Chapter 4
“Well, Takeru’s more like the manager here.”
“Hey, I’m the one who pays your salary, you know—”
“Have you brought your application sheet with you?”
“Yes!”
I hurriedly took out my resume and handed it to him.
“Hey, let me participate too.”
“I haven’t even started yet.”
“What’s in it? Lemme see.”
I didn’t think I’d need another one, but I should have made a copy just in case.
While Dr. Tengo adjusted his glasses and read through my resume, Chairman Takeru[1] also read from behind his shoulder.
He’s waaaay too close!
No matter which angle you look at it, their distance was too intimate even without taking gender into account.
“Takeru, look at this.”
Completely unconcerned about their distance, Dr. Tengo points out something in my resume and Chairman Takeru takes a closer look and nods.
“Ah, she writes well.”
I wonder what it is.
Was I able to write a difficult Kanji? [2]
I don’t know if the two of them saw something in my application sheet, but I have learned a lot from my past 57 failures. I was confident that I could answer anything they threw at me.
But even though I was preparing for it, they weren’t asking me anything.
“But look at this part.”
“…Oh? What’s up with that?”
What is it?
Did they see something weird, or did I write something bad?
Anyway, I wish they just asked me anything.
Please let me say something. At least let me convince you of my good points.
I don’t know if my wish was granted or anything, but Dr. Tengo looked up from my resume and looked at me.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes!”
“Are you a half?”
“…Eh?”
In the 57 times that I’ve been interviewed, I have never been asked such a thing.
On the application form, there was a strange question that asked if I was a “half” or a “quarter”
Certainly, there was an unfamiliar question with choices such as “half” and “quarter” on the application form I was given, but I thought it was just asking about returning expats, so I ignored it.
“So you’re a quarter?”
“No… I’m Japanese.”
“So you aren’t aware yet.”
“I’m sorry…”
I don’t know about being aware or not, but my family runs a temple and both of my parents are pure Japanese. Besides, have you ever seen a half or quarter that looks this Japanese?
If you were looking for someone that was half or quarter Japanese, then you should have specified it in your recruitment notice in the first place.
I don’t get why they’re looking for someone with that quality, but I can tell that this interview isn’t going so well.
“I see, then—-”
See? He’s even starting with that kind of line now.
If I don’t do something, then this opportunity will just pass through my hands like air.
No matter how many interviews I went to, I was at least able to say something.
“—you pass”
“Yoroaaah!?”
Oh geez, this habit really needs to stop.
Did he just say that I passed? I don’t get it at all.
Wait, I passed?
I haven’t even told them my competencies and they haven’t even let me do a reverse interview, have they?
Also, I’m neither a half nor a quarter, is that okay?
While I looked quizzically at them, Dr. Tengo looked at Chairman Takeru and asked for confirmation.
“Are you alright with this, Takeru?”
“Of course. This is what we’re offering. But should you accept, will this be okay with you, Azuki-chan?”
Chairman Takeru smiled as he handed me a document.
Translator’s Notes:
[1] Chairman Takeru
In Japanese, Takeru’s title is read as タケル理事長 (Takeru Rijichou) / Board Chairman Takeru. In official work settings, it is common practice to add the title to the person’s name (mostly for higher ups), so we’ll be using Chairman Takeru for readability.
[2] Kanji
Is one of the 3 scripts used in the Japanese language which is an adaptation of Chinese characters. Source
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