[Multi-chapter] Change Me - Chapter Six: The Night He Took Her Worries Away
This is is unbeta-ed so tell me if there are any errors and mistakes. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading! :)
A/N: This fanfic is the third of a five-part series about Arashi's quest on romance. The completed Jun and Sho fics are here and here. It is not a requirement to read the previous ones, you can enjoy each stories without reading the others. :D
Word Count: 2,125
Chapter Six
The Night He Took Her Worries Away
Her bedroom door slowly creaks open. Turning around, she saw her brother coming in as he pleased. Without a word, Seira returned to her laptop.
“You’ve been facing that laptop for the past two days.” Yuji started. “When are you planning to get your ass off that chair?”
Seira glares at her brother. “Did you come here to scold me?”
“No. I’m just asking.” Yuji replied in defense while raising his hands. “Are you not going to look for a job?” He asked carefully.
Seira would cringe in exasperation every time that word is mentioned. She gets it, they all wanted her to quickly find a job but she hates how they all rubbing it to her face. Mentioning it once is enough, she wanted to tell them but she couldn’t bring herself to speak up and defend herself.
“I’m looking for one.” Seira answered flatly. “…on the internet.” She shrugged her shoulders before leaned over her laptop.
Yuji gasped under his breath. “There goes your enthusiasm.” He commented but Seira decided to ignore him. “Why don’t you work for Dad, Sei? It would be much easier there. All you have to do is ask.” He suggested.
Their father started his own production company about ten years ago and since then he focused on working behind the scenes. Their mother also lends a helping hand in the business, leading the management side.
Seira sighed. “I don’t want to work for him.” She continued thumping her fingers on the keyboard.
“Why?” Yuji pushes in.
Seira rolled her eyes. “I don’t want people to say that I got a job because of my father.” Surprisingly, she’s quite honest.
“It’s our family’s company, Seira. You have every right to work there.”
“I don’t want to!” Seira snapped irritably and Yuji was shocked with the sudden rage. “Just go, Yuji.” She pushed him away and her brother hesitantly walks off to the door.
“In case you change your mind, don’t hesitate to come and talk to Dad. You know that he’ll accept you in the company with open arms.” Yuji said before he closes the door and the bedroom suddenly went silent.
Seira rubbed her forehead and she gave a muffled scream. Living in this house for the past week is nothing but pressure. She barely leaves her room because she doesn’t want to see any of her family’s faces for she knows that they will start lecturing her again.
She once thought of escaping in secret, in the middle of the night where everyone is sound asleep. She knows that Saki would willingly lend her some money and maybe she can run away to America. With her allowance cut off and her credit cards confiscated, she have no choice but to work there but at least she’s free of her family’s daily scolding.
~~~
“Your daughter’s got some enormous pride.” Yuji told his parents when he joined them in the living room. “She said she doesn’t want people to think that her connections got her the job.”
Takasugi Kichirou just nodded once before returning to the television screen but it’s obvious in his face that his thoughts are drifting away.
“I’m sure that will not be the case, Yuji. They’re a nice bunch, our staff…” Takasugi Tomoko spoke in her usual soft voice. “Working for the company is her best option.”
“How is she going to find a job she wanted if she continue locking herself in that room.” Kichirou’s husky voice echoed.
“She’s looking for jobs on the internet.” Yuji reported and his father raised his eyebrows.
“She graduated four years ago and since then she doesn’t have any working experience, certainly, she wouldn’t get a job with a blank resume. And there she is, looking on the internet as if everything’s a joke.” Kichirou shakes his head in disappointment. He started tapping his fingernails on the sofa’s arm rest, thinking, while Yuji and Tomoko stay silent.
“Seira will work on the company starting this Monday, whether she liked it or not.” Kichirou firmly decided.
Oblivious to the three on the living room, Seira is listening to them upstairs, hiding behind the wall. She slowly closed her hands into a fist, her nails dug into her palm. Momentarily, she flees down the stairs.
“I’m not going to work for you, Dad.” Seira declared and everyone was surprise to see her. “All this time, you’ve been calling the shots. Have you ever asked me what I wanted?” She tried hard not to cry, it’s not the time to show her weakness.
