Chapter 9: Minor Adjustments

*Wednesday afternoon, December 17th, 2014*

"Thank you for coming, Young Masters! Please visit us again soon." I wave at the group of second-year high school boys, giving them a closed-eye smile as they leave the cafe. Seeing the grins on their faces reminds me of how much I love this job. Giving customers a heart-pounding experience was only one of the perks, but it was the part that I loved most.

"Me-lee-ssa!" I turn to look at Chiyo, who was waving at me from the kitchen doors. She exaggerated the pronunciation of my name when we were among customers to add to my maid lolita appearance.

"Over here, Chi-Chi!" I wave back, letting her know that I'd heard her.

"We neeeeeeed you!" She calls in a sing-song voice. Some of the customers who overhear our conversation laugh, and I giggle at her acting.

"Hai-hai!" I tuck my serving tray under my arm and hurry into the kitchen. Chiyo's overly-cheerful maid expression vanishes in an instant once I arrive.

"Did you see who came today?" Her voice is serious, and I notice her face has gone slightly pale. I shake my head warily.

"Noooo… Who?"

"Mister X."

"Who?" I raise an eyebrow, and Chiyo rolls her eyes.

"You-know-who is here. You know..." She makes an 'X' with her arms. I shake my head.

"Just tell me, Chiyo."

"Kazuki! That's who!" I flinch at the sound of his name.

"You mean, he decided to show his face today?" He hadn't stepped foot inside our cafe since we'd broken up.

She nods. "Yes, him. And he's requested you."

I feel my stomach drop. "Me?"

"Yes, you!"

I sigh. "Ugh, okay." I turn around to head out when Chiyo reaches out and grabs my arm.

"Will you be alright?" Her green eyes stare meaningfully at me. I nod.

"Yes, I should be fine. I'll give you the signal if I need you to take over."

"You better."

"I will! Don't worry." She gives my arm one last squeeze before letting go.

"I'm keeping you to that."

I salute her. "Aye aye, Cap'n!" She smiles and shakes her head as I walk back out into the cafe. I look around and immediately spot him at his usual table. Figures, I think dryly to myself. The man didn't stray far from habit. Taking a deep breath and straightening my posture, I walk over to Kazuki's table.

"Welcome, Master Tachibana! How may I serve you today?" I flash him a closed-eye smile. His stone cold expression doesn't soften one bit.

"Melissa, we need to talk." My smile falters slightly, but I force myself to keep up the maid act.

"Master, I am not permitted to speak with you at the moment! You should know that." I make a tsking noise and shake my head. "Now, is there anything I can get for you?"

"Your time."

"That's a bold request!" I laugh, trying to keep the atmosphere light-hearted. Kazuki suddenly reaches out and grabs my wrist, pulling me close.

"Master, please release me." I keep a smile on my face, but my voice is commanding.

"Listen here, Melissa. I know you're staying with those brothers, and I don't like it." He lowers his voice so that no one can hear but me.

"Master Tachibana, please -"

"I'm not finished." He looks directly into my eyes. "I plan on winning you back. Don't think that I can't, and that I won't." He lets go of me and I stumble back a few steps.

"I've decided that I want Chiyo" he says, his voice back to a natural volume.

"As you wish, Master." I bow and hurry back to the kitchen.

"He wants you" I tell Chiyo, slumping against the wall.

"He looked pretty aggressive out there." She peeks out into the cafe. "You sure you're alright? You can call it a day if you-"

"I'll be fine" I say with a sigh. "Just, give me a few minutes to recuperate."

"Of course." Chiyo goes out into the cafe, leaving me alone.

"Here." I look up to see Aiko standing in front of me with a glass of lemonade.

"Thanks, you're so sweet." I smile weakly as I take it from her.

"It sounds like you've got your hands full." Aiko shakes her head sympathetically. "I just wish I could do more."

"No, this is perfect." I take a long sip from the cup and close my eyes. "Mmm, this is really good! New recipe?" I look at curiously. She laughs.

"No! Actually, it was your first specialty recipe."

"Really?" I look at her in surprise. "I almost didn't recognize it!"

"Maybe that's because you haven't had time to drink it and relax recently" she responds with a small smile. "Honestly though, Chiyo, Suzume, and the rest of us will understand if you need some time off."

I shake my head, also smiling. "Thank you for the offer, but I think I'll be fine."

*Wednesday early evening, December 17th, 2014*

"Big Sister's home!" Wataru launches himself at me as I walk through the elevator's doors on the fifth floor. I hug him tight, surprised at how tall he's getting.

"My goodness, Wataru! You're going to knock me over!" I exclaim, laughing as my glasses fall off of my face, bounce off of the twelve year old's head, and then clatter to the ground.

"Oi, Wataru!" I look up to see a very blurry version of Yuusuke approach, pulling the youngest Asahina off of me. "Don't break Senpai or her glasses!"

"Oh, sorry Big Sister!" Wataru says. I shake my head, chuckling softly at his antics as I bend down to pick up my glasses.

"How was work?" Ukyo asks, emerging from around the corner. My smile momentarily falters before I brighten it once again.

"It went well" I say, forcing away the memory of Kazuki as I clean my glasses off.

"Really?" Ukyo raises a prodding eyebrow. I nod emphatically.

"Yes, really." I smile wider, which seems to satisfy him.

"That's good to hear. Dinner will be ready soon." My hands freeze as I'm about to put my glasses back on.

"You haven't eaten yet?"

"Wataru insisted that we wait for you."

"No I di-" Yuusuke clamps a hand over Wataru's mouth. I eye Yuusuke and Ukyo skeptically as I finish putting my glasses on.

"... I see. I guess I'll go freshen up then?"

"Please, do." Ukyo smiles at me and I nod. Waving to the three, I turn around and climb back into the elevator.

Back in my room, I look at myself in the mirror. The bangs which Louis had given so long ago have grown out considerably, and my dead ends seem to create a slightly bedraggled look. I reach up and tousle my hair with my fingers, but it only serves to make it more of a tangled mess.

"It really is too long" I say to myself. "Perhaps I ought to try and schedule that appointment with Louis sooner rather than later." As if on cue, there's a knock at the door and sure enough, it's Louis with Juli on his shoulder.

"Hello there, you two!" I say with a smile as he walks in. I can't help but notice that he has his hair styling tools with him.

"Hello Mai." Louis smiles gently, then holds up a pair of scissors. "Would you like to have that trim now?"

I nod, perhaps a little too vigorously. "Yes please!"

Louis motions towards my desk chair, and I sit down. Wrapping the cape around my neck, he comes around in front of me and starts clipping away at my bangs. Not long after, he steps back to admire his work with a smile. Juli sits on his shoulder and gives me a nod of approval.

"Louis?" He seems startled.

"What is it, Mai?"

"Can you… Cut my hair shorter?"

He laughs softly. "You want your bangs shorter?"

I shake my head. "Oh, no! That's not what I meant. I mean, this." I hold up a lock of my long, black-brown hair.

Louis' smile fades slightly. "You want it short?"

I nod. "Yes, if you don't mind."

"But you're hair is so beautiful long."

I blush. "Thank you, but it's getting to be quite the trouble. Besides, I might look better with it short!"

He looks contemplatively at me, then nods. "I think you're right." He smiles. "But, you'll still let me style it, won't you?"