𝕠𝕣𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕤 ➸ 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧

9 - A Job Application

The next day was a fairly normal day for the pair - attend the lessons, getting set homework and all the stuff students hate. They got to know they're new friends more as the day went by, and finally got a glimpse of Erwin's crush, Marie. She had auburn hair and hazel eyes and was more on the curvy side, anatomy wise.

"Hi, Erwin," she said with a smile and a polite wave, when passing him in the hallway.
"Hello, Marie."
The group looked at him, making him avert his attention elsewhere in embarrassment.
"Look at you, Captain Handsome!" Nanaba teased, playfully shaking his arm. Hange giggled, while Mike and Levi simply shared a suggestive glance.

By the end of the day, both Hange and Levi were exhausted. Hange slumped onto her bed. They still couldn't afford luxuries like a sofa yet, so were stuck in their bedrooms to lounge. They mostly lounged together, in Hange's room - she had the TV. But if they wanted to use the balcony, they'd chill in Levi's room.

"Four-eyes...by the end of the week we'll be out of food...and money's running low as well," Levi said, while rummaging through the cupboards and drawers in their small kitchen.
Hange ran her fingers through her ponytail, in stress.
"I'm gonna get a job, soon. Don't worry, Rivi."
"I could get one. You don't have to do it. You could do the cooking instead."
"And burn down the kitchen? No thanks. You're cooking is way better anyway. And you keep this place immaculate. You know if I was left to those sort of things, you'd have to put your OCD aside."
"Tsk, I don't have OCD. I just like being clean. Why does everyone think I'm obsessed with cleaning?"
"Probably because you are," she said, pulling on a jacket and a hat.

"Where are you going?"
"To find a job."
"What...now?"
"I'm not gonna wait around until we're starving. Better nip this issue in the bud."
"Be home before six."
"Alright, mum," she said, stifling a laugh.

She closed the door behind her, and stuffed her hands into her pockets, while she trudged down the frosted street. She checked all the lampposts, the windows of shops and she even bought an edition of the latest newspaper for a job opening. But she'd found nothing so far, until an article in the newspaper caught her eye. It read:

'Mrs Braus' Bakery, hiring now!
Directions listed below:

13,
Sina High Street,
467-0865'

Hange remembered the map she had taken with her from their first time arriving at Shinjuku, which was thankfully still folded and in the inside pocket of her jacket. She followed the directions, until she arrived at a small bakery. It was lit by a soft, yellow light, and as she walked in, the scent of freshly baked bread welcomed her. It was a small shop, with shelves stacked to the brim with different types of bread, cakes and pastries. A small bell at the top of the door jingled as she walked in, letting the owner know of Hange's presence.

"Hello, ma'am. What can I get for you?"
"Actually...I saw the advert in the paper, and I was wondering if you were hiring?"
"Of course, you can fill out the application now and we'll have a little chat outback. Just a short interview for formality. Does that sound okay with you?"
"Perfect."

Hange followed behind the lady, who directed her into a small room. There was a little girl, no older than perhaps four. She guessed that it was the woman's daughter. The little girl was munching on a loaf of bread and resembled her mother a great deal. The woman was average sized and her hair was a very similar shade to Hange's, except that it was neatly combed and fastened into a tight bun. She was a round woman, with a bright smile, which made Hange feel comfortable around her.

"Here's the application, if you just fill this out now and then let me know when you're done we can talk about the position properly."
"Thank you," Hange said, taking a pen out of the woman's hand and filling in the form. When she'd finished it, she handed it to the lady.

"Y-your name..."
"Did I not fill it out?" Hange asked, in worry.
"No, it's just...it's very familiar. I knew someone with the same name as you that's all," she said with an uncomfortable chuckle.

