The Diamond Team were whispering to each other, "He hasn't come out yet?"
'He' here, was referring to Zero, and the fact that he had been in the training room for the past few hours.
"Well, at least he didn't take over training the new recruits," pointed out Lucka, seeing the bright side to everything, "After all, we need more people, not less."
"He'll come out soon," Edward said confidently, "The weapons in the training room aren't as good as his own. It'll be blunt soon."
"Erm, he's using his own," Yume revealed.
The room was silent for a while before Edward sighed, "Go and replenish the practice dummies then. Otherwise, he might very well head over to the recruits training room later."
Akira quickly did as Edward said.
Edward then switched on the monitor for the training room.
Zero was stripped to the waist and drenched in sweat, panting heavily but his moves were still not heavy. Light, quick, and decisive, his taut muscles moved ad he slashed out at the wooden dummy in front of him.
There were many such practice dummies around him, already chipped beyond recognition, with numerous wood chips and pieces of cloth scattered around.
Edward pressed the speaker button and said languidly into the microphone, "Zero, that's our last dummy. You need a rest now."
Zero didn't answer.
"We still need to clear the mess in the room to maintain efficiency," Edward continued, but Zero still did not respond, while meticulously slashing at the dummy in front of him, shredding the outfit piece by piece. His face was full of concentration, his eyebrows furrowed tightly as he just glared at the dummy.
Edward sighed, putting his chin on the palm of his hand as he watched Zero for a minute longer. Then he turned to Akira and said, "Another 20 should be enough. Tell the new recruits they have half-day today ..."
Thinking about it, he then added, "Make that, let them have the weekend off."
The rest sighed.
"Let's just hope Zero would calm down by then," mumbled Yume.
"Better get him more cookies from Kitty Cookie Cafe," suggested Akira.
The rest brightened up, and Edward agreed, "Yes, yes. We should all go and see what else is there..."
"Yes, yes ... it's all because we need to pacify Zero," agreed Lucka with a straight face.
Without another word, everyone quickly rushed to go out.
✿ Author only posts on w.e.b.n.o.v.e.l. ✿
Lily looked up from the counter when hearing the chime from the door and thought to herself that today was a good day.
The door chime was something new that she had gotten installed after that day when that pretty guy had been rather disappointed at missing his friend, who was the girlfriend of the silver-haired handsome guy who loved eating her food.
Ever since that day, she had not seen 'Silver-Hair' but the 'Pretty-Boy' came every week. Pretty-Boy wasn't the same. He just sat there, doing his work or staring out the window like he had lost half of his soul or something.
The only highlight had been just a few days ago when THE best customer ever came. Kyle Smith. Even she knew who he was, and she was surprised to see that he knew Pretty-Boy.
Naturally, she had to give him … them … some complimentary cookies, right? It looked like he enjoyed it but … it wasn't the same as how Silver-Haired ate.
She wished 'Silver-Hair' would return but he, nor his girlfriend, ever did.
Today, though, there were four other good-looking guys who suddenly came in and were practically drooling over the display case. They were also arguing as to which one to order and which one would be better.
It reminded her of the way Silver-Hair and his girlfriend who had just decisively took everything. There would never be customers like them again.
Lily sighed.
Just what was Silver-Hair doing now?
Eating the food his girlfriend had cooked for him?
Or perhaps, she was eating the food he had cooked for her?
She should really get her head back to the matter at hand and not keep thinking of one who would never return.
While the four were still busy arguing, the door chimed again.
She looked up, ready to welcome the customer in, when her smile froze on her face.
It was him!
It really was him!
Silver-Hair was back!!
Her smile became bigger and she greeted him with more enthusiasm than normal, and he merely gave her a brief glance and a nod.
It was enough.
Today really was a good day.
"Hey! You're here!" exclaimed Akira, grinning openly at Zero, "Quick, tell us. Which one should we get?"
"All of them," Zero answered unhesitatingly.
"But you haven't even looked at what's on display yet," Edward said, as he turned to face him.
"I don't need to," Zero replied, "They're all good."
"It's not like you've eaten everything here," Lucka pointed out.
Zero shrugged, "Doesn't matter. They're always good.��
Lily, hearing the conversation, couldn't help but fan herself, then patted her chest. She could actually feel tears pricking her eyes because she was so touched.
"Auw, Zero, look," Akira said, indicating Lily, "You made her cry."
Lily was embarrassed, "No no no … Sorry, I'm just super touched that you like my baking."
"Let me tell you," Akira said, turning on the charm, "Zero here gets someone to buy something from your cafe everyday. He must always start the day with his coffee, and your baking."
Being exposed like that, Zero ignored them and just stared at the display case and told Lily to wrap one of everything. The tip of Zero's ears, however, was a bit red and only the Diamond Team noticed it.
They looked at each other, then at Lily, and then back at each other.
"You don't think …" Yume whispered.
"Ssssh," Akira quickly shushed him.
It was too late.
Zero turned to glare at them, then said, "You gave the new trainees extra time off?"
Everyone pointed at Edward, "It was HIS idea!"
Edward pointed at the display, "My treat today!"
Zero smiled.
"For a week!" Edward added, feeling the chills.
"Two," Zero replied.
"Deal," Edward quickly agreed.
Zero finally appeared appeased and the rest gave out a breath of relief.
This Cafe's wares truly were a life-saver.