You meet an overworked police captain

The next day, as you strode into Izakaya Akita, you were promptly led to the locker room and handed a uniform by Toushirou, who wordlessly beckoned you to change. The samue [1] you wear is comfortable and smooth, a bright ocean blue, and the wooden geta [2] are polished to a deep brown sheen. The geta take some time getting used to, but soon you walk effortlessly as if they were extensions of your feet.

You are given a crash course on how to use the various kitchen appliances, along with basic etiquette and workplace rules, before you are finally allowed to work in the izakaya's kitchen.

Before long, the doors are opened, and the first customers stream in.

"Irasshaimase!" You and Akane enthusiastically greet.

There are various faces that come and go, and a great portion of them store regulars who instantly take notice of the new hire.

"So that's the new hire, eh? Not bad looking."

"He's a really cute boy, I hope he's not taken."

"He's a little too plain for my liking; I like someone more dashing and handsome."

"For a new hire, he's surprisingly fast and attentive."

Since it was just your first day, your primary duties were washing the dishes and taking customer orders or working the cashier. The hours passed by in a flash, and to a god like you, it was a mere blink in your eternal life - inconsequential and unimportant to your objective.

Then, at long last, a prospective face enters the izakaya.

"Irasshaimase!" Akane greeted, "Oh, Oshima-san! Welcome! It's been a long time!"

The woman sighed, greeting Akane with a slight nod, "The usual, please."

"Hai! One toriaezunama [3] please!" Akane beckoned to you.

"Of course."

You swiftly pour one glass of beer for the woman who sat in front of you, and she greedily gulped down half the glass in one go, guffawing in satisfaction.

"Puah! That hits the spot!" The woman exclaimed happily, "By the way, you're a new hire, right?"

"I am," You nod.

"...I'm Oshima Shioko," The woman greeted, "Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise," You greeted back, "Ebinuma Yuu."

Oshima Shioko, an overworked wage **** in the police **** aged 30 years old. No boyfriend, no sex, all study and no play, leaving her an extremely cold and aloof person with very poor conversational skills. It was a shame, truly; her short black hair was neatly groomed and glossy like silk, her sharp black eyes piercing with vigour and beauty, her skin free of blemish and wrinkles. Her suit was equally immaculate: White shirt, black vest and trousers, and brown shoes polished to a mirror sheen.

She could have easily been married or had a few dates by now, and yet her upbringing by controlling helicopter parents stifled any chance she had of developing crucial people skills that would be invaluable in her personal life. Instead, she subjected herself to being overworked and constantly at the mercy of her superiors until she became captain of the local police department, and with her parents killed in an accident when she just obtained the role, she received all their inheritance and other funds they saved.

As one would say, however, money does not always buy happiness. The woman before you was as miserable as the first day in police academy.

"Huh, you look awfully young," Shioko remarked, "High school?"

"2nd year," You answered.

"Any career paths you aspire to?" She pressed further.

"None at the moment," You answered, "I am planning to pursue a career as a nutritionist."

"Hm. Doesn't sound much different from cooking," Shioko shrugged dismissively.

"Maybe not, but I read that many illnesses are often avoidable with the proper diet," You shrug, taking no offense to Shioko's dismissive tone.

"Yeah, yeah," Shioko waved off, "You ain't working here forever, right?"

"No, only until summer vacation ends," You answered.

Shioko empties her glass and hands it to you.

"Pour me another," She said.

You obliged with a polite smile. Minutes quickly pass by as Shioko digs into her order, a bowl of katsudon with a side of mayonnaise-dressed salad and miso soup, with both of you exchanging brief pleasantries and other trivia. Many customers studiously avoided sitting next to Shioko, feeling put off by her cold tone and demeanor, and look at you with no small amount of astonishment.

From your conversation, you learn that Shioko was recently dealing with all manner of harassment by male superiors in the police **** that did not take kindly to her rapid ascension to captain, employing all manner of ways to bring her down and expel her. Her diligence and straight-arrow personality ensured that a significant number of her colleagues would move to protect her, but even then, her lifeline was beginning to run thin.

To make matters worse, a person from Internal Affairs were at her station to ostensibly investigate for any traces of police corruption. In reality, he was being consistently pressured by Commissioner Nakata to bring in Shioko on charges of negligence, bribery and forgery, along with Nakata's cronies.

Unless she had help, she would fall fast.

"Another beer, please," Shioko asked.

"Hai!" Akane called out, "Another beer, as you ordered!"

You see Shioko drinking her **** like water without enjoyment, her eyes dead and devoid of life.

"You're drinking too much," You point out.

Some nearby patrons gasp in shock, and they anxiously watch Shioko's reaction.

"Not your business," Shioko firmly denied.

"No, it's not," You nodded, "But are you just going to keel over like that, or dig your feet down and stare back oblivion with sober eyes?"

Shioko and the others look at you with incredulity, unable to believe what you just said.

Then Shioko snorts in laughter, patting her thighs uproariously, and then composes herself.

"You're a funny boy, Yuu. I like you," Shioko smiled, handing him her business card, "Here, if you need any police help."

"Thank you, Shioko-san," You bowed.

"Tenchou, the bill please," Shioko called out.

Akita hands her a tray with the receipt wordlessly, and once you collect her payment and hand her the change, she leaves without another word, and at long last the izakaya breathes a sigh of relief.

Akane quickly grabs your sleeve and leads you to a corner of the kitchen, fixing you with starstruck eyes.

"That was admirable," Akane said, "The way you handled Oshima-san, I can't think of many who can handle her personality."

"I can imagine," You nod in agreement.

"Even so, you were amazing," Akane insisted, "That was actually the first time I've heard her talk that much to anyone here in this izakaya. I've known her for at least two years, and I still can't get her to say anything more than two sentences!"

Akane awkwardly harrumphed as she composed herself.

"Sorry, I tend to get easily excited over things like this," Akane scratched her head.

"It's alright," You gave her a disarming smile.

And Akane swallowed nervously as a slight blush covered her cheeks.

"I-I think we ought to get back to work, right?" She suggested.

"Let's go," You said.

You smiled at your first achievement.

Now all I need to do is talk further with her, and then I can start building my network.

[1] Samue - Comfortable Japanese jacket and pant suits that originated with zen monks and have since become a staple uniform in izakayas and other stores, along with temples, hotels and even at home.

[2] Geta - Japanese wooden sandals resembling flip flops, primarily worn with yukata.

[3] Toriaezunama - Translates as whatsontap, referring to whatever beer's being served on tap on a particular day, a common term in izakayas or in western pubs and bars.