Rendered in Code and Color

Chapter 6: Layers of Life

After splitting away from the rest of the group after class, Kazuki made his way to his part-time job.

It was a tech shop located not that from the Tokyo Art Institute. Normally, you would need certain certifications to work at a tech shop, unless you were just doing retail work. But Kazuki got lucky.

When he started his third year of highschool, Kazuki decided he wanted to get a great start on being independent. He was offered a good deal at an apartment complex owned by a close family friend, but no matter how good a deal he got, he'd still need a way to pay the bill every month. Not to mention things like food and clothing.

This led him to start looking around for jobs. He figured something tech related would be easiest. He could easily see himself helping customers find the right gadgets to fit their needs. Which led him to this particular tech shop; Tech Koubou.

When he entered, he instantly felt at home, and decided to have a look around before asking about potential job openings. That's when he noticed several employees at the repair desk wracking their brains over a computer.

From what he overheard, it was very similar to an issue he'd solved before. Thinking he would help save them some time, he walked up and offered his opinion. Looking back, it could be seen as extremely rude to just walk up and tell someone how to do their job, though he didn't mean it that way.

However, the solution he offered proved to be what fixed the issue, and saved the customer from a heavy repair cost. The owner of the shop just so happened to be nearby and had watched the whole exchange.

The result wasn't too far off from one of those success stories where someone is performing a song in a mall. They play so beautifully; the notes extract a range of emotions from the shoppers, capturing their attention as they walk by. All the while, a producer just so happens to be watching from the sidelines.

And just like the producer would approach the mall talent after their performance, so too did the owner of Tech Koubou approach Kazuki. Upon hearing that Kazuki was actually looking for a job, the owner hired him on the spot. Not just as a clerk, but as a more general employee.

The gig wasn't too far off from an internship. He would help out with both the retail and repair side of things. Normally, one would need special certifications to work on electronics, but if they treated the position more like an internship, they could get around that.

Almost two years had passed since then. Kazuki, with some help from the owner, obtained the minimum certification required and was now a full-fledged employee. Though he still worked part-time hours.

Regardless, over that time, he has built a relatively good reputation for himself among his coworkers and repeat customers. One such regular entered the shop as Kazuki was stocking shelves.

It was Mrs. Sato. She was a kind elderly lady, who always felt like a grandmother to anyone she interacted with. She had this old laptop that she was quite attached to, as it was a gift from her late husband. They used it to store photos from their retirement travels, but it was quite outdated and didn't support many updates.

It first stopped working a year ago. Mrs. Sato went to many tech shops to have it fixed. However, they all strongly urged her to upgrade to a newer laptop. But given the sentimental value, and the difficulty of adjusting to a new operating system, she just didn't want to take that plunge.

Then, she happened to walk across Tech Koubou. Kazuki didn't try to push her into getting a new one, he instead repaired the issue and cleaned it for her. Ever since then, she comes to him anytime she needs help.

"Kazuki, dear, could I trouble you again?" She asked, holding her laptop under her arm.

"It's no trouble at all, Mrs. Sato. How can I help you?" He replied with a warm smile.