Right now, I am sitting inside a building—more precisely, inside a small shop that I just established a few days ago.
The wooden chair I'm sitting on still feels somewhat stiff, as if it hasn't quite "grown used" to supporting someone for long periods of time, and the table in front of me is still far too clean to be called a place of business that's truly alive.
The atmosphere inside still feels new and slightly rigid; the scent of fresh wood and paint that hasn't fully dried yet lingers in the air, sharp enough to occasionally make me take shorter breaths.
That smell blends with the daylight streaming in through the half-open front door, casting long streaks of light across the floor.
From outside, the sound of passing footsteps can be heard faintly, though not close enough to disturb the calm within this room.
Fine dust drifts slowly when touched by the sunlight, moving without any clear direction, as if following air currents that are barely even noticeable.
That simple sight instead gives off a quiet impression that, strangely enough, feels soothing—like a brief pause in a world that never stops moving.
A few days earlier, I met Yaeko Nishimiya, the mother of Shoko Nishimiya—the main female character from the anime *Koe no Katachi*.
The meeting happened by chance, without any plan or sign beforehand, yet it left an impression that couldn't simply be ignored, as if something had caught my attention from that very moment.
At the time, I saw Yaeko sitting on a park bench, dressed in neat office attire that was slightly wrinkled at the sleeves, while holding a folder that looked like it had been opened and closed many times. Most likely, she had just come back from applying for a job somewhere.
At first, I didn't know who she was—just an ordinary woman with a restrained look of exhaustion. But after I asked Mei Mei to investigate, everything gradually became clear. That face, that name, and her connection to Shoko Nishimiya slowly came together in my memory.
After learning about the situation Yaeko was facing, I finally understood her circumstances more clearly. She now has to work after divorcing her husband, a life decision that is clearly not an easy one, especially with everything that accompanies it.
Yaeko doesn't complain much. There are no words of grievance spoken outright, no signs of despair shown openly.
Yet the exhaustion is still clearly visible—from the small movements that seem slightly slower when she fixes her hair, to the expression on her face that tries to remain calm despite being weighed down by something far from light.
Her gaze occasionally appears empty, as if her thoughts keep moving even when her body is trying to rest.
The cause of it all is actually simple, yet still cruel. Her husband couldn't accept the reality that Shoko has a hearing impairment. Something that should have been part of a shared responsibility instead turned into a burden he wanted to avoid.
That inability slowly turned into rejection, then became the reason for him to distance himself. What was once a small gap grew into a chasm that could no longer be bridged.
In the end, the man chose the easiest path—leaving his own family without trying to understand or endure, as if none of it was his responsibility anymore.
As if that wasn't enough, not long after the divorce, Yaeko discovered that she was pregnant with her second child from her ex-husband. The news came at the worst possible time, like an added weight on shoulders that were already far too burdened.
That news didn't just come as a shock—it also closed off almost every option she might have had left. There was no time for Yaeko to stop, no room for hesitation. Everything had to be thought through, decided, and carried out immediately.
The situation clearly made things worse for Yaeko. She had to face everything on her own—without support, without any meaningful help, and without even the certainty of what kind of future awaited her. The world felt as though it was pressing in from all directions, yet there was nowhere to take shelter.
Even so, Yaeko remained standing. There was a firmness within her, something that refused to waver despite being tested time and time again. A determination that kept her moving forward, one step after another, even as the path ahead felt heavy and filled with uncertainty.
Yaeko's ex-husband had no intention of helping at all. To him, the relationship was already over, and with it, any sense of responsibility seemed to vanish completely—without a trace, without regret.
That cold attitude left Yaeko with no choice but to find work to survive and raise her two children on her own. There were no comfortable options, only the ones that had to be endured.
That was why I decided to help.
One of the ideas that came to mind was to hire Yaeko. However, instead of simply finding her an existing job, I chose to create one myself.
That is the reason this shop exists—a place I deliberately prepared, not merely as a business, but also as a carefully thought-out solution to the situation Yaeko was facing.
It was not just a place to work, but a small starting point that might be able to change the course of someone's life, even if not in a drastic way.
The shop is located in Ogaki City, in Gifu Prefecture—not too far from where Yaeko lives, close enough to reach without spending too much time on the road.
I chose this location with careful consideration, not as a random or rushed decision.
Besides being fairly strategic, this place is also along a route that Yaeko frequently passes in her daily life. It is not a main road filled with constant noise and traffic, but neither is it a neglected narrow alley.
With a position like this, the chances of Yaeko noticing the shop are quite high, especially if she happens to be walking by while preoccupied with thoughts of finding a job.
I purchased this building through Mei Mei. I only gave clear instructions—to find and buy a small building on this street—and, as usual, Mei Mei handled it without asking many questions.
The street itself has a unique atmosphere; not overly crowded, yet it cannot be called quiet either. Occasionally, pedestrians pass by, vehicles roll through, and the sounds of light activity keep the place feeling "alive."
This place has a balanced feel—lively enough to attract passing customers, yet not so conspicuous as to draw excessive attention.
There are no suspicious spotlights, nothing that stands out too much—everything feels natural, and that is exactly what I wanted.
In front of the shop, I have already put up a job vacancy flyer. The paper is neatly placed on the front glass, positioned where it can be easily seen by anyone passing by, even at a glance. The writing on it is clear—not excessive, but enough to catch the attention of someone in need of work.
With Yaeko's habit of passing through this street, there is a high chance she will notice the job posting. And even if that does not happen… I still have a few other ways to make sure she comes. Methods that might be a little unusual, but effective nonetheless.
The shop itself is quite simple—perhaps even small compared to other shops nearby. There are no excessive decorations or striking ornaments, only a neat and orderly arrangement to keep it comfortable and not cramped. Every corner is used efficiently, without giving off a suffocating impression.
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[Note: This novel is updated on every even-numbered date]
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