hey all! i'm back! i know it's been several months since i've updated, and i'm really sorry about that. hopefully, after school ends, i'll have more time to write!
i hope you enjoy this chapter! ~
chapter 7.
Misaki sat in a daze as the fluorescent blue-tinted lights shadowed her worn face. Her raven hair hung in strands as she closed her eyes, slowly drifting away into a world where she was genuinely happy. Her thoughts swirled.
In all honesty, Misaki was afraid. She was afraid of the events to come. If her dad was seriously injured, how would she be able to support herself? The debts had piled up day after day as her father went out and drank away the little money he had saved up. Her father's debts along with this hospital bill would surely add up to something.
With both her hands folded over her face, Misaki brooded over her deepest and darkest thoughts. Money was not the most important thing. Her father was the last person she could turn to and name as 'family'. Forgiving his current drunken state, Misaki could remember when he was a loving, kind-hearted father. Despite all she had endured without him, Misaki sincerely loved her father. He brought her up to become the person she was today.
"Are you the daughter of Sakuya Ayuzawa?"
Misaki was jerked from her thoughts as a doctor loomed before her.
"...Ah, yes. Is he alright?" Misaki said, standing up after clearing her throat and wiping her cheeks.
"Yes. We believe he suffered a minor head injury and concussion, perhaps after hitting the corner of a table. We have stitched him up and he is now recovering. Would you like to see him?"
"Yes, please."
As Misaki walked into the hospital room, she was greeted with the sight of her father resting on a bed with several cords hooked up to him. His eyes flitted up to Misaki and he feebly raised a hand to greet her.
"Misaki, I'm so sorry..." he whispered as Misaki brought her hand to reach his. Misaki's father had finally realized the true extent of hurt he had caused by neglecting his daughter for almost 10 years.
"Since this incident was caused by a heavy drinking problem, we will redirect him to an alcohol rehabilitation center," the doctor noted, "Until then, he should rest here."
Misaki nodded and set her father's hand down as his eyes fluttered closed. When he dozed off, she made her way to the door and out into the hazy night.
Stores were still open despite the late hours. Misaki wandered the bustling streets until a flyer caught her eye. It read:
'MAID-LATTE! NOW HIRING! Please talk to the manager or call XXX-XXX-XXXX for more details.'
Hm. Now that she thought about it, Misaki needed a way to support herself. She took a flyer and walked home.
The next day at school, Usui was being as annoying as ever. While working on the project, Misaki found it harder and harder to conceal anything from Usui.
"So... who are your family members?" Usui questioned while staring straight into Misaki's eyes.
"I..." Misaki looked away. "...it's just... me."
"Just... you?" Usui crept closer to Misaki's face as she instinctively moved her face away.
"..." Misaki didn't respond. They stayed in that position for a few seconds, with Misaki's head just touching the wall and Usui's nose almost touching Misaki's cheek. Misaki took a deep breath.
"...I SAID THERE'S JUS-" Misaki's face reddened as she accidentally turned so her face was only a few inches away from Usui's. Usui took that chance to let his vision linger on Misaki's eyes.
Her eyes evoked a sense of enveloped sadness overcome by loneliness. He had never seen eyes like hers before, and it startled him briefly when he realized how drawn he was to them.
Usui moved back into his original seat. "Misaki, are you okay?" he inquired.
"...Yes. I'm fine..." Misaki suddenly wanted to tell him everything. His eyes seemed so kind and understanding. How could she feel like this toward someone she just recently met?
"The truth is... I don't have much of a family. My mom and little sister died in a car crash while I was in elementary school. My dad was hospitalized last night." Misaki took a shuddering breath after finally revealing her dark past. A few silent moments passed, and Usui looked away and replied, "I don't have much of a family either."
Misaki turned toward Usui with a mildly shocked expression. Truthfully, Misaki didn't even know why she was shocked. She knew almost nothing about Usui, and she realized that he never really showed much emotion to anyone around him. He rejected girls left and right with a neutral, almost uncaring expression, and he regarded others with a calm, collected demeanor.
After that short conversation, Misaki and Usui continued to work on their assignment, talking only when needed.
"Do you have the markers?" asked Usui, after a short moment of silence.
"Yes, let me get them," Misaki said as she reached over into her bag to grab her markers. They were stuck, but Misaki eventually got them out of her bag and handed them over... along with a certain flyer about a certain maid café.
"Say, Misaki... I didn't know you were into this sort of thing," Usui said, smirking and holding up the Maid-Latte flyer. Misaki's eyes widened as she sprang into action.
"Give... that... back!" Misaki reached for the flyer as Usui pulled his hand out of her reach. This lightning-fast snatching-and-missing activity continued for a good 10 seconds. The whole class paused and watched in awe.
Misaki finally caught hold of the flyer; however, it ripped as she grabbed and pulled her hand back. She was left with the bottom half with the important bits, while Usui was left with the top half with the large headline and store title.
"I'll be keeping this, thanks," Usui said while pocketing the torn slip of paper.
"And you would want that because...?" Misaki tentatively questioned.
"Who knows? Maybe I'll find a new interest in...Um, maid servicing." Usui said carelessly while looking off into the distance.
"Stupid perverted alien..." Misaki muttered. Nope, she was definitely not working there.
"What was that?" Usui asked, looking back at Misaki.
"You are a perverted outer-space alien," Misaki said bluntly.
"How so?" Usui asked. What a unique nickname.
"Well, first, you're perverted. And second, how else did you manage keep up with me while fighting for that flyer?" Misaki retorted. Not only that, his deep emerald eyes and unfeeling demeanor were not of this world...
"Oh. Well, of course. I am an alien after all." Usui chuckled inwardly. So, in Misaki's mind, pervert+skills=perverted alien? …Interesting.
The rest of Misaki's day went by quickly. After school, Misaki decided to stop by Maid-Latte anyway. Usui was just joking, right? He wouldn't go there to waste his time... besides, the top half of the flyer didn't include the address.
Upon entering the café, Misaki was greeted by a young lady with peach-colored hair in a classic maid uniform.
"Welcome, Master. Table for one?" the lady asked after a short curtsy.
"Uh, actually, I was just..." Misaki didn't know whether to continue with her mission or to just walk out. She could already tell that this job greatly conflicted with her personality.
"OH! Are you here to apply for a job?" A short lady with a black cropped bob wearing an apron over a blue dress appeared out of nowhere, "Ah, yes. You will do perfectly. You're hired!" the lady said after looking Misaki over. Flowers seemed to be emanating from her whole body.
"Now now, manager, slow down before you decide anything permanent. What's your name and age?" the lady asked Misaki.
"Ayuzawa Misaki, 16," she answered. No turning back now.
"Only 16? Well…let's try a test run. Work here for a few days, and if you like it, you're hired. Is that okay, Satsuki?" the lady asked.
"Sure! Honoka, please help Misaki settle in!" said the manager, also known as Satsuki. She then skipped happily away.
"Alright Misaki. I'm Honoka, and I'll help you around for these few days. First, you should change into this," Honoka said, holding up a frilly, black-and-white uniform identical to the one she had on then. Misaki stared blankly at the lacy maid uniform.
What had she gotten herself into?
please review to let me know how you felt about this chapter! it's been a while… i hope my readers are still here. ;-;
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thanks for reading!
-vicky1239