Athlete's Pride: Can Gossip Destroy It?
Chapter 1: A Part-time Job
This is a sequel to my first fanfic, Expressing It Out, so it still revolves around the relationship between Asou and Mikoto. Enjoy!
It was Saturday morning, and Mikoto Suou was training her hardest at the Shoalin Dojo. Her kenpo skills had improved, and she was currently doing one-on-one training with Haruki Hanai, a childhood friend who also excelled in kenpo.
"URGH!" Hanai suddenly grunted, Mikoto had arm locked tossed him onto the ground.
"Hanai! You're skills are dulling! I thought you wanted to get stronger for Yakumo Tsukamoto!" Mikoto teased. She knew very well that Hanai had a desperate crush on Tenma Tsukamoto's younger sister, Yakumo Tsukamoto.
"Stop it Mikoto! I bet you aren't the only one in love here!" Hanai shot back with his infamous, serious manner.
"W-What? What do you mean? You think I'm in love with somebody, Hanai?" Mikoto sputtered back at him, her face turning pink too.
"Are you kidding? We live near each other! I heard Asou Hiroyoshi call your name right outside your front door last Sunday!" Hanai exclaimed, his finger pointing firmly at Mikoto. "Plus, your face is pink! We grew up together, Suou, I can tell if you're hiding something or not!"
Mikoto's jaw dropped when she heard what Hanai just said. Her head was spinning and her whole expression was filled with shock, surprise, and embarrassment.
"Just because Asou was ringing my doorbell last time doesn't mean I like him!" Mikoto said defiantly, "I just beat you in kenpo! Don't think you have found my soft side, Hanai!"
"We'll see, Suou, you may be strong, smart, and athletic, but remember, you are a girl too (a tomboy, that is)!" Hanai replied as he stood up. After saying that to Mikoto, he started to head out of the training hall.
"Wait, Hanai! No one knows about it, right? I mean the fact that Asou was outside my front door last Sunday?" Mikoto, who was still in panic, asked.
Hanai halted, turned around, and said, "Suou, do you think I'm the kind of person who would spread a rumor?"
"Uh, no…but just don't say anything about it to anyone, okay?" Mikoto answered cautiously. I just hope he didn't spread it around! I hate being in the center of gossip in school! Plus, there are enough perverts in the school already!
---
As Mikoto was on her way home, thinking about how bad things would be if everyone in school knew the truth, she heard her cellphone, and picked it up.
"Hello? This is Mikoto, who is it?" Mikoto talked into the phone.
"Hey! Suou! I forgot to tell you something important back at the dojo!" Hanai's loverpowering voice suddenly came booming into Mikoto's ear.
"Okay, now what, Hanai?" Mikoto sighed, extending the phone farther away from her ear to avoid withstanding Hanai's voice volume.
"Well, you know one of the students at the dojo recently got a part-time job. He's working after kenpo practice every weekend."
"Okay good to know, but why are you telling me this?" Mikoto, who never bothered to look into other dojo students' life, inquired curiously.
"You know, Suou, it might be a good idea for you to get a part-time job too. I mean, all you have is the kenpo dojo as an extracurricular activity, right?" Hanai said, "Try getting a part-time job, I worked during last summer break, it was a pretty good experience! Therefore, I as CLASS 2-C's PRESIDENT recommend it to you!"
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea, Hanai, you do have some sense in you at times, you know?" Mikoto laughed.
"Well, that's all I've got to say to you, see you in school!" Hanai quickly hung up the phone, and Mikoto heard the line disconnect.
Oh well, I guess I'll take a look around at the bookstore later. Maybe I 'll find some part-time catalogs there!
Mikoto reached her house and went in to wash up. After refreshing herself by changing into her normal clothes and out of her dojo uniform, Mikoto exited her house once more. Walking down the street toward the bookstore, she wondered what kind of job would await her ahead.
---
Meanwhile, as Mikoto was on the way to the bookstore, Asou was cooking Chinese food as his part-time job in a Chinese restaurant.
"Hey Asou! Keep it up and this restaurant will make a bunch!" The manager, Chen, called as he passed by the kitchen. "You're friends come here often, don't they? Well we've gotta owe that to you too!"
Asou turned around and just gave his boss a little nod, then he turned back around to continue cooking.
Suou must be doing some kenpo training now, I wonder what she's doing after that. Maybe I'll give her a call later…
"Asou-senpai! A customer wants a bowl of wonton noodle soup!" Sara Adiemus, a freshman in Yagami High School, suddenly called from the shopfront. She was also a part-time worker at the restaurant, under Chen's supervision.
"Okay, I'll get it done in a few minutes!" Asou called back, and returned to his cooking..
"Oi! Asou! I'm running to the bookstore for a bit! I need to pick up an order I made a few weeks ago!" The boss hollered as he poked his head into the kitchen again.
"Okay, Sara and I'll handle the restaurant for awhile then! You can go and run your errands!" Asou called back and nodded.
