Did He Fall Under the Salesgirl's Eloquent Marketing Words?

"Meow~"

"What it is, Chobi?"

Himari ignored her orange fat cat that was busy chasing his own tail. She was currently busy piping on top of the vanilla cupcakes.

The top of the cupcakes was piped with a large swirl of cream in pastel green color. Once she was done, she added another decoration that resembled two blooming cherry blossoms. The pink petals looked adorable on top of the cupcakes.

"All done," Himari smiled in satisfaction.

Because of her promise to Chiharu, Himari planned to give her vanilla cupcakes. In keeping with the spring season, she decorated the cupcakes with cherry blossoms.

"Five for Chiharu, another five for Nanako and the rest is mine," Himari brought out two white pastry boxes from the inside of the cabinet.

Her cooking and baking skills weren't acquired overnight. Because she loved to see her mother cooking delicious dishes and baking scrumptious sweets, Himari learned them from an early age.

During the hardest days of her studying in the college before, she had even thought to go back home and open a small eatery.

"Meow! Meow~"

Chobi jumped on the small dining table. Himari quickly caught him.

"Don't leave your prints, okay?" She poked his fleshy nose, "Last time, you left a paw print on the cake. Thank goodness Nanako didn't come here and make you into a barbecue."

Himari wanted to laugh when she remembered the incident.

Nanako was craving a blueberry cheesecake. Himari didn't know when did Chobi sneakily come and put his paw on a corner of the cake. When Nanako received the cake, she fumed in frustration.

"That stupid cat really loves getting on my nerves! I'll stew him the first moment I see him next!"

Chobi purred and rubbed his head on his mother's chest.

"Meow~" It wasn't my fault.

Himari hugged Chobi and brought him into the bedroom. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the crystal lamp on the bedside table.

Hehehe, it's finally hers~

What surprised Himari more was after she opened the second box, she found another gift. A long string of rosebud-shaped fairy lights waited for her.

She couldn't help but recall the moment the salesgirl urged her to buy the lamp together with the fairy lights.

Did Mr. Hayashi fall under the salesgirl's eloquent marketing words?

Himari hung the lights over the wall behind the headboard. If she switched off the main lights then opened the crystal lamp and the rosebud fairy lights, the pinkish glow and the warm yellow lights intertwined together to illuminate the inside of the bedroom.

Very beautiful.

Another school day arrived.

"Izumi," Himari called him once the class was finished.

Izumi gathered his attention from the workbook in front of him to the English teacher who was calling for him, "Yes, Teacher Kato?"

Himari put on a smile, "Please come to see me after school. I have some matters for you."

Izumi was taken aback but he could only agree, "Understood, Teacher..."

Himari left Class 3-3. She still had another class to teach before the school came to its end today.

While she left, the boy couldn't help but think about what did his homeroom teacher wanted to talk to him about.

Soon, the school concluded its last lessons for today.

Izumi put his books inside the locker at the back of the classroom. He only picked the ones that he had homework to complete.

Today, Teacher Goda told them to have a day off thus he wouldn't have the need to go to the school basketball court.

There was no need for him to spend time inside the library today as well.

Uncle said he could come earlier than usual so they didn't have to wait until sunset.

Izumi put the schoolbag straps on his shoulders and walked out of the classroom. Most of the students were getting ready to go home while the ones who were on duty stayed to clean the classroom.

"Bye~"

"See you tomorrow."

"Don't forget to bring the comic!"

The sound of the students' chattering came from all sides. Izumi quietly made his way toward the staircase that was connected to the administrative building.

Bang!

"...!"

Izumi was startled when a tin can was kicked in his direction. He quickly dodged it, resulting in the can bounced on the wall.

"Oh, it's a shame that you avoid it. Well, you're not chosen to join the basketball team for nothing."

Izumi's face turned ugly once the familiar voice fell.

Soon, three boys who wore the same uniform as Izumi appeared.

The three of them were around the same height. The one who stood in the center, who acted as a leader, showed an unbridle disgust at Izumi.

