Just being ordinary

Shift complete... She dropped her bag by the door, the scent of bleach and floor wax from the cleaning company still clinging to her worn-out school uniform.

She threw her uniform in the washing machine and took a bath.

got 4,000 yen. Rent due in two weeks is 30,000. Utilities, estimated 5,000. Food budget for the remainder of the month is 8,000 yen.

I guess this will be ok.

She got out of the bath, dry her hair and as she was about to cook ramen, a soft knock is heard on her door.

“Hmm? She’s here again?”

She opened the door to see her only girl friend from school,

“Haruna…” her next-door neighbor is holding out a still-warm bento box wrapped in a cheerful pink cloth.

“Suzuha-chan!” Her eyes shimmer, Haruna’s smile was bright enough to light up the stress that she had. “My mom made way too much nikujaga again! She’ll be so sad if it goes to waste.”

Suzuha just smiles, “I see.” She knew it. Haruna knew she knew it.

“Thank you, Haruna,” Suzuha said as she took the box. “Please extend my gratitude to your mother.”

“Will do! See you at school tomorrow!” Haruna nods before going back into her own apartment, leaving Suzuha with the faint and delicious smell of soy sauce and mirin.

Suzuha closed the door. She placed the bento on her small table.

Nikujaga saved me approximately 500 yen for tonight’s meal.

Thank you Haruna’s mom… You’re the best. Thanks also, Haruna… I know this is your portion but I just can’t say no to good eatable food.

She ate silently, the savory potatoes and beef is a luxury she could never afford for herself.

At the international school, Suzuha was that student, the one with their name at the top of every exam ranking, a genius who only sole purpose is to ace every test before vanishing back into the background.

During the lunch break. Together, the girls would go and compare lip gloss tints, put on perfume, laugh at pictures on their phones, and arrange weekend visits to Harajuku to buy the newest candies.

But Suzuha is different, she would just sit at her desk, using the forty-five-minute break to get ahead on her physics homework. It’s better to do it now since she must work again after class.

“Suzuha… Let’s buy something?” A voice cuts to her focus, it was Haruna.

Suzuha barely glanced up, “Buying lunch from the cafeteria was an extravagance, that 600-yen is something that I could save for something else.”

“I… I see. Do you want me to buy you something then? I do have extra 700 yen…”

Suzuha’s glare sharpened as she looks at Haruna in the eyes, “You…”

“EH? Did I do something wrong?” Haruna trembles under her gaze.

But then Suzuha looked down again, “Nevermind, that’s a good idea. Then buy me an orange juice and karaage bento.”

Haruna chuckles quietly before leaving the class, “Ok then, Karaage bento and juice coming up. Wait ok?”

“Yeah, I won’t go anywhere.”

After Haruna leaves, she sighs at herself; she could work for over an hour at the convenience store she cleaned nightly and still not have enough to buy lunch for herself, but then she nodded, Haruna is a goddess.

Something buzzed on her bag, “Oh? Someone messaged me?” She muttered, she brings it up, her cheap smartphone that she uses only to call and text, “Let’s see…” She scrolls to open and see the message, and when she does, she just accepts her fate.

I guess I must find a new job then. I have been found out working again… What a bad luck…

She put the phone back and continued to do her homework but no longer after, her pen stopped working.

As if this day couldn’t get any worse.

“Whatever…” She closed her book and glanced at the group of boys in the back of the class, “Hey! You guys! Wanna defeat this week raids together? And I have something cool to show you.” She smiled terrifyingly.

The group of boys looked up when Suzuha called out.

Ramu, the serious boy with glasses and messy hair, raised his brows. “You’re interrupting my gacha rolls, Suzuha.” He is handsome in many girls eyes, but sadly, he’s a weeb.

Yuunosuke already half out of his chair, grinned. “Nah, nah, she’s definitely challenging us again. What’s the game this time?”

Kazuyoshi slapped the desk. “Don’t tell me you finally found a way to beat my high score. No way. I won’t allow it.”

