The Delinquent Next Door

Returning The Favor

It's been a week since the strange encounter with your rude neighbor.

Ever since that night, the thought of him never left your mind, and it bothered you. As much as you hated to admit it, he struck your curiosity. You had pondered many questions that had yet to be answered from that night, which was part of the reason why you were so eager to see him again. After all, the smudges of blood he had on his clothes didn't go unnoticed by you. He didn't even bother to tell you his name.

Then again, he didn't have to if he didn't intend to see you again. And seeing him that night was just by pure coincidence. If you had gotten home on time you probably wouldn't have even realized he was there.

Letting out a frustrated groan, you hold your head in your hands, hunched over behind the counter of the diner where you worked.

"Hey, y/n!" Peeking from your hunched-over position, you see your friend walking over to you with her usual confident smile plastered on her face.

"Hey f/n." I replied tiredly. She raises a brow at you. "You're messing with your posture, sit up straight!" She scolds. You can't help but giggle at her mother-like nature. Straightening your back you smile. "My bad," you smiled.

Your eyes wandered to her work bag that was slung over her shoulder. You tilt your head to the side, eyebrows knit together in confusion. "You're leaving early? I thought you had a shift tonight."

Her expression falters as she reaches for the back of her neck, avoiding your gaze. "Well...that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about."

Oh?

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I know you hate to get home late and all since your apartment is pretty far, but I was hoping you could cover my shift for tonight?" She lowers her voice to a squeak at the end of her sentence, wincing as she waits for your response.

"No." You deadpanned.

Pouting she whines, "Oh, come onnnn! It's just for tonight!"

"I don't care. You already know why I don't work night-shifts in the first place, especially since I don't have a ride to take me home!" You scold, crossing your arms.

Anyone who lived in the Kabukicho District knew that it was dangerous for people to walk the streets at night. As soon as dark would loom over, thieves, gangsters, yakuza, and all other sorts of trouble would linger on the streets. The last thing you wanted was to end up in a dangerous situation where you were bound to get caught up in and regret later. To make things worse, you didn't even know basic self-defense, so it was a given that it wouldn't be worth the risk. Which is why you always stuck to your usual 9 AM-5 PM schedule.

"But y/n, there's no one else to cover my shift tonight, and I really need to be somewhere later," she pleads, clasping her hands together.

You raised a questioning brow, "What's so important that you'd ask me to cover for you?"

"W-well--I happen to have classes later tonight.." She trails off, gnawing on her lip as she fidgets with the hem of her apron.

"Really?"

Rolling her eyes, she sighs dejectedly, "Okay! Okay! I just... I have a really important date tonight, and well... you're the only person left to cover." She shoots me a sad puppy look. "I promise I'll owe you big time if you cover for me, he's really nice and I don't wanna stand him up!"

Now as much as you were completely against the idea of going home in the middle of the night, you began to consider the fact that your friend was basically begging you just to take over for one night. Not only that, but you knew that she was struggling with relationships and finding "the one" and now she has the chance to possibly go out with a guy that will treat her well.