novellhall Chapter 74 Daily Life Before the Holiday
Chapter 74 Daily Life Before the Holiday
Early the next morning.
The sky in Osaka was just beginning to lighten.
Chihaya Yuri had already arrived at the office.
In the past, she was always the first to arrive at the review section.
But today, when she pushed open the door to the Financing Review Office, she paused slightly.
Because there are already people inside.
Kiryu Yaya was lying on the table, his suit jacket draped over his body, a stack of documents spread out in front of him, sleeping peacefully.
The morning light slanted in through the window, clearly outlining the contours of his profile.
Chihaya Yuri looked at him for two seconds, a rare look of surprise in her eyes.
Kiryu Yaya, that guy, was secretly working overtime at the bank behind her back.
Such dedication made her feel very gratified.
Kiryu Yaya was awakened by Chihaya Yuri's approaching voice. He looked up and mumbled sleepily:
Good morning, Section Chief Chihaya.
Chihaya Yuri asked:
"You didn't go home last night, did you?"
Kiryu Yaya paused for a moment, but didn't hide anything:
"Going back was too much of a hassle, so I just ate some food in the lounge late at night."
She paused for two seconds before reminding him:
"Youth is great, but you also need to take care of your health."
It's rare to hear such words from Chihaya Yuri.
Kiryu Yaya smiled but didn't respond.
Chihaya Yuri put down her bag, returned to her seat, and began her busy workday.
Today is the last working day before the May Day Golden Week holiday.
Starting tomorrow, it's a three-day holiday.
For ordinary office workers, this is a rare respite.
But for banks, the period before a long holiday is actually the busiest time.
Customers all want to get their money transferred out before the holiday, close the loan, and complete all the necessary procedures such as bills, guarantees, loan extensions, remittances, and seal changes.
Queues formed early in the morning at the business hall on the first floor.
The female clerk at the window stamped one stamp after another, while the ringing of the telephone and the rustling of vouchers mingled together, almost without stopping.
The same applies to the financing review class on the third floor.
The follow-up on the loan for Baishi Refrigeration needs to be scheduled immediately after the holiday, and the temporary risk review for Gongze Group cannot be stopped.
In addition, several small and medium-sized enterprise cases that were originally scheduled to be reviewed in early May were all sent over by the account manager today.
Everyone had only one thought—
Don't put off until after the holiday anything that can be done today.
Because if you drag it out, what awaits you is likely not a holiday, but overtime.
In Japanese workplaces, the phrase "working overtime during holidays" is enough to ruin any holiday mood.
Kiryu Yaya barely looked up all morning.
Check, annotate, copy, submit for signature, compile a list of supplementary documents, and then rewrite several briefing minutes into a format that the branch manager can directly view.
He was busy until after noon before he finally got up from his workstation, stretched his stiff shoulders, and prepared to go downstairs to the cafeteria.
……
The old spot near the beverage counter.
Mizuna Yayoi was already there.
It was still that familiar dark blue cloth bag, and still those two neatly arranged lunch boxes.
Seeing Kiryu Yaya approach, she immediately looked up and gave him a soft smile.
"senior."
She still can't change.
Or rather, she no longer intends to change.
Kiryu Yaya sat down opposite her and casually put his briefcase aside.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"No, I just arrived too."
As Yayoi Mizuna spoke, she gently pushed one of the bento boxes in front of him.
"Let's keep it a little simple today... because I was in a rush this morning."
Kiryu Yaya opened the lid and took a look.
Three-color rice, salt-grilled salmon, thick omelet, boiled pumpkin, sesame spinach, and a few chopped cherry tomatoes.
"That's quite a feast."
"real?"
"certainly."
Kiryu Yaya picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and nodded:
"It's still very delicious."
Mizuna Yayoi's eyes lit up immediately; clearly, this comment was more effective than anything else.
The two ate quietly for a while.
The cafeteria was bustling with people, and the atmosphere was one of restlessness and haste, like the last working day before the holiday.
After a moment, Yayoi Mizuna seemed to suddenly remember something, and looked up to ask:
"By the way, senior... what are your plans for this weekend?"
Kiryu Yaya swallowed the food in his mouth and shook his head.
"Nothing much is planned."
"Huh? Not at all?"
"Absolutely not."
Kiryu Yaya smiled:
"For someone like me who just started working at the bank, being able to have three days off safely is already a blessing. I wouldn't dare to even think about making arrangements yet."
After saying that, he asked in return:
"And you, Yayoi-san?"
Mizuna Yayoi looked down at her lunchbox and said softly:
"If I don't have to work overtime... I might go back to my hometown."
"hometown?"
Kiryu Yaya raised his head.
"Where are you from?"
Mizuna Yayoi pursed her lips, answering softly, yet with a hint of barely concealed pride:
"I'm from Kyoto."
"Kyoto."
Kiryu Yaya nodded.
No wonder.
"No wonder what?"
"No wonder the bento boxes are made so meticulously."
Mizuna Yayoi paused for a moment, then her face turned red.
"N-nothing fancy... It's just a regular home-cooked bento box."
"If this were just a regular home-cooked lunchbox, the cafeteria would be out of a job."
Yayoi Mizuna was even more embarrassed by his words, and could only lower her head and eat small bites, her ears turning bright red.
……
After the lunch break, the financing review department got busy again.
Then around three o'clock.
Keiko Miyazawa has arrived.
She was wearing a simple and neat suit today, her hair was neatly tied back, and she looked a little tired, but her eyes were still relatively steady.
Several senior employees in the financing review department subconsciously looked up at her.
After all, Ms. Miyazawa is now one of the most sensitive customers in the entire Osaka branch.
Chihaya Yuri put down her pen and stood up.
"Ms. Miyazawa, this way please."
The three of them went to the small conference table at the back.
After sitting down, Keiko Miyazawa didn't beat around the bush and said directly:
"Last night, through Mr. Uesugi, I went through the list of members in the Miyazawa family who currently support me."
As she spoke, she took a piece of paper from the folder and gently placed it on the table.
That was a list.
The list includes the name, identity, current stance, and brief notes.
Kiryu Yaya looked down.
There were several collateral relatives, a retired senior inspector, and two mid-level directors who were not entirely convinced of Miyazawa's abilities.
Besides these, there are many more people with ambiguous attitudes or who are taking a wait-and-see approach.
After reading it, Kiryu Yaya sighed softly to himself.
There were hardly any truly important figures.
Or to be more precise—
There isn't enough people to make the final decision.
Keiko Miyazawa clearly knew this too, so after she finished speaking, her lips barely moved, carrying a hint of helplessness:
"Less than I expected."
Chihaya Yuri didn't comfort her, she just nodded and said:
"At least it's not completely nonexistent."
Keiko Miyazawa responded softly.
Just then, footsteps could be heard outside the financing review office.
A general affairs staff member peeked in:
"Chihaya, Kiryu, and Yamada request that you proceed to the fifth floor immediately. Ms. Miyazawa, please come along as well."