Chapter 21 — Frost and Frosting

Thin layers of frost settled. A widely spanning window pane, cold underneath, as it met the skin of her fingertips. From this corner of the first floor classroom, a courtyard decorated in the white of a soft snowfall laid out in a plain, wintry view. Like taps of powdered sugar, the snow sat atop the tended hedges, the shut iron gates, and the luxurious tile walkways embedded with trails of winter footprints that lead to the school's doorway. Inside, it was warm. Temperate. A perfectly kept twenty-one-point-five degrees Celsius to strip away mufflers and coats the moment one stepped inside, carrying that warmth until the last hours of the school day.

It felt different. Strange, in one way or another. Even if she had spent the better half of a year tucked between the illustrious walls of this renowned school, Kurobara Girls' High was still a place Raiha had not found herself fully immersed in. This black-and-white uniform that she shared with her fellow classmates—the same uniform that her friends from middle school showered her in praise over—was still something that never felt like it belonged to her. Like she did not truly deserve it. Like the clothes she wore over her skin were sewn by tired hands, poked and prodded until the fingers bled and the skin dried. Compared to her own hand, now placed over the frosted window of her classroom, hers seemed almost delicate. Thin and small, from palm to fingernail, with only the dull scar of a kitchen knife to separate her from those that carried the faint smell of coin and paper bills mixed with their perfume.

The more she thought about it, the more those actions felt like sacrifice. Selflessness dedicated to her wellbeing as the family's youngest. Of course she felt guilty—it would be seem heartless of her to embellish it as anything else. Admit that one fact, and it shall no longer burden her. Her older brother and her father worked tirelessly to bring her to this school, and it hardly seemed right if she did not bring her best efforts with her, every single day.

Her finger finished tracing over the condensation over the window pane.

"What are you drawing, Uesugi-san?" a voice broke her out of her short daydream.

"Huh?" Raiha glanced beside her. A girl slightly taller than her, with dark brown hair tied to two braids, had peered over shoulder. "Oh, Yano-san. Sorry. I must have been spacing out for a bit there," Raiha said with a short laugh. She ran her hands over her window doodle, then wiped the condensation over her skirt.

"Spacing out, huh?" Yano laughed. "I totally get you. It is Friday, after all. This week really went by slowly."

"Yeah… home room felt like it ran especially long today."

"You felt it too? I thought I was the only one!" Yano sighed. She fiddled with the tips of her pedicured nails, barely swaying the luxury watch that wrapped around her thin wrists. "Well, whatever. At least the weekend is finally here. Oh! By the way, do you have any plans on Saturday? My family just installed a new indoor pool, and they said I could invite some friends over. Ikehara-san and Nishimura-san will be coming too."

"I heard my name!" A girl with long hair that curled to ringlets strolled over, accompanied by another girl with rounded glasses. "What are we talking about, girls?"

"Hey, Ikehara-san! I was just telling Uesugi-san about our little get-together this weekend. Are they two of you still coming?"

"Of course! Though I hope I won't be late." Ikehara said, twirling the curls of her permed hair. "My father says he has a gift for your father. Repayment for his speech at our company's product launch. It's supposed to arrive from Belgium tomorrow morning, and I am not to leave without it. If the parcel isn't delayed, then I should be right on time."

"That's good to hear. And you, Nishimura-san?"

The fourth girl cleaned her glasses with a cloth she drew from a designer case. Her voice was calm, practically refined as she spoke. "I will have to find some new arrangements. My family's driver is currently visiting his family in Kyoto, so he will not be available this weekend."

"Me and my driver can stop by your house," said Ikehara. "It's on the way, anyway."

"If it is not a bother, then that would work perfectly for me. Thank you, Ikehara-san."

Yano grinned. "Yay! I'll let my parents know when to expect you. How about you, Uesugi-san? Will you be available?"

"Ah…" Raiha chuckled. "You see, I'd love to visit. But umm…. Well, I'll be working the whole weekend."

The three girls raised their brow, and Yano spoke up. "Work again? You sure are busy all the time, Uesugi-san."

"Yeah," Ikehara added, still curling the ringlets of her hair around her finger. "You take up a lot of shifts. Is the school really okay with that?"

"Is your workplace ethical?" Nishimura asked. "Students should not allowed to work more than…"

Again, Raiha chuckled. "I know, I know. Don't worry, I'm not skirting around any laws or anything. I don't work any longer than I'm allowed to."

