Our Voice's
14. Youth Outside the Boundaries
...Chapters 14...
...—Youth Outside Borders—...
...(.( Hiro Sato's)...
...———...
“Anu, look, Mr. Fujima,” I said while sipping the ramen.
“Ya?”
Ever since I ate at this table, she's been sitting with me. We were opposite each other and just separated the round table containing this double ramen.
“Is there no other work you do? Like cooking, or ...”
Mr. Fujima then grinned. “You want to say something, don't you? Since then, more precisely.”
How did he know that? I mean, there's no way she saw me just now, I thought astonished.
“Uhm, I, no...” The spoon I was holding started to shake, this is terrible.
“A moment before I got into the kitchen, my phone was left in the cash register. So, yeah ... I came back to pick it up, and I accidentally heard you say something like prepare a speech and mentally you, Hiro, roughly so,”.
Why would he bring a cell phone to the kitchen, try?
However, in addition, Mr. Fujima has demonstrated how I looked up earlier. His facial expression was accurate.
“About the speech was aimed at who, Sato?” added again. This time I was sort of cornered in the corner of the goal.
“I ... I ...” My sweat splashed, some of which almost landed on the hot ramen. “... I have something to talk to you about, Mr. Fujima.” After admitting it, my eyes fell.
The owner laughed for a while, then stopped. “What's up? Looks very serious.”
“I need work.”
“Here?”
“Ya, I came ... for that, one of them.”
When I raised my head, Mr. Fujima frowned. “But .. You are sixteen years old. How do I accept you?”
"Eh?"
"You yourself said so at the end of the conversation fitting in the park earlier."
Be–utah too. He could tell it was because of our conversation while in the park, I regretted in my heart.
“Ah, not—I myself was actually seventeen years old, maybe at that time I misheard, haha." It's time to get that ace out of my wallet for him to trust her. “This is it, if you want proof,” I said as I handed him the fake resident's card.
“Eh?” Mr. Fujima was wide-eyed.
“Why? Something wrong?”
“I was just surprised,” he said as he held out the identification card again to me. “What's Narumi City getting worse now?”
“It looks like so.”
Not too surprised, anyway. Almost everyone in the world knows how bad it is to live in that hell.
“If you may know, what got you out of that city?”
The question prompted me to pause for a moment. However, after a while I said, ". it's because ...."
In the end, I told a small part of the pain to Mr. Fujima. In addition, I will also be honest about my true age. Hopefully he will accept it, I hope for a lot.
⠀
⠀
“You really are a youth out of bounds, Sato ..” surprised with an inexhaustible expression.
I already know. Everyone in this world, even Mr. Fujima himself would be shocked after hearing the facts about my desperate escape.
The reason is quite simple. The city is guarded at all times by hundreds of security personnel.
“So you're actually still ..”
“Sixteen years.” I let out a breath. At least that honesty makes me feel more relieved. “But can I work here? I will do anything,” my door, bowing before him.
“This city does not allow a business owner to hire someone under seventeen years of age. Too bad, but I'm sorry.” Mr. Fujima raised my body, smiling.
“You are right,” I replied lethargicly.
Disappointment is of course there is. I don't know how to live any more than work. However, this age factor is sometimes very inhibiting.
Now, maybe the only way is to go back to that rotten city and meet Keira again. It's just, it'll never happen, I murmured inwardly.
If Mr. Fujima had rejected me, then all of them in this city would have done the same. If I were rich, nothing like this would happen. However, however, no matter how far I think, or how many cities I come to, they will all end in the same words; as long as I am honest.
It hurts sometimes, but I'm not good at lying.
“Then, what will you do in the future?” He asked again. However, my mind was now in a void, not knowing what else to say.
“Maybe go from here and visit another city, as usual.” I started to stand up, then walked with the heavy backpack to the door of the restaurant to get out. “Thank you in advance, Mr. Fujima.” I waved my hand at her as a parting.
As I was about to touch the doorknob, Mr. Fujima shouted, “I have an idea, Sato.”
I looked over, trying to pack all my worries in a smile. “What's up, Mr Fujima?”
"There's something I'd like to ask you but before." The owner of the restaurant walked up to me.
“Are you alone now?”
“Ya.”
“No, I mean .. like already—”
“Yes, I'm totally on my own now.” I lowered my voice.
It's about both my parents, and my adorable little sister. At my birthplace, they all left without a word. Happiness that should last until the end seems to be delayed, maybe even that will never continue again. Suddenly my eyes began to glaze over.
“If you want, I'll give you a choice.”
“Huh?” I pulled my gaze up, a little surprised after seeing Mr. Fujima return to his smile.
”You can choose to be out there, even with a slump I can't imagine,” he said. That sounds cruel. “Maybe somewhere else you won't survive, see? That wound on your cheek alone proves it.” He's right again. Bad things have been happening to me lately.
“You scared me.” I laughed, but behind it my heart cried.
“Or you can stay here and help me out; I don't mind.”
I nodded, a little surprised. “Huh?” Words like that have never crossed my head before.
“I still won't pay you like an employee, Sato,” said, holding my shoulder. “But I promise I will guarantee your life, because you still have to get it.”
“Why you?” It's unbelievable, but I'm sure he just said it sincerely. I can see it from Mr. Fujima's expression.
“Of course, I can't let a little kid like you fight off the streets, because the biggest possibility is ...” He seemed to be holding back his laughter. “... You will definitely lose, right?”
At first, my mouth was open after hearing that. However, in any case—“You are right, Mr. Fujima,” reply me with a sigh.
I will not be offended, for that fact is true. About the tattooed man who was bothering me yesterday was already very scary, and back then I could only see his departure without being able to do much.
Sometimes I feel like a kid on a tree this afternoon, funny.
...———...
...Seriate...
