New ONES

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...~:•:~...

Asatsuyu, Arashi's POV:

...

"Hey, grandma."

I simply placed my right hand on the headstone of my grandmother's grave and forcibly let out a weak smile.

"I'll be entering the prestigious high school that I have been wanting to attend this year. I am finally a certified first year high school student starting tomorrow. Please watch over me, grandma."

I have finished what I needed to do and with that, I dusted off a little of the mounting dust on the tombstone and stood up. I took my leave and headed my way out of the cemetery. This year's spring is quite different to me at least. I feel so incomplete to greet my high school life coming tomorrow but I will only hope for the best.

I walked my way on the sidewalk when I got out of the cemetery gates and continued my way on the downhill road. Today's another day for me to work and I'm on my way now.

Just as I was to make a turn in the intersection, I heard an irritating grunt before me and that's when I realized that I had just passed by a certain individual that I, of all people, boil my blood just with his presence.

...

"Really now, Huh?" He muttered from behind after I went past him and I intentionally halted from my pace.

I turned my head around only to meet his glare directed to me with the lack of interesting that I glared back at him.

His familiar messy, purple, curly hair secured with a headband over his forehead was eye-catching that it was the first thing my sight put into notice. He stood tall a few meters from me and undeniably revealed his darker complexion than mine.

"Have you been visiting someone you've missed seeing recently?" He blurted a provoking inquiry as I met his amber eyes and that's when I noticed him smirked.

"Really got it tough on your humble labeled life, Huh? Lizard boy? What a wretch you really are." He meagerly uttered and threw off a 'ts' after his statement.

"Oh, yeah? Being too full of yourself early in the morning??" I blatantly replied back trying to show some pretense atmosphere between us that he grabbed my shirt up and gritted his teeth even in the midst of passersby with his glare directed at me.

"Woah. Now chill, boys. Don't begin a ruckus this early morning." A man seemingly in his thirties intervened in the heating situation between me and this bully that he let go of me and left the scene right on the spot but he made sure to leave me a threatening glare before walking past and was gone in a second later.

...

"Do you even need to make it go that far with him? Surely your mom won't be glad to hear about it if ever." The man who likely saved me from today's supposed to be trouble said ruffling my messy, silver hair before proceeding his way and I followed behind him.

"He started it, Meiro-san." I only defended myself and huffed after my reply.

"And you intended to add fuel to the fire, is that what you really want?" Meiro-san asked me and we walked another turn until we stopped in front of a glass door of a restaurant that I was unable to answer back to his inquiry because I remained quiet during the walk.

...

"Oh, papa. You're back? What took you so long?! I have been waiting for like a million years... Customers are about to be coming here for a few minutes from now and there seem to be some trouble in the kitchen with those two new guys at work. Why'd you even hire them??? I doubted their efficiency ever from the start!!" Goes the damsel in distress just as I have entered the restaurant behind Meiro-san.

"I have told you I'll be back. Sorry for the delay though, Hikari."

"Yeah. Right. By the way, papa. I'll be going now. Teach those two newbies, will you? And-" She shot me a rather discriminating stare when she recognized my presence and it was merely showing off her rich scarlet eyes after her words for Meiro-san.

She held the door handles and glared at me even more from head to toe.

I then recognized Meiro-san heading to the kitchen already.

"Fufu~ You are late, wretched kid. Don't you even understand that you need to be here an hour before the restaurant opens??" She smirked mischievously and brushed off one of the twintails of her ash-gray hair and pulled the glass door open.

"And smells like smoke too." She added and proceeded her way out of the glass door.

I watched her exit the restaurant walking away with her salient Gothic Lolita outfit and brought her umbrella open to keep her from the sun.

I followed my sight on her until she was gone so that I wasn't able to see her umbrella anymore and so I walked away from the glass door.

"Ts. My morning has already gotten tainted with a black aura because of a damsel in distress." I muttered to myself and brushed my hair with my fingers.

