Working Retail

The crisp Spring sunlight fazes through the sky, and weighs upon the students at Setagaya Junior College. Rolling clouds push through the blue sky, as a warm breeze rubs against moving and idle bodies. Kei Okazaki strolls down the cement staircase that leads towards the front doors of the college. As he exits, his eyes dance around - searching for a certain someone. Reaching the pedestrian-filled sidewalk, Kei glances towards the now familiar greenhouse.

Kei visits that glass room everyday - holding onto a hope, buried at the bottom of his heart, that a white-haired girl would be watering her blooming flowers after her classes. Within the past week, he has found no such luck. 

The last encounter Kei had with the mysterious girl was that first awkward interaction when they first met. Having given her his phone number, Kei imagined she would call him sooner or later - but that dream died every night, as he realized she would never dial the written number.

The greenhouse is once again empty as Kei’s eyes peer through the transparent walls. A disappointed expression washes over his face, and his saddened eyes fall to the sidewalk beneath him. Deciding to head home for the day, Kei begins his walk to his car he drove here in. Fishing his hands through the linty jean pockets, his fingertips slide against the coolness of his metallic keys. Pulling the object out, Kei’s head snaps back up to locate the position of his parked car.

In doing so, his sight lands upon a woman walking down the sidewalk across the street. Wearing denim shorts and a white shirt, she carries textbooks in her arms. A bold sense of femininity and robustness covers her person all at once. 

Her sneaker-clad feet never touch a single crack in the cement, and her steps are as light as air. The slight breeze draws loose strands from her ponytail away from her face, and her crystalline blue eyes catch the comforting sunrays.

Kei’s eyes widen, and his lips part subtly and subconsciously at the sight of the girl. Then, a mischievous smirk appears on his previously surprised face. Instantly, Kei decides to head over to this fast-paced woman, as he forgets all about the location of his parked car. Crossing the busy street, Kei nearly gets hit by a passing car when he steps into oncoming traffic.

“Sorry!” Kei apologizes sincerely, still not breaking stride. Snapping his gaze away from his would-be suicide, he brings his eyes back to the speed walking girl ahead. Kei reaches the opposite sidewalk, and takes off in a hastened jog towards the white-haired girl. A soft smile encapsulates his expression as he draws nearer, and soon, she is positioned right in front of him.

“Hey, Junko!” Kei greets breathily, placing himself next to her as he matches her pace. Junko is visibly surprised, and her ponytail swings with her head as she looks to her fellow walker. The realization sets in when Junko sees Kei’s big smile moving alongside her. Not having seen him in a week, she truly thought he gave up on her by now.

“Hey, Kei,” Junko says, bringing her eyes back in front. She subconsciously grips the books in her possession tighter - remembering their last interaction, and the awkwardness that ensued. “What’ve you been up to?” Kei asks as they walk together, at a faster pace than average, “I’ve been trying to catch you at the greenhouse, but I haven’t seen you there in a while.”

“That’s because I started going before class, rather than after,” Junko responds, not taking her eyes off of the path ahead. Kei pulls his lips in as he nods to the reply. “Why’s that? Trying to avoid me or something?” Kei jokes, but an embarrassed Junko looks at him with reddened cheeks at the reply - having taken the comment seriously.

“N-Not at all!” Junko stammers over her words, “My dad was getting on my case about not being home in time for work, so I readjusted my schedule to fit everything in,” She affirms, truthfully. Mamoru never enjoyed the idea of Junko being a police officer and a college student at the same time. Her priorities were always out of check, and the Special Operations Task Force was never at the top of her list, in comparison to her love for botany and learning.

Kei smiles softly at the nervous girl, and shakes his head at her anxiousness, “Don’t worry,” Kei assures in a honey-coated voice, “I was just messing with you. Even if you were avoiding me, it doesn’t matter - because I’m here with you now. So, I’ll use my time wisely.” Junko shares the soft smile Kei wears as she keeps her gaze forward.

