Akira sighed listlessly as he moved around with unease. He wasn't much focused in making the orders of coffees that frequently came in, but it wasn't that difficult a task to input the settings needed on the machine that grinded and dispensed it, so he could afford to have his mind elsewhere.
He was agitated because in a little over ten more minutes, the two groups of people that gave him the most stress would be meeting each other. He was still in a bad mood from earlier that day, and now he would have to deal with a situation he thought was very much a huge hassle. He was almost tempted to leave early, but wasn't the type to ever leave his duties behind, no matter how much he didn't want to do them.
"Cinnamon and pumpkin spice latte with caramel and chocolate syrup drizzled on top," Lesley stated, tapping the counter and breaking his thoughts.
Their restaurant was western-themed so he was used to the unusual and unhealthily sweet orders that had been coming in through the day. Akira proceeded to make the order with what almost seemed like a visible frown on his face, though his expression still looked more or less the same.
By the time he had finished the order, and some more from the same table, he heard the dreaded familiar voices that caused his agitation come through as the bell above the entrance chimed, announcing their arrival. He sighed as he watched them gaze around the shop in awe before their eyes met his stiff glare.
"Lily!"
"Dude! Aren't you having the time of your life here? Surrounded by all these girls."
Akira looked blankly at them. Slowly blinking as he dreaded every moment. He didn't want to be caught in the middle of them, more so have to explain why he has a job at a restaurant/bar.
"Oh? Are these your friends?" Jin asked, with a sinister chuckle behind it, as he playfully placed his arm around Akira's shoulder. "Jin. Nice to meet you."
"Ah, hello. My name is Yamaguchi Mamoru. Nice to meet you too." Mamoru responded with a slight bow and a handshake, as he gazed at the name on the tag pinned beside Jin's apron.
All the members of the team wore their real names of their name tags except for Luck and Akira who were on undercover missions.
"Inoue Hikaru." Hikaru stated, moving in to shake Jin's hand as well. As he did, he noticed Jin had a rather tight grip before pulling away.
"You two have a seat. You can pick anything you want from the menu. On the house." Jin smiled, reaching below the counter and pulling out two menu pamphlets. "Any friend of Lily's should get this much."
"For real? Thanks!"
Akira had to stop his eyebrows from forming tight furrows, as he attempted to ignore the people next to him.
"Then I'll have this chicken salad sandwich and a vanilla latte," Hikaru responded.
"And I think I'll have the same." Mamoru added.
"Alrighty. Lily, prepare the coffee will you?" Jin grinned. "I'll get you your sandwiches."
Akira sighed before moving to the coffee machine as did as the order instructed, not bothering to lift his gaze to the two who were watching him intently.
"Wow. You're like a real barista or something," Mamoru chimed, watching Akira's every move.
Akira ignored the comment and proceeded to continue with their order, pouring in the vanilla extract when he noticed it was time.
"How come you never told us you work here?" Hikaru asked, gazing at Akira's hands move as he prepared their orders.
Akira ignored that question as well, bothering to only look at them when he had finally finished the lattes and gave it to them neatly on a plate with a small teaspoon. At that time, Jin had come back with the sandwiches as well.
"What's up?" Luck sang, approaching the counter when he noticed the only two guys seated in the shop.
"Ah, let me introduce you," Jin mused. "These are Lily's school friends. Hikaru-kun and Mamoru-kun."
"Ooh?! So he really did make some friends!" Luck exclaimed with shock as he glanced down at the two.
"As I thought. It really is a surprise huh?" Hikaru stated with a sly grin. "It wasn't easy befriending such an unsociable guy, but he can't do without us."
With that statement, Akira moved from them and to the other side of the counter, to take on orders from the girls sitting at the counter there. This time, he didn't even bother sighing or clicking his tongue as he moved away from them.
"Hah. Really an unsociable guy." Jin laughed, with a shrug.
"Jin, swap with me." Oliver said, dropping his tray on the counter as he flicked his glasses further up his nose, before finally noticing the pair of boys sitting by him. "Huh?"
"Apparently these are Lily's friends!" Luck acclaimed, almost causing Oliver's right brow to go up.
"Really?" Oliver asked, staring at the boys intently.
"Yup! For real." Jin chuckled, enjoying himself a bit too much.
"Seriously?" Damien exclaimed, overhearing as he stepped out the kitchen for a minute. "So these are the 'friends' huh?"
That statement drew the attention of Lesley, Katri, and Natasha who were busy taking and delivering orders. Soon, all the employees on the floor were staring at the two boys who sat awkwardly by the counter.
"Oh, it's you!" Mamoru exclaimed, noticing Lesley, who he was somewhat familiar with.
Lesley clicked his tongue, ignoring them as he went back to what he was doing. Though, once they got a chance, Natasha and Katri went up to the counter to get a closer look at the people who were able to confidently call themselves Akira's friends.
"Yo boss! Your Lily's 'friends' are here!" Damien stated, as he knocked on the kitchen wall, calling Lucien's attention to him.
He couldn't hold it anymore. There was now a visible frown from unease on Akira's face as he watched Lucien leave the kitchen and stalk up to the counter, and even greater unease welling up from inside him as Lucien shot him a grin before reaching where the boys were.
"So you're my baby brother's friends," Lucien started with a grin. "Is that right?"