Chapter 4: Kanade's First Mission... at a Café?

After class, Yuu and Kanade walked together, chatting about their day. Kanade listened to every word with a mix of excitement and curiosity, especially when Yuu mentioned he had to go to his part-time job.
Kanade: “Do you have a mission, Yuu? Can I come with you?”
Yuu (laughing): “No, it’s not a mission. It’s just my job at a café.”
Kanade (tilting her head curiously): “A café? Like a tavern? Like the one Aran-san runs in our world, where they serve mead and fine wines for warriors?”
Yuu (smiling): “Something like that, except here we serve coffee and desserts instead of alcohol. It’s pretty chill.”
Kanade: “I want to work with you! It sounds fun, and if I can help…”
Yuu looked at her with slight concern. The idea of Kanade working at the café was… interesting, but it might draw too much attention. People already looked at her like she was a model or something, not to mention the stir she’d caused at school.
Yuu: “Hmm… I don’t think it’s necessary. What I earn is enough for now, and besides, it might be complicated.”
Kanade pouted but nodded, accepting for the moment. When Yuu headed off to work, she went home, though it didn’t take long before boredom got the better of her. With nothing better to do, Kanade decided to explore the neighborhood and see what other mysteries Yuu’s world had to offer.
While walking through the park, a man approached her with a charming smile and an unexpected offer.
Man: “Hey! You look like someone special. Interested in working at my business? I’m sure you’d catch the customers’ attention.”
Kanade, remembering the conversation with Yuu, hesitated for a moment, but curiosity won. She finally nodded, agreeing without really knowing what to expect. The man led her to a café… the very one where Yuu worked.
Upon arrival, Yuu nearly dropped the tray he was holding when he saw Kanade walk in. Before he could react, the manager —a man who rarely showed up at the café— approached them with a wide grin.
Manager: “Yuu, I’ve got good news for you. You’re getting a new coworker! Oh, and it looks like you already know her.”
Yuu was so shocked he barely managed to speak. He stared at Kanade, completely bewildered as to how she ended up there.
Manager (whispering to Yuu): “Well, well, so you already know her. I gotta say, kid, a girl like that in your life wouldn’t hurt. And not just any girl, a beauty like her!”
Yuu blushed deeply, and at that moment, Kanade added casually:
Kanade: “Yes, we live together.”
The manager’s eyes went wide, he gasped dramatically, and in a comedic fashion, fainted, falling backwards onto the floor. Yuu, still red in the face, sighed, realizing it would be impossible to live a normal life with Kanade around.
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Later, at the café…
Yuu was teaching Kanade how to use the cash register. She stared at the screen and buttons intently, as if learning a mysterious new spell. Her fingers tapped the buttons slowly while she frowned in concentration, trying to understand the strange device.
Kanade: “This is… complicated. Is this how people earn money in your world?”
Yuu (smiling): “More or less. Just remember the steps and soon it’ll be second nature.”
With a deeply focused expression, Kanade looked so adorable that Yuu couldn’t help but smile. He found himself watching her longer than he should, amazed by how beautiful she was. However, his thoughts were interrupted when the bell on the door rang and the first customers walked in.
To his surprise, Kanade immediately drew attention. Customers couldn’t stop staring at her, captivated by her beauty and mysterious yet kind demeanor. Yuu felt a twinge of jealousy when he noticed a few guys staring a bit too much.
Customer (whispering to his friend): “Who’s the new girl? She’s… incredible!”
Yuu sighed, trying to focus on his work. But the situation took an unexpected turn when a familiar figure walked through the door.
It was a young woman with long, snow-white hair, wearing a dark cape and a confident expression. She looked exactly like Miyuki Shirayuki, Kanade’s archrival from the anime she came from.
Kanade froze when she saw her, and Yuu did too. The girl looked directly at Kanade with a bold smile and struck a pose.
Miyuki: “At last, we meet again, my eternal rival.”
The atmosphere grew tense for a moment, but before she could say anything else, her stomach growled loudly. With a slight blush, Miyuki added naturally:
Miyuki: “But first… one espresso and a donut, please.”
Yuu and Kanade exchanged a look.