Chapter 45: Silver Soul (Earth Chapter)

The Odd Jobs shop was one of Kabukicho’s most renowned and distinctive institutions. As the name suggested, it was a place that would take on any task, whether it was cleaning or even babysitting.

“Odd Jobs…” Take Okakura gazed up at the two-story building, an old, weathered structure typical of Kabukicho.

“Well, this is where I, Gin-san, work now,” Gintoki said with a laugh, waving a hand. “Don’t look down on it! As the first location of the Odd Jobs chain, it’ll be a commemorative museum one day.”

“Gintoki, the rent you owe from last month is due,” announced an elderly woman caked in makeup as she stepped outside.

“Otose Granny,” Shinpachi addressed her.

“Come on, Granny, give me a little more time! I’ve found work now, so I’ll have the money soon, I swear,” Gintoki pleaded, hands pressed together as he bowed.

A thick-lipped woman with cat ears spat disdainfully as she walked out. “Hmph, who’d believe the excuses of a liar like you? Otose Granny, don’t trust a word from this useless bum.”

“And you think you’re in any position to lecture me?” Gintoki shouted back, then dragged Take Okakura closer, resting his hands on her shoulders and stepping behind her.

“Granny, look, this is a big-shot, a department chief! I’m working for her now.”

Take’s dark eyes met Otose’s, whose blue eyeshadow made her gaze even sharper.

“Hello, Mrs. Otose. My name is Take Okakura.”

“Ah, hello. I’m the landlord of that useless bum behind you, miss. Don’t let him fool you—he’s good for nothing.”

Otose Granny, you really see things as they are!

“Granny, quit it with the unnecessary comments,” Gintoki said, throwing an arm around Take’s shoulders as he started up the stairs. “I need to discuss Earth’s fate with Chief Okakura upstairs. Let’s talk about rent next time.”

With that, Gintoki hurriedly whisked Take away.

“Sorry about this, Otose Granny. We’ll pay the rent, I promise. Please give us a little more time,” Shinpachi apologized, cleaning up after Gintoki.

“With a leader like you, Gin-san, Shinpachi really has it tough,” Take teased. “By the way, you can let go of my shoulder now. I’m worried your loser stench will rub off on me.”

“Well, you know, for someone so flat-ch—”

Crash! Before Gintoki could finish, a door panel slammed into his face.

“Oh no! Gin-chan must’ve sold himself for strawberry milk! I have to go rescue him and turn him into someone amazing!” cried a petite, orange-haired girl in a red cheongsam, riding a giant white dog. She landed right on top of Gintoki, pinning him to the bottom.

Take and the girl stared at each other, wide-eyed.

“Who are you?” Kagura asked, tilting her head in confusion.

“Uh, maybe you should move first, little miss. You’re crushing someone,” Take said with a smile, pointing to the dog’s paw.

Kagura looked down. Gintoki, pinned beneath her and Sadaharu, was turning purple, nearly coughing up blood.

“Gin-chan!” Kagura cried, leaping off him with Sadaharu. Shinpachi arrived just then.

“Ah, Kagura-chan, you broke the door again,” Shinpachi sighed.

“Shinpachi, it’s terrible! Some fish-head brought us a mountain of strawberry milk—did Gin-chan do something bad?”

“No, Kagura-chan. The milk was a gift from Miss Take Okakura here for Gin-san. Miss Okakura, this is Kagura from Odd Jobs,” Shinpachi introduced them.

Take studied Kagura: porcelain skin, a purple-handled umbrella in her hand—she was a Yato.

And strangely, Take thought she resembled a certain annoying someone—Kamui.

Kagura, Kamui… could they really be unrelated?

Kagura’s large blue eyes met Take’s. Take smiled and greeted her.

“Hello, Kagura. I’m Take Okakura, an old friend of Gintoki’s.”

Kagura stroked her chin, putting on a mock-adult air. “Ah, you must’ve had a hard time. Our little Gin’s been a handful, hasn’t he? He’s hopeless except when it comes to eating—such a loser.”

“Haha, exactly. He needs someone to wake him up in the morning and feed him, and he’s always acting spoiled—honestly, it’s terrible,” Take replied.

In that instant, the two women found common ground: Gintoki the good-for-nothing.

Gintoki, clutching his curly hair, groaned as he climbed to his feet. “Ow, ow, ow…” He glanced inside the room.

So much—so much strawberry milk!

“Strawberry milk!” Gintoki cheered, dashing inside.

Every empty space in the room was piled high with pink cartons. Gintoki dove into them, his face a mask of bliss.

“Ah, this is happiness. So much strawberry milk! This isn’t a dream, is it?”

No sooner had he spoken than Sadaharu bit his head, plunging him into darkness. “Hey! Sadaharu, let go! I want to see the strawberry milk!”

“Sadaharu, let go of that useless mop-top or you’ll catch his loser aura,” Kagura said, patting the dog.

“Woof!” Sadaharu released Gintoki.

