Ginka gently smiled and nodded. “No, that’s fine. It’s better, honestly.”
“Huh? What? What’s that mean?”
“Don’t worry. I’m satisfied now.”
“I’m not!”
“It’s fine. It really is.”
“Hey, don’t go looking all satisfied by yourself!”
No matter how much Ruka tried to get Ginka to explain, Ginka just kept nodding. After they dropped Yoshiyama off at the nurse’s office, Ginka even had a happy smile on her face.
I don’t get it at all!
Since Ruka’s shift at Bianco was going to end before dark today, she texted Ginka to say she wouldn’t need a bodyguard on her way home. Getting a text back from Ginka that said “update acknowledged” made Ruka laugh when she was changing into her uniform.
Since Ruka was on register duty, she checked to make sure it was good to go before starting to dust and clean the area. It was a pretty slow day at the café. Since Ruka loved working when there was a full house and lots to do, she was seriously bored right now.
She thought about the middle-aged guy with stubble from a few days ago. “Wonder if he found a job...”
He ran outta here yelling about getting one. What happened to him after that? I don’t have to deal with career stuff till I’m done with school, so it’s kinda hard to imagine what that’s like.
Ruka glanced around the shop and saw Tokiwa Yagi wiping a table down.
“Hey, Tokiwa-san, what’s your plan for getting a job?”
“Gwah?!” Tokiwa suddenly slumped over.
“A-Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine... Having something I’ve been desperately trying to avoid come at me all of a sudden was just... Shocking...” Tokiwa sounded like she was in pain as she adjusted her crooked glasses.
Right... I don’t have to worry about that yet, but she’s a college student. That’s probably on her mind all the time these days.
“You draw manga, so why not make that your career?” Ruka suggested.
“Eep!”
“Seriously, are you okay?”
Tokiwa awkwardly nodded. “U-Um, Ruka-san...” She sounded like she was trying to catch her breath. “Pro manga artists and doujinshi artists...are a bit different...”
“But your manga’s really good.”
“Ohh, s-such open praise is blinding...!” Tokiwa gripped her duster tight with both hands. “I-I’m approaching publishers and applying for competitions... But I’m aiming for shonen magazines, and my work isn’t a good fit... I’m trying hard to change course, but it isn’t going very well...”
“Oh, uh, gotcha?”
I don’t really get what the problem is... I mean, I think it’s great she’s taking a shot, but I guess that’s not all there is to it. Probably better for an amateur like me to keep my mouth shut. I don’t wanna give her weird advice that throws her off. Ruka thought that was a good decision and nodded to herself.
Just then, the bell by the entrance rang. Since Tokiwa was in charge of the dining area, she went to greet the customer.
Ruka leaned on the register. “Everybody has a lot going on...”
It feels like everyone’s working on something for their future’s sake. With Mei it’s modeling, Hina has dancing, and Tokiwa-san has manga. Even that one random guy’s looking for a job. I’m just having fun with my friends every day, and that’s enough for me right now, but I’m not sure I can do that forever...
“What about Ginka?” Ruka wondered if the beautiful vampire hunter had goals for the future too.
I should ask the next time I see her.
After wrapping up her shift, Ruka left Bianco and saw everything tinted orange by the setting sun. It was pretty and peaceful, but she needed to make it home before dark. She’d promised Ginka, plus the risk of running into weird guys at night was way higher.
Lots of those lately... Ruka started jogging down the sidewalk.
“The hell? It’s you...” said a man’s voice behind her.
Ruka turned around to look and regretted it as soon as she saw a tan guy with bleached hair standing there. She groaned.
Yoshiyama seemed too surprised to see Ruka to be mad, at least. He kept looking back and forth between her and Bianco. “You work there? Wait, the school’s got a rule against part-time jobs.” He seemed to realize something and grinned. “Yo, Moriki, what do you think would happen if I told the school?”
Ugh, now he’s trying to threaten me... Ruka felt the same unpleasant feeling she’d had behind the gym at school.
“You’ll get in trouble. They’ll make you write a long apology. Hell, you might even get suspended or expelled. You won’t graduate, then. Damn, that would suck.”
“Oh. Is that so.”
“No shit, you dumbass.”
He’s swearing more now. And he’s so into insulting me, he hasn’t noticed I don’t care what he thinks...
“If you don’t want that to happen, you know what you gotta do.”
“What?”
“Do everything I say if you want me to keep my mouth shut about your job.”
Well, our school does have a rule against students working part-time. It’s not a huge deal, but he’s not wrong. If I were working without permission, and the school found out, I would get a lecture, they’d make me write an apology, and all that. But...
“I got permission from the school, though.”
“Whaaa...?”
Ruka shook off how stupid Yoshiyama sounded and got her thoughts together. “Hie High does have a rule like that, but they’re fine with us working as long as you let them know. I told my homeroom teacher. So you don’t have to, like, keep quiet or anything...”
Hie High gave permission for students to work based on their financial situations. Since Ruka’s mom was a single mother, the school let Ruka have a part-time job. Nothing would happen if Yoshiyama reported her.
“By the way, paisen, didn’t you wanna date me? You might wanna try showing me your good side instead of, y’know, threatening me.” Except I’d rather go out with that old stalker guy. Would love to say that right now, but I shouldn’t piss him off. Dealing with someone who has such a huge ego is like disarming a bomb. Gotta be careful.