I’m Ai, 28 years old. After high school, I got a local job and now I’ve been with the company for ten years. I live with my husband, just the two of us. At work, every year one of the younger women gets picked to be the “leader”—which really just means the errand girl. But every time they’ve asked me, I’ve smoothly dodged it. It’s just extra work with zero reward.
This year, the job went to Misaki, who just transferred here from the main office. The kinder you are, the more people take advantage of you… and that’s not the kind of life I want.
Since then, Misaki’s been running around nonstop, buried in her so-called “leader” duties. No one ever says, “Need a hand?” Probably because they all suffered through it once themselves and can’t stand the idea of someone else having it easy. Watching her, all I can think is—she’s too nice for her own good. Honestly, she’s being a fool.
I’ve always tried to live in a way that minimizes my losses. If someone tries to dump a thankless task on me, I say no without hesitation. And if that makes people dislike me? So be it. Show a little kindness, and people will just use you. I learned that from watching my mother. That’s how I grew up, always telling myself—never be like her.