The Ardor of Every Day

4.

The sun was shining brightly through the curtains in Naruto's room. He awoke in a sweat as the sunlight was directly hitting his body. Today he felt like not doing anything, moreover, he felt moody. He didn't want to move a muscle and simply wanted to sit in his room and do nothing. But he knew he had to go to work, no excuses. Naruto had dropped all hopes of making friends with Sasuke after what happened yesterday. Even though Naruto had no problems with how he was, he deemed the whole thing too complicated to partake in anymore. He decided he would leave it up to the circumstances of his daily life to decide if anything happens between them.

He sluggishly got up, did his routine and went downstairs to get breakfast before he left for the store.

"Good morning, or should I say afternoon? It's already twelve you know."

"I know ma." Naruto said as he sat down on a chair and put his head on the table.

"Why didn't you go to the beach this morning like every day?" His mom lowered her newspaper out of concern.

"I just didn't feel like it. I don't really wanna go to work either but I don't want to be a burden on dad. Otherwise, I would've told him that I don't feel up to it today." He let out a sigh and got up to get some cereal.

"Did something happen? You're usually never like this." She followed him with her eyes.

"No, nothing like that."

"Mhm, if you say so. Just know that I'm always there for you, and you can talk to me, ok?"

"Yeah, thank you." He forced a smile.

After finishing breakfast, he gathered his stuff and lunch and made his way out the door. He noticed that their car wasn't in the driveway anymore and panicked for a second. Then he realized his dad might have taken it to the store, but didn't know why he would do that. He went back inside just to confirm with his mom.

"Hey ma, did dad take the car?"

"Yeah, I think he did." She said glancing back at him from the chair.

"Did he say why?"

"No honey, he left before I could ask, just ask him when you get there."

"Yeah ok, bye ma."

"Bye, be safe!"

Naruto left and tried his best to think positive and keep a positive mindset. He couldn't be too morose as his job entailed dealing with strangers. On his way to the store, he saw kids biking on colourful bikes and thought of getting a bike himself after he saved up a bit. He just wasn't having it with the sun. He felt irritated by summer today. The thin layer of sweat building up, the subtle sound of insects wherever he went. The burning of his foot when it occasionally slipped out of his flip flop and hit the pavement, he felt too overwhelmed, like he was feeling every tiny little thing happening around him.

After reaching the store the first thing he did was stand directly in front of the air conditioner as he felt his sweat dry cool. He thought it was the best feeling in the world at that moment.

"Wow, you're that hot huh?" Said his dad from behind the counter.

"Yeah, I just don't feel right."

"Well, you better start feeling right because you're not gonna be with me today."

"What? What do you mean by that?" Naruto looked back at him in confusion while still taking in the cold air.

"I was talking to Fugaku and I told him you'd help him out with something."

"Huh? Why would you do that? I know absolutely nothing about flowers."

"Don't worry, you don't have to help at the shop, you have t-"