The Yakuza's flower

Friends

Kozue's POV

I huffed as I sprinted down the busy streets of Tokyo, weaving between people who were already on their way to work.

"I'm so dead..."

I glanced at my phone.

8:52 A.M.

The school gates had already closed.

Again.

There was only one person who could save me now.

I turned the corner and spotted the little café tucked between two buildings.

Garden.

The smell of fresh coffee drifted into the street as customers chatted on the outdoor patio.

And there she was.

Ume.

She smiled warmly as she poured a customer a fresh cup of coffee, thanking him before setting the mug down.

People always mistook her for a tourist.

It wasn't hard to see why.

She stood a few inches taller than most girls our age, her tan skin making her stand out in a crowd. Thick dark curls framed her face, and whenever the sunlight caught them, they almost seemed to glow. Then there were her hazel eyes...

Seriously.

They were unfairly pretty.

She was half Japanese and half Latin American—a "half," as everyone here liked to call it—and somehow she managed to attract attention without even trying.

I waved both arms over my head.

"Ume!"

She looked over and immediately smiled.

After excusing herself from the customer, she carried her tray over to me.

"You think you can throw me over the school gate again?" I asked between breaths.

Her smile turned into an amused sigh.

"...Late again?"

"I know, I know!" I groaned. "I was hanging out with Baki, and I got home later than I meant to."

She gave me a knowing look.

"Uh-huh."

Without another word, she carried the tray back inside the café.

I peeked through the doorway as she hung up her apron.

"Grandma! I'm taking my break!"

Her grandmother looked up from the register.

"Don't be long."

"I won't!"

Seconds later, Ume came running back outside.

"C'mon."

We took off together.

The entire way there we couldn't stop laughing.

I honestly couldn't remember what started it.

Maybe it was because this had become our weird little morning tradition.

Maybe it was because normal friends walked each other to school...

Mine launched me over gates.

By the time we reached the entrance, the campus was already quiet.

The gate was locked.

Ume stretched her shoulders before crouching down, lacing her fingers together.

"Ready?"