Off the High Horse (Coffee-Tastic and YellowPerch) [18+]

[Coffee-Tastic]

 

Name: Takuma Fukui

Age: 23

Height: 6ft 2in

Hair: Blond

Eyes: Amber

Role: Alpha

Personality: Snobbish and selfish are the two best words to describe him. Taku can be very rude to just about anyone and has yet to reach limits as to the things he bluntly tells other people. Always getting what he wants, it makes him hard to be reasonable when he wants something that he can't actually have without working for it. He doesn't like to have responsibility and always tries to put them on other people for him.

Bio: Takuma was set up to be married at the age of 19, but the young woman couldn't bear to marry someone who would treat her with disrespect and who called her a money-hungry hag. At the age of 20 he was set up for another marriage, but his fiance cancelled the arrangement after his rude behavior and after calling her a rodent with a nothing going for her except her big rack. For the next three years, it went on like that, getting Takuma quite the horrible reputation for the Fukui family line, the name of the multi-billion dollar chain of casinos and and a luxury hotel industry. Seen as useless by his parents, he was kicked out of the family, putting him on a plane with only a certain amount of money in cash and a luggage's worth of his own belongings. He hates his family to the core and grew even more bitter from their actions. Thrown into the real world, Takuma is forced to adapt and sadly is having a very rough time doing so.

Likes: Money, coffee, horses, shopping, the color purple, himself, anything that shines and being recognized in any positive way

Dislikes: His mother and father, his motel room, "peasants", having to fake being nice and touching rusty/ dusty things

 

---

 

Walking to his new job early in the morning, wearing a black hoodie and jeans and sneakers, he walked with resentment filtering in and out of his body while drinking a really bad cup of coffee from the corner store. Three months ago, he was forced out of the mansion's estate by his parents just because he kept refusing to marry the daughters of other rich families, which he saw no problem with. He didn't see why it was so important to marry. Sure doing things like that would join names together and grow his parent's amazing, epic empire. But that was just an extension of their own greediness and lust for more money. Though don't let that mistake you, Takuma was also greedy and lusts for money, he'd just rather not marry people he didn't find perfect.

 

When he was given just 6 thousand dollars to live off of, the blond was downright horrified. That amount of money was less than the amount he spent a week. He had no idea how he would survive, but touching down in a new city he's never been in before, he found himself a hotel to stay at that was less than decent for his own standards, but it was cheaper to stay the night in other places. The next thing he had to do was look for a job, which he never knew how to do until walking into a neighborhood supermarket and demanded a job. His facts were straightened by the manager, who was nearly as rude as he was, then was escorted out of the store and told not to come back. After more failures just like that, Takuma eventually found a job working at McDonalds as a cleaner. Which only lasted a few days before getting fired for shaming the people for eating complete garbage.

 

That experience only taught him that it was necessary to fake a smile around most people. He looked good and when he smiled, he could fool anyone to think he was a good guy. That is how he got his next job, the one he was walking to right now. He saw this place looking for a cleaner and had no choice but to take another plebeian job as the custodian, being told he could work his way up if he displayed the worth. He wouldn't be making a lot of money at all, but this was only to get experience. He would die if he was going to be in such a low class place for the rest of his life...

 

Coming in the market, he threw away his half done mug in the thrash and came to the counter where he was direct to go to the other day. There, a light brunet with blue eyes was, Takuma approached with an unfriendly frown. This wasn't the manager, but a new face, and for that reason, he didn't feel the need to show a smile nor be nice whatsoever, "I just got hired here the other day... What kinds of things am I supposed to be doing now? Stock duty? Cleaning?" He glanced around, a scowl forming on his face, I just want to get started. The faster I'll get paid." Work = money to him. The more work he did, the more money he got is what he thought. Because he hasn't worked at any place more than a week, he didn't know that the amount of work you did didn't matter as long as you did the job in general. He'd figure that out eventually.

[YellowPerch]

 

 

Name: Hiro Watashi

Age: 21

Height: 5'11"

Hair: Light Brown

Eyes: Blue

Role: Beta

Personality: An outgoing, caring and honest young man. Hiro could make friends with anyone and would put himself second after someone else. He is a hardworking individual who strives to make others happy.

Bio: Hiro is like any normal person living in a small home with his grandfather and mother. He never knew his father who left his family before he was even born. When Hiro was only ten, he lost his grandmother to an illness. Hiro works as a part time sales clerk at a small market. He's a part time college student who is paying for his classes with his own paychecks. Although its been tough for him and his family, they have managed to get by somehow. Hiro is hoping to get a college degree in hopes of finding a job that can support his family.

