mchenry-crisis.org Chapter 84 Hotel
Chapter 84 Hotel
Chapter 84 Hotel
A face that was both familiar and unfamiliar was reflected in the narrow mirror in the locker room.
The slightly longer bangs that were originally kept for the role were cut short, revealing a smooth forehead.
A pair of black-rimmed non-prescription glasses perched on his nose, obscuring his usually dry and bright eyes.
He was wearing a well-tailored but not particularly high-end dark blue uniform, with an acrylic name tag with "Sato" engraved on his left chest.
Kitahara Shin pushed up his glasses and looked at himself in the mirror.
Surprisingly, when that confident aura subsided, coupled with this outfit, he really seemed like a completely different person.
This also confirms his self-perception: although his features are regular, they are the standard kind of "well-proportioned" and do not have the highly aggressive recognizability of Takuya Kimura.
Her usual brilliance is mostly due to her acting skills and her popularity.
Once those halos are removed, and one blends into the group of equally rigorously selected and good-looking waiters at the Hotel Okura, it's like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
"Sato-kun, what are you daydreaming about? The lobby is too busy."
The foreman shouted at the door.
"They're here."
Kitahara Shin responded, quickly adjusted his expression, put on that standard, slightly humble professional smile, and strode out.
The lobby of the Hotel Okura remains magnificent, with a huge crystal chandelier casting a warm yellow glow, attempting to create a sense of serene luxury.
But beneath this apparent calm, a restless undercurrent was surging in the air.
The pain of the bursting bubble economy has finally spread from the stock market to the real economy, and also to the middle class who were once extravagant spenders.
A commotion arose from the front desk.
"Are you kidding me! This bottle of water costs 1000 yen? Why don't you just rob me!"
A middle-aged man in a suit was yelling at the young receptionist, waving a bill in his hand. "I've stayed in hotels for so many years, and I've never heard of charging extra for water in the refrigerator! Get your manager here!"
The young woman at the front desk was so angry that her eyes welled up with tears, and she kept bowing and apologizing, but this only fueled the man's arrogance.
The surrounding customers stopped and looked over, whispering among themselves.
This kind of thing is happening more and more frequently lately.
Everyone knows that the minibar in a five-star hotel is chargeable, but in a year when everyone's assets are shrinking, that thousand yen is not just money, but the last straw that breaks the camel's back, a release of this group's fear of their social fall.
The lobby manager was busy attending to another VIP and couldn't come over immediately.
Kitahara Shin happened to be passing by pushing his luggage cart.
He glanced at the enraged man, then walked straight over without pausing.
[Equipment Status: Activated]
[The old fishing rod of a Showa-era master]
Although he was empty-handed in reality, the fishing rod was in the "equipment" state in the system's virtual [equipment bar], emitting a faint purple light.
According to the system's judgment: as long as the item is in the equipment slot, regardless of whether it is materialized, its attached [Tranquility] attribute will be fully effective.
His calm and collected demeanor, as if he were fishing in the eye of a storm, made him instantly stand out in the chaotic lobby.
"Sir."
Kitahara Shin's voice wasn't loud, and it just happened to come in between the man's breaths.
He calmly handed her a clean, hot towel. "Calm down first. It was windy outside, your throat might be a little dry. How about some hot tea to soothe it?"
The man paused for a moment, then instinctively took the towel.
"Regarding the bill issue, it's true that we didn't provide adequate reminders."
Kitahara Shin didn't dwell on whether or not the water should be charged for. Instead, he cleverly shifted the focus, "This water is indeed a bit expensive and not worth it. Luckily, we have complimentary mineral water for our VIP customers, which is more suitable for brewing tea. If you don't mind, I can return this unopened bottle and exchange it for that kind?"
These words gave the man plenty of face.
There was no public remark about "you can't even afford a thousand dollars?", nor was there a rigid emphasis on hotel rules.
Instead, they turned complaining about the price into thinking it wasn't worth it, and returning the product into a VIP privilege.
The man's expression softened instantly.
He didn't actually want to go crazy in public over a few hundred dollars, but he was just overcome with anger and couldn't back down.
"Well then, let's do as you say."
The man wiped his hands, his tone still harsh but clearly softened, "It's not that I can't afford it, it's just that I can't stand you overcharging."
"Yes, you're right, we didn't think it through."
Kitahara Shin bowed slightly, his movements as elegant as a butler in a movie, quickly helping the receptionist out of the predicament and guiding the man to the rest area.
This entire scene was witnessed by Takashima, the female head of the concierge department, who was standing by the second-floor railing.
The "Iron Lady," a woman in her early thirties known for her sternness, raised an eyebrow and lingered on the nameplate bearing the name "Sato" for a few seconds.
He was a complete stranger.
That move you just made was brilliant.
He was neither humble nor arrogant, and the timing of his speech, the tone of his voice, and even the angle at which he handed over the towel all showed a level of experience that belied his newcomer.
In particular, her composure when facing irritable customers was stronger than that of her old hands who had been working for three years.
"Sato————"
Takashima circled the list, a playful smile playing on his lips.
Such a promising talent, it seems we'll have to "take special care" of him from now on.
Two o'clock in the afternoon.
A nanny van stopped at the entrance of the lobby.
A group of tall models filed down the stairs; they were there to attend a new product launch event for a certain brand, held in the hotel's banquet hall.
Nanako Matsushima walked at the back of the group.
She was still somewhat reserved today, clutching her makeup bag tightly, as if afraid of losing her way.
In the past few months, although Kitahara Shin's guidance has improved her mindset a lot, she is still an unknown nobody in the snobbish world of modeling.
-
"Hey bellhop over there, come give me a hand!"
The show director, who was walking in front, shouted.
"OK."
A figure in uniform ran over quickly and deftly loaded several heavy boxes of clothing onto a cart.
Nanako was about to follow them inside when her gaze inadvertently swept across the face of the bellboy.
Her feet suddenly froze on the spot.
Although he had cut his hair, wore glasses, and even his signature upright posture had been replaced with a slightly forward-leaning, service-like stance, his face—
Kitahara-senpai?!
Nanako's eyes widened, and she even took off her sunglasses to rub her eyes.
Yes, it's him.
The man who had been chatting and laughing with Director Itami in the study, teaching her how to observe the world, was now bending over, humbly helping the grumpy director push his suitcase, saying, "Watch your step."
How could this happen?
A huge sense of panic welled up in Nanako's heart.
She recalled the recent news reports about bankruptcies.
I've heard that many people have become heavily indebted overnight because of failed property speculation, and have had to sell their cars and houses, or even take illegal jobs to pay off their debts.
Could it be that Kitahara-senpai also...?
No wonder he was dressed so simply when I saw him in the bookstore last time; no wonder he hasn't had any new dramas airing recently.
Was it because of bankruptcy?
Seeing that once radiant man now reduced to doing hard labor here, Nanako felt a lump in her throat and almost burst into tears.
She subconsciously touched her wallet, where the precious book receipt was still tucked away.
No.
It's not appropriate to greet them at this time.
That would hurt the senior's self-esteem.
Nanako bit her lip, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, lowered her head, pretended not to recognize him, and quickly walked past Kitahara Shin.
In that fleeting moment as they brushed past each other, she silently made a vow in her heart:
You must work hard to find jobs and earn money.
If the senior is really in such dire straits that they can't even afford a meal, then next time—next time, let's treat them to a nice meal.