KWMS (c) Fujiwara Hiro
Pre-High School
in onee-chan's footsteps
With earphones in both her ears, she hears nothing. Suzuna does not wish to communicate with anyone, nor does she wish to listen to their whispers. She tilted her head and stood on tiptoes. She had heard from Misaki that she got into Seika High. Suzuna simply wants to reaffirms her acceptance herself. So why is locating her name so difficult? Is it because of her short stature?
Suzuna is unable to hear the exasperated sigh she heaved; ears being filled with synthetic beats. She continues to pay no heed to the stares and murmurs around her. The whispers might have centred about her; they might not. She does not care either way.
The teenager finally took a step back with fisted hands and a frown marring her face. Her toes were sore from pushing her weight upwards, as is her previously-arched back. Should she give up? Suzuna wonders. Her sister is waiting for her at the front gates. "Privacy," Misaki had told her earlier, when she pushed the younger sibling towards the direction of green felt boards.
A tap to her shoulder startled the younger girl. When eyes landed on familiar brown eyes and messy russet hair, a smile tugs at her lips. "Hamburger-kun," Suzuna greets him, hand moving to remove her left earpiece, "Haven't you graduated?" Why are you still in Seika, wearing the school's uniform, no less,was implied in her query.
His hand moved to ruffle messy hair, and a bashful blush stains his face. "I'm feeling…sentimental?" Her childhood friend laughed. "Why are you so far away from the notification boards?" With that said, he started to push her forwards, "You have to get closer!"
The last part was uttered in a huff; Suzuna had dug her feet onto the ground. A displeased expression was on her face. She had fully removed the earphones from her ears, now. "I can't…" the sentence faltered. 'I can't see' was incorrect – she can see, her eyes are perfectly fine. 'I'm too short' was a blow to her pride and dignity. Similarly, 'The paper is too high' insinuates that she is undersized.
"Why don't you carry me instead?" The brunette voices out; abruptly popping an embarrassing request with a straight face. A blush tinges his face, and his hands moved to tousle his unruly hair once again.
Hinata looks at the younger girl. In a brotherly manner, he tells her, "You're not so small anymore, Cheese-chan." As he appraises her figure, he quietly mumbles "…maybe." He quickly covers up his previous comment, "Anyways, it's just not right to carry you."
The girl schools her expression back into one of apathy and indifference. "This is stupid," Suzuna mutters unhappily. "Could you check my assigned class, please?"
-x-
"I should get a part-time job."
Once more, Suzuna randomly speaks aloud. The younger girl had paused, and was contemplatively staring at the supermarket opposite.
Misaki recalls the same thoughtful look she wears previously, when they went pass a construction site. Her younger sister's body was slightly positioned towards the supermarket, just like she had at the construction site. Don't tell me, a sudden anxious thought appeared, Suzuna-chan wishes to work anywhere, even a construction site?
On impulse, as is Misaki's nature, she recommends her sister "to work with me, at Maid Latte". She stresses the last two words – Maid Latte. Maid Latte is safe; Misaki would be able to look after her eccentric sister, preventing Suzuna from taking up…unsuitable part-time jobs (like the construction site, Misaki thinks with disgust).
"…okay." Suzuna easily agreed.
-x-
Whispers are exchanged; to which Suzuna pretends to remain oblivious to.
"Manager," her sister speaks, only to be interrupted by the manager herself.
"Don't worry~" Satsuki cheerily calms the elder Ayuzawa sister down, "I'm guessing your reasons for having Suzuna-chan work here, so it's a-okay!"
I hear nothing, Suzuna reminds herself, tuning out voices for music.
-x-
The television was switched on, though volume muted. The news was being screened. Neither of the Ayuzawa sisters noticed this. The elder was in the kitchen, preparing dinner in place of their working mother. The younger was munching on prawn-flavoured rice crackers, little snacks to satisfy her hunger while waiting for dinner. Her thoughts were fragmented and unjointed; obvious in her empty hazel eyes.
The news had switched to the daily weather report. Apparently, there would be a series of spring showers the next day. We should carry an umbrella tomorrow, Suzuna briefly reminds herself, taking a mental note to inform her family as well. It would not do anyone good if any of them were to fall ill. Hazel eyes then shifts to her room.
I'm doing everything…my sister did.
Doubtful feelings begin creeping into her mind; Seika High, as well as Maid Latte. Isn't that what onee-chan did? Isn't all those what she is doing now?
Again, her thought patterns fragment itself. Maid Latte. Maid Latte lets her think back to part-time. She had considered the supermarket on the way home earlier. How could she not have thought of the problem with working in a supermarket earlier? If I were to work in the supermarket, I can't participate in the lucky draws and contests anymore!
To Suzuna, the thought was conforting. So what if I were to follow in onee-chan's footsteps?
I'll do things my way, from here on out then, instead!
A/N:
(i) Revamped Chapter 3. Feeling much relieved now that this is up; I was reading revamped C2 and un-revamped C3 yesterday night, the urge to make things right suddenly came strongly. Haha...? Reviews for pocky, please!
(ii) Explanation: Suzuna side; her admission to Seika and acceptance into Maid Latte. I wanted to include Tora here again...as a sleazy onii-san offerign Suzuna a part-time job, or something...