The relaxed weekend passed in the blink of an eye.
For Yoichi, the new week meant one thing—
A new challenge: finding a job.
He had been in this world for nearly a week now, living with the Nohara family the entire time. Relying on Hiroshi and Misae for food, shelter, and everything else made him uneasy.
As a former corporate slave, he understood one thing very clearly—
Financial independence was everything.
He didn't want to remain the "dependent cousin."
He wanted to stand on his own feet and build a life for himself in Kasukabe.
With that determination, Yoichi got up early, put on the most formal clothes he could find, and stepped out with a freshly revised resume—one that combined his past experience with the memories of this body.
Full of confidence, he set off.
The streets of Kasukabe looked just like they did in the anime—peaceful, lively, and full of everyday charm.
Following job listings he had found online, Yoichi arrived at his first destination:
Kasukabe Appliance Store.
A well-known local shop, currently hiring a sales clerk.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open.
"Welcome!"
A cheerful voice greeted him.
The clerk was a young man in his twenties, smiling brightly.
"Hello, I'm here to apply for the job," Yoichi said, handing over his resume.
"Got it—please wait a moment. I'll call the manager."
Soon, a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and a round belly walked out.
The manager.
He adjusted his glasses and carefully read through the resume.
Yoichi stood to the side, slightly nervous.
After a few minutes, the manager nodded.
"Hmm… not bad. Do you have any sales experience?"
"Yes," Yoichi replied immediately. "I worked in sales for two years at my previous company."
"Good."
The manager nodded approvingly.
"Let me ask you something. If a customer buys an appliance, discovers a defect at home, and comes back demanding a refund—what would you do?"
Yoichi relaxed internally.
A standard question.
"I would first apologize and calm the customer," he answered smoothly. "Then I'd inspect the issue. If it's a valid quality problem within the return period, I would process a return or exchange according to company policy. I'd also document the issue and report it so improvements can be made."
The manager nodded again.
He asked a few more questions—sales techniques, product knowledge—
Yoichi answered them all confidently.
He could already feel it—
This job was practically his.
Then suddenly—
The manager changed the topic.
"Young man, you seem capable. But we have one special requirement."
"…A special requirement?"
The manager pointed toward a huge billboard at the store entrance.
It featured a female celebrity in a bold pose, promoting an air conditioner.
"Our clerks must stand at the entrance and imitate this model—performing a promotional dance to attract customers."
He spoke completely seriously.
"Can you do that?"
Yoichi: "???"
He froze.
Did he hear that right?
Dance… like her?
At the store entrance?!
He looked at the billboard.
Then at himself.
His worldview trembled.
"M-manager… isn't that requirement a bit… unusual?"
"Unusual?" The manager frowned. "This is our specialty! Customers come in because of it! If you can't do it, we can't hire you."
Silence.
Yoichi took a deep breath.
Picked up his resume.
"…Excuse me."
And promptly fled.
Once outside, he realized his back was drenched in sweat.
"That's insane…" he muttered. "What kind of job even is that…?"
He had thought finding a job in the Crayon Shin-chan world would be easy.
Clearly—
He had been too naive.
But he didn't give up.
It was just one failure.
No big deal.
Checking his phone, he headed to his next interview:
Happy Pizza, hiring a kitchen assistant.
"A kitchen job should be normal… right?" he muttered.
He was wrong.
Very wrong.
The shop owner welcomed him enthusiastically and led him into the kitchen.
"This," the owner said proudly, pointing at a strange machine, "is our Super Pizza Maker! Just put in dough and toppings, press a button—and it makes pizza automatically!"
"…That sounds convenient," Yoichi said cautiously.
"However," the owner added, "it sometimes… gets moody."
Before Yoichi could ask—
Ding!
The machine produced a pizza.
In the shape of an elephant.
Covered in chocolate chips.
Yoichi: "…"
His eye twitched.
"How is it? Creative, right?" the owner beamed. "Your job is to handle situations like this—and sell these 'special pizzas'!"
Yoichi stared at the elephant-shaped pizza.
And, for some reason—
Shin-chan's Elephant Dance flashed in his mind.
"…Excuse me."
He picked up his resume.
And walked out again.
Standing outside, Yoichi looked up at the sky.
"…Why is finding a job so hard…"
He felt like crying.
What he thought was a lucky isekai—
Was starting to feel like a curse.
Just then—
His phone rang.
An unknown number.
He hesitated, then answered.
"Hello, is this Mr. Nohara Yoichi?"
"Yes, speaking."
"Hello, I'm Sato from the HR department of Futaba Trading Company in Kasukabe. We've reviewed your resume and would like to invite you for an interview tomorrow. Are you available?"
Yoichi froze.
Futaba Trading Company…?
That name—
He knew it.
Wait—
Isn't that where Hiroshi works?!
He had unknowingly applied to his cousin's company?!
His mood instantly skyrocketed.
"I'm available! Absolutely!" Yoichi said quickly. "Thank you, Mr. Sato! I'll be there on time!"
After hanging up—
He nearly jumped in excitement.
Finally.
A normal company.
No dancing.
No elephant pizza.
Just a real job.
Clenching his fists, determination filled his eyes once again.
If he wanted to build a life in Kasukabe—
If he wanted to stop being a burden—
Then tomorrow's interview…
Had to succeed.