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Downright Delinquents

Chapter 1

"I'm sorry, Hinamori-san."

"B-but!" I tried to protest. "You know how it is! Sometimes my little sister misbehaves and I have to take care of her first!"

"I'm sorry, but I can't have my employees coming late to work almost every day." The stubby man told me unfeelingly, his mouth set in a grim line. His worker's apron was on backwards, and if this was any other normal day, I would've laughed. Unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky that day.

"Please give me a chance!" I almost begged. "I promise I won't be late anymore!"

He sighed. "You're fired, Hinamori-san."

"Without this job I won't be able to support my sister!" I cried pleadingly.

"I know your condition, Hinamori-san." He told me. "I suggest you let you and your sister be taken in by that foster home. That way, you won't have to get a job, since you are rightfully supposed to be in high school now."

"We will be separated in any foster home!" I all but snarled at him, flinging my worker's uniform in his direction and stomping off without a second glance. I made sure to slam the door as hard I could, making a satisfying bang.

I heard him say condescendingly behind me, "And this is why we don't hire kids."

I was seventeen, for God's sake!

"I'm home!" I called, flinging open my apartment door.

"Onee-chan!" A tiny ball of pink and brown rushed towards me, wrapping my legs in a vice-like grasp. She donned a frilly pink dress that my last pay check had accounted for.

"Ami-chan, I can't move." I sighed, awkwardly manoeuvring in the direction of the couch. I really needed a break right now. All the willpower had been sucked out of me, and I really, really just wanted to sleep my troubles away.

"Hinamori!" A familiar, although as of right now, extremely annoying male voice came from the kitchen.

"Kukai."

He popped his head out the threshold of the kitchen. "Why so cold, Hinamori?" Then he thought for a while and frowned. "Wait a minute, why aren't you at work?"

"I got fired." I finally untangled Ami from my legs and plopped heavily onto the couch. "I want an omelette, please."

"What?!" He yelled, jumping out of the kitchen. "What happened?"

"Kukai." My eyebrow twitched. "Please, get some clothes on."

He looked down at himself, clad in only dark blue boxers, therefore showing his muscular set of abs. He waggled his eyebrows suggestively at me. "Why? Too sexy for you?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, conceited ass. Seen one chest, seen 'em all."

He grabbed his chest mockingly, "Ouch, Hinamori."

"Deal with it." I chuckled. "What about that omelette?"

"Wait, wait." His eyes grew serious. "Why'd you get fired?"

"A certain someone's sister made them late to work too many times."

The said devil was currently sitting on the couch, looking as innocent as ever, as she sucked on her thumb.

His eyes softened with understanding. "It's alright. Do you need help with this month's rent? I can-"

"No, Kukai." I shook my head at him as if he was a kid. "You've helped us more than enough. I can't impose on you like that." I pressed my index finger to his lips when it looked like he was going to interrupt. "I'm just going to have to quickly find a new job. Ami's almost five, she needs to start kindergarten."

He frowned at me, removing my finger from his mouth. "You work too hard, Hinamori. Cut yourself some slack. Kindergarten won't start for a couple more months. You can find a job within that time."

"Not so easily, Kukai." I sighed. "They think I'm too young to start working. They think I should still be in high school."

"You should," He pointed out.

"You've been homeschooling me, but that's not the point, Kukai." I narrowed my eyes at him. "Forget it, I'll just have to start sending in job applications online later." I stood from the couch. "And take Ami to play while I make omelettes for you guys."

"Yes, sir." He saluted me mockingly and shooed Ami playfully into the room. A smile spread over my face. It was always easier having Kukai around. And Kukai was always around, considering he lived right next door to me. He's been helping me take care of Ami all these years. He was still in high school, but he had many football contracts shoved at him, even at such a young age. He was a talented player, after all; I wasn't about to deny that. He also made a living with his part-time job; he was a soccer coach to kids. When he graduated, he wanted to go on to live his dream as a soccer player. I was glad at least one of our dreams could be lived.

A crease grew between my forehead as I cracked an egg. I was a pretty good cook, considering I worked, okay, had worked at a bakery. I had to find a new job, and fast. Technically, Ami and I weren't allowed to live together without parents, since I wasn't old enough to be able to support myself. But I was adamant, and refused to let the foster home bring us away, as we would more than likely, be separated.

As I mixed the eggs in a large bowl, I used a fork to beat them quickly, seeing as we didn't have a whisk. The people from the foster home had agreed, as long as I held a stable job, and was able to pay off our rent, and other every day facilities.

