The college students returned.
Unluckily.
No one was surprised.
Especially not Aoi.
As soon as the door opened and the usual crowd entered, she felt a migraine coming on.
An unusual occurrence.
Aoi was not a girl who often got migraines.
Akari was stressful.
Classes were stressful.
Life was stressful.
However, these four guys managed to be more destructive than any combination of these things.
"Good morning."
Aoi greeted them politely.
The leader of the gang smiled.
"Hey, Aoi-chan."
She imdiately regretted greeting them.
In the last week, the four guys ca regularly.
Not because they liked the cake.
Not because they liked coffee.
And especially not because they enjoyed the atmosphere.
They had only one thing they ca for.
Aoi.
To be specific.
To irritate Aoi.
Which they seed unusually enthusiastic about doing.
The elderly woman was imdiately aware of it.
She had many talents.
Detecting trouble was one of them.
"Those boys again?"
Aoi nodded.
"Unfortunately."
Sachiko sighed.
"Do you want to throw them out?"
A highly tempting offer.
Extrely tempting.
Unfortunately.
"No."
Aoi shook her head.
"They are custors."
"At least for now."
The woman murmured.
The gang sat down at their regular place.
Loudly.
Very loudly.
Every couple of minutes one of them tried to engage in a conversation.
Aoi answered politely.
Shortly.
And with zero interest.
Other people would get the hint.
These guys didn’t understand it.
One of them raised their hand.
"Aoi-chan."
"Yes?"
"What kind of boy do you prefer?"
Aoi stared.
The question was not a problem.
The problem was that she already had an answer to this.
And unfortunately.
That answer had black hair and created problems everywhere it went.
Aoi imdiately dismissed the thought.
"It is a personal question."
The man laughed.
"Co on."
"No."
End of conversation.
From her point of view.
Unfortunately.
The gang persisted.
By lunchti.
Aoi’s patience was dwindling quickly.
anwhile.
As usual.
Fate decided to create trouble for them.
The door opened.
Kuro entered.
Aoi relaxed slightly.
Only slightly.
The change in attitude was very subtle.
Not everyone would notice.
Except for the gang.
That was the problem.
One of them followed her gaze.
And smirked.
"Hey."
Another looked at Kuro.
"Oh."
The gang imdiately realized.
Or rather.
Thought they did.
Wrong assumption.
As usual.
Kuro ca closer to the counter.
"You work today as well?"
"Yes."
"Busy?"
"Manageable."
A usual conversation.
Unfortunately.
This ti they imdiately intervened.
"Hey."
Kuro turned around.
The leader grinned.
"You are the boyfriend."
Silence.
Aoi closed her eyes.
Not because she felt embarrassed.
Because she felt exhausted.
Very exhausted.
Kuro sighed.
"I’m not."
The gang laughed.
"Yeah."
"Visits weekly."
"Definitely boyfriend behavior."
Kuro imdiately looked at Aoi.
The latter imdiately looked the other way.
Suspicious reaction.
Very suspicious.
Misunderstanding continued to live.
Flourish.
Grew every day.
All thanks to Aoi.
She continued to keep silence despite everything.
Sachiko observed from the kitchen.
And looked happy.
She was not helping.
Not even slightly.
The gang continued their work.
Unfortunately.
They were becoming bolder and bolder.
Mockery.
Insults.
Attempts at jokes.
None of which were even remotely funny.
Kuro’s patience rapidly dwindled.
Aoi noticed imdiately.
From the way he stood up straighter.
From the way he reacted.
From the way he didn’t respond anymore.
She understood those signs well.
What does it an?
That trouble was coming.
Soon.
One mber of the group sat back.
"What do you do?"
"Student."
Kuro answered.
The gang laughed.
"Precious and interesting occupation."
Another stated.
"Aoi-chan deserved better."
That was crossing the line.
Aoi’s face imdiately cooled off.
Very slightly.
However, enough for Sachiko to notice.
The old woman beca anxious.
College guys were oblivious.
Which was extrely stupid.
A very dangerous move.
Kuro slowly exhaled.
He could respond.
He really could.
However.
Unfortunately.
He rembered the place.
Cake shop.
Aoi’s workplace.
Sachiko’s business.
Public place.
In case of a fight.
Aoi would pay the price.
Her reputation.
Her job.
Her whole future.
Realization imdiately put an end to his anger.
Because it was not worth risking her just for his own sake.
Not even a little.
Thus.
He decided to act in a different way.
He stood up.
"See you."
Aoi looked confused.
The gang laughed.
Misinterpreting this for weakness.
Which they did frequently.
Which made them even more stupid.
And very dangerous to interact with.
Kuro ignored them.
And left.
The door closed after him.
Gang continued to laugh.
Celebrate their victory.
While Aoi watched silently.
Calm expression on her face.
However.
Sothing else was brewing underneath.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The gang did not understand it.
Because idiots usually didn’t see any danger until it was too late.
Several hours later.
Work finished.
Gang was gone.
Custors were gone.
