Chapter One – The Patron Saint of Lies and Fakes

Of course.

The bell tingled as the door opened and a girl with large brown eyes entered the bakery. Her hair was now cropped short, clinging around her head instead of flowing down to her waist but there was no mistaking that face. And those eyes.

Of course.

Nakamori Shiori rolled her eyes.

Of course, a spot had opened up at the bakery because Murayama Kaede, the daughter of the owner of the bakery, had gone for her high school graduation trip. Of course, Murayama-san had a cousin who had an aunt who had a boyfriend who had a brother who had co-worker who had a daughter who needed a part-time job. Of course, said daughter was Fujioka Haruhi.

This bakery wasn't even in the same neighbourhood as the one Haruhi lived in. But, of course.

"Murayama-san, hijimemashite. I am Fujioka Haruhi. Thank you for giving me this job. I will work hard."

"Oh darling, no need to be so formal," Murayama-san replied. "It's very nice to meet you too, I'm Murayama Akemi."

Three, two, one. Shiori counted silently.

"Oh, my dear you're so cute. Such large eyes, such clear skin. You almost make me jealous," Murayama-san fawned, pinching Haruhi's cheeks. "Uwaaaaaaaaaaa."

Shiori rolled her eyes again.

"Oh, how rude of me, I have not introduced you to Shiori-chan yet. Come, Shiori, meet Haruhi."

Shiori resignedly put down the cloth with which she had been diligently wiping the spotless counter with. Better get this introduction – or re-introduction – over and done with.

"Fujioka-san, this is Nakamori Shiori. Shiori, this is Fujioka Haruhi."

"Shiori?" Haruhi's already huge eyes widened further.

"Hello Haruhi." Shiori smiled the fakest smile she could fake.

"Hmm, do you girls already know each other?" Murayama-san looked between the two of them.

"Yeah, we went to the same middle school," Shiori replied.

"Oh, is this a reunion for you two? How sweet, how touching!" Murayama-san put her hand to her heart. "You know what, we don't open for another hour so why don't you two sit down and catch up for a while. I'll set everything up. But of course, knowing you, Shiori, everything has already been done. Tsk, tsk, Shiori, you leave your boss with nothing to do."

Then, Murayama-san disappeared into the kitchen.

Shiori kept up her smile.

"How about I show you the staffroom and you can put your stuff first? We can talk later," Shiori said.

Or preferably never at all.

Haruhi nodded.

Shiori briskly led the way to the door behind the counter. "There are four of us here: Murayama-san, the Chef, you and me. This is the door to the staffroom where our lockers are. The door is not locked so just make sure no one other than the four of us enters this room."

Shiori held the door open for Haruhi. She pointed to the locker nearest to the door.

"This will be your locker. The one that says Murayama Kaede. She's Murayama-san's daughter and works here usually but she's off on her graduation trip right now. And here is your apron. There is no uniform but just wear dark-coloured jeans and a white T-shirt to work."

"The staff toilet is that one," Shiori pointed to a door. "And Murayama-san's office is the other door. I'll leave you to settle in now first before I brief you about your duties. You're probably helping out Chef in the kitchen, dishwashing and stuff, and probably doing a bit of waitressing since we have a small café here as well. I'll be manning the cashier and taking questions, Haruhi?"

"No, thank you, Shiori," Haruhi replied quietly.

"Okay then, I'll be out there. Come out when you're ready," Shiori said and turned on her heel. Her smile was dropping fast.

"It's been a long time, Shiori," Haruhi spoke up. "I'm glad to see you again."

"Me too, Haruhi. Me too." Shiori turned the doorknob and left.

Not.

Oh, Patron Saint of Lies and Fakes, grace me with Oscar-worthy acting talents for these four weeks. Lead me not into honesty and deliver me from the truth, lest I say something that – may heaven forbid – breaks Haruhi's fragile little heart and send Akane and Kazumi after my bitchy little head.

Shiori raised her eyes upwards. Akane and Kazumi had been her friends too. But now, they were firmly on the Protect-Haruhi Defence Squad. Not that Haruhi would know such a team existed even if the whole world was on it. Well, everyone Haruhi had met was probably already on it.

Whatever.

Amen.

That prayer would have to do.

Meanwhile, Shiori settled for deftly eluding any conversation with Haruhi that pertained to anything more substantial than the weather, the state of the tabletop or the colour of the cupcake icing.

But of course, Haruhi was annoyingly perceptive, especially where people didn't need her to be.

"Are you avoiding me, Shiori?" Haruhi asked as.

Shiori gave herself a mental facepalm.

Ever so blunt. If Shiori didn't know Haruhi, she would think that Haruhi was being bitchily innocent.

"Huh?" Shiori turned to Haruhi. "Hmm? What? Wait, did you see that shiba inu trotting down the street? Isn't it the most adorable thing ever? It's so cute I want to squish it to death. Kyaaaa."

Shiori rolled her eyes at her own antics. Well, she wasn't lying about the shiba inu. It was adorable and she wanted to hug it tightly and never ever let it go.

Haruhi laughed. "You're still the same."

Shiori raised an eyebrow. Was she?

Well, whatever floats Haruhi's oblivious boat.

"You were saying something earlier on?" Shiori asked.

"Oh no, it was nothing," Haruhi replied.

"Okay then," Shiori shrugged. Her prayers had not gone unanswered. "It's lunchtime now so you can have lunch first. I'll man the counter for you until you're done and then we can switch."

"Oh, we're not having lunch together?"

"Nope," Shiori replied almost too cheerfully. "The bakery remains open so we take shifts for lunch."

It used to be annoying when she and Kaede-senpai wanted to gossip but now, she had seen the light and completely understood the merits of the system. There would be no time for heart-to-heart-talks over o-bentos. Shiori was so happy she could cry.

"Okay, I'll be in the locker room," Haruhi said and went inside.

Well, technically, she could eat her bento out here in the café but oh no, Shiori wasn't going to tell her that. The locker room door closed.

Finally.

Shiori sighed in relief.

Liberty.

Libertà.

Liberté!

Then, the bell tinkled and she opened her eyes regretfully.

She blinked. And then opened it larger for a better view.

Because in front of her were six very very dashing young men.

XXX

Any guesses for who those six dashing young men are?

Thank you for reading. It would warm my ice-cold heart greatly if you could review, tell me what you liked or disliked about the chapter. Next chapter tomorrow. Goodbye dear readers, if there are indeed readers out there.

xxx