"I still do not quite get it." She fixed her glasses, curiously eyeing the dark-haired girl. "Uesugi-san, you are the best student in our class. Between work and study, how do you find the time?"

Raiha thought for a moment. "Well… you might think I'm crazy or something, but I really love working at my job. It's hard to explain, but I do. I feel a lot better when I get home after my shift, and it helps with studying for the rest of the night."

Yano chuckled. "You're right. I do think you're a little crazy. Just a little." She casually shrugged. "Though, i that's what you want to do. Just do be sure to take care of yourself, Uesugi-san."

"I will, thanks." Raiha picked up her book bag, waving to her classmates. "Sorry I couldn't make it this weekend, Yano-san. I'll try to make room in my schedule for the next get-together."

"Not a problem. I'll make sure to notify you a little earlier next time."

She offered her farewells to her classmates, and with it, Raiha began her weekend. She strolled through the spacious hallways and passed the many embellishments that decorated the walls. Trophies, plaques, awards, photographs—all pronounced in the name of Kurobara's famed name. Ask any student that donned the black and white sailor uniform and they could possibly recite the accolades that made Kurobara the subject of envy. After all, they had heard it endlessly throughout their school days to the point where the individual would feel important just standing there and breathing. In a way, Raiha could not blame the many students she passed beside; 'humbleness' was not exactly a part of their school's curriculum.

If she were truly a bitter person, then perhaps Raiha would find the word 'suffocating' appropriate when describing the idle chatter that surrounded her. Weekend plans of lavish expenditure, rife with carelessness and leisure. She was different here. She did not have a driver waiting to take her home; there were no stories she could share about her father's occupation.

But she was not bitter. She never could be bitter. There were still friends here that she found and many more high school days to make her youth worthwhile. Over time, she had learned to be a bit more like herself again. Yano was her first friend when Raiha sat down for her first class. At first, the only thing the two of them shared in common was a neighboring desk, but as the days went on, they had found themselves giggling over the littlest of things. Ikehara was a closeted horror movie fan, and the two would often babble about films together. From all things terrifying to grotesque, the paranormal and the thrillers—it felt nice to have a fellow connoisseur. And Nishimura did not look like it, but she carried a strong competitive side and saw Raiha as a friendly rival in their class. They were good girls, regardless of their differences in upbringing.

That was the life Raiha became accustomed to, every weekday from eighty-thirty to three-thirty. As much as she had learned to find enjoyment in a new environment over the past months, nothing else could keep her more humble than where she stood now. A short train ride to a newly built station. A short walk down the popularly crowding streets. A puff of cold air and a short tug to her muffler. Further into a narrower street, where construction projects of sculptures decorated the plaza.

"Welcome in!" the woman behind the counter greeted her. Her back was turned from the door, preoccupied with packaging a customer's purchase. A neat little paper box to fit a slice of coffee crème brûlée. Written in a simple, decorative font across the packaging read the store's name—'Nakano's: Café & Bakery'

"I'll be right with you in a—oh! Raiha-chan! Is it four already?"

Raiha greeted back with a wave. "Hello, Miku-san. I'm actually here a bit early today, but I'll just go ahead and get ready for my shift." She glanced over to the customer side of the counter, noticing two men. The one with blonde hair and a curious crook to his brow had turned her way, with a few flutters to his long eyelashes as he looked at Raiha. "Uh…" Raiha murmured, cautiously scooting past him. "Is… there something wrong, sir?"

After a short delay, the man snapped his fingers. "Ah, I thought that was it! You're Uesugi-kun's sister, right? Do you remember us?"

"Huh?" Raiha tilted her head. "You two are…"

"We're Uesugi-kun's friends. We met at the beach, remember? I think it was… two years ago?"

"Oh wait, that was her?" The second man glanced over the blonde man's shoulder. "You look a lot older than I remember. Man… it's already been two years?"

Raiha slowly nodded until a small bulb flickered in her head. "I… think I remember now. Yeah, Big Bro mentions you two sometimes. Takeda and… Matsuda, right?"

"Correct!" Takeda quickly lifted a thumb, followed by a bright wink that almost seemed dazzling.

"Oi," Maeda glared at his friend. "She got my name wrong. Don't say that it's correct."

