Problematic kitten

Chapter 5

Usagi got rejected from four first jobs she try to get. Shop owners said she is too young. She sigh and pull her scarf higher over her face. This is hopeless. She cry in her mind and grit her teeth. Then she see shadow cast next to her and turn to look at the magnificent building next to her. She feel her throat tighten, she is front of her old dream school, UA. "If only." She mumble sadly, give the gate sad smile and turn around. Soon her eyes caught on little cafe, almost unnoticeable and decide to try her luck one more time.

Usagi push the door open and walk inside calm cafe. It didn't have too many seats and gentle smell of coffee linger in air. She take deep breath and little smile come to her lips. She has always loved coffee but never really had the money to buy good quality coffee beans. She walk further in and look at the desk. There is many delicious looking pastries and she feel how her mouth water. "Hello miss, may I help you?" Older male voice ask gently. She snap her head up and answer sheepishly to his kind smile. "I... Do you need a hand in here? I am looking for a job." She blurt out. 

Man blink in surprise before answering. "How old are you kid?" "My name is Usagi... Matsuda. You can call me Usagi! I am 16." She answer. Man raise an eyebrow. "16?" She nod sternly. Man look her up and down. "My name is Tanaka Jin, nice to meet you Usagi." "Nice to meet you too Mr Tanaka. Do you need a hand in here? I am hardworking employee and fast learner." She continue to push with hopeful smile. Tanaka look at her for a moment and sigh. "You are not 16, right. More like 14." She bite her lower lip and slowly nod without looking away from him. He snort and little smile play on his lips. 

"Well, I can't pay you well but you can have whatever I can't sell after your shifts. When you can start?" Tanaka ask after a moment. "Immediately!" Usagi answer and smile to him. He let out a laugh and shake his head. "As you wish miss, follow me. I show you around and then I teach you how to make proper coffee." He laugh and wave his hand as a signal to follow her.

Usagi's eyes light up and she rush after Tanaka. He gently show her around and frown a little when he notice that she is always far out of arms reach if she can, but didn't ask. Already sensed that she isn't like normal kids, if the fact that she is looking for a job didn't already give that away. 

Usagi absorb all Tanaka explain to her like a sponge. She quickly learn to make as good coffee as he, learned to use the register and names of all different coffees they sell. He couldn't help little smile that stay in his lips when she rush around the cafe in her apron while her ponytail swing behind her. She look way more relaxed than when she walk inside the cafe. In the end of the day they agree that she will work on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 pm to 8 pm.

As promised Tanaka gave Usagi most of leftover pastries and sandwiches from the day. She has tried to refuse but accept them after her stomach growled loudly. She quickly grab the bag from his hand, bow and rush away. "See you on Tuesday!" He yell after her with wave. She wave as answer and soon disappear behind the corner. He chuckle and shake his head. "Lets see how this will turn out."

Usagi run all the way to the familiar alley. "Kuro! Where are you? I have real treat to you this time." She call for the kitten and pull out tuna sandwich. She open the plastic and look around. Soon familiar figure come in her view with little meow. She smile widely. "This is time for celebration Kuro. I got a job that will give me extra food for top of that! This is too good to be true!" She explain to the cat and put the open sandwich to the ground and pull out other sandwich while taking few steps back.

Kuro walk to the sandwich, sniff it couple times and start to devour the tuna salad from it. Usagi smile and bite down in her sandwich. They eat in comfortable silence. Soon they both have finished and for her surprise, Kuro come to push themselves against her legs. She slowly crouch down and pet them gently. They let her do it couple times before jumping away. She chuckle to the cat. "I knew you are big softie from inside." They just meow as answer before disappearing in the alley. She snort and turn toward home. "Time to tell him the good news." She mumble and sigh.

Usagi tiptoe inside her 'home' and put the food bag on the table. She quickly hide some of it under her jacket and rush to her room to hide it. She put the food away, change in more comfortable clothes and rush back downstairs. She need to clean. She realize that he isn't home and decide to clean properly. She go to take out vacuum cleaner and as quickly as possible, while doing proper job, vacuum the whole house. She collect the empty bottles and trashes from all floors, wipe the dusts, mop the floors  and make sure that everything is spotless until disappearing in her room again.

Usagi collect the ingredients to make more her pills, warm the needed equipment and start to work. While they set, she turn toward her staff. She thought about last night battle. It was too round to deflect the knife properly. "Maybe I need something like that too." She mumble aloud and shudder. She hate the idea of cutting someone. She sigh and shake her head. "Not yet, not now. Maybe later." She decide and turn to finish her doing before leaving for other night.