Touko Journal
"It seems Touko's deception was really helpful for you dear. " Shouta told Shouza.
"I'm.. Sorry.. " I said, I felt sorry about it though.
I might've helped Shouza but I was feeling responsible that I dragged them here by force out of their work.
I hoped that they're not too busy.
Then the parent-teacher's meeting ended, and today's school ended afterwards, since they needed to assess the infos they've gathered faster than waiting for the normal schedule of the school to end.
"Shouza, Alex, can you two leave us for a moment. " Shouta requested, to talk to me alone.
"We'll wait at the gate. " Alex said.
I was so scared this day, but what Shouta wanted to say is.
"You know, your just a kid but you've outstood your peers, you may be socially wreck, but if you used your head well, you could be as successful as me, remember to not use those to me again, because if I leave unannounced again, my position's on the line, alright? " he explained, lecturing me that day, and I felt bad of myself.
But his complements kinda made me feel at ease at the very least.
"I.. Will.. Do my Best!! " I shouted, I felt so stiff.
"Good, then I know Shouza will be helping you, but she's been someone who's close to a shut in neet, she might be good at socializing and her make up, but she's been a cold girl and tends to lock herself at her room to watch TV a lot, so can you take care of her? " he asked.
I thought is then, Take care? I thought I was the one who's gonna be taken care of, but why do I need to do so?
And then I realized that, he is right, last night I can tell she barely slept last night, and this morning she talks so coldly, am I the only one who thought he is right?
"I will.. Try my.. Best.. " I answered but now sincere, since I want to help her too not just rely on her.
She was a wreck when she knows that her father won't come to the PTM, that's the reason why I called him.
[PTM is Parent-Teacher's Meeting]—
"Then I'll leave the two of you then. " he said, we then left the school premises.
I returned to Shouza, she's waiting for us at the gate.
"We'll be leaving you two girls now, Touko, remember what I told you, okay? " he pointed out.
"Yes. " I answered quite stiff.
"Good, then see you, dear. " Shouta said to Shouza then kissed her on the forehead.
"Well, ladies, we'll be leaving now. " Alex bid farewell.
They then left.
"Let's go home. " Shouza said.
"Wait!.. I have.. To go.. To work.. " I said.
"Oh right, sorry about that, I guess I should take us there, where is your work? " she asked.
I then guide us there, since she haven't been to Arlep Comic Cafe.
We then arrived at the Comic Cafe, and saw the manager returning the rented comic back at the shelf.
"Hello, kiddo, I heard from your brother that you got injured. " she said.
"Wait.. My brother!?" I asked.
My brother shouldn't come to this area since the market is at the other side of the district.
"Yeah, he bought the latest issue of "Three Piece". " manager explained.
I always reprimand him for buying things with my money, I don't want him using it other than his and mother's needs.
"Hello, I'm Shouza Theodore, I'm here to help her since I was the one who injured her. " Shouza introduced herself.
"Thanks, a help that don't need payment is a delightful, since you're a beautiful lady I will repay you, and I will beg to hire you. " manager said.
Manager is kinda desperate for cute ladies to work for her so that she could profit more from the store, and she was lucky I am fairly cute and needing for a job.
"Haha, thanks, maybe next time, but I only intend to help Touko. " she turned her down.
"Well, anytime you change your mind, my shop won't go anywhere. " she said, dissapointed.
Manager's family is rich, but she wanted to be independent and not be spoiled much by her parents, and since she is a nerd she wanted to open a Comic Cafe, her family invested her starting money.
Manager wants to earn money through her effort and not rely on her parents success and riches.
"Well then let's get to work, as we have a lot of books to return back to shelf and since a beautiful lady is here to help us, customer will sky rocket, oh, by the way, Ms. Theodore, how long will you be helping? " manager asked Shouza.
"I will be helping for 3 months or less. " she answered.
"Then how about this, instead of me paying you money, how about I fill up your community service hours in advance? Just contact me when your in College. " manager suggested.