Even with blood streaming down his face, Gintoki couldn’t take his eyes off the milk, caressing the cartons like a lover. “The perfect packaging, those adorable curves, the soft pink hue… it’s just beautiful.”

“He’s lost it. Gin-san’s so happy he’s gone delusional,” Shinpachi complained.

Shinpachi suddenly remembered Take was still there and hurried over. “Sorry, Miss Okakura, our place is tiny.” He looked around, searching for a spot for her to sit, but even the table was covered in strawberry milk.

Take glanced at the mountain of cartons, thinking Osai sure worked fast.

“It’s fine, I’ll just sit on the tatami,” she said, settling cross-legged in a small clear patch.

Shinpachi navigated the milk field to the kitchen and poured her a cup of tea. “Here you go, Miss Okakura.”

“Thank you.”

Gintoki, perched atop the milk, closed his eyes in contentment. Even his nose felt filled with the scent of strawberries. If this were a dream, he’d be in a dessert kingdom, with rivers of strawberry milk and mountains of cream cake.

Shinpachi and Kagura couldn’t bear to look at his idiotic expression.

“Shinpachi, why is our Gin-chan so dumb?” Kagura sighed.

“Probably because we’re so poor,” Shinpachi said, adjusting his glasses.

In a way, that was true.

Take surveyed the tiny, plainly furnished room. The furniture was old, the space cramped.

She glanced at Gintoki again. So this curly-haired fool really wasn’t making any money. The once-feared White Demon had fallen on hard times—no wonder he’d resorted to being a host and a drag queen. Those paid quickly, after all.

As a former comrade, Take decided to look out for her old friend. In her heart, the sight of the White Demon’s valor on the battlefield was unforgettable. It was sad to see a once-famous hero living like this.

She recalled her department needed a few cleaning workers lately.

“Gin-san,” Take called out.

Gintoki rolled over on the mountain of milk. “Yeah?”

“Odd Jobs really does everything?”

“That’s right. No matter the request, we’ll take the job.”

“My department needs some cleaning staff. Could you help? There’s lunch included.”

Those last three words hit Kagura right in the stomach. She bounced over, excited. “Really? And we can eat as much as we want?”

Take nodded with a smile.

“Awesome! Gin-chan, accept the job! We’ll get all the salmon rice tea we can eat!” Kagura pleaded.

“Are you sure? This girl has a bottomless stomach—she’ll eat you out of house and home,” Gintoki said, picking his nose.

“It’s fine. Most of our employees are aliens and don’t like Earth food, so the cafeteria always has a lot left over at lunch,” Take replied.

“Yahoo!” Kagura was overjoyed.

How does Gin-san handle this kid every day?

“Um, Miss Okakura, are you sure we won’t be a burden?” Shinpachi, the most sensible of the trio, asked.

“Don’t worry. I am the department chief, after all. Arranging a few cleaners is no problem, as long as you don’t get into trouble with the aliens—they’re mostly nobles from other planets,” Take said.

“Alright, I’ll be heading back now. Just come find me at the Allied Police tomorrow,” Take said, walking over to Gintoki and grabbing a handful of his curly hair. “Gin-san, see me out.”

“Ah, ouch, not so hard!” Gintoki yelped as she dragged him from the milk pile.

“Kagura-chan, Shinpachi, goodbye,” Take called, hauling Gintoki outside.

“Shinpachi, that lady seems even scarier than our boss,” Kagura whispered.

Shinpachi thought for a moment. If his sister was a mountain gorilla, Take Okakura was a rampaging Godzilla—definitely more destructive.

“Don’t worry, Kagura-chan, Miss Okakura is a good person.” Except for her treatment of Gin-san, that is.

Once outside, Take released her grip.

“Ow, you almost pulled out all my hair! I’ll end up bald and then you’ll have to take responsibility,” Gintoki complained, rubbing his curls.

Take leaned in close, locking eyes with him. The intensity of her gaze made Gintoki blush.

“W-What is it?” he stammered, biting his tongue.

Take placed her hands on the wall, trapping him.

Gintoki flushed even deeper. Wasn’t this the pose from those melodramatic TV shows, where the domineering hero corners the helpless heroine?

“Gin-san,” Take said seriously.

“Wh-What?” Was she about to confess? He wasn’t ready for this! Though he had to admit, Take was really pretty.

He glanced up at her face. She was, in fact, beautiful—prettier than any TV host, even. No, stop thinking nonsense. She’s just a brat, don’t get carried away.

He shook his head, trying to banish the thoughts, but his eyes drifted to Take’s luscious lips.

They were alone in a narrow alley. Take simply wanted to have a serious talk, and worried Gintoki would try to escape, she’d trapped him. Seeing his distracted look, she decided to pull him back to reality.

“Gin-san, let me help you.”

“Huh? What?” Gintoki stared at her in surprise.

Take’s lips curled into a slightly wicked smile. “Let me turn you into a successful adult.”

She’s terrifying! Even though Kagura always said something similar, this time she really meant it. Gintoki shivered.