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"You're worthless, you know that, right?"
The words echoed in their head as they laid motionless on the floor of their room, pain throbbing in their ribs. All they could manage to whisper was a shaky, "I'm sorry..." again and again and again and again.. She gave a menacing glare before exiting the room, leaving behind a silence louder than her infuriated voice.
Sleep didn't come easy that night. The word 'worthless' clawed at their mind until their pillow was damp with tears.
Early in the morning, they quietly slipped into the bathroom, careful not to wake anyone. They looked at themself in the mirror, messy hair, puffy eyes, that same haunted stare that tried to ignore the self-disgust curling in their chest.
They took a bath in freezing water, offering a cruel kind of clarity. After dressing in their uniform and nibbling on a stale piece of bread, they headed to school.
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The bell rang, dragging Sora Kichiro, a second year in a Japanese high school, back to reality as he absently sketched in his notebook. His pencil paused mid-line, the unfinished shape left hanging in the white space of the page. Around him, the noise of shuffling chairs and rising chatter grew louder, but his mind was still caught in the rhythm of idle drawing.
"He's here, he's here, look!!" one student said, nudging the girl beside them. "Is that him?" another student whispered, leaning out of their seat. "He's so tall," someone muttered in awe. "Whoa, his skin's really dark... is he mixed?" another asked. "No, didn't you hear? He's from Canada," a student near the window chimed in. "Canada? Wait, I thought he was from France?" someone else said, confused "Whatever he is, he's totally hot," another student said with a dreamy sigh. "He's more handsome than I imagined," one girl gushed. "I'd die if he sat next to me," someone laughed "I wouldn't know what to say. I'd just combust," another whispered behind their hand. "He could totally model. Seriously, he looks like someone out of a magazine!" a boy near the back said. "Forget modeling. He should be in movies!" another said, already picturing it. "He has the main character energy. Look at that hair." "He could definitely join the basketball team," "He could lead the basketball team," "He could lead the school," "He could lead a cult and I'd join," another student muttered, earning a few laughs.
Sora looked up lazily just as the teacher entered with someone unfamiliar. A tall boy with long black hair falling to his neck, his skin a warm, sun-kissed brown that stood out amongst the paler complexions of their Japanese classmates, and an unreadable expression stood at the front. His face was calm, almost expressionless. There was a quiet intensity about him, a stillness that seemed almost otherworldly compared to the bustling energy of the classroom.
The teacher clapped his hands for attention. "Alright, settle down, class. As you may know, we have a new student with us. You also may have heard that he's not from around here, so please make him feel welcome." The teacher turned to the boy. "Please introduce yourself"
The boy nodded at the teacher's instruction before he turned to the classroom. All eyes turned were on him, yet there was no change in his posture. "Uh... My name is Kiyoshi.. Kiyoshi Hishikawa. I recently moved here from Canada since my mother found a job here.. I'm not exactly fluent in Japanese, but I am in English and French. It would be easier if you spoke to me in either of those, but it's not a problem if you don't.." he said, in a voice that was clear and steady despite the slight nervousness churning in his gut, his tone polite, almost distant, as if he wanted to keep to himself. "I appreciate your kindness and welcome, and I hope we can have a good year together." With that, Kiyoshi gave a polite, respectful bow towards the class, his long hair falling forward slightly. Straightening up, he looked around at the students once again, before looking back at the teacher.
Kiyoshi's introduction was met with a moment of stunned silence, the air seemed to cool around him as he stood there, an aura of mystery clinging to his tall, dark-skinned form. The other students leaned forward eagerly, hanging onto every word, desperate for more information about their intriguing new classmate, but Kiyoshi offered them nothing more, leaving them to fill the silences with their own imaginings. "Even his voice is cool," someone whispered under their breath. "Was that French I heard in his accent?" "His voice... it's so calm. Like he's narrating a documentary," one student whispered. "That was kinda formal. Did you hear how perfect his Japanese is, though?" another asked. "I thought he said he wasn't fluent?" someone said, suspicious. "He's lying. That was flawless," a boy muttered. "He's a secret genius," a girl declared. "Why does he seem like... he's seen things?" "He gives off assassin energy," one boy joked, earning a few nervous laughs.
