The roses just kept coming.

Once a week at different times, a delivery man showed up with a new bouquet of white roses with a note attached to it. There would be no return address, only the written location to the shop. Hayashi and Takashi would ask repeatedly if Luna had a boyfriend at all, but she said no.

Every note would be different.

"Good morning, my precious angel."

"To a rare gem."

"My delicate flower, you look so cute today."

"Hope your day is going well. I know mine certainly is."

"Why are you just so precious?"

Yoshida was at first annoyed with the constant orders being delivered and told Luna to stop whoever was sending them. The problem was Luna didn't know where they were coming from. However, the first manager suddenly stopped complaining about it one day. Several regular customers started complimenting on the flowers, on their looks, cleanliness and lack of withering. Some said they gave a nice touch to the shop's atmosphere. That convinced Yoshida to stop fussing over them.

As confused by them as she was, Luna was grateful to be weekly gifted with such beautiful flowers. It didn't matter if they completely bloomed or stayed into bud form. They were all so beautiful.

They even had an effect on Akoya. She seemed so drawn to the roses. Not only that, but she would also read the notes. It made Luna wonder if she liked flowers. It would make some sense since she chose to work at a wedding cake shop because they made gum paste flowers all the time. Today Luna decided she'd show Akoya how to make them. The new employee was still struggling to keep up with the tasks, so hopefully making something she likes will get her to open up.

Little did she know how wrong she was.

…

"No! I don't want to!"

Akoya's sudden outburst caught Luna completely off guard. She nearly jumped back, startled by the reaction to her suggestion. Akoya's usual gentle and stoic expression twisted into something rather rash. However, the girl quickly calmed herself and backed off.

"O-Okay, I'm sorry." Luna apologized. "It's just that I saw you always staring at those roses. So I thought you'd want to learn how to make some. But it's fine-we can do something else."

Akoya shook her head and raised hands. "N-No, it's fine. I shouldn't have behaved like that." She said. "I really just don't want to make those."

"Okay, but…" Luna felt bad for the girl. Why did she suddenly flip out at the thought of making them? "I don't mean to push it, but you will eventually have to learn how to make them. It is part of the job."

"Look, I don't want-" Akoya's tone for harsh again, proceeding to snap at Luna. But she suddenly stopped again and took a deep breath. Her voice changed back to its usual one. "I just don't want to, okay?"

Akoya looked away, shrinking and holding herself. Luna could now sense that something was not right. Luna stepped forward, slowly inching her way to Akoya.

"Akoya, is something wrong?" Luna asked.

No response.

"Akoya, you're doing great at your job." Luna meant that on good terms. "But something seems to be bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?"

Akoya didn't say a word.

"Is it something that I'm doing?" Luna asked. Was there something she was doing that was wrong? "Is the way I'm teaching you confusing? You can tell me, I won't be mad-"

"SHUT UP!"

Luna gasped, taking a step back. Akoya now glared at her, those pretty yellow eyes narrowed. Her hands were balled into fists at her sides and her shoulders were lifted up. She stayed that way before dropping her whole posture and left the room.

Luna stood there, completely shocked and bewildered.

...

Luna was now with Hayashi in his station. They were beginning the process of that year-long order. They discussed how the perimeters would look and compare to the rest of the cake. Hayashi agreed with the idea Luna had in mind for the plaques and started sketching how they should look. Hayashi noticed Luna was feeling a little down and tried to talk about work to get her mind off of it. But that wasn't working.

Not even an hour ago, Luna and Akoya were in the back station working together. However, Akoya suddenly stormed out and cried to Yoshida about something. A minute later, Yoshida went into the back station and some scolding was given to Luna. Yoshida told her to work with Hayashi and Akoya would be with Yoshida for the rest of the day. Now Luna was here with the second-in-charge manager, trying to keep a happy face for the sake of her job. Hayashi could see the hurt in her eyes, she wasn't fooling him. Yoshida always had a bit of a temper, but he didn't think she'd be irrational like that.

"I'll talk to Yoshida after the store closes." Hayashi assured Luna.

"You don't have to." Luna said. "Don't get yourself in trouble cause of me."

"Yoshida shouldn't have yelled at you like that. But maybe you shouldn't ask Akoya about herself anymore."

"I wasn't trying to pry. She just seems very closed off. I was trying to help." Luna was taught that it was best to get anything in your mind out, like a release valve. Counseling helps get it out of your system. Her grandparents did it with her friend all the time.

"It wasn't your fault. Yoshida should have explained to you the surface of the situation, at least." Hayashi said.

Luna turned to him. "What do you mean?"

Hayashi paused. He sighed through his nose, his eyes gazing off into a random direction. "If I tell you, will you promise not to tell anyone? Especially Yoshida or Akoya?" He asked.

Luna stare lid at her manager, seeing a gloomy shadow cast over his eyes. "Yes."

"Akoya is Yoshida's niece." Hayashi started. "She hired Akoya to give her a fresh start."

