Faith World Part 1

Kurogane, Kurogane-kun!!? Are you even listening to me?

I was in a light sleep when my mom called me!

- Gu-Gumen, Mom, I was just dozing off.

- Hmm, it shows. That's why I woke you up. Come on, wash your face quickly. I need to talk to you about something important.

- Ohh, okay.

I washed my face and was thinking, what important thing does my mom want to talk to me about? She always talks to me about things like cooking food or something else...

The summer season has begun and the heat has ruined everything. There are no electric fans in my house, so we have to suffer. Well, we'll have to manage with hand fans for now. The truth is, the old electric fans are broken and we don't have anything right now. We have to move the hand fans with our hands, which causes fatigue. But how can I cool myself down when I get tired? So, I will have to endure this pain until my mom buys a new fan.

"Ohh, my mom wants to talk to me about something important."

It's really hot, unbearable!

- Kurogane-kun, I have found a place for your part-time job.

- So, you mean you had an urgent work to do.

- Yes, exactly. And guess what, I thought of talking to you about your marriage too, heh heh heh!

- I did not think of that! And where did you find a part-time job for me?

- At my friend's department store!!

- Ohh I see, that's great then. Please give me the address, I'll go there.

- "I'll write it down for you."

- "You don't need to write, just tell me and I'll leave."

- "No, I'll write it. Is that okay?"

- "As you wish."

Finally, I got a part-time job. Actually, I got it at a grocery store's reception. I'm happy that I'll have to spend most of my time in an A.C. area during the summer.

Found it. This is the address.

- I am here part-time--

- You, are you a new part-timer?

- Hmm, I want----

- I know, I know. No need to say, you resemble your mother so much.

- Thank you. So you are the shop manager Mochizuki Mio?

- Hmm, Nice to meet you, I will work carefully without making any mistakes.

- No need to be so formal.

- Ohh okay, mochizuki-chan.

- And for your monthly payment--

- You can give that to mom, no need to tell me.

- Oh Mom, she's lucky to have found such a good son in you.

- Hmm.

- Alright, do your work well, I'm leaving. Let me know if there are any problems.

- Hmm, Arigataōu.

- And yes, you'll only be working during this summer holiday. What about when school starts?

- Hmm, I'll still work then, but only at night.

- Alright~

Finally, I found a good part-time job. I need to earn good money before my graduation, I don't want to be a burden on my mom, who's done so much for me already. And I need to do well in my studies, to get a good job.

A customer is coming. My first job!

-Welcome.

10 minutes later--

- Your total is 700 yen. If you need anything else--

- No.

- Ohhhh, Hmm Come again. Have a good day.

Pheww~~ Thank goodness, I didn't make any mistake.

9.00 PM at night—

- Welcome home.

- Thank you, Mom.

- So, my son, how was your first day?

- Hmm, it was good. And here, I've brought some cakes as a thank you for helping me find a job.

- My son has become so wise.

- Okay, leave it now. Hmph..

- Hmm-Hmmm

- I'll go make dinner. You have the cake in the meantime.

- Oh my, I'll wait. Please make it quickly.

I gave a smile and went to make dinner.

End of summer vacation.

My school has started today. Summer vacation has ended and I'll have to go back to school again.

The truth is... I didn't do my homework. But no one really cares. When the class rep (leader) collects homework, I'll just give them some excuse. It's not a big deal.

- Ohayo~ Mom

- Hmm, Ohayo~ Are you leaving for school?

- Yes, and I kept your breakfast in the fridge. You can have it when you wake up.

- Oh my~~~ Mom~~ I'm feeling sleepy....

- Okay, I'll see you later then.

School Time —

- So how was your summer vacation?

- It was good (I spent it under the A.C all summer)

Just like before, everyone is talking to each other. And here I am, sitting in a corner. Don't think I'm an introvert, I'm just normal. I'm always ready to have a conversation and help anyone who needs it, so don't think I'm an introvert. 

- Back to school, I can't do this anymore, Miko-chan!

- When you get to school, stop saying that Kyouyo!

- Yeah, yeah, got it. The heat has really worn me down, so don't make it any worse!

(Note: Kyouyo is tired from the heat, so Miko should not lecture her more)

- Did Kurogane get you a part-time job?

- Hmm.

- Really? You worked a part-time job in this heat?

- I have to do it for the money, don't I?

- Yeah, that's right. Anyway, do you want to go somewhere today?

- No, I have a part-time job.

- Oh, sorry Sokka. Work hard.

- Arigataōu. 

- By the way, someone kidnapped a girl on her way to school this morning.

- W-what?? What are you saying? Who?

- Mimi-chan!

- Who is Mimi-chan? Why is everyone so quiet? And why aren't the school authorities saying anything? I haven't heard anyone talking about it, and how do you know about it?

- If everyone asks me at the same time, how am I supposed to answer? And you don't remember Mimi-chan?

