The search for a new apartment was beginning to weigh down on me. Everywhere I looked, prices were through the roof and although it was Tokyo, it was no excuse to place exorbitant prices on apartments that weren't even worth half that much. I tossed aside today's newspaper in disgust, flopping back onto my sofa. The lease on my current place was ending in a matter of days, so I needed to find something quick. Maybe quick wasn't fast enough. Now! I needed something now.
My doorbell rang softly, not loud like my neighbors. That should be my friends, I thought, racing to the door. Sure enough there they were, boxes in hand and dressed for work... helping me pack, that is.
"Hey!" they greeted in unison, surging through my small door all at once. My best friend Rina came up to me and asked, "How's the apartment search going?"
I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Absolutely nowhere. There's nothing I like in the newspapers I have. What am I going to do?"
We took a break from our conversation so that I could show everyone where the things to be packed were. Once they were started, Rina and I continued our discussion.
"I'm running out of options now..."
Rina pulled out her mobile phone and started dialing before I could protest. "Maybe my father can help... hold on a second." Her voice paused a minute until I could hear a distinctly masculine voice on the other end. "Dad, hi. I was wondering if you knew anyone that had any apartments for rent... eh? No, not for me. For Mika." She paused for a long time while I watched her expression closely. Rina put her hand over the speaker and said to me, "He's taking a look in his book."
While I was waiting, my belongings were slowing disappearing from the walls, being carefully wrapped and shoved into boxes. I wasn't moving because I wanted to; I simply had no other alternatives. The rent was too expensive here and it was the third rise in price in the last two years. I was so deep in my own thoughts that I didn't even realize Rina finished the conversation with her father.
"Good news! One of his co-workers moved out about two weeks ago and the apartment is still available," Rina announced, handing me a piece of paper with a phone number on it. "The price is very cheap from what Dad said. Give the landlord a call and see."
"You are the best!" I exclaimed, giving her a huge hug. "Make sure you tell your Dad thanks for me."
By the time she nodded, I was already dialing the number, anxious to get an appointment with the landlord to take a look at the place. The phone rang once, then twice. On the third ring, a man answered the phone, announcing it to be the Katamiya residence.
"Hi! I'm calling about the available apartment in your complex," I announced. "It is still available, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is still available. Are you interested in taking a look at it?" he asked politely. His voice was a very soothing tenor, calming what nervousness I had instantly.
"If it's not too much trouble," I replied. "When would be a good time?"
"Well," he pondered, "the rest of this week isn't really good for me. It's short notice, but can you come today?"
Unbelievable, I thought. I stammered my way through a positive response, getting all of the information and directions for getting there. He also told me the monthly rent. It was on the high side of my budget, but definitely doable. The only thing that concerned me was the gift money usually given to a landlord when moving in...
After letting everyone know the news, I put the reins for packing into Rina's hands and left for the apartment. It surprised me how easy it was to get to the apartment, with a mere five minute walk from the train station. Perfect!
The building appeared to be a new construction, angled three-story faces going down a slight hill. The landlord lived in building one on the third floor, so I made my way up the outdoor staircase and rang his doorbell. For some reason, I thought the landlord would be an older man, but when the door opened, the man couldn't have been any older than thirty-five.
