Just Say No to Overtime

"Hey, Kaoru, do you want to come to our concert on Friday?" Takumi asked her. "We're playing at the small Live House in Shinsaibashi."

"Really," said Kaoru. "What kind of music is it?" she asked.

"Mostly rock," said Daichi. "But Takumi likes to play other songs as well."

Yui put their coffee on the table. "Count me in. I love listening to Dai-chan sing. He's got a great voice."

"Daichi's the singer?" said Kaoru. "I thought he would be the drummer."

"No, that's Akira," said Takumi. "Daichi and I play the guitar, but I don't speak Japanese well enough to sing."

Daichi shook his head. "Takumi's pretty good for someone who can't use polite speech to save his life."

"Hey! Keigo is hard," said Takumi. He took a sip of his coffee. "We don't use that in America."

Kaoru looked at her schedule. She had an important project starting this week, but they had two weeks to finish it.

"Come on, Ka-chan," Yui said. I'll pick you up after your work. We can go together."

"Stop calling me that," Kaoru said. "It sounds like I'm your Mother."

Yui smiled and looked at the service counter. Ms. Takeda was watching them. Yui swallowed. "What do you say?" she asked.

"Okay. What time does it start?" Kaoru asked.

"Eight," said Takumi.

"I'll pick you up at your office at six," said Yui. "We'll go together." She hurried back to the service counter and bowed to Ms. Takeda.

"Kaoru never comes to our concerts," said Daichi. "She always has to work."

"I know," said Takumi. "We'll have to make this one special." He smiled.

Kaoru smiled, but her stomach felt strange. She picked up her coffee and took a sip. Was this a good idea? she thought.

✦

Kaoru's boss stood by his desk. "Okay, everyone, I know it's almost six o'clock on Friday. Thank you for your hard work this week. We still have a lot to finish before next week," he said. "Please do your best." He sat down.

"We've worked overtime every night this week," said Kaoru to Honoka.

Honoka nodded. "Yes, but the big project is due next Wednesday. The boss is worried," she said.

Kaoru nodded and continued typing her report. She looked at her watch every few minutes. Maybe I can get this report finished before seven, she thought.

Her phone buzzed. Honoka looked at her and frowned.

Kaoru's face turned red. She apologized, looked at her phone and sighed.

"It's seven o'clock. Where are you, Ka-chan?" said Yui's text. "We have to catch the train in fifteen minutes, or we'll miss the beginning of the concert."

Kaoru closed her notebook and turned off her computer. She went to the boss's desk. "Excuse me, sir, but I have to go now," she said.

He looked up from his desk. "Oh, that's right. You had an appointment tonight," he said.

"My work is almost finished," said Kaoru. "It'll be ready by Wednesday." She bowed.

"No problem," said the boss. "Enjoy your evening." He looked down at his desk.

Kaoru went back to her desk and picked up her bag. Honoka said nothing. Kaoru walked past three other workers, all typing on their computers. She stopped at the door, turned around and bowed.

Nobody said anything.

Kaoru opened the door and went outside. She closed it softly. "They hate me," she thought.

✦

"What took you so long?" Yui said. She sat down next to the door. "We almost missed the train. I was going to leave you."

Kaoru sat next to her and looked at her phone. "Sorry. We had some overtime to do," she said.

"You work too hard," said Yui. "You need to relax."

"Yes, Mother," Kaoru said, smiling.

"Don't call me that," said Yui. "That's your nickname." She puffed out her cheeks.

Kaoru looked at her phone. She bit her lip. There were no messages. She closed her eyes. Honoka usually asked her for help. Shininchi was new. He just started in April and made a lot of mistakes. What if he had questions?

"Look, Takumi sent me a video of their rehearsal," Yui said. "Dai-chan's a great singer."

Kaoru looked at the photo. "What did Takumi write?"

Yui shook her head. "He sent a sad cat emoji. It's so cute. Ah! He's waiting for us," she said.

Kaoru smiled. "Takumi's different," she said.

"I know. He's a great friend to Dai-chan as well," Yui said. "Last year, Dai-chan never left his apartment. He was almost a hikikomori. Now, he's playing a live show." She laughed.

"What's so funny?" Kaoru asked.

"It's Dai-chan. Look!" Yui showed Kaoru her phone. There was a picture of Takumi playing the guitar, surrounded by broken notes. He looked like a punk rocker.

Kaoru smiled. "I hope he can play better than that," she said.

Yui typed a response on her phone.

Kaoru sighed. They were waiting for her at the Live Bar. "Maybe I'll head back to work after one song," she thought. "They worked until nine last night." She felt her phone buzz and flipped it over.

There were no messages.

