Ch. 5 - Trying to know each other better.

I log back in the game and check if she's online, as I log in and check, she's last seen online 2 hours ago.

I should've ask her earlier but I wasn't really interested in it, yet my curiosity just kicks in at random times. In order to forget about it, I just watch some anime untill im tired to fall asleep. Since I woke up at 10 am earlier and only been awake for half a day, I have some trouble sleeping, but I still try to. Sometimes I regret drinking strong coffee at the afternoon.

* The next day *

I open my eyes and look at my phone to see what time is it, im 5 minutes ahead of my alarm clock, so I turn it off and get off of bed. Even though im still feeling a bit sleepy, I draw my curtains and let sunshine hits my face, its makes my morning eyes squint. So I close my eyes and let my body absorb vitamin D exposure in the morning, it helps someone feel awoke. Or maybe just me.

Well I headed straight for work, knowing I really have work today. This time I arrive much earlier than the others, but my father was already inside. So I got in and I enthusiastically prepare ingredients for later uses, got some vegetables chopped, some meats defrosted and the cooking seasonings all lined up in my cooking station. Its another day of working for a living, even though I dont have any other reasons in my miserable life.

But I do love doing what im doing right now.

After another day of work, I always walk with my friends to the station they live in an apartment near their university, from there I ride the taxi to my house as its not that far away from the the station. Sometimes I just walk if I feel like doing it so I can stop by the grocery stores on the way. I go to work and go back home alone, so I always carry a pepper spray and a sharp piece of wood that looks like a pencil for easy stabbing.

I opened the door in my dark house, turn on the lights and just throw my stuff at the couch, I unpacked my cooked food I made in the restaurant and eat at the couch watching TV. Then after a bath I lay down in my bed and play the game, hoping to catch her online this time. Fortunately for me she is, she even left a message in the chat box, she may be in the middle of a game, so I decided to read it first.

After I reply to her messages, she already reply back to me. Saying "Welcome back darling! how was your day?" I replied, "Good evening love, Im doing okay, how about you?" I tend to talk for her a little bit before I ask her.

Airi : "What were you doing earlier? you only seem to be online at night."

Akagi : "I have work in the morning untill evening."

Airi : "Oh, so have a job! your older than me then."

Akagi : "How about you? and how old are you? if you dont mind me asking."

Airi : "Oh, im a college student. And im 19 years old."

Akagi : "Im only 24 years old, turning 25 this year."

Airi : "Wait, you dont attend as a university student or college?"

I wanted to answer her question honestly, but my real reasons are very personal and we just met last week in the game, so maybe not today. I would only tell a little bit that is not sensitive information.

Akagi : "My father owned a restaurant and he taught me his cooking style, so I work there as his Sous chef. I don't need a college degree for it and its pays well."

Airi : "So you dont wanna go to college?"

Akagi : "No, some careers dont require a degree and its pretty decent, saves time and money. When it comes to certain jobs, experience does better than knowledge."

Airi : "Oh I see, so you took cooking as your career?"

Akagi : "Yeah, I probably did, what are you studying in college?"

Airi : "Im still not sure what to pick, but I got here hoping to become a lawyer, designer, psychologist or a teacher someday."

Akagi : "Got here? what prefecture are you from?"

I suddenly got so curious, I lost track of our conversation and ask her immediately,

Airi didn't reply for a few minutes, so I add in.

"Im from Yamakita in Kanagawa, but I moved to Shizuka and lived with my grandparents then I move back to Kanagawa in the city of Fujisawa with my father and stepmom."

I dont know why, but I seem to be really into this conversation.

Airi : "Well, I will tell you, but please promise me that you wont hate me."

It kinda makes me feel that this is private and sensitive information, and I dont wanna poke my nose to something that it isn't meant to be, I dont wanna look like a creep or stalker of some sort.

Akagi : "If its sensitive information, dont force yourself. I understand."

Airi : "Are you saying that you'll actually hate me when you found out? and you already told me your location, I want this to be a fair exchange of information."

Akagi : "Im not saying I will hate you, but if you feel uncomfortable saying it, I respect your decision. But sure you do you, I promise I wont whatever it is."

