Modern Girl chapter 4
Yo yo yo! 'Sup guys another chapter coming your way soon, cos I got up at 6:30 and got wifi in the wifi bar at half seven! Woohoo. Sorry I'm not very consistent on my schedule, well, after all I am on holiday.
Sometimes the smallest of characters can make the biggest changes, in fiction and in life. Remember that, readers x
Ayumi was hauled up in her room by herself, flicking through a magazine that was worthless to her as she scrolled down the feed on her mobile. One more day, she told herself anxiously, one more day and you get the results. Her future would be decided, Sakura's too, and that posh girl who had been a big rude. It was astonishing how her career depended on this one place, and she had a 50/50 chance of getting in. It was the last day of her break, which she had not really enjoyed since all her friends had been spending time together in school. However, sometimes Mayu had called for her on the way home, and Seiko occasionally, and actually, even Naomi came once. Although she was friends with the girl, Ayumi didn't particularly like her since, she hated to admit it, but she thought Satoshi had a crush of her, and that was never good. There was often tension between the two, whenever Satoshi was not around, but when he was, they acted like the best of friends just because it seemed to make Satoshi happy that they weren't going to argue. She was about to click like on Naomi's photo, when the whole picture came into view. It was her, Seiko and Mayu smiling, each holding ice creams outside Ayumi's very favourite ice cream parlour taken probably just now or earlier to day...Without her. Ayumi sighed, knowing that it was her own fault that she wasn't that sought out for for social occasions. She spent so much time studying at home that no one bothered to come for her, which she pretended she didn't mind, but in all reality it did get a bit lonely all by herself with no one to talk to. Deciding not to like the picture, she instead read the comments, which were all cheery, especially Satoshi's. She was about to give up on her barely responding phone when it buzzed, indicating she had received a text message. It wasn't from Mayu, Satoshi or any of her friends. The number wasn't even Yoshiki's either. It was an 'unknown number'.
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To: Ayumi From: unknown sender.
Heya it's me from the interview! Found your number some how :)
/
Presuming it was Sakura, Ayumi filled in the contact information and texted straight back.
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To: Sakura From: Ayumi
Hi Sakura! How's it going? I'm super nervous about the results tomorrow!
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To: Ayumi From: Sakura
Yup of course it's Sakura. I'm nervous too, I hope I get through...
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To: Sakura From: Ayumi
Of course you will! Your art is really good.
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To: Ayumi From: Sakura
Sorry, gtg, see you soon.
/
Ayumi sighed as she turned her phone off, glad she had reconnected with the friend that she had made earlier last week. At least she knew she was liked by at least one person...
Thinking about that, Ayumi remembered that she had promised Yoshiki via text to get some revision booklets from school; that was actually easy since she had asked Mayu if she could do puppy eyes on the ridiculous p.e teacher who would almost definitely give her the key to the store rooms where she had got them, and had handed them to Ayumi yesterday, Also, he had given her his address so she could 'drop them off' but Ayumi presumed he wasn't the most clever type so had packed her pencil case just in case he asked her to stay for a bit to help him study. Checking his address, she told her sister she was visiting a friend to study, which she didn't do that often actually, but nevertheless Hinoe gave her permission as long as she was back by 5, which was well within Ayumi's planned curfew anyway.
Yoshiki's flat was not that far away from her own four bedroom house, in a part of town that was a little rough, understandably for Yoshiki's current status anyway. He must work, Ayumi told herself, he can not get all his money from just busking although with the attention he got from girls, he probably made more then your average busker. Not wanting to think about she turned the corner of Yoshiki's street, stopping short at a small block of flats. He had said he was the first door on the second floor, so Ayumi walked briskly up the dull grey stairs with the booklets wedged under her arm, before rapping sharply on the door, marked; No6. It wasn't long before he opened the door, the same old lazy grin on his face again, although his eyes had a tinge of seriousness in them.
