Bet too Far
Chapter 7: Invisible
"Coming to buy more melon buns?" The convenience shopkeeper asks, his grin widening as he sees his melon bun rack empty and instead the melon buns floods the counter in front of him. Along with the melon buns is a line of green tea and other juice assortments.
"Yes and also these drinks, please. We're having a school festival today. You could come if you have time."
"Sounds fun. I'll see if I have time."
Fate places the stamp card on the table along with $130 in notes. She then reaches into her skirt pockets and displays a hand full of coins, counting them as she blushes, embarrassed by the amount of time she is taking up. Thankfully it was early and there was no one else in the store.
"I'm sorry. I don't have any notes left." She apologizes and looks up at the elderly man before handing over the extra $20 in coins. He had already packed the melon buns and drinks into 5 separate bags.
The man smiles at her and hands them over, taking the $150 in the process. Next he stamps the boxes on Fate's card leaving one box remaining. "So, which one is your favourite character?"
Fate tilts her head in slight confusion and then shakes it as she realises the question. "Oh no, I don't watch the show. I'm not exactly a big fan." She takes her card back. "I've read the myth in which it is based on though." She points out.
The man scratches his head as if contemplating if he should voice what he was thinking. He does so anyway. "So, you're doing this for family, friend or ….a lover."
She smiles vilely. "None. She's...not any of those. She...couldn't get the heart alpaca and I just couldn't help myself but ….it doesn't matter."
The elderly man takes note of her expression and then studies her uniform logo. His eyes widens a tad bit and he makes a connection. "Are you referring to Takamachi-san?"
Fate takes an unconscious step back.
"You were the girl who accompanied her here a week or so ago. Sorry I couldn't recognise you at first." He knocks on his head. "Getting rusty in this department."
Fate takes a breath. "It's all right. I think I better get to school."
The old man nods. "You're not Takamachi's friend? You two seemed like you were having fun together. Spending over $200 on melon buns for her seems like she means quite a bit to you"
Fate takes the plastic bags and again shakes her head. "No...we're not friends. I would appreciate it if you don't tell her about this." She wouldn't want the alpaca if she knew I was the one who gave it to her.
The shopkeeper nods. "Do you want to be?"
"I don't think I quite understand."
A soft gentle laugh. "Do you want to be friends with Takamachi-san?"
Fate's mouth opens to say something but then it closes again. She meets the old man's eyes and the soft smile on his face. She returns the smile as an image of Nanoha pops into her head.
"I do."
The man nods, satisfied with the answer. "The three heart alpacas will be available in two days time. Be sure to get here quick. First in first serve. I'm rooting for you."
Fate bows politely and exits the store. She manages to carry all 5 plastic bags in her left hand as she rips open the bun plastic. Placing the rubbish in her pocket, she takes a bite of the melon bun.
Was it always this bitter?
Bet too Far
It was 7am in the morning and around the school, students were hastily putting up their finishing touches to their school festival activities. Most students stayed overnight to prepare for their event.
Fate had volunteered to stay, but the class president just giggled. "You don't need to help with preparations. Your role is to just look nice." Fate had smiled and she played along, thus going home alone. It seems like she was never really needed for anything.
Fate enters her classroom (which is currently in the form of a stylish butler/maid cafe). No one realises her entry so she heads to the 'staff only' area which is separated from the cafe area with a huge board with two anime drawn character of a butler and a maid.
Yet here is the pinch.
"Oh, Fate." A girl in her class stops her sewing and heads to Fate. She reaches into a bag on the floor and hands Fate a black ironed butler uniform. "This is yours."
Yes, it is a reverse butler/maid cafe. If you identify as a girl you become a butler. Boy, a maid. Other, your choosing.
Fate takes the uniform quietly and nods. "Oh, I bought drin-"
"Heeyyyyyyy! Quick Snacks and Drinks for everyone." Hayate's voice rings as she enters the classroom. She places the drinks and chips over on the spare table in the corner and the students gather to grab their respective quick breakfast.
Fate sighs as shoves her bag and plastic bags to the far corner and hides the melon buns and drinks under her jacket. She changes into her butler uniform and stacks her school uniform consciously so that the plastic bags are not visible without rummaging through her things.
Adjusting her tie she exits to the cafe area where the class president reviews each classmates' role in the cafe. Fate doesn't hear her name and frowns but doesn't think much of it. As their quick meeting dismisses, Fate heads over to the schedule on the wall.
She looks for her name and laughs sardonically at herself.
Harlaown Fate: get girls to come. break: 12-2pm 4-6pm
Of course.