"Then I'm gone!" The manager gave Asou a thumbs-up, and exited through the restaurant's backdoor.
---
Mikoto arrived at the bookstore and entered. Several people were either examining the numerous books on the shelves or purchasing some at the register.
"Excuse me? Do you have any catalogs on part-time jobs that may be available in the local area?" Mikoto asked a nearby worker.
"Ah, yes, right over there!" The worker said, lifting his head from a book box and pointing toward the back shelf.
Mikoto walked to the shelf, feeling eager to read about the various kinds of part-time jobs.She picked up a book, and started to skim through the pages.
"Miss? I couldn't help overhearing your conversation with that worker over there. Are you looking for a job?" A short, partly bald man suddenly spoke to Mikoto. Hearing someone's voice behind her, she jumped.
"Um y-yes, yes I am, why are you asking me this?" Mikoto answered warily, curious to hear what the man might say next. Why is this old man talking to me? Don't tell me he's a pervert…
"Since you're looking for a part-time job, I have one just for you at a little Chinese restaurant of mine. I already have two employees busying themselves every weekend, it would be great if you will be able to go and help out!" The man, still smiling, suggested.
"Um, what restaurant might that be?" Mikoto asked, loosening up to the man standing before her. He doesn't seem harmful, I can tell by his smile! Maybe this is my chance to get a job!
"It's called Mei-Li restaurant, a Chinese restaurant not far from here!" The man answered.
"Oh yeah, I've heard of that place before! Some classmates of mine were talking about it in school!" Mikoto exclaimed, "I would love to help out, if it's all right to look around first!"
A few seconds later, they were exiting the bookstore, and walking through the marketplace. Mikoto was excited, as she followed the old man down the market streets.
---
About ten minutes later, they arrived in front of a neat looking restaurant with a "Mei-Li Restaurant" sign in front of it.
"Here we are, uh, may I ask for your name?" The man brightly said, turning his head toward Mikoto.
"My name is Mikoto, Mikoto Suou!" Mikoto confidently replied, "You can call me Mikoto if you want!"
"All right, Mikoto! My name is Chen, you may call me boss, or Chen!" Chen said, beckoning Mikoto through the entrance.
"I'm back! Hey! Both of you come here for a moment! There's new part-timer I want you two to meet!" Chen shouted, tugging Mikoto behind him.
"Oh! Welcome back! How did it go?" A pretty voice of a girl came ringing into the room.
Soon, a familiar girl with a tray clamped under one arm stepped into the room, Mikoto gasped.
"Suou-senpai! So you're the new worker here! Nice to meet you! We've never talked at school, but I'm Yakumo Tsukamoto's friend, Sara Adiemus!" Sara said happily as she introduced herself."Asou-senpai! Suou-senpai is here! She's the new part-timer! Come on out!"She suddenly called.
Mikoto's heart started to pound when she heard the Asou's name. When Asou finally stepped into the room, he just froze and stared at Mikoto.
"Uh, yo, Asou!" Mikoto said, feeling embarrassed.
"Hi, Suou, you're going to be working here?" Asou, still a little shocked, greeted her.
"Yeah, so…from now on, let's work together, shall we?" Mikoto said, giving him a shy smile.
"Wow! Whoa…this is a small world! You three know each other?" Chen asked, looking surprised that he was the only new person whom Mikoto had to meet that day.
"Yeah, boss! We all go to Yagami High School!" Sara said brightly and laughed. Then she leaned over to Mikoto and whispered, "Try on the waitress uniform, Suou-senpai! It's really cool!"
Mikoto blushed, she had always been a tomboyish girl, and now she was finally going to wear something girly.
"Mikoto! Why don't you go to the back lounge? I think there's an extra uniform there! Go try it on!" Chen suggested as if he had been reading Mikoto's mind all along.
"O-Okay!" Mikoto agreed, her heartbeat hadn't been able to slow down, and she stiffly walked toward the lounge in the back.
---
After Mikoto came out of the lounge, dressed in the exact same thing Sara was wearing, Chen clapped his hands.
"My, my, Mikoto! You look so cute! Maybe that'll attract more male customers in the future!" Chen joked.
Mikoto's face turned slightly pink as she shook her head. She soon noticed Asou staring at her in awe, his face was also slightly red.
"Asou-senpai! What's wrong? You're face is a bit red!" Sara teased, noticing Asou dazing off.
"Huh! Oh, I'm fine! I'm going to work now, Suou!" Asou gave Mikoto a small wave, and walked toward the kitchen.
"C'mon, Suou-senpai! Let's try our best together from today on!" Sara smiled, tugging Mikoto's arm.
Mikoto just smiled back and observed her surroundings. I think it's going to be pretty interesting every weekend from now on!
(End of Chapter 1) Chapter 2: Found Out! A Rumor Only Lasts For Seventy-Five Days will be posted later on! Please review!
"
