Itsumo

By HinkyLin

Chapter 01: Kokoro

She was flustered when she heard he spoke her name. "How are you?" he asked.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm fine thanks." She said coldly.

"So, you're working here? I thought you want to be a teacher?" he said.

She sighed and noticed he's too proud and prompt.

"If I am still a candy girl, that doesn't mean I'll end up and get old with these sweets!" she said angrily at him. He smirked at her.

"Just because you became a famous vocalist, girls chasing for you, that doesn't mean you have the right to underestimate me!" she said.

He laughed. "You're the same as always!" he taunted.

She glared at him. "It doesn't mean you have to laugh at me." She muttered.

Yamato just chuckled. "Well, what about you take a day off?" he said. She looked at him and frowned. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I need to earn money to pay the phone and electricity, water bills." She said stiffly as she opened the door, but he held back.

"Well, is the manager there?" he asked. She nodded and arched a brow.

He entered the store and waved at Sora and Tai.

He entered another room, with the sign, "Ms. Karusho." He grinned.

The manager's jaw dropped as the rock star came in. "Y-y-you're YAMATO ISHIDA!" she shrieked and started to shout of praise. He covered his ears and sweat dropped, but managed to stay cool.

"Yeah, I am." He said coolly, giving her 'nagoake' smile. (Hehe…he names his smiles.)

"Do you need anything, Ishida-kun! Anything!" Ms. Karusho said with excitement.

"Hehe…fortunately yeah." He said as he walked around the room.

"Can you give Ms. Tachikawa a day off?" he favored, now with his 'tsuzuka' smile. She melted like butter in a frying pan.

Karusho nodded hysterically.

He reached something from his pocket, and gave it to her, "Thanks." He said and exited the room.

She giggled in her excitement, as she cherished the autographed photo of him, which made her heart flip millions of times.

Mimi arched a brow. "So…." She started. "You don't have to work today." He said.

Her brows met. "Why?"

"She said you don't have to work all day." He excused. She sighed.

She entered the manager's office.

"Uh, Miss Karusho, am I excused today?" she asked.

The manager nodded her head as she fantasized the photo.

She sweat dropped. "Arigato." She thanked and exited the room.

His and her eyes met. She glared at him. "Do you think I can live?" she asked sarcastically. He didn't reply.

She went to the comfort room and changed her uniform in her jeans, tee and sneakers.

With her bag, she received her paycheck and exited the store, Yamato behind her, unnoticed.

She opened the red envelope with gold letters embellished. There was only petty cash inside it. Exact and specifically exact enough for the bills and the apartment she has to pay. She sighed.

"I graduated college in a university with great opportunity, with a degree, but fell from the bittersweets. I guess, it's life." She whispered to herself.

"Going home, early?" he asked. She nodded. She put the envelope inside her backpack and tried to get used it.

He felt awe and bad about her. So, I guess her work as a candy girl's worth living for. The way he saw her look inside the envelope, he could see, the uncontentment in her eyes, but he knew she tried to deal with it. "Hey, let's say, I'll treat you for the day." He said, as the old, cold, aloof Yamato was covered sheets.

Awhile ago, she didn't notice, but now, she did. She even saw him smile today, and tried to be humorous as Tai.

"I'm sorry, I really need to go. Now that I got my payment, I need to pay for the rent." She told him.

Pay for the rent. Pay for the bills. Her words echoed inside his mind. He heard how responsible she is, it's like she cares for importance, and lasts luxury.

Wow, I guess living like that's hard. "I did say I'll treat you for the day. Right?" he started.

She turned back and nodded. "But, maybe some other time will do." She said and continued.
"I'll pay for your bills." He almost shout, but only she could hear it.

She turned back to him.

"Iie. But thanks anyway." She said independently. "I said I will pay." He said, now in his cold exterior.

She shook her head. "No, please." She said.

He grunted. "Then agree that you'll go out." He said. She sighed in defeat and nodded.

"But I need to get back before dark." She said. He glared at her. "What kind of enjoyment is that!" he asked angrily.
"I'm really sorry Yamato, but I can't afford anything. Unlike you. You have a great career. You're not a nobody to other people's point of view." She explained.

"You know, I don't know why you keep yourself from happiness. You're taking it seriously. Try on some other companies! You're the salutorian!" he said angrily.

"Well, I thought we're going, but it seems we keep ourselves busy ranting." She said calmly.

He sighed and walked with her.

They went to the mall as Yamato 'shop til you drop', while Mimi was window-shopping. No, she can't afford any of these, even if she want them so badly. What really made her feel down is when they stopped by on a stuffed toy store, she saw a stuffed white puppy with pure beaded black eyes.

Sh eyed with it for a long time, while Yamato was still looking for a mug. She sighed, as she knew she can't buy it, even if she wants it so badly. "Alas! I found my perfect mug!" he said with a red and silver mug in his hands.

He went to the other aisle, where Mimi was. "Let's get going, Mimi!" he said, but he paused for a while when she didn't look up. She saw her caramel eyes gazing at the stuffie directly. He felt really bad. "Let's go Yamato." She said as she looked up to him. A smile was plastered in her face. He just felt really bad. She exited the aisle and went outside the store.

He took the stuffed toy with him and paid for the stuff.

"Hey, what took you so long? I need to go home before dark." She said, looking at her watch, it was five in the afternoon.

"here." He said as she clasped his hand to hers, with a blue paper bag. He released her hand. With anxious eyes, she looked at him. "Is this for me?" she asked. He nodded shyly. She smiled and thanked. Once she opened it, it was the stuffed toy she had been eyeing a while ago. She smiled and giggled.

"Arigato!" she thanked cheerfully. He smiled back and caught up staring at her merry face.

Her happiness is so shallow…I really feel bad for her. It's like there's a feeling that he wanted to give everything she needs.

