CHAPTER 756: CHAPTER 454: THE FIRST DAY BACK AT WORK

Monday came, and as usual, I went to Tokyo University for classes.

The weather was getting colder, and many students had changed into long-sleeved clothes and pants.

To be honest, apart from browsing the library and attending some essential lectures, there is a significant amount of free time to spend at Tokyo University every day.

Some people participate in club activities, some go out for strolls, and more often, others take up part-time jobs to earn living expenses.

Tokyo University does not have student dormitories, so students live off-campus.

The living allowance given by their families is far from enough to cover the living expenses in Tokyo.

As a result, many people have to find part-time jobs.

There are also scholarships available from the university.

They are provided by the Tokyo Student Support Organization, specifically for outstanding students who face financial difficulties.

Of course, it is limited to excellent students, and the application process is quite challenging.

There are also student loans, divided into three types: "non-repayable," "with interest," and "interest-free."

In most cases, you can only borrow one type.

Uesugi Sakura couldn’t help but sigh, even the top students at Tokyo University face limitations from loans and finances.

However, students at Tokyo University still fare much better compared to regular university students.

Most students who get into Tokyo University come from well-off families.

Uesugi Sakura sat in the classroom, looking at the fallen ginkgo trees outside the window, pondering if he would also end up living a mundane life clocking in and out of work every day.

Losing their happiness in the midst of busyness, constantly struggling for survival in the midst of daily necessities.

"Uesugi, what are you thinking about again?"

"Ah, it’s nothing; I was just thinking about what kind of job I should do in the future." Uesugi Sakura replied, taking the neatly organized study materials handed over by Umezu Nana.

"Why did this suddenly cross your mind?" Umezu Nana asked curiously.

"I once took a taxi, and the driver had been striving in Tokyo for decades, yet he was still tirelessly working for money every day, shouldering the burden of rent, utility bills, living expenses, medical fees, children’s tuition, and supporting his parents, all alone."

"Isn’t that quite normal?"

"No, I think it’s abnormal; people should actually enjoy life after working for a period of time."

Umezu Nana smiled and said:

"Uesugi, a comfortable life is always enjoyed by a fixed number of people. If everyone enjoyed it, where would the strength come from to keep the society moving forward?

"Some people work two hours a day but earn dozens of times more than those who work ten hours a day. And people who work ten hours don’t even complain, thinking it should be this way. Uesugi, why do you think that happens?"

"That’s just how society perceives things." Uesugi Sakura pondered.

"Exactly, societal norms are like that, everyone assumes they can’t do the other person’s job, so they should earn just this much, while the other party earns more, but in actuality, if we asked those who work two hours to do ten hours of work, would they be willing? Since both parties believe they can’t do each other’s jobs, why should those who work less earn tens or hundreds of times more than those who work more?"

Umezu Nana laughed as she reached this point.

"This example is not absolute; there are many loopholes, but it somewhat highlights some issues of inequality. Uesugi, why did you think of discussing this? Actually, this isn’t something we should worry about."

"Well, I’m gathering material for my novel."

"You’re going to write a novel?" Umezu Nana asked in surprise.

"Kind of, I’ll write it when I find some time."

"What are you writing?"

"A light novel."

"A light novel?"

"Yes, after all, I don’t have any other channels to publish serious literature, and my skills aren’t enough."

"If you want to publish, you can ask Professor Okuno for help, but without any credentials, it’s quite possible the book won’t sell at all." Umezu Nana said, "By the way, why does it seem like Todaka is always so happy lately? What have you two been doing working at that maid café?"

"It’s because he’s in love."

"Didn’t he just break up over the summer? Has he found someone new already?"

"Love comes and goes freely," Uesugi Sakura said, starting to flip through the study materials Umezu Nana had just handed over.

After having lunch at the Central Cafeteria, Uesugi Sakura rode his bike to the nearby Mimi Café.

He parked and locked his bike, then went upstairs and pushed open the glass door to enter the café.

"Ah, Uesugi, just in time, help with shelving the books."

"Shelving the books?"

Uesugi Sakura glanced at Towa Rina standing by the window and realized that she was referring to placing the newly bought books on the bookshelf.

"Hurry up." Towa Rina waved him over.

Uesugi Sakura glanced at the cardboard box at her feet, saying, "Since I’m doing this job, what will you be doing?"

"Eating pudding." Towa Rina promptly shut her mouth, then waved her hand at the bemused Uesugi Sakura, laughing and saying, "Sweeping, sweeping, hahaha~ sweeping, of course."

Why say so much when you’re just being lazy?

Uesugi Sakura walked over, took the books from her hands, and placed them into the newly installed bookshelf.

Towa Rina watched his actions, smiling, "Uesugi, you do have quite a masculine flair."

"Of course," Uesugi Sakura unhesitatingly admitted, "I wake up at seven every morning, run ten kilometers, never consume more calories than what’s healthy, attend classes on time, work on time, study on time, and with some spare time in the evenings, I even manage to do a hundred push-ups."

Towa Rina was amused by his robot-like masculinity, watching him organize the bookshelf:

"The cats will be here soon."

"Didn’t you pick them up yesterday?" Uesugi Sakura asked.