Chapter 62: Chapter 10
30th of October (Friday) – Ayase Saki
The classroom was excited first thing in the morning. All I could hear were my classmates making plans for Halloween. Asking what costus they should wear was one of the most prominent questions. Others talked about where they should et up for a Halloween party. There was even a large group building around Maaya's seat. They planned to et up tomorrow to hold a costu party.
"Are you really not coming, Saki?" Maaya asked one last ti to make sure.
"I've got other plans, sorry."
I have a work shift on that day, and I can't just skip it. I purposefully had kept the fact that I had a part-ti job a secret. If I'm not careful, they might figure out where I'm working. And I also can't really handle that kind of atmosphere too much. However…that also got thinking. If it's with the people I appreciate and feel comfortable around, then maybe spending the day together could be pretty fun. Soone I'm fine with having around… like Asamura-kun. Walking around Shibuya wearing a costu suddenly doesn't sound so bad. I may not be good with that sort of stuff, but I want to treasure the ti with Asamura-kun—the mories I create with him.
Once classes ended, I made my way to the Shibuya train station for my upcoming shift at work. The sun had moved towards the West, as the sky had started turning dark blue. The shadow of the Shibuya 109 was stretching along across the ground, even reaching down to my feet. The eastern sky that was visible through the gaps of the buildings slowly changed to the color of the night, and the breeze blowing against my cheeks slled like fallen leaves. It wouldn't take long until I would be able to see my own breath.
Upon entering the bookstore, I ran into Yomiuri-senpai, who had already been there before , walking between the bookshelves. I bowed politely when our eyes t and headed over towards the girls' changing room.
"Morning, Saki-chan!" She stord into the room right behind like she had chased after .
"…Hello."
For so reason, she always greeted like it was morning. Even though it was turning dark outside. Maybe it's just a habit of hers. I don't think anyone has ever comnted on it.
"Saki-chan, we're supposed to fill the shelves today~"
"Okay."
Asamura-kun arrived roughly five minutes before our shift started, and we all worked on filling the empty spaces in the shelves. Our break arrived, so we went back to the office. Yomiuri-senpai kept fawning over Asamura-kun at every given chance, and I had no way of telling what she really thought. He agreed to bring sweets to work tomorrow or sothing along those lines. Maybe I should also say that to Asamura-kun. 'Trick or treat…' No, what am I thinking? That's not like at all.
After that, we started talking about Halloween tomorrow. Yomiuri-senpai ntioned she'd be having fun with so friends after our shift and going out in a costu. Asamura-kun seed to be impressed by the kind of mature vibe she showed through that. And apparently with the professor from her ethics departnt—Assistant Professor Kudou Eiha. Just rembering what happened on the day of the open campus made feel exhausted.
Yomiuri-senpai called her the top genius of the departnt who also had the mind of a demon. And to be perfectly honest, I could picture her with demon horns. I think she's a chore to have around. She's probably the kind of person who'd grind my gears the easiest. I'm not good at talking with strangers to begin with. There aren't many people like Asasmura-kun that I can feel relaxed around.
"Either way, I'm worried we'll get fewer students applying to our university if she keeps up that act~!"
That's how Yomiuri-senpai feels about that wildcard of an assistant professor? Well, she's absolutely right. She'd have a verbal debate on the level of a full-blown war with a person she's literally just t, with absolutely no common sense involved. Not to ntion that, if a discussion like that actually takes place, she'll show no remorse to steamroll over the other person's feelings, like it's her only goal in life. It feels like she only sees the people around her as guinea pigs and test subjects. I'd really love for her to learn so common sense and restraint. That's what I think, at least—
"Maybe not that much, I guess."
I practically blurted that out without any intention of doing so. I'd never had such an experience before then. I'd used all of what my brain had to offer to co up with argunts and counter-argunts in an endless ethical debate. I was exhausted, to say the least, but even so—The study of ethics is a lifestyle, nothing more. If you live as a human being, there are only two options when it cos to being around other people: You either get accepted or rejected. If this is her only way of living, isn't she just a clumsy and unfortunate person who doesn't know any better? I don't think I dislike that type of person. After all, I'm the exact sa way.
After our break ended, Asamura-kun was the first one to leave the office. After he left, Yomiuri-senpai called out to .
"So about tomorrow. Did you decide if you're gonna dress up for your shift?"
"Again with that?"