"Calm down now, Arashi. Just let my daughter be. It's just really hard to get her to be on good terms with you, huh? How saddening." I heard Meiro-san speak right after I brought my right hand down.

He was standing at the entrance door heading to the kitchen and was leaning his back onto it with his arms crossed over his chest and he was already in a chef's attire.

"What a quick change of outfit, Meiro-san. You really are an amazing man."

"Don't dodge my statement, young lad." He walked towards me and leaned his body with his face before my face and his hands on his right and left waist.

It made me gulp when I realized how close our faces were to each other and my eyes were linked to meet his scarlet eyes. I blinked once when Meiro-san quickly changed his frightening aura and he unexpectedly wrapped his right arm around my neck and tightened it and played his left fist over my head.

"Hehe~ Don't stand like a frightened kid like that, Arashi. I was just messing with you. Besides-" He released me from his arm and placed his hand on my left shoulder and I rolled my eyes up to see him looking straight to the kitchen.

"You'll be my future SON-IN-LAW! Huh??? I think I slipped my tongue." He uttered and covered his mouth with his other hand and rolled his eyes down to me that I find very creepy.

"Then I'll be going to work now, Meiro-san." I told him and slide his hand down from my shoulder and I headed to the counter to begin my duty for the day.

I saw Meiro-san walk his way to the kitchen and I only cleaned the counter and sat at my seat after a while.

Meiro-san really never tires himself to entitle me with that 'son-in-law' thing. He even said it with a stressed emphasis. NO!!! Never in a million years!!! With her??? We never even get along to begin with!

I let out a grunt and dropped my head on the surface of the counter and let it rest there as I was able to see the glass door from here.

"Yo~"

I rolled my eyes only to see an unfamiliar face looking at me. He was wearing the same working clothes as mine with an apron over his working uniform. He gave a friendly smile and leaned down his head to the level of the counter that he also tilted it for I was tilting my head at the moment. He even widened his smile when he has gotten near the corner of the counter's surface that it somewhat made me see a spark traced behind those jaded orbs. The bangs of his smooth, lemon-hued hair parted in the middle to the right paved its way over his forehead when he leaned at my eye level.

"You're one of the newbies?" I inquired and stood from my seat that he erected his posture to straighten up.

"Shinzo Nichibotsu desu. Yoroshiku!" He introduced himself and leaned his body towards me.

"Ahh~ Yah.." I leaned back in response for him and he stood back.

"The manager asked me to call you to the kitchen and let me switch duty with you for now."

"Okay. I'll be going then. By the way, you don't have any particular things to do here since the restaurant hasn't opened just yet. Just stay then." I told him and walked my way and he walked at the counter.

"Oh- Arashi Asatsuyu desu." I declared back at him before I stepped in the door heading to the kitchen leaving Nichibotsu-san with that friendly smile of his and waving hand back at the counter.

Hm. I wonder why Meiro-san called out for me.

"Arashi!" I heard my name in the kitchen after I stepped in and Meiro-san was standing before the stove holding a spatula on his right hand.

"Come here. Try this, lad." He told me and I went my way to him that he brought the spatula up to my face and I was greeted with a nostalgic scent of what he had cooked for it was on the spatula.

I took a fork and used it to get to taste his new recipe.

"How was it? Better or good?" I was asked and I swallowed the small bit of meat after running it in my mouth.

"Waahh~! This is beyond delicious! Is this your new one, Meiro-san?" I asked after finishing to taste the savoring meat I was permitted to taste.

"Oh, good to hear that then. I'm glad. Alright, you can guide Hashigo-kun to throw those garbage at the back outside so he can be familiar with the restaurant now." Meiro-san instructed me.

"Hashigo-kun??" I repeated and Meiro-san only smiled as he continued to work on his new recipe without looking at me.

"I've already gathered the garbage, manager." I heard someone spoke from the exit door of the kitchen and I saw a boy about my age standing there holding a garbage bag and seemingly waiting for an instruction to be given.

