My Girlfriend is an Evil Woman

“Part-time job?” Uchida Yuma couldn’t help but interject, always quick to jump into the conversation. He leaned in curiously and asked, “Why go through all the trouble to work and deal with the stress?”

Kitahara Hideji replied candidly, “To earn some living expenses.” He still had nearly 80,000 yen in hand, but he believed in being prepared and didn’t want to be foolish enough to be left with no money and no meal for the next day before thinking of earning some.

Uchida Yuma spoke without thinking, “Why not just have your family send you the living expenses…” He was cut off by Shima Rei’s abrupt pinch, which made him wince in pain. Then Shima Rei gently asked Kitahara Hideji, “Are you trying to lighten the burden on your family?”

His voice was cautious, soft, and sweet, like adding three spoonfuls of wild honey.

Kitahara Hideji nodded. He felt awkward asking his body’s original parents for money and had a strange sense of guilt. He didn’t even want to consider whether he counted as killing their child or not—after all, it wasn’t a war period anymore!

Shima Rei’s gaze became even more gentle. However, he had just entered the first year of high school and had no experience with part-time jobs. He wasn’t well-versed in these matters and hesitated as he said, “Our school seems to be okay with part-time jobs, but I’m not sure about the specifics… Should I ask the student council for you?”

Kitahara Hideji was surprised, “The student council is involved in this?”

Shima Rei replied naturally, “Of course, the student council handles all matters related to students. It’s their purpose of existence.”

It sounded like they were a mini independent government. Kitahara Hideji chuckled and said, “I’ll go to the student council after school to ask.”

Shima Rei looked hopeful, “Would you like me… and Yuma to accompany you, Kitahara-kun?”

Kitahara Hideji declined politely, “That won’t be necessary, Rei. I can handle it myself!”

Shima Rei seemed a bit disappointed and regretful, “Alright then! Kitahara-kun, if you encounter any difficulties in life… Please don’t hesitate to tell me. No, let’s all think of a solution together.” He seemed a bit anxious, as if afraid of hurting Kitahara Hideji’s self-esteem. But Kitahara Hideji wasn’t petty and lightly patted Shima Rei’s shoulder to show that he understood. Shima Rei was really a nice person.

In a blink of an eye, it was time for classes. Shima Rei seemed reluctant to part and wanted to chat a bit more, but he had to return to his seat. Kitahara Hideji set a reminder on his phone about the afternoon visit to the student council, so he wouldn’t forget and accidentally head straight home after classes — he couldn’t afford to waste any time. Although he was willing to study for more than ten hours a day, he lacked the conditions for it. This was the difference in innate conditions among people. Some are born with a life of ease, while others have to struggle and work hard just to have three meals a day. Some may even struggle their entire lives and still not surpass those who were fortunate since birth.

With his determination to find a part-time job, Kitahara Hideji focused on his classes and didn’t notice the time passing until it was time for afternoon dismissal.

He said goodbye to Shima Rei and Uchida Yuma, who were going to participate in club activities, and made his way to the student council office. There, a second-year student greeted him. She was meticulous and gentle, exuding an air of government official demeanor. She carefully explained the legal requirements and school regulations related to part-time work for high school students. Moreover, she provided him with a part-time work authorization letter and a list of recommended places to work.

According to the law, high school students were allowed to work, and their income was protected by the government, with access to standard public insurance for work-related injuries. However, certain industries were restricted. They were not allowed to work in the adult entertainment, entertainment, or nightlife industries. Those were jobs they could do only after entering college.

Risky industries, such as construction, were also not recommended. The available options included supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, amusement parks, and similar places that were considered low-risk for personal injuries.

The time for part-time work was also strictly regulated since students’ main focus should be on their studies.

It would be impossible to allow all of his energy to be consumed by part-time work. Theoretically, he couldn’t work more than 35 hours per week, and Fukuda Private Academy had a specific rule that students couldn’t work more than 28 hours per week. However, the student council’s senior provided a skillful hint — it was challenging for them to monitor every student, so going slightly over the limit would be fine as long as the school attendance was maintained. However, if there was a significant drop in grades during academic assessments, the class teacher had the authority to prohibit further participation in part-time work.

As for the part-time work authorization letter, it not only included his name, class, and school but also required the employer’s signature and seal after starting work. Once he obtained it, he had to submit it to the student council for filing. This way, if he faced unfair treatment during work, such as forced overtime, being assigned to high-risk tasks, or having his wages unjustly deducted or withheld, he could seek assistance from the student council. The student council would then liaise with the school authorities and even involve lawyers to settle the matter — all in the interest of protecting the students.

After expressing his gratitude, Kitahara Hideji left the student council office with the documents. He realized that the student council wasn’t to be underestimated; their formal and systematic approach made it seem like they were preparing future government officials.

Standing at the entrance of the building, he flipped through the documents in his hand. He had no objections to the part-time work authorization letter; it was like an insurance policy as the student council didn’t take any taxes from it. His main focus was on the list of recommended places to work, which had a wide range of options, from magazine modeling to babysitting at kindergartens on weekends — a few hundred options in total.

Taking out a pen, he crossed out the ones that were far from his apartment and school, as well as the ones that offered only short-term and unstable positions. After eliminating those, there were still nearly a hundred options left. He then ranked them based on pay rates and commuting distances and began his journey to find a suitable job.

…….

Kitahara Hideji’s job search was not going smoothly. He prioritized places close to his apartment and school for convenience, but after inquiring at four or five places, he found that all the positions had already been filled. It seemed like he wasn’t the only student at the school looking for a part-time job.

In Japan, the part-time job rate for high school students was over 30%, which was considered normal, especially in this area with several schools nearby. Many job positions were also prioritizing female candidates, probably due to their better appearance and easier management, making them highly sought after.

However, Kitahara Hideji didn’t lose hope. Instead, he decided to try farther locations, heading to the neighboring district where his apartment and school formed a triangle, no longer aligned in a straight line.

This district was a commercial area, offering several recommended job options. He first tried a coffee shop with a high hourly wage, but as expected, they were looking to hire a high school girl. He then inquired at a bakery, but they had just hired someone the day before and didn’t need any more staff. Finally, he stopped in front of a pub.

The pub, named “Junmi-ya,” had its door wide open and was currently in business. Blue fabric curtains hung at the entrance, swaying gently, and four white characters, “Craftsmanship, Pure Taste,” were printed on them. Kitahara Hideji glanced at the sign and confirmed it was “Junmi-ya.” Without hesitation, he lifted the curtain and walked in, only to find that it was still early, and the place was empty except for a girl in a junior high school uniform wiping the tables. Upon hearing him enter, she turned around and greeted him with a bow, “Welcome!”

“Hello!” Kitahara Hideji greeted in return, bowing slightly. “Is the owner here?”

“Not at the moment. May I help you with something?” The junior high school girl carefully observed Kitahara Hideji for a moment. He didn’t seem like a customer, but she didn’t show any particular reaction. Her small face remained calm and polite, using respectful language.

Kitahara Hideji handed her the part-time work authorization letter and politely said, “I heard that you are hiring. Are you still in need of extra hands? Here’s my resume.”

The junior high school girl put down the cloth and walked over to him. After glancing at the authorization letter, her gaze stopped on Kitahara Hideji’s name and quickly looked at the school and class. Her eyes widened as she recognized him – the heartless pretty boy from earlier.