A reversal from 'Get out, you unemployed person.' When I chose to 'be honest' in the worst-case scenario, I found the courage to make the call.

Hello! I have ASD, but I want to become a millionaire.
I've written an article for the first time in three years. It's been a while since I've even looked at note.
I'd like to talk about why I changed my creator name and started again.

The shock of the 'eviction notice' that arrived suddenly

Having submitted my resignation early in the new year, I was spending time relaxing at home, citing a medical certificate for 'adjustment disorder'.

Day 1 of rest

I was completely off guard, as there were no calls from the company that I had been worried about.

Day 2 of rest

I went through the procedures to change the company housing I lived in to my own name. Even though I had been told I could continue living there after resigning, the company housing agency told me in an exasperated tone, 'Unemployed people cannot change the name on the lease.'

I intended to find a job soon, and I could even pay the rent in advance.
I had never been late on rent before. No matter how many times I explained, the only answer was 'It's impossible.'

With just one phone call from the agency, my dream crumbled.
I experienced firsthand the reality that 'unemployed equals zero social credibility'.

Cannot hide it, cannot carry it alone

Usually, I would try to solve things on my own, thinking 'I have to pull myself together,' but this time it was impossible.

Escaping reality with Pikmin

I didn't want to think about anything, so I watched Pikmin (a Nintendo game) playthroughs from morning till night. While I felt happy watching the Pikmin work diligently and steadily achieve their goals, I also felt sad, thinking, 'Everyone else is working, what am I doing...'

I, the liar

I have a good relationship with my mother back home, and I had told her I was quitting the company.
'If you can keep living in the company housing even after you quit, isn't it fine to quit the company?'
That was one of the reasons I felt I could go through with the resignation. But in reality, it was different.

I didn't mean any harm, but I lied to my mother, saying, 'I don't have to move out of the company housing.'
I also lied to the company when I quit, saying, 'I'm moving to a recruitment agency.'
I even lied to the doctor to get the medical certificate, saying, 'I haven't quit the company yet.'

How am I supposed to make ends meet??
Who should I talk to and how, so that everything works out...?

The magic of 'being honest'

My mother suddenly showed up

Usually, my mother sends me a LINE message before she comes over.
But on this day, she visited suddenly. She opened the front door with her spare key and
rattled the door lock bar.

My nerves had been on edge since that moment, and I genuinely thought, 'The agency has come to kick me out.' I glanced at my Pikmin figure, then quietly turned my head to look at my mother. 'Oh, it's just Mom. But she's going to be mad that I lied. I don't want that.'

I opened the curtains of the room I had kept closed to escape reality and invited my mother in.
My mother said, 'Are you okay? I brought you some food,' in her usual tone.
I crawled into the futon that I had left spread out and looked up at her.

'Mom, I have to move out of the company housing.'

I finally burst into tears. Even though I'm a woman over thirty,
I clung to my mother's knees like a small child, crying and wailing.

'They told me to get out because I'm unemployed! What should I do if I can't find a house? If I'm unemployed, I can't rent a house anywhere and I'll become homeless!'

I truly believed that. My mother said, 'If it doesn't work out, you can just come back to your parents' house. People who receive pensions are unemployed too, but they have homes, right? It'll be okay. Should I call them for you? Huh? Why did you lie to the doctor? You should tell the truth next time.'

My mother was exasperated, but she wasn't angry that I had lied.
I see, I just need to tell the truth...

I make the call with trembling hands.

After my mother left, I was so exhausted from crying that I slept like a log until morning.
The next morning, while struggling with whether or not to call, I dialed the agency with trembling hands. From there, the situation began to change rapidly.

1. Request an extension of the move-out date from the agency (it was extended by two weeks)

2. Consult with the Real Estate Association about whether the eviction order is illegal

3. Call to see if I can get into municipal housing

4. Go to the welfare division of the city office while crying and explain the situation

5. Get a referral to a housing support center

6. Have the support representative speak with the agency

7. Be told by the support representative that it would be okay to stay even if the deadline passes (prepared for trouble)

8. Get a referral to a trustworthy real estate agent from the support representative

9. Receive information on over 30 properties from the real estate agent that accept unemployed tenants

These were the events of just one day, the day after I cried my heart out to my mother.
I was moved by how much I could accomplish just by feeling that 'I am not alone.'

Summary: Vulnerability can be both a shield and a weapon.

You don't have to be perfect all the time. Sometimes you might end up telling a lie.
Rather than piling lie upon lie, speaking honestly and asking for help is ultimately the shortest path!

• I told a lie. But it's already too late to fix it...

• If I tell them it was a lie, I wonder if they'll blame me...

• I'm worried I'll lose the trust of the person I lied to...

It's okay! The person you lied to is human, too.
They must have told a lie at some point as well. They are human, just like you.
So, they will surely forgive you. And they will help you while you are feeling weak.

There aren't many people who would bully someone who is even more vulnerable than themselves.
So it's okay. Let's try speaking honestly! If you're scared, cry and apologize until you look pathetic. Vulnerability can be both a shield and a weapon.

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The continuation is scheduled to be released next Saturday!