Work Text:
It was a Monday.
The alarm clock didn't go off. His phone wasn't fully charged, and he forgot to iron his suit.
It was a Monday.
Nanako forgot to do her homework and Mimiko forgot to wash her uniform.
It was a Monday.
His car didn't have a tank full of gas and the girls ended up being late to school.
It was a Monday.
His assistant called him to let him know she was sick and he'd have to deal with the clients at the company without her being able to weed them out.
It was a Monday.
Satoru called him to let him know that he couldn't go to their pre-planned hangout. As well as Shoko sending him a message that she was sorry, but she was going to be busy doing an all-nighter at work and also couldn't go.
It was a Monday.
His clients were especially annoying, doing their monkey tricks yet complaining that it wasn't enough for them and going to him as if he cared enough to do anything about it.
It was a Monday.
He had to go get his tea himself in the afternoon and spilled it all over his suit. His suit that Nanako bought as a gift with the help of Satoru and Mimiko. His suit had to stay that way the entire day because he forgot to bring a spare from the week before and simply had to dry off in the bathroom. Having no way to properly clean the stain until the next day.
It was a Monday.
He ended up having more work to do and had to message the girls saying they could order takeout while he tried to finish up early. Nanako was especially frustrated as she wanted to go to the new dessert shop as a family with Mimiko sending him a message to eat and not worry about it. They could go on Saturday, when he'd be free.
It was a Monday.
Suguru was at his wits end as he forgot his fucking wallet of all things and couldn't fucking pay for a stupid premade bento. The cashier definitely didn't care, simply waiting for him to actually hand over the money. To Suguru, though, it was enough. He felt his stomach practically destroy itself and disappear entirely with the rest of his organs falling in it's empty space, having to stand with the repugnant feeling. Knowing that, much like the day he's had, he had to ignore it, accept it and move on even if he hated it. "You can-"
"Add these too." Chimed in a woman as she slipped between Suguru and the cashier, paying for his meal and what looked like a few energy drinks with some candy (he didn't miss the Tylenol she had put down).
"That'll be ¥2840. Would that be-" She quickly cut off the cashier, having an angry expression on her face.
"Card. Credit." Although, having stared at her ever since she butt her way into paying for his food, her face had looked that way the entire time. It wasn't her resting expression though, her eyebrows were raised too high. She quickly shoved her card in when she was told to and took it out when the machine chimed at her.
Suguru noticed she just shoved the card into her bag, not even putting it back into her wallet. "I want a receipt." She asked, although her tone was also quite sharp. Much like the expression on her face.
"Have a nice day." Said the cashier tiredly, as he slipped her the receipt. Passing her the bag full of the stuff she bought, though not before taking an energy drink for himself. Suguru said nothing, the woman that clearly cut off the cashier would have made a comment if it bothered her. She quickly moved outside, as another person was behind, ready to purchase things. Suguru chased after her, mostly because she had bought the bento he was going to buy from him.
"Excuse me miss, but I-" He couldn't finish his sentence as she quickly took the bento out of her bag and placed it on a table just outside the conbini.
She just looked at him, angry expression diluted as her eyebrows weren't as raised anymore. That , Suguru noted, was her resting expression. "It's a Monday," she said, "and people shouldn't go hungry." She quickly cracked open an energy drink and started walking away. He couldn't help but stare at her fading figure as she walked down the street drinking.
It was a Monday.
He thought, eating his premade bento. It filled his stomach, although not exactly to his liking given the meal wasn't fresh. Messaging the Geto family group chat to see if his daughters had eaten; they had, ordering some food from Sukiya. He smiled as his screen lit up.
Nanako smiled, doing the peace sign as she posed for the camera from an angle. The plate of food on the low end table of the living room, half eaten. Suguru slid the picture to the side and saw Mimiko look surprised. Her chopsticks near her mouth as it was full of food, having been taken by surprise in the photo by her sister. Her food was still in the takeout box as she sat on the floor. Face lit up by the TV, most likely watching videos from YouTube again. He could see the bubble tea on the table, one barely touched while the other was half full, and grinned.
He messaged one of his employees saying he didn't feel well going to head home early. Finishing his meal quite fast, as he wanted to get home and ask the girls what they wanted for lunch tomorrow.
It's a Monday
Alarm blaring at the ungodly hours of the morning, prepping my skin and putting makeup on as a good woman should (complete bullshit, but considering I want to keep my job and get promoted, what else do I do in this sexist country).
It's a Monday.
I grab the clothes I ironed the night before, quickly eating a meal before thinking about how nice it'd be to have a man hold me in his warm arms. To cuddle with me while I just want to lay in bed and sleep, as he holds me close when I whine about my cramps. As if that'll ever happen with me. I roll my eyes in the mirror as I fantasize about things my friends have, knowing full well I'm the one that talks them out of dating horrible men and help them when said men break their hearts. It's not my place to want these things.
