17 The Hierophant's Request.

Arriving at Leblanc with moments to spare, Ren hurried to freshen up before facing the day. As he emerged, he was greeted by Sojiro's timely arrival.

"I hope you're ready. It's going to be a long day of work," Sojiro remarked as he walked to the kitchen to begin preparing.

Looking back at Sojiro with tired eyes, Ren nodded his head.

Despite the cafe's modest size, the day brought a steady flow of customers. Fatigue clung to Ren like a shadow, yet he maintained a friendly demeanor, engaging with each patron with a charm that seemed to come naturally. 

He was the embodiment of an exemplary employee, sprinkling conversations with compliments and intriguing tidbits about their coffee choices. Facts he had only learned the previous day thanks to Sojiro. And, if he was being honest, some that he had made up, which sounded believable. Over the course of a few hours, Sojiro grew more and more impressed.

"Is this really your first time working in a cafe?" Sojiro inquired, his smile reflecting a mix of curiosity and approval.

"Yeah, but it isn't my first time dealing with people. It's pretty much the same everywhere. Plus, having Mr. Casanova here as a mentor, I'd say some of that charm was bound to rub off," Ren replied, his words punctuated by a yawn, earning a heartfelt smile from Sojiro before he returned to the kitchen.

Sojiro couldn't help but smile at the compliment before wandering back to the kitchen and continuing to prepare the food.

Time seemed to slow as Ren's gaze frequently drifted to the clock, counting down the minutes until his shift would end. That was until he saw a girl with fluffy, chin-length curly light auburn hair and warm brown eyes walk inside. Her presence bringing a fresh energy into the cafe. Dressed in a pink turtleneck cardigan over a long-sleeved white shirt, her attire was complemented by the unmistakable Shujin Academy skirt.

As she entered, she offered Ren a kind smile. 

"Amamiya-kun, I didn't know you worked here!"

Raising an eyebrow, he answered.

"I just started not too long ago. Sorry, I don't remember your name."

She let out a light giggle, a sound that seemed to effortlessly brighten the room. 

"No, I don't think we've been formally introduced. I've heard about you, especially after the Kamoshida incident. My name is Haru Okumura. It's a pleasure to meet you."

With a welcoming smile, Ren observed Haru as she found her seat, before assisting her with her order. As she savored her coffee, a content sigh escaped her lips. She ate the food that Sojiro made with surprising elegance and poise, almost as if she had trained endlessly to perfect the simple act of eating.

"The food here is delicious! When I was walking by, the coffee smell brought back some memories, so I decided to stop by, I'm glad I did. And this meal... it's comforting, almost like being transported back to my childhood," Haru shared, her smile radiating a warmth that filled the quaint space of the café.

After clearing her plate, Ren responded, 

"Is that so? Well, the café is open nearly every day, so feel free to visit whenever you like. If I'm here, I'll ensure you receive nothing but the best service." His words were accompanied by a playful wink, eliciting a light, amused giggle from Haru.

"I'll hold you to that promise then." She retorted playfully before she payed for her food and left.

Watching Haru leave, Ren found himself joined by Sojiro, who leaned in with a sly, knowing look.

 "Hooo boy. Maybe there was some truth when you said my charm rubbing off on you. Even Miss Momoko, who always finds something wrong with her food, didn't have a single complaint about her order today."

After a few more hours,Sojiro extended a small envelope towards Ren, his gesture marking the end of a long day's work. 

"Here's your pay for the day. You did good, kid," he said, a tone of genuine approval in his voice.

As Ren took the envelope, Sojiro leaned back against the counter, his gaze lingering on Ren.

"You know, at first, I was dreading the whole idea of taking in a criminal. But you... you've turned out to be a lot nicer than I expected. To be honest, you kind of remind me of myself when I was younger."

The comment hung in the air as they began to clean up the café together. As they worked, the café gradually returned to its state of cozy orderliness, the dimming light outside casting long shadows across the room. Throughout the entire time they spent cleaning, Sojiro looked as if he was deep in thought. Once the two of them had finished, Sojiro put away the cloth he was using to clean before speaking with a serious expression.

"Listen… I need to ask you something…" Sojiro began, his voice carrying an unusual earnestness.

Ren, sensing the shift in mood, instinctively straightened, giving Sojiro his full attention. 

"What is it?"

Sojiro paused, his fingers drumming on the counter with clear hesitation before speaking.

"It's about my daughter… well, she's not my biological daughter, but that doesn't make her any less mine. She's been quite withdrawn for a while now. She experienced something traumatic in her childhood, something no child should ever go through, and it's... it's left its mark on her."

"Oh… How can I help?" Ren asked, his very question causing the thread of fate that bound them to glow brightly.

"I've tried everything I can think of to help her break out of her shell, but nothing's worked. She doesn't really open up to me... I was hoping, maybe, you could try talking to her? Someone closer to her age might make her feel more comfortable, might help her open up." As he spoke, Sojiro's eyes reflected a mixture of hope and desperation. 

Taking in a deep breath, Ren answered.

"Well, I can't make any promises, but I'll give it my best shot." Ren said, earning a relieved sigh from Sojiro.

Sojiro, a hint of a plan forming in his mind, spoke.

"I usually prepare her favorite dish on Fridays. It might be a good idea for you to come by then. It tends to put her in a better mood. I'd make it tonight, but if I suddenly whip it up without any occasion, she might get suspicious and run back to her room." A wistful smile crossed his face as he added, "She's sometimes too clever for her own good. But she inherited that from her mom."

With a light chuckle, Sojiro gathered his jacket, ready to call it a day.

"Go to bed, kid. I can tell you have been tired the whole day. Tomorrow is a school day, so you better not oversleep."

As he left, Sojiro couldn't wipe the hopeful smile from his face. And just as Sojiro had said to do, Ren went straight to bed.

'Tomorrow, we'll probably end up going back… I don't know if it would be possible, but I would like to finish dealing with Kamoshida once and for all… If we wait any longer, then the castle will heal back to normal, and we'll lose any advantage we have now.' Ren thought as he laid in bed. His mind slowly drifting into the darkness.

The dawn of the next day followed the rhythm of the usual school routine. Soon after, the small group gathered in their customary back alley. Each of them shared determined looks as they activated the MetaNav. Together, they all stepped into the eerie silence of the crumbling castle.

~Confidants~

Sojiro Sakura (The Hierophant) Rank 3