Door of Dreams

Chapter 7

Ako let out a deep breath, calming herself. Then, she pushed the doors of the cafe open, ready to get started with her shift. Ignoring the others and the heavy feeling in her chest, she quickly dressed into her uniform and was out in the cafe, setting the tables with the menus and fixing the chairs like usual.

"Ah! Morning Ako!" Yuzu waved at her.

Ako waved back, "Good morning, Yuzu."

Yuzu grinned wide, "Don't get too mad today!" She winked at Ako and then disappeared into the back.

Ako blinked, "Uh?" Shaking her head, she went back to preparing.

"Ako!" Someone else called. She also heard the cries of someone else after it.

Ako turned, "What is-" She stopped when she felt something cold wrap around her wrist. She gasped and looked down. A cuff. Around her left wrist. Her face turned red, "What is the meaning of this?" She glared at Laura.

Laura grinned and took step back, revealing Yume behind her, who was panting.

Ako's eyes widened, and her eyes shot down to the cuff again. Lo and behold, the other end was attached to Yume's right wrist. Ako shook with panic, repeating, "What is the meaning of this!"

Yume frowned, "Laura sprung this cuff on me too." She turned to Laura, "What are you doing Laura?"

Laura shrugged her hands, "You guys are going to get along today."

"That's staying on all day," Mahiru appeared.

"What?" Ako gasped.

"Koharu!" Yume gasped, "You too?"

Koharu smiled softly, "Yea. Sorry, Yume."

Ako crossed her arms, ignored the pull it had on Yume's arm, "No. I refuse. Take it off right now. How am I supposed to work?"

Laura grinned, "No can do, Ako. And don't worry about that, Yuzu approved of it."

Ako's eyes widened as she remembered Yuzu's words from earlier. She tightened her fists, "That Yuzu..." She muttered angrily.

Speaking of her, she popped out of the back, "Oy! It's opening time! Open that door!"

Ako panicked, "No! I can't work like this! Give me the key! Please!"

Yuzu tilted her head, "It's too late. I put it in the timer box. It'll only open at the end of the day!"

"No!" Ako screamed, but it was too late. Laura was opening the doors up.

Ako sent a withering glare over to Yume, who frowned back. Ako growled, then let her arm get pulled forward as she went to greet the entering customers. It was going to be a long day.

~0~

This arrangement was not working out. At all. So far, they had dropped 7 trays of food, had 3 arguments in the back about whose arm was more important, and a huge bruise on both of their respective wrists.

At the moment, Ako was crouched in front of a toilet stall, her arm halfway through the bottom, and a huge scowl on her face. "Are you done?" Ako snapped.

"No!" Yume called back.

Ako groaned and facepalmed with her free hand. At least she had that. "Can't you forget your privacy for this one minute? This would've been easier if you left the door open!"

"No thanks!" Yume retorted sharply.

"Well this isn't very comfortable for me!" Ako tugged at her arm for emphasis.