The teacher blinked at Kiyoshi's curt delivery but recovered quickly. A few bold students let out wolf whistles, causing the teacher to clear his throat loudly in a attempt to regain control of the classroom. "Right... You can take the seat next to Kichiro." the teacher said, pointing pointing at the chair at the back of the class next to Sora's seat, the room erupting into a frenzy of excited chatter once again as students eagerly speculated about their mysterious new classmate.
Kiyoshi gave a slight nod and walked calmly to the indicated seat, his black hair falling forward as he set his bag down and moved with a smooth, quiet and composed precision that felt out of place in the noisy classroom.
Sora leaned back in his chair, one elbow propped up lazily on the desk as he studied the new student with curiosity, wondering absently if the he was always this still and composed. His expression was so calm and unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. Maybe nerves, or maybe just a hint of the intensity that had been speculated about. Though he had to admit, the rumors hadn't been exaggerating. The guy was seriously good looking.
Kiyoshi kept his gaze lowered, his lashes fluttering as he peeked at Sora from the side while Sora glances at him curiously. The glance is brief. There's no friendliness in it. Just observation. A flicker of attention and then silence again. He pulled out his notebook and pencil, trying to focus on writing his name in Japanese on a fresh page. Sora's gaze studied Kiyoshi's profile as the boy wrote his name carefully in Japanese... Hishikawa Kiyoshi.. His handwriting was so neat. Almost too perfect to the point Sora found himself doubting the boy's initial claim of not being fluent.
Sora's gaze lingered for a short while before shrugging as he returned his attention to his sketchbook, the tip of his pencil dancing across the page once more, his mind drifting between the lines of his drawing and the whispers of his classmates, buzzing with a mixture of excitement and curiosity at their intriguing new classmate, and the teacher droning on about schedules and syllabus.
________________________________
Later that day after school, Sora was on his way to work, the cherry blossom petals dancing in the gentle breeze, littering the ground like nature's confetti, when he spotted Kiyoshi crouched beside a cat, purring happily under his hand. "New Kid!" Sora yelled out without thinking, pointing in his direction
Kiyoshi blinked in surprise at the sudden yelling, his heart skipping a beat. He looked up slowly, his dark gaze landing on the bright, energetic boy before him. Kiyoshi tilted his head slightly to the side, his long hair falling over one shoulder as he tried to figure out why he was talking to him "...Sorry... do I know you?.."
Sora flashed a bright grin, his eyes sparkling with friendliness as he stuck his thumb out towards himself. "The name's Sora! Sora Kichiro!"
Kiyoshi gave Sora a puzzled look, his dark brows furrowing slightly, the name not ringing a bell. Sora blinked in disbelief, his grin faltering slightly at Kiyoshi's apparent forgetfulness and blank look. "Seriously?! We were in the same class!... I sit right next to you!" Kiyoshi's eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he searched his memory, trying to place the name and face. He looked at Sora. Really looked at him, taking in the brown hair, the sparkling brown eyes, and the energetic posture. After a moment, realization dawned on him, remembering him in their shared classroom, sitting right next to him. Kiyoshi's face remained relatively expressionless, but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "Oh... right. Sorry... You were the one scribbling something that looked like a toaster with legs.."
Sora stared at Kiyoshi in utter disbelief, his mouth falling open slightly as if what he was drawing didn't look like a toaster. "Wha- A toaster???-" Sora repeated in shock before cutting himself off, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I mean, yeah, I guess it could kinda sorta look like a toaster if you squint and tilt your head and have no imagination... but it's definitely an awesome robot with superpowers!" he whispered to himself. Sora quickly tried to change the subject, his attention drawn to the white cat as it arched its back, nuzzling affectionately against Kiyoshi's hand "-M- Mii seems to like you a lot."
Kiyoshi glanced down at the cat, then back up at Sora, his dark brows furrowing in confusion. "Mii? I'm sorry, who is Mii? Is that a student?.." he asked, his tone calm and neutral despite his puzzlement.
