Another's Perspective-
By the time we got back to the apartment, the man, or should I say my "caretaker" sits down at his desk before beginning his work. I'm not too sure what it was that we were doing when we went out, but it did involve using my grandmother's money. I was told to stay in the car so I couldn't really see much, but the place he went into looked to be quite big. A part of me thinks that it could've been a school, but it was hard to tell behind the high walls. If it was though, then it was a much bigger school that what I'm used to. I hear universities can be quite big, so could it be that the man is a student there?
"Mm, Reina. Could you go into the fridge and bring me my soda?"
"Yes."
I've learnt to just do as I'm told and proceed to do exactly like he asked.
He did in fact get us some food, but most of it is just junk and quick and easy meals, most of it precooked with barely any vegetables. Maybe his "job" is too hard for him to cook proper meals, but I fail to believe that. Besides the stove, which I'm not even sure if it works or not, there's a microwave and a rice cooker along with a single pan. It's not much, but it's something. That's if it'll ever be used though...
"Here."
"..."
I place his soda on the desk next to him, but his eyes are glued to his tablet, not even saying any words of thanks. I guess this will just be how it is from now on?
Deciding to give him space, I move myself into the bathroom before taking a look at my shoulder in the mirror. Some blood is still seeping into the bandage but it's not as bad as it was this morning I think. That said, I worry about my arm getting infected. It was dark so I couldn't really see what the condition of the blade looked like, not that it's appearance means anything, but still, it'd give me some peace of mind knowing if that knife was at least clean in appearance.
Carefully, I change out my bandage once more with a clean one, dumping the used bandage with dried up blood into the trash. My "caretaker" doesn't even know about my injury but I was tempted to bring it up, but I just feel like he'll just find a way to snap at me just like he did last night.
"Sorry Grandma."
Thanks to the guys that robbed me last night, I no longer have a way to contact my grandmother about my current situation; not that I would though considering I know how she'd react. Plus it'd be too selfish of me to just ask her to take me back or find someone else for me to live with. With the death of grandpa, she just wants to find some level of peace. I don't want to worry her about this… Besides, it's not like this is all bad. I'm in a bigger area now, unlike the countryside I was living in before. Finding my sister might be a lot easier here.
"...Fine."
Buttoning my shirt back up, I step out of the bathroom before heading back over to the man at his desk.
"I'm getting a job."
"What?"
Oh so now he want's to talk? Even if his eyes are still glued to the tablet, I need to set things straight.
"I'm getting a job."
"No, I heard you. But you make it sound as if you're already guaranteed a job, haha."
"You got a problem with that?"
"No, not at all. Just as long as you clean up around here, you can do what you want. The less time you're here the better."
"Okay."
It's getting a bit late, but there's still a few hours of daylight left. I could maybe try look around for some places. This time I'll be sure to be aware of my surroundings. I've never been jumped like that before, so it was quite scary if I'm honest. I know when our parents were still alive we used to live in a big city like this, but it's not like we were ever allowed to go out at night like I did before. I'll try and get back before nightfall.
Of course, things didn't go according to plan though.
"Sorry, but we're not hiring."
With all the stores giving me the same response, I found it more and more suspicious. Some of them were straight up lying as I clearly saw someone who looked even younger than me restocking some clothes at one of the clothing stalls at the mall. It's not that I'm even looking for a full-time job, I'd be happy to work part-time as well, just as long as I can get some money together so I can actually "live" in that stupid apartment.
"What's his deal anyway?"
"The less time you're here the better?" What did I do to have him act like that towards me? Back when he first came to pick me up from my grandma's, he was all friendly, but now it's like he wants nothing to do with me. My grandma did say that he used to be my mom's assistant when she worked, so could it be that maybe he has beef with my mom and is now taking it out on me? Just thinking that however pisses me off. There's no way my mom could've ever been in a situation like that where she'd be hated on by others... Maybe I should've asked for more details from grandma before leaving. I could just ask the man himself, but I feel like that'll only spell more trouble than it's worth.
So, I try again with another store in this mall. Most of the places here are clothing stores, but this one seems to be quite... "unique" compared to everything else I've seen here.
