Shhh 死 ~ CHI ni Oborete: Chapter Two

The light that came in through the window was bright; it was too early to deal with the neighbourhood kids running down the street to get to their morning commute to school. The sleep-deprived man raised his head only to grab his pillow and cover his face from the light and sound.

“Doushite.” He grumbled into his pillow quietly, biting it as he did. Just as he began to fall asleep again with the pillow over his face, the alarm clock on the bedside table began to scream and holler loudly causing the man to sit up in a fright. With the pillow resting on his lap as he held it with one arm, the other reached out as he toppled on his side to turn it off. “Mendoukusai na.” Collapsed over his pillow, almost falling off the bed, the man snaked himself off the edge of the bed with a surprise that he somehow ended on his feet. Smacking his lips repetitively, the man stood at the side of his bed with a distraught look over his face; looking around, the man rubbed the mess atop his head of which he got from tossing and turning all night.

Dragging the concrete blocks of which were his feet across the floor, the man returned to his en suite bathroom, undressing himself as he did. Tossing his white t-shirt on the floor in the doorway of the bathroom, he walked slowly to the shower and turned on the tap, starting the rain of water coming from the showerhead.

Only five minutes had past and the male had showered, brushed his teeth and gotten dressed, ready to face the day with his daily schedule. Working late the night before and having to work early in the morning to open the convenience store, the young man was not looking forward to have another eight-hour shift; today the cashier that did not show up the night before for their shift was supposed to work the morning as well with the young man.

Arriving at the store, the young man had arrived just moments after the manager whom was still unlocking the gate. Giving the manager a bow, the young man waited to enter the doors to start his shift. Bowing back at the young man, the manager slipped the keys back into the pocket of his work apron.

“Ah, Kanzaki san, ohayo.” The man let off a weak chuckle for a warm, morning greeting. “I hope everything went well last night.” Kazuko was one of his newer employees, as he was a hard worker and did not fuss to him about any tasks about the job; the manager knew he was a good man to keep around.

Politely picking up the to-go cup of coffee that steamed profusely through the small sipping hole, Kazuko held the managers coffee as he held the door open for him. Once again as he bowed the young man slipped in through the door; rubbing the back of his head sheepishly as he faced the manager.
“Well about that.” The young man drifted off quietly; was in short, was being a tattletale about his senior employee a good decision? Kazuko was unfortunately still within his probation period and could be fired at any moment with no given excuse.

Closing and locking the door behind them, the manager turned to him, looking at him with a sense of impatience.

“Ah, iya.” Kazuko looked off to the side nervously for a moment before continuing; the manager would find out as soon as he logged on the computer as it was by seeing when he had clocked out. “Ishimoto san had never showed up last night for his shift. I took care of the stock as well as the customers.” Kazuko was not trying to appear the better worker by saying he had worked two positions at the same time it was only the truth.

Taking his coffee from his employee, the manager looked to him silently for a moment before walking passed him towards his office.

“I thank you for that Kanzaki san.” It could have created some issues if Kazuko had closed the store rather than work both positions like he had done. “But next time this happens please call me or another employee to fill a position. I do not want you to wear yourself out by filling in for someone who decides not to show up.” The manager tried his hardest to appeal to all of his staffs’ needs and schedules outside of work, but if their personal life had got in the way of their duties at work, then it would start to cause problems for everyone else.

“I will speak with him when he arrives all right Kanzaki san?”

Kazuko bowed his head a ways to hide his smug grin. “Shitsureishimasu.” Turning away he lead off towards the staff room to grab his work apron to start his morning shift with the little energy he had.

8:00am had come, the doors had to be opened, and yet, the cashier was nowhere to be found, again. Standing innocently with a box in his hands, Kazuko stared at the door where there were already customers waiting to come in. Releasing a frustrated sigh, Kazuko placed the box he held on the floor off to the side where no one would trip over it and made his way to open the doors. Stepping aside to allow the few customers to enter and browse around, the young man bit his bottom lip to restrain himself from reacting to the comments the customers whispered to themselves as they walked passed him; it was not his fault the designated cashier had not showed up again for the doors to be opened on time.

The few customers that had entered were handled and taken care of with courtesy and a smile, despite how rude they were when they had walked in. After small morning rush had gone, Kazuko picked up the store phone and called the office where the manager sat doing his paperwork for the day.

“Hi, its me. Ishimoto is not here again. Do you just want me to manage the till for the morning until he arrives, I'm sure he is just running late.” It took most of his will power to not want to scream and shout about his incompetent coworker.

“If you please Kanzaki san. I will look for someone to relieve your duties as stock for the time being.”

Having to stand behind the counter again? The young man just wanted to do his job that he was hired for, stock.

“That would be wonderful, thank you sir.” With a smile in his voice, Kazuko placed the phone down and faced forward again waiting for the next customer to enter the store. Kazuko stared off blankly into the store, properly greeting each customer as they entered, though he made no eye contact nor used a smile in his angered voice.

Hours had passed and still no sign of Ishimoto. Not long after the manager had mentioned that he would have someone relieve him of his duties as stock, another coworker had walked through the door, looking just as ready as he was to work.