Likes: Animals, kids, family, the color green, collecting winter hats, his job and his school.

Dislikes: Jerks, cold weather, scary things (such as ghosts and zombies), and insects

 

 

 

 

Today was an off day for Hiro, so he didn't have to go to school. In fact, the school was on a week's vacation, so he wouldn't have to go for a whole week. He was glad about that. So was his manager. He'd be able to work all week and get the money needed to support his schooling and family for the time being. Although it was only a part time job, Hiro had been working there since high school, giving him a fairly good raise. He was still only making a low income, but it was better the minimum wage he originally started with.

 

He was glad the manager liked him enough to do so. The poor guy had lost plenty of employees over the years. But Hiro was the longest lasting one so far. Luckily enough this town had a college offering the program he was hoping for. Hiro loved his job, even though it was a small one. He managed to keep himself busy even though there were days the store got no business. Today was much like that, he had only two customers, not including the mother and son who were in the store now.

 

Hiro helped them look for what they were looking for before taking them to the register to cash them out. When finished he waved goodbye to the young boy who waved back. That was another thing he liked about this shop. There were some people who came in as new customers, but most of them were regulars who knew Hiro very well. As soon as the mother and son left the shop, the door bells rang once again, signalling the appearance of another customer.

 

Hiro smiled brightly at the door. "Welcome!" From where the register was, he couldn't clearly see the door. So it wasn't until the man came straight up to him, did Hiro get a good look at the man. Instantly the man started snapping at him, and Hiro's happy smile became strained and forced. His eyebrow twitched from the tensing of his facial muscles. "You must be the new employee manager was talking about." Hiro wanted so easily to just huff out a complaint at the overbearing man, but he held his tongue. "Well, if you wouldn't mind following me to the back then I can get you a uniform." Hiro held out his hand, directing to the back room. He stepped out from behind the register and began walking towards the room.

[Coffee-Tastic]

"Uniforms even in this kind of place? How wonderful." He didn't hide his dislike, groaning as he followed his new fellow employee to the back. Takuma hated the uniform at the fast food place to the core, he felt like the management found amusement in dressing them up in that way the same way some dog fanatic dressed up their wiener dog in a lobster costume on Halloween, except he was expected to wear it every day. Thankfully he only worked there a few days, but his hate for a designated outfit didn't go away. Possibly the only upside to having a uniform was not having to dirty any of his other clothes when at work. Was it still worth looking like a corporate pet? No, but he didn't have a choice.

 

The blond looked down at the one leading him, doing a critique of the other young man in his head. He had an ok face, he supposed, and his stature was normal. Basic would be a better word. Just by the way he looked, the royal could tell he was a simple beta. He smelled like poverty, just like everyone he has encountered since living around here. Takuma could only pray that some time, he could have a break from all of this poor-ness. He should treat himself to a fine dinner at an expensive restaurant as a breath of fresh, familiar air, however he wasn't sure if he should risk spending the money. He was already trying to find another place to live that's decent and cheap, he couldn't live in a hotel forever. Each day cost precious money after all... "Hey you," he didn't bother asking for a name, because nobody was more important than himself, "You still haven't told me what I was going to be doing. Do you know or not?"

[YellowPerch]

Hiro entered the back room, the other right behind him. It took awhile to dig it out, seeing how the back room was a mess. But Hiro found the tote that held the uniforms in it. By the looks of the other's physique, Hiro figured he was a size bigger then him. And luckily the shirts were decently long enough, so he wouldn't have to worry about it not fitting length wise. Hiro passed the new employee his light blue button up shirt. They weren't the greatest, even Hiro knew that. But they did what they were supposed to do. He noticed how disgusted the other was with the uniform. "You'll have to wait a little longer before your name tag is made. But I can have that done for you the next time you work."

 

Hiro was going to usher him out of the room so he could change in the locker/break room, when he was rudely called upon. Hiro put on his forced smile for the other when he answered. "You'll be doing a little bit of everything. Stocking the shelves and cleaning the front shop. And...I might have you clean out this room too." Hiro looked around at all the things stuffed in such a small room. Then he turned back to the other, pointing at his name tag. "By the way, the name is Hiro." He waited a moment before leaving the back room and heading for the front when he heard the bells ring again. "Welcome!" Hiro could be heard from where he was at the front.

