Letting out a breath of relief and some time, I enjoyed the aftertaste of the meal. Usually, I would be on my way to classes but I'm no longer a student.
After cleaning up after breakfast, I started to work on the chocolate cake. For starters, having these two desserts served in the café would do. (as in the hotcakes and chocolate cake)
Adding in new items to the menu will depend on taking into consideration of the customer's demands, or changing the menu daily is also a great idea.
After the completion of the chocolate cake, now it's time to prepare the ingredients for the sandwiches. Efficiently, but at the speed of my own pace, I finish the preparations for the café's opening while humming a song.
"Alright, I think this should do it…"
While making a round around the café to make sure I did not miss anything.
The sandglass left at the counter table caught my sight, I then nonchalantly approached to flip it. While happily looking at the sands falling downward, I realized that I have not brought out the signboard. I quickly went to open the café's door, went down a few small steps down to the porch and made sure it was clean, then took out the open signboard.
The café's name is Mattari.
Café Mattari.
Looking up the building of two stories, I felt a bit proud of myself.
"Uhm, are you open?"
It seems the first memorable customer has arrived. I came back to my senses and quickly faced the customer, the lady in front of my eyes let out a grin.
"Yes! Welcome"
A few weeks after-
Fortunately, Café Mattari flourished well.
Looks like the coffee and sandwich for promotion purposes did great. The results were magnificent but… honestly, I am somewhat troubled.
"Rhonya-chan! Another cup of coffee!"
"Yes, coming"
"Rhonya-chan, the cake today is delicious as always. Another slice please"
"Yes, coming in a second"
"Excuse me, 2 cups of coffee mocha please"
"Yes, certainly."
….It was so busy that I felt overwhelmed, but even so, I responded without breaking my smile.
This was unexpected. I did not think that a café would be such a harsh workplace. Wasn't it supposed to be like, customers coming in and out in turns and there will be plenty of time to pat the cat? Or when there are leftover cakes and sandwiches and I would recommend the customers for some take out? Even though I have well prepared the takeout boxes.. On the contrary, there were rarely leftover cakes and sandwiches these days. Additionally, I was too busy to even recommend takeouts.
The customers kept flowing that there was no time to even pat a cat. To begin with, there are no cats in the shop.
In conclusion, there was not even a pinch of time to relax!
"Thank you for waiting"
Bringing out second helpings of coffee and cakes, as well as the 2 cups of coffee mocha to the table, one of the customers sitting by the counter called out to me.
"Speaking of which, Rhonya-chan. When are you coming to my shop?"
"Ah, that.. err, maybe not any soon. As you can see, the shop is very busy… I'm sorry."
The customer who called me out manages a restaurant, but I gently rejected his offer.
"Whaa, even though I thought to give Rhonya-chan some services (as in freebies) if you came"
…I told you, how can I go amidst this busyness. While swallowing down those words within me and putting up a noble's smile, I went to correspond to another order.
"Come by my accessory shop, I'll give you discounts. Oh and, another coffee"
"My apologies but I currently have no plans to buy accessories for the time. Please hold on for another cup of coffee."
"Heey, Rhonya-san. I said I'll guide you around the town right? When do you want to go? And can I have another sandwich?"
"Thank you for your kind offer but, as I have said before, I'm currently too busy… And it would be difficult to find some time to go with you… Please wait a while for your sandwich, I'll get to it right away."
"Rhonya-tenchou**, a cup of latte! And also, can I order a date with you?"
"Fufu, sorry but a date is not on the menu. Latte, I will get to brewing it now,"
…All of you, how would you like for me to directly serve hot water to you guys?
Thus that was how I thought to myself, about how troublesome dealing with the male customers was, and I was at the peak of my exhaustion.
I fairly realized how charming I am in this life, but up until now due to being engaged (with Schneider), other males had mostly no chance to come near me.
But even so…
Honestly, being popular which I never was, is troubling for me. Should I have to use disguise magic at work? Incidentally, most of the customers are male. Surrounding the counter seats, and there are even customers holding a cup in one hand and standing around the counter here and there. While the male customers on the table seats would lean forward to approach me. Even though there are female customers, the number of male customers is overwhelming.
Well, this may be due to the uniqueness of a young lady working up a café. And I want to believe that this situation will clear up soon.
Going back to the kitchen, I start to prepare the coffee, sandwich, and a cup of latte. Aah, the dishes are piling up as well… I will need to clean the dirty cups after bringing out the orders.
While planning out the order of things I need to carry out, a voice calling me can be heard from the shop.
"Rhonya-chan~~!!"
"Yess, I'll be right there!"
…It was so busy that I felt my eyes twirling.
If this goes on, it will be a repetition of my previous life. The reason I opened up a café is to lay back and relax! If this continues, I will soon or later die of exhaustion! I have to think of a counterplan soon before I fall sick!
-This will end after a while, I can rest well after bearing with this for a while longer. Thinking back, the previous me had always thought of so and continued working. But time did not resolve anything.
Hoping for 'someday' is useless… If I do not change it now, all will be back to life of bearing with everything again. But even so, I do not know what to do specifically.
Pasting a warning on 'No Smooth Talking in the Shop'? Or warning them directly about it? But by chance I word it wrong to them, it might hurt their feelings and in turn, they will stop coming to the shop where the shop will incur losses. This is a hard problem. As I continue agonizing in my thoughts, I return back to the shop with a tray full of the orders before.
"Sorry to keep.. you wait..ing..?"
The shop which was filled with customers just a while ago, but now empty without any traces of them. Unfinished and untouched foods and cups are left on the table. My eyes opened wide and my gaze was set on the entrance door.
He was not a human.
His head was like a jackal's, his big straight ears stretched with a sharp outline. With green fur and beautiful almond-shaped dark green eyes. Although the head is of an animal, he was standing with two feet. With a small body stature and his height is somewhat a bit taller than I am.
Clad in a military-like black uniform with frayed sleeves, a white shirt within with a black necktie and brown pants as well as knee-high boots.
After observing his figure for a while, I finally come to a conclusion.
-That he is a demi-human. (Half beast half-human)
As I recall a class I attended in the Academy, the demi-humans, beings which I learned its existence of from the textbook. From birth, they have the ability to transform. A beast form, a half-beast form having features of each beast and a human's who walk on two feet, and is able to transform into a human form as well. The demis are extraordinarily stronger, quick-witted and their bodies are blade-resistant. I have also heard that they are able to rip apart humans with ease.
My first time seeing such a being. My gaze unable to turn away, the demi's fluffy tail swayed. A green-colored fluffy tail. I instinctively stared hard at it.
….A fluffy tail… How much I would like to touch it.
Amidst my desire, I come back to my senses. It is rude to daze off. I then put up a smile.
"Welcome"
The jackal-like demi silently looked towards me.