Having been stuck behind that small, cramped counter for his entire shift with no break, not even to use the restroom, Kazuko was almost at his limit for the day.

“Well would you look at that Jun-P, who is that handsome man at the counter?” Chuckling evilly to himself as he playfully pat his friend’s shoulder, one of the customers that had walked in instantly embarrassed the poor man behind the counter. “Is he new?” The man who spoke removed his solid black, subtly sparkled Trillby styled hat as he stepped into the store with his friend.

With an equally playful smile on his lips, the taller, more slender man slipped his ringed middle finger between his teeth, biting it gently.

“New or not, he sure is handsome.” He let out a single chuckle, leaning himself over the glass top of the counter.

Running his tongue across his bottom lip nervously as a few customers’ gazes scanned over him in slight disgust, Kazuko pushed the man leaning over the counter away.
“What are you two doing?”  Kazuko looked around for his stock worker or the manager. “If my manager sees me talking to you two he might kick you out.” Kazuko looked from one man to the other repetitively.

“Relax Ka-chan, we are just here to pick you up.” The man holding the hat leaned an arm on his friend’s shoulder. “You are supposed to be off at four are you not?” He tilted his head slightly onto the other man’s shoulder, tossing his dark brown, semi long hair gently.

“And I was curious to see if your man was working so I could chew off his ear making you work so hard for so little pay.” The man pushed himself away from his friend, looking around the store for the incompetent employee. “But from the looks of it he's not here.”

“He didn't show up again last night?” The taller, slender man’s gaze shot over the Kazuko behind the counter. “That's the second time isn’t it?” The taller man’s voice was comedic and childish; one that seemed like he could do many impressions with.

Biting his bottom lip firmly, Kazuko leaned over the counter to whisper.
“Third.” He looked around for any signs of his manager. “He didn't show up this morning, I am covering his position right now.”

Flipping his dark brown hair passed his double pierced ear, the young man tossed his had back atop his head with a slight tilt.

“Well, here or not, you are off in a couple of minutes.” The man folded his arms across his chest looking around the store for the relief cashier to close the store; none were around, but someone had caught his eye that walked into the store. Turning to look at the man who loudly spoke on his cell phone, laughing without a care in the world, the man with the hat glared coldly at him. “You.” Just as cold as his stare, the man spoke with certain coldness in his voice.

The man slowly lowered his cell phone, looking at the two men at the checkout counter and his coworker standing, staring at him a blank look of wonder in his eyes.
“What's your problem?” the man that walked in was the known Ishimoto whom of which had not shown up for the majority of his shifts for the week. Spotting Kazuko with a conscious gaze, the man pointed to him with a sense of happiness in his eyes. “You! You’re working the till now? That's great! When did they train you?” He pushed passed the two men who were significantly taller than him and slapped his hands down on the countertop with excite.

Kazuko took a slow, deep breath before speaking.

“They didn't, I had to show myself when you did not show up last night for your closing shift.” Kazuko’s voice held strain and anger; he felt like lashing out at the incompetent man and beating the ignorance out of him.

“Ah!” Ishimoto clapped his cell phone shut and slipped it into his pocket. “You covered for me? I cannot thank you enough Kazuko! I was out so late last night. I met this ‘really’ hot chick and her friend at a club.” He felt no remorse towards his actions and the feelings of others and it showed greatly over his smug face.

“Hey, as thanks, I’ll give you the girl’s friend’s number, you two could you know, hang out.” Ishimoto grabbed the pen from the counter and a strip of paper from the receipt printer.

03-549-

Ishimoto did not even get to finish writing down the woman’s phone number before the pen was snatched from his hands by Kazuko; he was then pulled to face his friends by the man in the hat. Without a second thought, the man in the hat had placed a hard punch on the man’s smug face, sending him towards the counter.

Kazuko jumped back, pressing his back to the wall behind him; it was obvious that he was not expecting an act of violence from his friend at all.

The few customers scattered throughout the small convenience store all stopped what they were doing, directing their attention to the checkout counter where it appeared there was a small fight going to break out.

The manager ran out of the office door, his gaze capturing Kazuko standing with his arms raised defensively, his back to the wall and shock in his feminine eyes; a young man in a hat standing over one of his employees who knelt on the floor against the counter with a bleeding lip; as well as shocked customers staring at the men around the counter.

“What in the world is going on here?” The manager darted to the scene, his overweight stomach jiggling as he did. “I will not have violence in my store!” His demand was directed at the man in the hat who stood with long legs, towering over the short, overweight manager.

“Ishimoto. What are you doing here? I had called you this morning telling you that you were no longer employed here.” Offering him a hand to stand up, he soon directed his attention to the, still shocked Kazuko. “Kanzaki, are these friends of yours?”

With a look of guilt and having been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, the tall, slender man backed away, shaking his head enthusiastically. The man in the hat sucked his lips between his teeth with a look of ‘oops’ wash over his face.

“Ah, iya.” Kazuko lowered his hands to his sides as the adrenaline rush had slowly dissipated. “No sir. I don't know these men.” A little white lie couldn't harm anyone; he would be lucky if the manager believed his lie.

