"Woah, he's so young."
"Are they a couple?"
"She looks so good."
"She's so beautiful. How did he end up with her?"
"Lucky!"
What's going on?
Is this the power of this woman?
Why are we the center of attraction!
"Hey! Which one do you want? Regular or Premium? Don't feel shy."
The owner of this voice was dressed up in black denim jeans, a long white T-shirt, a jumper, and heels. Oh, right, her hair. How can I forget that? She let loose her long wavy hair.
She didn't look anything like her age.
Glare.
I just felt a chill down my spine.
Hey, I didn't mention your age.
Alright, Uhm... What I was saying is she looks young that people think we're a couple.
Right! I'm not gonna even bother thinking about how I ended up in this situation.
"Nao! I'm asking you something. Stop spacing out!"
"Oh! Right! I think I'll go with the regular one."
Must not impose myself upon the host.
"Hmm...Alright, premium it is."
"Huh?"
"I knew you're still holding back with me. So this is my choice."
This cutesy couple act will give everyone the wrong idea.
"He's beaten up so badly."
"Is he a delinquent?"
"Doesn't she have better tastes?"
"I refuse to believe they're a couple."
"Maybe they're family. Like a single mom and her son."
"Yeah, that must be it. Let's ask her out then."
"Are you crazy?"
"Hey! It's worth the try."
These guys, do they have a death wish?
Don't come here, stay away.
Don't tell me I didn't warn you.
"Hey, could you help me with this?"
One of the guys approached me.
I guess he's trying to separate us.
"Uhm...Sorry, I'm not from around here."
"Oh, is that so?"
He just pushed me aside. I see, Divide and Conquer tactic.
Plan executed successfully, is what's going through their head.
A fist bump.
"Uhm...Excuse us, but can you help us with this?"
Rinko-san who noticed all the commotion going behind her turned around towards them and responded normally.
"Ah, This! If you go to the far end and take a left, you will find it."
"Oh, Thank you so much."
One of the guys held her hand and thanked her.
I don't think it'll end here.
"By the way, you look really gorgeous, are you his partner?"
"Partner?"
Rinko-san was suddenly caught off-guard.
And the boys misunderstood that reaction.
"No way right! You must be his elder sister then!"
"No man, she may look like that, but the way they acted gave the vibe of a family, like mom and son."
"Yeah, that's true."
"See, I told you right."
I was just looking around the carton for the ingredients while listening to their conversation.
Is this what they call flirting, I wondered. Meanwhile,...
"Nao?"
A voice called out to me.
This sweet voice, it couldn't be.
I turned around to see and it was a girl in her high school uniform.
"Miku?!"
It's Miku! But what is she doing here?
There were two other girls behind her.
"Miku? Did he just call you that? How lame!"
"Hey, who do you think you are?"
"How dare you even call her like she's familiar with you?"
"Tch! That's why I hate these convenience stores. Just because they've seen you in the magazine, they think they have the right to address you however you want."
A voice followed them.
"Hey, what's with the commotion?"
The owner showed up.
Oh, it's....what's his name...Slave-kun.
I think I seem to be a magnet for others to subject their negativity and hatred towards me.
"Hey, Sakio!"
Oh right, that's his name.
"Look at this creep, he's referring to Michiru with some weird name as he knows her so well."
"Yeah, why don't you teach him some manners."
"Oh, is that right? Then it'll be my pleasure to teach him some courtesy in how to address people above his class."
He was cracking his knuckles.
"Stop it!"
Miku intervened.
"I don't need any help from the likes of you, especially from someone who was beaten to a pulp and is barely on his feet now."
"You little bitch, don't try to act high and mighty just because you got one over me. I'll let you know it wasn't that guy that beat me, it was..."
What is he saying?
"You lost and can't even accept your defeat. Reminds me of old times."
"Grgh!"
He just groaned.
"Hey Michiru, what's with you. He's trying to protect your reputation."
"Yeah, if anything it's that guy you should that you should focus your attention upon."
The Muppets.
No need to explain.
She chuckled.
"Sorry, I totally forgot about that."
"Don't worry."
"We're always with you."
They both chuckled together.
"How long will you just keep this up?"
Michiru remarked.
"What do you mean, Michiru?
"Yeah, it's not like you. If anything, you must take it out on him, not us."
"Yes, we are your well-wishers."
"Well-wishers?"
