finding something to do!"
"Well," Chiyoko said nervously, trying to think of something to motivate the hyperactive amazon of a woman. "You seem to have the most energy out of anyone here. Perhaps something in athletics or construction? Security. Law Enforcement even. A desk job certainly would not suit you."
Chiyoko put down her cup and stood up. "I'm giving you all another chance to prove yourselves. I'm serious. No more freeloading.
"There's still the problem with the developers," said Kuranosuke. "We've thrown salt at them before but that might not enough to keep them away."
"Salt huh?" Chiyoko laughed. "I'd like to have seen that. Well they do have meetings every so once in a while, I presume?"
"Yeah, we went to one recently," said Tsukimi. "It didn't go well."
"What happened?" Chiyoko said.
"Well, Mayaya and Jiji were talking to each other," Banba said, "and it drew attention. Everyone was staring. We had no choice but to run for it."
"It didn't help that you went in your usual clothes," Kuranosuke pointed out. "You should have told me prior hand. I would have given you all makeovers before you went there, instead of after."
"You gave them makeovers huh?" said Chiyoko. "That's nice of you. I'd like to see you look more—presentable—for once. When the next meeting comes around, you need to be prepared. Show up dressed to impress and tell them the negative impact their project will have on the neighborhood."
"But we don't know what to say," said Tsukimi. "That woman that is leading it—well—she's…"
"A real landshark if there was one," Kuranosuke finished for Tsukimi. "Don't worry, I'll have my brothers do something about it. They're more into the politics than I am."
"Politics?" Chiyoko said. "What do you mean? Who is your family?"
"The Koibuchi's," Koranosuke explained. "I'm more into fashion than the whole politic stuff though. It's a man's job if you ask me. Anyway, I'll ask my brothers to help. Might have Kuranosuke speak to the neighbors. He's more of a 'people person' compared to our older brother Shu. He's so stuffy…."
"Well that explains the fancy mansion you took us to," said Chieko.
"Wait, your family owns that mansion. You live there and you—want to live here?"
"Absolutely," said Kuranosuke. "Fell in love with it the first day I came here."
To everyone's surprise, Chiyoko hugged Kuranosuke. "Bless you. You are a godsend you, know!"
"Just happy to help."
"This place has been in my family for generations," Chiyoko said as she walked to the doors. "It has withstood the test of time. I recommend having a proper inspection by a professional though, make sure the foundation and roof is good. I'm not about to try it myself. I don't know who you use, just make sure they're honest and wont' cost an arm and a leg."
"That's a good idea," said Kuranosuke. "We can use that as ammunition in the meeting. I'll have Kuranosuke make the arrangements."
"Be sure to thank him for me," Chiyoko said. "All right girls, I'm leaving it to you. Good luck."
And just like that, she exited the doors and was gone. Kuranosuke turned to the others.
"All right, everyone," he said, making a fist. "You heard the lady. Let's get to work!"
As expected, the sisterhood became statues.
To Be Continued
