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𝘽𝘼𝘽𝙔 𝙁𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍
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You knew you had to get another part-time job. With two part-time jobs you will get paid one full-time job, in fact probably a little more than that, considering that you have to work in the morning then at night. But if you want to survive the living expenses in Tokyo, you have no choice but to look for another part-time job.

Fortunately it didn't take you long to find one, thanks to your co-part timer at the convenience store, Hiro's recommendation.

"A part-time job that has a morning shift?" He looked up and put his finger on his chin, thinking about it for a few seconds until his face seemingly lit up. "Ah, there's this one restaurant in Omotesando. I didn't apply for a part-time job there, but my friend did. She could get you a spot there."

"Really?!" you asked, your eyes practically sparkling in gratitude as you held his hands.

It's been a week since you started working in the convenience store and it didn't take long for you to be closer with Hiro. Though he still couldn't shake off the shyness every time you get physically closer to him. But he's still a young college boy who is yet to experience the real joy of adulthood.

"Thank you so much, my little brother!"

"S-Senpai, you're crushing me," he muttered when you hugged him and a moment later you leaned back and held him at arm's length. "I'll do the cleaning duty for a whole week."

"It's alright, we take turns," he said, straightening his vest as he proceeded to mop the floor.

You watched him walk away, thinking to yourself how nice it would be to have him as a younger brother. Growing up with your uncle felt like you have an older brother, but to feel like the older sibling for once was actually nice.

Soon after you two were done with your duties, you closed the store and you and Hiro walked to the train station, both with a free onigiri that you two ate on the way.

"I'd let my friend know about the part-time job at the restaurant."

"Thank you, Hiro! I promise I'd pay you one way or another when I get rich."

"Senpai, part-time jobs wouldn't make us rich," he said as he chuckled a little weakly. You nudged his shoulder with your shoulder.

"Hey, don't go looking so downhearted like that. You're still in College, you have a lot of opportunities ahead of you."

"Anyhow," he said, clearly changing the topic as he finished his onigiri. "Saya-chan is a really great friend. She'd be happy to recommend that part-time job to you."

You thought about the small restaurant your uncle had when he was still alive. It would feel nice to work at a restaurant again, though you knew it would be different from the humble establishment of your uncle, considering that you're now in Tokyo.

When you got to the train station, you and Hiro sat inside in silence. He was the first one to leave the train as he got to his station, and along with him, most of the passengers also left. You leaned your head back and closed your eyes for a moment, thinking about what you said earlier as you let out a sigh.

"Ah, must have been nice to be a student again," you muttered.

You used to think that you also had a lot of opportunities ahead of you, but a lot of things also happened. At least you learned one thing, there's no use to dwell on the past, you thought to yourself. Before you could get lost in your reverie, and missed your station, you opened your eyes.

You were hoping that by the end of this month you could finally afford a small apartment. Or at least a dorm but you doubt they'd let you have one considering that most dorms are reserved for students.

The next day Hiro told you that his friend, Saya, got you the part-time job since the restaurant was also looking for a part-timer. The day after that you met Saya. Opposed to what you thought she'd look like, at least based on Hiro's description and whenever he talks about her, you thought Saya would be a timid girl.

But she looks way tougher than you thought. In fact she seems to be more tough than Hiro.

"You must be L/n-senpai Hiro was talking about," she said, greeting you with a smile.

"I'll be in your care," you said, returning her smile.

"I'm glad to be working with ya, senpai!"

Her noticeable Kansai accent made her sound even tougher than she looks. You wonder if Hiro getting all shy when talking about her was actually him getting scared.

Nonetheless, it didn't take long for you and Saya to get closer. So much that she was able to get you a small apartment in the same building she's staying in.

And just like that, another week had already gone by again. It feels like your life is slowly getting back on track, a new one anyways. And things are starting to get in your favor. After all the mishaps that occurred in the last month.

"You and Hiro have literally been my life-saver here in Tokyo," you said as you and Saya were getting ready to end your shift. "I honestly don't know what will happen to me without your two's help."

"It's not just us, senpai!" she said, closing the locker door as she leaned her elbow on it to look at you. "Luck wouldn't come to people who are lazy. Ye worked yer arse off to get two part-time jobs, give yerself some credits."

Right, it's not like you just happen to stand on the sidewalk and wait for them to come to you. It was you who happened across the right person at the right time. When you think about it, you start to somehow feel emotional. You had no one when you came, literally, and now you have two friends and an acquaintance who is a CEO of his own company.

You had almost forgotten about Kenma. You remembered sending him a text message two weeks ago. It was marked read so he opened the message but he didn't reply. Not that you're expecting him to reply or anything.

"Still, thanks," you said, closing the locker door. "Then, I'll be heading to my next part-time job now."

"Ah, it's friday. I don't have any lectures tomorrow. I'll come with ya to the konbini. Been a while since I saw that Hiro."

"Then don't just come, you need to buy something there too."

"Sure, sure," she said, putting her arm on your shoulders. "If you're the one who's paying, senpai."

You nudged her side with your elbow as she laughed and told you she was just joking.

You two were on the way out the door when a customer walked in so you and Saya stood to the side for a moment until the customer headed inside. For a moment you could smell the familiar scent of cologne that you knew you had smelled before.

Nevertheless it made you stop to look at the customer who just walked in. And to your surprise it was Kenma. He walked straight towards a table farthest to the entrance and sat down. He didn't see you and you wouldn't think of walking up to him just to talk to him. You weren't that much of a pushover.

He sat there as if he was waiting for someone and judging by the fact that he took his phone out, he was indeed waiting for someone.

"Senpai?" Saya asked when she noticed you were looking at someone so you averted your gaze to look back at her.

"Let's go," you said, linking your arm around hers as you two walked out the restaurant.

But even when you left the restaurant, that didn't stop you from pondering about that question. Had he seen you, would he have stopped to talk to you? Or were you just someone he had spent a night with and nothing more or less than that?

The thought occupied your mind the whole time you were on your way to the convenience store. But it almost quickly left your mind when you got there and started your part-time job.

Kenma, who arrived at the restaurant the same time you were leaving after your shift, had actually seen you.

He didn't see you when he was walking in, it was when he sat down did he see your reflection on the glass furniture displayed in the restaurant. He saw you looking at him but then you turned around and left when he took his phone out and opened the text message you sent him two weeks ago.

Kenma contemplated sending you a text message or not, but just as he was about to type the first word that came to his mind, someone sat down in front of him and Kenma looked up.

"You're awfully late," he said as he put his phone inside his down on the table. "Kuro,"

"I'll have you know that I came here as soon as the plane touched down."

"I meant you're two weeks late. My birthday was two weeks ago," Kenma said, pouring down the wine in his glass and swirling it around. "On second thought, I'm glad you were late."

"What?" Kuro asked, taking his jacket off.

"Had you come back on my birthday, I would have missed the fun."

"What fun?"

"Just fun," Kenma said with a shrug before taking a sip of the wine, but almost instantly scowled when the wine didn't taste half as good as the Dom Perignon you two shared that night.

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