Treated very delicately

“Sigh………”

Walking down the streets at night I kept thinking about the conversation I had earlier.

I agreed on working there but I completely forgot about the tests. My scores are already mediocre, gotta work harder.

I do study a bit…maybe one hour at most.

Holding my head, I kept blaming myself for not being good at studies and kept walking towards the home.

I informed Lemon that I could be late so she said she will prepare dinner.

I also have to think about what to make for Shigeo's friends, the crab will not last that long. I thought crab would be the best choice when I saw the advertisement but…my fault for assuming that first Saturday will be our house turn.

<>

Clak

“I am home.”

I went straight towards the dining room.

“Nii-san, Welcome back.”

“Lemon, please put them in the refrigerator.”

She opened the bags and checked what's in it.

“That's quite a lot!”

“Ahh…I accidentally did.” I laughed at my foolishness.

“Ah! Nii-san you back!!?”

The little shigeo glued to TV finally noticed my presence.

“Listen listen, On 3rd Saturday sleep over will be in our house!”

“I heard from Sachi-san, this Saturday it will be at Hiraru-san’s house, right? Don't forget your manners, okay?”

“Okay!!”

I went back to my room and changed clothes and came back down. After sometime dad came and we had dinner and our usual chit chat. I also told them about my part time work starting from tomorrow at Sachi-san’s cafe.

With the same routine as always we went back to our rooms for sleep except for me. I stayed up and studied a little until the eye lids felt like they couldn't stay open any more.

<>

The next morning was pretty much other than shigeo shining a little more and being hot! The really hot hot, I mean the sun.

I followed the same old routine and reached the classroom.

The window opened. Wind greeting me in face. Sun shining behind clouds and blue sky.

Clank clank clank.

Those were the footsteps of my one and only source of my recent liking of school.

Thud

The door opened and a smile greeted me.

“Morning Uragao-san.”

“Good morning!”

After putting the bag at her desk, she walked to the seat in my front and sat down like it was now her own.

“You know, the cat which i talk about…..”

We talked like usual, the time passed as wind and soon enough the school was starting to fill up with others.

Clank clank

Making some noise with their footsteps Uragao-san’s friend came in the classroom.

Murakami Fumiko: wassup, Ari-chan~

Fukada kiyoko: Morning Ari-chan!

With those greetings they walked towards us.

“Morning Fumiko and Kiyoko.”

Fukada-san glanced at me.

“Good morning, Maegami-kun(bangs-kun)”

“Morning to you too, Mae-kun(bangs-kun short form)~” said Murakami-san while throwing her bag at the desk two seats ahead of me.

Fukada-san followed her footsteps and placed her bag just behind Murakami-san’s desk.

“Good morning Murakami-san and Fukada-san”

Fukada-san pulled back her seat and sat on it mentally while Murakami-san sat with a Thud on it.

As I started talking with Uragao-san, Fukada-san and Murakami-san would occasionally also talk to me.

Fumiko-san: Aki-chan~, will you teach me today after school? I can't fit anything in my head.

Kiyoko-san: You should have studied daily like me.

Fumiko-san: Sorry miss kiyoko~~. But seriously, at this rate I am bound to bomb every single one of them.

Kiyoko-san: Nice! Aki and I will go to the beach this summer while you will be retaking the test.i will send some photos with my cutest smile in focus to cheer you up.

Fumiko-san: I will not let you live a peaceful life after you come back if it does happen.

Aki-san: Now now, don't worry I will teach you.Lets go to a family restaurant after school.

Fumiko-san: Thank you Aki-channn~~~!!

Aki-san: Will you be coming, Kiyoko?

Kiyoko-san: Sure.

Aki-san: Then that's final.

Shifting attention to me Uragao-san spoke,

“Sorry, we can't walk home together today ... .wait, why don't you also join us!”

“Sorry but I can't Uragao-san, I started to work part time so I have to go there.”

“Aww..too bad.”

“It's fine.”

Fumiko-san: Sozz Mae-kun~.

Kiyoko-san: Don't worry, it's just one day, if Fumiko stretches it a week we will leave her on her own and walk home together again.

Fumiko-san: One day will be enough for me or I will give up. I just want help at some places.

The chat went on until more students started showing up. Uragao-san went back to her seat while waving and throwing a smile at us.

<>

The classes went by. It was lunch time.

Sitting at my seat I finished my lunch as usual. Uragao-san and others eat at her desk with others.

Putting the box inside, I went outside for the washroom.

The hallway which was huge and lonely in the morning now felt narrower and filled with noises.

As I walked more there were fewer people in the stairs and hallway.

There was no soul in the washroom when I reached there.

After I was done I started walking out while drying the hands with a handkerchief, just as I was about to exit I heard some of the boys talking about me.

“Hey,did you notice?”

“What?”

“That ugly guy is being friendly with Uragao-san and her friends.”

“Really?”

“I also saw it sometimes during lunch breaks.”

“I also have seen them walk after school together.”

“Do you think one of them is dating that guy?”

“No way, even in dreams it's impossible. Maybe they are feeling bad for him so they talk with him here and there. I bet if we ask them if he is their friend they will instantly answer with a no.”

“Ya true, all three of them are beauties of our class along with Furuya-san.”

“We have a much bigger problem for now, the tests and confessing before summer break.”

When they were gone, I came out.

I don't know why but what they said didn't affect me that much by any means. With thought that maybe I am used to this now I went back to class.

<>

school was over. After saying bye to Uragao-san and others I went for a quick trip home before going to the cafe.

Changed clothes.Chugged some water because it was hot! Told Shigeo and Lemon that I was going.

Reached the cafe, the sign of ‘Close’ was hung behind the glass on the door.Opened the door to the cafe.

Sayuri-san was already there in her uniform, wiping the counter even though there was no dust in to be seen. Girls do look beautiful when working was the first thought that struck my mind.

“Konichiwa Sayuri-san.”

“Konichiwa, you are pretty early.”

Closing the door I answered “I-I want to get used to the you know……the atmosphere rather than coming just before opening time and getting nervous.”

“Dont worry. It's your first day, take it easy. you will be easily able to take orders and talk to others in just a few days.”

“I hope so.”

“Go and change in your uniform, it should be in the loker.” Sayuri-san pointed toward the changing room while saying it.

Wearing black pants and white shirt with a grayish apron on top, I came out of the changing room.

“You look good~” was the first comment I got from Sachi-san and Sayuri-san.

Covering the blush behind one hand I replied “T-T-Thanks…”

“ Now, come here, let me teach you some basic things first.”

In 5 minutes or so Sachi-san taught me all of that and after a minute or so the cafe was open again.

I decided to observe how Sayuri-san did things so I told her to handle the first two customers. After accumulating a good amount of confidence and preparing myself, the third customer was handled by me. It didn't go extremely smoothly like a con artist's words but neither as bad as spilling the coffee on him.

Sachin-san was controlling her laugh while watching me treating him like a critically injured person in hospital. The worst part was that he was a regular and an acquaintance of Sachi-san, so when he was leaving he said “for the first time in months i felt treated very delicately” and giggled, I wanted to hide myself under the table.

So overall my first day went without a major incident. Around 6:30 pm I took my leave, I asked them to let me leave early until the exams ended.

Went home. Lazed around on the couch after changing until dad came. I had dinner and studied like life depends on it and fell on the bed around 12:49 am.

That's how another day came to an end in my life.