This afternoon, as usual, Kenkyo became a waiter at a restaurant. Taking orders, delivering food to customers and washing dishes is her job every afternoon until late at night. Kenkyo did without complaining. Since her father did not work, she is now the breadwinner of the family.
The clock showed 7 pm, it was time for her to go home. Previously she had cleaned the entire restaurant.
There is a faint smile on Kenkyo's lips remembering today is the end of the month. It's time to get paid.
Kenkyo knocked on her boss's door. She has managed for whatever money she spent. In addition to buying daily necessities, she also set aside to pay school fees.
"Come in!" A deep voice from inside the room.
Kenkyo slowly entered and bowed.
"I've cleaned up all the restaurants, and I'm leaving to go home, Boss."
The man in front of Kenkyo nodded. He took the brown envelope that he had prepared on the table.
"This is your salary for this month. I've deducted it to compensate for the things you broke."
Kenkyo received it, she checked the value of the money she just received. Just a few tens of yen bills. Kenkyo was surprised, this nominal did not match her hard work so far.
"Sorry, boss. Wasn't our agreement first that you pay me 500 yen/hour. That means as long as I work 4 hours/day it will be 2000 yen. I work this month for 26 days. My salary should be 52,000 yen. Why do you only give me 30,000 yen, please?" Boss?" she protested.
"If you don't accept it, you can get out of here! After all, I'm lucky I hired a student like you!"
"Sorry, you can't do this to me! I can sue you!" threatened Kenkyo.
"Sue if you dare! But, just so you know, I'm going to sue your father first for making a fuss at the restaurant last week!"
Kenkyo froze. She could no longer argue. She couldn't bear to see his father imprisoned.
Last week ...
Clang!!
Bam!!
There was a commotion at Hakushu's Resto And Cafe. A man in his 40s had a tantrum. He destroyed some of the furniture in the restaurant.
Kenkyo and several other maids came out of the kitchen to see the commotion. How shocked Kenkyo was when she found out that the troublemaker was her own father, Mr. Hanasaki Akira.
Mr. Akira walked unsteadily towards his daughter, he was still under the influence of alcohol it seemed.
"Kenkyo-chan! Why did you leave without leaving any money, honey? I need money to buy a drink," said Mr. Akira.
Kenkyo was silent. She was confused about her father's current attitude. All eyes were on them.
Without waiting for his daughter's approval, Mr. Akira forcibly pulled the backpack that was still perched on Kenkyo's back. Mr. Akira took out the entire contents of Kenkyo's bag. He found some yen tucked between the books. His smile grew.
"Ahahaha thank you, My Daughter."
Kenkyo held her father's arm.
"Don't pay that money, Tou-chan! It's to pay this month's tuition," Kenkyo pleaded, pitifully.
Mr. Akira just waved Kenkyo's hand.
"Satan cares about your school! It's better if you work now, you don't need to go to school anymore," said Mr. Akira as he stepped out of the restaurant.
Kenkyo sat limply on the floor. She doesn't know her father anymore. Her father had completely changed. Her tears just flowed even though she tried to hold them back.
"Why have you changed now, Tou-chan?" she muttered.
***
Kenkyo was in front of her class. She breathed heavily again and again, afraid that yesterday's events would repeat itself. What must he do to uncover the truth?
"Good morning, Kenkyo-chan?" A young man suddenly came and put his arm around Kenkyo's shoulders.
Kenkyo turned around.
"Yamada-kun? What are you doing in my class?"
Yamada didn't answer. He smiled sweetly as he pulled Kenkyo into class with him.
"Attention please!" exclaims Yamada
The whole class immediately focused on him and Kenkyo.
"We've been hiding our relationship all this time, but just so you know, we've been in a relationship since a year ago. So, whoever dares to disturb Kenkyo, he will deal directly with me. You remember that!" Yamada pointed at Fukushi, "And you, you bastard! I'm still waiting for your apology to Kenkyo."
Fukushi looked down in shame. He stood and bowed right in front of Kenkyo.
"Kenkyo-chan, I'm sorry! You can spit back at me or even hit me. The one who put Himeka's phone in your bag was me," said Fukushi, regretfully.
The whole class cheered on Fukushi's stupidity. They gave Fukushi hateful looks. One by one Kenkyo's friends apologized to her. Kenko just nodded. Her mind was still focused on how did Yamada deal with all of this?
For a moment she looked at Yamada.
"I'm really cool, so you don't have to always show your admiration," said Yamada arrogantly.
Kenkyo immediately gave her lover an intimate kiss.
Before leaving the classroom, Yamada patted Fukushi on the shoulder. The right corner of his lips lifted, forming an indescribable smile.
"You did a great job, My Friend."
***
In a traditional residence, sat a beautiful woman on tatami. Even though she is almost 50 years old, her beauty still shines through. Now she cleans the katana using a white cloth, the katana that belonged to her late husband.
Someone pushed the door, the beautiful woman paused for a moment from her activities. Her smile grew. She patted the tatami on her right.
"Sit here, Shinsuke!"
The man who had just entered the room nodded. He took a position on the right side of the beautiful woman earlier.
"What is it Kaa-san calling me?" he asked.
*Okaa-san = mother
"After more than a month you didn't come home, is that all you want to say, heum? You're so rude, Kid!"
Shinsuke smiled. He knew very well what his mother meant. He came closer to his mother and hugged her. Putting his head in the crook of his mother's neck. He really missed this woman. Working as a detective has taken up a lot of his time so far.
After being satisfied enough to let go of the longing, Mrs. Yukiko, Shinsuke's mother, began to talk seriously.
"You must have guessed why you called Okaa-san."
Shinsuke let out a rough breath. He was bored if he always had to discuss matchmaking with his mother.
"I'm an adult, Kaa-san. I can find my own partner."
"You can never! And you never will! All the girls you took out, there wasn't a single one that Okaa-san liked. Especially the one named Nanami Nanomi or whatever."
"Naomi, Kaa-san. Her name is Inoe Naomi." Shinsuke corrected.
"Yes, she is. She is very rude, ignorant, her clothes are disgusting. Okaa-san will never let you go out with her again!" snapped Mrs. Yukiko.
Shinsuke was silent. He would not be able to refute the words of his only family.
"Then ... Okaa-san wants me to do what?"
"Okaa-san has arranged your blind date for next week," said Mrs. Haruko with a smirk.
"Huh?? Next week??"
To be continued...
Preview Next Chapter
Kenkyo saw Yamada walking with Himeka. He grabbed Yamada's arm roughly.
"I WANT US TO BREAK UP RIGHT NOW, FUJIWARA-SAN!!"