Chapter 4
I walked out in the hallway and turned in the bathroom. I smiled lightly. I know I aced this midterm. I picked my hair up in a bun and rushed out. I didn't want to be late for my shift. I promised I'd cover for Yuki this Friday.
"Hey I'll just get changed real quick" I waved at Yuki who was at the counter. I patted his back signaling my return. "Thanks for covering for me Mai. I wanted to visit home for our holiday break so this means a lot to me. I'll treat you to lunch next time!" He gave me a thumbs up and ran out the doors. I smiled and waved back softly. We only ever get college students here, and since everyone is vacationing or visiting home it'll be a quiet week. I sat behind the counter and rested my elbows on top of the counter keeping my head up. Maybe I can have a little snack I looked down at the glass encased pastries. I mean if no one eats them we just end up throwing it away. And I deserve this for doing so good on my midterm. Just then the door chimed signaling someone entering.
I grumbled weakly seeing the big group that walked in.
"Aren't you gonna greet us Mai?!" exclaimed Houshou-san excitedly with a toothy grin.
"Welcome" I bowed lightly. They all queued up in front of the counter to order.
"Okay so I have a matcha latte" I set it over towards Masako "a cream cold brew " for houshou san "Hazelnut Expresso" for father John "hot chocolate" for Yasu " "Vanilla late" for Ayako and "two Cappucinos" for Lin and Oliver.
"If you need anything else just let me know" I bowed and left their table. Looks like I can't have a donut now. I sighed disappointingly.
"Mai, you're such a good barista!" Ayako shouted across the room
I only answered in a bow and kept busy behind the counter. Just restocking cups and cleaning the machines. "Mai, you should join us" Yasu called.
"I'm working" I replied not turning around.
"But no ones here, can't you take a little break?" this time John spoke up.
I really just didn't want to. Its awkward and uncomfortable. "I'll tell you what grade you got for your midterm~" Yasu sang. I quickly whipped my head around. But, "how would you know that?"
"I was running errands for our professor, and when I came back he was out of his office so I just glanced at what he had graded. Too bad mine hadn't been graded yet I really wanted to know" he pouted.
"I don't need to know that badly" I whipped my head back around.
"Now what if I gave you a study guide for chapters 7 & 10" I turned again and saw him smirking this time. "…how did you?"
"I have my ways" he gave off a somewhat evil grin.
I had been struggling with some of that material. It was our final for that class too, so I can't afford to pass this opportunity up.
"I'll just take a quick 10 minute break" I walked over to the table and sat between Houshou and John. Unfortunately I had to be facing Oliver. Things couldn't be any more uncomfortable between us. I did my best not to make eye contact with him. "So Mai how's school going?" Houshou asked.
"It's fine"
"And how are you? Taking care of yourself?" Ayako leaned into my direction.
"I'm fine" Its hard to dodge so many questions.
"What have you been studying?" this time Masako joined in.
"Human science, more specifically child development I guess"
"Wow does that mean you want to work with kids?!" Ayako beamed.
I Just nodded. I always wanted to work as a teacher, or maybe a nutritionist, I could be a school nurse too but that would be another year of certificates.
"Anyways, what was my grade for our midterm?" I turned to Yasu.
"97%"
"Could've been better" I muttered
"WOAH MAI?!" Houshou shouted in surprise. There were few gasps and shocked faces.
"You guys don't know this but shes actually considered a freaky genius in Waseda. Aren't you supposed to be graduating at the end of the year?" Yasu asked.
"I didn't know there were rumors about me" I said quietly.
"It's nothing bad!" Yasu put his hands up.
"Just that you're really smart, mysterious, and pretty!"
"Congratulations Mai! You worked so hard. How will you be celebrating?" Ayako asked.
"I was going to visit my family grave, to show my parents"
There was a moment of silence. "What about your friends? Not gonna do anything with them?" Ayako tried a half smile to clear the air. "I don't have any friends" yeah they're definitely gonna think I'm a loser now. But I enjoyed being alone. For the most part I guess. At the end of the day you only have yourself anyways. Houshou set his hand on top of mine. "Why don't we do something together" he smiled ruffling my hair. "I'll buy you a tastey cake, just tell me your favorite flavor"
"Yeah! We can have it at the SPR office and go out for dinner together" Yasu suggested.
"Right Naru?" Masako nudged his shoulder.
"I wouldn't be opposed to celebrate Mai's graduation" he glanced over at me and I quickly averted my gaze to see everyone nodding in agreement.
"Once you've graduated you'll join SPR again right? We get that you're pretty busy now but what about after you graduate?" John questioned.
"Look its really nice of you guys to say all that, but I don't want to do anything" its just better to be blunt "I hardly know any of you and this is making me uncomfortable"
"Mai, what do you mean?!" Houshou said taken aback.