[Coffee-Tastic]

Takuma kept his eyes narrow in a half glare, half judging look when he saw the fake smile once again. He couldn't help but feel like his hospitality was given to him as sarcasm hidden by kindness. Nothing he hasn't seen before as of late. Other people's displeasure was never any of his concern, he knew that from a very young age. Brushing off Hiro's authentic smile and his politeness, he took off his hoodie and put it down to the side and his t shirt as well. His white, flawless body remained bare while holding the blue shirt and looking at it with disgust. Light blue. He hated wearing anything this blue ever since being told he looked like a box of Kraft mac an cheese with his yellow hair and this shade of blue as a teenager. Groaning, he put it on and redid the buttons on the shirt, looking down at himself, muttering with discontent, "This is even worse than the McDonald's costume..."

 

He wished he could say he already didn't like this place, but that would be a complete understatement after saying the exact same thing the first night in that cheap hotel he stays at living this new lifestyle. Nothing about living here took to his liking whatsoever and e had no choice but to keep living it. He'd love to abandon this job because of this horrible uniform, but he couldn't afford to spend time looking for somewhere else. His 6 thousand already dropped to 4 grand in the three months of being in the hotel without having any money coming in, even knew he couldn't go on for much longer if he couldn't keep a job for longer than a few days.

 

After folding his clothes and keeping them safe to the side, away from the clutter, he found Hiro again, helping a current customer who came in, "You know what I like, kid? I like how when I asked you what I should be doing, you basically tell me what I already know. I know I'll be stocking. I know I have to clean. But you still didn't tell me what to be doing," he crossed his arms, "Do you want me to clean the front or stock shelves? Pick one or something... But I do apologize to you. I should have asked someone more important and in charge in the first place." Taking initiative was another thing he didn't know what to do. Takuma needed to know exactly what to do, or else he felt like there was nothing to do.

[YellowPerch]

Hiro had been helping a customer when the other entered after. Hiro was happily bagging the customers items when the rude comments of the other came right out. Hiro stopped in an instant, looking up at the customer who was clearly offended. Hiro had to hurry and apologize. "Ah! He...He's been practicing for a play and he's gotten too far into his character?" Hiro finished bagging the customers item and watched them run out of the store. He doubted ever seeing that customer again. Hiro sighed and turned right to the other, smile in place, his eyebrow twitching once again. "Hmmm, if your having that much trouble coming to me for your tasks, then you can very much take it up with the manager."

 

Hiro tilted his head to the side, trying to make his smile not look so forced. "Again, Hiro. That's my name." Hiro stepped from behind the register. "Come." He went to the front of the store, not even looking behind him to see if the other followed. When they got to the front, accented with large windows running across the entire front wall, Hiro turned around to face the other. Hiro held out his hand, as if he were a game show girl showing off a prize. "We just got a shipment in of our magazines. These three boxes here need to be put out." He turned to show the pile of old magazines on the floor to the side of the boxes. "Those are the old issues. They need to be brought out back to the paper dumpster." He looked back at the other, his smile forming again. "Once that's done the bathroom needs cleaning."

 

Hiro walked away from the other male. He returned to the register and took out a catalog from under it. He was late on ordering more candy and needed to get it out before the deadline. Which was closing time tonight. Luckily he didn't need all that much more for candy and only ordered a few things of gum and chocolate. Hiro entered the order on the website of the company. When he finished he looked over to check on the other male.

[Coffee-Tastic]

A play? He wasn't practicing for a play, he was trying to tell Hiro he was incompetent and was unable to properly direct to him to a task. What was his problem? Being led to the front, he rolled his eyes and looked around in disinterest until being presented the sight of boxes of magazines and old ones next to it. It was easy enough, handing mags were not dirty, they didn't smell bad and he knew how to arrange things decently. But after being given those instructions, he was told that the bathroom was next. Cleaning that he learned from fast-food was not easy, it was dirty and he felt faint after using the toxic cleaning supplies. He frowned and stuck his tongue out as he moved to the boxes, deciding to work on the newer ones first.

 

With such a light task, he had a while box finished in no time, but when he pushed the empty one aside, it knocked over a pile of the older volumes of magazines. He cursed under his breath and bent down to fix up the pile again... but looking at one of them, a subheadline on the cover of a lesser brand caught his amber eyes. Multi-Billionaire son to FUKUI Abandons the Family Chain! "What?!" He never knew that his failure was covered by any magazine. He picked up the mag and flipped to the page covering the story. The story covered such a tiny part of the page and the font was even smaller, as if it didn't matter. Reading it closely, he growled and felt something snap after reading a quote by his mother, "He just didn't have it in him I guess... Our son had other dreams on his agenda that we will always fully support in our hearts whatever it may be... "

 

"What a lie!!" He shouted loudly and started to rip up the page from the old mag, ripping it to shreds and stomping on the bits of paper with his eyes turning into balls of fire. So not only did they kick Taku out of the business and their home, they told everyone that he was the one that left. I bet they just didn't want to sound like the horrible people that they are. "Liars! I can't believe you'd say that!!" Like a child having a temper tantrum, he huffed and puffed and pouted and growled, unable to keep himself quiet.