She raised her eyebrow, and let out a laugh.
Everyone was stunned, even the commotion at the back died down.
"What's funny?"
"Why are you acting like this."
"Shut up will ya?"
She's serious.
"The only reason why you're tagging along with me is because of my background and my power at school. Don't overstep your boundaries."
They both were taken aback.
"But.."
"We.."
"Hey, Slave...Oh, I mean Sachio, why don't you teach them how to address one with courtesy first?"
He was quiet. Looks like things are rough between them.
"You..."
"How dare you..."
"Huh? What is it? I can't hear you? It just sounded like some mice were just making some noises here."
She's clearly provoking them.
"Cross me and you'll burn down, remember that and know your place."
She gave a death stare.
The girls were quiet.
"Hey, who is she?"
"Man, she's looking hella cute."
"Looks like it's our lucky strike."
"I'll take this woman, you take her."
"Alright!"
These guys, they're still at it.
I guess they are the clear definition of masochists.
But only if they knew.
For one reason or another, this completely deviated from a date. Not that I was very keen about it in any way.
I looked back at Rinko-san.
She looks like she's still under that guy's grasp.
Is this harassment?
Looks like I need to step in.
"Hey, isn't that...?"
Miku stepped right next to me, as she was trying to say something...
"Mom?!"
Right, just when we didn't have enough drama, we got another character to show up.
This is too much for me to handle.
I didn't either bother to turn around.
I knew who it was.
Yukiko Harumi.
"What's going on?"
"Woah, she has a daughter too."
"It's a triple jackpot."
"Uhm...Ma'am, you look really beautiful, and it must be hard being a single mom while having to raise such an eyesore of a delinquent son and such as beautiful girl."
"Yeah, we can hardly imagine. You must have missed out on a lot. How about we go on a weekend getaway, it'll be relaxing. We can even invite your daughter too."
These guys. They're one step away from being human traffickers.
"Hey, leave her alone."
"Don't worry beautiful. We're taking you too."
"Yeah. My uncle knows a hotel where they'll be no disturbance for us to enjoy. They even have a private jacuzzi.
Flaunting their wallets. Typical.
Don't worry about your brother, we'll look after him.
"Brother?"
Yuki-nee was confused as to who they were referring to and looked in my direction.
"Nao?!"
Yep, it's me. Suprise.
"Why?"
Meanwhile, Rinko-san looked in my direction.
I decided to step in. But she looked disappointed and took matters into her own hands.
"Is that so? Really, I'd love to take up on that offer."
"What? Mom, what are you saying?"
"Really? That's great."
"We'll make the arrangements."
I was beyond speechless.
What did I just hear?
"But before that, can I ask you something?"
"Sure!"
"We're all ears."
"I wanted to know if there are any graveyards or huge places where we can bury stuff."
The excitement in the boys' faces dropped down.
Miku and I were watching this exchange carefully, as we didn't know what was going on.
"Beg your pardon?"
"Yeah, we didn't get you."
"Well you see, that's not my son over there. He's someone special to me. And I wouldn't want to hurt him by doing something so vulgar as this. But at the same time, you guys complimented me and asked me out so earnestly, it would be rude of me to turn you down. So I was thinking I could take up on your offer and have fun with you, and then wipe off your existence without a trace of it so that I wouldn't hurt him."
She just said something so scary with a smiling face.
The guys were taken aback.
They took some time to regroup and think about what had just transpired.
"You got some pretty dangerous choices in women."
Miku remarked.
"Huh? That actually stings, when it's from you."
I really was stung.
She chuckled.
"I mean I have to go up against them to keep up with me, right?"
She held my arm.
This feels weird, especially when there's some stuff going on there.
"So, how does it feel to be so close to your girlfriend in the public. This is our official debut in a way."
She seemed very happy about it.
"Hmm... I guess it feels kinda good."
"Hmph!"
She didn't like it.
"I mean with one arm busted, and with so many band-aids, I can't totally enjoy being with you. That's why."
"So, you actually like this?"
"I mean who wouldn't?"
"Are you having any erotic thoughts?"
"Many, too many. I can't even think of how to describe them."
She pulled her hand back for a moment.
"But yeah, a young girl like you can't put up with these erotic feelings right."
I was just casually playing around with her.
I really didn't mean it.
But she took it as otherwise.
She grabbed my arm and pulled herself closer.