“Tell me about yourself, Junko,” Kei says, moving his finger to his jean pockets, “The only things I know about you are that you’re a Botany major, you’ve got a job in retail, and you’re a really fast walker.” Kei chuckles as Junko noticeably slows her pace to adjust to her walking companion. “Well…” Junko starts, thoughtfully conjuring up something to say to the querying man.

“I’ve always had a love for flowers, I guess,” Junko claims humbly, shrugging her shoulders, “My mother loved gardening, and I love my mother, so I kind of just took after her love for everything plant-related. I’m studying Botany out of sheer enjoyment - since I already have a career, I don’t necessarily need a college education or anything.”

Kei’s eyes draw together in confusion, as he looks to the girl to his right, “But you work in retail, don’t you? How on Earth are you going to maintain a lifelong career working some minimum wage job?” He points out, genuinely curious as to Junko’s plan later on in life. Junko stays silent for a moment, mulling over a response in her mind.

“It may not be how I want it to be,” Junko begins, phrasing her words carefully, in order to retain secrecy to the Task Force, “But it’s for the best - I’m doing the right thing. It’s making my father happy, so I’m happy in return. Of course, I still dream about what my life could have been like if I didn’t make a promise to my dad to take after the… store. But, that’s all it is - a dream. And this is reality.”

Kei stares at Junko in a saddened shock as he walks beside her. His lips part and his eyes go without blinking. Looking at her, Kei notices the longing in her eyes, and the dissatisfaction buried deep within her soul. Swallowing a lump in his throat, Kei asks the dazing Junko beside him, “What do those dreams look like?”

Junko smiles wholeheartedly - turning her head to look at Kei warmly. “I’m a flower shop owner in Hokkaido, and I’ve got two kids and a loving spouse. The stray cats I feed are named Sizzle and Poppy. Not everyday is filled with smiles, but they are filled with a definitive love for life.” Junko finishes her hopeful telling with a dreamy look on her face.

Kei continues to stare at Junko - now in amazement compared to his previous shock. “Do it,” He says affirmatively, making Junko look at the commanding and determined man next to her, “Go to Hokkaido. Open the flower shop. Who cares about some promise you made to your dad? He can figure things out for himself. Don’t get yourself caught up in trouble just for the sake of other people.”

Junko draws her lips in, shaking her head to his passionate proposal. “It’s not that simple, Kei, “ She says apologetically, “I made a commitment not just to my dad, but to a lot of people. They’re all counting on me, and if I don’t keep my word, who knows what’ll happen to them.” Junko thinks of all the people in Tokyo she is protecting by doing her job day after day - without them even realizing she is saving them.

“To just get up and walk away from it all, to be selfish and put myself first…” Junko shakes her head again, disagreeing with Kei’s wishful declaration, “My father wouldn’t allow that. My job wouldn’t allow that. It’s just not possible.” Without even realizing it, Junko and Kei have walked themselves all the way to the train station.

Stepping onto the platform alongside Kei, Junko’s train awaits her with open doors. She flips her wrist up to check the time, and realizes that the scheduled departure time is drawing near. Looking up to Kei, she notices the faint and sad smile lingering on his cheeks. “Are you getting on this train too, Kei?” She asks him, waiting for a response.

Kei shakes his head slowly, despite walking towards the open doors of the train. Following suit, Junko steps onto the train, as Kei stays standing on the platform outside of the doors. “Nope,” He responds brightly, “I drove today.” Taking out his keys, Kei jingles the metal in his fingertips.

Confusedly, Junko scrunches her eyebrows together. “Then, why’d you come all the way to the train station if your car is still at the college?” She asks, watching Kei stuff the keys back into his pants pocket. Smiling at the girl in front of him, Kei shrugs playfully. “I told you,” He says in a light and mischievous tone, “I was going to use my time wisely today.”

At those words, the doors close on Kei, and Junko takes off along with her other passengers riding the train. Raising one hand to a bar above her to the left, she grips the cold surface in her grasp. Sighing a breath, Junko shakes off an expression that lingered even after Kei’s leave.