Kichirou remained calm. “Well, what do you want, Seira? You want to go back to America and have fun with your friends?”
“No, Dad.” Seira raised her voice. “What I want is for the three of you to treat me like I’m part of this family, because I’m starting to feel like a trash here. You all make me feel that I’m useless, that I’m nothing compared to all of you.”
“Sei-chan…” Tomoko inches closer but Seira shrugs her away and runs off the door.
~~~
She’s running and running with no plans on where to go. The tears on her eyes run down as soon as she reaches outside. She’s ready to break down days ago but she tries her best to keep it to herself by crying under her sheets at night but she have reached her limits tonight, she have to let them know how she feels.
Seira found herself a street across from the neighbourhood playground, looking deserted and gloomy at this time. She immediately crosses the empty street and sat on the bench by the trees, putting her legs up as she wraps her hand on her knees. She picks up her phone on her pocket and dialled Saki’s number.
It took a while before Saki picks up her call and when she does, Seira can hear the haziness in the background.
“Seira!” Saki’s voice echoed. “Have you been calling for long?”
“It’s okay.” Seira tried to sound as cheerful while she wipes off the tears on her cheeks.
“I’m so sorry. I’m still stuck her at the restaurant. With tomorrow’s opening, I need to make sure everything’s in proper order, so double checking, even triple checking the whole place.”
Seira just smiled faintly, hearing how excited her best friend is.
“So why did you call?” Saki inquired.
“Nothing much, just checking out on you.” Seira lied. It’s probably not the right time to call her best friend and talk about her problems.
“Hey, you can come here later when everyone’s gone. Let’s drink like last time. My chef made some delicious desserts for sampling and I still have some left on the fridge. It’s really good with wine, you know.”
Seira can feel the tears welling up on her eyes again. A part of her is jealous of her best friend, if only she have half of Saki’s determination maybe her parents would be proud of her.
“You should go to sleep, Saki. You have a big day ahead, you should have a beauty rest. We can drink ‘til we drop tomorrow night on the opening.” She tried to sound chirpy but a single tear already fell from her eyes.
“Thanks, Seira. See you tomorrow, okay? We’re going to have lots of fun!” She heard Saki getting excited on the other line. Seira said wishes her a good night and a good luck before she ended the call.
A new batch of tears fell and she is helplessly crying as she clasps her knees. She doesn’t want to go home tonight and earlier, she figured that Saki will allow her to spend the night over at her place but Saki have other things to worry about than her bratty best friend’s family problems.
As she feebly hug legs, tears endlessly streaming on her face, she realized that all those kids she grew up with are successful with their chosen path and she was left alone with nothing to be proud of. She’s very happy for Saki of course, but she silently wondered when will be her turn. She wanted to make everyone she loves proud as well but maybe now, it’s all too late.
With nowhere to go, Seira scanned her phone contacts on people she can ask for help but then saw that she only have six people on her phonebook.
She pressed on a certain name and deliberated on whether to press call or not. Worst case scenario is that she’ll sleep on this bench tonight but it’s not going to go well once the people on the neighbourhood finds out that Takasugi Kichirou’s daughter spends the night on the park bench, she might make it on tomorrow’s papers.
Seira closes her eyes and heave a deep sigh before she quickly pressed call and put the receiver on her ears, anxiously waiting for the other person to pick up.
~~~
It was already pass midnight when Nino heard a knock on his door. Expectantly, he places his guitar on the sofa and quickly walks to open the door.
Outside his door, he saw Takasugi Seira, dressed in a black sweats and a grey parka. Her hair is messily tied into a pony tail and her eyes are red and puffy. She looked different when she’s not dressed prettily but nonetheless, she still looked very cute, except for those tired-looking eyes.
“You called me an hour ago, what took you so long to go here? I almost got worried…” Nino told her, she can sense the relief in his voice.
“I walked.” Seira answered, her voice is hoarse and dry. Nino widened his eyes in surprise. “I don’t have any money in my pocket.” She chuckled embarrassingly.
“You should’ve called me to pick you up.” Nino said, picking up a pair of slippers for her in his shoe rack. “Walking from your house to here is quite far.”