The blonde man laughed, then turned to Raiha. "I didn't get the chance to ask Uesugi-kun, but do you know if he's come back home this weekend?"

"For the holiday weekend?" Raiha asked, then shook her head. "No, unfortunately not. Big Bro couldn't find time off from work, so he told us he would be staying in Tokyo for the long weekend." She put a hand over her cheek, sighing. "Is he doing alright over there? Not working himself too hard? I can't help but worry about him sometimes."

"He's the same Uesugi-kun as I've always remembered him, if that's what you mean."

"Honestly, that guy…" Maeda crossed his arms. "It's been ages since the three of us got together and hung out. Like old times. My old man took me to this great izakaya downtown on my twentieth. Figured we'd all get our first drink together."

"Then you should be the one to come visit us in Tokyo," said Takeda. "It'll be much easier that way. The nightlife in Tokyo is surely something spectacular; you could even bring Matsui along with you. The more the merrier! Yeah?"

"I'll toss up the idea to her," answered Maeda. "She's been wanting for us to go on a trip somewhere. Get away from town for a bit, you know? And if it's the only way to get Uesugi to come out, then I might take you up on that offer…"

"I can't imagine what Big Bro would be like when he's drunk," said Raiha. She could not help but picture her older brother wandering the streets of Tokyo in a drunken stupor. Her brother already was not the most well-mannered guy out there, and a few drinks could mean anything. If Fuutarou was anything like their father, then the image of a much rowdier and more outspoken version of her older brother was nothing but a worrisome thought. "If he does get out of control or anything," continued Raiha, "I sincerely apologize for him."

"I hardly think Uesugi-kun would be that troublesome." Takeda laughed.

Miku returned to the counter, carrying two neatly packaged boxes, as well as three plastic bags, stuffed to bulky masses of freshly baked bread. "Sorry for the wait, Takeda-san, Maeda-san," she said. "Here you are. Two slices of our coffee crème brûlée for Maeda-san…"

"Thank you, Nakano-san," Maeda said as he lifted the boxes by their small paper handles. "Matsui is a big fan of these. She sends her thanks."

"Tell her we both said 'thank you'," Miku said with a smile. She then nudged the large plastic bags towards Takeda. "and um… 'one-of-everything' for Takeda-san, as you requested."

"Why'd you order so much?" Raiha asked.

"'Why', you ask?" Takeda lifted his head high with a hand earnestly placed over his heart, and for a moment, it looked as if the lights in the bakery grew slightly dimmer to offer the dazzling man his spotlight as he playfully winked. "Why wouldn't I do my best to support our local new businesses? Especially if it's for our dearest friends. Yeah?"

"I… see…" Raiha adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder. She took one long look around the store, gathering her thoughts over the past few months. Just as Takeda said, the Nakano's café and bakery was still a new business. A fast-casual place still in its infancy. Not all of the floor space was accessible to the workers and customers, as there was still a bit of renovation work to be done here and there. Things like matching chairs and tables, decorative display shelves, and kitchen installments to increase variety in their menu, were all things that made for the bullets of a long to-do list. But it was progress. Slow, steady progress.

"It's only our soft opening for now," Miku added as she handed over the last bag, "but we really are grateful for your patronage. It means so much to us."

"It's entirely our pleasure," Takeda answered. "I am happy to help in any way that I can."

"You'll all do great," said Maeda with a confident grin. "I'll keep trying to swing by whenever I'm in the area."

They waved farewell, exiting the humble bakery and joining the rest of the roving bodies in the street. Now and then, the store would catch the curiosity of another passerby. They would glance at the various goods displayed on the front-facing window—still a work-in-progress, as both the Nakano sisters were concerned. Place these kinds of posters here; move this part of the display up or down a row. It seemed like almost every time Raiha would come in for her shift would be a little game of'Guess What Changed This Time Around the Store'. Nino insisted that more western-styled decor would be the better fit for their location, though, she would never admit that she got all her ideas from the Ichika's social media feed. On the other hand, Miku thought it would be better to keep things similar to their previous workplaces before It seemed like the two Nakano sisters could never fully come to an agreement over every little detail of the store. At the very least, to Raiha, they both made for interesting bosses.