"No! The cat!" Sora crouched down beside Kiyoshi, who was still petting Mii gently as the cat purred and rubbed against his hand. He looked up at Kiyoshi with a grin, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "That's Mii-chan. She's my managers cat. Well, one of them at least. She usually hates it when people touch her. She's a total grump and hisses or bites at a lot of people who try to pet her. She never acts like this around anyone! Guess she thinks you're alright."
Kiyoshi felt a small flicker of warmth spread through him at Sora's words, though he kept his expression carefully neutral but there was a subtle softening in his gaze. He glanced down at Mii, who was still purring contentedly under his gentle touch. "Oh, I see... Well, I'm glad she likes me...." he murmured. Kiyoshi fell silent for a moment, his dark eyes studying Sora's face with an unreadable expression. Then, as if remembering something, he spoke up. "Can I ask you something?" he asked, his tone still calm and measured despite the slight hesitation in his voice.
Sora's smile widened, noticing the subtle change in Kiyoshi's demeanor. He seemed a bit more at ease, a bit friendlier than before. Sora nodded enthusiastically, giving Kiyoshi his full attention. "Shoot!" Sora said, his tone warm and inviting.
Kiyoshi glanced up at Sora, his dark eyes meeting the other boy's gaze, his hand still resting on Mii's fur as he studied Sora with a hint of curiosity in his dark eyes. "Earlier, you mentioned something about having a manager... What do you do?"
Sora blinked in mild surprise at the personal question "Oh, my job? Kinda random.. but I work in an art store! I do woodwork and I get to make all sorts of awesome stuff there, like custom skateboards, decorations, signs, figurines, jewelry... you name it! The owner lets me use the workshop whatever I want. It's super fun! And when I'm not busy making things, I just organize the shelves and help customers find what they need, yada yada." he said with an enthusiastic grin. "It's like, a really small business, so there's only.. uh... less than 10 people who actually work there. Everyone knows everyone, and it's just... cozy. It's a really creative environment, so it's like, the best! It's like my second home since I spend basically all my time there!"
Kiyoshi listened intently, his brow arching slightly in interest. "How much does it pay?" Sora stared at Kiyoshi with a confused expression "Huh?... Are you tryna rob me???"
Kiyoshi quickly realized that asking about someone's salary was not a common or an appropriate thing to do, especially with someone he had just met, and felt a flicker of embarrassment at his own thoughtlessness, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me to ask- I- I'm just currently looking for a job and I was planning on looking for one tomorrow but.. I was curious about your work. I didn't mean to be nosy." he explained with a bit of a stutter, his tone still calm but with a hint of embarrassment.
Sora blinked in understanding, realizing that Kiyoshi was just curious and not trying to be nosey or rude. He gave a friendly shrug, his earlier confusion melting away. "Well if you're looking for a job I can ask my manager if she can arrange something for you.." Sora offered
Kiyoshi looked up at Sora, his dark eyes meeting the other boy's bright gaze, his eyes slightly widen in surprise of the sudden offer. Kiyoshi's expression remained relatively neutral, but there was a glimmer of warmth in his eyes. "R-Really? You would do that for me?..."
"Yeah, of course! I'd be happy to arrange something with my manager. She's a really cool guy, so I'm sure she'd be cool with it." Sora said with a smile, his voice filled with genuine willingness to help.
Kiyoshi's long lashes fluttered slightly as he blinked in what almost seemed like awe at Sora's spontaneity. For someone so guarded and slow to warm up to others, Kiyoshi felt an unexpected sense of warmth to Sora who had shown him such kindness. "You're... Thank-... Thank you so much Kichiro.." Kiyoshi mumbled in slight awe
Sora cocked his head to the side with a playful smile. "Hey, No need to address me so formally! Just call me by my first name, Sora, alright? I know we just met and all, but we'll be seeing a bunch of each other now that we're in the same class and all. Plus, when people call me by my last name, it always makes me feel like they're more strangers than actual buddies, ya know?"
Kiyoshi listened to Sora's playful explanation, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He had to admit, the casual way Sora spoke to him was a refreshing change from the usual formalities he encountered in Japan. Kiyoshi found himself feeling more at ease, the friendly atmosphere Sora exuded breaking down some of his natural reserve. "Alright... Sora.. Thank you.. I really appreciate you helping me out like this.."