"Hello~ Welcome to our cat cafe~"
Once I entered, I was greeted by someone who looks to be around my age. Quite an energetic girl, but she's probably just putting on an act to try and attract customers. Either way, it's a bit promising to see that this place might hire high schoolers.
"Would you like to dine with us?"
"Actually, I was wondering if this place was hiring. Could I speak to your manager?"
"Oh! Uhm, yes! Give me one moment!"
She scurries off back deeper inside the store as I take the opportunity to look around the place. With it being in a mall, it's not massive in size, but compared to the other stores, I'd say that this store is on the slightly larger end; of course not counting the supermarkets inside here. The place seemed to be cat themed, with what looks to be eight cats all roaming around, some of them cuddled up with a few of the customers. Isn't this meant to be a cafe? It looks like most of the people here are more interested in the cats than the food...
It didn't take long however for the manager to come back along with the girl who greeted me.
"Is this the one?"
"Yes!"
If I'm honest, this manager seems like he isn't the type to like animals. His build seems more of a professional body builder, his stone looked face inspects me from head to toe. Just the sheer size of him comes off as quite intimidating as he towers over me.
"...Your hair."
Ah yes... This was another popular thing that the other stores brought up before denying me. Maybe I should've just bought a wig when I had the chance if it was going to be this much of an issue...
"It's not dyed sir. This is my natural hair."
"Really?!"
A different reaction? His tone makes him sound more happy I guess? But I'm unsure if that's a good thing or not.
"Yes..."
"Waaa~ I've never seen such luscious, white hair in real life before."
"Eh?"
Wait, what does he mean by that?
"Ehe. Sorry. My father's a bit biased towards white hair you see."
"...Right"
I figured that's what was going on, but to be honest it just makes me a little uncomfortable. Wait, did she just say that this man is her father?
"Ah, Sorry if I made you uncomfortable- uhm..."
"Reina. My name's Reina."
"Nn! Nice to meet you Reina. My daughter here said that you wanted a job here?"
His voice now takes on a more serious tone than before, but his smile alleviates any sort of intimidation. I guess he must really enjoy seeing my hair, even if it makes me feel like I'm some sort of animal myself, like the cats inside this cafe...
"Yes."
"Sorry, but we don't hire minors, aha."
Figures...
"But you're welcome to come in if you like. It'll be my treat for-"
"Hnng!"
It wasn't strong at all, in fact I could tell that he was trying to be sincere and gentle, but he just had to pat me on my shoulder that was just recently cut, which sent jolts of pain through my body as I try and create some distance from him.
"Father!"
"S-sorry! A-are you okay?"
"I'm fine-"
Before I knew it, his daughter took the initiative to come over to check my shoulder herself. I was too preoccupied with dealing with the pain that I didn't realize that her hand was now gently over the same shoulder as she begins to inspect my arm under her careful touch.
"Hmm? Are you sure you're okay?"
"It's nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"..."
I wanted to just brush her off, but some part of me just let her continue as she rolled up my sleeve to reveal my bandaged arm. I had just changed the bandage before coming out, but it still seems like there's some blood leaking through as it has stained part of the bandage already.
"Father!"
"Huh?! Wait, I didn't do that!"
"Pfft..."
I couldn't help but chuckle at the situation unfolding before me.
"Come inside. We've got some medical supplies in the back. Father, could you take over the front?"
"Yes! On it!"
I can't help but be amused at how easily they just switched roles. It seems like now his daughter is the one in charge of the store, having him ordered around like that. Nevertheless, I agree to follow this girl inside as she leads me to the back room, away from prying eyes. I do feel a bit bad for having made a scene right in the front of their store though...
Once we got in the back of the store, the girl had me sit down on a chair as she began preparing some medical supplies on the table in front of us. Unlike the random bandages I found in that apartment, this med-kit is filled to the brim with all sorts of things, including suture needles... Don't tell me-
"So you said your name was Reina?"
"Yes..."
"Hehe. Nice to meet you. My name's Kanon. As you've heard, my father and I run this place."
Wait, now that I think about it...
"Shouldn't you be focused on school though? Instead of working?"