"That will be wonderful! " Shouza agreed.
"Then here... Um.. Here's your uniform, the changing room is at that door. " manager instructed.
"Thank you. " she then entered the room to change.
She is actually better in working than I thought
Manager then came up to me, to talk about her.
"She's pretty cute, and kind, any flaws? " manager asked.
"She's just like everyone, but she's colder the more you're close to her. " I said.
I can talk well with manager as we are close enough that I don't get my socially awkward self to come out.
"Anyways, I hope she could work here, I just need a character like her being an employee here. " manager said, she's spouting stupidities again.
I then left her and entered the changing room to change as well.
I then saw Shouza half naked, I blushed, but since I work with manager and she's a lady, I pretty much could handle this kind of situation and not be embarrassed much.
But since my right hand is injured, I might need her help.
"I need.. Help.. To change. " I tried talking fast this time.
"Come'ere. " she said.
She then helped me change from my uniform to a working ones, my working uniform is almost the same as my school uniform, since manager designed it herself, it kinda helps to appeal for the customers.
We then finished changing.
"Are you girls done changing? There are a lot of customers. " manager asked as she entered the changing room.
It's time for her cola break, that's kinda her habit once every 3 hours.
"We're done! " Shouza said.
We then left the changing room.
"Alright, Ms. Theodore, you'll only be returning rented books to the shelf, the returned books are on that box over there, you pretty much can handle it right? Since the books are organized. " manager said.
"Alright, it's easier than I thought, though it'll be harder to find the books. " Shouza said, complaining.
"Don't worry, since it's a cafe, the shelf are less and the seats are which we are focused on, it'll be easy to navigate it. " manager said.
"And Touko will be at cash registry, you can press buttons with your left hand right? And money isn't too much of an issue to handle. " manager told me.
I guess I'll be working at the registry again.
"That's all, I'll go drink my cola. " she then left to the backdoor of the cafe.
"Just call me when you need something. " Shouza said.
"Okay. " I said.
I then stood behind the cash registry, and work on the line up of customers, I had a hard time, but I power through.
"That will be xx $. "
"Thank you, please come again. "
"Is this all your orders? "
"Stay safe. "
Those are some of the words I memorized in order for me to work on the counter, with a bright smile.
I have a lot memorized but they are back up if I'm repeating some words.
Shouza seems to be working alright, she's not placing the books at the wrong shelf, and all of them are in order as well.
We then rested for our mid break, to eat some food.
"You can talk at the cashier while you can't talk socially? " Shouza asked as she finished her snacks.
"Yes.. Um.. I really can't.. Continue if I'm.. Only working.. At returning rented.. Books. " I said, a lot of words came out fast but is still stutter a lot.
"Hmm, that's fair, but still, it's so tiring to have a work and school at the same time, how can you even handle this for like years? " she said exagarating.
"Motivation.. My family is poor.. And I'm the only healthy.. Kid. " I answered.
"My brother's malnourish.. And mom's in coma. " I explained.
"Your dad? " she asked.
I started getting personal the moment she asked as to how I could handle double work.
I may be a girl, but doing two things at a time and doing what I want is something I push through for my family and nothing could stand between that, to the point that I needed scholarship to lighten the load.
"He died before I even met him. " that sentence is the first time I spoke to her without the stuttering.
"Anyways.. I didn't.. Know Oni.. And your.. Dad.. Are same? " I asked.
"Hmm, even I didn't know it up till now, why'd you asked? " she asked then drank her water.
"Oni.. Is the one.. Who gave me.. Scholarship. " I answered.
I think he just approved of my scholarship quickly since he's too busy, I'm guessing in the future I'll be working for Theo Company.
"Really? I didn't know! " Shouza shouted.
"I bet he.. Didn't know.. As well. " I said.
"Girls! Breaktime's over, more customers just entered. " manager said.
"I bet, since he's the busiest person I know. " she told me as she stood up.
"Let's talk later. " I said.