"Welcome"
"Oya? A new employee?"
An old woman enters the old general store, she was wearing a traditional yukata. She looks around for a bit and picked up some pack of sugar.
"How much is this?"
"Brown sugar umm… It would be one hundred yen"
"Here you go"
The woman handed the money and after that, she exited the place. If you're wondering on how I ended up on this situation, it's because I decided to visit the general store since I'm kind of hungry.
As I enter the shop, Aoji-san immediately prostrate in front of me and begging "Please watch the store for a while" I reluctantly agreed on his request, he then handed me a paper with the word 'Price List" written on it.
He was such in a hurry that I didn't have the chance ask where Mitsuki is. If it's an urgent matter, can you just call your daughter? I sighed in anxiety, the only good thing about this is Aoji-san allowed me to take anything as long as it's not reaching 200 hundred yen. I never knew that Aoji-san is a cheapskate.
The bell on the door rung, I immediately put on my smile on and greeted the costumer.
"Welcome"
"I'm just here to deliver a package—Ah!"
The one who enter is the waiter-san on the city yesterday. She was wearing red outfit with a company logo on it. She looks surprised by my appearance somehow. Now that I got to take a good look on her, the first word that I came up when I saw her face is 'Tired'
Her eyes looks tired, her smile looks tired and even her action looks tired. She was sluggishly moves holding a rectangular carton box.
"You can just leave it here, I will tell Aoji-san about it later"
I said, the girl nod her head and smile, she took out something from her back.
"I see, then please sign in here"
She handed me a paper, I received and signed it.
"You have two jobs waitress-san? That's pretty impressive"
"I-it's not that impressive"
She scratches her head shyly as she denies my words. I gave the paper to her, she bows and reach out for the door.
"Wait"
I said. She turns her head to me with a confused expression.
"I am Kouki, I just move here recently, nice to meet you"
The girl looks confused receiving my sudden introduction but she immediately regain her consciousness and properly introduce herself.
"I'm Mariko, just like you, my family just moved here recently. I hope we get along"
She waved at me and finally left the store. She's the hardworking type? The bell rung once again, I'm tired, since it's the only store in this town, it will never run out of costumer.
"Welcome"
Two young men entered the shop. Their age is mostly likely the same with mine. One of them have a slightly large build, he was buff and is wearing a white top and short. Buzz cut and dark red hair, he also has earring on his right ear. He looks like a ruffian but I don't judge here.
The other one looks less scary, a messy black hair with a normal look. He had a slim figure and can be considered normal. He's normal, in short, the same as me. He's wearing white shirt and short. Both of them turned their sight to me as soon as they noticed my figure.
"Oh? A new guy? Never mind, is Mitsuki here?"
The rough man asked, his voice too sounded like a delinquent but I ignore it and reply calmly.
"I'm sorry but, I don't know where Mitsuki is, but if you happen to see her please tell her that there's a delivered package"
"Is that so? Then we have no business here"
The rough man turn around his back but the normal guy is still looking at me, did I do something wrong?
"I haven't seen around before, are you a new employee?"
The normal man asked, I can't blame him though, this is a small village after all so I completely understand him to be suspicious about me.
"No, I just moved here recently because of the summer break, Aoji-san and his family takes care of me"
"I see, what is your relation with Mitsuki?"
"Oi Ryouu don't suddenly ask that question, that's rude"
The rough man sternly warned the normal man, Ryouu. But Ryouu ignored him and continue to stare at me, waiting for my response.
"I don't mind though, if I'm forced to say something then I would say that we're acquaintance"
I said, Ryouu expression didn't seems satisfied but he silently head towards to the door, the rough man followed Ryouu hurriedly and left the place.
What's that? Did he think that I have some sort of relation with Mitsuki? I don't really like to mend with other people relationship, because in my opinion, human would do extreme things in the name of love. I'd rather not get involve.
Sometimes people would do something like stalking their love ones or being obsessed, those are the extreme cases. The normal case is like finding out their crushes house or get jealous when they're talking to the opposite sex.
While deep in thought the bell rung again. Really, I can't relax for a bit. I straighten my posture and speak in monotone.
"Welcome"
"Father? You're voice is a little bit---! Kouki! What are you doing here?"
Mitsuki quickly approach me, slam the wooden table and peer into my eyes. That reaction is rather quite extreme. Her hair is tied in ponytail, I could feel the heat from her body, the sweats from her neck is dripping from her collar bone. I averted my gaze since it's a rude behavior staring at someone's chest even if it's accidental.
"Do you like some water?"
I offered. She was perplexed for a second but she nodded. I stand from my sit and head towards to the kitchen. If I remember, there should be a fridge here. There it is, I picked up some cold water container and a glass.
I handed them to Mitsuki. She accepted it while saying "Thank you" and pours some water into the glass gently.
"Mitsuki, there is a package right there, and also there's two boys looking for you"
"Is that so? Maybe it's Ryouu and Rasu, they always visit the shop for some reason"
I let out a dry laugh, maybe those two have a special feelings for Mitsuki. It's just a speculation so I might be wrong, but I can't help to think that since Mitsuki is a beautiful girl after all. She's not the cute type like Aya, she's the type of girl that's strong and kind, that kind of thing.
