Chapter 4: Kanade’s New Mission. At a Café?

After school, Alex and Kanade walked together through the neighborhood streets, enjoying the cool evening air. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Kanade observed everything with curiosity: the streetlights starting to turn on automatically, the shops with their lit-up windows, the cars speeding down the avenue.


"And what will you do now?" Kanade asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them.


"Ah, I have to go to my part-time job," Alex replied, checking the time on his phone. "It starts in an hour, so I should start getting ready."


Kanade's eyes lit up with interest.


"You have a mission, Alex? Can I come with you? I could help you if there's danger or..."


"No, no, it's not a mission," Alex replied with a laugh, waving his hands dismissively. "It's just a part-time job at a café. No monsters or magic involved."


Kanade tilted her head, thoughtful, trying to process the concept.


"A café?" she repeated slowly. "A place like Mr. Alan's tavern in Shadowfall? Where they served mead and sweet wines to warriors after battles?"


"Something like that, I suppose," Alex said with a smile, picturing Kanade in a medieval tavern. "Except here we serve coffee and desserts, not alcohol. It's a pretty quiet place where people come to relax, study, or meet with friends."


Kanade nodded slowly, but her expression showed she was still processing the information. Then, suddenly, her eyes shone with determination.


"I want to work with you!" she exclaimed enthusiastically, taking Alex's hand. "It sounds fun, and if I can be of help... In Shadowfall, when there were no missions, I used to help in the temple kitchens. I could learn quickly."


Alex felt a slight blush on his cheeks at the unexpected contact but quickly regained his composure. He looked at her thoughtfully, weighing the idea. If Kanade worked at the café... while it sounded entertaining, it would also attract too much attention. At school, people already mistook her for a model or famous actress, and the reactions had been intense. Imagining what could happen in a public space like a café gave him a certain apprehension.


Besides, Kanade was still adapting to this world. The cash register, the payment system, the coffee machines... everything would be completely new to her. And knowing her tendency to be direct and honest, she might say something that would reveal her true nature.


"Mmm... it's fine as it is for now," he finally said, trying to sound casual. "My current income is enough for the two of us, and besides, it could be a bit complicated. You'd have to learn a lot of new things about how everything works here, and..."


He stopped upon seeing Kanade's expression. She had lowered her gaze, clearly disappointed, and her cheeks were slightly puffed out in a pout that Alex found unexpectedly adorable.


"I understand," she murmured. "I don't want to be a burden."


"That's not it!" Alex hurried to say. "Just... give me some time to think it over properly, okay? It's not a definite 'no.'"


Kanade nodded slowly, though her expression still showed some disappointment. When they arrived at the entrance to the apartment building, Alex said goodbye with a smile.


"I'll be back in about four hours. There's food in the refrigerator if you're hungry, and you can watch TV or read something. Will you be okay?"


"Yes, don't worry," Kanade replied, forcing a smile. "I'm a warrior. I can take care of myself."


---


The first two hours passed without a problem. Kanade explored the apartment in more detail, examining every object with curiosity. She read some of Alex's books, tried using the computer (though she quickly got frustrated with the keyboard), and watched some TV programs that seemed fascinating and strange in equal measure.


But eventually, boredom overcame her. The apartment, though comfortable, felt small compared to the vast battlefields and mystical forests of Shadowfall. She missed the excitement, the adventure, the sense of purpose she had in her world.


Looking out the window at the city's illuminated streets, she made a decision.


"I'll just take a short walk," she thought. "Alex doesn't have to know. I'll be back before he returns."


She put on a jacket Alex had lent her and left the apartment, making sure to take the key he had given her. The night air was cool and pleasant, and the city lights created a magical atmosphere that reminded her of nighttime festivals in her world.


Kanade walked aimlessly, marveling at every detail: the shop windows, the aromas coming from restaurants, the music heard from some establishments. Eventually, she arrived at a small park surrounded by trees, lit by old-fashioned lamps that gave it a nostalgic feel.


