Chapter 14 – A Summer Part-time Job

Akira's POV

 Later, at 4:11 p.m., at the mountainside outside of the village, the four of us are sitting on the grass hanging out together with some food we brought after a stopover at our home. Me and Hachi had some onigiri while Taka and Miki had some fried sandwiches with cheese filling. We made the food ourselves at home before going to the mountains. At this point, I was a fan of sunrises and sunsets, so it was perfect time for me and my siblings and friend to look at the sunset at that seemingly perfect spot on the mountainside. Looking at the sunset, I began to think about Hashi and our times together before he got abducted and death. From that day on, I vowed vengeance on those who were responsible for his disappearance and death so his soul would be in peace at last.

 Later at 4:59 p.m., we packed up and went back home. In the evening, at home after dinner time, I called Toshi via a phone call using the phone number he gave me, asking him for a job interview at the Shibata Supernatural Agency. 

 "What? A job interview?" Toshi asked in response. "As in, a part-time job?" 

 "Yes, me and Hachi will leave for Tokyo tomorrow morning for a summer part-time job," I replied back. 

 "Okay, are you kids supposed to have a lot of free time in the summer? Like playing and doing fun stuff?" 

I then shook my head. "No, me and Hachi-kun would rather do something noble and beneficial rather than playing for nothing." 

Eventually, Toshi said to me, "Akira-kun, our agency involves in the supernatural world and the overworld, and are difficult and requires a lot of intelligence, critical thinking, and high analysis. Let's say you and Hachi will begin in the lowest rank as assistants for the employees. Is that okay?" 

 "Yes, we'll do anything to gain a lot experience from you and your agency," I said to him confidently. 

 "To be as detectives?" Toshi asked. 

To that I replied, "More like that, I think." 

Then, Toshi responded with a puff, "Well, it seems you and your friend had finally found a suitable future career. I mean, you're very smart. I might want to do some research about it." 

 "I said I want to do something noble and beneficial," I repeated, "not a future career or something." 

 "I think you'll figure out what I had said in the future. Okay, so you and Hachi-kun will take a train to Tokyo? I'll pick you two up at Tokyo Station." 

 "Thanks, that'll be great. Thank you for everything. Bye!" 

Me and Toshi then ended our conversation with a beep of our phones.

 The next morning, at Okutama's train station, me and Hachi are at the station platform with my family and Riho being present for our departure. We brought our stuff, including a few cassette tapes and books, in backpacks. But I also brought my expensive, high-quality, black shoulder messenger bag that my rich uncle bought for me. That bag is imported from overseas so it's pretty expensive. 

 "Bro, are you sure about this?" Taka asked me in unsure. 

 "Yeah, honey, it will be difficult," Kae added while being worried. 

 "Wow, I can't believe you're doing this for someone, right?" Riho added as well. 

 "Yes, yes, we'll be fine, mom, dad, guys," I responded in assurance. 

 "We are willing to learn and study the job, too," Hachi added. 

And then, the train from the west came to the station, and it opened its doors. 

Me and Hachi then turned around to look at it, before turning back at our loved ones. 

 "We'll be leaving now," I said. 

 "See you at the end of summer!" Hachi waved his hand as we climbed aboard in one of the train cars. 

Riho and our family waved their hands at us as a farewell as the doors closed after a few minutes, before the train started to depart for Tokyo. 

We left Okutama behind for a new summer life in the city.

 Along the way, Hachi asked me if I had some inspiration from the Shibata Supernatural Agency. 

 "Yes, I do, a lot," I admitted honestly. 

 "Wow, me too as well, but not as much as you do," Hachi replied back. "Anyway, do you know about Tokyo?" 

 "Oh why yes, I do. I had been there multiple times in my life. In fact, I lived there until I finished kindergarten." 

 "Oh, so you moved to Okutama when you started elementary, right?" 

 "Yes, that's true." 

 "Well for me, I was born in Chiba, but moved to Kawasaki when I was in second year in elementary." 

 "Oh, okay then." 

 "And when I was in middle school, my parents died in a car accident, and you know the rest of my story, right?" 

I then nodded. "Yes. That makes sense." 

 Later, we get off at a station and transferred to another train line to get to Tokyo Station. The train ride was pretty nice, and the fares are very cheap. Then, after another train ride, we get off at another station and transferred to yet another train line in order to get to our final destination. Again, the train fares are very cheap so we had no problem paying for it. I know most of the train lines in Tokyo since I lived there until me and my family moved to Okutama.