Ayame's legs swing from the high stool as she stares at the clock hanging on the wall. She had been behind the register since noon.
Noon is when they all come in for lunch hour and Ayame has to be on her feet. Her hair flies in all directions, one strand packaging the pastries, another moving them to the register, leaving her hands free to punch in numbers.
Behind her, Kazu and Hana shuffle in and out of the kitchen, restocking the empty shelves with fresh produce from the oven. The smells waft into her nose as the trays pass by the register. In response, her stomach rumbles. Ayame is tempted to let a stray hair tendril swipe a pastry off the tray and into her mouth.
A vice Kazu indulges by leaving just a single sample on the tray when he returns to the kitchen.
The last customer steps out of the bakery just as the hour hand slides to 3. Ayame pulls out the stool behind the register, sitting down to slump on the counter. Her flailing hair falls over her face, pooling at the counter before spilling to just a few inches short of the floor.
Finally, a short break.
Should she cut off the extra length since there aren't any customers? Ayame picks up a nearby pair of scissors and places the blade against the hair around her neck. Before she presses down, she decides against it.
Never mind, if she cut it now, she'd have to grow it again when the next customer comes in. Then she'd have to wrap the ends in plastic gloves again.
Ayame would just have to wait till closing time.
Ayame thinks summer break should involve binging her manga till the wee hours of the morning. Or at least going out with her middle school friends. First years at middle school usually get to laze around.
Not her though.
Ayame soon claps her hands against her round cheeks, chiding herself for her laziness. Still, her mother deserves to have the occasional day off. Especially since she's the one running the bakery six days a week.
Half an hour passes but Ayame finds herself staring at the door, praying that someone will walk in. If not to make a purchase, then at least to advertise something she doesn't need but might want. Just two more hours. Two more hours and she can clean up.
The day after tomorrow will mark exactly a year since Ayaka's hero debut. To commemorate, her father had prepared a cake stashed in the highest and deepest level of the freezer, too high for her short height to reach and too deep for her hair to burrow into.
Even so, if she helps Kazu and Hana clean up, they might let her have first pick of the bakery's leftovers. Growing all that hair was a taxing effort and the products were tasty. The prospect thrills her, her hair flailing upwards as her head pokes through the kitchen door.
"Kazu, Hana, you need—"
A ringing sound from the register cuts off the later half of her sentence. Kazu and Hana point to the counter, ushering for her to handle it. Ayame's hair droops slightly before she raises the receiver to her ear. She makes sure to speak in the slow, sweet tone customary of customer service workers.
"Hello, Otter Seal Bakery. How can I help you?"
The voice on the other side is cold and matter-of-fact. "This is Shizuoka Hospital."
Cold-sounding people are commonplace. That does not mean she can be rude to them. "Right, so how can I help you?" Ayame takes out a small pink notepad, her hair clutching a pen, poised at the ready.
"No, is this Miss Reina Sawagiri on the line?"
Ayame lowers the notepad, her face twisting into one of confusion. People usually called the bakery in advance to make orders, not to speak to her mother.
"My mother isn't here. Do you need me to pass a message?"
At this, the voice softens, adopting a gentler tone.
"Then, can you get your father here? It's rather important."
Ayame freezes. Hospitals don't call random businesses to chit-chat. Either they want to make a purchase…
Or to inform them of something. An unsteady feeling wells in her gut. Ayame's voice is shaky as she hollers up the stairs.
"Dad!! There's a call for you."
Her father ambles down the stairs, taking the receiver from her hand before placing it to his ear.
"Yes, this is Koichi Hirose." The voice on the other end is inaudible as her father presses the receiver closer to his ear. His face grows paler by the second and Ayame feels her heart sink.
"Understood. I'll be there as soon as I can." Her father slams down the receiver and Ayame can see his legs shake. When he exhales, it comes in short, sharp pants. Her father slams his fists into the counter and Ayame hears his teeth grinding against each other.
When he looks at Ayame, his eyes are wide. He runs upstairs for his wallet and his keys jangle in his pocket. Ayame swears she's never seen run this fast before. Not even from crazed fans of his manga.
"I have to go to Shizuoka Hospital. Something's happened to your sister."
These are the words he leaves behind for Ayame as he sprints out the front door. Ayame stands frozen in place, heart pounding faster with each step her father takes away from her.
What happened?
What happened to Ayaka?
Was she alright?
All sorts of questions flood her mind, body frozen as she ponders them all.