"Did you get the books?" he asked, stepping aside so she could walk in.
"Of course, three actually. And pencils."
"Alright, you can come in now."
"Thanks."
She walked into the main room, which was pleasant enough with a small but tidy kitchen and a cosy living room. There was a large couch slumped in the middle of it, as well as a tv and various video consoles in a large box. There was a small table with only two chairs,, which didn't surprise her since he lived alone, of course, unlike her who lived happily with her sister and parents. She wondered if Yoshiki had any siblings, but her questions were answered by something that used to be a family photo, apart from the fact his parents faces were scribbled out and a smaller girl was sat beside her. Yoshiki noticed she seemed to be looking around, and sincerely hoped she wasn't disappointed by her surroundings.
"Uh," he said sheepishly, a hand on his head. 'I know it's not much, but, it's the most I could afford."
"I think it's great!" she replied kindly, surprising herself as she put the three basic books on the table in the middle of the room. "I'd prefer if we get started straight away with no fuss. I've booked you in for your exam in a week and a half so you better start studying."
"That's ages away..." Groaned Yoshiki. "Can't i do last minute cramming?"
"I don't know what exams you've done, but I think we both know your going to work hard to pass. There are three sections, Maths, Science and Literature."
"Right!"
"What are your best subjects Yoshiki?" she questioned, looking at him like a teacher would to a pupil.
"Music," he said with a snigger. "Obviously."
"Academically speaking."
"Alright, enough with the long words. I can't stand literature and science is boring. Even maths isn't particularly fun but it's my best."
"And your grades?"
"Uh...C's? Geeez Ayumi..."
"Do you want to get in or not?" she said quite frankly, flopping down on his sofa with a note book and a pen. "If you do, you need B's."
"Your just going to have to train me up then, Shinozaki..."
"Yes, that is exactly what I will do!" She declared, starting to scribble furiously on a blank piece of paper. Yoshiki peered over her shoulder, reading her neat handwriting, which was perfectly written in some sort of chart.
"Is that... A Rota?" he inquired, squinting hard. The title read, revision timetable.
"Yes actually. It shows how often you study for how long and when I am available to help you doing it. You have to stick with it, no slacking."
"Ok, can do. Probably."
"Alright," she said, handing her the maths revision book and a note book for himself. "Start with page...12, mixed sums and only move onto the next page when you are finished, Okay?"
"Yes, Miss Shinozaki."
Obediently, Yoshiki did the sums, with not much difficulty, although when Ayumi came to Check, she realised his multiplication method was long and easy to mess up, so she showed him a quicker and easier way to work them out. Yoshiki hurriedly did both pages, though groaning all the way through because he was bored out of his mind.
"Literature next."
"Gimme a break!" Insisted Yoshiki, after Ayumi had forced the book into his hands. "Talking about breaks, when to I get one?"
"At 5. Okay?"
"Uh..."
Yoshiki looked at her serious, sapphire eyes, making her blush slightly like all the times before when he gazed at her that strangely admiring way. He was about to walk a bit closer to her, his lips parted slightly, but as steered aside by a stubborn Ayumi. No distractions!
"Is this what you do for fun?" he half asked, half moaned, slamming the untidy yet finished work on the table.
"Yes actually," she snapped, getting up and grabbing the book labelled: Physics. "It's almost half four already so I have to go soon."
"Aw, don't go..." He begged, getting up also. "How will I study?"
"Stick to the rota. And think of your reward!"
Ayumi rushed out the door with a toss if her pigs tails, only carrying her pencil case out of the flat. She didn't really want to leave since she knew Yoshiki would struggle by himself, however she just felt it wasn't right for her to stay tv at long, and her parents and Hinoe always told her off if she was a minute late so she better set of even just a but earlier. Yoshiki was left with a busy rota, but a big, and hopefully achievable reward.
"Shinozaki," he mused quietly. "I'm thinking I've got my reward already."
Damn Yoshiki, steady on there boy!
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