That face, it's worth money.
If you get plastic surgery, I'll give you 1 million yen.
We really want someone like you to be a monitor.
I entered an old-fashioned coffee shop located a few alleys away from the main street in Ginza.
1,000 yen for a cup of coffee, that's expensive.
Though I suppose he's paying.
I've been listening to him talk for 10 minutes now.
He's been going on and on about how my face is perfect for a monitor.
I don't know much about cosmetic surgery, but apparently, it's an ideal face.
He says they'll remove the spots and blemishes on my face.
Recovery will take about a month.
I'm not handsome, but I'm not ugly either.
Because I have an ordinary face, I'm perfect.
He's saying that in a roundabout way so as not to be rude.
Alright, I get it already.
Anyway, what even is a 'monitor-ready face'?
More than that, I want to hear about the 1 million yen soon.
"I understand that I'm suitable as a monitor."
"I'd like to hear about the 1 million yen now..."
"Ah, yes, my apologies."
"It's not a complicated matter."
"It's a reward for letting us use your photos for advertising."
"How much would this laser treatment cost if I received it at a regular hospital?"
"The market rate is probably about 10,000 yen per centimeter."
"What? 10,000 yen for just 1cm? That's expensive."
"Once you reach a certain age and do it all at once, it adds up to a considerable amount."
"So I can get that done for free, and get 1 million yen on top of it?"
"Yes."
It's embarrassing to show my face as a monitor, but I want the 1 million.
I intend to quit my current job, so I want a lump sum of money until I find the next one.
Starting over at a new workplace with a new face doesn't sound bad.
"Understood, I'll give it a try as a monitor."
Things went smoothly, and I went to the hospital the day after I quit my job.
After receiving an explanation of the laser treatment, I underwent the procedure.
The nervousness was short-lived.
It didn't even hurt.
Did it even take 5 minutes?
After the treatment, I had photos taken for the monitor program and left the examination room.
— 1 month later
The laser wounds had healed completely, and my skin was beautiful.
I felt like reporting my happiness, so my steps toward the hospital were light.
After the post-op photo shoot, I signed the papers and received the 1 million yen reward in cash.
A bank transfer would have been fine, but I wanted to feel what 1 million yen was like.
I wouldn't withdraw such a large amount of money myself anyway.
Just as I was about to get ready to leave, I was stopped and told they had something to discuss.
They introduced me to their parent company's cosmetic surgery clinic and asked if I would be a monitor there too.
The reward was 3 million yen.
It involved an epicanthoplasty and removing sagging skin to improve the face line.
They had even thoughtfully prepared a simulated photo of my face.
If I can get 3 million yen and look like that, I'd be grateful.
It makes me look 5 years younger, or is 10 years too much? Maybe 7 years.
The doctor explained that recovery would take 3 months and also explained the risks of failure.
I was a little anxious about the procedure, but after the thorough explanation, I was convinced.
The success rate is almost 100%, and I get 3 million yen.
No problem at all.
Thank you for giving birth to such a monitor-ready face.
I'm grateful to my mother.
A few hours later, the procedure was performed and it was a success.
— 3 months later
The swelling went down, and I finally recovered.
I was a little concerned about the balance with the lower half of my face, which hadn't been treated.
Still, my eyes were more defined, and my contours were a bit tighter. It felt like I had changed a little.
On the other hand, I thought it would change more dramatically, but that wasn't the case.
My parents will notice, I'm sure.
But I won't be going back to my parents' house for a while.
I haven't seen my old friends in 5 years anyway.
I went to the hospital, finished the photo shoot, and received the 3 million yen.
When I received the reward, they introduced me to a partner suit shop.
I had a suit tailored to fit my body.
Plus a shirt, tie, and shoes—it must have totaled 300,000 yen.
Is it really okay to get all this for free?
However, I was in the middle of job hunting and had interviews scheduled with several companies.
I thought I could go to the interviews with this face and this attire.
Is the photo on my resume okay?
It's not that different, so it should be fine.
— 1 month after changing jobs
I've gotten used to the face in the mirror.
I've started dressing stylishly to match.
It's not quite Ginza-tailored quality, but the expenses are piling up.
I'm not getting approached by women at my new workplace.
Since I'm not used to women, even if my face changes, I'm not popular.
Maybe I just want someone to say, "You look cool."
Being told "You look wonderful" by the cosmetic surgery staff is what keeps me going.
Actually, have I not changed as much as I think? Is something missing?
I got a call from the hospital.
They said my photos were finally going to be used in an advertisement, so they wanted me to come in.
On the ad banner, there's a Before and After.
My face is on it.
I was embarrassed, but I also thought that no one I know would see something like this.
The doctor in charge asked me, "How have things been since then?"
I hinted that the reaction from people around me was weaker than I expected.
"That's how it is."
"People aren't really that interested in others."
"If you do your nose and chin, you'll see a significant change."
I started to become concerned about the area below my nose.
It felt disappointing, or maybe it was out of balance.
The doctor looked at the lower half of my face for a moment and said this.
"If you become a monitor, we'll give you a 5 million yen reward."
"F-5 million yen!"
"Recovery will take half a year, but if it doesn't interfere with your daily life, please do."
To be honest, my new job wasn't fun.
With 5 million yen, I could live without working for a while.
I decided to quit during my probationary period.
— Half a year later
I visited the hospital and received the 5 million yen.
At the same suit shop as before, this time they even styled my hair and gave me a wristwatch as a gift.
With this face and this attire.
I don't mean to brag, but I look cool.
I left the shop and decided to walk through the pedestrian paradise in Ginza.
Ginza, the city for adults.
I keep catching the eyes of men about my height.
I'm not losing, no, I'm actually winning.
Then I saw a man dressed similarly to me walking toward me with a woman.
The same outfit?
I don't want to lose in terms of looks.
He's walking while talking to her.
He doesn't seem to notice me.
When I checked his face as he approached, my heart almost stopped.
He looks just like me!
For a moment, I thought it was me.
Blinking repeatedly, I followed his back as he passed by.
I want to check again.
I decided to get ahead of him on the main street.
I turned into a side alley and ran, not caring about the stares in Ginza.
Out of breath, I returned to the main street, and he was there.
I observed him from the side of the road so as not to be noticed.
It's far, so I can't see well.
I should have gotten LASIK surgery.
Acting natural, I approached little by little with quick steps.
I still can't see his face clearly, but he really does look like me.
And I realized his clothes, shoes, and watch were the same brand as mine.
The refinement of a Ginza man—it seems we all end up the same.
I want to see his face
closer.
More, more,
closer.
More, more, more,
see his face closer.
It's me.
……No, it's slightly different.
His mouth was smarter than mine.
I've always had a slightly crooked lip.
I lost, I thought.
I left the scene quickly so as not to be noticed.
I walked through the streets of Ginza, nursing my frustration.
But it's okay.
In a year, I'll get 10 million yen and have this mouth fixed too.
On the building past the main street, a cosmetic surgery advertisement sign is shining.
On it, a man without a crooked mouth was displayed.