✦

Kaoru wiped the table and put the wet wipe back into her bag. A fan blew in the corner. The sign at the entrance said the air conditioner was broken.

Yui set a drink down on the table. "I got you a chu-hi," she said loudly, taking a cloth from her bag and wiping her forehead. "It's really hot in here."

The last music group finished their third song and bowed. Takumi was next.

"Yes, it is," Kaoru said. "They have to fix it before summer." She put her phone face down on the table and took a sip of the drink. Somebody pushed her from behind. She turned around, but he was gone.

I can't get too drunk, she thought. What if work needs me?

"This place is great," said Yui.

"It's a bit crowded," said Kaoru.

"That's what makes it great," said Yui. "Look, Takumi and Dai-chan are coming on the stage." She waved to them.

A third man followed Takumi and Daichi. "Who's that?" asked Kaoru.

"That's Akira. He practices with Takumi and Dai-chan every week," Yui said. "You haven't met him before?"

Takumi grabbed the mic and tapped on it. "Thank you very much for coming. My name is Takumi. This is Daichi and Akira. We are 'Out of Batteries,' and this first song is called 'Lost in the Night'. Thank you very much for coming," he said.

The lights went low. Daichi leaned forward and played a low note.

Takumi joined him, matching the music. Akira played a soft beat on the drum, building up to an impressive solo.

"Wow!" said Yui. "They've gotten much better."

"Really?" Kaoru said loudly. "They sound pretty good." She moved her head in time to the music.

Yui danced to the music, waving a light stick in the air. "Come join me, Ka-chan," she said, smiling.

Kaoru shook her head and moved off her seat. Daichi started singing about walking on the beach. Takumi joined him.

"Daichi's got a good voice," said Kaoru, dancing with Yui. "He could get a contract with a big music label."

Yui nodded. "He's too shy. Takumi is trying to get an audition with a producer, but Dai-chan isn't ready," she said.

The music ended, and everybody clapped. Kaoru pushed back through the crowd. She looked at her watch. It was late, but if she hurried, she could make it back to work before everybody left.

"Kaoru, you made it," Takumi said. He pushed through the crowd and put a glass of chuhai on the table. "What did you think?"

"You were very good," Kaoru said. "I loved your music."

"We have one more song to play, then we're going to sell some merchandise to the crowd," Takumi said. "Can you help? Daichi is asking Yui."

Kaoru bit her lip. "I guess so," she said.

Takumi leaned over and squeezed her shoulder. "Great. I knew I could count on you." He picked up his drink and went back to the stage.

Yui came back to the table with a large shopping bag. "Dai-chan asked me to sell this. They made a T-shirt with the band name on it," she said, holding it up.

"It looks very cheap," said Kaoru.

"Yes, but they need some extra money to pay for the Live House," said Yui. "Can you help me?"

"Takumi asked me, too," said Kaoru. She took some of the shirts from the bag. "What do we do?"

"They will start playing in five minutes," said Yui. She put on one of the shirts over her outfit. "Walk in front of the stage and hold up the shirts. They are two thousand yen each."

Kaoru followed Yui. Yui stepped onto the stage and grabbed the mic. 'Out of Batteries' has a great deal for you," she said. "If you go to my lovely assistant here at the front, you get a great T-shirt. The money will help the band, and you'll get an excellent souvenir."

Three people stepped forward. "How much?" one man asked.

"Two thousand yen," said Yui.

Two men took some money from their pockets and gave it to Kaoru. The third man went back into the crowd.

"Anybody else?" asked Yui.

"Three shirts, please," a woman in a business suit said. She stepped up to the front and gave Kaoru six thousand yen.

"Thank you very much," said Kaoru.

"They are very good," said the woman. "Do they have a CD?"

Kaoru smiled nervously and looked at Yui.

Yui was selling shirts on the other side of the stage.

Kaoru turned back to the woman and swallowed. Why didn't she know the answer? What should she say?

The woman looked at Kaoru.

"I think so," Kaoru said.

The woman nodded and went back into the crowd. Kaoru sold three more T-shirts.

Yui went back onto the stage. "Thank you, everybody," she said.

Takumi joined Yui on the stage. "More T-shirts and CD's will be for sale after the show by the front entrance," he said.

Back at their table, Kaoru set the half-empty bag down. Yui pushed through the crowd and set a new drink on the table.

"That was fun," Yui said.

"Yes, it was," said Kaoru. She pulled her phone from her pocket.

"You've been looking at your phone all night," said Yui. "Why can't you relax?" She crossed her arms.

"There's an important meeting next week," said Kaoru.

"So! Will you be able to finish the work by then?" asked Yui.

"Yes, but everybody is still working overtime," said Kaoru. "I left early."

"What? Are they paying you a million yen an hour? What is more important, your friends or your work?" Yui asked.

