This was a personal favourite at the time of writing, sometime in 1998-1999. I've re-written it seeing that I don't like the way some bits were written. Hope everyone likes this new "updated" version. As usual, I welcome comments.
Summer holidays yet again. Time for some students to sit back and relax and for others to get up and earn some extra cash. Jin Souichirou found himself in the second group, hoping to make enough to get some new training equipment. Sitting in the scorching midday sun, Jin waited patiently for his friend Nishikawa to turn up. Casually bouncing the basketball confidently in one hand, Jin wondered just when Nishikawa was going to turn up. It was almost time for their job interview and still no sign of Nishikawa. Jin didn't really fancy working as a waiter but the pay was supposedly good, so that made things a little more attractive. It also helped that Nishikawa had a friend working at that restaurant; in fact, she was the one who secured their interviews in the first placeā¦Jin's thoughts trailed off as a huffing and puffing Nishikawa came running up.
"Hey, Takumi, what took you so long?", said Jin to a sweat-drenched Nishikawa.
"Sorry! I was trying to contact my friend. Anyway she said that the interview's been postponed till 4 so we still have time to get there", answered Nishikawa.
"Well, let's get going then", nodded Jin to his friend.
The two friends made their way to the subway station and boarded a train towards the restaurant. Taking the chance to dry off after his run to the bus stop, Nishikawa asked Jin about the university's basketball team. They went to the same university, but Nishikawa was the captain of the baseball team while Jin was on the basketball team. Exchanging their views on the current form of the basketball team, they soon reached their destination and took a quick walk to the restaurant.
Jin was surprised to see that it was a classy Chinese joint furnished with posh carpets and antiques. The aura impressed him and he took his time to soak in the atmosphere as he followed Nishikawa to the back of the restaurant.
"Excuse me, but is Ren here?", Nishikawa asked one of the waiters politely.
"She's not in right now. Can I help you?", the young waiter replied equally politely.
"Well, we're her friends and are supposed to be here for an interview at 4.", explained Nishikawa.
"Ah! I see. I'll bring you to the manager then.", the waiter said, motioning for Jin and Nishikawa to follow him.
Once outside the manager's office, the waiter left them and they entered the small office. The manger was amiable enough and hired the 2 friends quickly, explaining that they were really short-handed at the moment. Instructing them to turn up for work the next day, she hurried back to her work while Jin and Nishikawa took their leave.
Jin and Nishikawa were beaming as the left the restaurant. They'd made it! All that training equipment's going to be in their hands before the end of summer. Nothing could be better! Jin was smiling to himself when Nishikawa called out.
"Hey, Jin. I think we should give my friend a treat for landing us the jobs, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I guess it's only polite to do so", nodded Jin in agreement.
"I'll arrange something with her and let you know later."
"Sure. No problems", replied Jin, already thinking about starting work the next day.
Summer holidays yet again. Time for some students to sit back and relax and for others to get up and earn some extra cash. Jin Souichirou found himself in the second group, hoping to make enough to get some new training equipment. Sitting in the scorching midday sun, Jin waited patiently for his friend Nishikawa to turn up. Casually bouncing the basketball confidently in one hand, Jin wondered just when Nishikawa was going to turn up. It was almost time for their job interview and still no sign of Nishikawa. Jin didn't really fancy working as a waiter but the pay was supposedly good, so that made things a little more attractive. It also helped that Nishikawa had a friend working at that restaurant; in fact, she was the one who secured their interviews in the first placeā¦Jin's thoughts trailed off as a huffing and puffing Nishikawa came running up.
"Hey, Takumi, what took you so long?", said Jin to a sweat-drenched Nishikawa.
"Sorry! I was trying to contact my friend. Anyway she said that the interview's been postponed till 4 so we still have time to get there", answered Nishikawa.
"Well, let's get going then", nodded Jin to his friend.
The two friends made their way to the subway station and boarded a train towards the restaurant. Taking the chance to dry off after his run to the bus stop, Nishikawa asked Jin about the university's basketball team. They went to the same university, but Nishikawa was the captain of the baseball team while Jin was on the basketball team. Exchanging their views on the current form of the basketball team, they soon reached their destination and took a quick walk to the restaurant.
Jin was surprised to see that it was a classy Chinese joint furnished with posh carpets and antiques. The aura impressed him and he took his time to soak in the atmosphere as he followed Nishikawa to the back of the restaurant.
"Excuse me, but is Ren here?", Nishikawa asked one of the waiters politely.
"She's not in right now. Can I help you?", the young waiter replied equally politely.
"Well, we're her friends and are supposed to be here for an interview at 4.", explained Nishikawa.
"Ah! I see. I'll bring you to the manager then.", the waiter said, motioning for Jin and Nishikawa to follow him.
Once outside the manager's office, the waiter left them and they entered the small office. The manger was amiable enough and hired the 2 friends quickly, explaining that they were really short-handed at the moment. Instructing them to turn up for work the next day, she hurried back to her work while Jin and Nishikawa took their leave.
Jin and Nishikawa were beaming as the left the restaurant. They'd made it! All that training equipment's going to be in their hands before the end of summer. Nothing could be better! Jin was smiling to himself when Nishikawa called out.
"Hey, Jin. I think we should give my friend a treat for landing us the jobs, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I guess it's only polite to do so", nodded Jin in agreement.
"I'll arrange something with her and let you know later."
"Sure. No problems", replied Jin, already thinking about starting work the next day.
