Disclaimer: I don't own HYD or any of the characters. Blah blah blah, rub it in, why don't you.
Thanks to all my reviewers for the comments. I had posted this chapter a while ago but I had convinced myself that it was horrible. But because of all the reviews I decided to go back and edit it into something that works.
Italics are thoughts, with the exception of italics in quotes, those are just emphasised words.
So yeah, I apologize if this completely sucks.
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After all the events of the day, how she was fired from one job and learned that the Dango shop would be closing in a months time, Tsukushi gave in to her body and went to sleep. Sleeping turned out to be the best thing for her actually, for while dreaming she never had to worry about money or finding jobs. Those would be best left to her waking life, or at least that is what her alarm told her as it woke her in time for school the next day.
Tsukushi, who had awoken early enough, had taken a longer and more scenic route to school. Most mornings she was not as lucky and would barely have time fix breakfast before needing to run off to school, but Tsukushi took this as a good sign.
Maybe today will be better.
This was easily Tsukushi's favorite way to get to school, mostly because it passed straight through a beautiful park.
Mmm...the morning air feels so fresh today. Maybe that means I'll get a fresh start?
Tuskushi let herself get caught up in her wandering thoughts, not noticing the familiar song of a violin that was growing louder. In truth, Rui knew that Tsukushi would be here this morning. Or at least he was hoping she would be. It was obvious to everyone that something was wrong, especially after yesterday.
Tsukasa had, begrudgingly of course, told the rest of the F4 what had happened between Tsukushi and him yesterday during lunch. Akira had almost given up on Tsukasa ever getting a girlfriend, especially one as violent as Tsukushi.
"What! I couldn't help it, SHE bumped into ME, the great Domyouji Tsukasa!"
Akira glared. "Tsukasa, she was sitting down, and you were moving. It was your fault."
"Yeah well..."
"You know what I bet it was? I think he just wanted to be around her. Tsukushi has been very absent lately. Tsukasa missed his girlfriend. You do look a little tense, man." teased Soujiro.
Tsukasa was silent, except for a bright red flush that appeared on his face.
Rui had waited at the emergency exit for her after lunch. He had to admit, it was very easy to worry about a girl like her. Even though he was with Shizuka, Rui always felt the need to protect Tsukushi. She was like a little sister to him and he didn't want to see her in trouble or hurt. So he waited. And waited. And waited some more, but she never showed.
He had decided to go to the dango shop she worked at and ask her how she was, but when Rui got there the lady behind the counter said that she ad sent Tsukushi home early because business was slowing down. Rui then thought she would be at the diner, so he continued there. This time he asked the manager where she was, and was surprised to find out that she had been laid off earlier that day. Wherever she was, he was sure that Tsukushi was not doing well.
That brought him to this morning. Rui knew better than to try and interrupt her thoughts yesterday, he knew she would need to think things through on her own. Tsukushi would come to him when she was ready, as she always had before.
The familiar song he was playing disturbed her daydream, and she realized that Rui was standing a few feet in front of her. Tsukushi was glad that, out of the F4, Rui was the one who had been standing in front of her. She had always felt a special connection to him, and now she really needed someone to talk to. But did she want to talk? Hopefully Rui didn't know anything, or catch on to how she was acting. Tsukushi wanted to avoid all uncomfortable questions.
"Good morning Hanazawa Rui. I didn't know you knew this route."
"Yeah, sometimes I like to take a walk before school."
"You must have gotten up very early to be here at this hour."
"I had a pretty good reason."
"Ah."
And so the awkward walk to school begins.
"How come you ran off after school yesterday? We were all waiting for you. Tsukasa told us what happened."
"Ugh. What an idiot, huh? I blame him for how bad my day was."
"You know he's just a jerk to you because he likes you, right? That's just how he operates."
Tsukushi blushes. Suddenly, Rui stops and looks into her eyes.
"Why weren't you at work yesterday?"
Damn, He knows.
"Yesterday? Oh, I thought the Dango shop would have been busy, so I got there early. It turned out that the place was pretty empty, so my manager sent me home."
"What about your job at the diner?"
Geez, Hanazawa Rui sure does a good investigation, doesn't he?
"Oh, that job. Well, I...Uh..."
"I spoke to your manager, he told me that he laid you off."
Wonderful.
"You...didn't tell anyone, did you? This doesn't need to get out. I'm ok."
"No you're not. Don't lie."
"Everything is going to work out somehow," Tsukushi said in a tone barely above a whisper, "Right?"
They walked in silence for a bit, each not knowing what to say. Rui wished Shizuka was there, she had always been better with these kind of problems.
"...And I still have my job at the Dango shop for another month, so I'm not totally out of luck."
Tsukushi realized she had volunteered too much information accidentally. She shouldn't have brought that up.
"What do you mean, you still have it for another month?"
"Oh. It's nothing, forget I even said that. Hey, if we don't pick up our pace we are going to be late for school."
"Don't change the subject. The lady behind the counter at the Dango shop mentioned bad sales. Is the business going under?"
Well, It's too late to go back now.
"Yeah. She thinks it would be best to close the shop before she looses too much money."
"So what are you going to do?"
Just then, as if her prayers were answered, Kazuya appeared on the street next to them in his limo.
"Hey Tsukushi, want a ride to school?"
"Yes! That would be wonderful Kazuya. See you later Hanazawa Rui!"
Whew, saved at the last moment.
The rest of Tsukushi's day went well. She managed to make it through the day without seeing the F4, and as her last class ended she left for her job at the Dango shop.
Rui, however, was preoccupied trying to figure out ways to help Tsukushi. Actually, he could think of plenty of things that would help, but she wouldn't accept any of them if he didn't plan them right. His train of thought was broken by a wad of paper hitting his head. Looking up, Rui saw Tsukasa looking at him intently and with his hand in a throwing position.
"What's up with you? It's like you're even more out of it than usual."
"I've just got a lot on my mind right now, nothing big."
"Well, I'm bored. Tell me, maybe I can help."
Soujiro and Akira shared a smirk, after all, how much help could Tsukasa be?
"Come on. Tell me. Do we get to beat people up?"
Akira glared at Tsukasa again. "Yeah Rui, someone here might be able to help. I don't know if it will be me though, I have a date in a few hours."
"Thanks, but no thanks Akira. I'm sure she would much rather not have this get out."
"She?"
Akira asked who "she" was, but Rui was not listening. As soon as Rui had said "she" Tsukasa started giving him the most evil glare. Tsukasa knew who he was talking about. Both boys forgot Akira and Soujiro were even in the room.
"What the problem, Rui?"
"I don't know if I should say."
"Tell me."
Tsukasa was getting very agitated. Why did Tsukushi always go to Rui when she needed help? She could always go to him, he was there for her. Didn't she know that? And out of everyone, it had to be Rui. Sensing the tension rise in the room, Akira and Soujiro left. After all, they both had dates, followed by dates after that, and then more dates. They would have a busy night tonight.
"She lost one of her jobs, and the other place she works at will be out of business by the end of the month."
"Is that it?"
"Excuse me?"
"That's nothing. I can fix that in a second."
"Tsukasa, perhaps she doesn't want you to 'fix it'. You know her better than that. That's not her style."
"So what should I do? I want to help."
And with that, the boys put their heads together to figure out a plan to help Tsukushi.
