Second to None

22. boss

The next day, Mayu walked around in a haze as she turned the job offer over and over in her mind. 

To accept or not. One moment she'd think about her doe-eyed students and her network of public officials, the next she'd think about the jolt of elation she felt the instant she spoke to Gérald. This mental struggle persisted for a day until she returned to the teachers' office. Faced with rows of grey cubicles and gloomy-looking colleagues, her heart felt a suffocating disappointment that left her winded, telling her that a job in the classroom was far from enough.

Over a breakfast of toast and jam the next morning, Mayu announced, "I've given the job offer some serious thought and I've made up my mind.

Tezuka set down his cup and listened.

"I accept," she said, "on one condition."

"What is it?"

"That I work at the association on a compressed schedule. Would you talk to Director Yanagi to see if it's possible?" Met with a pensive look, she added, "Unless you don't think it's possible?"

"I can talk to him. I'm just surprised that you don't want to work on a full week schedule."

Smearing jam across her toast, Mayu said, "No, because I'd like to keep my job at the academy."

"You want to work two jobs?"

"That's it."

Looking into her eyes, Tezuka asked, "Is something the matter?"

"Why would you think that?"

"Because there's no need for you to stretch yourself thin."

"I can handle the workload just fine."

"I don't doubt your abilities—"

"Then you know that I'm capable of doing both." Still munching on her toast, she said, "You can work weekends, Tezuka, so can I. Before I settle on a sure career path in Japan, I'd like to keep all my doors open. I never want to be out of options like I was in the spring."

He kept his eyes on her but said nothing more.

"So it's settled? You'll talk to Director Yanagi and call me after?"

Tezuka nodded slowly. Finally picking up his fork, he said, "I'll support whatever you pursue as long as you don't overwork yourself. If two jobs get unbearable at any point, please tell me right away."

She nodded despite knowing nothing in this world could make her quit.

***

Director Yanagi had been Tezuka's mentor at the association and was mostly receptive to his suggestions. Mayu's request was no exception. The events promotion section assigned staff ad hoc depending on the number of activities each season had. The Director, in fact, preferred her joining part-time to align with the section's changing work demand. 

Mayu was asked to work at the association Thursday and Friday, with weekends as needed. That settled, she went on to speak with the principal at Aomachi Academy and was able to negotiate a Monday to Wednesday teaching schedule.

Within a week, Director Yanagi arranged for all paperwork to be signed and onboarding training be completed. With Mayu's background in foreign relations and public policy, she was named the section manager and would oversee a team of ten employees, Sakuno included.

Right away, her entry drew plenty of attention. Her team's welcome was lukewarm and staff did a double-take when she walked down the hall. Knowledge of her relationship with Tezuka had spread like wildfire since her run-in with Gérald. Everybody knew she'd gotten in through "the back door" and there were quiet complaints about nepotism.