5.) Musutafu

"I'll set the alarm for six hours from now, that way we have time to get ready and eat before we have to head out to meet with Yui" I nod at my mother happy to finally be in our room, I don't bother to do anything with my bag other than shove it in the closet. I quickly used the bathroom while mom was doing whatever with the climate control and alarm, now I just peel off everything but my shirt, pulling my bra out from under it climbing into the bed ready to sleep. When the alarm sounds I realize I don't even remember mom coming out of the bathroom last night, furthermore I didn't exactly get myself into the blankets so much as put them over one leg and my butt. Mom looks over at me from her bed giggling at me. "Why don't you get a few more minutes, I'll get first shower then wake you." I nod dropping my head back onto the pillow listening as mom sings in the shower, I already woke up, it's not like I can just go back to sleep so easily, but I can stretch a few minutes, make some coffee for us. When mom comes out of the bathroom I'm one cup of coffee in with clothes for today laid out on the bed. "Made coffee, it kinda sucks but it's better than none." She smiles at me before pouring a cup from the small pot. I drink a fast cup with her before heading into the shower to allow the hot water to finish the job of waking me. Once we're all dressed and ready to go for the day we head down and grab a quick breakfast of apple and bagel before heading to the lobby to meet Yui.

When the taxi pulls up in front of a large apartment complex I take a deep breathe in, I may have crazy hours and I'll have to fight the sounds of playing children to sleep in a place like this. I look for Yui, she said she would be standing right out front in a grey skirt suit, it doesn't take long to spot her, mom decides to walk behind me terrified of interaction. "Hello Ms. Watanabe, I'm Miss L/N" I speak with a slight bow waiting for her to return the greeting. "Miss L/N, it's a pleasure." We both stand up right and she takes a look at mom. "This is my mother, she will be here for the next 10 days, I'm afraid she does not speak Japanese." She nods at my mother and greets her in English to my mother's surprise causing me to stifle a laugh. She proceeds in English from then on so as not to leave mom out. "This is a nice location you can easily walk to the market and you can be at the location where the agency is going in 20 minutes by bus, the stop is just there." She points a few meters away and I nod at the covered bus stop. "Let's take a look shall we?" Mom gives me a thumbs up and toothy smile as I follow her into the building. "This unit is two bedrooms as you requested, it's been recently updated with appliances includes a washer/dryer unit. You'll have to self-furnish, however the rent is 70K Yen or roughly $670 US bringing you in under budget so you could put some of that towards furnishings." I walk silently laughing at my mother musing how the unit isn't any different from a place back home. She was obviously anticipating something traditional. "Ms. Watanabe, before we take the time to look at the other place can you tell me what the pros and cons of it would be?" She nods "Well it's walking distance to the new location for DynaMights agency rent will be 86K Yen or $827 US. It's also two bedrooms and furnished, it's not been updated as recently. I also forgot to mention this unit has sound proofing for shift workers while the other does not." I nod considering it for a moment. "Ms. Watanabe, is it possible to cancel that showing? I believe I prefer to move forward with this unit." She gives a small bow excusing herself to make the needed calls.

It's been a long two days, but everything should be ready for me to move into my apartment tomorrow. Mom helped me to pick out furniture, A love seat for the living room with an oval coffee table, a small two person table, A queen bed for my room and a double for the spare, 6 drawer dresser, and a small work desk. After securing furniture we bought the essentials for the kitchen and bathroom. I never realized just how many things you need just to cook a meal then eat it or that bath towels cost so much. Then mom thought of the things I hadn't hangers, plastic patio chairs and a small table, a shoe rack, command hooks. The large items we set for delivery everything else we transported ourselves. We got the key that day, I just haven't officially moved in because I have nothing to sleep on yet, mattresses being the last expected delivery. In the meantime we've been shopping and putting everything away as we go. All said and done furnishing the house and getting the other essentials ran about 260K Yen, moms not even trying to get used to the conversion, but I know I'm going to have to so she likes to say we spent around 2.5K. Yesterday we spent about another 73K or $700 US on my work wardrobe. Mom loved watching me try on outfit after outfit. I have 2 skirt suits and 3 pant suits all of them in varying shades of black. It's a good start, I'll add a new outfit or two with each paycheck, I found accessories in the burnt orange and dark green shades shown to me by Best Jeanist so that way on days my shirt is orange I have the green accessories and vice versa on other days. Things like necklaces, bracelets, earrings, even some cufflinks for one of my pants suits. I blew another 36K on three pairs of shoes making sure not to get heels to high not knowing how tall my client might be. I'm so excited to check out of the hotel tomorrow and get into the apartment, buy some groceries and just try to relax in my new home the night before my first day.