[YellowPerch]

As soon as Hiro had looked up to check on the other, he heard him shouting. Hunched over the magazine piles, which had fallen over, yelling at one he held in his hand. Hiro decided he'd head over to him. Before a customer came in as he was shouting out. Hiro heard the other yell out about someone being a liar and stopped in his tracks. Clearly walking plainly up to him would cause trouble. Hiro tucked a hand under his chin, trying to remember the name his manager told him. Hiro may come off ad bright to some people, but he always had a problem with remembering the simplest things. Suddenly he remember the other's name. "Takuma, if you keep yelling out like that, we're going to have another upset customer."

 

Hiro watched as the other threw his tantrum and very steadily walked over to his side. Takuma had a magazine open to a certain page. "Fukui?" Hiro didn't think anything of the name at first. But then he remembered a classmate talking about a trip she was going on with her boyfriend. "Your the son of the owner of those amazing hotels!?" Hiro looked up at Takuma with wide eyes. He remembered seeing them every where on television. And even his mother couldn't get enough of how beautiful they looked.

[Coffee-Tastic]

The blond was heated up with anger, taking deep breathes by the time Hiro came over. He didn't care about the customers. He had a perfectly good reason to get pissed off. How dare they cover up the fact he was disowned. He hated his parents even more at this point, which he didn't even know was possible. "Those are no amazing hotels, peasant! They're degenerate hotels with rats and bed bugs crawling around! Run by the two worst people to ever be conceived on the face of the earth! Run by two rodents with chipped teeth and a deformed heart!" He put his hand over his face and had to take a step back, turning his back and gripping a fist in his other hand. He didn't care who knew his face, especially not a single employee of a unchained marketplace in this city.

 

"Telling the press I was dead wouldn't be worse than lying that I willingly came to live out here in such a place! Ruin my life, sure, but don't make other people think I want to live like a slave of society!!" He shouted again, but then leaned down, taking an even deeper breath. Takuma honestly wanted to forget about them. He did. But wounds opened up after reading that, being just as pissed as he was the day of being forced out. He couldn't deal with the world and all of the terrible people that lived in it. He was a saint among devils.

[YellowPerch]

Hiro was outright offended. He didn't take kindly to the way Takuma decided to use him as a pillow to scream into. Hiro stood up, forgetting that he was in the store. He dropped the magazine he'd been holding and was just about to shout back. Hiro didn't like yelling, he wasn't a shouter. Hiro took breath like Takuma had. He looked down at the magazine again before crouching down to read it once more. "Why don't you just get back at them?" He said it like there was no big deal. Like 'getting back at them' was going to be the easiest thing to do. Hiro started picking up the magazine pile that was knocked over, putting them in the empty boxes from the newer magazines.

 

He looked up at Takuma after he hadn't heard him say anything. "Your a son to some rich family, right? Then it shouldn't be all that hard for you to show them they were wrong." He continued working on the magazines again. When he finished placing them in the box, he lifted it up while standing. "Listen, go to the break room and calm down. I can't have you and your angry face scaring the customers." Hiro didn't even wait for Takuma to respond before he left out the front doors walking out back to the dumpster. He didn't have much strength, so he had to separate the magazines into the three boxes. Which meant he'd have to make three trips out back.

[Coffee-Tastic]

Prove them wrong? You say that as if I can snap my fingers and make it happen... He sighed heavily. Showing them that they were wrong? His parents believed he was useless, that he would never be able to manage everything because of his picky, annoying behavior when it came to something so simple like getting married. Opening his eyes, he looked around at the store, frowning again. This place was barely considered a real store to him, he was so much better than everything in here from the things on the shelves, to the customers, Hiro and the manager combined. It wouldn't be so hard to work his way up in management... would it? If he was so much better, then he shouldn't have a problem with clawing up the ranks. From shelf stock and cleaner, to register work, then to assistant manager, then to co manager, then to be a manager... He could make so many changes to this place. Starting with the uniforms. Then when he got more money, he could buy another space for a new store. Hire new people to make him more money, then make another store, then get more money, then get another store... Just like his grandfather had started the Fukui line!

 

With that realization, he lifted himself up and widened his eyes, It'll happen in no time if I just... Takuma looked at where Hiro went and followed after, taking the rest of the magazines in his hands like nothing, going to the back just as the brunet was returning, to throw them away. He had to start somewhere, right? It started from the bottom. It ended with having his own name on a moneymaking brand and outshining his freak parents who thought he was a good-for-nothing son. "Other dreams" they put it. Sure. Maybe he wouldn't be doing business on casinos and hotels, but be doing business in the supermarket industry..! In a year or two, that'll be it. He'll be rolling in green bills at his own estate, laughing at his mother and father... And Hiro was the one who gave him the idea. He was still a peasant, but maybe his head was in a good place.

