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[h3][color=crimson][u]Nashiro Arcade!// April 18th, 2019 //10:05 pm[/u]
Mentions: [@Ambra][/color][/h3][/center]
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Haruki tapped his foot, leaning up against the alley wall next to the arcade. His client should have been here almost an hour ago. He glanced down by his ankle, where a neatly-wrapped stack of books sat. He sighed, looking around and jamming his hands into the voluminous pockets of his jacket. He hated waiting. Especially when he didn't have to. He grit his teeth, checking his beat-up flip phone again and scowling at the time displayed. He better be here soon, or else--

"Yo, kid."

Haruki turned toward the mouth of the alleyway, where a stout, balding salaryman stood, looking around nervously. Haruki glared as the man finally approached.

[color=crimson]"You're late, Sojiro. [i]Again.[/i]"[/color]

"Had to make sure I wasn't being followed... [i]you[/i] weren't followed, were you?"

[color=crimson]"You know I wasn't. Would I be here if I was?"[/color] He picked up the package, shoving it- perhaps a little roughly- into Sojiro's flabby arms. [color=crimson]"As important as these books are to you, you'd think you'd show up on time for once."[/color]

"Come on, I'm here, aren't I? What's a little waiting?" the man said, handing a wad of yen notes to Haruki.

[color=crimson]"Time is money. Especially for me,"[/color] he said, grabbing the bundle of notes and counting it. His frown deepened. [color=crimson]"...You forgot my fee."[/color]

"I-it should be all there--"

[color=crimson]"[i]Late fee.[/i] You know the drill. I can't afford to wait on you like this every time, I have other deliveries I could be making."[/color]

"...I'm short this time. It's a rough month for everyone, kid."

Haruki snorted, making toward the street. [color=crimson]"Then maybe you can find someone else to dangle like this, next time. Or you can do without your precious deliveries until things get better--"[/color]

"Nonono, wait!" The schlubby man cut Haruki off, almost panicked. "C'mon, kid, no one's better for deliveries like this than you, I can't wait that long!"

Haruki's glare was uncompromising. And distinctly unimpressed. [color=crimson]"If you know I'm the best, then you know what I'm worth."[/color] He held up his phone. [color=crimson]"Up to you."[/color]

Sojiro looked as though he wanted to argue. Until, with a defeated sigh, he fished out an extra couple of notes and pressed them into Haruki's hands.

"Crook."

[color=crimson]"It's only thievery if you're not getting something out of it. You said it yourself, I'm the best."[/color] Haruki counted out the bills, neatly folding them into his wallet. [color=crimson]"Can't say I know why these are [i]that[/i] important to you."[/color]

"Ignorance is bliss, my friend. Shouldn't worry yourself over it."

The glare returned, and Sojiro even took a step back from the force of it. [color=crimson]"I mean it. Next time you're late, you're off the list. I can't do this every time."[/color] Without waiting for a response, Haruki stomped off, mounting his bike in one smooth moment, and darting off at shocking speed. What a night. It was gonna be a hell of a day tomorrow at school.

[color=crimson][i]This is why I need to stop doing these deliveries on school nights.[/i][/color] He was interrupted by his stomach growling, as he bolted in the direction of his rail connection to the residential district. He laughed humorlessly. 

[color=crimson][i]...If only I had that option.[/i][/color]
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[center][color=crimson][h3][u]Hyakusawa Academy// April 19th, 2019 // 3:15 pm[/u][/h3][/color][/center]
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Haruki jumped in his seat as everyone started to shift out of their seats, cursing himself for falling asleep in class. He should be able to do better than this. At least he had some grocery money now. Enough to last him and his mother for the week, at least. He started to stand up, withering slightly under the teacher's glare. Yeah, he'd noticed. He'd probably pay for dozing off later.

[color=crimson][i]Nooot looking forward to that.[/i][/color] Especially since he had to find out somehow what the homework was. And going to the teacher first was a last resort. He looked around for someone who might know better. 

[color=crimson][i]There.[/i][/color] A girl headed toward the door, away from the teacher, conveniently enough. He darted through after her, speaking up.

[color=crimson]”Hey, miss. Could you give me a hand? I didn’t catch what the assignment was for homework before we were dismissed.”[/color]