Replay

3-5 Limit

A/N: I just realized 'backlog' means the opposite of what I thought it did. Alright, ignore any time I've said it in previous A/N's.

"You've been coming by quite a lot, recently."

I set my cup down and turned around from the window to acknowledge the aproned barista, who placed before me a plate with a generous slice of chocolate cake and a fork.

"Uh, I didn't order that."

"For your continued patronage." He dipped his head in a little bow.

"Well, to be honest, it's been sitting there for a few days," the middle-aged owner said as he walked over from behind the bar counter, revealing a plate of a half-finished slice of the same cake in his hand. "No one's ordered it and it would be a waste to throw the cakes. It's not spoiled yet, but it doesn't seem like anyone will take it. We have toffee cake left over too if you'd like."

"Thanks for the cake, then...?" I glanced around the quiet cafe, devoid of any other customers. The time I'd gone with Emma last weekend had been the busiest I'd seen it in the past few days, at about a fourth capacity. But then again, I wasn't paying much attention to the cafe itself. As I broke off a corner of cake, my eyes flickered over to the street, where only a handful of ordinary civilians passed by despite it being a Sunday afternoon.

"Emma-chan hasn't come since the time she returned with you, drenched. Is she doing alright?"

I looked back to the owner. That had been the last time I'd seen the girl, when she'd pulled me out of the rain and treated me to a drink. Perhaps it might've seemed we were close, but we hadn't contacted each other since. "I'm not sure, but I haven't heard much from her," I replied honestly. Chocolate shavings crunched in my mouth as I took a bite of cake. A white jacket flashed in my peripheral vision, but it only ended up being a trio of ordinary Valhalla members.

Emma had agreed to keep my secret, and I had no choice but to trust her on that. We hadn't been too close initially, so her lack of contact since then was nothing suspicious, but it also simultaneously was. Doing something outside of my vision, where I couldn't prevent or even realize. Was it paranoid of me? It all stemmed from one question: why would Emma trust me?

Emma didn't seem to want her own identity as a gang member public. That could suffice as a compromise.

I shut my eyes with a frown and rested my fork on the table. She hadn't approached me with malice or ill intent; reciprocating with blackmail was uncalled for. Unlike with Atsushi, who'd confronted me with understandable suspicion and wariness, Emma had been welcoming and friendly. As if nothing had changed between us.

"Myers-chan?"

"Huh?" I turned back to the two staff members, who were expectantly waiting for me to answer.

The owner didn't seem annoyed to repeat himself. "My part-timer here can take you back to the main street when you're finished. You usually leave around this time, right? You and Emma-chan luckily managed to escape from that gang last time, but just to be cautious."

The man beside him interrupted. "I'd happily do that, but my shift isn't over for at least two hours."

"Don't worry about it. I doubt we'll get any more people than I can handle on my own." He sighed. "And don't think I can't see you sneaking off into the back room to study." The exposed server twitched. "But it's alright, there's nothing else to do. Take the rest of it off; I'll still pay you in full."

"Sorry about that," the barista sheepishly said as he scratched his dark hair. "I've just got a major exam coming up. Thank you." He left for the staff room.