Sora waved his hand dismissively, grinning at Kiyoshi. "Oh c'mon, it's no big deal, really!" Sora says with a smile "Come on! We can ask her since I'm heading to work right now. I'll introduce you! She's super chill! I'm sure she'll be happy to chat with you about working there." Sora says, hopping up from his crouched position.
Kiyoshi bit his lower lip lightly, looking hesitant for a moment before nodding. "O-Okay... if you think it's alright..." He glanced down at Mii, giving her one last gentle pat before standing up as well, brushing off his pants as he stood and falling into step beside the other boy as they made their way to the art shop together.
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Sora led Kiyoshi to a cozy little art shop tucked between two taller buildings, almost easy to miss if not for the the lamp post shaped like a giant flowers, the shop's windows being covered with hand drawn doodles of stars, leaves, paintbrushes, and sleepy cats, making the shop feel like something out of a sketchbook, or the few cats that often gathered beneath it, lounging or curling up by the door as if guarding a secret, some curled up beside an old shopping cart marked "Leave a Book, Take a Book", where people could donate their old books instead of throwing them away.
The tiny bell above the art store door jingled as the two boys entered.
Inside, the air was warm and full of quiet charm. A quiet hum of creativity wrapped in the scent of coffee, paper, and wood polish, and the earthy scent of the plants tucked into every corner. Everywhere you looked, creativity and chaos danced together beautifully. Every corner was filled, but not crowded.
Paintbrushes in glass jars, sketchbooks stacked unevenly, shelves lined with art supplies, and rows of books. Alongside the paints and brushes, there were cute plushies, tote bags, glass bottles filled with glittering beads, tiny clay sculptures, keychains, and random trinkets that made no sense together. And that was exactly the point. Nothing matched perfectly, yet everything belonged. The kind of organized chaos that made the place feel alive and loved.
Above, book-shaped lights hung from the ceiling, their pages folded open like fluttering wings, casting gentle, paper-filtered light across the room, their soft golden glow casting gentle shadows across the shelves.
At the front desk, potted plants spilled over the edges. Merchandise displays sat beside trays of snacks and desserts, sandwiches in cute paper boxes, cookies in glass jars, lollipops tied with colorful ribbons. Beside it stood a small vending machine, glowing gently, stocked with snacks, cold drinks and bottled teas.
On the other side of the store, another vending machine stood out. This one sold books and mysterious envelopes, their contents unknown until opened. Some said they held art prints, others poetry, and sometimes just a little handwritten note.
Only two people were there that afternoon. One sat on a bean bag, designed like a basketball sat lazily in one corner, flipping through an illustrated book, lost in the colors on each page. The other was by the window mushroom seat, a cup of coffee steaming beside them as they sketched quietly. A few cats wandered lazily around, one curled up on a shelf between plushies and tiny figurines, another weaving through the legs of a wooden stool.
Outside, the world moved quickly. Cars, chatter, footsteps. But inside, everything slowed down. The shop wasn't just a place to buy things, it was a place to breathe. A cozy little sanctuary where time slowed down, and creativity lingered in the air. With its plants, cats, snacks, and shelves full of creativity. A warm little corner of the world where art, comfort, and imagination all lived together.
Yuka Uchida, the manager of the shop, stepped out from the back room, her short brown hair slightly disheveled and her pierced eyebrow raised at the sight of the unfamiliar face. Despite her slightly intimidating appearance, she had an edgy yet approachable vibe, her expression was calm and yet somehow friendly. She had a calm, curious expression on her pierced features as she looked Kiyoshi up and down. "You dragging in strays now, Sora?"
Sora quickly jumped in, snapping back to Kiyoshi's defense "He's not a stray! Just a broke kid with good manners, Hishikawa Kiyoshi!" Sora shot back. Turnings back to Kiyoshi. "This is my manager Uchida! She's super cool!"
Kiyoshi bowed politely to the manager, his long black hair falling forward. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Uchida. I apologize for any confusion... I'm very grateful for Sora bringing me here..." Kiyoshi said. He kept his gaze lowered respectfully, but glanced up slightly, to catch a glimpse of the manager's reaction, out of curiosity. Despite the informal setting, he maintained an air of respect towards the manager, wanting to make a good impression.