Izumi ignored the three boys. He turned around and walked away.

"Stop! Who told you to move?"

Izumi froze. He glanced behind his shoulders. With an icy cold stare, he stared at the boy, "What?"

The boy flinched for a second before he quickly adjusted his smug expression.

"Where are you hurrying to? Aren't you going to follow me? You have to finish my homework," The boy lifted up his arms and folded them around his chest.

"Why must I do what you want?" Izumi gnashed his teeth.

The boy looked nonchalant, "I could tell my Daddy to not cooperate with your uncle. Don't you remember how hard your uncle works on the project? With my words, my Daddy could easily choose another partner."

"Yuuto!"

The boy named Yuuto laughed out loud.

This Izumi was really stupid! He didn't bother to check on the facts!

"So, are you doing my homework or not?" Yuuto wiggled his brows with a smirk.

Izumi clenched his fists hard but he didn't dare to retort. His jaw turned rigid as he tried to hold back his anger.

In the end, he spoke in a low voice, "...Yes."

"En?" Yuuto put a hand next to his right ear, "What did you say? I can't hear you."

"I said I would do your homework," Izumi said through gritted teeth.

"That's more like it," Yuuto nodded his head repeatedly, "So? What are you doing now? Follow me to the library. I'm going to dump my books on you."

"Teacher Kato wants to meet me after school," Izumi avoided from looking directly at Yuuto, "If you wanted to join me in the teachers' room, go ahead."

It was Yuuto's turn to shut his mouth. He stared at Izumi with doubt.

"Are you sure he's telling the truth?" The slightly chubby boy who stood on Yuuto's left side said.

Izumi shot him a glare, "Do you think I'm stupid like you? To use a teacher's name to tell a lie?"

The chubby boy's face twisted, "Watch what you said!"

Izumi ignored him.

Yuuto weighed down his words.

"Tsk, go. Don't make me wait too long."

Yuuto turned around. His two followers quickly followed him.

Izumi sighed in frustration.

Time and again, he couldn't muster up his courage to go against the bully.

It wasn't like he didn't want to but, he didn't want to put Uncle in a tough spot. He knew how hard Uncle had been working ever since that thing happened.

Uncle left what he loved the most because of them.

He worked hard all day and night to not let what their father cherished crumble.

Despite the hardships, Uncle never chose to abandon them.

At the very least, he didn't want to cause trouble to his uncle.

With a heavy heart, Izumi walked to the teachers' room.

Chiharu would be worried if he didn't go to get her sooner. He had to finish whatever Teacher Kato would ask him, go to pick Chiharu up at the kindergarten section and bring her with him to the library for a short while.

He still had to meet the despicable Yuuto.

Izumi quietly opened the sliding door of the teachers' room. His eyes quickly spotted Teacher Kato who sat at her desk.

There was no one inside the room safe for Teacher Kato and Teacher Goda who was napping on a couch at one corner of the spacious teacher's room.

"Hello, Teacher Kato," He greeted once he stood next to her.

Himari lifted up her eyes from the book in front of her. She smiled once she saw him.

"Izumi, you're here," Himari turned sideways to face him, "I have something to ask you. I'll be direct, okay?"

Izumi pursed his lips. He suddenly got a bad inkling.

Himari took one workbook out from the stack at one corner of her desk. She showed it to Izumi.

Izumi's eyes flickered in shock.

This was... his workbook.

Did Teacher Kato has noticed something amiss?

"Izumi," Himari flipped to the first page, "I'm not sure if it's just my assumption or not but, I think you've changed your English workbook three times already in the span of one month. Would you tell me why this happens?"

Izumi lowered his eyes to the floor. His voice was so quiet as he spoke, "That... I accidentally wet my book with water and..."

Himari smiled faintly, "Did you spill water on your book thrice?"

Izumi stiffened.

He didn't know how to answer.

Himari refrained from sighing. She softened her voice and asked, "Izumi, is something or someone troubling you?"