Of the many passersby, a few of the hungrier ones, or the ones that sought the leisure of a quieter, lesser known café, would sometimes poke their head inside, welcomed by the warm smile of its full-time employee. Nakano's had only been open for the better part of a month, and it took Miku up until the previous week to act as confident as a store owner should. It was not too long ago when the third sister could excuse herself as being just a culinary student. Now that Miku had graduated, there were no more excuses to separate her from the world of functioning members of society, and her place in that world was that of a barely recognized bakery.

"Well," Raiha said. "I'll be getting ready for my shift."

"Take your time. It's not like business is booming or anything."

"Don't say that. It's the weekend again, so we're bound to get more customers soon. Think positive! We're only in our second month, and things are only getting better."

Miku laughed. "I'm only joking. But… thanks, Raiha-chan. I think a part of did need to hear something like that. Now, go ahead and get changed."

Raiha pleasantly nodded, then disappeared into the back room. Their uniform was a simple gray and white striped crewneck long sleeve, paired over teal pants, with a gray linen apron in the form of either waist or bib. Stitched in a corner above the breast, or trailing near the bottom hem, was the name 'Nakano's', written in an elegant, English cursive. Raiha would always take a few extra seconds to watch herself in the mirror, feeling a strange tinge of excitement as she watched her apron sway with her turns. An honest-looking outfit for an honest worker. Something to make her feel a little more connected to the place her late mother cherished, and the hard work she must have endured for the sake of her own dreams. With one last tug to her hair ribbon that held back her long hair, Raiha returned to the bakery.

Work was steady. More customers would trickle into their little shop as the minutes ticked by, and Raiha had quickly learned how to keep up. Just as she had predicted, the wave of patrons had grown. Workers, local students, passing families, and anyone in between, the customers flowed.

"Could you take this to the man sitting at table five?" Miku said as she finished plating a sandwich. "He also ordered an iced coffee, so if you could—"

"Yup, already poured," Raiha said as she scooted the plate closer. "We're almost out of creamer. Do you think you could get another one out?"

"Oh, that's right. I'll get it right after I check on the croissants in the oven."

"Okay. Then I'll be right back." Raiha made her way around the counter, smiling to the woman approaching the register. "We'll be right with you, Ma'am. Sorry for the wait."

After a few more pleasant exchanges with the customers, the overall pace of the store had slowed down just enough to give room for a bit of conversation. "You've really gotten used to this, Raiha-chan," Miku remarked. "I'm really impressed."

"It's nothing," Raiha replied as she leaned against the counter.

"This does take me back a little. You remember I told you that Fuutarou and I worked together for a bit, right?"

"With Big Bro? I think I remember him mentioning that he worked with you and Nino-san in different places before."

Miku nodded. "Yeah. It was part-time at Komugiya. I was just remembering how fast Fuutarou was at learning how to bake bread. In a way, it's kind of nostalgic. Though…" Miku gently chuckled. "You're a lot better at dealing with customers than he was."

Raiha laughed. "That doesn't surprise me at all. Big Bro can be a little unapproachable at times, but he's gotten a lot better."

"It's not entirely that either. You're even a lot better with them than me. I'm still not quite used to talking with them, especially when Nino isn't around."

"Really? I don't see it. Everyone has their own way, right?"

"True, true… I guess a better way of saying it is that you're quite attentive to the customers, and they all seem to really appreciate it. I think that's why I've started to recognize a few regulars here and there, and they always seem delighted to see you."

Raiha thought for a moment. "I never really thought about it like that. I just pretend to act the same way as if I were home with Dad and Big Bro."

"Then I guess you're just really good with people. Like those girls that came in a few minutes earlier. Did you know them?"

"Oh! Those were a few of my friends from middle school. I told them to stop by whenever they got the chance and we were just catching up. We even made some plans to meet after my shift tomorrow. A new store opened up, and we heard that—" Raiha stopped herself. "Ah, wait… now that I think about it, is that unprofessional? Doing that kind of thing during work hours?"

"No, no. You're fine." Miku laughed with a wave of her hand. "Nino and I wouldn't be that strict as your employers. Well… I can't speak entirely for Nino though. If either of us were the meaner, more strict boss, then Nino would probably—"

A voice interrupted her, hollering from the front entrance, "WHO is the evil boss?!"

Stood at the doorway with her arms folded across her chest was Nino. Her face carried a playful scowl, aimed right at the sister, who nervously giggled to herself. The second sister sauntered into the café, loosely swinging the book bag over her shoulder. "Sorry," Nino said with a smirk, "was I interrupting something, Miku?"