“I don’t want to trouble you, I figured you might be busy… and besides, that walk helped me clear my mind.” Seira forced a smile but it only makes her want to cry again.
Nino placed a hand on his waist before he looked at her and sighed. “Come here.” He said, but Seira is unmoved in her spot, her head bowed down as she hides her tears.
“You don’t have to hide from me. You cried the entire time we were speaking on the phone. Why are you so embarrassed now?” Nino inches closer and pulled her into his grip, much to her surprise. His hand is gently caressing her back as let her pour all her
emotions out on his shoulders.
~~~
Nino told her to get out on her filthy clothes and take shower, he even lends her his own clean sweat pants and shirt, although expectedly it’s a bit big on her. When she’s done, she saw a cup of instant ramen waiting for her on the dining table.
“I don’t have anything but that.” Nino laughed timidly. “It’s yours, all that walking must made you hungry.”
Seira smiled and sat on the empty chair. The long walk indeed made her hungry, even the smell of instant ramen smells luxurious in her senses.
“Is it really okay for me to stay here?” Seira asked cautiously.
“You’re here now, right? It’s really fine with me.” Nino laughs. “Just don’t let your brother know that you spend the night over, he might punch me or something.”
Nino finally saw that smile on her face as she gulps down a mouthful of ramen.
“Don’t worry, I’ll come home tomorrow. I just needed a night away from them.” Seira assured.
“You can stay here as long as you like anyway, I wouldn’t mind.” Nino said, his knuckles on his chin and elbow on the table.
Seira shakes her head. “No. That’s too much and I don’t have any money. You’re going to have to pay for me... Yuji said you’re a cheapskate.” She suddenly laughs, placing a hand on her mouth.
Nino rubbed his forehead in embarrassment. “That baka!” He mumbled.
“He was surprised when you asked me out for dinner. He said that you never once treated them to a meal and you’re the stingiest person he knows.” Seira grins at him.
“See? You’re not the only person he badmouths to others.” Nino wittily replied.
Seira erupts in laughter. “Now we both know how dangerous that baka is.”
The small wooden dining table is filled with laughter as Seira momentarily forget how she ended up here in the first place. Nino’s mere presence took it all away and now she feels a hundred times better than she was in that park bench.
A/N: This fanfic is the third of a five-part series about Arashi's quest on romance. The completed Jun and Sho fics are here and here. It is not a requirement to read the previous ones, you can enjoy each stories without reading the others. :D
Word Count: 2,125
Chapter Six
The Night He Took Her Worries Away
Her bedroom door slowly creaks open. Turning around, she saw her brother coming in as he pleased. Without a word, Seira returned to her laptop.
“You’ve been facing that laptop for the past two days.” Yuji started. “When are you planning to get your ass off that chair?”
Seira glares at her brother. “Did you come here to scold me?”
“No. I’m just asking.” Yuji replied in defense while raising his hands. “Are you not going to look for a job?” He asked carefully.
Seira would cringe in exasperation every time that word is mentioned. She gets it, they all wanted her to quickly find a job but she hates how they all rubbing it to her face. Mentioning it once is enough, she wanted to tell them but she couldn’t bring herself to speak up and defend herself.
“I’m looking for one.” Seira answered flatly. “…on the internet.” She shrugged her shoulders before leaned over her laptop.
Yuji gasped under his breath. “There goes your enthusiasm.” He commented but Seira decided to ignore him. “Why don’t you work for Dad, Sei? It would be much easier there. All you have to do is ask.” He suggested.
Their father started his own production company about ten years ago and since then he focused on working behind the scenes. Their mother also lends a helping hand in the business, leading the management side.
Seira sighed. “I don’t want to work for him.” She continued thumping her fingers on the keyboard.
“Why?” Yuji pushes in.
Seira rolled her eyes. “I don’t want people to say that I got a job because of my father.” Surprisingly, she’s quite honest.
“It’s our family’s company, Seira. You have every right to work there.”
“I don’t want to!” Seira snapped irritably and Yuji was shocked with the sudden rage. “Just go, Yuji.” She pushed him away and her brother hesitantly walks off to the door.
“In case you change your mind, don’t hesitate to come and talk to Dad. You know that he’ll accept you in the company with open arms.” Yuji said before he closes the door and the bedroom suddenly went silent.