She sat on a bench, observing the few people strolling there: an elderly couple walking hand in hand, a young man playing guitar under a tree, a group of teenagers laughing and talking. Everything was so... peaceful. So different from her previous life.


"Hello!" A male voice startled her.


Kanade turned to find a middle-aged man, dressed in casual but elegant clothes. He had a friendly smile on his face and held a briefcase under his arm.


"Sorry if I startled you," the man continued, keeping a respectful distance. "It's just that... well, I couldn't help but notice you. You have a very special aura, something that captures attention immediately."


Kanade looked at him cautiously, her warrior instinct putting her on guard.


"What do you want?" she asked directly.


The man chuckled softly, not offended by her tone.


"Ah, straight to the point. I like that. Look, I'm the owner of a small establishment near here. A café. And I'm always looking for employees with... presence." He paused, studying her with a professional eye. "I think customers would love to see you. Would you be interested in working at my place? The pay is good and the atmosphere is pleasant."


Kanade immediately remembered her conversation with Alex that very afternoon. A job at a café... exactly what Alex had rejected when she proposed it. Part of her knew she should decline the offer and return to the apartment. But another part, the adventurous part that had led her to accept being summoned to this world in the first place, was curious.


Besides, if she got this job on her own, she could prove to Alex that she was capable of contributing, that she could adapt to this world without being a burden.


"When could I start?" she finally asked.


The man's smile widened.


"How about right now? I can take you to see the place and, if you like, you could start with a trial run tonight. I understand we're a bit short-staffed on the night shift."


Kanade nodded, standing up. The man led her through the streets, chatting amiably about the neighborhood and his business. They walked for about fifteen minutes until they reached a well-lit commercial street.


When they finally stopped in front of the establishment, Kanade's heart skipped a beat.


The sign above the door read "Café Moonlight" in elegant letters. It was exactly the same café where Alex worked.


---


Inside the café, Alex was in the middle of his work routine. With efficient movements born of months of practice, he prepared drinks, cleaned tables, and served customers with a professional smile. That night's shift had been particularly quiet, which he was grateful for after such a strange day at school.


He was preparing a cappuccino when he heard the bell on the main door. He looked up instinctively and almost dropped the cup he was holding.


Kanade had just walked in, followed by the café owner, Mr. Tanaka. She was looking around with an expression of surprise and... a bit of guilt?


"Alex!" Mr. Tanaka exclaimed enthusiastically, walking toward the counter. "I have excellent news! I've found help for the night shifts. This young lady will..."


He stopped upon noticing the expression of absolute shock on Alex's face, who was staring fixedly at Kanade. He followed his gaze and then smiled with understanding.


"Oh, it seems you already know each other. Well, that makes things easier. A friend of yours?"


Alex was too surprised to speak. His brain tried to process the situation: Kanade, here, at his job, being hired by his boss. How? When? Why?


Mr. Tanaka leaned toward Alex with a conspiratorial smile and whispered to him in an amused tone:


"Wow, was she an acquaintance of yours? Not bad for someone so young, bringing such a beautiful girl to work. Are you two dating or...?"


Alex's face turned completely red.


"It's not...! We're not..."


Before he could finish the sentence, Kanade added with total naturalness, not understanding the implications of her words:


"Yes, we're living together. Alex took me in at his apartment."


The silence that followed was absolute. The few customers in the café turned their heads toward them. Mr. Tanaka's eyes widened, his mouth forming a perfect "O." He let out a strangled sound of surprise and then, dramatically, brought a hand to his chest and began to stagger backward.


"My heart... the youth of today... living together..." he murmured before collapsing into a nearby chair, fanning himself with a menu.


Alex buried his face in his hands, completely mortified. Kanade, confused by the reaction, approached him.


"Did I say something wrong?" she asked with genuine concern.