"Welcome… in, Nino," said Miku with a final, empty chuckle. "I… thought you weren't coming in today."

"Class finished early, so I thought I'd come and make myself useful around the place. You know, set a good example for our dear employee?" She looked beside her, turning the devilish smirk on her face to a polite smile. "Hello, Raiha-chan. Is everything going well here? How was school today?"

Raiha pleasantly smiled, disregarding the sisters' small quarrel. It was not like these short banters were anything new in the workplace when it came to these two. "Hello, Nino-san. Things have been going well; you just missed the small rush from earlier. And school was fine. We just wrapped up midterms."

"Good to hear. Keep it up!" Nino rolled up her sleeve. "So, what here needs to be done? We only got… a little over two hours before closing, so I wanna make use of my time."

"I was about to start cleaning the tables, so I'll get to that. While I'm at it, I might as well sweep the floors too, so you can leave the entire dining area to me."

"You're a blessing here, Raiha," Nino said, hugging the dark-haired girl. "Honestly, we should be paying you more."

"You both already pay me enough. Like I said, I enjoy working here. Besides, you two still have the debt to worry about, right? The one to your dad?"

Nino and Miku exchanged a look. She was not wrong. The first and most obvious hurdle in their endeavor to open a bakery café was the insurmountable amount of debt they would be inheriting from the Uesugi family. True, it was a bold decision. Some would even argue that it was a nonsensical agreement for the interest of both parties. As the days crept closer to Nakano's soft opening, the more plausible those opinions may have seemed. It was a decision made in good faith from a good man, but both Nino and Miku would have been lying if they said they had complete and utter confidence in their success. In fact, the nervous shivers they would often get on the nights leading up to their soft opening still had not quite left them, keeping them awake at night as they tossed and turned on their pillows.

That was why they had made a deal.

A deal where pride had no place between the invisible ink of nonexistent pages. A promise the two of them made to their father, Nakano Maruo, who attentively listened to his daughters as they sat over cups of freshly brewed coffee within the dust-filled vacancy of the former Uesugi Bakery.

"Are you two sure about this?" Maruo had asked, taking one long look across the old establishment. "It could be anywhere else. Someplace more suitable, more sensible for two girls starting off."

"We're sure, Dad," Miku said, clutching the fabric of her skirt. "I know it's a lot to ask you—I know we're probably acting spoiled for asking you…"

"… but we need your help," Nino finished. "It might not be right away. No. It definitely won't be right away. But whatever it takes—a year, two years, ten, twenty, whatever—we will make earn our rights to this place."

Maruo thought to himself, taking a slow sip of his hot coffee. "And you're sure of it? You could just ask me to pay off what is due every month and be done with it. The loan for the starting capital… the loan for the overdue payments… A request like that is not too far out of reach for me, you know."

"We… we still want to see how far our own efforts will take us," said Miku."I know it might not make a lot of sense to you right now, but this is the best that Nino and I agreed on."

"That's right," said Nino. "Any amount that you help pay off—we will pay you back. One hundred percent of it. That way, we don't waste any more money on unnecessary interest payments. This is our proposal to you, Dad. We need your help. We need you."

Maruo held back a widened look in his eyes. It seemed like forever he would sit there, gazing at the patient stares of his daughters, with only the warmth of his coffee cup to remind him of the short seconds that felt like hours. And finally, Maruo spoke, "Very well. If that is the way you two want it, then by your proposed arrangements, I shall take the place as your lender. But let's not use such an ugly word. Consider me instead to be… an investor." He leaned back against the creaky chair, savoring another sip of warm coffee. "Though it seems unfitting for me as a father to say this to his own daughters…"

His words prefaced his slight regrets, but the two girls across from him could not help but catch the humored look on his face. As if he found the whole ordeal highly amusing, giving a dry, but gentle, chuckle that escaped his curled lips. "…you two are now officially indebted to me. I look forward to our partnership, Nino, Miku."

A promise to bind their ambition to their efforts. Themselves to their father, and every last bit of integrity they had between them. It would not be easy. The money they made now could only wear down the tiniest fraction of their inherited debt, but each day could only get better. That was what they told themselves to calm the jitters in their heart until they could begin each day anew.

"Speaking of Dad," Miku said as she faced Nino. "He stopped by for lunch again today. He ordered his usual—a muffin and black coffee."