Seira rubbed her forehead and she gave a muffled scream. Living in this house for the past week is nothing but pressure. She barely leaves her room because she doesn’t want to see any of her family’s faces for she knows that they will start lecturing her again.
She once thought of escaping in secret, in the middle of the night where everyone is sound asleep. She knows that Saki would willingly lend her some money and maybe she can run away to America. With her allowance cut off and her credit cards confiscated, she have no choice but to work there but at least she’s free of her family’s daily scolding.
~~~
“Your daughter’s got some enormous pride.” Yuji told his parents when he joined them in the living room. “She said she doesn’t want people to think that her connections got her the job.”
Takasugi Kichirou just nodded once before returning to the television screen but it’s obvious in his face that his thoughts are drifting away.
“I’m sure that will not be the case, Yuji. They’re a nice bunch, our staff…” Takasugi Tomoko spoke in her usual soft voice. “Working for the company is her best option.”
“How is she going to find a job she wanted if she continue locking herself in that room.” Kichirou’s husky voice echoed.
“She’s looking for jobs on the internet.” Yuji reported and his father raised his eyebrows.
“She graduated four years ago and since then she doesn’t have any working experience, certainly, she wouldn’t get a job with a blank resume. And there she is, looking on the internet as if everything’s a joke.” Kichirou shakes his head in disappointment. He started tapping his fingernails on the sofa’s arm rest, thinking, while Yuji and Tomoko stay silent.
“Seira will work on the company starting this Monday, whether she liked it or not.” Kichirou firmly decided.
Oblivious to the three on the living room, Seira is listening to them upstairs, hiding behind the wall. She slowly closed her hands into a fist, her nails dug into her palm. Momentarily, she flees down the stairs.
“I’m not going to work for you, Dad.” Seira declared and everyone was surprise to see her. “All this time, you’ve been calling the shots. Have you ever asked me what I wanted?” She tried hard not to cry, it’s not the time to show her weakness.
Kichirou remained calm. “Well, what do you want, Seira? You want to go back to America and have fun with your friends?”
“No, Dad.” Seira raised her voice. “What I want is for the three of you to treat me like I’m part of this family, because I’m starting to feel like a trash here. You all make me feel that I’m useless, that I’m nothing compared to all of you.”
“Sei-chan…” Tomoko inches closer but Seira shrugs her away and runs off the door.
~~~
She’s running and running with no plans on where to go. The tears on her eyes run down as soon as she reaches outside. She’s ready to break down days ago but she tries her best to keep it to herself by crying under her sheets at night but she have reached her limits tonight, she have to let them know how she feels.
Seira found herself a street across from the neighbourhood playground, looking deserted and gloomy at this time. She immediately crosses the empty street and sat on the bench by the trees, putting her legs up as she wraps her hand on her knees. She picks up her phone on her pocket and dialled Saki’s number.
It took a while before Saki picks up her call and when she does, Seira can hear the haziness in the background.
“Seira!” Saki’s voice echoed. “Have you been calling for long?”
“It’s okay.” Seira tried to sound as cheerful while she wipes off the tears on her cheeks.
“I’m so sorry. I’m still stuck her at the restaurant. With tomorrow’s opening, I need to make sure everything’s in proper order, so double checking, even triple checking the whole place.”
Seira just smiled faintly, hearing how excited her best friend is.
“So why did you call?” Saki inquired.
“Nothing much, just checking out on you.” Seira lied. It’s probably not the right time to call her best friend and talk about her problems.
“Hey, you can come here later when everyone’s gone. Let’s drink like last time. My chef made some delicious desserts for sampling and I still have some left on the fridge. It’s really good with wine, you know.”
Seira can feel the tears welling up on her eyes again. A part of her is jealous of her best friend, if only she have half of Saki’s determination maybe her parents would be proud of her.
“You should go to sleep, Saki. You have a big day ahead, you should have a beauty rest. We can drink ‘til we drop tomorrow night on the opening.” She tried to sound chirpy but a single tear already fell from her eyes.
“Thanks, Seira. See you tomorrow, okay? We’re going to have lots of fun!” She heard Saki getting excited on the other line. Seira said wishes her a good night and a good luck before she ended the call.
