Ripped-up jeans. An old, baggy t-shirt and worn, dirty sneakers. I sighed as I tugged at my less than cared for hair. I hadn't bothered with it this morning since the bathroom had been continually occupied at home. I'd gone out to do some shopping as it was the weekend and I barely had homework. Not that middle school homework was extremely overbearing. I glanced at the people around me. Almost everyone was walking with someone else and they all had smiles on their faces. I saw a lot of little children walking with their parents. Their hands were all clasped tightly as they walked along the busy sidewalk. I smiled at the happy children as I continued my solitary walk. There were very unique shops on this street. I looked up at each sign as I passed until three boys in front of the café caught my attention. They appeared to be leaving, but they looked extremely happy.

"Ah! Aoi-chan was there again today!"

"She's so cute. What an amazing net idol!"

"Seeing her makes up for Misa-chan being off work today."

The three continued their conversation as they disappeared down the street. I stopped in front of the café. I stared at the sign feeling somewhat ill inside. The shop was called Maid Latte.

"A maid café? Why would Aoi-chan make an appearance here?" I asked myself.

I hesitated outside the door, wondering if I really wanted to see the moderately famous net idol. I reached a hand out to the handle before pulling back. Looking down at how I was dressed, I stepped away from the café and continued my walk, now feeling slightly depressed. I couldn't be seen like this. "You're not cute!" I cringed at the memory as I began running home. I reached it shortly afterward. Home was conveniently placed between two different towns. I pushed the gate open and read the sign. Middle Road Orphanage. It was pretty new, having been open for only three years. I was so happy when I got transferred here when it opened. As I closed the gate, I heard excited shouts from the three other children living in the orphanage.

"Mariko! Mariko!"

I smiled as they tackled me in a hug.

"What did you buy?" they asked in unison.

I kept walking into the building with them on my heels. I love the three of them desperately. They were like my little siblings since it was only the four of us with Ms. Chou. The eldest was me. Then there was Ichirou who was twelve, Koji who was seven, and Emiko who was five. Ichirou and Koji are biological brothers. I walked into the kitchen where Ms. Chou was making lunch.

"I bought cake!" I announced, placing the shopping back on the counter.

"YAY!"

Koji and Emiko climbed onto the counter to look at the cake while Ichirou looked at me sternly.

"I could have gone with you, you know," he pouted," A girl shouldn't go out by herself."

I smiled and ruffled his long black hair. He blushed slightly and pulled away.

"Don't worry. No one would bother with a girl like me. Not looking like this. I'm going to go change now, actually."

Emiko looked up at me.

"I wanna go with you!"

I smiled and plucked her off the counter.

"Fine, fine!"

Ms. Chou smiled at us. Her parents were rich and they owned the orphanage, but they didn't understand why a smart and talented twenty year old such as herself would want to run the orphanage. Ms. Chou had told me multiple times that all she wanted was to take care of sweet children like us. I'd met her when I was ten and I thought she was one of the greatest people in the world. She was like my big sister, only being six years older than me.

"Thanks for the cake, Mariko," she told me," But after lunch I want you to actually go out and spend time with some of your friends."

I hoisted Emiko higher so that her weight rested on my hip.

"But, most of them are busy today," I told her.

She gave me her scariest look, which wasn't very scary. I sighed at her.

"Okay! I'll go out."

Ichirou ran over and stood next to me.

"Me, too!"

Ms. Chou smirked at him and waggled her cooking spoon at him.

"Oh, no. The last time you went with her, I heard you scared off all her male friends."

Ichirou gaped at her as I giggled. We all knew that Ichirou had a crush on me, but he was like a little brother and I couldn't think of him as anything more. I took Emiko with me and she helped me pick out a decent outfit to wear out and I let her brush my brown hair till it was shiny.

"You're so pretty, Mariko!" she told me, awe written across her face.

I tickled her stomach and she giggled happily.

"Thank you, but you're so much cuter!"

It was true. I'd stuffed her into a soft pink, frilly dress with a bright pink ribbon around the waist. I'd even curled her naturally straight, black hair. Ms. Chou always scolded me for buying all the cute outfits for Emiko and never buying any for myself. I just figured it was too late for me to look cute. Taking her hand, we went down and had lunch. As I helped Ms. Chou clean up after having our cake, she looked over my outfit. She shook her head.

"I still don't see why he said that to you?"

"Huh?"

"That boy. I don't understand why he said you're not cute. There is nothing wrong with your outfit."

I looked down at my blue mini-skirt, light blue tank-top, and blue sandals. I shrugged.

"Just not his type, I guess."

Ms. Chou snorted.

"I bet he was lying. I don't see why you still seek his approval."

"He has no friends!"

"I can see why…"

I gave Ms. Chou a look and she smiled at me.

"You know there is such a thing as being too kind. That boy needs to learn to watch his temper."

I put the dishes away and laughed.

"I don't blame him for his temper. People can be so judgmental about him that he has a right to be judgmental as well. By the way, is it okay if I take Emiko with me? I think Aoi-chan is at this café today and I think she'd love to go with me."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

"Alright then."

I smiled, hugged Ms. Chou, and then ran off to find Emiko.