𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲. | 𝗚𝗶𝘆𝘂𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗼

C H A P T E R 13 ❃

SHINOBU

The sun wakes me up, burning through blinds that clearly weren't purchased for the room-darkening properties, but I stay immobile under the covers, —a thin crocheted bedspread and a petal-soft sheets— until a low knock sounds on the door.

"Come in" I sit up, futility trying to push hair out of my eyes, as Kanae enters. The digital clock on the nightstand reads 8:05, my gaze wanders back and forth from the clock to Kanae who was standing by the door for few seconds until realization struck into my mind that I'm late. So late.

"Ara, aren't you gonna be late Shinobu?" Kanae said, "get ready so we can leave."

Kanae and I share a car, but most of the time I let her have it, we both can drive though, but she needs it more, for work, for her own college, which is quite far away from mine, for me Mitsuri and Iguro-San take me with them to work, and sometimes Tomioka-San would give me a ride.

Right, Tomioka-San, just the thought of him makes my memory start flooding with yesterday's actions, I mean the guy can be really annoying and blunt, but yesterday was a completely another side of him, he's still awkward when it comes to talking, but he can be really....sweet, his actions yesterday made me feel....different.

"Alright," I muttered, swinging my legs out of my bed, I'm wearing the same clothes as yesterday, the moment I got here I was extremely tired that I just threw myself in bed and drifted to sleep immediately.

"What happened yesterday?" Kanae asked, as she gave me a quite suspicious look, "you came yesterday with your eyes puffy and your face was stained with tears and mascara, I asked Tomioka-San what happened but he said it'd be better if I ask you"

"It's no big deal, I'll tell you everything in the car"

"If you say so" she said as she retreated to her room, and I took this as a chance to to pick whatever I'm going to wear for the day.

•••

Kanae, Kanao and I are at the car, I rushed as fast as I could so I won't be more late than already I'm, I wore a high waist black jeans and and and a white woolen blouse which I stuffed in my jeans, the October breeze is quite chilly, so I had to warm myself up a bit.

"Hmm, spill it, what happened? Is it Tomioka-San? I'd cut his head off if he did anything to you-" she started, a bit of anger laced in her voice as she kept her eyes focused on the road ahead of her, "he was the one to help me nee-Chan" I interrupted.

"What happened Shinobu nee-Chan?" Kanao asked innocently.

I heaved out a sigh, as I tilted my head to look at her direction and smiled at her gently, "it's no big deal, really you don't have to worry" and returned to sit properly in the passenger seat.

"Talk Shinobu, what happened?" Kanae insisted.

"Well, I almost got harassed again" as soon as those words left my mouth, both of them gasped as Kanae tightened her grip on the steering wheel. "This is no big deal Shinobu?"

"Tomioka-San stepped in and helped before anything happened." I paused, hesitating whether I should continue or not, few moments later I gave in, "he even tried his best to condolence me, though, he's awful at it, he just hugged me and offered a bar of chocolate"