Ward 1 Mayor Audition

With that being said, we’re going through the final interviews for the Ward 1 mayor audition process today.

(I was worried that we wouldn’t get anyone, but we got over 200 applicants! We managed to narrow it down to four…)

Nobody’s skillset stands out to me from these résumés. Do we really gotta pick one out of these four?

Your skillset doesn’t stand out very much either.

Huh?! Liguang, you asshole, you wanna say that again?!

Hmm. The résumés look fine to me. The interview will let us know who the best fit is.

O-Okay, I’ll b-b-b-b-b-bring in the applicants for the interview…!!

Yachiyo, that’s the window. If you fall from here, you’ll die. The door is on the other side of the room.

Hahyah…

I applied because! I heard that ward mayors get a discount in restaurants!

You heard wrong. Leave.

I don’t really know anything about HAMA, but I live kinda near Tokyo, so, I mean, that’s close enough, right?

Don’t apply if you don’t know what you’re talking about! We don’t want people with no love for HAMA. Rejected!

Uh, you’re the chief here, right…? I really enjoyed your tour when you worked at the other travel agency… I’d like to get to know you as a coworker rather than a customer this time…

Ah, I remember you from the Europe tour!

Rejected. Get out.

Sorry, the exit is that way. Take care on your way home.

(What?! He seems perfectly fine… Not only does Kafka want him gone, but Yuki-nii does too?!)

Oh, am I the only one left? Niiice, didn’t mean for that to work out.

I’m Murakumo Ten. I’m a college student, but I’m looking for work. The reason why I wanna be ward mayor is, well… ‘Cuz I want a job?

Thought that would make me look good if I wrote it on the application.

Does this guy even care…? He probably doesn’t have any love for HAMA, and he wants to be mayor…?

……

Hmm… Ten-kun, it says here that your family runs a sushi restaurant. You also said you can filet fish, is that true?

Oh, yeah. I can do any kinda fish you want. I can do sashimi, three-piece filets, all that stuff.

Nice to know. I like to fish, so it would be good to have someone around who can handle them.

Alright, you’re hired. Done and done.

H-Hey, are you sure?! Doesn’t he feel kinda insincere to you?!

Oh, sweet. By the way, what’s the hourly for a ward mayor?

We don’t get paid hourly; we’re considered outsourcers. I’m looking forward to working with you, my new little brother.

“Little brother”…? You got a weird sense of humor there, Big Bro. I don’t really get it, but it sounds good to me.

Murakumo Ten… College student, looking for a job… Must be tough… I know how it feels…

……

(Renga doesn’t look very happy. I guess he does feel a little superficial. Liguang probably won’t like this ei⁠—)

…If that’s your final decision, I have no qualms.

(Huh? He actually went along with it…)

Okay, everyone. This is Murakumo Ten, who passed our vetting process for Ward 1 mayor. Let’s give him a warm welcome.

Nice to meetcha. I’ll work ‘bout as much as you pay me.

I see you have caught our president’s discerning eye. We have high hopes for you.

Oh, a college student, huh? You’re a young one. Make sure to fill in the gaps for me while you’re here.

You already met the other mayors at the interview, but since we’re going to be working together from now on, make sure to memorize everyone’s names before you leave today.

I have a good memory, so I got you there. By the way, I just realized, but almost everyone here’s a celebrity, huh?

…Tch, I can’t stand this guy…

(Renga-kun’s in a really bad mood…! I hope a fight doesn’t break out…)

Kamina Yukikaze, and… Oh, Nishizono Renga. I watched City Explorers the other week.

…! Wait, the show I was on?

Yes! You were great when they filmed your reaction cam.

I could really feel your celebrity charisma. I think people like you who can stand their ground are pretty cool.

Ah, uh, tha⁠—

I mean! Of course you do. I was born to be a celebrity.

I really respect you. Crazy that I’m working in the same team as you now. It’s an honor, I mean it.

Y-You respect…me?!

A-Ahem! Well, since I am more experienced as a mayor, I don’t mind giving you some pointers.

Woah, seriously? Nice. You wanna go out for drinks later then?

Drinks…?! Y-You’re inviting me…? Me, out for drinks…?!

Ahem. F-Fine. Consider yourself lucky that you can spend time with someone like me…!

Niiice, glad I didn’t get rejected.

(How did those two get so close all of a sudden…? Is Renga-kun easy to please, or is Ten-kun just good with people?)

(I’m not complaining though. It’s nice to see them getting along!)

……

……

Murakumo-kun, before you leave, could you fill out the outsourcing contract? We just need your information, we’ll handle the rest of it from there.

‘Kayyy. Well, see you later, Renga-san.

Y-Yeah. I’ll be nice and wait for you.

This is the place I usually go to for drinks. Sorry, it’s prolly not bougie enough for a celebrity like you.

It’s fine… I don’t mind. Even I should experience the commoner life every now and then.

O-Only 99 yen for one skewer of yakitori? That’s crazy… I could buy 10 of them at that price…

This place is pretty crowded. So this is what an izakaya’s like.

……

*gasp* Ahem! I never carry change around, so I don’t know for sure, but I guess it was made to be affordable for the commoners.

For real, it’s the best place for poor college kids like me. You good with beer? You said in an interview that you only drink fancy wine, so…

Huh, you read my interviews too?!

I-Isn’t that annoying for you? Printed stuff like magazines are expensive these days…

True, but I respect you, so who cares about that? I’m gonna order some random stuff.

You actually…respect me…? Me, of all people…?

(*gasp* Why am I getting emotional…? Snap out of it, Renga! You’re a part of the Nishizono family now!)

But, wow, you’re seriously a mayor on top of all your modeling and TV work? You got a lot on your plate. I swear, celebs like you live in a different world compared to normal guys like me.

Well, you’re not wrong. I’m…doing my best out here.

Oh, yeah, I know you are. That’s really cool of you, y’know?

Cool… I’m cool…?

Oh, there’s our beer. Cheers!

Ch-Cheers…

Ugh… I-I’m… ’m out here workin’ m’ assh off… But that dick, Liguang…

Oh, I’d believe it. I know you work hard.

Y’really get me, Ten…

‘Course, I do. Isn’t that what all your friends do for you, Renga-san?

…M’friendsh…

You seem like you’d have a lot of them.

…I dunno ‘bout that… But there’s one guy… M’besht friend…

…!

Woah! He must be pretty famous to be best friends with you!

…Mm. He’sh ev’n…cooler th’ me… I trust ‘im…more than anyone elsh…

Always nice to know someone like that. Oh, here are our drinks. Hey, you should try and chug this one.

Mm. *gulp, gulp…* Pahh.

Nice one, that was awesome.

Man, if that guy you know is that amazing, I’d like to meet him. Oh, how ‘bout you call him over now?

Uhmm… Can’t. He’sh…really far ‘way…

Like, somewhere overseas?

Dunno… I dunno… But he’sh…like…a part a’ me…

Our hearts’re alwaysh…connected…

…Zzz…

Renga-san? Are you sleeping?

……

…Hello?

Are you fucking serious? Right at the good part. Lame.

Whatever. I’ll figure it out eventually. This guy’s easy as hell.

Sorry ‘bout this, Renga-san.

I’m just tryna do my job. No hard feelings, alright?