I felt a soft sensation.
"Huh!"
I was suddenly surprised.
She was giggling.
"What was that? I felt something soft."
"What could it be? I don't know?"
She was playing around with me and enjoying this.
Rinko-san and Yuki-nee were staring at us, but I totally forgot about them.
"You're joking right?"
"You don't mean it right?"
The two boys refused to accept reality.
Rinko-san got a bit serious and replied back.
"Did I stutter?"
"Do you guys have a death wish?"
Yuki-nee followed up.
Realizing their situation, and seeing how close I and Miku were, they decided to bail out.
Just when I thought all was said and done, there was an agonizing idiot behind me.
"Oi, get your hands off her."
The two muppets were quiet.
So it was obviously... ahh, damn! I forgot his name again. Anyway, it was Slave-kun.
"I won't."
I turned around and faced Sakio, ahh, that's his name.
"You have a death wish?"
"Says the guy who was humiliated and pleaded for mercy in the center of the ring."
"You, how dare you!"
"Hey, Sachio!"
I proceeded to remove my beanie and the sunglasses I had on.
He was petrified at the sight of me.
His voice was cracking and his body started shaking.
The girls behind him were also stunned at the sight of me.
"You know, it really hurts that you couldn't remember the face of the person who crushed you."
He took a moment to calm down, but he couldn't. He went on a rant.
"You...what are doing, hanging around with Haruko-senpai's mother. Don't you know your worth... How dare a peasant like you overstep your boundaries and involve families. This is unacceptable."
The muppets followed suit.
"Yeah, you're the worst. You're nothing more than a filthy existence."
"We'll end you today after taking this picture and mail it across to the students in the school."
Both of them were desperately trying to redeem themselves.
As one of them was trying to capture a pic, and hand appeared suddenly and grabbed the smartphone.
"What are you do..."
She was quiet after seeing the owner of the hand.
It was Rinko-san.
"I think you're overestimating your position here."
She wasn't smiling anymore.
"Don't you dare try to even mock him, or you'll regret it! You'll regret meeting me, and will definitely question all the choices you've made to end up with such a fate."
Both of them shrunk as she tossed the phone back.
But the slave wasn't done.
"Why are you siding by him? He's not a good guy. He's just a mere peasant. And he even crossed the boundary by making a move on your daughter in front of a huge crowd on the very first day of his school. That's a clear insult. He doesn't deserve this kindness. If anything he must be dead."
Rinko-san was losing her temper.
"Uhm! Rinko, please calm down."
"He grabbed my collar.
"How dare you address her like that?"
The crowd was staring at us.
"Hands off him."
"I said take your hand off him."
Rinko and Miku both stepped in and separated me from his vice-grip.
While Miku removed his arm, Rinko went ahead and slapped him hard.
"Why?..."
"Shut up! Who do you think you are? Who are you to judge what kind of people must he hang out with or how he must address someone. Who died and made you the ruler of this nation?"
She snapped.
"Let me tell you something. We've known him from before you were even born into this world. Don't overstep your boundaries and try to force your ideals and beliefs upon someone. It sickens me. Know your own place first. The next time you dare cross him, I swear, it will be the end of you."
Miku stepped in.
"Auntie, please. I'll take care of it. Don't worry. Just spare them for once."
Rinko-san calmed down after taking a deep breath and returned back to her cheerful and playful mood.
"Nao, let's continue our date."
"Date?"
Miku glared at me.
She pulled me aside for a moment.
"You're already cheating on me?"
"Is that what it looks like?"
"I don't know. You tell me."
"I'm kinda stuck with her for now. So can't do anything."
"Is it that bad?"
"I would've run away with you at this instant, but I can't."
"Why?"
I went close to her and placed my head on her shoulder.
"Beef stew and Fried Steak!"
"Beef stew and Fried Steak? That's it?"
"Sadly, Yes."
She let out a chuckle.
"Then it's fine. I hope you take care of her and escort her safely."
"Really?"
"But you owe me a date. And don't pull any moves on her."
"Okk. Roger."
She smiled and greeted Rinko and went on her way.
The three muppets followed suit.
What a hassle.
Finally some peace.
"Nao! Let's go."
Right, let's get going.
I turned towards Rinko-san and found myself facing Yuki-nee.
She didn't seem happy at all.
"Care to explain?"
"Uhm..."
FUCK!!!