[YellowPerch]

Hiro had struggle just lifting the box high enough over his shoulder, never mind tossing it in the dumpster. When he finally pushed it up and over the opening he sighed in exhaustion. He stretched out his arms as he began walking back to the store to grab another box. He really needed to work out more or he would never be able to lift a box with ease. Just as he rounded the corner, Takuma passed right by him. Hiro ducked behind the wall and poked around the corner. Takuma had been carrying the last two boxes with no trouble at all and cleanly tossed them into the dumpster. Hiro picked up his left arm, as if it were a lifeless limb. He sighed and dropped his head. "I really need to work out starting tomorrow."

 

Hiro hurried back inside the store before Takuma came back around. Hiro didn't want the wrath of Mr. rich son like he had gotten before. Luckily another customer came in right after Hiro, so he wouldn't have to deal with his anger again. The customer that came in was an elderly woman. So Hiro was lucky enough to even be asked to help carry the basket around for her. His smile wasn't forced like it was in front of Takuma, this time it was genuine. As the customer told him what she needed, Hiro grabbed it and placed it in the basket he held.

[Coffee-Tastic]

Takuma came back clapping his hands back and forth gently to get rid of any bit of dust or grime off his pure hands as if it was going to do anything. So now all he'd have to do was finish putting the rest of the new mags in place, but he didn't get back to his spot without noticing Hiro helping out an old woman. He rolled his eyes, remembering that he not only would had to be a slave to the manager of this store, but also be a slave to customers wanting his help because of his status as a gross blue button up shirt employee that had nothing else better to do than pretend they were important enough for his help. Having to help other people might actually be more gross than the shirt he was wearing.

 

He'd have to fake his smile so much that after work, he'd be forced to frown non stop. He was already like tht for three months on a daily basis, except being unemployed didn't require him to pretend to be nice in front of anyone. Glancing over again, he looked at the other employee, that blue eye'd beta. Tauma couldn't understand why he was smiling like that to her and not him. Even if he didn't care, he didn't find it fair. He was more important than some fragile old lady that wouldn't even be able to carry a quarter of the mags he took out to the paper waste in the back by herself. The alpha looked at Hiro and his genuine smile a little longer before snorting and going back to his own duties, shaking his head. Of course a lower class man would enjoy working at a place like this...

[YellowPerch]

Poor Hiro, although he loved helping other people, especially the elderly people, he always ended up getting stuck. The little old lady had forgotten a few of the items she'd originally came to get and ended up dragging Hiro through out the store. However, this never once made Hiro lose his smile. The little old lady, in fact, reminded him of his grandmother. By the time they had managed to find all the things the customer needed, it had been an hour. He was glad it was a slow day, he'd never have been able to do this if it were. Hiro brought her to the counter where he began ringing and bagging her things. During that time she spoke to him about her own grandson and how he was the same age as Hiro. Which, Hiro ended up having to tell her at one point while their shopping spree earlier.

 

When Hiro was done bagging her items he helped her walk them out of the store and pack them away in the taxi she had come in. He was relieved when he noticed she wouldn't have to lug the bags all the way home. He closed the trunk and waved goodbye to the customer as she got in the taxi. When it was gone Hiro went back inside, sighing a breath of air as he stretched. He looked at the clock on the wall and then over at Takuma, who had yet to finish putting the magazines away. "Takuma!" Hiro called out to him. "When your done with the magazines, let's go take a break." He pointed behind him at that time to the break room. Hiro was rude, but he was still a human. He needed a break once in a while too. Plus, if a customer came in while Hiro was on break, then Takuma wouldn't have been able to ring them out.

[Coffee-Tastic]

He had his back turned to the shop whilst putting up the new magazines, the simple task doing some actual stress relief to his surprise. He thought less of how wicked his parents were and thought more positively, which was seeing them pretend to be friendly with him after making so much money, but them turning them down with a shining smile on his face while saying "I followed my own path now, go fuck yourself, love you!" Hearing his name, he looked over his shoulder at the brunet who called him, turning hi back at him again and responding, "Okay, whatever." He was going to take break after this anyways. Wasn't that how it worked? After finishing one thing, you can take a break and then do the next task on the list? No? Well, anyways, he was going to go into that room to relax in the first place. It was a shame that it turned out he'd have to share his alone time with someone else.