I know it's a bit hypocritical of me asking that, but the question still popped in my head.
"Haha. I'm currently on break at the moment. I'll be fully taking over this place once I finish my degree."
"Eh?"
Wait... degree? She's a university student?
"Pfft. You thought I was a highschooler, didn't you? Or maybe even a middleschooler?"
"I wouldn't go as far as middleschooler..."
"Hehe. Yeah. My mom's really short you see. I'm actually taller than her believe it or not. I guess that's thanks to my father."
"Right..."
Well that changes things. So her father actually wasn't lying or playing favorites for family at all when he said that they don't hire minors... I guess I was doomed to fail from the beginning.
"Now, let's take a look at this, shall we?"
I leave myself in this girl's- no, woman's care as I sit still on the chair. She gently unwraps the bandage covering my shoulder up until the bandage got stuck when it came to some of the hardened blood. It was then that she just dabbed a bit of water from a bottle onto the area to have the bandage come off a bit more smoothly. But once it was fully unraveled...
"This is..."
"What? Is it bad?"
Looking at her face, it seems to be the case, but as I look down at my shoulder, it seems like it's still the same as before. Is she just shocked at how bad it is?
"A-are you on any antibiotics?"
"No."
"You should go to the doctors straight after this. I've still got a ways to go in my degree, but I'm pretty sure this here is early signs of infection."
Where she pointed at was the area around the cut. It does look like some redness and maybe even some swelling is happening, but I just thought that it was just my body trying to heal. However, even still...
"I can't."
"What are you saying?"
"I don't have the money to afford that."
"What about your parents? Couldn't they-"
She stopped mid sentence as her eyes were locked with mine before I ended up casting my eyes down to the floor, breaking eye contact.
"...They're not here anymore."
"I'm... I'm sorry."
Well this just got awkward...
"What about the person looking after you now? Your guardian."
"Pfft."
However, the moment Kanon brought up my "guardian," I couldn't help but laugh. He's a guardian alright, but not "my" guardian. He's just guarding his own space from me.
"No. It's why I was looking for a job here."
"..."
I honestly can't believe that I opened up about this this easily with someone I just met. I honestly feel a bit bad about Yume. She was so nice to me yet I never gave her the time of day like this. If I ever see her again, I'll be sure to change that.
"Well, for starters, let's get this arm sorted out, okay?"
"Mhmm..."
Thankfully, Kanon never bothered to try and suture the cut, but instead, she applied some ointment on the cut and the area around where there was some swelling. I thought that is was bad to put ointments directly on cuts like this, but I guess it's not deep enough to be a concern? She then applied a large dressing that fit over the cut comfortably with barely any pain before applying a bandage to keep everything together. Although she put this bandage on quite firmly compared to how I did it.
"It's not too tight?"
"No. It's good."
"Hehe. This is actually pretty good practice."
"Are you studying to become a doctor?"
"Not something as grand as that, haha. I'm studying to be a veterinarian at the moment, but I also would like to be nurse if I can."
"A veterinarian... Isn't that still a doctor?"
"Pfft- ahaha. I guess. I know a lot about the medical field, but I just haven't got much practice."
"Well, thank you."
"No worries-"
I say my thanks before standing up from the seat getting ready to leave... but-
"...!"
I couldn't make out her words as it was all muffled. It didn't take me long to realize that my vision has also taken a turn for the worse as suddenly, I could see the floor fast approaching, only for me to be stopped as I felt my body being held up.
"-ey!"
Eh?"
"Reina! Are you okay? Sit down!"
"Y-yes..."
I do as I'm told as I realize that Kanon was the one that caught me before I crashed down onto the floor head first.
"I'm calling the-"
"Don't!"
However, the moment I heard her begin to mention about calling someone, I quickly spoke up, using most of my energy to make sure that I get through to her, clutching onto her shirt.
"Don't... Call anyone."
I don't want to find out what will happen if emergency services were to get involved. They'd surely contact my "guardian," and then I'll be left with hell to pay.
"But-"
"Please... Just don't-"
I try to emphasize my point, but my energy wanes, cutting my words short as I feel my body relaxing more and more in her arms before my eyes eventually begin to shut by themselves...