Back to the present
She smiled as she went along stores trying to find a decent shop to buy donuts and a map carrying her large back pack and an extra duffel bag.
She came by a Coffee shop, Plainly 'Coffee Shop' and enthusiastically opened the door.
"Good Morning, Welcome to our town's Coffee Shop!" A happy voice greeted her. She searched its owner and found a boy behind the counter.
"How may we help you?" He asked again, giving her a cup of chocolate murmuring 'it's on the house.'
"Oh. I'm looking for a place to stay." She sat down a stool by the counter and watched as another boy served tables.
"Oh, staying here? Rarely have newbies in town? Where you from?" He asked.
"Me? Oh I'm from Tokyo" She answered and sipped the hot chocolate.
"Why are you here?" He asked again. 'Hell, this person has a lot of questions.' she thought.
"I try to be independent." She replied trying to dodge the question a bit.
He formed a big o with his mouth.
"Welcome to town then, I'm Kokoro Yome by the way." He offered his hand, which Mikan gladly took.
"Mikan... Sakura" she shook hands with the Koko-guy.
"So, Are you a graduate?" He inquired.
"I don't think I'd be staying a long time." She tried to evade yet another question.
"Then don't stay at all." She looked at him, his eyes covered with his bangs. She felt offended, a bit, who was he to tell her not to stay just because she was dropping by the town. She wants to start anew but she can't stay for good.
"It's catch-22" Koko muttered. She was confused by this.
"What's a catch-22?" She said finishing the drink.
"It's a take it or leave it deal, stay and stay or go and go, this town doesn't settle for less." He looked at her, his eyes telling her to go.
This sparked her interest, but more than that, she needed to search for him here first, she would search every single corner of earth if she needed to.
"I think I'd stay, but not for long." She said and stood, leaving a few coins by the counter, she was by the door when she heard him mutter under his breath.
"Don't or you'll be cursed."
"More like if I stayed your town is the one that will be cursed." Mikan muttered under her breath.
Thank God she found ads. Apartment Complex room for rent.
She can rent one and have enough money for one month and a half month of food if she eats small.
Guess her saved money won't even last long. She needs a job. But first things first.
She encircled the address and tried to look for it searching block numbers.
"I think this is it." She looked at the run down building and rang the desk.
"What do you need?" A low old voice greeted her not so cheerily. She came face to face with a man with glasses and seriously looks scary and creepy, it was the frog that creep her out. "Hi, uh, I wanted to rent a room." He started walking and she quietly followed.
He scared her in a little girl's way, but the real her won't be scared of a petty man, too many things have already gone past her.
"I'm uh, Mikan Sakura..." She tried to fill in the silence.
"I'm Jinno, that's all you need to know." They stopped at a door by the 4th floor. "Have you read the ad?" He asked her trying to fumble with the right key while muttering incoherent words.
"Oh, yes I did, forty three thousand yen deposit and seven thousand monthly that already include my electricity and water bill, but it still depends on me." He glanced at Mikan before opening the door.
"You came prepared." He said and Mikan handed him the money.
Mikan's POV
Of course I came prepared, I run away prepared, a bit.
I handed Jinno-san my money and looked around my new apartment. He looked at me and clicked his tongue before leaving. I watched him descend the stairs until I couldn't see him anymore. I glanced at the street, a silhouette of a man peeked at the nearest post.
I narrowed my eyes. So it starts. My bet is in, the cards are held. This is it, Death's Game.
I glared at the shadow before slamming my door shut, making sure my locks work, I feel satisfied.
I need to go to a second-hand store later. I checked my watch, the only thing I didn't forget to leave behind, a childish bear wristwatch that's a bit tight. I need to give this back to him.
9:05. Still early. So I decided to sit and count my money. I had two hundred thousand yen at first, I gave forty three to Jinno so that's One forty seven. Hmm. Looks like I was overreacting when I said I only had enough money for food.
But If I go from town to town, I'd be bankrupt in three days. I sighed. I'm really bad at managing things. Specially my life.
A/N: Okay this is it, I'm finally starting this fic, so I guess I'm asking for your support :)