The coffee shop was not exactly lively in the morning, but there were still quite a few customers.
Kirishima Touka frequently looked toward the shop door.
Every time someone entered, she would look up, then immediately continue working.
As the time approached eleven o’clock, customers came and went, one after another, yet she never saw that person.
Touka lowered her head and said quietly, “Liar.”
“Touka-chan, are you waiting for someone?” Irimi Kaya hesitated for a while before asking.
Throughout the entire morning, Touka had looked toward the shop door more than dozens of times.
“No.” Touka stiffly brought the coffee to the customer.
“What happened to little Touka-chan?” Kaya was filled with question marks.
Koma Enji, who was just coming in through the back door, glanced at Touka’s condition and said quietly, “Could it be that she’s in love?”
“Ridiculous.” Kaya shook her head.
She had watched over Touka, and there had never been anything unusual before.
Only today had she become strange.
Touka was a ghoul.
How could there be a ghoul she would take a liking to?
It was impossible for her to fall in love with a human.
“Touka has something on her mind. Let her solve it herself. Touka has grown up too.”
Yoshimura Kuzen smiled and wiped the plate in his hand.
They did not conceal their voices when speaking.
Touka was speechless, but she did not say anything.
That guy had clearly said he would come, but he never said what time he would come.
The shop door opened.
Touka did not turn around.
Anyway, it would not be that guy.
“Touka, good morning. Uh, it seems like it’s almost noon.”
Gao Yu waved his hand and smiled.
“Ah, I had a really comfortable sleep after going back yesterday. I didn’t expect it to already be past ten when I woke up. I originally wanted to come earlier.”
The corners of Touka’s mouth lifted, but after coming back to her senses, she suppressed her smile.
“It’s 10:52 right now. If you come any later, you can get ready to take a nap.”
“Isn’t that a bit much? It’s still early.”
“…You really are planning to take a nap?”
“Can’t I?”
Touka sighed.
“Sleeping endlessly. I really don’t understand why you like sleeping so much.”
When she saw Gao Yu yesterday, he was sleeping.
Today, he said he had slept until after ten, and later he would go back and take another nap.
She had never seen anyone who liked sleeping this much.
“Because sleeping really is very comfortable.”
Gao Yu did not have any particular hobbies.
Things like novels, games, and anime were all things he would casually try before putting aside.
If he had to say one, then sleeping was his hobby.
“Think about it. Once you’re asleep, you don’t have to care about any other troublesome matters, and you can quickly put all the unpleasant things aside.”
Gao Yu tried to instill in her the benefits of sleeping.
“Alright, alright, I know.” Touka held the order book.
“What kind of coffee do you want? I’ll state this beforehand, you have to pay.”
Gao Yu laughed in spite of himself.
“Do I look like I want to eat for free?”
Upon hearing this, Touka looked him up and down twice.
Gao Yu straightened his back and let her look.
Touka said indifferently, “You look poor.”
“?” Gao Yu was filled with question marks.
He lowered his head and looked at himself twice before asking, “Where do I look poor?”
Touka raised an eyebrow.
“You slept in an alley last night.”
“At that time, I was just sleepy. That can’t prove I’m poor.”
“You slept in an alley last night.”
“I already said it. Does sleeping in an alley have anything to do with being poor?”
“You slept in an alley last night.”
“…”
Gao Yu was helpless.
He could tell that Touka was just saying that.
There was no way she could tell whether he was poor or not, but she simply had to be stubborn.
“I didn’t realize it. Touka is quite mean.”
The corners of Touka’s mouth curled into a smile when she suddenly heard Gao Yu’s voice.
“Touka, you look pretty good when you smile.”
Touka put on a serious face and said, “Please do not harass the staff.”
Gao Yu rolled his eyes.
Touka softly said, “What would you like? Don’t delay the other customers.”
“The one you made last night.”
“Okay.” Touka nodded, turned around, went to the counter, told Kaya, and began making the coffee.
Kaya and Enji looked at each other, then simultaneously turned their heads toward Kuzen.