Airi : "Im not from here and im not Japanese, im from Malaysia."

Akagi : "Why would I hate you for that? that doesn't seem bad."

Airi : "Oh, your not? im glad your not like the others."

Akagi : "I have 2 questions though, if you dont mind me asking."

Airi : "Just ask darling~"

Akagi : "The first question is, how did you got here and the second question is, what do you mean im not like the others."

Airi : "Well I move here with my mother and 2 younger siblings because I got a scholarship to study in university here, and my father has been working here years before. So I plan to graduate and have a degree here."

"To answer your second question, some people here in the college sometimes discriminate me for my strange and different culture and looks."

Akagi : "Oh you got a scholarship, lucky you. But I kinda feel bad for you, they have no right to do that. They just dont know any other country or cultures outside of their own, they're just dumb you know better than them."

Airi : "Thank you, but I curious, why you don't discriminate me like them? not that I want you to be like that."

Akagi : "I love studying geography and history. I tend to be fascinated by each countries glorious and thriving past. So I know to respect each nations unique culture and appearance."

Airi : "Wow, you study history and geography like me! We same, even though I dont know much, I want to learn it."

Akagi : "I agree, we have some similarities."

And just like that we talk more about our differences in culture and interests. I let my actual question slip for now, I feel like I have asked to much questions and she mighy feel im interrupt her. So we played a match again and said goodbye for the night.

The next day, I woke up a bit early, but I didn't get up yet. I just stared blankly into the ceiling, thinking if it will be good for my self if I go to college, let's see, students at my age, dorms, roommates, always studying, hang out with friends, constantly looking for good instant food at the lowest prices possible, stressed, malnourished, tired, dont have much time for something else, working part time, competitive in grades, struggling in exams- maybe not. Not now.

I dont plan on going to college to get a degree for a job that doesn't need a degree. Recently I have been also getting flashbacks of what kind of treatment I use receive in middle school and high school. It makes me feel hatred, disappointment and regret.

I grab my phone and look at the time, 2 minute before alarm. I turn off the alarm and hurriedly get out of bed to shower. Its time for work.

- Restaurant -

Akagi : "Viennese cutlet, order for table number 7."

Chinatsu : "Got it."

That was the last dish served for now, there's surprisingly few customers today. I wonder what happened, people might not be in the mood for today or its not exactly that busy so there aren't much people. I can't help but think that we might have an adversary nearby, but I dont have any other evidence aside from my assumption, so I cant say its true.

Kazuo : "Mako-kun, we're not so busy today, aren't we?"

Kazuo approached my station.

Akagi : "Yeah, I might consider to make coffee for myself at this point."

Kazuo : "Your always in the mood for coffee."

He let out a little chuckle.

Akagi : "How about you? how you feeling?"

Kazuo : "Im just bored, I got so much used to working tirelessly and continuously."

I poured a cup of coffee in my personal mug and sat down next to him.

Akagi : "Wanna talk about something?

*Slurps*

Kazuo : "I guess so, do you got any other game or anime recommendations?"

Akagi : "What kind? I know some in my mind, but tell me what you prefer first."

Kazuo : "Well im looking something to play or watch with my girlfriend, Fuyuko-chan from Highschool remember?"

Akagi : "Yes, we've all been in the same school, I remember her."

Kazuo : "You see, we've only been dating for a month and you two seem really close back then, and I want to know her better. So can I ask what she likes?"

Akagi : "I dont remember being close to her, but we did talk a few times."

*Slurps*

Kazuo : "Can you tell me what kind of actual girl she is?"

Akagi : "As far as I can remember, she likes to play games and watch shows about mysteries and crime solving, especially the one's with a plot twist."

"So I would recommend movies like 'No mercy' and 'forgotten'. And in the gaming category, same genre just play some games with a plot to it."

Kazuo : "Cool! can you DM it to me later?"

Akagi : "I think I will just write it down and give them to you, im more concentrated now I might forgot later."

Kazuo hands me a paper as I pull out a pen from my pocket, I wrote down what I said and add in some other information, her favorite food, style, type of guy.

I also told Kazuo not to treat her so nicely cause she's aware that too much kindness is bad, she witnessed it happen to me.