NOVEL NEXT Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Two months had passed since Alex Carter settled into Seaside Park. He had spent those two months pushing himself hard—waking up early and going to bed late, training rigorously every day.
However, due to financial constraints, Alex had no choice but to find a part-time job to support himself.
The two months of intense training had done wonders for his physical fitness. Now, he was ready to start focusing on honing his Quirk. With eight months left until the entrance exam for U.A., he was confident that with a combination of physical and Quirk training, he could pass without issue.
One day, while browsing part-time job listings online, Alex stumbled upon a curious ad. A store nearby was recruiting, named **"The Broken House"**. The description promised to solve any problem you brought to it, though if they couldn't, you were on your own.
"That sounds like a joke," Alex muttered, shaking his head. However, the pay was decent for a part-time gig—around 40,000 yen a month. It was tempting, especially considering his situation.
"Maybe it'll be worth checking out," he thought, deciding to give it a go. The place seemed like something out of a story—a little rundown, but interesting enough to check out.
After breakfast, Alex grabbed his shoes, locked his door, and headed out. The Broken House was less than a kilometer away from his apartment, and it only took him ten minutes to arrive.
The building looked exactly as he expected—old and neglected. The sign with the store's name was barely readable, covered in dirt and graffiti. The door was shut tight, with a strange smell lingering in the air from a nearby telephone pole. It seemed like the place had been forgotten by most.
In the center of the rolling door was a simple sign reading "Help Wanted," clearly weathered from years of exposure. No one had likely applied here in a long time.
"Well, I'm already here. Might as well knock," Alex thought, walking up and tapping lightly on the door.
A few moments passed with no response. He knocked again, this time louder.
"Who's making all that noise? It's too early for this!" a gruff voice shouted from the other side.
The door creaked open, revealing a man with messy silver hair, chewing on a toothpick. His expression was half-asleep, but he quickly snapped to attention when he saw Alex.
"You're not a troublemaker, are you?" the man muttered, clearly annoyed at being disturbed.
Alex hesitated, unsure if this was the kind of place he wanted to work. But the man didn't seem to be too threatening, so he decided to push forward.
"Are you the owner of this place?" Alex asked, trying to mask his discomfort from the strange smell lingering around.
"Yeah, I'm the owner," the man said, his voice slightly more polite now that he saw Alex wasn't a child. "Come in, let's talk."
He pulled the door open further, letting Alex inside. The interior was dark and dimly lit, a stark contrast to the bright sunlight outside. The space looked less like a business and more like an unkempt private residence. There were piles of clutter everywhere, and it seemed like nothing had been cleaned in a long time.
"Sorry about the mess," the silver-haired man said casually. "What brings you here?"
Alex shrugged. "I saw the job listing online and thought I'd check it out. I'm looking for a part-time job, and your store seems... interesting."
The silver-haired man grinned, clearly pleased. "Well, if you're looking for work, you're in luck. I need someone, and you seem like the right fit. You can start tomorrow."
Alex was a bit surprised by how quickly the decision was made, but the man didn't seem to be the type to overthink things. The offer was tempting, but something about it felt off.
The man leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful. "Oh, I almost forgot. The name's Usaki Gin. You can call me Gin. The salary is 70,000 yen a month—paid monthly, no credit. Three meals a day are included, too."
Alex nodded slowly. "Three meals a day?"
"Yep," Gin confirmed. "Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I know it's a deal you can't pass up."
"Alright," Alex agreed, despite feeling unsure. Three meals a day was definitely a bonus. And he needed the money. "I'll come in tomorrow then."
"Good. Report at 8 AM sharp. Now, if you don't mind, I need to get some sleep. You can head out for today."
Alex said his goodbyes and left the Broken House. As he walked back to his apartment, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something strange about this place. Still, he didn't have the luxury of being picky. He needed the job—and the food.
---
Inside the Broken House, Gin sat at his desk, grinning slyly to himself.
"A rare applicant," he muttered. "Time to make sure he sticks around. I can't afford to let this one slip through my fingers."
Gin reached for his phone, dialing a number. "Hey, it's Gin. I need you to deliver food starting tomorrow. Three meals a day, but keep the portions small. We don't have to spoil them too much, right?"
The voice on the other end was a little hesitant but agreed. "Understood. Just don't push it too far, Gin."
Gin chuckled. "Don't worry, I know how to handle it. It's just about keeping them satisfied for now."
He hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, a gleam in his eyes.
"Let's see how long you'll last, Alex Carter."