Chapter 26: Kaoru in Saotomate

As I slept, I had a dream…well I would call it more of a flashback. It was about my first day working in Saotomate as Kaoru.

I woke up a bit earlier today since I have to put on and fix my wig and makeup. Today is my first shift in Saotomate as Kaoru. They told me that manager-san doesn't know about Kaoru being the same person as Kaori so I have to be careful around him; it turns out that it was strictly teachers only that knew about Kaoru being Kaori.

I finished fixing myself and went on my way to Saotomate. Since it was still early in the morning, I didn't bump into anyone or was seen by anyone. I arrived at Saotomate and prepared myself.

"Good morning. I'm Yamashita Kaoru, the new part timer."

Manager-san was checking the inventory as usual when I came.
"Oh! You're quite early! Welcome to Saotomate and I hope you'll do your best. I'm Nowaki, the manager."

He proceeded to tell me what I'd be doing and what I should be checking. Though I already know all of these as Kaori, I pretended to not know and learn as Kaoru. After the manager finished talking, he stared at my face. I feel uncomfortable.

"Is there something wrong with my face, manager-san?"

"Are you related to Yamashita Kaori?"

"Yes, I am. I'm her older brother."

He stared longer at my face and I am really getting uncomfortable with this.
"No wonder! Sorry for staring but you really do resemble Kaori-chan when I take a better look."

"I guess so since we are siblings after all."

"Anyway, during this time, customers start coming. You should go behind the cashier now and one more thing, please call me Nowaki."

"Roger that, manager-san."

"Nooo! Don't be like your sister!"

There is no way I am going to give you that privilege. Haha. It's much more fun to call you manager-san.

Unlike my first shift as Kaori, it seems that there are many customers today. Well, it is near the end of the week so people have more time to go around and all. At least today won't be boring and I won't have to end up being bothered by manager-san.

"Hey, look! Saotomate has a new employee."
"Really? Where?"
"Over there by the shelf at the left! He looks quite handsome, doesn't he?"
"Kya! You're right! He's cute!"

I can hear all of you. I guess girls these days are really like that. I would never be like that. Besides, romance is not on my list until I fulfill my dream of becoming an idol and composer!

"Excuse me."

I heard a girl behind me. "Yes? What can I do for you?"
I thought there was only one girl behind me but when I turned around, there was a bunch of them. Is Kaoru really that attractive for them? I guess if I was really a boy, I would be popular with girls. Ugh, if I really was born a boy then I hope I wouldn't turn into a playboy like Ren-san. Sigh.

"We were wondering if you had this in stock here in Saotomate. I usually buy this at the mall but if you have this here then I won't have to go so far anymore."

I took the product and looked at the label. "I'm not sure if we have this in stock but let me check the inventory list. Please hold on for a while."
I went back behind the cashier to get the inventory list underneath and searched for the product's name. I hope it's here.

"Kya! I'm going to take a photo of him!"
"Oh! Me too! Me too!"
"I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."
"Really? From where?"
"I think I might have seen his face on a magazine."

"Excuse me, we sell the product here but we ran out of stock. If you want, you can return next week. By that time, we'll have them available." I handed over the product back to her.

"A-alright! I'll come back next week. Thank you!"

"Kya! His smile is so cute!"
"You're lucky!"
"I will cherish this product he touched!"
The girls left and the store became less noisy.

"You seem popular with the female students, Kaoru-kun."

"It seems so but I'm not interested in them."
Of course I won't be interested. I'm a girl after all.
I went back to the shelf I was fixing but the some customers came and so I went to greet them instead.

"Welcome to Saotomate."
I was surprised that it was Tomochan and Haruka. I better be careful not to give myself away.

"OH MY GOD!" Tomochan suddenly shouted and pointed at me. This also caused everyone in the shop to stare.

"Tomochan, what's wrong?" Haruka asked her.

"K-K-K-KAO-K-KAO…!"

Oh my lord, did Tomochan see thru my get up or something?

"Tomochan, you're making a scene. Everyone is looking." Haruka said while trying to put Tomochan's pointing arm down.

"Haruka…this person is KAORU! Yamashita Kaoru! The new model for that famous fashion magazine! He's the currently a trending and a rising model! IT'S ACTUALLY HIM! I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S HERE!"

Well…that caught everyone's attention…I was…totally not prepared for that. I didn't know Tomochan was a fan of Kaoru. I didn't know that I even had fans here in school.

"Ah! Now that you mention it, look! Here he is in this magazine!"

Everyone fussed over the girl who had a copy of the magazine where I was featured in.

