Hanashi 01 - Broken Babe

After a couple of seconds, Atsuko bursts into tears. Sobbing uncontrollably. Her facade finally broke, and in her tears was the very truth Saki already knew. Saki embraced the crying Atsuko and consoled her, "There there. You don't have to worry about anything..." Saki cooed, rubbing the crying Atsuko on her back. "You can stay here as long as you want." And Atsuko did just that. Seven days passed, and Atsuko stayed with Seiko and her Mother, Saki, as if she officially moved into their home. Seiko's Father had worked overseas, so he was not home then. As Atsuko snaps back to reality, she realizes she's been crying without even knowing it. Her boss, who has long dark green hair and red eyes scolds her, "Atsuko! "What are you doing? Just standing there looking like a statue! Go and clean the toilets!" "Ah, yes, Ms.Lia." Atsuko listens, leaving from the cash register to go and clean the public restroom. Ms.Lia is a young woman in her early thirties who can be pretentious and bossy. She doesn't do her job as a boss and makes her employees work while she tries to stay cute and work-free. Ms.Lia doesn't want her fake pink nails to get ruined, either. After cleaning the public restroom, Atsuko goes back to assist the customers, and time flies. She realizes that she now gets to go on a thirty-five-minute break. She clocks out and goes to a nearby convenience store to buy some snacks. She thinks about the upcoming dinner with Jun and almost forgot about it. Her cheeks become red and she tries to calm down. 

As Atsuko walks, her mind goes back to that previous memory. From where she left off, her young life was shattered into many glass pieces thanks to her parents and their envy. She tries to make the awful images go away, but they keep flashing in her mind. She shuts her eyes in agony and begs for the images to disappear, 'Please go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away.'  Without opening her eyes, Atsuko walks into someone and falls from the impact, bouncing off the person she just collided with. 

The awful bloody scene leaves her mind, but she opens her eyes and whines from the fall. The man she bumped into scowls at her, "Watch where you're walking, girl!" Atsuko quickly gets up to her feet, bowing her head, "I am so sorry. I wasn't paying attention!" She admits, becoming nervous. The man glances at her for a few seconds, and his expression changes from disgust to something more mysterious. Atsuko notices the man's handsome features: white neck-length hair, hazel eyes, fair skin, and freckles. She feels a flutter in her stomach as their eyes meet, but before she can say anything, the man speaks up, "You're a lost broken babe and if you want, I could help make your dreams come true. You won't have to live such a pathetic life anymore. Just say yes to my offer and your life will change."

"Huh? What does that mean?" She asks, tilting her head in pure curiosity. "Just say yes!" He demands, wearing a promiscuous smirk. Atsuko turns beet red in the face, processing his words, she thinks for a couple of seconds and then frowns, "No thanks. You sound like a scam. Good day to you." She walks away from the guy quickly, entering the convenience store. As the guy watched Atsuko walk away from him, he couldn't help but feel disappointed about being rejected. However, he continues to wear a smirk that screams mischief and persistence. It is evident that he isn't the one to give up easily.

****

After taking a break, Atsuko returns and clocks back in, appearing troubled. The mysterious guy who had approached her earlier had left a lasting impression on her, though it wasn't a charming one. She can't shake off the weird vibe she had gotten from him. He had called her a lost broken babe and offered her a better life without giving any details. It seemed like he was leaving it up to her imagination to figure it out. And to top it off, he had asked her to just say yes. Atsuko knew that only a weirdo with odd intentions would do such a thing. She wasn't buying it. To distract herself from the strange encounter, Atsuko started opening freight boxes with her box cutter. She found merchandise such as packs of fruit-scented lip gloss, multi-colored bracelets, and premium bags of cotton candy that only came in the flavor of pineapple. The temptation to shop was hard to resist, but luckily, she had an employee discount and planned to do some shopping with her next paycheck. As Atsuko continues to work, she notices her boss, Ms.Lia flirting with a male customer. She stares as the two walk towards the cash register from the back of the shop. The guy has short brown hair and stern golden eyes that intimidates and makes Atsuko feel nervous. "Are you here to shop for your girlfriend?" Ms.Lia asks, being super desperate. She hopes the guy says no. "I'm here for Atsuko Komatsu." The guy says nonchalantly, showing no emotion. Ms.Lia frowns in disapproval, gasping, "You wouldn't want a broken girl like her. She's poor and has no money." The guy ignores Ms.Lia's comments, walking over to Atsuko, handing her an envelope.

"Um, what is that?" Atsuko asks, not accepting the envelope right away. What's up with her being approached by random good-looking guys today? "It's from Kenzo. Open it now." He demands, not looking as if he will take no for an answer. Atsuko listens to his request, opening the envelope. As she takes out the letter, it gives her a paper cut on the thumb, "Ouch!" She whines. Her blood stains the paper envelope and sheet of paper more than usual. One speck of blood was enough to dye it all red. "Hideo!" Someone calls out as they enter the store. It's the weirdo guy from earlier who Atsuko assumes to be called Kenzo as she glances at him. She looks away from Kenzo and back down at the envelope and paper in hand. To her surprise, the items that were once in her hands had transformed into a bouquet of dark red roses, smelling like honey and grapes. They give off an unnatural glow, unlike normal roses. The roses are indeed beautiful. "Go out with me, Atsuko." Kenzo confesses. He doesn't even know Atsuko and it's vice-versa for her. Atsuko's face turns red as she stares at Kenzo in disbelief, "I can't. I'm in love with Jun." Atsuko exclaims, snapping out of the small trance that almost consumed her will. Before anyone could say another word, Jun enters the store, getting off from work. Ms.Lia is surprised that a broken babe like Atsuko is getting a lot of attention from hot guys. She would do anything for that attention. She would even kill for that attention. 

Jun stays by the entrance of the store, making eye contact with Kenzo. The two share equal death glares. Hideo smirks slightly, for a reason unknown to anyone but him. He knows how Jun and Kenzo are indeed rivals. It's three o'clock and Atsuko hands the dark red roses to Ms.Lia who smiles with glee. She's happy Atsuko gave her the nice and rare roses. They are befitting for her and not Atsuko. "I'm clocking out." Atsuko merely announces, using the computer screen and keyboard to put in her username and password. When she is done clocking out, Atsuko collects her things from the small locker behind the register. Jun smiles softly when he sees Atsuko walking towards him. He could care less about Kenzo. Jun sort of noticed that Atsuko was holding lovely and odd-looking roses yet he doesn't question her about it as the two silently leave the shop. "What does she see in that punk?" Kenzo rolls his eyes. He is deeply jealous and knows Jun has the upper hand. Hideo shrugs, "She's already in love, Ken. Maybe you should go and find yourself another Barbie." 

Kenzo's face wrinkles in disapproval and he uses his hand, forming it into a fist before giving Hideo a harsh punch to the arm. Hideo doesn't flinch, enjoying his joke as he chuckles slightly. The punch didn't faze him. Ms.Lia laughs while holding the bouquet of dark red roses that begin to wilt rapidly. Ms.Lia becomes sad that the roses are dying. The flowers were purposely for Atsuko, not Ms.Lia.