"Can't you count to ten?!" The manager's voice boomed, echoing through the cramped kitchen. "We're short six packs of scallops!"

The victim of his rage was a tall young man fashioning black piercings in either ear and white hair. His skin was pasty white. So white in fact that it looked like it lacked any blood. His golden eyes signified that he was Demi. Or how the others would call him- a crossbreed.

"I swear they were there when I last ch-"

"Are they here now?!" The antagonist, the manager, had yet white skin. His ears were big and his hair brown. Nose flat, and hair... non-existent. Unfortunate.

"But I-"

"God fucking damn it. I knew I shouldn't have hired your dumb ass. This is what I get for taking in an illiterate bitch, get down here." He slapped Akira's head with his writing board "Aigoooo... It's not even the evening. What will we do with our main menu out of stock? That's at like fifty thousand yen... What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I am sorry." He clenched his teeth and his fist.

I wanna punch him so bad.

But he knew he couldn't. This was the only job that would hire an underage high school dropout for work. Off the records of course.

He couldn't accept his mistake either because he knew that he didn't mess up.

Apologizing was the most amicable resolution to this conflict.

This is what pretend adulthood entailed.

"Tsk. Kids these days. Just throw out the trash." The bald rascal got his power trip and left elsewhere.

Not wanting to look at the baldy bald any longer, Akira started doing the trash rotation.

One more week, then I'll spit on his shiny forehead. He was turning 18 and it was time for him to look for better opportunities.

After gathering all the trash he took it outside, getting wet in the pouring rain. Cars rushed by and people looked at him funny. Though 'crossbreeds' weren't rare, they stood out in the worst way possible. Especially in a dark covered city like Nyu-Tokyo, where their glowing golden eyes looked like headlights.

Day in and day out just looking different wanted to make him shy away from interactions. He knew he had no reason to be ashamed, yet those disdainful looks still bothered him.

I want to go back in already.

He gritted his teeth and got through the day. By the time his shift had ended, it was already past ten.

He gave his colleagues a bow and left outside.

Eh, the rain's stopped, might as well walk back. The puddles reflected the neon lights scattered around the city. It really did look beautiful. The smoke and mist smelled like grilled pork. His stomach rumbled.

Shhh, I'll feed you something good tonight.

The entire country was cross with the Regals- Crossbreed or Purebred. For good reason to. One look at the megalith that covered the sky answered why. The Purebred called it their domain- Their islands in the sky that covered the sun. The place where the Purebreds lived.

A documentary showed that it extended all the way to the heaven.

Of course, the privilege of living away from this conflict was given only to the Purebreds. The crossbreeds like Akira were living in the same reality as the humans yet subjected to the hatred that should have been directed towards the Purebreds.

The sound of a train rushed past as he went under the bridge carrying it. His house was five minutes by train, thirty on foot.

"Haah... Self-restraint is such a pretty way to put stinginess and brokeness." From the corner of his eye, he spotted a convenience store that was about to close. "Prey spotted."

He skipped to it, tapped the port and the doors to the store opened. The clean light air from the inside was stark in contrast with the humidity outside.

"Welcom- Oh it's you." The cashier looked at him and sighed.

"I am a customer as long as I'm here."

"Akira."

"Johnny." Akira stopped next to him. "Any mealboxes you might have thrown around?"

"Buy some gum I'll sneak them into the bag."

"Sure." Akira put a coin in the gumball machine and one transaction later had a bag full of cold day-old food.

Rich people nowadays are far too wasteful. This would've gone in the trash if it weren't for my graceful theft.

He put up his hood, snuck out of the shop and sat on a staircase nearby. This was his place where he would usually consume his convieni spoils of the day. Without wasting a moment he scarfed down the entire box of rice and hamburger steak. It was his only meal of the day. A growing boy needed more food, he was all skin and bones.

After finishing the meal, he put the box beside himself and laid down to look at the sky. The domain obstructed the night sky. The only thing he could see were the lights glimmering through the bottom showing signs of civilization from the sinners above.

What a farce.

Akira got up and left for his house nodding at Johnny who was taking out the trash.

As he got closer it became apparent that his home wasn't what people would usually consider a home. Rather, it was a clinic run by a crossbreed old lady.

Just as he was about to enter, she opened the door. Akira stepped back, wary of her.

"Ah, and don't forget your bills are due next week."

"Speaking of, can you delay them by a couple of days perhaps?"

"I'm not running a charity kiddo." She wasn't a nice old lady, of course. She was just looking out for her rent and her patient. Granted, the failing business did mean that this place was cheaper than any other to keep his Pa alive and well.

Well really, this was the only one he could afford.

He didn't push any further because in the past, the granny had had been extremely temperamental.

She said that she took Akira in because he was one of her kind. Then continued to call him in on short notices, for pointless fixes, and things in that realm. She was quite similar to the Piggy Manager in quite a few regards. He was just lucky that he didn't have to see her as often as the pig.

Overall, it was a strange community. So welcoming but so disdainful.

"I'll get it to you next week." Akira mumbled while going through the door. It was a small clinic with a small ER.

"Oh, you're back dear." An old man raised his hands. His skin was wrinkled as it could be, but his hair was still jet black. The man flaunted fitness beyond his years. Maybe all those years in construction were paying off.

"You called earlier?"

"Well, I had something to say..." He nodded. "What was it again?"

"But first medicines. How're you feeling today?" Akira put down his bag and sat next to him.

"Better! Ah, yes, that's what I wanted to say. I think I'll be out of this place in no time!" He had been admitted for half a year at this point. High blood pressure, failing liver, and a host of mental issues that couldn't even be examined properly. "In fact, why not ask that hag to let me out right now?"

The old man's voice was low as he rubbed Akira's back. Akira sighed. This was his something the old man pulled every day. Pa hated being a burden more than anything.

"Calm down. You need to be in perfect shape to get out of here. Remember how much the emergency treatment cost last time?"

"But."

"No buts. Just rest properly."

"Two weeks. Two weeks only okay?"

"You'll have to prove it to me by running a marathon." Akira sat the man down and got him his meds along with a board. "In fact, why not start your proof right now, with some mental exercise. Let's play some chess."

"Have you been itching for this all day?"

"You bet I have!"

They had some of the best times on the board. Laughter, communication, and bonding. Some times were salty, some times were hilarious. No matter how bad the day was, a good game always ended it with a smile.

.

.

.

"Anyway, how's your interning? Once I'm out I want to meet the gentleman who let you in the business even knowing you're just a student. He must be a great man." Pa moved his piece.

"He's not that great of a man, just a normal office worker, you know?"

"He's paying for my stay here."

No, I am. Akira moved his piece. He couldn't quite tell him that he was a minimum wage worker under an abusive employee.

"I will." The young man bit the inside of his cheek. "Also, checkmate."

"Huh?!!!"

"Just get better already." He patted Pa's hair. The night was late. They were both tired.

Another end to a productive and relatively stressless day. Six more to go. Freedom had never felt so close. Akira sighed while getting into bed.

"Good night, Akira."

Before he knew it, it was already the sixth one of the week. One day away from eighteen. And it was just another workday.

Except-

"Akira, you're fired."