AUTHORS NOTE PLEASE READ FIRST!: Unnamed Background characters would appear in the upcoming chapters.
It was around night time, Ohyama and Tomo were in a bar drinking after a hard day at work.
Tomo & Ohyama: Cheers!
Tomo: Ah! Refreshing…
Ohyama (smiles): We can finally relax on a Friday night.
Tomo: I hope we get promoted next week.
Ohyama: We deserve it. Hey wanna do something later once we get home?
Tomo (smiles): Sure, but wanna perform for a bit first?
Ohyama: Alright.
Tomo: Master! One glass of beer.
Takeshi: Coming right up, Tomo-chan, Ohyama-Kun!
[Author's Note: Takeshi (I came up with the name) appeared in episode 16 of Azumanga Daioh. He was a background character who was the waiter in the cafe.]
Tomo and Ohyama made their way to the stage. Tomo got the clarinet, and Ohyama sat behind the drums. The performers of the bar agreed to play some of the instruments. Tomo receives her glass of beer and she takes one big gulp, finishing the glass. The first few parts of the jazz song were playing. Tomo grabbed the clarinet and started to play. Tomo and Ohyama were enjoying their time as they performed in the bar. The jazz song was relaxing, especially after a rough work week. They let their steam out by playing their favorite musical instruments.
The crowd gave out a clap after their performance, they paid for the tab and left the bar. When they entered the car it started to rain.
Tomo: Right on time.
Ohyama was in the driver seat while Tomo was at the passenger side. Ohyama and Tomo stare for a few minutes. They're both alone in the car as the rain gets heavier. Then Ohyama and Tomo smile as they lean closer and kiss.
Tomo (blushes): Let's continue it once we get home~.
Ohyama (nods): Alright.
On their way home, Tomo and Ohyama were just chatting. Tomo was happy and relaxed. As they were about to turn towards their street, her smile quickly disappeared the moment she saw a familiar person outside. A person who she hasn't seen in 4 years.
Tomo (serious): Stop the car, dear.
Ohyama: Huh?
Tomo (angry): I SAID STOP THE CAR!
Ohyama hits the brakes, nearly hitting his head on the steering wheel.
Ohyama (looking at Tomo): Tomo, you alright?
Tomo doesn't answer and opens the door. She runs away from the car in the middle of the rain. Ohyama grabs the umbrella and walks out of the car as well.
Yukari smiles at first when she sees her daughter after four years. As Tomo gets closer, Yukari's smile disappears. Tomo's expression was cold and she was wet from the rain.
Tomo punches Yukari in the stomach. Yukari lets go of her umbrella due to the impact of Tomo's punch. Yukari grabs Tomo's shoulder and coughs.
Yukari (worried): Tomo (cough) P-please calm down…
Tomo doesn't listen and pulls out another right hook punch at Yukari's face. Yukari falls down. She refuses to fight back or get up. Tomo was about to punch her again until Ohyama pulled her away from Yukari.
Ohyama: Tomo stop!
Tomo comes back to her senses. She could not hear anything else but the sound of the rain and her breathing.
Yukari: Tomo…
Tomo gets up and tries to walk back to their car. She turns around after a few steps and looks at her mother straight in the eyes.
Tomo: Don't ever show your face around here ever again!
Tomo then runs back to the car. Ohyama looks at Yukari and follows Tomo.
Once the car leaves, Yukari stands up, grabs her bag and umbrella and she proceeds to walk. Yukari didn't know where to go so she just wandered around into the city nights of Tokyo. Shortly afterwards, the rain stops and Yukari lets out a sigh.
It was the economic bubble of Japan, the majority of the population was supposed to be happy. But Yukari just wasn't feeling it. She wanders around the nightlife of Tokyo, going to the places she used to go with Tomo back then. Yukari eventually ends up in the riverside. She sits down, takes a can of coke from her bag and opens it. Yukari stares into the night lights of Tokyo. It was beautiful, but Yukari couldn't find a way to smile because of it. After remembering her memories of the time she spent with Tomo years ago, a tear fell down from her eye and she started to cry.
Yukari (crying): I'm… I'm sorry Tomo…
The following day, Yukari attempts to find a job. Yukari tried to apply as a janitor, cashier, or even a garbage collector, but none of them accepted Yukari due to her past criminal life. As the days pass by, Yukari struggles to gain hope for a better life. Her funds are starting to deplete as well. Two weeks from now, her rent is due and she would barely have any money left for a decent meal. Yukari laughs at the thought that Japan, now under rapid economic growth, would lead her in landing a job. Any job. But she just wasn't lucky.
One night Yukari arrives back at her apartment drunk after another failed attempt at finding a job. Yukari fell down onto her sofa. She sees the envelope containing her renewed teaching license.