"Fresh start?" Luna asked, tilting your head.

"Yeah." Hayashi said, holding back a chuckle. You and your naivety. "You know, like how you moved to Japan?"

"Oh, yeah." Luna nodded.

"I don't know all the details, but something happened to Akoya and she needed to get away. Have a new beginning, you know? I guess Akoya really has no interest in this kind of stuff, but please try to be more understanding with her." Hayashi said.

"Oh…okay."

"Not that you're not doing a good job or anything. I've seen you train her-you're fantastic at what you're doing." Hayashi said, waving his hands in embarrassment, trying to avoid Luna misinterpreting his words.

Luna giggled. "Thank you. I understand. I'll be more patient with her."

Though it didn't answer her question about why Akoya freaked out over learning how to make flowers, at least she knew now that Akoya was going through things.

The man was knocked down into the dust before he could land any attacks. He tried to swing again, only for a razor sharp blade to jab into his palm. He yelled in agony as his hand was forced onto the concrete, the blade digging into the ground and holding his hand there. Blood gushed from it, spraying onto a certain freckled boy's face.

"Now, I'm going to ask you again. What was your boss doing at the Deja Brew cafe Friday morning?" Deku asked, his sadistically cheerful face stoned with frustration.

"I told you I don't know shit! Bossman never told us anything!" The man snapped back.

Deku laughs. "Of course he doesn't~." He twirls the blade with his fingers into the man's palm, causing the man to arch in pain. "I'm surprised he still has anyone working for him, considering the way he treats his own staff…"

"Get the fuck offa me!" The man said, only to have another surge of pain shoot from his leg. Deku stabbed him again.

"It's too bad. I would've let you live if you had the answers I wanted." Deku said. He was about to deliver a final blow to the head to end this dirtbag below him.

"WATCH OUT, IZUKU~!" A high-pitched feminine voice screeched out from behind him. Deku didn't have to turn around to see who it was.

The sound of running footsteps behind him were demolished by a force pushing them down. Insane laughter could be heard echoing through the dark street. Exclamations of anger mixed with laughter became combined with screaming and slashing. Deku landed his blow to his victim's head as the person behind him died down. He slowly rose and took out a handkerchief, cleaning his knife off before glancing around.

A blonde girl with spiked buns wearing a school uniform and mini skirt also rose from the dead body of another goon. Her yellow, cat-like eyes narrowed at the body's face.

"What're you doing here, Toga?" Deku asked.

The girl lifted her head, smiling crazily as she grinned her teeth. "Juuust giving my best bestie a hand~." She replied, eagerly licking the blood off her own knife.

"Thanks." Deku thanked her sincerely for her assist.

Toga tasted the blood on her lips before looking back at the body with a scowl. "Aren't these Ground Zero's men? Why're you chasing down some meanies?" She asked.

"I just wanted to them ask a question, but got no answers. Bakugo doesn't keep all his men updated." Deku said, his face darkening. "Smart."

"Ask about what?"

"Nothing."

Toga's eyes lit up. "You wanted to ask them about nothing?"

Deku mentally cringed at his mistake. "Just about Bakugo." He said casually. "Nothing important."

Toga tilted her head, still grinning. "Nothing important~? You put your life on the line for nothing important?" She asked, stepping forward.

Deku could see her fatal curiosity and smiled darkly, already getting into his usual stance. "I'm always putting my life on the line." He said. "You know that~."

Toga stayed how she was before opening her jaws and sighing. "I guess you're right. Putting ourselves in danger is just the risk of doing whatever we want." She said.

Deku's dark smile became again, giving a small chuckle. A thought passed through his brain. "Toga, were you outside my headquarters early Friday morning?" He asked out of the blue, recalling having seen someone or something there.

Toga's smile dropped from his random question, still tilting her head. "Nah, I'm sure I was passed out. I'd love to go lurking around your territory, though~."

Deku's gaze cast down and he frowned, putting his hand to his mouth to think.

"Speaking of which, I think I saw some jerkface kids messing around close by. Want to come with me and try their blood?" Toga asked.

"Thanks, but I've gotta get back to work." Deku said, still looking down.

Toga's face turned mad. "Aww, Izuku!" She pouted. "You're really gonna ditch me after I just helped you~?"

Deku sighed, smiling. "Okay, okay. I could use a little more exercise." He said, which was a bit true.

Since meeting Luna, Deku was going a bit off the rails. He found himself becoming unfocused with work and had to force himself back into it. But he started doing things for Luna and it was starting to take a toll on him. Was Deku losing his touch?

Toga gasped delightfully. "Yay!" She exclaimed with a happy jump. "Follow me!"

Deku couldn't tell Toga anything. Knowing her, she'd probably try to track Luna down and start up something audacious. Looks like he'd have to be extra cautious from now on.

Toga gave one more glance at Deku, already able to smell his new yet familiar scent. She grinned, holding back unstable giggles.

My bestie's keeping a secret from me.