"He stopped by? Again?" asked Nino. "I thought for sure he'd give up on that by now."

Raiha glanced over as she went to retrieve the cleaning supplies. "Your father? Ah, that's right. You mentioned a while ago that he stops by here on the way to work. I'm always in school, so I can never see him. That's really nice of him."

To her surprise, Raiha saw Nino click her teeth and mumble to herself. "Yeah, right… who does Papa think he's fooling? This place is the complete opposite direction from where he works." Nino shook her head, setting her thoughts back straight. "Never mind that! I'm just gonna go get changed. I'll be back out soon."

Miku looked around the counter. "Then… I suppose I can—"

"You can go home."

"W-what?" Miku quickly turned her head.

"You heard me. Go on home, Miku." The co-owner of the bakery café ran a quick hand through her hair, tying the first of her pigtail over her shoulder. Before her sister could retaliate, Nino continued, "Ever since you graduated from culinary school, you've been working from opening to closing. Every single day. Why don't you let me and Raiha handle the closing shift, and you, can go if you'd prefer, you can get an early head start on cooking dinner and preparing snacks. We're all still meeting up tonight, right? Raiha, are you still free?"

"Yup!" Raiha cheerily replied. "I'm really looking forward to Ichika-nee-san's new movie. Even the name sounds eerie—'A Beautiful Splatter.' Ah… I can tell it's going to be something really sinister. She does so well in horror!"

"Yeah…" Nino said with a bit of hesitance. "Anyway, Itsuki and Yotsuba should be home any minute now." She finished tying her second pigtail, looking toward Miku. "That sound like a plan to you, Miku?"

Miku mulled over the thought before settling with a smile. "That… well, I guess I can't argue when it comes to what you say, huh?" Gracefully admitting her defeat, she began to untie her apron. "Alright. I'll go. Make sure you two get back to the apartment safely. It's going to be cold tonight."

After changing and going through a few unfinished tasks around their workplace, Miku eventually waved farewell to the two of them. Again, work came steadily. The customers flowed just as well as they did throughout the day, making its way into the early evening. Warmth of a cozy bakery café brought longer-staying visitors, ordering fresh bread and hot drinks so that they may strip their scarves and sit down.

Nino was a natural worker in this environment. She maneuvered the kitchen and onto the dining area with ease, as if she were simply strolling down a familiar street, offering friendly greetings and an attentive ear for those that needed more of her service. Though, compared to Miku, Nino was still not accustomed to the longer hours. The second sister was someone who concentrated her best efforts into everything she did, and Raiha had noticed that multi-tasking was not exactly Nino's strong suit. Not while she was both a floor worker, a manager, and a student at the same time, all while carrying a friendly face for pleasant conversation to their customers. With her studies being focused on the business and management components of their restaurant, it would make sense there would be a few hiccups here and there. Orders would sometimes get mixed up in between, some cleaning supplies would still be left in the self-service areas, or either too much or too little sugar had been added to a customer's drink. Twice in the month since they've opened, neither of them had known that something had been left a little longer than needed in the oven until the subtle scent of smoke made them rush to the back of the kitchen. In a way, Raiha could understand why Miku seemed a little hesitant over the idea of Nino handling the place on her own, and why Miku seemed a little more relieved knowing that Raiha would still be around. Of course, Miku would never admit that out loud.

Whichever the case, the two of them managed. The end of their shift neared before long, somewhere around twenty minutes before seven. Fortunately for them, cleanup was a lot easier while their store was still under partial renovations. They could get started by retrieving some of the display signs, and making sure the oven and other daytime appliances were clean and ready for the next day.

"Even the coffee machine?" Raiha asked as she folded a cleaning rag. "There's still a few minutes before closing."

"It's almost seven," Nino replied. "Who is gonna order coffee at this time?"

"I suppose you're right. But just in case, we should do it after we serve this next customer. Welcome in, sir!"

Stepping through the doorway was a tall, slim man with light brown hair and a bit of stubble for facial hair. He took a short, but contemplative gaze across the interior of their store with eyes that looked as if they could have used a bit more sleep the night prior. He ran his fingers through the stubble on his chin, humming loudly as continued further in.

"Wel…come…?" Raiha repeated. "Sir? Is there something I can help you with?"

"Is your manager here, young lady?" the man asked.

