Chapter 78: Decentralization of the Hourglass Group
"Hey! Why are you still lying here sleeping? Get up and get to work!"
The HR manager, Nakamura, stormed into the workers' dormitory. The room was empty except for one person curled up in a blanket like a caterpillar. He glanced at the nameplate on the bed—Kijima.
The sun was already high in the sky, and the other workers had been on the job for two hours. Yet Kijima was still "playing dead" in bed, which ignited Nakamura's fury. Without hesitation, he yanked the blanket off Kijima.
"Get up and get to work, or I'll dock your entire day's wages!"
Kijima, now deprived of his blanket, seemed completely unfazed. Slowly, he pulled the blanket back over himself and muttered, "I'm not feeling well today. I'm not going."
"Did you request sick leave from your supervisor?" Nakamura growled, his anger barely contained.
"Nope," Kijima replied without even turning his head, clearly indifferent to the HR manager.
"Humph, Kijima, right? Don't think I don't know. I've checked your attendance. You've skipped work more than twenty days this month. You're just lazing around here, eating and drinking for free. If you don't get up today, pack your things and get out!"
"Get out? And who are you to kick me out?" Kijima finally turned his face toward Nakamura.
"I came here because I heard this place offers free meals and accommodation, plus a salary. Why should I leave? Hah, what a joke."
With that, he turned back around and wrapped himself even tighter in the blanket.