"He's one of the new hired part-time students." Meiro-san stated still working on his recipe and I looked at the newbie who smiled at me.

...

"Ah~ Saku Hashigo desu." And this guy did a simple bow.

"Hashigo-kun, this is Arashi Asatsuyu. He's the same age as you and I'll let him teach you everything you need to know about running this restaurant together with Nichi-kun." Meiro-san stated after turning around.

"I'm sure you've met Nichi-kun earlier already. Make sure to train them well so that they'll work efficiently as part of my restaurant together with you. We'll be opening in a minute or two so get yourselves ready."

"Hai!" Both the newbie and I responded and I headed to the door to lead the newbie, I mean, Hashigo-kun to where we disposed of the garbage.

"So you're doing a part-time job today even though school hasn't started yet?" I inquired as we headed our way back to the restaurant.

"Yes. My parents are not really able to supply our financial necessities. Besides, it's only natural to experience this kind of job for people like me. And I'm looking forward to working well with you too." Hashigo stated and we entered the door to the kitchen.

"It's Arashi. Call me Arashi." I said and he only smiled.

I met up with Nichibotsu-san at the counter after Saku and I finally opened the restaurant.

There were a number of customers after half an hour and the number grew as the hours passed. I helped Meiro-san in the kitchen with Nichibotsu-san when the orders piled up leaving Saku at the counter for the meantime. Even with just four people, we managed to give the servings just well enough until lunch and the customers declined in number at three o'clock in the afternoon.

"Still able to function, you three?" Meiro-san asked when the three of us were gathered at the counter.

Saki only nodded with a wiping of his sweat and Nichibotsu-san gave us a thumbs up and an enthusiastic smile.

"Alright! Continue the good work, lads." Meiro-san remarked and went back to the kitchen.

"The manager here is seemingly kind." Saku whispered to my ear as he was holding the empty tray inserted in the side of his arm.

"You think? Well he's often like that. It is the same person I first met." I replied in a whisper and I heard a 'Pst' to which I later realized was Nichibotsu-san who was getting the order of a new customer and gave it to me.

Saku and Nichibotsu-san changed their duty this afternoon.

When it was 5 o'clock in the afternoon, we closed the restaurant and prepared ourselves to leave.

"Tired?" Meiro-san asked us as we sat around the table of the staff room.

Nichibotsu-san was eating merrily beside me seemingly not listening to Meiro-san. Saku, on the other hand, was wiping his sweat with a white towel beside Nichibotsu-san.

"Can I have delicious dishes like these every time I leave in the afternoon, manager-san?" I heard Nichibotsu-san ask after finishing his dish and cleaned his mouth with a cloth.

"Oh~ That's alright." Meiro-san replied quickly and I was surprised to hear his sudden response.

"Meiro-san??" I uttered crossing my arms over my chest and I looked at Nichibotsu-san who stood from his seat and went to put his arms around Meiro-san's shoulder which made me even more baffled.

Are they even close already?? I thought Nichibotsu-san is just a new guy...??

"Uhm... Can I excuse myself now, manager?" Saku spoke with his right hand and raised that our attention turned to him at that moment.

"You can, Hashigo-kun."

And so, Saku-san stood from his seat and excused himself from the staff room leaving just me, Meiro-san and Nichibotsu-san who had his arms still around Meiro-san's shoulder.

"Hm??" I noticed Meiro-san raised his eyebrow after glancing at Saku's seat and that's when I recognized the white towel that was left behind.

"I'll give it to him!" I exclaimed and grabbed the towel and dashed out of the staff room wishing to catch up with Saku-san.

I saw the young man I was after and he had just gotten out of the glass door and was heading to cross the street when I called unto him after getting out of the restaurant.

"Saku-san!" I called out and luckily he heard me just before he took a step across the road.

I was able to catch up with him and I handed the towel he had left. Saku scratched his head when he received his towel. He looked at me making me recognize his light brown eyes.