A new batch of tears fell and she is helplessly crying as she clasps her knees. She doesn’t want to go home tonight and earlier, she figured that Saki will allow her to spend the night over at her place but Saki have other things to worry about than her bratty best friend’s family problems.
As she feebly hug legs, tears endlessly streaming on her face, she realized that all those kids she grew up with are successful with their chosen path and she was left alone with nothing to be proud of. She’s very happy for Saki of course, but she silently wondered when will be her turn. She wanted to make everyone she loves proud as well but maybe now, it’s all too late.
With nowhere to go, Seira scanned her phone contacts on people she can ask for help but then saw that she only have six people on her phonebook.
She pressed on a certain name and deliberated on whether to press call or not. Worst case scenario is that she’ll sleep on this bench tonight but it’s not going to go well once the people on the neighbourhood finds out that Takasugi Kichirou’s daughter spends the night on the park bench, she might make it on tomorrow’s papers.
Seira closes her eyes and heave a deep sigh before she quickly pressed call and put the receiver on her ears, anxiously waiting for the other person to pick up.
~~~
It was already pass midnight when Nino heard a knock on his door. Expectantly, he places his guitar on the sofa and quickly walks to open the door.
Outside his door, he saw Takasugi Seira, dressed in a black sweats and a grey parka. Her hair is messily tied into a pony tail and her eyes are red and puffy. She looked different when she’s not dressed prettily but nonetheless, she still looked very cute, except for those tired-looking eyes.
“You called me an hour ago, what took you so long to go here? I almost got worried…” Nino told her, she can sense the relief in his voice.
“I walked.” Seira answered, her voice is hoarse and dry. Nino widened his eyes in surprise. “I don’t have any money in my pocket.” She chuckled embarrassingly.
“You should’ve called me to pick you up.” Nino said, picking up a pair of slippers for her in his shoe rack. “Walking from your house to here is quite far.”
“I don’t want to trouble you, I figured you might be busy… and besides, that walk helped me clear my mind.” Seira forced a smile but it only makes her want to cry again.
Nino placed a hand on his waist before he looked at her and sighed. “Come here.” He said, but Seira is unmoved in her spot, her head bowed down as she hides her tears.
“You don’t have to hide from me. You cried the entire time we were speaking on the phone. Why are you so embarrassed now?” Nino inches closer and pulled her into his grip, much to her surprise. His hand is gently caressing her back as let her pour all her
emotions out on his shoulders.
~~~
Nino told her to get out on her filthy clothes and take shower, he even lends her his own clean sweat pants and shirt, although expectedly it’s a bit big on her. When she’s done, she saw a cup of instant ramen waiting for her on the dining table.
“I don’t have anything but that.” Nino laughed timidly. “It’s yours, all that walking must made you hungry.”
Seira smiled and sat on the empty chair. The long walk indeed made her hungry, even the smell of instant ramen smells luxurious in her senses.
“Is it really okay for me to stay here?” Seira asked cautiously.
“You’re here now, right? It’s really fine with me.” Nino laughs. “Just don’t let your brother know that you spend the night over, he might punch me or something.”
Nino finally saw that smile on her face as she gulps down a mouthful of ramen.
“Don’t worry, I’ll come home tomorrow. I just needed a night away from them.” Seira assured.
“You can stay here as long as you like anyway, I wouldn’t mind.” Nino said, his knuckles on his chin and elbow on the table.
Seira shakes her head. “No. That’s too much and I don’t have any money. You’re going to have to pay for me... Yuji said you’re a cheapskate.” She suddenly laughs, placing a hand on her mouth.
Nino rubbed his forehead in embarrassment. “That baka!” He mumbled.
“He was surprised when you asked me out for dinner. He said that you never once treated them to a meal and you’re the stingiest person he knows.” Seira grins at him.
“See? You’re not the only person he badmouths to others.” Nino wittily replied.
Seira erupts in laughter. “Now we both know how dangerous that baka is.”
The small wooden dining table is filled with laughter as Seira momentarily forget how she ended up here in the first place. Nino’s mere presence took it all away and now she feels a hundred times better than she was in that park bench.