1 CHAPTER-1

''Sorry we only take girls here"Weekdays? Aren't you a student don't you have school,besides didn't you work at "Indigo"?

Oh! Now I remember you are the part-timer who got into a fight in front of the store, aren't you?"e''. Could you please make an exception? Weekdays are completely fine with me!

Huh? "You were so loud I could hear you from here, it's no surprise you would be fired after starting all that trouble". Apparently that guy did eat and run, sir.

"Regardless of the reason, I don't think there would be any store here that would want to hire you any more. So instead of wasting my productive time here, why don't you go to some other area for your job hunting."

Walking away Takeru thought, 'well that's how it is.....'. Dejected he rummaged through his pockets and looked at his last 800 yen and frustratingly thought 'I have no money and no goal'.

While returning to his college campus, Takeru reflected upon his younger self and how he had planned to start working right after graduating high school. He wasn't the top of his class nor was he a bad student either, he was just an average student with average grades and average extracurricular, who never stood out of the ordinary. 'But since his homeroom teacher recommended him to keep studying, this is the outcome. Geeze... why is my luck so bad', Takeru thought frustratingly.

Later, after class Takeru thought 'Oh! I am hungry' and instantly to support his mind, his stomach decided to grumble loudly, as well. And at that particular moment he was suddenly tackled to the ground by his long time friend Yuya. Yuya Okada and Takeru Nogami have been friends since their high school days and now they were also enrolled in the same college, too.

Hearing his stomach grumble Yuya gave Takeru a knowing glance and held his hand out to Takeru, so that he could stand up. After the lackluster and disastrous morning Takeru was happy to meet his friend again and was back to his usual jovial mood.

Like any other normal college going male, they talked and jocked loudly with each other on their way to the student common room, and as usual their actions were met by disapproving glares from the passerby.

As they were passing by the college notice board Takeru stopped and checked if there were vacancies open for a part time job.'Eh? Hourly rate of 1500 yen, this is not bad,well, for a tutor, that pricing is quite normal', Takeru said to Yuya. "Actually, it is quite low for the offered position", replied Yuya. Walking ahead Yuya jokes, "Oh yeah, Takeru, someone like you wants to be a tutor?" 'If this is not going to work...then I will be in trouble. Starting from today I won't be able to afford even a meal.' " What about your workplace? I thought the meals were included at the restaurant", enquied Yuya. 'I have my own issues that I am unable to express', Takeru said in a frustrated tone." Ahh..Stop being so loud, Takeru. I am sure this is why you don't have a job anymore", joked Yuya. 'Whatever, let's see, can you treat me to a meal? Let's decide with rock, paper and scissors… yeah!', asked Takeru.

While Yuya was collecting his bottle of green tea from the common room vending machine, he said to Takeru, "Oh! So you got laid off because you fought with a customer, who was doing eat and run. Then isn't that a commendable job, to do". It is, is it not , but still everyone in that area kept on treating me like a pest', huffed Takeru."You are a very righteous person, aren't you Takeru", commented Yuya. ' 'Manager originally praised me for being really energetic but still decided to let me go', replied Takeru. Yuya was getting suspicious that Takeru wasn't telling him the entire truth and in this matter, Takeru might have been equally responsible, therefore Yuya decided to confront Takeru about this and asked, " Let's see, could it be that you were impolite to the unruly customer?" At that question, Takeru lowered his eyes and tried to avoid Yuya's direct gaze. Seeing Takeru's expression, Yuya's suspicion was clarified, then he counseled Takeru by saying, "Yup... you sure did...that's why they let you go. You should have just left it alone, it's all because of your useless sense of justice". 'It wasn't like that. Ah... I am getting hungry', Takeru said, now annoyed. "Me too", chirped Yuya.