"We're all friends, I mean we all hang out every now and then. We weren't just coworkers" Ayako spoke up this time.
"oh yeah? And when was the last time one of you tried to contact me? You all hang out occasionally? Good for you" I stood up and walked behind the counter all the way to the next room which was basically a closet for the cleaning supplies. I couldn't let them see the few tears that slipped out. I quickly wiped them away and held in a frown. You're at work Mai, keep it together. I was hugging my knees staring at the floor taking deep long breathes. They'll leave eventually. It'll be okay. Just then I heard a chime from the front door. Did they leave already? I walked out and peeked through the open hall to see a kid doubled over stumbling in. "one of these again" I muttered. I dashed over and sat the kid down. "Hey, you know where you are?" I asked softly. "Sh-shkcool?"
Yeah definitely not I sighed. I took his phone and unlocked it with his finger print. By now SPR had surrounded me. "This guy is completely wasted" Yasu made a sour face "smells like hard liquor"
I ignored the comments and dialed from the kids 50 missed calls. It picked up on the first ring.
"where are you?! You said you'd be home by now!" it was a soft feminine voice. "Hi, your brother got plastered, I think you need to come down and pick him up at XX street. I work at the cafe on this block. I can keep an eye on him until you get here"
There was a quiet gasp on the other end and a hissed, "he's so dead"
Well I guess we wait now. I sat the phone down on the table where the brunette laid his head down on the table still somewhat out of it. "Does this kind of thing happen often?" I was surprised to hear Lin speak for the first time. I decided to indulge him a bit. "Occasionally I guess. People know we'll help them so they'll try to make their way over here" I set a water bottle down on the table for the kid. "t-thirsty" I opened it for him and slid it over. He chugged the entire bottle and sat up a little. His face was still flushed red but I think he looked a bit better. "thank you" he whispered softly. "just try to not let it happen again" I shook my head. First year kids can never handle their alcohol. I looked him up and down, at least he didn't throw up on himself. Jeans and t-shirt were still relatively clean. I walked over again, this time with a apple pie pastry. "Try to eat some" I set the plate down and walked away again. "Mai you're so nice" Masako smiled softly. I ignored the comment and kept busy cleaning the counter. "Mai can we have some pastries?" this time it was Monk half sweating. "mmmm…ok" I hated it but I also don't think its right just throwing them out in the bin at the end of the day. I set 4 plates with slices of pie and cupcakes and assorted cake pops. "Finish it quickly and don't tell anyone" I grumbled.
The door jingled open and I knew immediately it was the boys sister. She was wearing pink sweat pants and a white frilly tank top. She eyed her brother scowled coldly. I walked over smiling, "Do you need help taking him out?"
"No, you've helped enough. Thank you for helping my idiot brother" she bowed deeply. I waved my hands in front of me. "No it was nothing, you guys take care" I smiled softly and waved she hauled him out the door and into the cab waiting outside. I looked up at the clock above the door; 20 minutes until closing. I sighed. Then I'll get to leave. I wiped down the tables and chairs, I swept the floor, washed some dishes, I was too busy to notice the SPR group staring at me across the counter. How long had they been standing there?
"Did you need something?" I asked wiping the water from my hands on the apron.
"We just wanted to say thank you" John spoke up with a smile.
"And also bye since we're leaving for today" Yasu added.
"okay?"
"Also, maybe we can hang out some time" Houshou said.
I ignored him. "I'm really sorry about how things turned out. And I'm definitely and idiot for never contacting you" he kept talking.
"I'm certain we've all let you down Mai, and we don't deserve your forgiveness. But we truly want to make it up to you" this time Masako stuck her nose in.
"I refuse, please leave now" I turned my back.
They looked at each other in concern but decided not to pursue any more at the chance of making things worse. They can just try again a different day. They all came to the same conclusion, Mai had to give in eventually.
I locked the doors, turned down the blinds, and turned off the lights. I exited through the back door leading to the alley and ran to the bus stop. I was searching my bag for a textbook to read. Don't tell me I left it at the library this morning. Why didn't I notice sun had already set and I really don't want to go back. But I don't wanna come back tomorrow on a Saturday. I sighed and stood from the bench. I'll be quick. I sped walked to the building and walked up two flights of stairs. It was quiet and empty, obviously because it was Friday. I walked around the tables in the middle of the room. I sighed in relief seeing the familiar blue spine of my textbook. "Gotcha"
The lights flickered before I was engulfed into the darkness. A power outage? That's odd. I pulled out my phone and used it as a flashlight to find the exit. I was walking down the first 4 steps of stairs when I felt an overwhelming sense of fear. Like if someone was breathing down my neck behind me. I mean maybe there was someone else in the floor above me coming down as well. But before I could even turn around to see anyone.A force pushed me down the remaining flight of stairs and everything faded to black.