Kurumi-kun Teaches Me Love

AFTER MY STUDY SESSION with Rin-chan came to a close, I rushed to the train station. We ended slightly earlier than what I had anticipated. Just more time for me to visit Kiryuin-kun while he’s still at work.

On my way there, I made sure to freshen up a bit at the station’s restroom. I wore contacts in place of glasses and I fixed my hair straight. I remember Kiryuin-kun saying before that he likes it that way despite not being able to see properly in contacts and fixing my hair takes a bit more time to do a specific way. Hopefully, the dark clouds forming in the sky won’t ruin all this.

I check my phone for the maps app. Although I’m like, 90% sure that Kiryuin-kun works at the convenience store near our campus, I’ve never actually been there before. Better safe than sorry.

After a few minutes of walking and daydreaming of what his reaction would be like, I finally reached the convenience store.

It didn’t seem busy from the looks of it, though I can’t really tell. I could barely see through these contacts after all. I decided to enter anyway. I just need to look for Kiryuin-kun and surprise him.

“Welcome!” The clerk behind the counter welcomed me in with a lively tone. His voice sounds familiar. “Eh? Yumeko-san?!”

The clerk knows me? But it for sure isn’t Kiryuin-kun’s voice. Isn’t this… “Kurumi-kun?” My slightly blurry sight finally adjusts and I get a good look of the clerk. It really is Kurumi-kun. “Eh? Kurumi-kun? You work here?”

“Yeah, I’ve been working here for 2 months now.” He answered. “What about you, Yumeko-san? You here to buy something on the way home?”

“Oh no. I actually came here to look for someone. They’re also working here, supposedly.” I scanned the store to check if Kiryuin-kun is around. Thankfully, he’s nowhere in sight. The surprise is still on.

“Is that so. What’s their name? I probably know them if they’re working here.”

“Kiryuin Shota-kun. He has brownish hair and cool-looking.” I could’ve probably explained his features better but now that I think about it, nothing else stands out too much. “Do you know him?”

“Ah, Kiryuin-senpai. I know him. He’s in the break room, I think.” Kurumi-kun points at the door next to him. “Do you want me to call him for you?” As always, Kurumi-kun is so nice. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s popular with girls.

“It’s alright. I’m actually here to surprise him.” I let him in a bit on the plan. “I’ll wait for him for now. In the meantime, I’ll go get something.”

I went to buy tea and wait for Kiryuin-kun in the dining area. I look up some restaurants nearby on my phone where we could go grab dinner at.

While doing so, I feel Kurumi-kun’s stare from all over here. He must want to talk more—I do too, but I’m a bit preoccupied at the moment. Maybe I’ll visit this store more. He’s fairly new as well so he might have some trouble fitting in especially since it seems like his colleagues are older than him.

The weather outside seems to have gotten worse. I can tell that the winds have gotten strong with signages swaying violently, and the sky every so often flashes a bright light like it’s about to start pouring.

Please, God, not tonight.

With that in mind, despite the mess that’s happening outside, the inside of the store is rather quiet. I could even hear Kurumi-kun’s breathing all the way from here.

After a short while, I hear a lock opening. It’s the door to the break room. But why was it locked? Nevertheless, I stood up, though, crouched a bit. The plan is still on after all.

I peak through the shelf and I see a woman standing by the break room doorway. She seems to be in the older side, though not too old—maybe in her mid-twenties. She’s pretty but her hair and uniform are really messy.

I hear Kurumi-kun talking to her, “Manager, are you alright? Why’s the door locked?” So she’s Kurumi-kun’s boss, huh. I don’t want to intrude in their business much but she doesn’t seem like a good role model for Kurumi-kun.

“What are you still doing here, Fujisawa?” The woman ignored his question. “Isn’t your shift over like, 30 minutes ago? Where’s Tanaka?” What? Did someone not go to work? Poor Kurumi-kun.

“Uh, you see… Tanaka-senpai told me he’d be running late so I’m covering for him. Don’t worry though! I’m aware extra hours are unpaid.” He said with a self-deprecating tone in his voice.

The manager lets out a deep sigh, like this has happened one too many times, “Listen here, Fujisawa. If someone tells you they’re running late, don’t cover for them, ok? That kind of thing has to be run by me.” She scolds the boy rather aggressively.

“…I’m sorry.” He bowed his head apologetically.

“Now go on home. I’ll cover for Tanaka instead. I’ll probably fire him though.”