"Sorry, ma'am, if you don't mind me asking your name?" Hange asked politely.
"Lucille Braus. Everyone calls me Lucy." The toddler tugged on Lucy's leg, a half chewed croissant in her mouth.
"And this little tyke here?" Hange asked, with a smile.
"This is my daughter, Sasha."
"Hello, Sasha," Hange cooed, as she crouched to eye level with the toddler. Sasha grabbed Hange's nose, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Sasha!"
"It's okay, Lucy-san."

A moment passed by, with Hange still playing with baby Sasha and Lucy watching the two.
"You know what Ms Zoe, you're hired. I think you'll do an excellent job. What shift works for you?" Lucy asked kindly.
"Wow, really? I suppose after school hours sound good. Does the afternoon shift work for you, ma'am?"
"Sounds great, you start tomorrow," Lucy said, holding her hand out for Hange to shake. Hange accepted it and firmly shook hands with her new boss, as she darted out of the shop, fluttering with excitement to tell Levi the news.

Meanwhile, Levi was out for a jog. He regularly went out for them ever since he moved to the city, now that he had that kind of freedom. He stopped for a second, to take a sip of water, when he heard a strange squeaking sound. The noise, which didn't stop for a moment, conveyed extreme distress, so he quickened his pace to find whatever it was that was whining. He came to a dark alley, which was covered with a wire cage.

'Must've been my imagination.'

But then it came again. There was a Nike shoe box situated directly in front of him, under the wire caging. He lifted the lid of the shoe box and revealed a small kitten barely a week old, abandoned, with tears in its eyes. It's eyes were unopened and its small paws were huddled close to its nose.
"Hey little guy, what asshole left you all alone in the cold?" he said softly.
The cat continued crying. Levi wrapped it up in his knitted scarf and carefully placed it in the shoe box. He carried the shoe box attentively in his arms, until he reached his apartment.

Hange wasn't home yet, so he decided to get the kitten cleaned up. When he was done, he placed the kitten on a cushion in his lap.
"What're we gonna name you little guy?"
By now, it had stopped crying and had its eyes open. They were a very subtle shade of baby blue, almost grey.
"How about, Koya?"
The cat didn't react, simply stared into Levi's steely orbs.
"What about...John Bender? Like the schmuck from The Breakfast Club?"
No reaction.
"Goddammit, you're one difficult piece of work. What do you want me to call you...?" he glimpsed at the shoe box under his foot. He kicked it aside, then mumbled:
"Huh, might as well just call you 'Nike'."
"Meow!" a short peep of a sound, came from the kitten.
"What?" 

There was a short flash of silence, before Levi silently gasped.
"Oh...Nike? You like that name? Of all names and you choose Nike?"
The kitten meowed.
"Nike it is. Hange's gonna be way too excited to meet you, little guy."

As if on cue, Hange burst through the door.
"Levi! Levi you won't believe it, I got a job!" she said, panting, as she unravelled her scarf from her neck.
"Did you run here?"
"Yeah, you said be back before six and it's," she glanced at the clock on the wall, before she continued, "Five fifty seven, so I got here in time."
"That's great, congratulations on the job. Where do you work?"
"Mrs Braus' Bakery."
"I... don't know it."
"It's fine," she said, boosting herself on the kitchen counter.

"Ooooh!! Who's your new friend there, Rivi?"
"This is Nike. Some bastard abandoned him in a shoebox."
"What an ass. Why's his name Nike?"
"He chose it."
"Cool name there, fuzzy one," she said, stroking his head tenderly.

When the evening came and dinner was eaten, Levi set up a small bed in the drawer of his bedside table. He folded a blanket and added a flat cushion to put at the bottom of the wooden drawer for comfort. He used his scarf as a blanket for Nike, and stroked him before climbing into bed himself and falling asleep.

*****
A/N: I know the romance part is a bit slow, but in time, things will become more apparent. Many of the things mentioned so far will make sense in upcoming chapters, so stick around and I'm hoping it will be worth the wait for you guys. Stay safe in this hectic world, and as always, feel free to vote and comment :)