Matchablossom: Lifegurad

Getting ready

Kojiro had just finished with his inspection of his section. He glanced up, hands on hips, as he snapped his back. The girls were almost done with their area, which was next to his. As his eyes roamed over the pool are, he saw Oka walking with Kaoru. The teen had his head bowed slightly as he walked half a step behind the manager. 'Good boy.' Kojiro thought. At that moment, Oka saw him watching.

"Nanjo, come here." The manager called out.

Kojiro forced his face into a pleasant setting. Inside he was freaking out. He had told Kaoru to tell Oka that he recommended him. What if Oka wanted to know more about the good looking teen? Kojiro jogged up to the pair. They were waiting under the over hang for the ticket area.

"Yes manager?" Kojiro asked as he stopped a few feet before them.

"Kaoru, here says you two know each other?" okay asked tilting his head slightly.

"Yes, we go to school together." Kojiro answered. He silently prayed the older guy wouldn't ask much more of him. He really didn't know the pink haired hottie too well.

"Tell me your take on him?" Oka asked.

"Will he do well here?" he pressed when Kojiro said nothing.

"He is a bit on the quiet side, so may get some teasing, but other than that, he is good." Kojiro did his best to hide how nervous he was.

"Ok, fine." Oka tossed a set of keys to the lifeguard.

"Finish him up with the paper work, then get him a uniform. He will be our new attendant." Oka said. He clapped Kaoru on the shoulder.

The teen nearly fell to the ground. He just managed to catch himself, when he nodded his thanks to the manager. Oka smirked seeing how the boy winced.

"I have to get to my real job, those kids I can't leave alone for too long. One will have all the parts opened and the other will scare away the customers." Oka waved as he sauntered away.

"Th, that's it?" Kaoru asked rubbing the soreness out of his shoulder. He had fallen on it just the other day. The bruise was pretty impressive.

"That's Oka for ya. He runs Dope Sketch, ever hear of it?" Kojiro asked as he turned to led the way to the office.

"Any one who skateboards has heard of it!" Kaoru muttered.

The awe in his voice had Kojiro clutching the keys tightly in his hands. They dug deep into his palm, the only thing that stopped him from attempting to mash them together.

"You've been skating long? He asked instead, forcing his hand to relax.

"A few years." Kaoru muttered. He lifted his head to eye the wide back of the teen before him.

"How about you?" he asked, a shyness in his voice.

"A year or so." Kojiro offered.

"I busted my board three days ago. Reki said he would make me another, still waiting on it." He huffed.

"Reki? That whiz kid from dope?" Kaoru asked.

"Yeah." Kojiro turned to look back at him.

"You heard about him?" he smiled hoping it appeared friendly.

"Young, but a whiz when it comes to building a board. I heard he only takes the "interesting" jobs." Kaoru framed the word with finger quotes.

"Yeah, I heard that too. Have no clue what that kid deems interesting, though." Kojiro used a key to open the door before him.

"Are you like the assistant manager or something?" Kaoru asked.

"Nothing official, but the rest of the people respect me, so Oka will leave me in charge some days." He offered as he flipped through folders on the desk.