"Oh~ Thank you, Arashi. I'm actually kind of forgetful. See you tomorrow then." With that, he waved to me and went his way.

I headed back to the staff room and found Meiro-san alone cleaning. I helped him out and then we walked out of the restaurant when it was 6:30 already.

"Where'd you meet those two new ones, Meiro-san?" I asked as we stopped at the front gate of Hashisora's.

It was actually just a walking distance from the restaurant with a front lawn.

"Hn? Well, Nichi-kun and Hashigo-kun approached me the other day when I was buying in the market. It's where I met them and so I hired them since they were eager to be hired. Tomorrow, you'll work in the evening for you have your classes to attend in the morning." Meiro-san stated and opened the gate.

"The same goes for them. We are only early to close today because I have some things to do tonight. Tomorrow, the other staff will be present from a day-off today and they'll help me in the morning. You three will help me in the evening." Meiro-san added before getting inside and closed the gate separating me from him.

"Alright! Take care then, Arashi!" Meiro-san remarked and walked his way to the front door that it opened the moment he stepped on the stairs towards the door.

"Oh!!! Welcome home, papa! I have prepared your dinner...." I heard a damsel's voice greeted Meiro-san for I have already turned myself and began to walk my way home.

>~>~>

"Tadaima~" I stated as I opened the door of the apartment I am living in.

I left my shoes after taking them off and walked my way up the stairs to my room. Guess mom isn't home yet.

I opened the door of my room and dropped myself to bed. I dropped my head on the soft cushion and I caught sight of the piano located at my window. Its lid was closed and I haven't touched it again for two months. I brought myself up and took a shower then went downstairs to prepare for dinner.

Just as I have finished preparing the table after cooking, mom came just on time and we ate the meal I had cooked.

"Itadakimasu!" We said and ate.

"You're late again, mom. Don't overwork yourself, okay??" I stated as we have our dinner and I noticed my mother smiled at me.

"Don't worry. I'm still taking care of myself. I know that, Arashi. But we need to work harder to meet our financial needs especially now that you're going to enter senior high school tomorrow." Mom said making me silent after.

We are actually struggling to make a source of income. Me, working full-time during weekends at Meiro-san's restaurant and in the evening starting tomorrow again. I have been working there for three years now ever since we moved here in the city. Mom will accept any kind of work whether it be laundry, house cleaning, babysitting, etc. It's because we are actually poor to begin with.

I was actually unfortunate even when I was a child but I was somewhat happy too because mom and grandma were there for me during our poorest state. But then, grandma died two months ago because of an illness we weren't able to do something about due to our lack of financial assets.

At the same time, I'm being treated as a mere wretched kid by that bully earlier and also that pretending princess in Gothic Lolita clothing. Even though she's Meiro-san's daughter, Hikari Hashisora, she has not treated me as Meiro-san did. They're not more like father and daughter to me.

Oh, well. Cheer up, self. They've treated me as a wretch ever since I was a child. And now that I have grown, I will do my best for my identity to change for the better. A better life is my wish to the heavens...

"Arashi, make sure you focus on your study, alright?" I heard mom spoke cutting me from my thoughts.

"I will, mom." I only replied.

"Oh, by the way, mom. We actually have new ones to help out today in the restaurant." I said and it started for me and my mom to talk about what happened with my day and the two newbies.

We finished our dinner and I did the dishwashing and I kissed my mom a goodnight before proceeding to my own room and she entered her own room too. There was an eerie silence in my room when I got in. I opened the window and looked down the street. The other ones in the other rooms of the apartment were likely asleep already since the lights were out except for the one room at the end whose lights were still on. I kind of recognize that room to not close the lights at night before I sleep.

Maybe that person has insomnia.... Huh?? What did I just think?

I went to my bed after turning the lights off and slowly I was brought to slumber on my cozy bed.

That night, I dreamt of my grandma and me....

🌟AerixielDaiminse🌟

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