Chapter Text
“Hey, Akiko, could you replace the old hat display with our new shipment?”
That name.
That god damn name.
A constant reminder of who he could never escape from.
Akito thumbed at his nametag, looking up at his manager who pulled him out of his daydream. She was pointing at a large, cardboard box with her blue pen, waiting for his response with stern eyes.
“Yes ma’am, I’ll get on it…”
He stood up from the stool he was sitting on, and walked over to the box. Walking over to the display, he held the box on his hip for a moment, before moving it in front of his torso.
He removed the baseball caps from the rotating metal rack, his mind elsewhere. They were clearly not something which sold often. When it was rotated, the shelf, desperate for some WD-40, squeaked at a migraine-inducing pitch. Akito was surprised the glass window nearby didn’t shatter.
He hooked the caps onto the hooks, trying to distract himself with his work.
It didn’t work.
“Hey, could you help us?”
Akito turned around, clutching a light pink cap by the bill. There were a trio of guys standing in front of him.
They were from Kamiyama.
“How can I help you?”
Their eyes collectively widened upon seeing Akito’s face.
“Oh, damn! Are you Akiko?” The tallest one asked. The shortest boy to his left nudged his shoulder, scolding him under his breath.
Akito slowly nodded, squinting his eyes in confusion.
“I’m sorry… Do I know you?”
The scolding one gestured his hand in apology.
“Sorry, we go to Kamiyama High, too. We’ve seen you around.”
“Are you the sister of Ena?” The last boy to speak asked.
“Yeah…?”
“See, I told you!!!”
The third one looked at the tallest. The tallest boy shot him a look, before looking back at Akito.
“I thought you were a guy when I saw you. I just wanted to double check…”
There it was.
He could never win.
Akito placed his hand into his pocket, dropping the pink hat back into the box. He cleared his throat.
“Is there anything else I can help you with?”
The voice that spilled from his mouth was sickeningly sweet; docile.
Feminine.
The tallest one placed his hands on his hips.
“Why is your hair so short?”
“Dude, shut up!”
The shortest one punched him in the arm, clearly annoyed by his bullshit.
“Hey, I’m just asking her! What's wrong with asking???”
He groaned before looking back at the redhead.
“So… why?”
“I just like having my hair short. That’s why.”
Akito said, his hand in his pocket tightening around the fabric.
God, what a nightmare.
“Do you know Akiyama?”
Akito scrunched his eyebrows at the tallest boy’s sudden question.
“Yeah, I do.”
The two tallest boys giggled, covering their mouths with their hands.
“He said the same thing when I asked him.”
“Is that also why you like dressing like that?”
Akito glared his eyes at the pair.
“I’m sensing some hostility here. Do you want my help or not?”
His real voice was back. He could defend himself.
“Woah, woah, woah, chill out! We’re just asking questions…”
The shortest boy, clearly trying to butt in, finally had his opportunity.
“Stop being like that, you guys! She’s just trying to work.”
The tallest boy ignored his pleads, and continued to speak.
“Do you also ‘just like’ wearing your pants like that?”
The two burst out laughing again.
Laughing at him.
At Akito.
He couldn’t take it anymore.
He quickly ran away, back into the break room.
His ears clogged with the tears now streaming down his face.
He couldn’t hear his manager asking what happened.
All he could hear were their comments.
She. Her. Sister.
Akiko.
He ripped the pin off his chest, throwing it to the ground with a pathetic tink.
He was Akiko to everyone around him.
No matter what, he would never be seen as Akito.