Alex sighed deeply, resigning himself to his fate. A normal life would be impossible as long as Kanade was around. And, being completely honest with himself, he wasn't sure if that was a bad thing.


---


After Mr. Tanaka recovered from his shock (and made sure several times that "everything was appropriate and legal"), he decided that Kanade could start with basic training that same night. Alex, still processing everything that had happened, found himself in the position of being her instructor.


He guided her behind the counter, where the cash register occupied a prominent place. Kanade observed the touchscreen and buttons with absolute seriousness, as if she were studying an ancient magical artifact rather than a simple cash register.


"Alright, this is simpler than it looks," Alex began, adopting his most patient tone. "When a customer places an order, you press here for each item..."


He tapped the screen, showing her the digital menu. Kanade leaned forward, watching each movement intently.


"And these symbols?" she asked, pointing to the icons of different drinks.


"They're the types of coffee and other drinks we serve. This is espresso, this is cappuccino, this is latte..."


Kanade frowned, concentrating deeply. She pressed one of the buttons carefully, almost reverently, as if afraid the machine might explode. When the screen changed, she gave a little start.


"This... is complicated," she murmured, more to herself than to Alex. "Is this how people in your world record transactions? Where's the ledger? The scribe?"


Alex couldn't help but smile at her seriousness.


"Well, something like that. Everything is saved digitally. Once you learn the basic procedure, you'll get used to it quickly. It's like... like learning a new spell. Difficult at first, but with practice it becomes natural."


Kanade nodded, appreciating the analogy. She squared her shoulders with determination.


"I understand. Then I must practice until I master it."


The next twenty minutes were spent going over the basic procedures. Kanade was a diligent student, taking every instruction with absolute seriousness. Alex found himself watching her with admiration. The concentration on her face, the way she slightly bit her lower lip when thinking, how her eyes lit up every time she understood something new...


He realized he was looking at her too much and quickly averted his gaze, feeling warmth in his cheeks. "Focus on teaching her," he mentally scolded himself.


The sound of the doorbell interrupted their training, announcing the arrival of new customers. Alex looked up and saw a group of three young college students entering. Immediately, their eyes landed on Kanade.


"Welcome to Café Moonlight," Alex greeted professionally. "What can I get for you?"


But the young men barely looked at him. Their eyes were fixed on Kanade, who had adopted a slightly rigid posture, clearly feeling their stares.


"Who is she?" one of them whispered to his friends, though loud enough for Alex to hear. "Is she new?"


"She's incredibly beautiful," murmured another. "Do you think she's a model or something?"


"I'm definitely coming here more often," added the third with a smile.


Alex felt something strange stir in his chest. An uncomfortable, unpleasant feeling that took a moment to recognize: jealousy. It was an absurd emotion, he knew it. Kanade could do whatever she wanted, talk to whomever she wanted. He had no right to feel this way.


And yet...


He clenched his jaw slightly and forced himself to maintain his professional smile.


"Your orders, please?"


While he was taking the order, more customers began to arrive. It was unusual to have so much activity at this hour, but Alex suspected Kanade's presence had something to do with it. Her beauty and slightly mysterious aura were attracting attention like a magnet.


Kanade, for her part, tried to remain professional. She greeted customers with a small bow (a gesture Alex noticed came from her customs in Shadowfall) and tried to help where she could, though she was still learning.


The café filled up more than it had in weeks. Mr. Tanaka, who had been watching from a table in the back, approached Alex with an expression of barely contained joy.


"This is wonderful!" he exclaimed in a low voice. "We haven't had this many customers on a Tuesday night in months. That girl is pure gold for the business."


Alex nodded weakly, trying to focus on preparing the drinks piling up on the order screen.


The bustling atmosphere of the café was abruptly interrupted when the door opened once more. This time, a gradual silence spread through the place.


A young woman with long, snow-white hair had just walked in. She wore a dark cloak that contrasted dramatically with her hair, and her bearing was that of someone accustomed to attracting attention. Her eyes, of a pale violet color, scanned the place with a confident expression until they landed on Kanade.