Yuka raised an eyebrow at Kiyoshi's polite introduction, her pierced brow arching slightly as she considered the well-spoken, calm young man before her. She could sense the gratitude in his eyes as he glanced at Sora, and she felt a flicker of amusement at the boy's quick defense of his new friend. "Hmph, well, at least the kid has manners. That's more than I can say for some of the other people Sora brings in here," Yuka remarked, her tone still calm but with a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of her lips.
She stepped closer to Kiyoshi, her brown eyes narrowing slightly as she looked him over once more. Then, with a nod of approval, she gestured to the shop around them. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Hishikawa. And welcome to the shop," she said, her voice warm and friendly despite her earlier teasing tone. "You're welcome to look around, or stay for a while. It's all up to you. It's always nice having new customers"
Sora blinked, then quickly jumped in to clarify the situation, a grin spreading across his face. "Oh, uh, I should've mentioned that Kiyoshi here is actually looking for a job. I told him that you totally hire awesome people for super cool jobs here!"
Yuka arched an eyebrow, her expression turning serious and slightly cold as she turned her gaze back to Kiyoshi, studying him intently with a serious, almost penetrating stare. Her tone was calm, but with an undercurrent of something more intense and demanding. "And why should I do that?"
Sora flinched slightly at Yuka's serious tone, remembering how judgmental and picky she could be when it came to potential new hires for her beloved shop. He had seen her turn away plenty of applicants in the past, always with a calm but firm explanation of why they weren't the right fit all based on little more than a gut feeling or a simple interaction. Sora glanced at Kiyoshi, a flicker of concern in his eyes. He knew the new kid seemed cool and all, but Yuka had high standards for who she let join her little team. Sora felt a twinge of guilt for putting Kiyoshi in such a position without proper preparation. He just hoped Kiyoshi would say the right things to win her over.
Kiyoshi met Yuka's serious gaze with a calm and steady one of his own, unflinching despite the manager's critical scrutiny and the slight nervousness he felt in his stomach. He could feel the weight of her question, the unspoken challenge in her tone. "Well, though I may be new to Japan, but I am a hard worker and quick learner. I'm not afraid to put in the hours and effort needed to do a job well." He said "I have experience working in a similar role back in Canada so I'm familiar with customer service such as assisting customers, cleaning, organizing and restocking shelves, and operating cash registers. I also have experience in art and design, though not as strong as potentially other people who work here." Kiyoshi held Yuka's gaze steadily, his dark eyes reflecting a sincerity and determination that was difficult to ignore. Kiyoshi paused for a moment, his expression softening slightly "... More than that, Sora has shown me great kindness and hospitality since my arrival. I would like to repay that kindness, and would be honored to have the opportunity to prove myself and contribute to this shop he clearly loves so much." Kiyoshi added softly, a note of sincerity coloring his usually guarded voice.
Sora stared at Kiyoshi in awe, as if he couldn't believe what he was witnessing. The way Kiyoshi stood his ground under Yuka's intense scrutiny and answered her question with such calm confidence left Sora impressed beyond words. 'Not even a flinch???' Sora marveled to himself, realizing just how composed and unaffected Kiyoshi remained in the face of such a serious interrogation.
Sora glanced at Yuka, hoping to gauge her reaction to Kiyoshi's impressive response. He held his breath slightly, waiting to see if the manager would be won over by Kiyoshi's calm confidence and clear qualifications. Sora had a feeling that Kiyoshi was going to be a great fit for the shop, and he hoped that Yuka would see it too.
Yuka studied Kiyishi closely, taking in the sincerity and conviction in his low, measured voice, her expression slowly softening as he spoke. The way he held her gaze steadily, his dark eyes reflecting a quiet conviction, was difficult to ignore. She could sense the sincerity and conviction in his low, measured tone, and the way he held her gaze steadily despite the obvious pressure she had put him under. But it was when Kiyoshi mentioned Sora that Yuka's demeanor shifted ever so slightly. The sincerity in Kiyoshi's voice when he spoke of wanting to repay Sora's kindness and contribute to the shop that truly caught her attention. The seriousness in her eyes began to fade, replaced by a glimmer of interest and respect.
