Donut Friendship – Chapter 24: A tempting offer

With enough credits to pass the semester, Tanjiro was finally able to return to the bakery. Without a single day of rest, he decided to help out right away. Now, Nezuko and Tanjiro were working together again, and the bakery flourished.

It was Monday and the two were putting fresh donuts and bread into the display shelves and cases.

"It's good to be back!" said Tanjiro as he was carrying bread

"Yeah! Work is going to be so much more fun now!" Nezuko replied as she stood with a smile behind the counter

"Looking forward to it!" Tanjiro replied

"And because we are working together again, I feel like we could take on anything!" Nezuko added

"Yeah! Nobody can stop us now!" Tanjiro replied

"Bring it on! There is nothing that we can't achieve together!" Nezuko added

As the two were celebrating their reunion, the door of the bakery shot open.

"Hey guys! I am back!" said a guy with a smile, to which both of them stared at him

…

…

…

"Y-Y-You!" Nezuko's smile disappeared as she pointed a finger at him

"Huh! The con-artist!" Tanjiro yelled as he also pointed at Doma

"Hahaha! It's nice that you two remember me, but I am still no con-artist!" Doma replied with a smile

Standing in the doorway, was Doma. He and the Kamado siblings had a past together, and the two didn't like him… for obvious reasons.

"Get out, now!" Tanjiro yelled

"Hmm? Aren't you happy that I am here? And as a customer nonetheless!" Doma replied with a smile as he walked into the bakery

"No! I don't want you as a customer! Get out!" Tanjiro replied, to which Doma's smile disappeared

"Tsk… Why not? What did I do to you that I deserve this treatment? Hmmm?" Doma asked and crossed his arms

"You molested random girls in front of our bakery, you stole money from our customers, you lied to us about your family, and you tried to blackmail me!" Tanjiro replied

"Oh! And you kidnapped me!" Nezuko added

"Yes! And you kidnapped her!" Tanjiro added as he pointed at Nezuko

"…" Doma just stared at the two

"…"

"…d-don't say it like that! If you say it like that, then it sounds like I am evil! Hahaha!" Doma laughed

"Well, maybe you are! Please, leave now! Or I will call the police!" Tanjiro demanded

Annoyed, Doma rolled his eyes and looked at Tanjiro again.

"Alright, if you want me to leave, then I will go!" he replied

"Good!" Tanjiro replied

"BUT! First things first! I am not here because I want to buy something! I am here because I bring a message from my boss!" he added

"Hmmm…? Message?" Nezuko asked

"Your boss…?" Tanjiro asked

"Yes! At the moment, I work for mister Muzan!" he replied with a smile again

"Oh yeah… that guy…" Nezuko mumbled

"Yes! So listen here! Mister Muzan is a very generous man! Really generous! He pays his employees, which includes ME, a lot of money!" said Doma as he pointed at himself

"…" both Nezuko and Tanjiro stared at him

"And because he is so generous, and because he loves your donuts, he decided to make your bakery an offer!" Doma added

Both Nezuko and Tanjiro glanced at each other.

"Ehm… what kind of offer?" Tanjiro asked

"A good one!" Doma replied as he handed Tanjiro a piece of paper

Tanjiro took the piece of paper and started reading it.

"Basically, he would like to buy your bakery!" Doma said with a smile

"…"

"…"

"…huh?" the two mumbled confused

"Haha! Yes, you're speechless, I get that! Buying your bakery for so much money! With that amount, you would never have to work again!" Doma said with a smile

Both of them just stared at him, confused.

"Were not selling. Get out." Tanjiro said in a plain voice and pointed at the door

"Huh?" Doma mumbled confused, still smiling

"This is our family bakery. No way we're selling it. Get out." Tanjiro said again and pointed at the door with a plain expression

Doma just stared at him, and his smile slowly disappeared.

"Alright, let's try this in a different way! Are you the owner of this bakery?" he asked

"No, my mother is." Tanjiro replied

"Good. Please get me your mother!" Doma demanded, with a sinister smile

"…" Tanjiro just stared at him

"I want to speak with your mother as a businessman, not a customer. Please, get me your mother. Now…" Doma demanded again

Tanjiro looked at Nezuko, trying to get any sort of advice from her.

"Well… sure…" she mumbled and went to get her

"Good girl…" Doma said with a smile as he saw her go

After a minute, Nezuko returned, with her mother behind her.

"Hello!" Doma said as he saw her

"Good day…" the mother replied, clearly worried

"Hmm? Is something the matter? You sound pretty sad!" Doma asked

"Haha… well… My daughter told me that… never mind! My name is Kie Kamado, and I am the owner of this bakery. How can I help you?" the mother asked

"Lady Kamado! My name is Doma, and I am a representative of my boss, mister Muzan! And I bring an offer from him!" said Doma with a smile

"Huh! Mister Muzan? I meet him some time ago!" the mother replied

"Oh, you did? That's great! Then you know that he is a very generous man, right?" Doma asked

"I also meet mister Kokushibo… do you know him?" the mother asked

"Kokushibo? Yeah! We work together! He is a great guy!" Doma replied

"Yes… a great man…" the mother replied with a blush as she thought about him

"Anyway!" said Doma

"Oh! Right! Sorry! Hahaha!" the mother laughed as she stopped daydreaming

"My boss is very interested in acquiring your bakery and your donuts!" Doma continued

"I know. He made me a very generous offer… which I sadly had to decline…" the mother replied

"Yes, but now, he wants to make you an ever better offer! This time, Mister Muzan wants to acquire your whole bakery!" Doma explained with a smile

"Huh? The whole bakery?" the mother asked confused

"Yes! You and your whole staff would become part of his company! Meaning that most of your products would go directly to him! It's a one in a lifetime chance!" Doma explained

The mother stared at him and took a deep breath. She looked at Tanjiro and Nezuko and smiled.

"M-Mom…?" the two mumbled worried

The mother smiled and looked at Doma again.

"That man… he just doesn't want to give up!" she said with a chuckle

"So? What do you say?" Doma asked

"Please, tell your boss this. I am sorry… but this is our family bakery, and there is no amount of money that I would sell it for!" she said with a smile

"Huh…" Doma mumbled annoyed and confused

"But I really appreciate his interest! I really do! That's why… I am going to make him an offer!" the mother added

"Hm? An offer?" Doma asked intrigued

…

…

…

A few hours later, Tanjiro and Nezuko were working together again. Their mother made Muzan an offer and Doma was tasked to deliver it.

"Do you think that he will accept it?" Nezuko asked concerned

"I don't think so! What I heard about that Muzan guy, he doesn't like to compromise! So he either gets things done his way, or not at all!" Tanjiro reassured Nezuko

"Haha… You are right! I am sure we won't get separated right after you returned to the bakery! Haha!" Nezuko laughed, and continued working

As the two were working, the mother suddenly came running to them.

"Nezuko! I have great news! I just got a call from mister Muzan! He said that he accepted my offer!" the mother said with a big smile

"…" Nezuko just smiled as she tried to process her words

"Congratulations! You will go work for mister Muzan for one week, and on top of that, you will make a lot of money!" the mother added

"…" Nezuko still smiled

"Ehm… congratulations…? Well… see you in a week, Nezuko… hahaha… ha…" Tanjiro laughed awkwardly, as he faced Nezuko

"…"

"Goddammit…" Nezuko mumbled annoyed, as she was about to start working for Muzan for one week… and not with her brother

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Next time, Nezuko begins working for Muzan for one week!