“What is going on? Touka-chan is actually chatting so happily with a man?”
Kaya had an expression as if she had seen a ghost.
She had never seen Touka so happy with any member of the opposite sex before, and she had seen Touka smile.
It was not a forced smile, but a natural smile.
Enji stared at Gao Yu and pondered.
“He’s human. How could Touka become so close to a human?”
“Touka-chan should know that there can be no result between ghouls and humans.”
“Does he know that Touka is a ghoul?”
Enji had a headache.
Since this involved Touka, he could not simply kill Gao Yu.
Kuzen narrowed his eyes and carefully sized up Gao Yu.
As the One-Eyed Owl who did not kill, his observational ability regarding combat instincts was very strong.
Gao Yu was full of openings, so he should not be a White Dove.
“He isn’t a White Dove. You don’t need to worry about me. I won’t implicate the shop.”
Touka walked out carrying the coffee.
Kaya frowned.
Even if he were a White Dove, so what?
As long as he was not a Special Class, he would only be instantly killed.
Even against a Special Class, she still had the strength to fight.
She was worried that Touka had been deceived.
Kuzen shook his head and said, “Just let little Touka go. She is slowly growing up too.”
Gao Yu curiously looked around the shop.
Most of the customers in Anteiku were ghouls.
In other words, almost everyone sitting here right now was a ghoul.
After observing the place, Gao Yu shook his head.
If ghouls did not display their kakugan and kagune, there was no difference between them and humans in appearance.
They could not be distinguished with the naked eye.
He raised his eyes toward the staff members wearing black-and-white uniforms.
Every one of them was a renowned existence.
Yoshimura Kuzen, the One-Eyed Owl, the strongest person in the 20th Ward, an SSS-rated ghoul.
Koma Enji, the SS-rated ghoul Devil Ape, who had been moved by Kuzen and physically joined the 20th Ward.
Irimi Kaya, the SS-rated ghoul Black Doberman, who had been moved by Kuzen and physically joined the 20th Ward.
All three were big-shot-level figures.
Anteiku truly had an abundance of talent.
Strange, why hadn’t he seen Yomo Renji?
He was also an SS-rated ghoul.
“Here.”
Touka put down the coffee and turned around to work.
“Wait, I’ll order another cup.”
Gao Yu pulled her back.
Touka turned her head.
“Not enough to drink?”
“I’ll treat you.” Gao Yu said, “You treated me to three cups last night. At the very least, I have to treat you to one in return.”
Touka felt slightly warm inside and shook her head.
“How can I slack off at work whenever I want?”
“This is a customer’s request.” Gao Yu smiled.
Afterward, Touka held the coffee and took small sips behind the counter.
When she noticed the gazes of the others, she said softly, “He treated me to the coffee.”
Kaya covered her face.
What was this supposed to be?
Also, what did she mean by someone else treating her?
It was not as if she was not allowed to make herself a cup and drink it.
Kuzen watched happily.
How was this scene not reminiscent of his own past?
“Yuna…” Kuzen sighed inwardly.
His wife was a human.
Suppressing his longing, Kuzen said to Touka, “If there’s anything you can’t resolve, tell us. Don’t keep it bottled up inside by yourself.”
Touka looked at him in confusion.
Why was everyone in the shop acting so strangely today?
Touka thought about it, then suddenly stiffened and said angrily, “What are you thinking about? Gao Yu and I have nothing to do with each other!”
“Gao Yu, that’s quite a good name.” Kaya stroked her chin and nodded repeatedly.
“It’s a steady name.” Enji nodded.
Regardless of whether there was actually something going on between them, it would be best not to make Touka develop a rebellious mentality right now.
“He’s a good young man.” Kuzen nodded at Gao Yu and smiled kindly.
“You guys!” A blush spread to Touka’s ears, partly from embarrassment and partly from anger.
Gao Yu was completely confused.
Just now, the gazes of these staff members had looked as though they were about to activate their kakugan, but suddenly they had become friendly.
“What happened? Why don’t I know anything?”
Gao Yu took a sip of coffee.
Delicious.