Chapter 21: The Rigid and Tedious Rental Process

(Part One)

Besides the vegetable shop, the area has meat shops, fish shops, tofu shops, spice shops, soy sauce shops…
Each specializes in one thing—no mixed inventory.
It’s a bit of a trek, but the clean, tidy shops lift your mood.

“Fish shop… last one, right?”
Cola stretches, tilting her head.

“Yup!
The list says to get today’s featured item…”

“Featured item?
On sale?”

“Mm… it’s the high-value pick.
Not always cheap, but definitely tasty and fresh.”

“Got it…”
Cola nods, stepping forward naturally to the fish shop’s entrance.
“Hey—boss?”

“Yo!
A cute girl!
Hah, isn’t that Little Liuli?”

“Another acquaintance.”

“It’s Fish Shop Big Bro, used to take me out to play when I was little.”
Liuli’s expression is noticeably more relaxed than at the other shops, even greeting him主动ly.
“Brother Aomori, I’m here for fish today too.”

“Haha, how was the salmon your mom bought yesterday?”

“Ate it this morning, salt-grilled, super good~”

“Great!
Haha, and this is?”

“Hi, I’m Liuli’s friend, Cola.”
After introducing herself so many times today, Cola’s not even embarrassed anymore.

“Oh, Cola, cool name!
The hair—cosplay?”

“What about you, blue hair?
Cosplay too?”
Cola teases back.

“Haha, yeah, dyed it.”

“Your style… and earrings—damn, Cú Chulainn?”

“Yo, sharp eye!”

“Cú Chulainn selling fish… oddly fitting.”

“Mm—!
Yup, I’ve got his tights too.
I’ll wear ‘em for you at a con sometime.”

“Brother Aomori always says he’ll wear it but never does.”

“Cough, haha, I’m working on my physique—couldn’t pull it off before.”
He laughs, looking at Cola.
“I’m Aomori Heiji, welcome, Little Cola.
What’re we getting?”

“What’s today’s featured fish?”

“Oh—buying for Liuli’s mom, huh?
Haha, summer’s best fish?
Gotta be mackerel!”
Aomori Heiji grins, gesturing.
“Firm meat, great raw or fried, perfect with drinks!”

“I like it fried~”
Liuli sways her basket full of veggies and spices, stepping closer excitedly.
“Mm… looks pretty.”

“Caught this morning, shipped right over—guaranteed fresh!”
Aomori laughs.
“How ‘bout three?”

“Three?”
Cola hesitates, glancing at Liuli.
“Too much?”

“Mom and I eat one each, so… for three people, two should do?”

“On discount now—third one’s half price!”

“T-then three!”

“Hey, hey…”

“Miss Cola!
Can’t miss a deal!”

“Totally fell for the sales trap… but I can probably eat one myself.
Three it is.”
Cola pulls out a bill from her pocket.
“I’ll cover this.”

“Eh?
No way, Miss Cola, you can’t pay!”

“It’s fine, my treat.
You’re letting me eat at your place, can’t I treat you to fish?
Plus, I’m not cooking it.”

“Mm…”

“Yo, three, right?”

“Yup, three.”
Cola peers into the glass case curiously.
“What’s that huge chunk of fish?”

“Oh!
Tuna, delicious any way you cook it!”

“Tuna, huh… I’ll grab some when I start cooking for myself.”

“Eh, you cook, Miss Cola?
S-sorry, that was rude!”

“I can cook a bit, but I’m usually too lazy…”
Cola’s being modest.
Growing up thinking her family was average, with a busy mom, she cooked for herself since elementary school, honing solid home-cooking skills.
But after learning her family was rich in high school, she stopped—spending Mom’s money was too easy, so she got lazy.

“What’s your specialty?
Western?
Japanese?”

“Chinese cuisine, I guess.”

“That’s tough!”

“It’s the easiest for me…”
Cola coughs.
“Once my place is set up, I’ll cook for you.”

“Really?
Thanks!”