She feels a tap on her shoulder and looks over it coming eye to eye with Hayate. "Hey you. Isn't that funny." She points to Fate's name on the list."The class president and the leader team including me came up with it. " She laughs and it takes all the effort Fate had in her at the moment to do the same.
"But seriously, use your unfair genetics to get customers." Hayate grins evilly. "You could even give them a quickie at the back if they order more than $20 worth of food and drinks."
Fate could feel bile rising from her stomach.
Yuuno joins in and laughs. "Oh my goodness Hayate. You make it seem like we're holding an illegal brothel in here. Seriously $20? She would at least be worth $50."
Fate covers her mouth. What was this disgusting feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Did they just insinuate that she should be a prostitute?
She manages a "I will not do that."
Hayate pats her back. "Relax, Stiffstick. We were joking."
"Though it would be a good idea. Sex is your life and customers get motivation to buy more, and we get profit. Win-win." Yunno notes.
"Screw you." Fate growls. "Sex is not my life. I won't do that anymore."
"What anymore? You won't have sex anymore?" Hayate laughs. "What is this? A early new year's resolution. Please, you won't last."
Fate doesn't answer and instead leaves the classroom, racing to the bathroom to empty the content of her early melon bun. She holds herself steady with the help of the toilet seat. She smells the foul acid and the sting in her eyes.
She looks up at the ceiling and tears stream down her eyes. "I hate myself."
Her eyes tear up even more from the next puking action and she stays in the confines of the cubicle until she no longer has the urge to tear her stomach apart.
Bet too Far
Preparing the paperwork for the school festival and planning the mechanisms of it while preparing for entrance exams to university was exhausting. To boot, her class was holding a talent show, and her solo violin is the ending act.
Nanoha sighs in relief as she looks at the prepared stage and seats. The violin in her hand feels a tad heavier after her practice as the nerves for the upcoming performance hits her. The class had a quick run through of their respective acts and in Nanoha's humblest opinion, she was proud of what they had achieved in such little time. All that was left was to show their hard work to the audience.
She reaches in her pocket to find her phone but then realises that she left it in the student president office. She tells the second in charge, where she is going and heads off.
Nanoha grabs her phone and checks the time. 7:48. 10 minutes till festival starts. Deciding she had time to cool off, she heads to the nearest bathroom and as she is about to turn on the faucet, she hears a quiet whimper followed by a soft voice.
"I hate myself." She hears and her eyes widens. Nobody should feel that way about themselves. She heads over to the toilet near the door and through the open gap she sees the one person she had wanted to avoid for the past week.
Fate.
Fate's back was to the door and she looked so small, so vulnerable.
I can't do this to her. I can't.
As she is about to open the door and make contact with the blonde. Two teenage girls enter the toilet in a rupture of laughter and as a reflex response, Nanoha quickly hides herself in the cubicle next to Fate's.
"I can't believe you bought the new foundation! No wonder you've been glowing."
The other girl laughs as she skillfully applies her make up. "The glow is from the mind-blowing sex, I've been having with my boyfriend." She announces with so much pride.
"Boyfriend? I thought you were going out with that easy blonde chick."
"Fate? I was not going out with her. I would never go out with a loser like her. She oozed insecurity, it was kind of disgusting."
Nanoha clenches her hand into a fist and it took a lot to not barge out and punch them but she knew, if she did show herself it would take a toll on Fate's pride. She couldn't do that to her.
"So was the sex good though?"
The girl laughs again and shoves the makeup in her bag. "I told you, she was a loser. She wouldn't touch me there so I had to force her too. Guide her hand and all that. So it was terrible."
"You're a terrible person." Her friend laughs. "Why did you even interact with her?"
"She was the principal's daughter and she was rich" They walked out but their voice echoed in the bathroom. "She was naive and gullible. She even bought me…"
As soon as they were out of their hearing range, Fate opens the cubicle door and walks to the tap. She exits quickly.
Nanoha follows after, exiting out of the cubicle she finds her desired contact on her phone and dials it.
"Oh hey, Nanoha."
"I can't do it. I can't do that to Fate. Please, I wasn't in the right mind that time, forget what I said."
Nanoha looks at herself in the mirror and she realises that not once did Fate look at herself in the mirror.
I hate myself.
Nanoha shuts her eyes tight as tears threatens to fall.
Friends?
Friends.
"I can't do that to anyone. Let alone a friend." Nanoha asserts. "Please, Yunno. I really can't do this."
"Friend? Nanoha, she tried to force herself on you. That's not what I call friendly."
"She didn't want to."
Yunno laughs. "Nanoha, you can't break a bet that easily. Let alone if it was written on paper with your signature."
Bet too Far - Chapter End
A/N: Hope you are all having a good day. :) (Unlike this story at the moment.)
