"You sure with this, kiddo?"
I gave him a smile, "Yes, sir" as I carried 2 sacks of flour and went inside of the shop. Everyday...
"You're still in high school and what wou--"
"Sir, I need this job. So, please let me have this job. I'll do my best and won't' disappoint you" I said and bowed in front of the store owner. Everyday...
Every day in every corner of the town, I'm looking for a job. Finding a job to save up money for my Mom's treatment, I put my study time aside. I have a priority and that is finding money for my Mom's treatment. Mom is suffering for 4 months now, I can't let my Mom suffer much longer.
The way she pulls her strength to gave me a smile despite her condition made me want to continue finding money for the medications she needed. I have to save up to buy her treatments.
"Shiki, you're grades were down. What's wrong? Is there any problem?" my concerned teacher asked. "You have to study more to let your grades up"
I tried to manage both my studies and my part-time jobs. At this age, I should be studying more to my subjects that I've been taking at school, chill by playing games and hang-out with my high school friends but I'm working hard for my mother, I'm facing a lot of remarks from customers.
"I'm terribly sorry, Sir!" I said as I bumped the customer with a hot coffee.
"What a terrible worker you are, I want to talk with your manager about this! I'm late and this shirt cost so much than your paying job"
It was already night, customers went back home. On the staff manager's room, Shiki only listen and didn't look at his store manager.
"Sir, I'll--" Shiki's sentence is cut off by his store manager shaking its head. Shiki holds his tears as he grabbed all his belongings and went out of the store, it's already 9pm.
Shiki looked around, trying to find another job again. He's been fired from the previous store owners. "
"Yes, sir." Shiki immediately answered. The owner starches his head, looking at the 15-year old Shiki, hesitating to hire him.
"You're still in your high school, right?" the owner of the store asked, looking at his appearance.
The young Shiki nodded, "Yes, sir"
"But how could you manage now when you have to work here from 11pm to 6 am in the morning, how about your studies?" the owner asked, looking at the paper in front of him.
"I can manage, sir"
"Okay, Mr. Matsuda" the owner said and reached his hand out, "You're hired. You can work here starting tomorrow"
Shiki's eyes lit up and shake the owner's hand, " Thank you, Sir. I'll do my best to help your shop"
The owner gave Shiki a smile, admiring how hard-working he is based on the resume Shiki sent. Working multiple jobs and managing Shiki's studies is what made the owner admired.
The owner stood up and went to the cabinet, pulling out the uniform for Shiki and handed it to Shiki. Shiki gladly took it with a smile.
Few workers in the town's stores closed their shops and heading home, it was 10:58 pm and Shiki is heading his way to the convenience store he worked in. As he walked, he halted as he saw few guys around his age, playing games with friends inside a shop.
"I lost again? Let's play another round"
"But we've been--"
"Come on, last round. I know I can beat you on this" the browned-haired guy said as their eyes are on their phones, playing games. The brown-haired guy's friends started to play. He looked at them with a smile.
"Must be fun playing games with friends" Shiki said to himself, he continued walking as he thinks how some guys around his age are fortunate and doesn't have much problem in the world.
"Oh, you're the one who works at this hour?" Shiki's co-clerk asked as he saw Shiki entered the convenience store wearing the uniform of the store. Shiki looked at the blonde-haired around his 20s, he nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be the one who's working at this hour," Shiki replied with a smile. The blonde-haired guy walked out of the cashier, his eyes still on Shiki.
"Are you sure? And..." The blonde guy looked at Shiki from head to toe, "Are you a high school student?"
Shiki nodded.
"Y-You're a high school student? Why did Mr. Matsunaga gave you this hour to work?"
"I insisted"
"Sorry to ask you this but I'm just worried, How about your studies?That would be hard to manage due to the time"
People seem to be more worried about Shiki's academic life than how he worries about it. Academic life is his second priority, "I can manage my studies"
The guy around his 20s nodded and reaches out his hand, "I'm Aki. Yuji Aki"
"Shiki. Matsuda Shiki" Shiki replied as he shakes his hand.
"Well, I'm going home. Are you sure about your time working here? You must be busy studying and you can switch it with m-" Aki's sentence is cut off as Shiki gave him a smile.
"Thank you for the offer but I can do this"
Aki slowly nodded, "Okay"
Aki looked at Shiki with a worried expression on his face as he head home.
Few weeks after working on the convenience store, Shiki's routine became a habit. He worked at 11pm, study throughout the night as he waits for the customers in the convenience store and heads out of the convenience store at 6am. He would sleep for 2 hours and prepare to go to school. After attending all his classes, Shiki would immediately go visit his mother.
"Shiki, are you okay? You seemed pale, have you eaten properly?" Mom asked.
Shiki gave his Mom a smile, "Yes, Mom. I'm fine and don't worry about me"
Mom smiled back and looked at the ceiling, "Sorry, Mom isn't well"
Shiki clenches his fist, holding back his tears, looking at his Mom.
"Mom, what are you saying? I'm fine, you don't have to say sorry" and hold her hand, his Mom gave him a fragile smile.
Shiki stood up and sit on the side of the bed and gave his Mom a hug.
"I'm so lucky to have a son like you, Shiki"
After hearing those words, Shiki silently burst into tears as he hugs his Mom closer to him. He's been working hard lately for his mother, he loves his Mom so much that he is willing to drop out of school and focus on saving up money for his mother.
Shiki removed his embrace and looked at his Mom, her Mom's gentle hands caressed Shiki's face as tears flowed out.
"What's wrong, my son? Why are yo--"
"I love you, Mom" Shiki said as tears streamed down his face.
"And I love you too, my son"