Yuka remained silent for a long moment, her arms still crossed as she considered his words and Yuka found herself intrigued by the subtle intensity in his voice, the quiet determination behind his words. Pursing her lips thoughtfully, Yuka considered Kiyoshi's words and the unique energy he brought with him. Normally, Yuka would have been put off by the level of formality in Kiyoshi's speech. She preferred her employees to be more casual, more laid-back - a good fit for the relaxed, creative atmosphere of her shop. But something about Kiyoshi's calm demeanor and quiet confidence intrigued her. In a shop filled with vibrant creativity and boisterous energy, a touch of calm and seriousness wouldnt hurt. Yuka could envision how Kiyoshi's quiet professionalism might complement the laid-back, eccentric atmosphere of the shop. Plus, she had to admit, she was in need of more help around the shop. Business had been picking up lately, and while she was thrilled about the growth, it meant she needed more hands on deck. Kiyoshi's mention of his experience in retail and manual tasks was appealing, especially in light of their current staffing needs.
After a long moment of consideration, to Sora's surprise, Yuka uncrossed her arms and let out a soft, thoughtful sigh. She looked at Kiyoshi with a more open, appraising gaze, as if seeing him in a new light. "A broke kid with good manners, huh? Well, at least he's polite. That's a start.." Yuka mused aloud, her tone calm and thoughtful. She tapped her chin, considering Kiyoshi's words. "Alright, Sora, since your new friend here seems like he might actually have a brain in his head, I might give him a chance"
Sora stared at Yuka in utter disbelief, his eyes wide with shock. "-Really???" Sora blurted out, his voice rising in pitch with a confused tone, but the relief and excitement in his voice was evident. Sora had been preparing himself for Yuka to shoot down the idea of hiring Kiyoshi, not wanting to disrupt the relaxed atmosphere of their little creative haven with his formality. He looked at Kiyoshi in awe, amazed he managed to impress his usually discerning manager with his quiet confidence and sincerity.
Yuka raised an eyebrow at Sora's enthusiastic outburst, letting out a soft sigh at the boy's exuberance. "I don't see why not." Yuka said with a small shrug "We've been looking for more people to work here anyway."
Turning her attention back to Kiyoshi, Yuka looked him over appraisingly, a thoughtful expression on her pierced features. "Hishikawa Kiyoshi, hmmmm?..." she murmured "While you may be a bit more formal than what I usually go for, I like your attitude. I think your skills and work ethic could be a valuable addition to our team. Plus, a little professionalism never hurt anyone, right?" Yuka said, her voice still serious but now tinged with approval. "You seem like you have the right attitude and skills for this kind of work. And since you've got Sora vouching for you, I think you'd be a good fit here." She glanced at Sora, her smile softening slightly as she looked back to Kiyoshi. "Looks like your new friend here might just be the exception to the rule, Sora. I'm willing to give him a shot, seeing as how you two seem to get along so well." She said, glancing at Kiyoshi for a second before looking back at Sora "Since you've never steered me wrong before. If he's not useless, he's hired. But if he screws up, I'll make you clean the storage room."
Sora's face split into a wide, delighted grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement and relief. "I'll take it!" he exclaimed happily, bouncing slightly on his heels.
Turning back to face Kiyoshi, Yuka raised an eyebrow inquiringly, her tone businesslike and to the point. "Hey kid. You got anything to do right now?
Kiyoshi considered Yuka's question, glancing down briefly before meeting her gaze directly. "No, not really... I just moved to Japan, so I don't have anything going on at the moment"
"Tell you what, Hishikawa. Why don't you start a trial shift tomorrow, and we'll see how it goes? I'll have you shadow Sora for the day for now, and we can figure out where you fit best in the shop."
