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Chapter 7: Of Beards and Beginners
"Mr. Yoshida, your beard."
Just as Yoshida was about to pick up his chopsticks at breakfast, Sayu suddenly pointed toward his chin.
"Huh?"
"It's about time you shaved, isn't it?"
"Maybe later. It's too much of a hassle."
"Oh, I see."
The sound of chopsticks clacking, rhythmic chewing, and then the slurping of soup filled the air.
"Is there a specific rule for it? Like, once a month or something?" Sayu asked.
"It's not that complicated. I just shave it when it gets long."
"So, this doesn't count as 'long' to you?" Sayu giggled as she picked up a grilled sausage.
Being reminded of it repeatedly made Yoshida self-conscious. He rubbed his chin; the sensation against his palm was hard to describe—somewhere between coarse and sharp.
"Yeah, I guess I should shave... How do I put it? It makes me feel like I've officially become an old man (Oji-san)."
"Eh? But back when we first met, you hated being called an old man," Sayu said, tilting her head slightly.
"Did I?"
Now that he thought about it, that was true. But back then, his resistance stemmed from the fact that hearing a high school girl call him "Old Man" in a sweet, syrupy voice made him feel like he was part of some "compensated dating" scheme.
"So why the change of heart? Is it just because the beard grew out?"
"No, it's not that." Yoshida chewed a mouthful of rice thoroughly and swallowed before continuing. "When I was younger, I'd find even a little bit of stubble unsightly and shave it off immediately. I'd check over and over to make sure I didn't miss a spot."
And yet, here he was.
As long as he looked presentable enough, he didn't really care even if his beard got quite long.
"Some say the beard itself is the symbol of an old man, but I think the real sign of an 'old man' is finding the act of shaving too bothersome."
"Is that how it works?"
"Probably. As men get older, their skin gets thicker, and they stop caring about their stubble."
Though if a guy has a wife, that's a different story, he thought. A guy like Hashimoto would never dream of stepping out of the house looking scruffy.
"I'm finished~!"
While Yoshida was talking and eating, Sayu had already finished her breakfast. She pressed her hands together and bowed her head slightly in a well-mannered gesture.
"If you don't eat faster, you'll be late."
"Right."
Yoshida nodded and popped the last of the eggs into his mouth. The rich aroma of the soft-boiled yolk paired perfectly with the soy sauce, leaving a lingering sense of happiness on his palate.
"Thanks for the food."
Before Sayu arrived, Yoshida had never imagined that eating could be such an enjoyable experience.
"It was just a simple meal~"
Sitting opposite him and waiting for him to finish, Sayu flashed a bright, unshielded smile of pure joy.
"It's getting late. I'll handle the dishes; you go brush your teeth, Mr. Yoshida."
"Oh, thanks."
As Yoshida obediently headed toward the bathroom, Sayu's voice drifted from behind him again.
"Ah, right, right."
"Yeah?"
"Mr. Yoshida."
Sayu was clearing the table, and though she turned to lock eyes with him, it didn't slow her hands down for a second. "Beards don't really suit you. I think you're better off shaving more regularly."
"Tch. Mind your own business."
Sayu's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. To hide his embarrassment, Yoshida scratched his back and continued toward the bathroom.
Looking at his reflection as the razor gradually cleared his face, Yoshida remembered when he first moved here. Back then, every morning while shaving and washing up, he'd tell the mirror, "Give it your best again today!" to psych himself up.
"Yeah... I really have become an old man," Yoshida muttered as he set down the electric shaver.
"Mishima... you again? I told you, how many times have you messed this up?!"
"Ah, Yoshida-senpai! Good morning~"
"Morning my ass! You should be apologizing first!"
"Oh, um, sorry. Really, I'm so sorry."
First thing in the morning, Yoshida felt like the veins in his temples were about to burst.
"Can you not read the instructions? Hmm?"
"No, I read them very carefully..."
"If you'd read them carefully, how could you still get it wrong? Who are you trying to fool?"
As he roared, Yoshida noticed Ms. Goto sitting in the distance, raising a forefinger to her lips in a "shhh" gesture. He finally managed to lower his volume.
"I am truly, deeply sorry."
The young woman bowing and apologizing with a silly grin was Mishima, Yoshida's direct subordinate.
She had chestnut hair that curved inward at the tips, large round eyes, a delicate nose, and a small, dainty mouth. Her cute appearance made her look much younger than her actual age; if her shirt and trousers didn't fit so well, she'd look more like a high schooler who had snuck into her mother's work clothes.
Mishima, who joined the company this year, had abysmal work competence. If it were just a lack of ability, that would be one thing—Yoshida wasn't new to mentoring juniors and had enough patience for that.
But her attitude was infuriating. No matter how much he criticized her, she maintained that same cheerful grin with not a shred of guilt. You could talk until you were blue in the face, but she simply wouldn't change. It gave Yoshida the feeling that she thought making mistakes was her "privilege" as a newcomer.
"Um..."
Mishima seemed to want to say something. Despite her lack of remorse, her cute looks made her every movement resemble a timid little animal. It made it hard to truly hate her no matter how angry he got. Yoshida couldn't help but sigh.
"I did read the manual, but... I just don't know how to do it."
"Then go learn! Didn't I give you the reference books?!"
"I just couldn't find the time, sorry! Hehe."
Stay calm, stay calm. Yoshida rubbed his temples, speechless for a long moment.
"Forget it. I'll do this proposal myself. I'll give you a different task; just do that one."
If this dragged on, it would never end. It would be faster if Yoshida just did it himself.
"I'm sorry. Really."
"If you actually feel bad, then put some heart into your work."
"Yes, yes, I'll work hard!"
Mishima nodded, flashing a smile that contained zero sincerity.
Tch, she managed to 'cute' her way out of it again, Yoshida clicked his tongue inwardly, intending to return to his desk.
"Ah, right, Yoshida-senpai."
"What?"
"You're much more handsome with your beard shaved~"
The unexpected comment left Yoshida stunned for a moment. He touched his chin; since he'd just shaved that morning, it felt smooth.
"Flattery won't work! Put that focus into your job!"
"Yes, yes. But I meant it, you know~"
Pretending to be annoyed, Yoshida returned to his seat and slumped into his chair with a heavy sigh.
"Tough morning, huh?"
Hashimoto, sitting next to him, said while tapping his keyboard.
"Ugh. I wish I could hand her off to you."
"No thanks, keep her for yourself," Hashimoto replied, his voice tinged with amusement.
Wondering if he could make up for the time lost by his junior today, Yoshida hit the power button. He tapped his fingers impatiently on the desk, waiting for the computer to boot. The dark, unlit screen faintly reflected his face.
"...Do beards really not suit me that much?"
"Pfft!"
The moment Yoshida muttered the words, Hashimoto finally burst out laughing.
"What?!"
"Nothing." Hashimoto looked away from his screen and stared intently at his friend's face. "I just think you realized it a little too late."
"Tch, you bastard..."
I guess beards really don't suit me.
The "old man" made a firm decision: from tomorrow on, he would shave every single day.