"So, you wanna eat?" he asked. She shook her head. "Iie. I'll just cook dinner at my apartment. Thanks for the offer by the way." She said.

"No, you're coming whether you want it or not." He said as he unconsciously took her arm and just walked to a restaurant. Kisei. A Chinese restaurant. Waitresses has their clothes all red, their hair was long and tied up in a bun or a braid.

She felt uncomfortable being there.

"So, what do you want?" he asked as he looked at her, the menu in her hands. "I don't think I like this idea. I mean, it's really getting late, and I need to pay for the rent-" he hushed her.
"Stop talking about your problems and enjoy. Just feel that you're the princess today." He said stiffly. She was flattered.

She obeyed and ordered the cheapest, but Yamato ordered a roast duck, which costs a ton of money, she can't afford.

She was speechless.

Once they finished eating, she was eager to go home, but still, he held her back. He took her on an arcade, which made himself enjoy, not Mimi, he also took her to another shop, which he almost bought everything for her.

Her duty failed, she swore herself to go home early, but they were finished about eleven in the evening.

As the dark heavy clouds started to compile themselves, tiny droplets of water splashed. Sounds created and passed by ions were produced as lightning strucked.

"Great." She muttered.

She put her face towel on top of her head and started to walk. "Thank you for everything Yamato, I will never forget this night." She thanked him.

"No need thank you's. Anyway, what about stay in my place, it seems that you have to travel far. My house's just few blocks away. And besides. It's raining." He said, she shook her head.

"No thank you Yamato. You've done enough, just enjoy breaking your electric guitar. Ja ne." she said as she crossed the street, that was car-less.

She was so tired and was afraid. I should've go home early, now I'm all sleepy! In the middle, her eyes closed and her body hit the ground and fell asleep.

"Mimi!" Yamato ran to her and held her in his arms. He carried her at his back and let her lie on the passenger back seat of his car. I forgot. Where does Mimi live again?

There was nowhere. Instead he went back at his house, where TK, his parents and he live.

He carried her at his back and went inside the warmth. He put her in his room, laid her in his bed and covered her with the blanket. He looked at her peacefully. He smiled at the way he saw her so happy today, which made her day the best. The things they bought were back inside the car.

He laid in the sofa with a pillow and a blanket.

Then he fell asleep.

However, Mimi's parents were all worried, she even told them that she wants to live alone, without anyone's help, now that they got over it, they were worried over something again. When her mom called at her apartment, she wasn't there. They already called almost everyone, except Yamato. They dialed the Ishida number on the phone, as Yamato's mom picked it up.

"Hello, Ishida residence, may I help you?" Natsuko said.

"Hai, Natsuko, it's me, Resha Tachikawa. Is Mimi perhaps been there?" Resha asked.

"Mimi, here in our house?" Natsuko asked. "Yeah."

"Hey mom, Mimi is here, she's at Yamato's room!" TK interrupted. Natsuko's eyes widened. "Wait a second, Resha." Natsuko said.

She went to Yamato's room that was locked. "Yamato, open up." She said. Yamato woke up easily and opened the door.

"Is Mimi there?" his mom asked, he nodded.

Her mom gasped. He closed the door, forgetting the traditional way for engagement.

Natsuko went back downstairs and picked the phone up again.
"Resha, I'm sorry. My apologies." She said.

"what do you mean? Is Mimi there?" Resha asked. "Unfortunately yes." Natsuko said doubtfully.

"Oh! Okay! The weather's been bad, it's so smart of her to stay there!" Resha said. Natsuko gulped.

"Resha, Mimi's inside Yamato's room." Natsuko said nevously. They became worried as they planned to meet right now, in the night.

Yamato's and Mimi's parents met at a twenty-four hour café.
"If the two of them are inside the room, well that means, they need to be engaged." Resha said worriedly. Natusko nodded her head.

"Well, we wouldn't want something bad would happen to Mimi, I mean, it would be worst if Mimi will get pregnant, on someone she doesn't have any relationship with." Yamato's dad said.

"So, I'm going to reserve a penthouse right away." Resha said as she dialed in her mobile.

"we're going now, we need to engage the two of them." Resha said, with Natsuko. They stood up and went to the counselor, as they signed some contracts. But in the end, they never wanted this to happen.

As the morning sunshine came….

"Ugh, where am I?" Mimi woke up and found herself cozy in a soft bed. She looked around and her eyes fell on Yamato, sleeping. She smiled and got up. She sat at the end of the couch and shook his shoulder.

"Yamato, Yamato, I need to go now." She said. Matt's eyes fluttered and he rubbed them. "Good morning." He said between yawns.

"I need to go home now, and thank you for letting me stay in your space." She thanked.
"No problem." He said as the two of them went downstairs. Before they exit the house, they encountered Yamato's mom.

"Yamato, Mimi, I have some good news to tell you!" she said. The two of them were eager to hear.

"You two are engaged!" Natsuko said. Engaged! It echoed in their minds.

"Wow! A sister-in-law!" TK said as he appeared from their backs.

"I'm engaged!" Mimi shrieked. TK nodded.

"You two already have a house! Don't worry, we settled everything you all need last night!" Natsuko said. They looked at each other.

Oh no, they thought about that tradition again! Both of their minds were thinking the same, even running the same.

Wel, I think it's okay with her, I mean…she's really awesome…and perfect. He made a simple smile, which made Mimi off guard.

Well, I had what I wanted. I'm changing starting now. And I hate it. I'd rather work for years! And I still haven't found a decent job.

I hope you all liked the first chapter. Kinda cheap for me. The tradition is when two people of opposite sex sleep in a room together, unrelated by blood, means they have to be engaged. As Mimi's life will change, now not a candy girl, but also a wife.

Updating very soon.