 

Once all the mags were on the display, all in order from topics celebrities, to food, to weight loss, to health and then to the useless sports themed ones that be bet nobody would ever read, nor has ever read, Takuma got up and looked at his work, smirking at how nice it looked, rolling in the glory of this small, meaningless victory on his quest for his own supermarket empire. He went to the break room like he was going to anyways, he couldn't stress that enough, and let himself in sine it wasn't any kind of private room... His eyes trailed onto Hiro, the smirk on his face long since becoming a straight line again. A basic frown actually.

[YellowPerch]

Hiro had waited for Takuma a little bit before going to the break room. When he saw Takuma stand and admire his work, which all but caused Hiro to laugh just a bit, then he left first. When he entered the room he reached into the fridge, pulling out the bento he had made himself for lunch. Placing it on the table he chose to sit at, he then went to the vending machines. He had his food, he just needed a drink. As he was reaching in his pocket for some change, Takuma walked in. Hiro didn't notice the grin on his face, but when he looked over the frown was clear as day. Hiro ignored it, turning back to the vending machine.

 

Hiro pulled out his change, and began counting it. All right! Exact change! That's a first... he thought to himself. Most always he never had enough change to get himself something to drink. So while he had his lunch, he never had anything to drink with it. He was about to put his change in when he accidentally dropped two of the coins he had. "Ah! Crap!" He dropped to the floor and looked under the vending machine where the change rolled under. Hiro tried reaching under, glad he had lean arms. Unfortunately the coins had rolled too far out of reach and he was unable to get the change. Hiro huffed in disappointment and stood back up, heading to his table to eat his lunch. It wasn't like he always had drinks with it anyway. He sat down heavily in his chair and began taking out his lunch.

[Coffee-Tastic]

Takuma stood there, literally only watching Hiro struggle with getting his coin and even shamelessly watch him bend down and try to get his coins back. He huffed too, but not in disappointment, it was because he found it funny. Sucks for you. He went to that same machine and pressed in the button for a plain bottle of water. Takuma didn't bring any lunch of his own because besides the fact he didn't like to spend money on pled food from pleb supermarkets, but he didn't know how to cook anything himself either. With the kitchen he had, the only thing he could make were things in a microwave or have the option of using the single small pot there was, which was actually for boiling water for tea or for boiling eggs, which he did neither of because he didn't like to drink tea and he didn't know how to boil eggs himself either. Cooking seemed hard and he didn't know how to do anything himself, so he didn't bother. The only meals he ate was from the exact same fast food restaurant that he shamed people in. He hated it though mostly from how he hated it so badly at first, but then ended up getting more used to it. It was such a sad life at the bottom, what could he say?

 

Sitting at a chair of his own, the farthest one from Hiro, he took out his phone and had nothing else better to do than play a game. Even though he had his phone, Takuma was taken off of the services and now was left with using the hotel's horrible wifi or playing games he downloaded from before. He hasn't gotten around to setting up a line for himself, he felt like the steps to do it were too complicated and he might get tricked by evil phone companies that wanted his money. Takuma kept to himself, he couldn't bother with looking at his coworker and have the chance of getting hungry by watching him eat. The volume of his game was loud, echoing in the break room with a variety of noises of his success in Candy Crush level 340. A good hour and a half would cut it for a decent break wouldn't it? Its not like anyone actually used public bathrooms, especially ones in stores like this. There wouldn't be a rushing demand for it to be cleaned.

[YellowPerch]

When Hiro sat down at his table, he noticed how Takuma ended up going to the same machine, only to by himself a water. Stingy.... Hiro thought to himself with a small pout. The thought was quickly forgotten when he took a good look at his lunch. Fruits, a sandwich and a little rice ball he had made earlier this morning. Hiro ate his fruits first, savoring every bite of them. He was never one to waist food. In fact, if there was ever a time he never finished his food, then he'd give it to someone who would finish it. Hiro was a great cook, since he cooked all the time. His mother used to do it when he was younger, but as soon as he was able to learn himself he did. Since then he'd taken over cooking at home. Hiro would wake up early in the morning and make breakfast. If he had time he'd make some lunch for his mother and grandfather. He'd then go off to school until classes ended, come home and cook dinner before going to work. It was hard, and at first Hiro couldn't get used to it. But now it was pretty easy for him.

 

Twenty minutes had passed and Hiro realized there was only ten minutes left for break. He also noticed that Hiro hadn't eaten at all. Hiro looked down at his food, the rice ball still unwrapped. Hiro stood up out of his chair, taking the rice ball out of his bento. He closed it up and put it in his locker before walking over to Takuma, who was playing with his phone, not caring that his volume level was way too loud. Hiro placed the rice ball on the table, offering it to Takuma. "It's not much, but its enough to hold you over." His smile wasn't forced this time, but it wasn't as genuine as the one he had with the elderly customer. Hiro began walking away before stopping at the door. "When you finish that come on back out. We have to finish the work before closing time." With that he left.

