While Mari is being helped up to her feet, a warm aroma starts to fill the café. Looking around for the source of the lovely scent Naomi’s gaze rests on Minkyu, who is preparing the lattes per her and March’s request. She watches his swift movements in awe. With a determined look on her face she tries to analyze them in an attempt to learn a thing or two. Her serious expression fades however when he presents the drinks: the cat drawn in the foam is too cute not to make her smile, and somehow the contrast between the drawing and the quiet young man manages to make her smile even more.
“Thank you very much!” she exclaims as she gets a hold of the latte.
She then perks up and concentrates on Amelia, who calls for the employees’ attention.
“Hey, everyone, listen up! Café Crème is going to open very soon, so get to work! Make this place look as inviting as possible, okay?” Naomi listens as the co-owner gives out orders to everyone. She admires how energetic the pink-haired girl always is; it never fails to motivate Naomi to do her best.
Alright! She finishes her drink as fast as possible, taking small sips that quickly follow one another; it’s a shame she needs to down the drink that Minkyu so carefully prepared in such a rush, but work is calling.
She slips into the kitchen, placing the empty glass in the sink, before going into the staff room only to stop in front of a mirror that has been mounted on one of the walls. She opens a small box containing several bows and hair clips.
I’ll go with this one today, she decides, putting a white, frilly ribbon in her hair. The chime coming from the other room announces the first customers. Getting into character, Naomi skips from the back of the store to the entrance.
“Welcome to Café Crème~” Recognizing the person as one of the regular visitors, she adds
“It’s nice to see you again, onii-san!” with a youthful smile.
As the day advances the bistro gets more and more crowded.
And it’s not even prime time yet! Naomi has trouble keeping up with all the orders, all the while staying in her role.
“Sorry for the wait!” she bows, apologizing to one of the female customers. A soft hand pets her hair.
“Don’t worry about it, one-chan,” the customer reassures her. Although these practices have become more common to her since she started working here, it still makes Naomi a bit flustered.
“Young lady, could I get the special omelet, please?” an elderly man sitting at the table next to her asks.
“O-of course!” she responds and paces over to the kitchen with nimble steps.
“March, another omelet,” she says somewhat softly, not wanting to put even more pressure on the cook who is already occupied with arranging the plate of another customer. She clenches her arms around her waist, trying to hide the sound of her growling stomach. She looks around the kitchen.
“Where is Megan..? Someone asked for her specialty..."