Atsuto the quiet one just smiled faintly and stretched, setting aside his basketball magazine. He didn’t talk much, but he was always the first to plug in his console.

Suzuha smirked, pulling out her battered GameMate. “I was bored. Thought I’d give you all another lesson.”

“Yeah ok... Show me.” Kazuyoshi muttered, already reaching for his own handheld.

“Don’t act like you didn’t learn from the last time,” Suzuha shot back, her tone quite sharp. “I know you still can’t clear a dungeon without wasting potions.”

“Oi, oi, don’t expose me in public,” Kazuyoshi groaned. “At least keep it a secret.”

They synced up through the GameShare feature, screens flickering to life. The chatter around the classroom blurred into background noise while Suzuha and the boys leaned close, eyes fixed on the tiny worlds glowing in their hands.

“WHAT?! SUZU?! You’ve 100% the game?!” Kazuyoshi screamed, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Hmph. I am disciplined afterall.”

Ramu pushed up his glasses, muttering like an old sage. “Well, with Suzuha and if we coordinate properly this time, we might actually win.”

“Speak for yourself, nerd.” Yuunosuke shot back, quick fingers already navigating menus. “I’m gonna rush ahead.”

“You always rush ahead,” Suzuha deadpanned. “That’s why you die first.”

“I mean...” Atsuto chuckled quietly, barely audible over the noise. “She’s not wrong.”

“Traitor,” Yuunosuke groaned.

The match started, and the four boys quickly fell into their usual chaos, Ramu overthinking every move, Yuunosuke charging recklessly, Kazuyoshi trash-talking everyone, and Atsuto silently carrying half the team without complaint. And then there was Suzuha who was cool and precise.

It lasted around 12 minutes, the timer end just as Suzuha landed the finishing blow.

Kazuyoshi groaned loudly. “Unfair! That’s cheat! I called hack!”

“Damn!! What a save, Suzuha! You’re the best.” Yuunosuke say.

“Hehe, what a lucky clutch.” Suzuha turned off her GameMate, slipping it back into her bag with the care of someone cradling treasure. “Next time, maybe you’ll actually improve.”

Kazuyoshi slapped his desk. “She’s not even human. She must be some kind of robot planted by the government in our class to humble us.”

“Well... maybe?” Suzuha jokingly said.

Just then, the classroom door slid open. Haruna hurried in, carrying the bento and an orange juice. She looked a little flushed, strands of hair slipping loose. “Sorry, Suzuha… the line at the cafeteria was so full… But here, I got you the things you want.”

Suzuha glanced up, smiling, “…It’s fine. Thanks for going.”

Haruna brightened immediately, setting the food on Suzuha’s desk.

The boys, still slouched around, exchanged knowing looks. Kazuyoshi leaned back, grinning. “Welp, break’s still twenty minutes. Let’s go, boys. Bread run?”

Yuunosuke shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. We don’t have a personal servant like Suzuha, after all.”

All four of them chuckled as they stood, Ramu muttering, “Must be nice, having someone line up for you…” Atsuto gave Haruna a polite nod before following the others out.

Suzuha sighed, shaking her head at their backs. “Idiots.” But her hand lingered on the bento for a moment longer before she opened it.

Haruna look curious at Suzuha, waiting for her to finish drinking the juice, “Mnn… but Suzuha, can I ask something?”

“Depends,” Suzuha muttered, taking another sip.

Haruna leaned in closer, lowering her voice, “Which one of them do you like?”

Suzuha coughed violently, slamming the carton back down on the desk as her face reddens like a tomato. “W-what the hell are you talking about?!”

Haruna’s eyes went wide, hands fluttering nervously. “Ah! I was only joking! I didn’t mean to- I just thought-!”

Suzuha glared, cheeks tinged pink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Unbelievable… Don’t joke like that again, Haru. I nearly died.”

“You did?!”

“Anyway, can you help me? Somehow my job got found out again, where should i work now? Do you have any idea?”

“Hmmmnnn...” She thinks so hard. “Last year exam is coming close, don’t you think it’s better for you to take a break from working?”

Suzuha looked shocked, “A break...?”