[Coffee-Tastic]

Looking up from the game at Hiro who had approached him, then looked at the wrapped up riceball that was put on the table in front of him. A ball of rice. Why? To hold him over? Takuma closed out his game in the confusion and watched Hiro leave. Even the small action like this, someone like Taku couldn't wrap his head around at first. Was it an extension of that fake kindness, just like the smile he was given to before? Unlikely. Hiro had nothing to gain from giving him a small snack unless he was going to use that as a method of getting Takuma to do something for him as well. What if he wasn't hungry and gave the leftover riceball to him since he felt pity? If either of those were right, he hated both of them. Putting his phone back into his pocket, he glared at the door and then at the riceball, taking it in his hand as he got up.

 

He was not going to get scammed into doing Hiro a favor and he wasn't going to be given anything out of pity. Takuma took the riceball to the trash and was about to toss it away when he remembered the smile on his face. It wasn't actually fake this time... Then it must have been for pity. He still hesitated throwing it away, but at the end, it fell in the trash bin without being touched at all. The blond finished drinking his water and dropped it into recycling. It was only about thirty minutes in break, how was it possible they had to get back to work again? Working was tough... He came back out and looked around for Hiro, not to thank him because he didn't eat it anyways, but he just wanted to get done with his next job as soon as he could, "Where's the cleaning stuff? You told me to do the bathrooms, didn't you?"

[YellowPerch]

Hiro was in the front of the story counting inventory when Takuma came back out. Inventory was always the worst thing to do. Although it wasn't huge task, having to count out every single candy bar, every single chip bag or jerky package, or ice cream or water or soda...it just, took forever. Luckily Hiro had come up with a system in counting. This made it easier for him not lose his spot and it actually made it go by fast. Where before it would take him five days to do, it now took him three days to do. Hiro was counting one of the chocolate bars when Takuma approached him. His sour mood in serious mode. Hiro jotted down a number on his paperwork, so that he wouldn't forget where he left off. Then he stood up, leaving his clipboard at the spot he was at.

 

Hiro walked past Takuma and nodded. He hated the behavior he received from the other and wanted so bad to say something to him. But he ignored his feelings and forgot it. "This way." He jerked his head in the way they were going before actually walking away. Next to the bathroom was an old utility closest that was used for keeping all the cleaning supplies and some miscellaneous items. Because the back room was too cluttered, there was no room for it back there at all. Hiro grabbed the mop and bucket, setting that against the wall outside the closet. He then dug threw a box of disposable rags for a few. He turned and past those to Takuma before turning back and looking for the cleaners. He found them, one for the toilet and sink and the other to pour a little bit in the bucket with hot water. "Okay, so this one goes with rags, this one goes with mop." He pointed to each cleaner, explaining what it did for each thing. "There's only one bathroom, so it shouldn't take too long. Come find me when Your done. I'll be doing inventory." With that he left, figuring Takuma would be able to figure it out on his own.

[Coffee-Tastic]

Shouldn't take long at all he says. Hiro wasn't the one who only did this one other time in his whole life about two weeks ago. Takuma was glad to know this bathroom wasn't as bad as he thought, he bet it was because barely anyone came to this market in the first place and they wouldn't want to use the restroom in the first place if they were only here for a few things. Just because it was not as diry didn't mean he'd enjoy cleaning it any more than he had before. He had soft hands and he heard that using chemical products can make them callus over a long period of time, so he was particularly slow at this, washing his hands under warm water carefully every time his skin touched any of the cleaners, by accident or when he was using the rags to protect his touch from harmful chemicals.

 

At the very end, he happened to make a mistake. He mopped last and used a whole bunch of water, the floor pooling up water in the corners and reflecting the ceiling everywhere else as if the floor was a mirror. On top of that, he didn't mop from the back of the room towards the door so he wouldn't get trapped inside. Takuma was left with a small circle of dry floor in the middle of the room, trapped there as if it was an island he had no means of escape from. Because he didn't want to get the floor any more dirty with his footprints and he didn't want to risk slipping on his behind, he stayed there and took out his phone, continuing his game. He was done here, so it would be fine. Once the floor was completely dried, he could go to Hiro if it already wasn't closing time by that time.

