Odd Jobs R Us

Waking up the next day, Subaru groggily wiped his eyes before reaching for his bedside table, groping around the many artifacts displayed there.

His hands froze.

He remembered that he had lost his amulet the day before when he went out with his friends, losing it somewhere on the road. Sighing deeply, he got up, praying that the old man had found it, as he had to go to school.

On the way, he met Harue and Hekima, each holding one of his arms and placing their hands on his head. "Yo, how's the birthday boy doing today? Heard through the grapevine that his singing is so horrible, it nearly raised the dead," Harue quipped, struggling to keep from laughing.

Rolling his eyes, Subaru retorted, "Yeah, and whose fault is it? I kept yelling that I'm tone-deaf, but noooo, you just had to make me sing. I swear, if it weren't for the fact that the birds kept banging on the windows in anger, everyone would have choked to death." Both Harue and Hekima tittered, averting their eyes sideways, praying that something would come up to distract them from his wrath.

Just then, the world froze.

As the trio turned around in awe, they found the school's Madonna, Junko Yamino, walking out from her personal limousine.

Her dark, luscious black hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her near-perfect figure ignited the passion of everyone who glanced at her, boys and girls alike. As she walked, traces of nobility were evident in her steps, making her seem unapproachable.

The trio, leering at her, barely managed to look away. "Wheew! She looks amazing! I'd love to date her, but it's a pity..." Harue stated, before Hekima chimed in, "Yeah, if it weren't for her father..."

After the short fawning, the trio were dragged back to reality, where they endured school (read: torture), all except one person.

As soon as the final bell rang, the students of Moriyasu High School witnessed a cloud of dust inside the school.

Panting deeply, Subaru ran all the way to Odd Jobs 'R' Us, where he frantically banged on the door. "Old man Albert, Mr. Albert! Open the door! Please, open the door..." As he hyperventilated, the door swung open, revealing a very disgruntled grandpa with cucumber slices still stuck to his eyes.

""What, can't someone sleep in peace? Oh, wait, it's you. Come in." Waving his hands, Albert welcomed Subaru into the shop, where the mess from yesterday still remained (at least to him).

Hoisting the amulet from beneath the counter, Albert presented it to the young man, who attempted to grab it. "Ah, ah, ah, no grabbing before paying. But since you're a new customer, and that damn ad said first services are free… *haaaah*, this one's a freebie; otherwise, it would have cost you 100,000 yen."

Shocked at the ridiculous price, Subaru attempted to reason with him, "But, but the damn thing is only—" Holding his index finger in the air, Albert replied, "Do you even know how much manpower it took me to find it for you within a day? Be quiet, or else I can make you pay for it instead..."

Feeling the threatening tone in his voice, Subaru meekly shrank his head, quickly thanked him, and headed out the door.

Leaning on the counter, with one hand under his chin, Albert wondered how much trouble the young man would get into.

Oh boy, can't wait...