Her train eventually arrives at her predetermined stop, and Junko makes it back to headquarters safely and soundly. There, she is greeted fondly by her fellow officers and friends. Throwing her book bag to the couch where Jiro and Niko sit comfortably, Junko looks at the bored Yuuto hovering over his computer screen in the far left corner of the room. Walking over to his position, she asks, “Has our target arrived yet?” Yuuto shakes his head - not steering his set vision off of the screen.

The Task Force’s current assignment revolves around one, unnamed man in uptown Shinjuku. Mamoru informed the team of this suspicious man selling secret and illegally possessed anti-government documents in an alleyway between two businesses. His scheduled appearance within that alleyway is varied and sporadic, so Yuuto has been keeping a close eye on the security cameras of the two bordering buildings, and waiting for their target’s arrival.

“The waiting game continues…” Junko sighs to herself, wanting to get this assignment over with. She carries her tired gait into Kagome’s room, where she changes into a prepared change of clothes. Stepping out into the apartment once more, Junko begins waiting alongside the surrounding officers for any sign of their target’s appearance.

Hours go by, and Junko is just about to call it a day once the sun begins setting. An orange glow sets upon the apartment and warms the individuals residing within. Standing up from her seated position at the kitchen table, Junko brushes off the back of her pants. Ren looks up to her from across the table - confused at her sudden movement. “Alright,” Junko breathes out, placing her hands on her hips, “I think I’m gonna call it here-”

“Wait!” Yuuto shouts, as his eyes strain widely at the glowing computer in front of him. At the intrusion, Junko snaps her head towards her technician. “He’s there! The target is in the alleyway!” Junko’s eyes spring open in realization, and she looks straight to Ren below her. With the same impulsive intent, Ren stands and looks back to his Lieutenant. “Let’s go!” Junko declares, sprinting out of the apartment, with Ren in tow.

Niko chucks her helmet towards her sprint, and she catches it with ease. Sliding on a pair of sneakers, Junko rips open the heavy door and takes off down the wooden steps. The two adults’ hurried footsteps ricochet against the aging stairs, and the creaking sounds bounce off of the industrial-looking walls beside them. In an instant, they surpass the first-floor bar and are seated atop Junko’s motorcycle.

Jutting her key into the ignition, she hastily shoves the kickstand out of its position with her foot. Revving the engine once, Ren straps his arms around Junko once he’s finished tightening the helmet on his head. Gripping the clutch within her right hand, Junko twists forward, and drives off to Shinjuku, where their target awaits them.

Meanwhile, a strolling Kei waltzes into a convenience store in Shinjuku the same time Junko rushes herself and Ren to an alleyway nearby. He patrols the aisles - searching for nothing in particular. Grabbing a bag of chips without breaking stride, Kei soon finds himself in front of the magazine stand. Kei places the bag under his arm as he grabs a magazine with his free hand. Opening the cover, he flips through the tabloids and articles as his eyes scan over the words.

Back at headquarters, a neutral-faced Niko sits on the couch alone, while the three officers crowd the security footage by the computer. “Junko, you’re good on time,” Yuuto observes and informs his Lieutenant from behind Nuko’s ears, “He’s still there - waiting for his buyer.” Staring straight ahead, Niko sighs a deep breath from the pits of his lungs. Standing up, he slides his feet against the floor, and makes his way to the bathroom by Kagome and Jiro’s bedrooms.

Reaching the bathroom, he quietly shuts the door behind him. Niko places his damp hands on top of the porcelain countertop, and stares down his own reflection with a look of disdain. Yuuto’s voice gets muffled from the closed door before it carries to Niko’s open ears. Gripping the countertop tighter within his grip, Niko shakes his head at himself, “Pathetic.”

Junko skids her bike to a stop at the side of the busy street - having easily found a parking spot despite the populous city. Turning her engine off, Junko sets the bike in park before running over to the alleyway in which her target unknowingly waits for her in. Right behind her sprints Ren, who abandoned his helmet back at Junko’s bike - not caring if it gets stolen or not.