[YellowPerch]

Niro had left to go back and continue inventory. The bathroom was out of his view, so wouldn't have been able watch from afar if Takuma needed anything. Hopefully he'd be okay. It was just cleaning a bathroom, it wouldn't be that hard for him. Right? Hiro was about to stand up and go check on him, but he quickly decided against it. He shook his head. 'If I go help Takuma with everything then he won't learn at all.' Giro went back to counting. By the time he was done with one whole role of candy it had been thirty minutes. Girl figured he might go and check on Takuma. The bathroom wouldn't take all that long. 'Maybe he's just a clean freak' Hiro thought to himself. When he got up to go and check, Hiro suddenly had a little rush. Four people ended up coming in and occupying his time.

 

After fifteen minutes of helping the customers and ringing them out, Hiro was now concerned about Takuma. He looked around the store one last time, noticing that no one was shopping, he then went to the bathroom. He opened the door while speaking. "Takuma has the clea-" his sentence was never finished after seeing the mess of the bathroom. Although the toilet and sink seemed to be clean , there was nothing more troubling then seeing a puddle of water across the floor. Hiro looked up from the puddle on the floor to Takuma who stood in one dry spot and had his phone out. Hiro could hear the volume again, inciting that he was playing a game instead of working. "Takuma what happened? Why is there so much water on the floor?"

[Coffee-Tastic]

"Heh?" He didn't look up from the phone, he was on a roll with combos and super specials, he couldn't ruin that streak by losing his focus. Wouldn't let it happen. "Why are you asking me that question? I mopped. You told me to do that, employee number two, it shouldn't surprise you that the floor is a little wet. It's all clean." The bucket of water that was beside him on the floor was nearly drained of all the water, more evidence pointing to that he used far more than he needed to. It wasn't like a wet mop was able to get dry once it was used, Takuma had no way to make it any less wet in here. "If you have any complaints, then I'd like to see if you can do a better job than this by yourself."

 

The maids and servants around the house were the one to deal with any type of mess in the house if there were any. Like anyone else, nobody would find watching a maid mop the floor to be entertaining, so why would he have? Though, if he ever took time to notice how they did work, he'd know that this was no way to mop a floor. Also that he could have used gloved from the beginning. Takuma didn't like how pruny his fingers got from washing his hands so much. It was like he was swimming in the pool he made of the floor. "Don't come in either or you'll slip. The last thing I need is to be sued for something so petty."

[YellowPerch]

Hiro could feel his face tensing. He didn't want to frown, he wasn't a frowner. He hated being down all the time, he sustained his life by staying optimistic. Unfortunately his face couldn't help but form the fake smile once more. He let out a sigh before leaving the bathroom once more. He went to the closet and looked through it for something to clean up the puddle of water over the whole of the floor. He spotted a small wet vac that the manager had purchased when the sink ended up having a leak and made a mess of the bathroom. He pulled it out and carried it back to the bathroom. He put it down and turned to the wall on the outside to plug it in. He didn't even look at Takuma again, knowing he would end up making an awful expression if he did.

 

Hiro knelt down and looked for a switch to turn the vac on. When he did he stood up. "Just stay there for now." He spoke out to Takuma. Hiro figured he probably didn't even have to, he didn't think Takuma was going to move any time soon. He then started pushing the long tube like nozzle cross the floor as it picked up the excess water. It took him ten minutes to at least make the first half of the bathroom walkable again, which allowed Takuma to leave the bathroom. Hiro had to stop halfway through to help another customer that had come in. Hiro left the bathroom and headed for the front of the store to help them. Not even looking back or speaking out to Takuma.

[Coffee-Tastic]

His little streak ended while the vacuum was on, but he actually did find a little entertainment in watching a maid work for once. The look on his face was so controlled, like he was about to finally snap the fake smile into a complete blue moon frown. Takuma could obviously tell from the amount of fake smiles he's gotten that Hiro was one of those people who constantly tried to make others believe he was a happy person with no issues in his life. The only people who didn't have issues in their life were the ones buried in their graves or turned into ash to be put in ugly, depressing flower pots. Not even the richest people in the world were problem free, and he should know because even on his high horse, he had plenty of problems. Though all of which were first world issues, like his coffee wasn't made right or if he got a stain on his shirt that wouldn't come off.

 

He put his phone back into his pocket when the brunet left, tilting his head to the side as he had watched him go. "Frustrated, aren't you now?" He mumbled to himself, amused. Hiro shouldn't deserve such an inhospitable new employee to work with, but guess what, life isn't easy all the time! "He didn't even finish what he started, tsk! What good are workers if they can't do something right..." Takuma took the nozzle and turned it on so he could finish drying the bathroom by himself.

 

When he was done, he put the machine to the side and left the bathroom, looking around for Hiro, "Hey! I finished the bathroom!"