The school bell rang for dismissal.
The sound of chairs moving, footsteps overlapping, and students' conversations blended into the usual low bustle. The afternoon sunlight entered through the classroom windows, casting a warm glow over the wooden desks.
Arou slowly closed his book.
Today was different.
Not because of the lessons.
Not because of a surprise test.
But because of a small decision that felt quite big to him.
He stood up, put his stationery into his bag, then sighed.
"I'm heading out first," he said casually.
Akari quickly turned toward him. "Huh? Aren't we usually together?"
"Starting today, my schedule is a little different."
Mei, who was sitting behind them, also approached. "Work, right?"
Arou smiled slightly. "Yeah."
Akari blinked. There was a slight unfamiliar feeling in her chest, but she tried not to show it.
"Don't push yourself too hard," she said softly.
Arou nodded. "Don't worry. It's just a bookstore, not becoming an underground fighter."
Mei held back a small laugh.
"If you fall asleep on the romance novel shelf, let me know," she teased.
Arou raised an eyebrow. "If you buy all the books, I might consider it."
Mei scoffed, pretending to be annoyed.
Eventually, they left the classroom together until they reached the school gate. There, their paths separated.
Akari and Mei turned toward home, while Arou walked in the other direction, heading toward a small shopping center near the station.
Before they parted, Akari called out to him.
"Arou."
He turned around.
"Good luck."
Simple.
But it was enough to make him smile more sincerely.
---
The Bookstore
The store was not too big, but it was not small either.
The automatic glass door opened slowly when Arou entered. The familiar scent of paper and ink immediately greeted him. Tall shelves stood neatly in rows, posters for new novels were displayed on the walls, and soft instrumental music filled the room.
Behind the cashier stood a man in his late thirties, with neatly cut short hair and a plain black shirt.
He glanced at Arou.
"You're the one who applied yesterday?"
"Yes, Boss."
The man nodded. "You arrived on time. Good."
Arou stood straight, trying to look professional.
"Starting today, you'll help with the shelves and inventory. Arrange the books according to their codes, help customers if they ask something, and don't cause any trouble."
"Yes, sir."
The boss stared at him for a few seconds. "What if you cause trouble?"
Arou smiled slightly. "I'll pretend to be a customer, Boss."
The boss fell silent.
Then… he smiled slightly. "Not bad. You've got a sense of humor."
He pointed toward the shelves at the back.
"Your uniform is in the small room near the storage area. Put it on. Then follow me."
---
The Work Begins
His uniform was simple. A gray vest with the store logo on the left chest. Not bad.
Arou stood in front of a small mirror for a few seconds.
"Not bad," he muttered.
He went outside, then followed the boss to the novel section.
"Every book has a code on its spine. See this number?" The boss pointed to a small label.
"This is the category and sequence number. Don't mix them up. If even one section gets messed up, customers might get lost."
Arou nodded seriously.
"And if a customer asks for a specific book?"
"Search for it in the system, or memorize where it is."
"Memorize it?"
The boss looked at him flatly. "If you work here long enough, you'll memorize it automatically."
Arou laughed softly. "So I have to stay here for a long time, huh?"
The boss shrugged. "That depends on you."
---
First Interaction
For the first thirty minutes or so, everything went smoothly.
Arou arranged the books carefully. He paid attention to details. Occasionally, he read interesting titles that caught his attention.
A small child approached him.
"Big brother… where are the dinosaur books?"
Arou crouched down so he was at the same height as the child.
"The one with the really big T-Rex?"
The child nodded excitedly.
Arou smiled. "Come with me."
He led the child to the children's encyclopedia section and picked up a book with a large dinosaur on the cover.
"This one?"
The child's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
The child's mother came over with a smile. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The boss watched from a distance.
Without saying anything.
But he did not look disappointed.
---
On the Other Side – Akari & Mei
Meanwhile, on the way home.
Akari and Mei walked side by side.
"You look like you're thinking about something," Mei said.
"Huh? No, I'm not."
"Liar."
Akari fell silent for a moment.
"It just… feels strange. We usually go home together."
Mei smiled slightly. "He's just working, not moving to another country."
"I know."
"But you're worried."
Akari did not answer immediately.
"I just don't want him to push himself too hard."
Mei glanced at her with a gentle expression.
"Arou looks relaxed, but he's the type who, once he decides to do something, takes it seriously."
Akari slowly nodded.
"I know."
Their steps continued beneath the afternoon sky, which was beginning to change color.
---
Back at the Store
The clock showed almost six in the evening.
Arou had begun to understand the workflow. Arranging books, checking inventory, and helping customers find specific titles.
A teenage girl approached with a confused expression.
"Excuse me… does this novel have a sequel?"
She showed him a cover photo on her phone.
Arou looked at it briefly.
"Oh, this series? The sequel is on the shelf to the left, on the upper section."
The girl looked relieved. "Thank you so much!"
"There's also a special-edition version if you want it."
The girl looked surprised. "Really?"
Arou smiled. "The shelf at the very end."
A few minutes later, the customer brought two books to the cashier.
The boss glanced at Arou.
"Have you read every book in here?"
"Not yet, Boss."
"Then how do you know?"
"I checked the catalog during my break."
The boss fell silent again.
Then he simply said, "Good."
One word.
But for some reason, Arou felt quite proud.
---
Break Time
In the small room at the back of the store, Arou sat while opening a bottle of water.
He let out a long sigh.
Tired?
A little.
Regretful?
No.
He looked at his own hands.
Working like this felt… different.
It was not just about money.
There was a sense of responsibility slowly growing inside him.
The door opened.
The boss entered while carrying a can of coffee.
"You adapted quickly."
Arou smiled slightly. "I don't want to be a burden."
The boss stared at him for a few seconds.
"Most kids your age work just to have some extra spending money."
Arou looked at the floor for a moment.
"I'm working because I have to."
His answer was short.
But clear enough.
The boss did not ask anything further.
He only said, "If you're tired, tell me. Don't pretend to be stronger than you are."
Arou laughed softly. "Yes, sir."
---
Before Closing
Eight in the evening.
The lights began to dim. The door was almost closed.
Arou helped tidy up the last shelf.
"For your first day," the boss said while counting the cash, "not bad."
Arou raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
"Come again tomorrow."
That was all.
But it was enough as a sign that he was accepted.
Arou took off his vest and changed back into his school jacket.
When he left the store, the night air felt cool.
He stood on the sidewalk for a moment.
The sky was dark. The streetlights were on. The constant sound of passing vehicles could be heard.
He smiled slightly.
"Not bad."
His steps felt light as he walked home.
---
Meanwhile, at Home
Akari sat at her study desk, but her gaze was empty.
She glanced at the clock.
It was almost nine.
Mei sent her a message.
"He's probably fine."
Akari typed a short reply.
"Yeah."
A few minutes later, the sound of the front door opening could be heard.
A familiar pair of footsteps entered.
Akari instinctively stood up.
Arou appeared in the living room.
"Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Akari unconsciously let out a sigh of relief.
"You took a while."
"Sorry. I had to clean up first."
He put down his bag.
"How was it?" Akari asked.
Arou thought for a moment.
"Tiring."
Akari looked at him worriedly.
"But…" he continued with a smile, "it was fun."
Akari's expression slowly softened.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet."
Akari walked into the kitchen without saying much.
"I'll heat something up."
Arou watched her for a few seconds.
Then he smiled slightly again.
The first day was far from perfect.
There was still a lot to learn.
There was still some awkwardness.
There was still a new kind of exhaustion.
But one thing was certain.
He was no longer standing still.
And somehow, today's small step felt like the beginning of something much bigger.