Niko continues to stare into the mirror - into himself - as he grimaces at his own reflection. “They don’t care,” He says to himself, “They don’t care about your education, or if I graduate highschool or not. It’s all an excuse. It’s all just an excuse for them to use against me.” Niko’s knuckles whiten from the tautness of his grip, and his fingers turn red at the harshness of his grasp.

All the while, Junko finally appears in front of the predestined alleyway. The neon lights behind her illuminate her lethal silhouette, and the small breeze moves her hair into igniting flames. Beyond her stands a boney man, possessing a stack of paper in his hands as he terrifyingly stares at the leering Junko at the mouth of the alleyway.

He is dressed in dirty clothes, and his facial hair has not been trimmed in months, it appears. The hair atop his head is disheveled, and his greasy locs heavily fall to the sides of his head. The man’s eyes are wide, and the bright green irises are laced with fear and confusion at the sudden presentation of this woman. A ways down the alley, a brawny Ren crosses his arms as he secures the opposite end of the claustrophobic path.

“They say they want me to graduate, that I need to graduate, but it doesn’t really matter, does it?” Niko pokes at himself in the bathroom, “They just want to buy as much time as possible before they’re forced to let me join the Task Force out of pity. Junko doesn’t want me on the team, none of them do. I’m too young, I’m too naïve, I’m too stupid, I’m too weak-minded. Who would want someone like that on such an important police squad?!”

Junko walks towards the idling man - her footsteps heavy. Despite the roaring traffic and murmur from the crowds behind her, the chilling sounds of the soles of her shoes colliding with the ground shakes the ear drums of the petrified man in front of her. He begins to back away, but as he looks behind him, a fiercely standing Ren guards his only other exit.

Junko uses her hand to reach behind and into the waistline of her jeans. Keeping her hand there, she decides to speak up: “I’m not going to ask how you got those papers, since it won’t matter in the end.” The statement makes the man confused, but he continues staggering backwards - almost tripping over garbage bags along the way.

“I can tell you’re low on money,” Junko begins again, this time pulling the pistol hidden in her pants line out and in front of her, “But selling government information to gangs? You’ve stooped far too low. And this is where the line is drawn.” Throwing her free hand into the back pocket of her jeans, Junko pulls out a singular magazine, and shoves it into the pistol - loading it with ammunition.

Meanwhile, Kei walks out of the convenience store with items he did not even intend on buying: a bag of chips, two magazines, and a can of tea fill the plastic bag he carries in his right hand. Sighing into the night breeze, Kei begins his walk back to his car he parked a ways down the street. There is an undeniable chill in the air - despite it being early Spring. Nonetheless, Kei trudges on along the sidewalk, against the small, icy wind that pushes against his front.

The man in the alleyway trips over a stray black cat, and its meow reverberates against the close walls encircling the adults. The feline runs away - leaving the scared and confused man alone on the wet alley floor. “W-What are you saying?” The man stutters out, staring wide-eyed up at an approaching and gun-wielding Junko, “I have no idea what you’re talking about! You’ve got the wrong guy!”

Junko glances at Ren, who is a lot closer now than when she stood at the opposite end of the alleyway. They both share the same look in their eyes: uninterested disbelief. Dragging her eyes back to the pathetic man on the floor, Junko cocks her pistol with her left hand. “Don’t go lying on me now,” She warns, pointing the gun right towards the man’s face, “Don’t make this any harder than it already has to be.”

“Wait! Please! I’m begging you-”

Having already aimed her weapon at the criminal, Junko just pressed the trigger with her right index and middle fingers. Instantly, the man below her ceases talking at once, and is officially dead at Junko’s feet. Before Junko even has the chance to feel any remorse or regret, the sound of plastic and tin hitting the ground sounds out behind her. Her eyes going wide, she stares at a similarly startled Ren in front of her - whose eyes are trained on something behind her.

“Shit!” A stressed Yuuto hisses as his eyes go wide at the scene on his computer. Kagome and Jiro are both equally as confused as the other, and look to Yuuto for an explanation. “What?! What’s wrong?!” Kagome asks, frightened, as she leans towards the screen to gage the situation. Yuuto turns his head to the right, facing the concerned woman: “Junko’s been caught,” He informs lowly.