"Whoa! It really is him!"
"He works here in Saotomate?"
"Could that possibly mean that he studies here too?"

Haruka tugged Tomochan's sleeve. "Tomochan, does that mean that he's Kaori's brother? The one she told us about before?"

"It has to be! I do see the resemblance."

Thank you Tomochan for making me known now. I won't be surprised if everyone would start talking about it and bothering me in class asking if I really am Kaoru's sister. Thank you. Thank you. Good bye, quiet life.

Tomochan then approaches me and grabs my hands. That shocked me.

"Uhm! I-I'm Shibuya Tomochika and I'm a big fan of yours! I have every magazine that you've appeared on since your debut as well as your first solo album that was released just recently! I-I'm also a friend of your sister though we're not in the same class!"

Oh Tomochan, If only you knew the truth.
"Thank you very much for your support, Shibuya-chan. I appreciate it very much."
I escaped her hands and grabbed hers instead.
"But most of all, thank you for taking care of my younger sister. I hope that she isn't troubling you very much."

Tomochan grew really red all of a sudden and I can tell she's really happy and flustered. Tsukimiya-sensei said that giving some fan service and interaction is not that bad and is necessary at times.
I released her hands and smiled at her before going back to work. My actions not only stirred Tomochan but everyone else who was in the shop. I guess that was a bit over the top perhaps?

I didn't get to rest very much at all during my shift since a lot of girls and curious students kept coming into the shop because of Tomochan. Tsukimiya-sensei came as well but he didn't buy anything. He was just there to check up on me and before he left, he gave me a thumb up. I guess that from now on, my shifts as Kaoru won't be as quiet as Kaori's.

"Good job today, Kaoru-kun! You did a very good job!"
Manager-san was probably happy because I attracted many customers and probably broke the average sales mark for the shop.
I helped clean up the shop and finally I can get back to the dorm and rest.

"Thank you for today! I look forward to your next shift!"

I waved back at manager-san with a wry smile.
Man, I'm tired! That was one hell of a shift indeed! That would never happen with Kaori…
I stopped walking all of a sudden to that thought. I couldn't tell whether that was a good or bad thought but I felt like I was stabbed in the heart. Anyway, I got to get back and get some sleep if I want to survive school tomorrow.
On my way back to the dorm, I met Syo in the main hall. He was about to get back to his dorm as well. I wasn't planning to greet him but he saw me.

"Hey."

I stopped walking and faced him. "Yes? What is it?"

Syo was staring at me. "You're Kaori's brother, right?"
I nodded.

Syo then suddenly went up to me and grabbed me by the collar of my shirt.

"Hey, what are you—"

"How come you're never around when Kaori needs you?!"

I was shocked by his words.

"You know, when Kaori gets sick she doesn't even go to the clinic! She just goes to class and pretends nothing's wrong and then she gets back to her room right away and takes care of herself! Another thing that pisses me off is that you never come and visit her in class or try to see her around the school! It may not show on her face but she feels lonely too, you know! What kind of older brother are you?! You piss me off!"

Syo…

He lets go of me and walks away. He knew that though I tried my best to hide it…actually I feel that everyone kind of saw right thru me somehow.
I continued walking to my room.

I sat on my bed and thought about what Syo said. Well, it's not possible with Kaoru since he is Kaori. He can never be there for Kaori…just like my real brothers.
My older brother is sixteen and a half years older than me so he was busy with college and his own life when I was born. He took up medicine to become an orthopedic surgeon and lived in a dorm since his school was far from home. He barely had free time to spend with us. My younger brother on the other hand was not the tough type. I was always the one protecting him and standing up for him. Though we were always together, I was more of a man than he was.

I paused and thought about Syo's words. It would have been nice to have a sibling who stood up for you when you needed help…it would have been nice if I had someone who stood up for me back then. I was the middle child and only daughter so I tried my best to become tough and independent because I didn't like special treatment but I guess along the way, I wanted to know what it was like to be taken cared of rather than the one taking care of the other. I laughed.

"What the hell am I getting all gloomy and sad for? I feel happy where I am now. I shouldn't think about that now. I've got to concentrate working hard in becoming a fully fledged idol and composer! There's no room for sadness now!" I smiled while I stretched my hand out to the ceiling. I stood up and went to take a shower and changed clothes. I looked outside the window before going to bed and the sky was full of stars again; the sky was beautiful. I went to bed and realized that I haven't eaten dinner yet. My stomach grumbles good night to me. I learned three things today. One, my modelling career is going well. Two, Kaoru is popular among the girls. And three, Tomochan is my biggest fan by far. I hope the idol career will do well. I laughed.