Kurumi-kun went to the break room, probably to change out of his uniform. It seems I was wrong about the manager. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders, though she still looks like a slob.

A guy went out of the break room shortly after, though, it’s not Kurumi-kun. It was Kiryuin-kun! His hair is a bit messy but he’s wearing decent clothing. Perfect!

I go out of my hiding spot to surprise him.

“Surprise—”

“See you tomorrow, Risa-chan.” He kisses the manager on the lips.

…

“…Huh?” I was left speechless with the sight before me.

Did Kiryuin-kun just… kissed her… on the lips? That can’t be right. I mean, whenever we’d hang out, he’d put his arm around my shoulder, or he’d tell me how cute I looked. This can’t be real. I must be tired—that’s all this is! I simply had a terrible thought!

Unfortunately, it wasn’t only me who was just standing there like they’ve seen a ghost. Behind the counter, the guy who I had feelings for was also stunned in place. His face ridden with guilt.

“Hmm?” The manager, who’s name was apparently Risa, wondered why I was staring at them with teary-eyes. “Uh, can I help you miss?”

Silence.

I feel like an idiot. I feel so weak. I feel like crying… I feel like dying.

…

The guy behind the counter breaks the silence. “Takahashi, it’s not what it looks like.” He tried to go near me.

Hearing his voice, still trying to plead innocence like I’m stupid, makes me feel an emotion I haven’t felt in a long time. I flare-up. I throw the tea bottle I bought earlier at him and it hit him on the head. “Die!” I shouted as I stormed out the store.

A sensation of cold and wet enveloped my body as soon as I left the store but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get away from here.

I ran and ran. Towards where, nobody knows. The raindrops violently hit my face making it hard to see where I’m going to. Still, I continue trudging on.

I still couldn’t believe what I witnessed back there. He kissed that woman back there. I guess I was just a side girl. To think that I was even attracted to an idiot like him…

But deep down, I know. I’m the biggest idiot of all.

In the chaos of it all, the blurriness of my contacts made me take a wrong step and ended up tumbling to the ground. The pavement feels cold, and the raindrops hitting my face feels painful. Maybe, I just don’t deserve love… or anything at all.

“I wanna die.”

Suddenly, the raindrops stop hitting me but the rain continues on. I look up only to see someone holding an umbrella over me. He seems to be saying something to me but I could barely hear him. I can’t clearly see his face either.

“…meko-san!” The individual called out as he comes further closer to me. “Yumeko-san! Are you alright?!” Their face practically next to mine, I can hear them more clearly and see their face better. It’s Kurumi-kun. The umbrella he’s holding isn’t really doing him any good—he’s just as wet as me.

He tries to pull me up but I haven’t the strength to do so. Yet, he keeps on doing so.

“… me alone.”

“What?” He asked.

“Leave me alone!” I shrieked as loud as I can. He flailed backwards, startled from my voice. I can see the dazed look on his face. “Leave me alone Kurumi-kun. Don’t involve yourself with me anymore. I just wanna die!”

“What?! He exclaimed. “That’s absurd talk! We need to get you home or you might get sick Yumeko-san.” He pulls me up harder, trying to support me up with his shoulders to no avail. He looks scared and uncertain.

He really is just a kid. Even with what has happened, he’s worried I might get sick.

“I don’t deserve your concern Kurumi-kun. Kiryuin-kun was just playing me all along.” His face still has that hint of uncertainty to it. He doesn’t need to hear all this drivel. What he needs is to go home and take a bath so he doesn’t get sick. “Don’t you see? I don’t deserve anything… I don’t deserve love.”

He suddenly grabs me by my shoulders—my attention completely stolen by him. “That’s not true!” He screamed. I look up at his face and that look of uncertainty has been completely replaced by determination. “Yumeko-san, you… you…” His voice becomes a shaky mess. “T-that man doesn’t deserve you Yumeko-san! You deserve better. You deserve so much more.” For some reason, I could just tell that he’s crying. The cute and cool Kurumi-kun has turned into such a mess.

What am I doing. To think that a younger boy like Kurumi-kun would say these words to me. Maybe he’s right. Perhaps tomorrow would be better, but I wouldn’t know if I’m not there to find out. I decided to finally accept his plea. I extend my hands to him. His face surprised but it quickly turns into relief.

He pulls me up and I let him. He pulls me so strongly to an embrace; his arms wraps around me. I can feel his cold breath on my ear. The rain continues to shower.

“Kurumi-kun?”

“Yumeko-san… I love you.”