Hanaemi

Ayumu walked slowly from the station towards the gift shop where he worked as a part-timer. It was a fifteen-minute walk away from the station and twenty minutes from his apartment. Though the area where Ayumu lived was quite small compared to where his university was, it had almost everything needed from fancy karaokes to nice gourmet food. It was already half past 7 and the day workers were returning home, some of them stopped by for a few beers, others at family restaurants dropping by for a quick meal, few others picking up some groceries, the rest yawned on their way home while the night owls were getting ready for their share of work.

 Ayumu always attracted attention whenever he walked by on a busy street, especially when he was by himself, well why not, human eyes revert immediately towards something beautiful. Ayumu's pleasant smile had the radiance of a thousand blooming flowers, which he often concealed.  People often mistook him for an idol or a celebrity because of his sharp exquisite features. Ayumu was scouted twice; once during high school and the beginning of his Master's. He politely refused their persistent invitations. Ayumu kept his head low and pulled up his collar to the cheeks to avoid the glances and paced up.

'Hmmm... Waseda University huh? It's quite tough to get into it, isn't it? ' 'Though Haruto didn't look like a bookworm to me... It must be one of those easy-going smart kids.' Ayumu giggled.

Ayumu arrived at the store. A tall girl in her high school uniform with a maroon apron was serving two customers outside the cafe next to Ayumu's store. People who often came to the gift store were attracted by the fragrance of cake and tea so they took a bite next door. The cafe owner also displayed the poster of Ueno ya next door, the cafe had an exquisite collection of model cars and neon signs, the two neighbours go way back and are close, along with the other community folks and therefore supported each other whenever possible. Ayumu's store was located at one end of the street, there were few other 'Konbini' and medical stores and other cafes and private homes in between them.

Teruya Kaida was in her second year of high school and the tallest in her grade among all the girls. Apart from her height, Kaida chan was bestowed with big, dark, beautiful and tranquil eyes with thick long eyelashes which made everyone especially girls who needed fake eyelashes, naturally jealous and wishing they had had them. A lifetime would pass if she'd bat those eyelids once at you. The eyebrows added to her vivacious eyes that hid behind her glasses. She parted her hair into two pigtails gently falling over her shoulder and reaching her waist with a soft bang adorning her forehead. The apron sticking close to her crisp white shirt outlining her lean waist and the grey skirt reached her knees exposing the pale pinkish legs. She wore a focused expression as she placed the order in front of the middle-aged women busy on their phones. She noticed Ayumu walking towards the direction of the store and served the customers in a hurry yet diligent manner, hiding her urgency. She flashed a smile at them and asked them to call for her if they needed anything else. The two women nodded in unison and looked over to Ayumu.

Holding the tray to her chest she ran towards Ayumu "Ayumu san, you are late today, I thought you weren't coming, assumed you were kidnapped or something. Hehehehe."

"Teruya-chan your fantasies are turning wild day by day. Though you wish for my safety you shouldn't assume that I was kidnapped." Ayumu was heading inside the store and she followed him. As he opened the door a belled chimed in with a single ting.

"Tch, I'm joking Ayumu san." She said in a dead flat tone.

"Haha, I know!" Ayumu's teeth peeked outside along with the laugh. "Now, get back to work, let's meet later."

Teruya chan stomped her feet and left the store with another ting. "That guy, Imma kill him myself someday, flashing cheeky smiles abruptly, he's bad for my heart." She continued with her waitressing after taking a deep sigh as she approached a group of high school students.

Ayumu walked into the Ueno ya scanning his surroundings for customers. He went straight into the storage room noticing that there was nobody around. The storage room was used by the Owner and Ayumu to relax and had a small rectangular table, three wooden chairs with a small refrigerator and a small attached washroom to the far end left corner of the storeroom. As you enter, to your left an L shaped rack was arranged with tiny bags shaped like fruits, superhero-themed on the top shelf, some model cars and plushies. Next to it was a counter made of glass and behind it was another glass cabinet that contained various crystals and glassworks such as vases, ballerina, well-crafted candle holders, couples holding hands. Crystal and epoxy pendants and bracelets were well kept and pretty popular among the high school students and there were some candies available too.

 Opposite to the counter were three rectangle blocks exhibiting cell phone straps, scented candles and mugs. To the right of the entrance, an artificial sakura tree was arranged meticulously along with those soft-bristled green grass, and five exotic lanterns were displayed on round tables of varying sizes. Moving ahead were small-sized handcrafted wooden and cedar boxes ranging from small to large, and some more metal and glass lamps. Opposite to the boxes and lamps was another L- shaped bright-lit cabinet encasing ceramic and custom made clay vases and to the left of the cabinet, a rack of small indoor cactus and ferns separated the two sections. Next to the vases was a section of scrolls systematically arranged in their rolled form with a sign attached to the rack that read - please ask the employees to help you open the scroll. To the left, a lucky cat was standing on top of a black cedar, medium height, that shone under the pleasant yellow light. To the left of the statue were plushies and the regional mascot which was a good sellout. Behind the three rectangular exhibits in front of the counter, three huge racks with four shelves were arranged horizontally to each other. Tea sets, cups, plates in lacquered, wooden, ceramic and clay, Ikebana baskets, bronze statues and other miscellaneous stuff were on display.

