The New Part-timer at Mr. S's Mystery Shop

The Last Test (Part 2)

It was half-past one, and Anna went quickly to the shop for the afternoon shift.

"Punctual as always, huh?" said Sam, shortly after Anna arrived. He then brought Ruggie out from the storage room.

"This is Ruggie Bucchi, your future possible colleague and a second-year from Savanaclaw," Sam introduced.

"Hello, pretty lady!" Ruggie gave Anna a hug. "I'm so glad to be working with you!"

"Uh...hello. Nice to meet you, Ruggie," Anna was nervous as she remembered what happened during lunchtime.

"If you need help with anything, or have something you don't understand, just ask me!" said Ruggie.

"Thank...thanks," said Anna.

"He might be a brat, but I guess he's not a bad person," thought Anna.

The afternoon shift started, and the shop got busier than in the morning.

When the clock strikes two, Leona and Vil came to the store.

"Hello, Leona. Quite rare to see you together with Vil," said Ruggie.

"Good afternoon gentlemen. How can I help you?" asked Anna.

Leona and Vil turned around, and almost immediately, blushed. They've seen a lot of cute girls but Anna's beauty was nothing compared to them.

"This girl's hot, isn't she?" whispered Leona to Vil's ear.

"I know right?" Vil did the same. "I should introduce her to my modelling agency someday."

"How can I help you?" asked Anna politely.

"Oh! well...er..." Leona snapped back into reality. "I'd like to ask if there's any paprika powder left?"

"Parpika isn't it? Bear with me a second, let me have a look..." said Anna as she grabbed a ladder and climbed to the herbs and spiced shelf, which was very high.

"There is one bottle left." replied Anna.

"I'll take it." said Leona.

"I shall have it," said Vil at the same time.

Vil and Leona than stared at each other, filled with hostility.

"Oh no..." mumbled Ruggie. "I smell a fire about to burn."

"I demanded it first!" yelled Leona.

"I saw it first!" Vil yelled back.

"It's mine!" shouted Leona.

"No! Mine!" Vil shouted back.

"You two stop arguing right now!" Ruggied interfered.

"SILENCE!!!" with amplifying magic, Anna screamed at Leona and Vil, startling them.

"Apologies for the yelling, but I can't have you two disturbing other customers," said Anna, in a polite yet firm tone. "What do you need the paprika for?"

"I need it for tonight's BBQ dinner. It's one of my fellow dormmates' birthday, you see," explained Leona.

"I need it for my newest smoothie recipe. A mango one, with the recipe inspired by mango chutney," said Vil.

"Who on earth puts paprika in a smoothie?" whispered Ruggie to Anna.

"I see I see..." said Anna. She then gave a little thought.

"I know what to do," said Anna.

"You do?" said Leona and Vil at the same time.

"Vil, forgive me for being blunt but don't you think it's not the right season for mangoes?" asked Anna.