The shop closed its doors.
Aoi could finally relax.
She turned to Sachiko.
"You are okay?"
"Yes."
"You are lying."
Aoi looked confused.
"Really?"
"You are lying very badly."
Sachiko laughed.
And pointed at the exit.
"Go ho."
"I have work to do."
"No."
Sachiko shook her head.
"You need to think."
Aoi stared.
The woman was unusually insightful.
Sotis.
Too insightful.
Finally.
Aoi decided to leave.
Cool evening air embraced her body.
Quiet streets greeted her.
For so ti.
Aoi walked aimlessly.
Thinking.
About what happened during the day.
About Kuro.
About the gang.
There was one thing that particularly bothered her.
Not the mockery.
Not the insults.
Not even the arrogance.
The fact that Kuro left for her sake.
Aoi understood imdiately.
He could have argued.
Escalated the situation.
But he chose not to.
Because Aoi’s job mattered.
Because she mattered.
Thought stirred her chest softly.
An unusual and very unfamiliar feeling.
Which she either understood or she did not.
Maybe.
A cool breeze blew past her hair.
Aoi paused.
Looked at the city lights.
A small smile appeared on her face.
Very small.
Very genuine.
Unfortunately.
It disappeared shortly afterwards.
Because she rembered the gang again.
And her expression imdiately cooled down.
The calm.
Calm.
Polite Aoi reappeared.
Underneath, however.
Another part was stirring awake.
One that few people had ever seen before.
Which Akari called:
Final Boss.
The gang was still thinking they won.
That Kuro retreated because he was weak.
That there would be no consequences.
Aoi felt sorry for them.
Almost.
Because next ti.
Would be different.
And for the first ti in weeks.
Gentle Aoi found herself excited by this prospect.
Upon coming back from work, Aoi instantly regretted going into the living room.
Akari was there waiting.
Which was already a problem.
As soon as Aoi entered the room, Akari sprang up off the sofa.
"Welco ho, hardworking employee!"
Aoi sighed.
"Good evening."
"How was your corporate hell?"
"A cake shop."
"Sa difference."
Aoi put her bag down.
Akari instantly sat next to her.
Too close.
Too close.
"What?"
Asked Aoi.
"I have so questions."
"Unfortunate."
"I heard Kuro paid another visit."
Aoi froze.
Fortunately, Akari had spotted her.
It seed that girl had an unnatural talent for detecting weaknesses.
"Oh?"
Asked Akari with a grin.
"OH?"
"Stop that oh-ing!"
"Kuro paid you a visit?"
"Yeah."
"He does that often."
"Yeah."
"Very interesting."
"Not really."
"Very very interesting."
Aoi thought of throwing a cushion at her face.
---
Akari then decided to cross her arms.
"You see."
"What?"
"I should get myself a part-ti job too."
Aoi looked startled.
"You?"
"What do you an ’you’?"
"Just that ’you’. "
"Rude."
In this case, Aoi wasn’t being rude.
It was just a bad idea for Akari to go out and work.
For society.
For any business.
For reality.
---
"What kind of job should I get then?"
Asked Aoi.
Akari instantly replied.
"Little sister."
"That is not a job."
"Should be!"
"Nobody will hire you."
"Jealous!"
"No."
"Jealous, jealous!"
Aoi ignored her.
As always.
---
Akari pressed on nonetheless.
"Then how about idol?"
"No."
"Café waitress?"
"No."
"Movie actress?"
"No."
"World ruler?"
"Especially no."
Akari frowned.
"My abilities are completely overlooked."
"Dangerously so."
---
At that very point, Kuro ca into the living room.
A terrible mistake.
Imdiately, Akari pointed at him.
"Nii-san!"
"What?"
"Would you hire ?"
"For what?"
"I don’t know."
"Then no."
Akari put a hand to her heart.
"Broken hearted."
"Good."
Aoi silently agreed.
---
Akari quickly switched targets.
"Then how about if I work at Aoi’s cake shop?"
Aoi almost gagged.
"No."
"Why not?"
"I’ll bankrupt the store."
"I can sell cakes."
"You’d eat them all."
Akari was about to protest but rembered that she actually did eat most of the goods.
---
anwhile, Kuro sat down nearby.
"I actually think Aoi does fine."
Akari gasped.
"You complinted her!"
Aoi imdiately turned away blushing.
It was obvious on her ears.
Akari noticed.
Obviously she noticed.
"OH?"
"Stop."
"OHHHH?"
"Akari."
The nacing tone was there.
Akari backed off wisely.
---
In the next couple of minutes, Akari and Kuro engaged in a debate about part-ti jobs.
They both offered Akari increasingly crazy options while she eagerly accepted.
She also got quite upset at Aoi when she denied each suggestion.
The atmosphere was loud.
Warm.
Familiar.
Despite a rather exhausting experience at work, Aoi began relaxing.
As she listened to yet another insane business plan from Akari, Aoi found herself smiling slightly.
For now, at least, this crazy house was ho.
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