“No, no, just a meal, don’t bow, it’s embarrassing!
I didn’t bow for eating at your place…”

Liuli shakes her head, smiling.
“It’s different.
Laid-back and a bit lazy—that’s Miss Cola~”

“Huh?
I look lazy?”

“N-not in a bad way… just… uh…”

“Haha, Liuli means you’ve got a confident vibe, like you’re not fazed by surprises, so you seem relaxed.”

“Yup, relaxed!”

“Honestly, lots of &@ tourists seem relaxed too, haha.”

“Eh~ maybe it’s an &@ trait?
But Miss Cola’s extra relaxed!”

“Extra relaxed, huh… speaking of, I wanted to visit the US military base in Japan…”

Before Cola can rant, Liuli’s phone rings.
She answers quickly, nodding repeatedly.
“Mm, mm, okay, got it, we’ll come now!”

“What’s up?”
Cola mutters as Liuli hangs up.

“Brother says the review’s passed!
We can sign the contract soon!”

“Fast—might move in tomorrow.
Your brother’s efficient, way better than my Tokyo rental.”
Cola grinds her teeth at the memory.
“That damn high-rise took seven days to let me move in!”

“Mm… that’s normal speed, right?”

“Japanese efficiency’s so damn slow.
Can’t they do it like back home—‘same-day stuff’… ugh, that sounds sketchy…”

(Part Two)

After dropping off the groceries and spices at home, Liuli accompanies Cola to her cousin’s workplace—Showa Real Estate Co., Ltd.
The storefront’s small, tucked in the quietest corner of the street.
As they arrive, her cousin pushes open the glass door, leaning out.
“Here you are, Little Liuli, Miss Cola, come in!”

The office’s decor is outdated, like it hasn’t changed since the Showa era.
The air conditioner’s an old, yellowed model.
The LCD monitors look straight out of the early 2000s—eye-straining even when off.

Kobayashi Huan leads them to a second-floor meeting room.
The tiny space is divided into five or six cubicles, each barely bigger than a bathroom stall.
Thankfully, floor-to-ceiling windows keep it from feeling suffocating.

“Miss Cola, tea.
Little Liuli, that milk’s for you.”

“Thanks, Brother!”

Kobayashi clears his throat.
“So, the review’s passed, no issues.
We contacted your guardian, and they provided consent…”

“Guardian… oh, right.”
Cola pauses, recalling the overly polite old man who made her squirm.
“So, all good?”

“Yes, review’s clear.
We’ll sign the contract, settle the fees—those I mentioned before…”

“I know, I know.”
Cola cuts off his long-winded spiel.
“Just tell me the total.”

“Here’s the fee list, totaling 169,500 yen.
Pay now, and cleaners will come this afternoon.”

That’s about 8,200 RMB.
Cola’s heart bleeds.
Renting in Japan is insanely expensive!
Not just the ridiculous fees, but the process—complex, slow, like a turtle.
Does every little thing need so many hands?
Don’t they ever cut costs?
She knows it’s for job creation, but still…

Her mind rages like a stormy sea, but she keeps a smile, listening as Kobayashi continues.
“After moving in, you’ll need to arrange water, electricity, and gas contracts.
Bring the documents yourself; services start the next day.
For internet, you’ll need to apply too.
I can recommend providers.
It takes about a month after moving in…”

The old apartment had internet included—Cola never dealt with setting it up.
Her face shows unmasked shock.
“A month for internet?
Damn it?!”

“Yes, I understand your frustration, but sadly, internet setup takes time…”
Kobayashi laughs awkwardly, patting the documents.
“That’s the gist.
Review the contract, and if it’s fine, we’ll start the process.”

“A month without internet—I’ll die…”

“Um… Miss Cola, if you need to download stuff, come to my place?”

“Guess that’s the plan.”
Cola sighs.
“Was hoping to play LOL with my bros once I moved in, but a damn month…”

“So sorry, Miss Cola!”

“It’s the provider’s fault, why’re you apologizing… can I pay by card here?”

“No problem!”

“Fine, I’ll pay…”