Standing up and picking up his backpack from the ground, Yuya announced, "I need to head out to the cafeteria". 'Are you just gonna go there yourself and leave me with my hungry stomach?', complained Takeru. "Then why don't you come too", offered Yuya. Dejected by his friends' indifference, Takeru muttered, ' I already said that I don't have money'. "Oh well...bye then", replied Yuya in an unconcerned manner and walked away. Turning his head toward the direction, Yuya was walking away, Takeru cursed at Yuya, 'You heartless bastard'. Yuya only acknowledged Takeru by waving his hand, but still kept walking.

After Yuya left Takeru saw no point in staying there either and decided to leave. While walking away he rummaged through his pockets and said, 'What can I eat with these few coins?'. 'Uff! I am doomed', Takeru thought melancholically looking down at an angrily grumbling stomach.

After the fiasco with Yuya, Takeru decided that today he would be skipping the rest of his classes, as he still needed to look for a job. After leaving the college campus Takeru went to numerous shops in other districts to look for a part time job, but the results were fruitless, as the only thing he got was endless rejection. Dejected Takeru decided to rent a bicycle and mindlessly roamed around a relatively isolated residential area. No one was visible in Takeru's line of sight, which provided him the illusion of tranquility. With the blowing air ruffling his hair he finally was able to clear his head and let his mind be at peace. For a while Takeru decided to stand still in the middle of the road, and just basked in the golden hue of the setting sun and cherished the moment for what it was. He felt utterly exhausted by himself, the world and everyone else around him. Takeru was tired of the society's obsession with the 'hustle culture', and how they perceived success, to be.

It seIt seems that everywhere he goes, people are suffering from the "hustle culture" pandemic. By hustle culture, he mean's the collective urge we currently seem to feel as a society to work harder, stronger, faster. To grind and exert ourselves at our maximum capacity, every day, and accomplish our goals and dreams at a lightning speed that matches the digital world we've built around ourselves. But he felt so utterly exhausted, he had no one to rely on, he was all alone in this harsh and cruel world, fending for himself.

As he gazed at the setting sun, he decided that it was time to go back and face his reality, heads on.

After having cleared his thoughts, Takeru felt as if he had been relieved of an unknown weight that had been sitting on his shoulders, for how long even he himself wasn't aware of it.

While cycling back Takeru saw the street lights lightening up and smiled at the mundane activity, this is often overlooked by all, including himself. The smile conveyed neither happiness nor sadness, it was a smile that simply showed the appreciation of a human's existence.

While cycling back, Takeru looked down towards his watch checking the time and suddenly felt the force of an abrupt collision. Which sent him flying onto the ground. Though he gained back his senses quickly and checked himself for any potential injuries and except for a few scratches here and there he seemed completely fine.

Realizing the situation he has landed himself in, with staggering steps Takeru went towards the man who was lying on the ground, groaning in pain. 'Are you okay, sir!?', asked Takeru and got no reply. Hesitantly, Takeru helped the man stand up and asked again,'Are you alright!?', but still there was no answer. Now panicking Takeru assured the man (and himself) by saying,' Please hang in there!! Are you alright!? Does it hurt anywhere!?.' " My arm", suddenly the man said in a low voice. Taking the man's arm in his hand Takeru asked,'Does your arm hurt?', "Ahh....", hissed the man in pain. Examining the man's arm closely Takeru muttered to himself, 'This might be broken… Alarmed Takeru asked the man in a worried voice, 'How are your legs? Do you think you can walk?' "My... legs are fine, I can walk", sluttered the man. But the man's answer went unheard. In his distressed state, Takeru kept on rambling, without taking into account what the man in his arms was saying,'Let's get you to the hospital! This is faster than calling an ambulance. It's right there…', Takeru said in his frenzied tone.

Meanwhile the man tried to walk on his own, but due to his unsteady steps, he couldn't take more than a few steps. Realizing what the man was trying to do,Takeru got more worried and quickly helped the man regain his balance by shouldering the injured man's body weight on his own body, and led the man towards the direction of the hospital. Observing the pained look on the man's face, Takeru felt guilty and apologized, 'Ah wait, please hold on, it's just a bit more'. It must hurt, doesn't it ....I am really sorry about this.'