Kiyoshi listened intently to Yuka's thoughtful musings, his heart skipping a beat as she seemed to be considering his application. He kept his expression calm and neutral, not wanting to show too much excitement lest he jinx his chances. But inside, Kiyoshi felt a surge of hope and gratitude that his words had resonated with the manager. He knew that getting a job in a foreign country was never easy, and he was grateful for Sora's kindness and Yuka's consideration despite their brief interaction. Kiyoshi's gaze flicked briefly to Sora, a silent thanks passing between them before he turned his attention back to Yuka. Kiyoshi's heart felt lighter, buoyed by the possibility of this opportunity. Turning back to Yuka, Kiyoshi bowed his head respectfully "Thank you so much for considering me. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to this unique environment." his voice soft with sincerity as he spoke, his tone still calm but with a note of hopeful anticipation.
Sora blinked in confusion at Yuka's words, his brow furrowing slightly. "Uh, Yuka? I'm not actually working today, remember? I was just about to take out that custom sign order you asked me to deliver," Sora said, gesturing vaguely towards the door where the bag containing the sign was with his thumb.
Yuka waved her hand dismissively "I know what I said, Sora. And I meant it." she said turning back to Kiyoshi "I want you to accompany Sora to deliver an order, since I don't trust him being alone right now." She said, lighting a cigarette. "Think of it as a test run before your official trial shift tomorrow. And don't worry, I'll make sure you get paid for the extra hours."
Sora's eyes widened in shock at Yuka's unexpected request. He gaped at her, his mouth falling open in disbelief. "Wait- What?!"
Kiyoshi looked over at Sora, his dark brows furrowing slightly in confusion at the boy's astonished outburst. Kiyoshi glanced back and forth between the two, taking in Sora's shocked expression and Yuka's nonchalant demeanor as she lit a cigarette. He couldn't quite understand why Sora seemed so surprised by Yuka's request, but he figured there must be more to the story than he knew, and stayed silent.
Yuka took a long drag of her cigarette, blowing the smoke out the side of her mouth as she fixed Sora with a stern look. "You heard me. I need you to take Hishikawa with you to drop off that package. I don't want you getting into trouble again."
Sora brow furrowed in protest, a note of frustration creeping into his voice "Come on! I've been delivering orders by myself for ever now! I don't need a babysitter. I can handle myself- "
Yuka cut Sora off mid-protest, her voice sharp and authoritative as she said, "Enough. I don't care what you think, Sora. I'm not taking any chances, not after-.." Her voice trailed off, her expression softening slightly as she seemed to remember something from the past. She shook her head, pushing the memory away before taking another drag of her cigarette, blowing the smoke to the side as she fixed Sora with a stern look. "I'm not asking you, Sora. I'm telling you. Take Kiyoshi with you. I expect you both back here in one piece, understand?" Yuka said firmly, her tone brooking no argument.
Sora groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically, knowing he had no choice."Yes, maaaam.." he groaned sarcastically "I'll take the new guy with me on the delivery. Happy now?" Sora mumbled with a slightly annoyed expression "Geez, you're so bossy sometimes." He joked under his breath, purposely letting Yuka hear, before turning to Kiyoshi with a smile. "C'mon babysitter, looks like we've got a delivery to make," he said with a smile, heading towards the door and grabbing the bag with the custom sign order.
.........
After completing the delivery without any incidents, Sora and Kiyoshi walked back towards the shop on the quiet, tree lined streets of Kanagawa. It was around 5 p.m., and the city seemed to be slowing down after a long day. The warm light danced across flickering signs of cozy stores and restaurants that were beginning to close for the evening, casting long shadows that stretched lazily across the sidewalk. The faint chatter of distant conversations from customers leaving closing stores and returning home blended with the gentle rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds settling in the branches overhead, creating a peaceful rhythm that matched their footsteps and an occasional bike bell in the distance.
Sora walked with his usual bounce, his steps light and full of energy, humming something under his breath that didn't quite have a tune. Kiyoshi, on the other hand, moved with quiet grace beside him.
The silence between them wasn't awkward. It was the kind of quiet that felt comfortable, like it had been agreed upon without needing to be spoken aloud. Despite their contrasting personalities, something about the moment felt easy. Natural. Every now and then, Kiyoshi would glance sideways at Sora, catching bits of his profile as the boy rambled about random things. There was something strangely grounding about Sora's carefree presence.