Yukari: I guess I'll try tomorrow…
The next day Yukari decided to visit the school where she once studied, and taught english. Yukari heard of a job opening and decided to give it a try. The moment she entered the school, the students and her former colleagues didn't bother looking at her. Yukari eventually meets the new principal, but he rejects her.
Principal: …I'm sorry Miss Yukari.
Yukari: B-but…
Principal: Look, your criminal record would give our school a bad reputation.
Yukari: I understand…
Yukari is disappointed but she understands why. Why would they even hire a former criminal like her? Yukari heads back home and checks the newspaper for any school applications. She tried to apply from the various public and private schools, but in the end, they all rejected her for one reason: she was once a Yakuza member.
A week has passed and Yukari has decided to eat only one meal a day to at least extend her cash up to next month. She sits on her couch and checks at the newspaper again for job applications. A job posting from a daycare center catches her eyes.
Yukari: Daycare center…
Yukari was exhausted and knew that showing up for the job posting would be stupid. A daycare center, she thought, hiring a former Yakuza. The chance of that happening is like hiring an orange talking cat to watch over your tomatoes.
But something deep inside her was telling her to just give it a shot. So she goes to the kitchen sink, washes her face and grabs her bag.
She arrives at the entrance of the daycare center and looks at the windows. It was lunchtime and the children inside were grabbing their lunchboxes. She grabs her stomach upon hearing it growl. She blinked twice when she thought that one of the kids took out a sata-andagi. Yukari knocks at the door.
?: Coming!
Yukari hears an accent, something that came from a familiar student.
Yukari: Sounds familiar.
The door opens and Yukari is surprised.
Yukari: Osaka?!
Osaka (smiles): Ehhhhh hai Yukari-sensei! Long time no see.
Yukari (surprised): H-hi…
Osaka (smiles): Come in sensei.
Yukari: T-thank you…
Osaka: How's it been after 4 years in prison?
They make their way to the office.
Yukari: F-fine so far. By the way, are you a teacher here, Osaka?
Osaka: Yes ah am sensei. But most importantly ah principal.
Yukari: A principal!? But you're only 22.
Osaka: It's quite a story when you see sensei. After graduation, ah applied to different schools but none of them accepted me. Until ah saw a job application for this daycare. Da head of the daycare was ah kind person, she reminded me alot like Chiyo-chan. I was the only employee here, until she passed away six months ago…
Yukari: Oh I'm sorry to hear about that.
Osaka: It's alright.
Yukari: Hey Osaka. Do you know what happened to the others? You know Chiyo, Yomi, and the rest.
Osaka: Ah! Chiyo-chan is in America, Yomi is a prosecutor ah think, and Sakaki-san owns a vet clinic and a famous flower shop in Shinjuku, for Kagura ah don't really know but she's doing well these days.
Yukari: Oh, do you guys still keep in contact these days?
Osaka: Chiyo-chan I haven't seen her in years but we do talk by letters. As for the rest, yeah we do hangout sometime.
Yukari: I know my daughter, but how was she when I was in prison?
Osaka: Since your arrest Tomo eventually became quiet. She didn't hang around that much with us, but she was very close to Ohyama. Ah guess Ohyama was there to comfort her during those times.
Yukari: I see…
Osaka: Have you talked to her already?
Yukari: Yeah, but it didn't go well.
Osaka: Oh, I'm sorry to hear about that sensei.
Yukari: It's alright.
Osaka: By da way sensei, what brings you here?
Yukari: Well I've been struggling to find a job and… I was wondering if I can work here?
Osaka stares after hearing Yukari's words.
Yukari: L-look I know I have a bad criminal record, if you don't want to hire me it's alright.
It was a mistake, she thought. Yukari braced herself to hear another variation of "Sorry, no." or "We can't allow you in here." After all, she was once a criminal.
She takes a deep breath and looks at her former student.
Osaka (grins): Alright! You're hired!
Yukari (surprised): Eh?! Really?!
Osaka: Hehe ya know the former principal here was once an ex-con just like you. Anyways, let me introduce you to the children.
Yukari (bows): Thank you, Osaka. I mean Principal Osaka.
Osaka: No need to, we're all a family here.
They both enter the classroom where the children are playing around.
Osaka (smiles): Kids! Let me introduce you to your new teacher.
Yukari (smiles): Hi! I'm Yukari Tanizaki, and I'm glad to be your new teacher.
The children smile and greet Yukari as they haven't had a new teacher in a while. They approached Yukari in a friendly manner. Yukari was able to smile after a long time, with this job she can finally forget her past life permanently and start a new reformed life.
To be continued…
-end of chapter 6-