It's a Monday.
I sigh as I prepare myself, walking into the Gojo headquarters to start my amazing (full of misogyny and harassment) week! Looking in the mirror near the entrance to check my hair, to see if it looks perfect, knowing my upper manager Satomi would complain to her peers if it wasn't about how much of an unruly foreigner I was. I didn't want to hear, especially when it was a Monday.
It's a Monday.
I greet the general manager of our department with a bow like everyone else and I hear him scoff at my improper stance. Knowing they pretend I don't understand them seeing as how I'm not Japanese when I had to prove my fluency to even get the job. Hearing the girls behind me giggle, rolling my eyes at their attempt to humiliate me.
It's a Monday.
I had bought myself a drink at the cafeteria and was told to get back upstairs for a meeting, calmly walking to the elevator. Sighing in relief as I get to enjoy a ride up to the 8th floor alone. Looking at my reflection in the mirror to see if I look alright, only to gape in horror as I see a stain on the black skirt I wore. Incredibly difficult to tell at a glance, but easy for me to spot since I wash all the stains on the skirt by hand. Fuck! Echoed in my head as I realized I had no time to go to the bathroom, change out, clean the stains, and put in a pad. I simply had to go to the meeting like that. Suddenly my fantasy from the morning made a lot of sense. At my realization I feel a piercing pain below my waist hit me; the cramps hit in. Fuck!
It's a Monday.
The meeting finishes and I'm told by Satomi to stay late for a file someone forgot to do. I'm quick to say no as it's time for me to leave. She's quick to chide me, saying I'm not as reliable as Serina or Mariko or even Haku as I'm unwilling to put in the extra unpaid hours. I simply hum and happily tell her to ask them, holding back the venom that's sitting in my teeth as I want to ask her to wash the blood on my skirt, shorts, and underwear since she's so interested in annoying me. I still would like to maintain a job.
It's a Monday.
I simply told Satomi my period started and I was unprepared and would still need to go to the convenience store even if I did the extra hours due to having started my period(still trying to guilt trip me into staying). She quickly whines about how unreliable I am again in her Kanto dialect, assuming I don't know the slang (I do). Calling me a lazy piece of shit as I simply clock out, grabbing my things and leaving.
It's a Monday.
I'm alone as I walk to the conbini, not in the mood to message Nanami about my day or call Nana. Getting a notification on my phone from WhatsApp, as my mother wants to call later in the day(for her, it'd be late in the night on my end) when I'm free. At her wish, I decided to buy energy drinks to stay up in the night for her and sound awake. Grabbing piles of candy as I have a sweet tooth, ignoring the chocolate (I still grabbed a white bar in case I regretted it at midnight) and stocking up on sweet as well as sour gummies. I grabbed a bottle of Tylenol to get rid of the main momentarily since I had Dorival at home that worked way better.
I grabbed all the shit I wanted needed and was ready to pay. Except the man in front of me was taking a long time. He was buying a (some kind) bento, a pricey one at that considering I would avoid those when I was buying with my spare change (the money in my account). I saw him press his hands against his waist, checking the pockets of his jacket, and feeling for them.
Checking the pockets of his pants. Not once, but four times. The cashier didn't seem to notice; some random high schooler that looked extremely tired since it was exam season. Every week this month the kid would have his head in a prep book before helping me pay. I don't envy him, especially in this fucking country.
The man in front of me, who had quite long hair with half of it in a bun, didn't seem to know what to do. Having no wallet to pay for his things. I was too tired to keep waiting, so I jumped in and paid for it.
It's a Monday.
The cashier handed me my receipt and my bag, keeping one of the energy drinks for himself. I usually let him grab something from the piles of junk food I'd buy in case he couldn't pay for it. The kids in high school working late hours and still studying for exams to do well, he deserves at least something.
I walked outside, since there was someone else ready to buy things too. "Excuse me miss, but I- '' Placing the man's bento on a table outside, ignoring what he said. Japanese people tend to be respectful to strangers, as well as beat around the bush with everything, and I wasn't in the mood (despite the fact that his voice was quite smooth and easy to listen to compared to the shrills I hear from others). I can get a better look at him. He's definitely larger than me. He has gauged ears and I can see his long hair cascading over his shoulder. I'm confused on how he's able to have such long hair, especially in such a strict country. Yet one look at the colors of his suit (and the light brown stain on his dress shirt that lightly shows a built abdomen) and I can tell the suit’s not cheap.
"It's a Monday," I say, feeling a bit better from my regular Monday, "and people shouldn't go hungry."
I pull a can out of my bag without looking, attempting to at least look at the man for a bit longer before returning to my shitty life. Cracking it open and sipping it before walking away.
It's a Monday.
And I realize I need to call Nana to tell her that I met a really cute guy and I forgot to ask for his name and number.