"Manager? Is there something wrong, sir? Our manager is currently—"

"Ah, no need. I see her." He placed his hand in his pockets, offering a halfhearted smirk. "Hey, traitor. You're looking well."

Nino looked over her shoulder, spotting the light-haired man and taking all of two seconds to offer a dismissive wave over her back, resuming her tasks. "Good evening, Ohta-san. What brings you in? We're closing in about fifteen minutes."

"You know him, Nino?" Raiha asked.

"Sort of. He's my former boss from Revival."

"Sort of?" Ohta quoted, laughing. "Is that any way to treat your former boss? We parted on good terms, didn't we, Nakano-san?"

"Revival… Revival…" Raiha mulled over vaguely familiar name until the memory of neatly packaged cake boxes surfaced. Leftovers from her brother's work shift when he was in high school, and she remembered just how often her sweet tooth anticipated the different flavors he would bring. "Ah, now I remember. That's the place you and Big Bro worked together, Nino-san."

Nino nodded. "Yeah. I stayed longer after Fuu-kun. Probably… two years? That was before opening our place here."

"You were our best employee. The kids I hired now still have trouble—hold on a minute, did this young lady say that this was Uesugi-kun's younger sister?" He turned to Raiha, offering a friendly gesture. "Ah, I think I can see a bit of it. You know, your brother was one of my best—"

"Whoa, whoa," Nino interjected, tossing a quick glare at her former employer. "Back off. Raiha-chan is ours. You trying to sabotage our business?"

He chuckled to himself. "Hey, it's an honest proposal. You don't find employees like you and Uesugi-kun just anywhere, you know? I tried offering you a raise so that you can stay,, but you didn't take it."

"That's because—"

"I know, I'm only joking. Aren't you forgetting something?" He placed down the sheets of paper he had been carrying—a business flier, a collection of printed photos detailing various cafés and floor plans, and a few business cards, clipped together at the corners. "Here. As you requested."

"Oh! That's right! Thank you, Ohta-san. I had almost forgotten."

"It did take me a while to get these. My apologies."

"No, that's fine. Miku and I still haven't decided on what kind of style we're going for yet."

"Still? Last time I spoke to you, it was the same thing."

"Well, Miku can be pretty stubborn."

"What's that?" Raiha asked, curiously glancing over.

"A couple of things from a contact of mine," Ohta answered. "He runs a carpentry business in Nagoya, and he's helped me out a bunch of times around my store. They're redoing their whole website, so I figured I'd come and deliver their info in person."

"These are perfect, Ohta-san!" Nino shuffled through the papers. "It's exactly what I was looking for. They even have some western-inspired designs here too. And this one is the style I've been trying to explain to Miku, but she just doesn't get it."

Ohta sighed. "See, this is why it can get messy having a co-owner. It took me and Mizusawa-san months to come to an agreement, now that she'll be joining my bakery."

"Mizusawa-san?" Nino was half-paying-attention, looking through the pages on the counter. "Oh, your partner. Right. I remembered her as the manager across the street. So she's working with you now? Since when?"

"Since we got married."

"I see, I see. After you two got marrie—" She paused, blinking twice. "Wait, married?! Since when?!"

Ohta burst into laughter. "Since a few months ago, around autumn. It was a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing, but we figured, why not? We weren't getting any younger, and the two of us didn't want to make a big fuss over it, so we had a quiet wedding in Kyoto with our friends and family. We were going to invite you, but that was around the time of…" He slowed, scratching the bridge of his nose. "Well, you know… my condolences again about your grandfather."

"Ah…" Nino gently nodded. "It's alright. Thank you, Ohta-san. It's a little belated, but congratulations. I wish both of you the best of luck."

"Thank you, Nakano-san." Her old manager politely bowed. "And I wish you and your sister the best for your endeavors. Managing a new place isn't going to be easy, but I know you got what it takes. You have my blessings."

Nino leaned on her elbow, smirking. "Well, I learned a thing or two from someone who manages a somewhat decent place. I got some confidence that it'll all work out, but thank you for your blessings."

"Heh. You're a handful of years too early before you can start saying things like that. Though… I wouldn't mind if you proved me wrong, Nakano-san." He checked his watch. "Well, would you look at the time? I think I've stayed long enough."

"Yeah, we should start getting ready for closing." Nino organized the papers aside, reaching back for the cleaning rag she had placed down earlier. "We got… ten minutes left before closing. Thanks again for going out of your way, Boss—I mean, Ohta-san."