Kaoru looked at Yui but didn't answer.

"You're right," Kaoru said. She pushed the power button and put it into her pocket. "I've turned it off. No more distractions," she said.

Takumi took the mic. "Thank you, everyone, for coming out here tonight. This next song is a special one for our friend Kaoru. She brought me to her English Circle. I met Daichi there, and we made this great band. This one's for her," he said.

Daichi took the mic and nodded to the other two. "She's very special and came here just to hear us play," he said. "She's always so busy. We are glad she could make it tonight."

"That's you," Yui said. She shook Kaoru's arm.

Kaoru's face turned red.

The music started slowly but soon picked up. People were dancing on the floor, enjoying the sound.

"Great!" said Yui. "Let's dance." She pulled Kaoru onto the floor.

✦

"Thank you very much," Kaoru said. She gave the woman in the business suit two CDs.

"I loved their music," she said. "Tell them to call me." She gave Kaoru a business card.

Kaoru bowed and took the card with both hands. "Takumi and Daichi will be very glad to hear that." She looked at the card, and her eyes went wide.

"I hope to hear from them soon," said the woman. She nodded and left.

"Who was that, Ka-chan?" Yui asked. Takumi stood beside her.

Kaoru handed them the woman's business card.

"She's an executive for Quiet Signal Records," Takumi said. "That's great. They are a small company, but it's a start." He smiled and took the card.

"You were very comfortable out there," said Kaoru. "I didn't recognize you. When we first met at the English Circle, you were more nervous."

"Yes, you could barely speak Japanese," said Yui, laughing

Takumi shrugged. "It was my first time meeting people outside work. You two and Daichi have become great friends. Thank you for inviting me."

Kaoru turned red. "It's nothing," she said, changing the subject. "Why do you like music so much?"

"Music is important, and I can relax when I play," Takumi said. "I love heavy metal, but Daichi is more into pop music." He held up the business card. "He'll hate this."

"Yes, he is too shy," said Yui. She looked at the table. "There is a line up for CDs. I'll take care of it." She left Takumi and Kaoru alone.

Kaoru bit her lip and bowed. "I'm sorry. I almost didn't come tonight," she said.

"Why?" Takumi asked.

"I am very busy at work. We had overtime today," said Kaoru.

Takumi smiled. "I understand. I was the same way back in America. Work is important, but so is relaxing," he said. "Daichi was really happy to see you. He didn't make fun of me once the concert started."

A different band stepped up onto the stage. "Do you want to dance?" Takumi asked.

Kaoru looked at Yui. Daichi sat at the table with her. They were laughing and selling T-shirts. Daichi stepped forward and took a selfie with a fan. They were fine and didn't need her help.

"I'd love to," Kaoru said.

✦

Kaoru slept all day on Saturday. She kept her phone off and relaxed at home, watching movies. She still felt a little worried about work, but Takumi was right. She needed to relax. She turned on her phone Sunday evening. Fifty messages popped up. She bit her lip and checked them. Most were from Yui. Ten were from Daichi and Takumi. None were from work.

They hate me, thought Kaoru.

Monday morning, Kaoru walked into the office early. She opened the door slowly. The office was empty.

Where is the boss? Kaoru thought. He always arrived first. Did I miss something? She bit her lip.

"Good morning, Kaoru," said her boss. He came out of the break room with a cup of coffee. "You are here early. Did you have a good weekend?"

"Yes, I did," said Kaoru. She bowed. "Thank you very much for letting me go home early on Friday."

"No problem," said her boss. "I left after you did." He sat down.

"Really?" Kaoru said. She put her bag on her chair.

"Yes. It's important to enjoy yourself sometimes," said her boss. He opened his computer and started working. Three more co-workers arrived and sat down. They nodded to Kaoru and started working.

Kaoru sat at her desk and stared at her computer. Everything is okay, she thought. She looked at Honoka's desk. Will she hate me?

"Hey, you beat me today," Honoka said. "Did you have fun Friday night?"

"Yes, I did," said Kaoru, jumping. "Sorry for leaving like that."

"Don't worry about it," said Honoka. "I finished early too. I only have a bit of work left today to get ready for the meeting. How about you?" she asked.

"Me too," said Kaoru. She opened her computer and smiled.

"So, what did you do?" asked Honoka.

"I went to my friend's concert," said Kaoru. "It was in Shinsaibashi."

"Cool. Do they have any CD's?" asked Honoka.

Kaoru nodded. "I'll give you a link later," she said.

"Great!" said Honoka. She turned back to her computer and started typing.

Kaoru shook her head. After the weekend, she felt great, but it was time to get back to work. Next weekend, Takumi wanted to get together for another English Circle. Maybe she could go.