Mother Lavender saves the day

“Here comes the Side Kick!” Enishi lifted his leg high, slashing into the metal plate of the armored dude’s stomach, someone who looked like a misplaced samurai.

“Take this axe kick too as an upfront paycheck!” He struck the helmet next. “Ouch! Y’know, that last one actually hurt me more than you.” He swung his left leg with everything he had, aiming straight for the samurai’s crotch “Balls Kick!!!”

“Aw damnit, my gorgeous leg! You son of a gun, are your balls made of unbendable steel or what!?! Wait a second...” His left leg throbbed. He leaned over, groaning as he wrapped both hands around his thigh. The pain was consuming, but a realization hit him hard enough to raise his eyebrows. He glanced over his shoulder. “Just now... was that a Jojo’s reference?!!!”

[Aw hell naw! Not this one. Wrong timeline. Let’s rewind a bit more. REWIND: 3 hours and 3 minutes ago. Those extra three minutes? Don't ask; I don't know either.]

"Enishi! It’s almost time for your shift at Mother Lavender Cafe. It’s your first day, so don’t be late," his mother called out.

Enishi came downstairs. His mother smiled, handing him 7,000 yen. "Here, it’s not much, but it might help if you make friends with your coworkers. Also, never hesitate to help others and give your best, Enishi-chan."

"Kaa-chan, calm down with the silly jokes."

"Ufu!fu! Okay, I’ll stop," she said. She reached up, her fingers weaving gently through his hair as if she were trying to memorize the moment. "But remember, it’s fine if you make a mistake. Just apologize and move on. It’s your first day; the world won't end if you drop a tray.”

"Stop, Kaa-chan, you're embarrassing me."

"Be sure not to get into any trouble," she added.

"You’re such a worrywart. Okay, I’ll take care of myself. Can I go now?"

"Be careful, dear. My heart goes with you."

Enishi left the house, pulled out his earbuds, and started his favorite playlist before heading toward Kyoto Station. He tapped his IC card at the gate and boarded the train toward Osaka. He spent the ride watching a tutorial on how to serve customers.

[Now that I think about it, it was actually a training video on the proper way to hold a sugar packet. Spoiler: It was so wrong.]

He arrived at Osaka Station and headed straight for the Horie district. The cafe sat on a side street just off Orange Street. He looked at the sign and smirked.

Hope Mother Lavender treats me well, he thought.

He entered the cafe and greeted the manager, a nervous man named Fujimoto. Enishi quickly changed into his uniform. The moment he stepped back into the dining area, he saw it.

An office worker was leaning back in his chair. The waitress, Natsumi, was bent over the next table. The man stretched his leg out, trying to flip the bottom of her skirt with the tip of his shoe. Enishi felt the rage boil instantly.

Natsumi flinched, straightening up. "Sir, please mind your behavior," she requested, her voice tight but professional.

The man smirked, his breath smelling of whiskey. "Hey, doll. Are you free after your shift?" He stood up and wrapped a thick arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. "Come on, let's go have some fun. I'm a very good tipper."

That was the line. The sugar-packet video was forgotten. Enishi rushed forward.

"Get your arm off her," Enishi snapped. The new uniform suddenly felt too tight.

The man barely glanced at him. "Buzz off, waiter. This is grown-up business."

Enishi didn't wait. With a speed that definitely didn't come from a waiter's manual, he grabbed the man by his collar and slammed him back into his seat. The man scrambled up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.

"I said it’s grown-up business! Don't mess with me, you part-timer!" The man swung a furious punch at Enishi's face.

Enishi stepped aside, catching the man’s forearm and gripping the fist tight. "The only business you're having is a meeting with the floor."

He used the man’s own momentum, spinning his body and sweeping his leg behind the man’s knees. He leveraged the fury of the blow, sending the customer flying in a violent arc before slamming him onto the floor. The man clearly didn't realize Enishi was a Shodan, a black belt in Karate.

Five minutes later, Enishi was stuffing his spare uniform back into his locker. Fujimoto stood nearby, rubbing his receding hairline. "Mr. Enishi, I understand your intentions, but we cannot have violence. The customer is always—"

"A perverted piece of human waste who thinks employees are public property? Got it," Enishi finished, slamming the locker shut.

"Take your things and leave. Don't come back," Fujimoto said.

Enishi rushed out the front door, still wearing the dirty lavender uniform. It felt like a screaming insult. He was officially unemployed, consumed by a familiar grief. He’d moved to this city to escape the bullying and betrayal of his first university year, hoping to rebuild his life. But now, losing the job felt like a final, spiteful shove from a world that already wanted him on his knees.

He walked toward Osaka Station, leaving Orange Street behind. He didn't even put on his favorite playlist; his despair was just too heavy for a soundtrack.

As he passed a convenience store, he saw a little girl cornered by two men who looked like melted candles. One covered her mouth while the other snatched something shiny from her hand. Enishi recognized the sharp angles of their clothes. Yakuza degenerates, he figured.

"So, care to explain who the hell you two are?" he demanded.

One of the men pulled a dagger. "What’s your problem, pal? Trying to be a hero?"

"Pause!" Enishi announced, his tone going dry. "Look, I'm not here to be a hero. I'm just here to offer some free samples. See the uniform? I'm a waiter promoting lavender rice crackers. If you tell me what you're doing, I'll probably just leave. With the samples, of course."

"Do we look like a joke to you?" The gangster lunged with the dagger.

Enishi reacted instantly. He stepped aside, striking the man's wrist to deflect the blade before delivering a focused strike to the neck. He slammed the man's head into the wall, knocking him cold. He turned to the second man, delivering a powerful kick to his knee, forcing him to let go of the girl.

The girl sobbed. Enishi pulled her behind him and finished the second man with a direct kick to the gut.

He pulled a handkerchief from his bag and handed it to the girl. "Stop. You know what? Strong kids don't cry. They just get mad and write angry reviews on Yelp."

The girl let out a wobbly chuckle. "Thank you, Oniichan."

He escorted her to a nearby police station. "If anyone asks who brought you here, tell them it was Mother Lavender. She’s a registered agent of happiness who specializes in protecting kids and serving lukewarm Yuzu tea."

"But... Oniichan..."

"Don't leave until your parents come," Enishi instructed. "Don't forget to eat your greens, listen to your parents, and remember that sometimes the universe decides your first day on the job needs a body count. Now go! Shoo! Shoo!"

He vanished before she could respond. As he walked toward the main street, he sighed.

What a day. If any writer names my tragic moments after a flower, I'm haunting their comments.

Suddenly, a freezing pressure gripped him. The world went cold and silent. He looked down to see the glint of steel, a dagger, sunk deep into his neck.

I jinxed my own life. Just once... I wanted the good guy to win...

The last thing he saw was a hooded figure running away.

In a single, brutal moment, Kisaragi Enishi's worst day became his last day.