I added milk, salt, pepper and herbs to the mix as I poured the eggs into a pan. I had to think of places to apply to work at. Walmart, that nearby bookstore, I mentally listed down as I sprinkled shredded cheese onto the slightly watery, sizzling omelette. If I was desperate, maybe even Mac Donalds...

"The eggs are done!" I announced, wiping the small amount of sweat that had accumulated on my brow.

Kukai and Ami were seated at the table in a moment.

"Oishii desu ne!" Ami exclaimed as she dug into the slice I had set in front of her. "Onee-chan makes the best eggs!"

"I second that," Kukai managed to agree while rapidly stuffing his face.

"Careful, the eggs are hot," I said, my warning falling on deaf ears.

"Oh, and Hinamori, I've got a surprise for you." Kukai said, winking.

"What is it?" I perked up.

"You'll have to wait and see," He said carelessly.

I spent the rest of my afternoon poring over available jobs over the internet. About three hours later, I had applied to six different jobs online.

My phone rang once, and then went straight to voicemail, 'I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we're looking for someone a bit older with more experience-' I growled, deleting the message. This was the forth rejection I've had so far! Seriously? Does it take experience to click on a few stupid buttons at the cashier? This was so frustrating!

Just then, the door bell rang. "Just come in, Kukai!" I automatically assumed it was him. No one else ever came to visit, anyway.

"Hello, Amu-chan." His voice startled me. I spun around so fast my neck cricked. "Ah! I mean, what are you doing here, Tsukasa-san?"

He chuckled. "How've you been? I heard from Kukai that you were out of a job."

Ah, so that was what Kukai had been up to.

"You have a job offer for me?" I turned to gaze at him hopefully.

"Ah, not exactly."

My face fell, and my shoulders slumped, clearly showing my disappointment.

"I have a proposal."

I turned expectantly, "I'm listening."

"You see, I'm a principal of many schools..." He begun.

"Is that even possible?" I interrupted him, frowning thoughtfully.

"Who knows?" He flung his trademark carefree smile at me. I mentally smacked my forehead and gestured for him to continue.

"You are good at cooking, aren't you?" He asked me, eying the leftover omelette I had sealed away in plastic on the dining table.

"Um, I guess. I used to work in a bakery, after all." Where was he going with this? Was it another cooking job? I grinned hopefully. "Am I to be a lunch lady or something?"

"Well, not exactly. You see, a teacher of mine recently moved overseas and quit his job. We urgently need another replacement. He was the assistant home economics teacher and homeroom mentor."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "But, Tsukasa-san, I've no experience as a teacher-"

"The pay is eight hundred dollars a week." He quickly added upon seeing my gaping face. "I know it may not be much, but he was an assistant teacher, after all, and homeroom mentors don't get paid very much..."

"Wait," I interrupted. "I mean, wow, that's more than twice my salary at the bakery!"

"But the thing is..." He trailed off nervously. "They only allow teachers of age twenty-one to be working."

Oh. That sure crushed my hopes. "So, what are you talking about?" I was confused at why he still brought that up. Did he mean I could have the job in four years or something? That made even less sense.

"You could pretend to be a twenty-old year old." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

My jaw slacked. "What? Tsukasa-san, that's- that's like lying to society!"

"You need a job, don't you?" He pointed out. Alright, he got me. "And I promise, as long as no one finds out, you can have this job."

I bit my lower lip so hard it almost bled. Would I really be able to pull this off? But if I did, I would earn so much... I wouldn't have to rely on Kukai as much, as I knew he was also saving up for college and I was hindering that process, although he would never admit it. It's time I be independent, I decided. "Alright, Tsukasa-san, I'll do it."

He grinned widely. "Okay, Amu-chan!"

Then I realized I didn't know where I'd be working at. "Oh, Tsukasa-san." I realized he hadn't bothered to tell me where I would be teaching, and horror dawned on me. He always was manipulative... "Which school is it of yours?"

He chuckled awkwardly, twiddling with his strands of hair. Uh oh. That was a bad sign, wasn't it?

"The thing is..." He closed his eyes, as if bracing himself for my reaction. "You'll be working at Seiyo Private, also known as the all-boys boarding school for delinquents."

Oh, God, kill me now.

Sorry for the long wait. Hope you like this chapter! I would really appreciate any reviews you can give. Thanks for reading!

- J