- "I remember!" I heard the name for the first time today!

- You wouldn't know anything either!

I don't understand what she's saying. Anyway, let me hear it.

- So listen, this incident happened far away from school, so the school management doesn't want to get involved unnecessarily, otherwise the school's reputation could be at risk. And that's exactly why I thought of going to meet her family after school. That's why I asked you to come with me.

- So how did 'going' become 'sightseeing', you could have told me directly!

- It's the same thing.

- Whatever, by the way, how did you find out about this?

- Me?

- Yeah, you!

- Itsuki told me!

- Okay, and who told Itsuki?

- Kohei told Itsuki.

- I knew it! You always talk rubbish. How could you believe those two rascals?

- Hey, Kurogane-kun, why are you stuck on that old topic?

- What did they give you?

- They gave me melon bread.

- I knew it, I knew it! Anyway, I have to go with you now, right?

- Absolutely, so where are Itsuki and Kohei?

- They are waiting for us to arrive.

- Okay, but I didn't see you in class earlier, what happened?

- But, I didn't know you also had a part-time job!

- No, I messaged the manager beforehand.

- When did I even see that?

- When Itsuki and Kohei stared at me weirdly this morning when I arrived. I knew something was going to happen today.

- Oh, I didn't understand at all.

- That's why I have to come with you to your every misadventure.

- Don't be so angry, we're best friends, right?

- Shut up, man. By the way, take some weapons with you, who knows we might have to fight those two rascals.

- We're in high school now, why are you still talking about middle school?

- No, no, no, I can't believe those two rascals at all.

- Why are you rambling and not getting to the point? Come on, focus on the concept.

- Oh, sorry. For the first time in your life, you said something intelligent.

- Well, I am a genius.

- Hey...

After school ~

- Yo, Kurogane-kun, I don't even remember your name.

- Mitsu said Kohei comes here smoking weed in the morning.

- Kohei-kun, you just mentioned her name. Kurogane!

- Ohh ohh, 

- Kohei, shut up. Kurogane, you know why we brought you here, right?

- To find the kidnapper.

- Hmm, that's why we have to start from her house.

- So what was the need to include Mitsu in this?

- Don't you remember, we solved so many cases together before!

- Oh well.

- So let's start our investigation, called: girl kidnapping.

- Okay, okay!!

- What's wrong with the title?

- Hey, we're not kidnapping the girl, we're looking for her kidnapper.

- Kohei, stop now! Let's go there.

Memories of that middle school came rushing back to my mind, when we used to go out together as a group of four to solve cases! Even though I did a lot back then, the memories are still fresh.

- Mitsu, give me the money for the melon bread, I took it from my dad's pocket.

- Heh, what?

- Yes, remind me and give me the money.

Anyway, back then these two were always gossiping and we would get caught - Mitsu and I.

- How far is it?

- Just a 20-minute walk...

Even then, I received a message on my phone. I knew whose message it must be. As soon as I opened my phone, I saw a strange message!

The massage is : Emergency! Emergency! Come home quickly, I found a girl!

It didn't surprise me much, I thought I would ignore it but if I ignored it, I would be asked to leave the house. So it's better to just go.

- I have an urgent work to do, I have to go now. Let everyone know.

- What are you talking about in the middle of the night?

- Kurogane-kun, I don't understand. You said you had nothing to do and suddenly you remember some work?

- Forget it. This guy doesn't even contact us on his day off, and doesn't want to stay with us, so just let him go.

I thought it would be a disaster to argue with them, so I immediately showed them the message.

After seeing the message~

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE GUYS ARE SAYING. THEY TOLD ME "OKAY, LEAVE HERE QUICKLY".

- So, Mom, did you find a girl for yourself?

There's a cute girl sitting in front of me. Wait a minute, I thought Mom was joking with me, but there really was a girl here. I couldn't understand what was going on here!

Mom came up behind me.

- Hey, Mom, where did you find this girl? Did you buy her from the store?

- Kurogane, have you gone crazy? What are you saying?

- Am I crazy? You brought this girl from somewhere and brought her to our house? I don't understand anything.

- Come to the side with me!

- Now explain to me what all this means.

- Actually, when I was returning from work! I met this girl on the street with blood on her forehead, she must have hit something. So I brought her home and gave her some basic treatment. Maybe she hit something and got hurt.

- Wait, did you find this in your school dress?

- Hmm, I washed it. For now, I gave him one of my clothes and it fit him well. After all, I'm also a pretty girl.

- Stop it, this joke really didn't work out for you.

- Be quiet.

- Okay. I wanted to tell you something. This morning, a girl was kidnapped and she was a student of 'Youkisuba School'.

- What are you saying? Really?

- Yes, I need to check her dress. I'll know just by looking at it.

- I gave it out to be dry cleaned.

 My suspicions were wrong! Her dress is different! 

So this kidnapped girl is not her.

 I should ask her directly.

To Be Continued.