April 21st
Today was the day that Yukiko's parents finally felt comfortable enough to let Yukiko go out on her own and even then would likely not have approved it had Yukiko not asked Michael to tag along. Michael waited in the lobby, his thumbs hooked behind his belt buckle.
"Okay, let's go," Yukiko said, emerging from the door leading to the Amagi private quarters.
Michael's jaw dropped. He had never seen Yukiko in 'casual' clothing before and upon witnessing her now, he could not help but feel as though he had been cheated out of time. She wore a long, red dress that reached just below the midway point of her thighs. Tied around her neck was a long red kerchief with white tips and on her feet she wore long, black, platform boots that reached all the way up to her knees. Locks of her flowing black hair ran down just off her shoulders, perfectly contrasting with her alabaster skin. Michael shook himself from his trance before she could notice his inadvertent leering and tipped his head.
"Lead the way," he said to the floor.
Michael and Yukiko walked around the shopping district, mostly conducting business on behalf of the inn with local suppliers. Yukiko had them stop into a bookstore on the way.
"Aha! Here it is!" She announced triumphantly, pulling a book from a shelf, "Thank goodness, looks like this is the last copy they have."
"What is it?" Michael asked.
"It's a book about job certifications. Sensei, the career councilor at school, recommended it to me because it details on a bunch of different job licenses."
Michael raised an eyebrow, "You're gonna apply for one?"
She nodded solemnly, "Inside the other world, the 'other me' said she didn't want to inherit the inn..." She took a deep breath, "I think those were my true feelings, so I decided to try to be more true to myself."
She looked up confidently and stared Michael right in the eye, "I...I refuse to inherit the Amagi Inn! And when I graduate, I'm leaving town!"
Michael's eyes widened.
She exhaled deeply, "I said it..."
Then she started to giggle, "I said it!"
Michael smiled, "Yes, you did."
He found himself smiling not at her words, but rather at the smile that uttered them.
"So that's why you're getting the job license guide, to find a career away from the inn." Michael reasoned.
Yukiko nodded, "Yes, I'm going to have to learn to make my own living if I want to live on my own. I was thinking something along the lines of interior decorator, maybe? What do you think?"
"I think you need to do what makes you happy. That being said, you do have a lovely sense of style."
Yukiko's cheeks reddened, "Well picking clothing is much different than picking decorations for a room," she stopped herself and shook her head which had begun to flush, "I- I'm sorry I assumed you were talking about how I dress. That was so presumptuous. You don't even really pay attention to that stuff, do you?" She rambled on nervously.
Michael waved his hand dismissively, "I figured it's all the same," he said, trying to keep his cool.
Michael cleared his throat, "So, what's getting a job license entail, anyway?" He asked, trying to bring the topic back to where it began.
"Well it's a lot of hard work, and costs money to get one. And of course, I can't tell Mother..." Her voice trailed off.
Michael nodded, "This is between us, then."
"Thank you," Yukiko said, relieved. "But I just wish there was a part-time job I could do discreetly..."
Michael thought for a moment, "Well, I overheard some kids on my way to school a couple days back talking about part-time jobs they were doing from home. Envelope folding, translating...Hey, I could help you with translating!"
Yukiko's face brightened, "Really?"
"Yeah, it's Japanese-to-English and vice versa."
"Why don't we both get that job then? I'm sure you'd like the spending money." Yukiko suggested.
"Capital idea," Michael replied with a nod.
"Let's go check out the job notice board now, it's just up the street," Yukiko said, walking quickly.
Michael happened to glance over on the other side of the street and saw something that made his left eyebrow ascend. Yu Narukami and Ai Ebihara, the basketball team manager who had been threatening to kill herself, dressed in their school uniforms, were walking down the street. That is, a reluctant Narukami was being pulled along by an aggressively enthusiastic Ai.
Aren't they supposed to be in school? Michael wondered to himself.
Yukiko saw them too, "Hey, is that Narukami?"
"Can't say for sure," Michael lied quickly, "Let's just leave them be."
Damn buckaroo, what have you gotten yourself into?
As the sun set, Michael and Yukiko walked along the road as the silhouette of the Amagi Inn came closer and closer. Before they reached the door, Yukiko stopped.
"Thank you for keeping me company today," She said.
"Right back at you."
Yukiko shifted nervously and looked down at the tips of her boots.
"I was scared of telling the others about my plans, but now I..." she looked up at him, "...I think I'll be all right."