“I’m an idiot. A real idiot!” 

Aiko was violently cursing at herself for the past twenty minutes now. The ride in the fresh night and the distance widen with the crappy restaurant, slowly took her back to her senses.

“Damn it ! I can’t believe how stupid I am!” 

Now that her mind cleared a bit, she realised how big of a mistake she made.

“Why? Why didn’t I ask for more money? Why !” 

She could have ask for the preposterous amount of money she needed to pay off her father’s debt. Or a least the interest, that were sizeable enough and kept growing at the days pass. How could she not have thought about that ? Of course she did her best in the given situation, but she still felt so frustrated. And so she kept her internal cursing until she arrived at “Cheeky-Chicken Din'er's”. 

She stopped there, a few meters away from the entrance. She could see the two other bikes parked in front of the shop and through the window, her boss pacing and gesticulating furiously. She looked at the sky, the night was slowly retracting its dark veil. Behind the buildings, the pinkish light announced an other scorching hot day. 

Aiko was now certain that she would get fired the moment she would step in. She could only hope that Takaro had given her enough money to appease her boss. She took out the white envelope and finally looked inside. 

Aiko let out a weird and uncontrollable noise. 

“Whoa... Takaro, you sure don’t joke, do you ?”

She instantly felt a bit better. She quickly took a good amount of the money out and stuffed it in her jeans pocket. After a few seconds of reflection, she took a few more bills for herself. She neatly closed and pressed the envelope and dragged her bike next to the others. 

- You’re FIRED ! 

Aiko heard as she opened the door. She smiled internally when she noticed that she didn’t even past the entrance. She limped toward her boss who’s face was red with anger.

- Are you KIDDING ME !? He exclaimed in an avalanche of spits, you didn’t make that last delivery, you don’t answer your phone and you come back way past your shift! I don’t pay you for this ! 

- I’m sorry, sir, replied Aiko while bowing politely 

- Is that all you have to say ? 

There were no way in hell she would tell him what happened tonight. So she could only repeat :

- I’m very sorry, sir.

- You’re sorry, you’re sorry… that’s not gonna cut it ! I had so send Paolo in your stead and offer them the delivery. You ! I run a business you know !

- I’m really so..

- SORRY ! I know ! If you are not gonna say anything else then just shut up! 

The room felt silence for a moment. Aiko was staring at her feet, her boss was grumbling profusely and his wife behind the counter clicked her tong repeatedly.

- Sir, finally said Aiko in a tiny voice, there is something else..

- What? What ? What now ?!

- The bike… 

- What ? What’s wrong with the bike ? He shouted angrily.

He pushed her on the side and walked outside with long strides. Aiko closed her eyes and sighed silently to brass herself and followed him. 

When she joined him she found him looking at the bike with wide open eyes, circling around it, unable to even speak. He looked at her, then looked at the bike again. 

An then he slammed his face in despair.

- What… just what happened? He stuttered.

-I’m sorry.

He blinked a few times. 

- You’re fired, he finally said calmly, you’re so fired. How are you gonna pay for this ?

Aiko precipitately pulled the envelope out and gave him with both hands.

- It’s nothing much, but please accept this.

Honestly, there were more than enough, but Aiko thought that in this particular situation she should show the upmost politeness. Her boss grabbed the envelope with a grump, scoffing at what she could possibly have to offer. But his eyes widen again at the sight of the money. He cleared his throat loudly to regain his composure, but Aiko could tell that he was satisfied with the amount. 

- That will do, he said as he put the envelope in his pocket preciously, you’re still fired though.

- Yes I know, Aiko answered weakly, again I’m sorry, sir.

- Your should be ! He scold her again as he extended his hand, now gimme back the jacket and the helmet.

Aiko executed silently but somehow she felt no remorse to return a destroyed bike to an owner who wouldn’t even worried if she had an accident.

***

When Aiko reached her apartment building the sun was up, casting its golden light on the city that was slowly awakening. 

It was an abandoned neighbourhood, with worn out apartments complex and indifferent neighbours. It wasn’t a place you could called home, but it was where she lived.

Aiko climbed the disgusting staircase, soiled with spit, stuck gums and empty beer’s bottle. Despite her aching knee she manage to arrive to the 5th floor, limping more difficulty. She sighed as she walked through the external passageway. She could only thought about a warm shower, before taking care of the housework and go to her day shift. She rummaged her pocket to find her house keys, but as she was about to open the door, her hand stopped. 

It was open. 

A wave of panic submerged her. It was so much more intense than what she felt tonight when she was chased after. She suddenly felt bile in her mouth and extreme nausea while her head started spinning and she staggered on her feet. 

- Yua…