"By the way, what are you doing here Kouki? Where's Father?"
"Aoji-san was in the rush so I couldn't ask where he's going to. Where did you go anyway Mitsuki?"
"Me? I just visited Aya"
"Is she sick or something?"
"Hahahaha, well she's kinda. She texted me and said that her eyes hurt so I bring her medicine"
"Her eyes hurt?"
But I'm with her yesterday, I even walk her home so I will definitely know if something bad happens to her.
"Yes, she keeps muttering things like. "I don't want to cry while wearing contact lenses again"… You're with Aya yesterday right? Did you make her cry?"
She said with a low voice, I put some distance to her, what should I do, it's true that I'm the reason why she cried. She perceived that I become a little nervous, she suddenly starts to giggle and gaze at me.
"It's a joke, I know Aya is strong more than anyone else, if you manage to make her somehow cry, I should praise you than to scold you"
She said. I don't know how I'm supposed to react to that. Mitsuki take some chips from the merchandise and throws it to me.
"Here, as a token of thanks for watching the place, don't tell Father and Mother about it though, they will yell at me"
She said as she laughs, I receive the chips but it will only make me hungrier if I eat this…
"Thank you, but I would be happier if I eat something that will fill me"
"Is that so?"
Mitsuki said. She inclines on the chair in front of me and looks at the ceiling as if she's contemplating, a minute has passed and she slowly opens her mouth.
"How about I cook you something"
She muttered. Her face looks out of focus so maybe she just said her thoughts out loud, Mitsuki doesn't even realize that she's thinking out loud.
"That sounds good to me"
I said. I'm not the type of person that rejects free food. Mitsuki looks at me, seems flustered and quickly shook her head.
"Th-that came out wrong! Please forget about that!"
"If you say so"
I place my head on the table while I rub my stomach. I place my head on the table with half closed eyes.
"Man, I'm really hungry, I really wish that someone could cook something for me"
I said in monotone while peeking at her, she violently waves her hand as she spoke in embarrassment.
"B-but I'm not good at cooking… When I tried to cook they say that it's not tasty"
Tasty or not, a food is still a food, if I can eat it, it's good enough for me. But that alone can't convince Mitsuki… Then how about this?
"How about I teach you the fundamentals of cooking?"
"Eh? You can do that?"
"Of course, but the ingredients will be yours and you will give me some portion of you product"
"Owaa… I have no idea that you're a sly fox Kouki"
"Is that so? It can't be help, I have some needs too you know?"
Sometimes I would crave for something you know? I'm just a normal human after all.
"Then, shall we start? The first food that we're going to make is… Eggs!"
I said, although I look calm, my eyes are sparkling in enthusiasm! Food is a food even if it's just an egg.
"Cute…"
"Hhmm, What did you say?"
Mitsuki averted her eye sight to me and said.
"It's nothing! We should start! Even I know how to cook eggs so it should be easy"
We move to the kitchen and prepare the ingredients. She wears a white apron with apple design. I grab one of the eggs and raised it near my face.
"First things first, Mitsuki, can you break eggs?"
"You're underestimating me too much! Of course I can"
"Good, whenever I feel fancy, I add onions and tomatoes on the eggs"
"You really do that? What does it taste though?"
"It taste really good, especially when it's fluffy, oh speaking of fluffy. If you want to make the egg fluffly, you can add milk or a bit of water"
"Heeh, I didn't know that"
Mitsuki then started beat the egg and turned the flame on. She pour the oil in the pan, when she's about to put the eggs too, I immediately grabbed her hand.
"It's too early. Whenever you're cooking in metal pan like this, you should wait for the oil to heat up or else the egg will stick to the pan"
I said with a straight face, I don't want her to experience the pain of washing a hard egg on the pan. Somehow Mitsuki is looking at me with a reddened face.
"I get it I get it! Let go of my hand please…"
"Ah, sorry"
"It's fine…"
She clutches her hands repeatedly while looking on the ground. The pan finally heated up and Mitsuki poured down the egg, the aroma of egg filled the room. I'm hungry. I want to eat.
"Be sure to watch the egg because it will only take a minute to cook it. Personally I like it a little bit raw but we're going to cook it normal this time"
Mitsuki carefully turn the egg with the spatula. Why did she say that she's not good at cooking? She has a good affinity to it, doing everything gently and patient.
"It's done!"
Mitsuki put transfer the egg to the plate with cheerfulness. It smells good, although the flavoring that she only used is salt, the aroma is alluring.
She took out a bowl of rice and hand it to me, I gracefully received it with both hands.
"You're not going to eat?"
"Not really, it's not like I'm hungry or something, here help yourself"
I pick up the eggs and put it in my mouth.
"...…"
"I-it's not tasty?"
I could only look at Mitsuki, bewildered. It's not like the egg is bad nor it is tasty, it tasted like the egg that my Grandmother used to cook for me.
"H-hey Kouki, I-I know it's bad but you don't need to do—"
"Mitsuki…"
"Ye-yes!"