"Hm? What was that?"

"I said Ohta-san."

"That's not what I h—"

"I said." Nino shot a glare, dragging the last syllables of her words before continuing, "Thank you, Ohta-san. Now, unless you're here as a customer, I'd have to kindly ask you…"

"Got it, got it. I must have overheard or something." The man laughed, offering one last friendly wave to the two girls before taking his leave. With most of their preparations for closing handled earlier, it would not be long before they stood in a finely cleaned bakery café, with the chairs stacked over the tables and the counters wiped clean.

The dull reflection of her smile curved along the crystal-clear glass of the coffee maker as Nino let out a satisfied sigh.

"It's really been an eventful day, huh?" Raiha said as she tucked the last of the boxes in the kitchen cupboards. "Lots of people came in. More than usual. Though, a lot of it still has been family and friends, like both of our dads. Some of your classmates from high school visited earlier too, when Miku and I were working."

"That's to be expected with soft openings. We still need to think about our promotion campaign…" Nino bit her nail. "The foot traffic in the area is good, but we really need to think of something soon to get more customers in. Something to really make the place stand out. So, I'm thinking this weekend, me and Miku can finally come to a decision."

"I hope you both do. Whatever it is, I'm sure it would make this place look absolutely beautiful!"

"That aside, are you ready for movie night? Look here, Miku just texted me the main dish for tonight."

"Whoa!" On her phone screen was a wide bowl of red, orange, and yellow colors, with sprinkles of green onion spread across the mound. Long grain rice laid underneath a hearty portion of shrimp, chicken, and sausage, tinged red with scarlet spices. "It looks delicious. What is it?"

"Something Ichika told us about from when she had to travel. Cajun Jambalaya. Are you okay with spicy food?

"No problems here."

"Great." Nino tapped her phone keyboard a few more times. "Yotsuba and Itsuki are gonna head out and pick up some snacks, too. Is there anything you want?"

"Let me think…" Raiha glanced forward, then made her way back to the register. "Oh, hold on. I think someone is coming in. Hello, Ma'am! Welcome in!"

"Someone's coming in this close to closing?" Nino muttered to herself, already halfway through folding her apron. "Who could…"

"Just so you know, we will be closing in about five min—Oh!" Raiha enthusiastically shot up, bringing her palms together. "Takebayashi-san!"

If she had snapped her gaze any quicker, then the lengths of her pigtails could possibly have been mistaken for the force of a cracked whip, as the contentious café co-owner looked to the dark-haired woman who offered a single, carefree wave.

"Hey, Raiha-chan." Takebayashi grinned. "It's been a while, hasn't it? I think I'd… like to order a coffee, please."

Author's Note

It's the café episode!

Finally had the opportunity to dedicate a chapter to Miku and Nino's restaurant… bakery… cafe… thing? It's been a while since I've finished reading the series, and going back through some of my notes and published chapters, I for some reason thought it was a bakery café of some sorts, maybe fast casual? Turns out, it was actually a restaurant (but can you really manage a restaurant with just two people?), but you know what? Screw it, it's my fanfic. It's a bakery cafe, and that was totally intentional.

That aside, the outlined version of this chapter didn't initially plan for it to be this "chunky" with characters and dialogue. Especially since this has always been a side plot to the whole story, but I wanted to make things as true to canon as I could. I love café-simulation types of games/stories, so I kind of just tried to squeeze in as many interactions as I could, because it's just plain fun. Though, I know next to nothing about running a business, or working at a bakery or café, so hopefully no cracks showed anywhere, ha ha ha… ha…

That THAT aside, next chapter has been outlined a little with this chapter. Another case of me thinking I could fit more things into chapters that already has a lot of things, but the next chapter will be another one focused on the rest of the quints + Raiha. It's about time to reflect more on Ichika's progression as an up-and-coming actress, and what better way than a big movie night with her most supportive fans!

Anyways, thanks to those who left reviews on Chapter 20 and any recent chapters—codywhite162, Bob19248, Fox McCloude, Quintaphract, TheMist33, chloetuco, XGoGame, and any other guest review(s)! Thanks also to the reddit commenters—Small_Ruin_648, CaptainLazerbeam, and OkinaNeko7!

_φ(。。) "Maybe it's bad practice to ramble about my minor mix-ups and shoddy research in my author notes…"