In the bathroom, Niko continues to pester himself. His hands now run through the roots of his blonde hairs, and he harshly pulls at the strands in his grasp. Pacing back and forth within the small bathroom, Niko’s shallow breaths echo about the enclosed room. His mind fogs over in a self-induced rampage fueled by inferiority and doubt. Not knowing what to do with himself, Niko returns to his previous position in front of the mirror.

“You’re pathetic,” He spits at himself with a viciousness that has been boiling in the pits of his stomach, “You’re worthless. You’re just some kid wasting space around here. What have you got to show for yourself, huh? What have you got to live for, if nobody thinks you’re worth anything at all?!” Niko pounds his fist against the mirror - hard, but not hard enough to break the glass.

In front of Yuuto, the main screen goes black, and a green error code begins displaying on the monitor. In succession, the following three other computer screens display the same error message in that taunting, bright green color. “What the hell?” Jiro questions aggravatedly as he watches the scene unfold.

“Something’s wrong with the feedback,” Yuuto mumbles in response as he begins pressing buttons on his keyboard, “There must be a third party corrupting our view. Someone knows we were watching, and they just stopped us from overlooking the footage.” Kagome and Jiro look between themselves, confusion and slight fear wash over their faces at Yuuto’s information.

“Could it just be Mamoru, or someone from the department?” Kagome asks hopefully, attempting to find a positive reason for the corruption, “Maybe they were watching, too, and they realized Junko got compromised?”

Yuuto shakes his head, and continues typing away on his keyboard. “Mamoru leaves these assignments for us to finish,” Yuuto explains to Kagome, “There’s no reason he was watching, or even know how or when to corrupt the footage at all.” Kagome stands back, and crosses her arms at a distance from the setup. Swallowing a lump of anxiety, she watches Yuuto intently try to untangle the situation.

Jiro stares at the black screens and quietly speaks up from Kagome’s left: “Then… who is it?”

Amid the breakdowns at headquarters, Junko begins turning around to face the onlooker. Never has Junko felt this much nervousness, this much anxiety, this much worry within her body. Her heart pounds with every beat as it slams against her chest ferociously. Ren continues to stand cautiously still - not moving an inch from his glued spot in the alley.

Niko drives his fist into the mirror once more. “Useless.”

Junko’s knees begin to buckle as she turns her body. Fear runs through her bones, and disassembles the previous solidness of her stance and aura. Whoever is standing behind the Lieutenant, had just witnessed one of the Task Force’s executions, and was a witness to the entirety of it all.

“Worthless.” His fist begins to redden and bruise from the harsh punches.

Junko finally turns around, and lays her eyes upon the bystander in front of her. Their hands were thrown to their mouth, and the plastic bag they were carrying was abandoned on the cement sidewalk next to them. The vibrance from the neon lights behind the person washed over their silhouette like a tsunami that crashed upon Junko all at once.

“Nothing but a stupid, lousy, shitty excuse for a human being!” Niko thrusts his fist into the mirror one last time, but stops just before his fist collides with the glass. His trembling hand hovers above the reflective surface, itching to shatter the mirror before him.

“Junko?” Kei Okazaki asks in a broken voice, as he stares at the murderer in front of him. Junko sees the salty tears begin to form in the corners of his eyes, and the sight makes her frozen in shock. “Is… is this what you meant by ‘retail’?” Kei asks, referring to the job Junko is ever so enslaved to.

Junko opens her mouth, but no words escape her throat. There is so much to say, and yet nothing to be said at all. They continue to stare at each other - years passing in those sheer moments of confusion, realization, and fear. That is, until Ren knocks Junko out of daze, and drags her by the arm back towards her bike. In order to do so, they need to run past Kei.

As Junko and Kei pass each other, time slows down. Their eyes meet, and Junko watches as Kei takes a notable and fearful step backwards as she nears him. Not knowing what to do, she lets Ren pull her back to their getaway vehicle, and she keeps her gaze away from the person standing at the head of the alley.