Chapter 20 - The Price of Effort

1. The First Job I Wasn't Ready For

Renji had always assumed working a part-time job was simple.

You show up, do the tasks, get paid.

Nothing complicated.

But reality?

Reality had a way of kicking assumptions in the teeth.

Especially when you had never worked a day in your life.

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2. The Café That Taught Me Humility

He found the job listing on the school board.

Kitchen Assistant Needed – Shimizu Café

No experience required

No experience.

That meant even he could do it.

So he went.

Walked into the small café near the station, introduced himself, and got hired on the spot.

No interview. No paperwork.

The owner—Shimizu Eiji—was a middle-aged man who looked permanently exhausted.

"Short-staffed," he had muttered. "You breathing?"

"Yeah," Renji answered.

"Good enough. You start today."

And just like that—Renji had his first job.

It should have been easy.

It wasn't.

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3. The First Time I Couldn't Keep Up

Within the first hour, Renji had already made three mistakes.

Mistake #1: Forgetting orders.

He was supposed to write them down. He didn't.

Mistake #2: Dropping a glass.

He caught it—barely. But Shimizu still gave him a glare that could melt steel.

Mistake #3: Underestimating the sheer speed of everything.

The moment the café hit rush hour, the kitchen became a war zone.

Waiters rushing. Orders piling up. The air thick with heat, noise, stress.

And Renji?

Renji was drowning.

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4. The Customer Who Knew My Brother

Somewhere between almost burning his hand and nearly dropping another plate, Renji overheard something that made his stomach twist.

At a nearby table, two men were talking.

"...Amamiya's kid, right?"

Renji froze.

The second man scoffed. "Yeah. His old man owes money all over the place."

"Still? I thought he was a lawyer."

"He is. Just not a rich one."

Renji's grip on the plate tightened.

He didn't move. Didn't react.

But inside?

Inside, something boiled.

Not anger.

Not shame.

Something colder.

Something that whispered—

"You should do something about this."

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5. The Moment That Made Me Snap

"Oi. Amamiya!"

Renji flinched.

Shimizu was glaring at him.

"You deaf?" the man snapped. "Get your head out of the clouds and wash those dishes!"

Renji nodded quickly, moving.

His hands worked automatically, scrubbing plates, but his mind was elsewhere.

Those men.

Those words.

His father.

His debt.

This wasn't just about money anymore.

This was about reputation.

About how people saw his family.

About how—for the first time in his life—he was connected to something bigger than himself.

And that realization?

It made him feel sick.

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6. The Exit That Wasn't a Defeat

By the end of his shift, Renji was exhausted.

Physically. Mentally.

But he made it.

Somehow.

Shimizu handed him an envelope.

"Your first pay," the man muttered. "Try not to be useless next time."

Renji took it, slipping it into his pocket.

His first paycheck.

It wasn't much.

Barely enough to make a dent in anything.

But it was his.

And for once, he didn't want to quit.

He wanted to keep going.

Because now?

Now, he had something to prove.

Not just to Riku.

Not just to himself.

But to whoever was watching inside his own mind.

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The Leader Who Remained Silent (Shin's POV)

"So… you finally moved."

Shin had been watching.

For years, Renji had ignored everything.

His potential. His strength. His responsibilities.

But now?

Now, Renji was working.

Struggling. Failing. But still moving.

And Shin?

Shin did nothing.

He didn't interfere. Didn't guide him.

Because this was a test.

If Renji could handle it on his own, then maybe—just maybe—he was finally waking up.

But if he failed?

Then Shin would take control.

And this time, he wouldn't let go.

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The Brother Who Wasn't Convinced (Riku's POV)

Riku wasn't stupid.

He knew his brother had started working.

It didn't take a genius to notice the exhaustion in Renji's eyes.

The slower movements. The way he rubbed his fingers—like he wasn't used to using his hands.

At first, Riku had thought, Good. About time he did something.

But now?

Now, he wasn't sure.

Because this wasn't just a part-time job.

This was Renji realizing their reality.

And Riku wasn't sure how to feel about that.

He should be relieved.

But instead, he felt something else.

Something almost like… fear.

Because if Renji had woken up to reality—

Then what else was going to change?

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The Golden Boy Who Was Always Watching (Haru's POV)

Haru smirked as he watched Renji from across the classroom.

Tired. Unfocused. Hands stiff.

Interesting.

"So… now you want to be responsible, Amamiya?"

Haru wasn't surprised Renji had started working.

No, what surprised him was the fact that he hadn't quit.

For someone like Renji—that was unusual.

And that meant something inside him was shifting.

Haru tapped his fingers against his desk, amused.

"I wonder… how far can I push you?"

Because watching people break was always more fun when they thought they were getting stronger.

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The Girl Who Knew About Debt (Akane's POV)

Hayashi Akane leaned back in her seat, checking her notes.

The Amamiya family owes money to multiple lenders.

Renji Amamiya—previously uninvolved—is now working part-time.

Potentially unaware of the full debt.

Akane smiled.

She had seen this pattern before.

When a family was drowning in debt, it was only a matter of time before the children got involved.

The real question was—

How desperate was Renji Amamiya?

Would he just work a normal job?

Or could he be… persuaded to take shortcuts?

Akane didn't believe in luck.

She believed in pressure.

And soon?

She'd find out just how much pressure Renji could handle.

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End of Chapter 20