Sora glanced over, noticing how Kiyoshi took in the sights the streets with a quiet, almost effortless grace, observing everything without ever seeming overwhelmed or impressed. He couldn't understand how Kiyoshi could do literally everything with such calm confidence. He had a presence that didn't demand attention but effortlessly drew it.
.........
Lost in thought, Kiyoshi barely noticed when they arrived back at the shop. He only realized they were there when Sora suddenly leaned toward him and bumped him playfully with his shoulder, his grin full of mischief. "You've seriously got that 'mysterious, unbothered guy' vibe down," Sora said with a smile. "You're just so... effortlessly chill. It's honestly kinda spooky."
Kiyoshi glanced sideways at Sora, his expression barely flickering at the boy's playful shoulder bump. "I guess that's just my default setting," he replied in his usual calm tone, with a small, almost imperceptible shrug. "Plus. Your energy more than makes up for my lack of it." Kiyoshi's added before heading inside the shop, holding the door open for Sora.
As Sora and Kiyoshi entered the quiet, cozy atmosphere of ArtNooks once more, the little shop now empty, the day's customers having long since dispersed. The bell above the door jingled softly as the two entered, the warm glow of the setting sun casting long shadows across the cluttered but inviting interior.
Sora groaned dramatically as he passed through the doorway, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "How are we even the same age?! You're like a cool cartoon character who secretly knows how to fight with a paperclip and a plastic spoon."
Kiyoshi followed Sora inside, his expression remaining calm and unruffled even as the energetic boy groaned dramatically. "I can't, but I could probably learn if I needed to." He said, his voice completely deadpan. Despite the absurdity of the statement, Kiyoshi delivered it with a straight face, not a hint of a smile playing at his lips.
Sora's eyes widened, and pointed an accusing finger at Kiyoshi. "See, that's exactly what I mean!" he exclaimed, shaking his head in amused disbelief. "I swear, you could make a joke about disarming a nuke and you'd still sound like you were discussing the weather." Sora said with a smirk, shaking his head in disbelief. "You could be like, 'Oh, I can't say I have any experience fighting with cutlery, but I suppose I could learn. If the situation called for it.' And I'd be over here freaking out, trying to figure out how to actually use a bent plastic spoon and a paperclip!" he said, gesticulating wildly as he spoke. "You're so unbothered by the craziest things. You could probably be in a burning house and still be like, 'eh, this is fine.' How are you so calm and put together? It's unnatural! I swear, you're not human! Maybe you're an alien or a robot. Cause there's no way a human can be this chill all the time!" Sora said dramaticallly
Kiyoshi blinked slowly at Sora's dramatic outburst, hardly reacting to the boy's wild gesticulation and exclamations. He listened to Sora's rant with a calm, almost detached expression, barely a flicker of emotion crossing his handsome face. When Sora finished his dramatic tirade, Kiyoshi blinked, staring at Sora for a second "Maybe you shouldn't be trying to use a broken plastic spoon and paperclip in the first place..." he said, stating the obvious with a hint of mild concern in his tone.
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The two made their way to the back room where they had left their belongings earlier that day. Sora quickly grabbed his worn, yellow backpack, slinging it over his shoulder with a familiar ease. He watched as Kiyoshi retrieved his own bag, a sleek black shoulder bag that seemed to match his put together appearance.
"Hey Kiyoshi, wanna walk home together?" Sora asked with a friendly smile "It's getting late and I don't fancy walking alone in the dark. I know these streets like the back of my hand, so I can make sure you don't get lost or anything since you're new around here. Plus, it's always more fun to have some company on the way home, right?"
Kiyoshi glanced over at Sora, considering his offer. He had to admit, the thought of navigating the unfamiliar streets of Kanagawa alone in the dark was not particularly appealing. Plus, spending more time with Sora was strangely...nice. The boy's enthusiasm was infectious, even if Kiyoshi would never admit it out loud. With a small, almost imperceptible nod, Kiyoshi gave his quiet agreement. "Sure.. I don't really know my way around here very well.." he said simply, his voice was calm and even, but there was a hint of appreciation in his tone, a subtle acknowledgment of Sora's friendly offer.