Alex felt his heart stop. He recognized that appearance. It was identical to that of "Miyuki Shirayuki," Kanade's nemesis in the anime she came from. But that was impossible. Kanade was real because he had accidentally summoned her, but there was no way that...


Kanade had also frozen, her eyes wide with shock. Her body automatically tensed, adopting a defensive posture Alex had seen when she prepared for battle.


The white-haired girl walked slowly toward the counter, her steps measured, dramatic. The other customers watched her with curiosity and admiration. When she finally stopped in front of Kanade, a challenging smile curved her lips.


She raised a hand in a theatrical gesture and declared in a clear, resonant voice:


"At last we meet again, my eternal rival. Fate has brought us together once more in..."


A sound interrupted her dramatic declaration. A loud, unmistakable growl, coming from her stomach.


The silence that followed was absolute. The white-haired girl's confident expression faded, replaced by a slight blush on her cheeks. She coughed delicately, lowering her hand.


"But first..." she continued, now in a more normal and slightly embarrassed voice, "a double espresso and a glazed donut, please."


Alex and Kanade exchanged a look. The dramatic tension of the moment had completely evaporated, replaced by a situation that was simultaneously comical and perplexing.


Kanade, regaining her composure, nodded professionally.


"Right away," she replied, turning toward the cash register with renewed determination.


Alex watched everything with a mixture of bewilderment and growing resignation. His life, apparently, would never be normal again.


---


The rest of the shift passed in a strange atmosphere. The white-haired girl, who had not formally introduced herself, sat at a table near the window and consumed her order in silence, though she occasionally threw significant glances toward Kanade.


When the shift finally ended and Alex and Kanade left through the café's back door, the night sky greeted them with a blanket of stars barely visible among the city lights.


The back door opened onto a quiet alley, illuminated only by a solitary lamp. Their shadows stretched as they walked, and between them was a silence that wasn't exactly uncomfortable, but laden with unasked questions.


Finally, it was Kanade who broke the silence.


"Alex... about showing up at your job without warning..."


"Don't worry," he interrupted, surprising himself with his gentle tone. "I understand why you did it. And... well, I guess it wasn't so terrible. Although next time, let me know before making big decisions, okay?"


Kanade nodded, relieved.


"So... the work here is very different from the missions I did in Shadowfall," she commented, looking up at the starry sky. "There are no monsters to defeat, no magical artifacts to recover. Just... serving coffee and making people feel welcome."


"Yeah, it's just a normal café," Alex replied with a small smile. "There are no healing potions or magical spells here. Just caffeine and sugar."


"Hmm, it's like serving in a tavern," Kanade reflected. "Although the drinks in my world were considerably stronger. The mead at the Golden Dragon Tavern could make even an experienced warrior forget his own name after three mugs."


Alex laughed at the image.


"Here, strong coffee just keeps you awake. Though some customers act like it's magical in the mornings."


They continued walking, their steps echoing softly in the empty alley. Alex felt... content. Despite how strange the situation had been, there was something nice about sharing this aspect of his life with Kanade. About showing her his world in a tangible, practical way.


Suddenly, a figure appeared at the end of the alley, blocking their path.


Alex and Kanade stopped abruptly. The figure stepped forward under the lamp light, revealing the same white-haired girl who had appeared at the café. But now she looked completely different.


She had left her casual appearance behind. Now she wore an elaborate outfit that seemed straight out of the anime: a white tunic adorned with arcane symbols in silver thread, a cloak that billowed dramatically despite the lack of wind, and she held a long, elegant staff crowned with a crystal that emitted a faint blue glow.


Her violet eyes shone with intensity in the gloom, and her expression was one of absolute seriousness.


"Kanade Himejima," she said in a clear, resonant voice. "I finally find you, my eternal rival. The time of our destiny has come..."