The store was lit with a yellow ball hanging from an unfinished ceiling casting its photons on the rough red brick as only the counter and the storeroom had finely finished walls. It gave a tacky look to the store that created a feeling of being in a mysterious alleyway stall. Jazz music was played when customers were around to create a relaxed and ambient mood, and scented incense sticks brought in from the owner's hometown were lit which smelled wonderful and like many others, now and then the customers would place an order for the incense sticks. The store had a selected collection of plushies, not just teddy bears but others such as owls, dolphins, bunnies, sailor boys and girls, anime chibis to name a few. Business was generally good during weekend local festivals. Ayumu was the face of the store and many customers returned to the store to get a glimpse of that angelic smile. Nonetheless, Ayumu was a smooth talker and a smart salesman indeed, he didn't trick people into buying stuff they didn't need, he believed in delivering an experience rather than a product and the customers fell for it.

A short man in his mid-fifties appeared from the back door leading to the alley, with a calm face. The wrinkles had settled in comfortably on his brow and his cheeks were droopy, yet his eyes retained a kind and working spirit in them. He wore a faded blue shirt and loose brown trousers hanging down his waist under his tiny belly which was beginning to show with his age. He will turn six five the following year. He walked over to Ayumu while he dabbed his fingers using the other side of the apron. Ayumu stood behind the counter and started cleaning the glass display with a dry soft cloth.

"Ayumu, didn't I tell you to take a day off, what are you doing here?"

Ayumu popped his head out from under the counter and pouted as he failed in finding his apron "I'm fine, I finished my work early so I thought I might as well come here. You gave my apron for laundry?"

There weren't any customers around so they had the liberty to continue their conversation.

"Ah yes, I did, there were few drapes I wanted to be washed along with them I gave my other apron and yours with the rest. By the way, Ayumu, Are you spending enough time and making memories with your friends? Remember, these are the years you're never getting back. Connections are crucial."

"Ueno San, I do spend time with my friends efficiently, but work is work, they too have stuff they need to attend. Every time the weekend's here you bring this up."

"Yes, yes, I'll quit nagging. Youth should be spent wisely and making memories. I can't believe you don't have a significant other yet."

Ting, Ting!

Two middle-aged women came into the store along with a kid who barged inside. Ayumu offered to show them around and flashed a miniature smirk at Ueno san.

Ueno, ya closed at ten; however, Ayumu was allowed to leave at half-past nine because Ueno-san thought that students should go home early, eat a good meal, study and as Ayumu lived alone he must prepare his meals, so the owner insisted that he go home on time. The owner lived above the store with his wife and she helped him close the store at ten.

It was five to nine and a familiar voice called out to Ayumu "Ayumu-san you in here?"

It was Teruya-chan who was leaning over the counter, lazily dazing up at the ceiling.

"Teruya-chan, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be rushing home?" His voice grew louder as he approached from the storeroom with a worried expression.

Ayumu was too cute, simply irresistibly cute in that apron. "It never gets old" giggled Teruya chan as she straightened up.

"Hai hai, I have already called home, my fellow waitress was on leave and we were short on hand so I stayed late to help out."

"Ohh, so, I'll walk you to the station. I'm sure you can manage walking home safely after reaching your stop but make sure you drop a text later." Ayumu was about to pick up his coat from the stand.

"Ayumu-san, I can walk to the station just fine, Why do you keep forgetting that I'm a blue belt in Taekwondo?" she said and looked at Ayumu as she winked at him. Ayumu and Teruya-chan had become close over the past year and they formed a sibling bond. Books, stars, and coffee brought them together. Every day she would drop by Ueno ya to bid good night to the men before she left home except when they were busy attending customers.

"I was about to leave anyway, I will walk you to the station and pick up some groceries nearby. I want to pick up some peas and carrots."

"Ayumu-san I made some dinner for you today and I don't want it to get cold, so I'll be fine, I'll take a rain check on that ok?!"

She shoved a paper bag into his hands and rushed outside, yelling good night.

"Ehhh?! Wait, Teruya chan!" He chased after her but she had already passed the corner of the street.'That troublemaker!she's getting faster. ' thought Ayumu and smiled to himself feeling grateful for all the kindness he had received today. 'Guess I'll have to pick 'em up tomorrow.'

After a while, he reached home, turned on the lights of the living room, sat on the sofa and looked inside the contents of the bag and carefully opened the paper box to find omelette rice carefully packed inside a transparent container. It was slightly warm so he decided to clean up before he started eating and then take a  proper shower to end the day. He played the music over the stereo connected through Bluetooth and it began playing ONE OK ROCK song – 'One Way Ticket'

Hanaemi: Flowering smile; a smile that is as beautiful as blooming flowers. 

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