Daily Grace

Kakushicho was a district known for its shady businesses and questionable pleasures. Even if normal shops set up there, the local clientele made it difficult for it to thrive unless special measures were made.

That wasn’t the case for Yamaoka Bakery. Its bright storefront and eye-catching décor attracted people through the gates from a distance. Those that were willing to brave the short walk past pachinko stores and adult shops, past the momentary leers of pushy barkers and scantily-clad girls, were greeted with a wonderful scent upon opening the doors.

“Yo, this place looks like it’s packing with cash.”

“I’ve had my eye on this place. Business be booming.”

“Cool place for a shakedown for some protection money.”

A trio of young suits salivated as they opened the door, not from the scent but from the prospect of cash. They immediately went up to the counter and tried to cause a scene with the waitress at the register.

But before they even got a response from her, a cold chill crept up their backs. They looked around sheepishly, noticing everyone with their gazes on them.

“Hey, what gives? I thought they were just civilians.”

“But they are! Look, there’s even schoolgirls here!”

“I’ve never seen schoolgirls so unafraid of yakuza.”

The trio slowly backed away, bumping right into someone standing solidly there. A hand gripped the heads on either side, sandwiching the middle one between them. They found themselves unable to move from the hold.

“They’re not afraid because they know that shit ain’t tolerated here. If you insist on making a mess of things, I’ll have you tossed out like the garbage.”

The trio froze, feeling hopelessly outmatched until one of them commented.

“Wait, Yamaoka? Wasn’t that some kind of legendary name of sorts? Yama Gyu, Yama Kyu?”

“Oh shit! You mean the Yama Ryu! We are so dead!”

The trio started to panic as Ryuji hoisted them up and walked them to the door. Opening it with his foot, he dropkicked the three of them, one-by-one, out onto the sidewalk. It was a mild warning not to ever come back with ill intentions.

With that nuisance gone, the bakery café returned to its normal vibrancy and activity.

“Must suck to get random lackeys snooping around from other districts, thinking that they can call dibs on new turf.”

Ryuji looked over to a man with a newspaper, who set it down, revealing Shirokawa.

“It’s always the young ones. I’ve been off the streets for only a few months, and the Yama Ryu has become a myth.”

“Looks like a budding new family being set up on the outskirts. I’ll send my regards to the patriarch to have them roll out better discipline. You keep sending them my way if you want them set straight.”

Ryuji looked around the café. He had become quite familiar with several of his customers. The schoolgirls that the trio mentioned – they were adults in disguise, looking to make some cash through unsavory jobs. A few customers were shouldering debts caused by wicked loan sharks or banks foreclosing their businesses. Out of luck and potentially considering dangerous schemes, they ended up here in the end.

It was no coincidence that Ryuji had decided to set up his shop near the entrance of Kakushicho. People dragged through the mud of society would set their sights on the grand arch that led to the district known for its moral grayness. Many in the past backed away from Kakushicho, ending up in a downward spiral afterward.

Having a bakery opened by a legendary underground figure spread many rumors, attracting the attention of those looking for advice before diving into a world of unknowns. Potential recruits came asking what it was like to be in the yakuza, and for those that passed Ryuji’s vibe check, he sent them on to Shirokawa.

Just as often, he dealt with hot-headed people like the trio, thinking that they could do whatever they wanted. A harsh reality check was in store, with the blows softened by a tasty pastry afterward.

In fact, a sweet treat seemed to open people up to Ryuji far more than otherwise. Perhaps, it made him more approachable. Perhaps, his wildness hid behind flour and sugar.

“It’s certainly not the silly apron and poofy hat, Ryuji,” Shirokawa once jokingly said to him.

“I have to make it so that everyone can approach me, not just yakuza. Police have their donut shops to mingle with the public. The least I can do is offer the family some cake to split with the civvies.”

“You know, Ryuji. That’s more of a thing overseas.”

Regardless, Yamaoka Bakery had started becoming a local hangout for those that hit a rough patch in life, bad enough for them to consider a life of crime. If there was no other way but to resort to that, at the very least, they got some guidance, and perhaps, even some protection.

Not everyone could live an honest life of one’s choosing. And there was no one better than the Yama Ryu who guarded these streets for so long. His experiences were more valuable passed on, rather than heading some big organization. And over time, Shirokawa realized it as well, settling quite nicely as the Tenjou Chairman.

“But you know, Ryuji. You can’t save them all. Not everyone has your fortitude.”

“Heh, in that case. I’ll send them over to someone else more suitable.”

Ryuji’s gaze turned to a table where two young men sat over some cream puffs. They were huddled together in front of a phone, watching a pink-haired Vtuber chatting to people in a live stream.

“Grace seems to know exactly what to say to get people to cheer up! Man, if only she’d respond to me…”

“What? You don’t know? She schedules these private sessions with her subscribers. Her one-on-ones are absolutely divine! I’ll even loan you my VR set so that you get the full experience of her being there!”

“I get shivers thinking about it! It’s like that ASMR stuff going around. She gets in your head and hits all the right notes!”

“It’s so tailored to you that some people swear that they dream about her afterward. The fun with her keeps going on. She’s like a fairy godmother granting your dreams… but if you’re thinking of anything pervy with her, she’ll just kick you out of the session. Only pure thoughts for our angel!”

The two of them laughed, enjoying their virtual diva and hoping that she would grace them one day.

Ryuji smiled, thinking how there was another group sitting in the same place just a week ago with similar thoughts. They got their wish the next evening, a personal audience before a visit in dreams. With Grace connected to the internet, she could wirelessly hop anywhere, provided she had coordinates. A person’s brain was simply just another hub to connect with. Ryuji saw the group one last time the following day, thanking him as they no longer needed any more advice to walk forward.

The door opened and a welcoming jingle sounded.

Ryuji looked over to see a man down in the dumps trod heavily forward. He looked around cautiously before going up to the counter, unsure of what to order. Seeing this familiar posture, Ryuji walked over and greeted him.

“What kind of tastes are you into?”

The man looked him up and down, skeptical. It was a familiar gaze of caution that he saw from his foes at first. Ryuji simply handed him a menu and guided him to an open table. He would fight that caution not with fists anymore, but with a comfortable environment for him to open up to. His instincts told him that the man was hounded by some unsavory pursuers.

“Take your time. And feel free to call me over if you need anything. Anything at all. This shop is here for people like you.”

Ryuji got a curious gaze as he normally did. He smiled and went to the kitchen, ready to whip up whatever he could to ease the man’s issues.

After several minutes, he finally calmed down and picked up the menu. Opening the cover, he saw a blank page with only a few lines – a personal message to every customer with obvious intentions for coming here.

Life’s problems may seem unscalable.

But with a little change in perspective,

A voice guiding the way –

That can seemingly move mountains.

The man’s eyes widened. He suddenly felt a little less alone in the world. And with a sigh of relief, he turned the page to start his order, eager to see what would come out.