During our last shift together, she asked if I was interested in wearing a costu for our shift on Halloween, saying that if I did she would do it too.
"I wanna see you with cat ears, Saki-chan. It'll heal my exhausted eyes."
"Why am I your dical treatnt?"
"I'll tell you about so great cosplay~ And you could join us after our shift, too."
Um, she does rember that I'm still in high school, right?
"I can't participate in any parties that involve alcohol, you know."
"There's no need to worry about that. We still have so minors in our group, so we keep the option open. And Professor Kudou is with us too as a chaperone."
"I feel like you put way too much trust in the wrong people."
Yomiuri-senpai flashed a wry smile.
"I guess she played a bit too much with you that last ti, huh? But I still wanna have you around for so fun. I can tell you about so great makeup techniques and costic brands. You're bound to be curious about that sorta stuff, yeah?"
To be perfectly honest, that single offer was quite tempting. I've tried to learn more about makeup and fashion as the years have gone on, but I lack the crucial experience of an average high school student. A mature woman is to be expected to have really great makeup, so I might as well use this chance to learn about this early on, since I'm eventually going to reach that stage—No, this is much less complicated than that. I think I'm interested, that's all.
"Oh, do I have a bite on the hook?"
"I'm not doing it."
"Hmmm… There's still more valuable information I can exchange for that, I think~ Have you ever gone to a nail salon before? As a high school student, you've probably never visited a beauty salon, I bet."
"I don't have that sort of money, after all."
"But there's nothing lost if you at least learn about those kinds of places, right? And you can't forget about the diet foods and al plans from the girls who are licensed nutritionists. It gets harder to lose fat as you get older, you know. Aren't you worried about that sort of thing, Saki-chan?"
"…Is that all you talk about?"
"When all you do is read through tedious research papers and psychological debates, it'll eventually make your brain rot. So girls' talk is crucial to give your mind a break. You know that, right?"
"I've never done any girls' talk, so I wouldn't know."
"Even more of a reason to join us. It'll be the first ti for you. Also… it wouldn't hurt to learn about techniques for attracting attention through fashion or a psychological approach to what outfits will help you win over your Prince Charming. Whether you want to be handso or cool or cute."
"Know your enemy, know thyself?"
"Exactly."
"I may be curious about that, but I really can't. My parents would worry about ."
"So you say, but I bet you've got a date planned with your beloved Junior-kun, right?"
"O-Of course not!"
I tried to protest as best as I could, but she just grinned at .
After finishing my howork and my bath, all that waited for was to head to sleep. I slid my body under my covers, the slightly cold sheets making almost shiver. I'll probably need to invest in so bed warrs soti soon. Once I had checked the ti I needed to get up, I turned off the lights and closed my eyes. Right as my mind was drifting off into a deep slumber, a distant mory of Halloween from when I was a child ca to mind.
I think it was from when I was in grade school. Probably in my third or fourth year. Mom promised that we'd hold a Halloween party, but because of her job, that plan had to fall through. My father also headed out sowhere, leaving all alone at ho. Feeling lonely, amidst the darkness around , I lit a single candle I had bought with Mom. We were a lot poorer than now, and our place wasn't nearly as big. The dining room was roughly 7.5 square ters, with nothing in it but a small low table like you'd see in a traditional Japanese residence.
In the dead center of this table stood a candle in the shape of a pumpkin. I used a match to light it, which at least gave the otherwise dark room so light. I rembered the story A Little Match Girl and started imagining fantasies amidst the light in front of . Mom and my father (though I replaced his face with the face of a random actor) were with , as well as a large cake in the center of the table. Since I was a child back then, I had probably confused Halloween with Christmas. After all, I imagined that I was talking to a reindeer.
In my fantasy, I was having lots of fun talking and telling stories to my parents, who were smiling as they listened to . I knew it was all just fabricated, but it was my ideal type of night. Shortly after that, I fell asleep. I woke up to the sensation of sobody gently shaking my shoulder, who turned out to be Mom. She scolded for falling asleep while letting the candle burn. She then apologized for leaving alone with a tight hug.
I rember thinking about how hard Mom must have had it. The inside of my blanket had finally started to warm up a bit by then, and I was slowly drifting away into a peaceful slumber, unable to resist the drowsiness. I still can't forget that dim light from the candle back then. It's the absolute symbol of my solitude. A simple candle in the shape of a pumpkin…
I wonder if they still sell sothing like that. I thought as I fell asleep.
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