"Can you tell me how did you make this?"
"Ah eh, huh?"
"This egg… what did you put in this egg, it's only salt right?"
"That? I-I put some soy sauce too, you didn't notice?"
Salt and soy sauce… I tried so hard to re-create this dish.
"Why did you put soy sauce though, it's an odd choice to be honest"
"I don't know, I just thought that you might like it"
"You thought?"
"Ye-yeah, you didn't like it?"
She weakly asked, she just thought that I might like it? Mitsuki really has the affinity towards cooking! She can tell the people's appetite at a glance!
"You're mistaken Mitsuki, I love it. Please cook this to me again sometimes"
"L-love! Th-the dish right! That's right, he loves the dish!"
Mitsuki slaps her face as if she was convincing herself. I finished the meal and when I look at Mitsuki, her face resembles tomato. Her eyes are already red and watery.
"Wh-what happened to you?"
Flabbergast I asked. She was just staring at me and clenching her fist.
"The meal was great, thank you"
I smiled to somehow ease her discomfort but somehow, the effects are reversed.
"Ah!"
She immediately run off towards the stair and climbed to the second floor. What happened? I follow her upstairs and there, I saw a three room, one of them has a sign 'Mitsuki's room' on them.
I proceed to the front door and gently knock on it"
"Mitsuki, are you there?"
I asked with my kindest voice, although I didn't know why, but I think it's my fault. Maybe I offend her but I didn't notice it. I'm truly hopeless when it came to social interaction.
Ever since I moved to the city, I distance myself to the other as much as possible, because I was scared that all of them will hate me again. I decided to run for the vice-president seat because I thought that people will like me in that way.
"Mitsuki's not here, go away"
She throws a tantrum like a child after hearing me knock.
"Are you angry? Did I do something wrong to you?"
She did not reply, the upper floor was filled with silent since, only the audible sound is the cicada singing from the trees outside. After a while, Mitsuki finally spoke.
"Why are you so kind to me?"
"Hhmm?"
"Why are you so kind to me, I'm one of those who bullies you in the past you know"
"Really? I can't remember though"
"Why?, when I was a kid, almost everyone likes to bully you so I thought that it was okay to join them since we're many. Me and my friends throws your shoes into the garbage can, sometimes we would vandalize your seat when you're not around. It keeps happening for a year until it became our habit… But…"
Mitsuki begun sobbing and continues her speech while letting a flimsy voice.
"But then, I saw you in the back of the school. I saw you coughing blood. You had bruises all over your body, but you're not crying though, you just lay down there and enduring all of the pain. I feel horrible at that time you know? I throw up from the spot actually, you noticed me and then approach me. I thought that you're going to burst your anger on me but I was wrong, y-you… You asked me if I was alright… I couldn't look you in the eyes at that time…"
Now I remember it, I remember seeing a person vomiting behind the school building, I thought that she was sick or something. I didn't know that it was Mitsuki.
"I thought that I should apologize to you the next day, but I can't find proper chances so I thought it should be tomorrow. Many days has passed and I still couldn't apologize to you, because you're always being surrounded by the bullies, I was afraid that if I apologize to you in front of them I would get bullied too"
She gasp, she's panting hard that the noises of cicada are overwhelmed.
"Until one day, you stopped coming to school. Every one of them didn't even care you know? I was angry at that time to them… and most especially to myself. No matter what self harming I do, I can't get rid of the guilt that I felt. And now that you came back, I thought that you're finally going to get angry at me… I prepared myself to received your revenge, I prepare myself to be hurt by your harsh words or by your fist"
But I didn't do it because I don't remember her… Even if I somehow remember her, I still wouldn't do it.
"But the actions you take are the most painful thing that I received in my entire life. You didn't get angry at me, you treated me with respect. How should I deal with that I wonder, I will gladly choose getting hit than being cared by you. And now, you even taught me how to properly cook and egg and compliment me when nobody else does. It's hard you know, I keep slapping myself in order not to be happy by your words and yet…"
She continues to cry.
"It's okay Mitsuki. I'm not angry or anything. In fact, I'm happy to see that you've grown"
"What's that? You sounded like an old man"
Mitsuki said, although she's telling a joke, her sobbing can still be heard.
"Then how about it, would you like to be friend with me?"
There's no answer, suddenly noise of door unlocking. Mitsuki slowly opens the door, but it was not fully open though, it was half open and she's peeking behind the gaps.
Her eyes look tired and red, she then slowly opens her dry mouth.
"You… Don't hate me?"
She asked. Her eyes started to gather tears again as she wait for my response.
"What are you talking? Of course not, and if I somehow hate you, I will forgive you after I see you crying like this"
She hid the half of her face to the door while making some weird noise. It took some time again before she reply.
"Is that true?"
"Of course, won't you become friends with me? Ah wait, we're already friends right? Right?"
Tears fall again from her eyes. She was nodding while sweeping her tears.
"That's right! We're already friends!"
She said energetically, she started to smile again, looking at me with great vigor.
"Isn't that right?"
I said. She finally opens the door and hugged me. It's strange, is this Déjà vu?"