I awake to the thumping of my head against the train window. I don't even remember falling asleep. Not surprised I dozed off. Work has been been draining the life from me these past few months. Mandatory overtime, garbage wage, and ridiculous quotas are driving me insane. It's a miracle I can even get out of bed in the morning.

"College degree doesn't mean shit." I sigh heavily.

Outside the window, the landscape rolls by and the sun slowly sets. On normal days I'd be arriving home at four in evening but today I won't be home until at least nine. I miss when I had free time. It's hard to even get in a workout when your entire existence is consumed by work. It's a sad state when exercise is the only enjoyable hobby you have.

"Is there anyone sitting here?" I lazily turn my head to the voice. A beautiful, blonde woman, dressed in a purple dress, and holding a parasol stands smiling. I perk up. Women usually don't approach men on trains and women rarely approach me. Her outfit is a little odd though, could be some kind of cosplayer.

"Nah, here let me give you some room."

"Domo arigatou." I'm convinced she's a cosplayer. You don't often hear Japanese where I live. "Hello, my name is Yukari Yakumo. What's yours?"

"Victor Dziedzic, nice to meet you Yukari." We lock eyes momentarily. There's an unsettling amount of intelligence in her eyes. A feeling of unease settles over me.

"Don't look so uncomfortable Victor! I have a question for you. Do you yearn for a better life? Isn't so unfulfilling working a deadend job?" I scoot further away from Yukari in my seat. How could she possibly know I'm unhappy with my job? I scan the car for a way out. I can hear her chuckling. "I have a job proposition for you. Well, not me but a confidant."

"And why should I trust someone I've never met before?" Every part of my being is telling me to run. I have a death grip on my backpack.

"You can go back to living in your rundown apartment with just your computer and mattress. Or you could live in a mansion with opportunities beyond your wildest dreams. Look, I've seen folks like yourself in dead end situations so I give opportunities to those less fortunate." I see a smirk forming on her face. She knows she's struck my weakness. I do want a better life than the one I have. I'm tired of waking up to a miserable existence. I've landed in a rut with no easy escape.

I feel that regardless of my answer, she's already planned out if I say no. I reluctantly accept her proposition. "I don't feel like I have much choice but you're right. I'm living a boring life and do want a better one. I'd hope you'd at least tell me what this job entails."

"As soon as we arrive at the proper stop, I'll fill in on the details as we walk to your new job and residence. In the mean time, why don't you sleep?"

"How can I sleep when..."

(A shameless cross post from my AO3 account. It isn't getting a whole lot of traction since it isn't smut focused. I just wanted to spread it around in more than once place. If you guys like it enough, I'll post all my updates from AO3 to here.)