Brushing off his former employees shoulder as he pat it, reassuring him that he would allow no more violence beyond this point.

“Well friends or not Kanzaki, I would like you to ask them to leave. This is a business and definitely no place for violence.” He looked to the two men at his side with disappointment in his eye. “Kids these days. Think violence solves anything.” He mumbled to himself, loud enough for the two men to hear.

“Well, Kanzaki. Mariko chan is here to relieve you. You may go home now.” Pushing Ishimoto away slightly towards the door, he looked to Kazuko while shaking his head slightly. “I will discuss your position here on your next shift.”

Discuss? That was the last thing Kazuko needed right now, the thought of possibly being unemployed and having to pay rent. Nodding, Kazuko bowed his head and slipped out of the small door towards the backroom where he kept his belongings. Standing at his locker, he pulled at the small string around his waist that held the apron on. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and not have his mind on the fact that he may no longer have a job anymore.

“I am so sorry everyone.” The manager made a small announcement to the few customers in his store. “As apology I would like to offer you all one free item from all of your purchased for all of this commotion in your days. I know it is not something you all like to see.”

Apologized to the manager once again as he left carrying his cell phone in his hand, Kazuko bowed to him a few times before leaving the store. Looking around the area for his friends, Kazuko spotted them a ways away, making a meeting point where the manager could not see him meeting up with them. Darting across the empty street, Kazuko darted right up to the man in the hat, leaving only inches between their noses.
“Why the hell did you do that!” Kazuko rose his hands, ready to scream and shout at his friend. “Thanks to you Jin I probably don't have a job anymore!” In a mere second, Kazuko’s expression had changed instantly, hugging his best friend tightly whom was only inches from him.
“On the other hand, he deserved it.” He pulled out of the one-sided hug and looked up to his slightly taller friend that wore the hat. “You looked pretty cool too.” He smiled brightly at his best friend and over at his taller friend.

Giving him a gentle punch on the shoulder Jun, the taller friend smiled to him whole-heartedly.

“Come on Kazuko. Let’s go get some food, you look hungry.” Jun reached across Kazuko’s shoulder and pulled him along, heading down the road to where they had parked the car. “So, what do you think is going to happen Kazuko? Do you think you'll still have a job there?”

Being forced to walk in the middle, the shortest of the three, Kazuko looked back over his shoulder and shrugged once, slowly.

“I’m not too sure. I sure as hell hope so though.” Glaring over his other shoulder, Kazuko hit Jin’s stomach with no warning. “But, at the moment I don't want to think about that.” He turned his head over the other shoulder again back at Jun.

In a small, quiet restaurant, the three friends had ate a hearty helping of Yakitori and Soba to their hearts content; having completely forgotten about the incident that happened at the convenience store, the three of them chatted and laughed about happenings in their daily lives as well. As well, they had made plans for another day that they were going to hang out again and drink together. With the thought of having split the bill evenly, or even paying for their own portions; Jin, the young little right boy had taken the entire bill and put it on his credit card. Jun had no problem with not having to pay his part of the bill, whereas Kazuko had put up a bit of an argument about it.

“Jin, I could pay you know.” Kazuko held his wallet innocently between his fingers, looking up at Jin with a worried furrow in his brows. “I'm not that…”

Jin had quickly cut him off with a finger pressing to Kazuko’s lips.

“It is merely a favour as an apology for having punched your coworker while you were still at work.” His cold, lazy tone was still apparent, yet held a sense of responsibility and maturity in it. “Just in case I ever need to ask you a favour, I’ll have my reason now.” He smiled slyly to his best friend with a childish tilt to his head.

Kazuko glared at him; he moved to bite Jin’s finger but was a second to slow. There was always a catch to Jin’s kindness.
“I knew it.” He pursed his lips, pouting as he grabbed his glass of water, downing it quickly.

Dropping Kazuko off at his small, homey apartment, Jin and Jun said good-bye for the night, telling Kazuko to text them the day after about his discussion with his manager.

Sending off his two friends with a wave as they drove off, Kazuko readied his keys to enter his small, yet secure eight-floor apartment building. Opening the lobby door with his building key, Kazuko opened it and closed it quickly behind him; entering the single elevator, he leaned himself in the corner, resting his head against the wall at his side.

Right off to the right of the elevator was the door to his apartment; he entered it quietly and threw his keys on the small table at the entrance. Just as he did that morning, Kazuko stripped off his clothes as he walked into the bedroom, leaving them scattered across the floor behind him. Just as quickly as he dropped his day clothes, he picked up his sleepwear and slipped them on, completely ignoring the fact that he should brush his teeth before bed. Dressing in his white t-shirt and grey sweat pants, Kazuko dragged himself to his bed and threw himself down face first; lying down quietly as his gaze stared out of his window, watching the darkening sky.

It was early, but considering that he had not slept well the night before and had a chaotic day, Kazuko fell asleep easily as he sprawled out across his bed lazily, not even slipping under the covers.

Falling asleep across his bed with his feet off the edge of the bed, Kazuko fell asleep with his cheek against the mattress and his arms hugging the blankets around him; Kazuko looked much like a newborn sleeping in a crib.