Chapter 29: Sunshine in the Underground

Leaving the office, Cola doesn’t head out right away—Manager Hoshimi Nayuki insists on giving her a tour of the workplace.
You can’t work somewhere you don’t know, after all.

“During the day, we turn on all the sky lights for a chill, relaxed vibe. After sunset, they switch to night mode—look up, and it’s all ‘stars.’”

“Sounds kinda romantic.”

“That’s the café’s charm.”

“You seem young, Manager, but you’ve been at it a while?”

“Me? Young? Haha…”
Nayuki laughs, her messy short hair bouncing.
“I’m thirty!”

“Eh?”

“When I became manager, I was terrified I’d tank the place and let the boss down, even though he didn’t care about a small café’s losses.”
She winks, smiling.
“Ten years, ups and downs, but we’re still here.”

“Business seems decent?”

“Not as good as a few years ago, but everyone’s struggling, so we’re doing alright, better than some!”
Nayuki slaps Cola’s shoulder.
“Your hair’s not a wig, right? Dyed? Even your brows and lashes are white. No issue at school?”

“Uh… no issue…”

“What high school? They let kids dye their hair wild now? Pfft, so anime!”

“Agricultural high school.”

“Doesn’t Agricultural ban dyeing? Dark brown at most?”

“It’s, uh, albinism…”
Cola recalls her “cover story.”
It’s the excuse her “guardian” fabricated for her to attend school normally.

“…!?”
Nayuki stops, staring in shock.
“For real? You’re not kidding?”

“N-no…”
Cola looks away, a bit guilty.

“Sorry, I thought you were just a hardcore cosplayer. Why didn’t you say?”

“Uh… I didn’t say ‘cause… I was worried you wouldn’t hire me!”
Cola fibs.

“If I cared, I could still say no.”

“Uh… well…”

“Relax, Little Cola, I don’t mind. This place is perfect for you, right? Chose it to avoid sun exposure?”

“Y-yeah… it’s underground…”

“Don’t worry, we’ve got no prejudice against special folks like you. Work here with ease.”

“Thanks…”
Cola feels awkward, accepting kindness for a fake condition.
But she shrugs it off—vampires are special, right?

“Your eyes… not naturally that color?”

“Cough, not that severe, just… red contacts look more natural.”

“True, I thought you were cosplaying a vampire at first.”

“I am cosplaying a vampire…”
Cola coughs.

“We’ve got another kid like you here.”

“Also albinism?”

“Not that, just… she’s got it rough too.”
Nayuki sighs deeply.
“She’s slowly going blind from a rare disease—can delay it, but no cure.”

“Slowly… losing sight? Sounds crueler than being born blind.”

“Yeah, I can’t imagine losing vision bit by bit, but she faces each day calmly.”
Nayuki pats Cola’s head.
“She’s here today, by the glass ceiling. I’ll introduce you.”

“Okay…”
Cola bites her lip, wondering if turning her into a vampire could cure it.
But Embraces are limited, and she can’t save everyone—her heart wrestles with the thought.

“Oh, she’s obsessed with vampires. Her place is stuffed with vampire merch—manga, novels, you name it. Even the bad ones, she buys to collect.”

“Eh, so many vampire fans? I’ve got a friend who’s into them too…”

“Oh? Haha, that’s a coincidence. Maybe they’d be great friends!”

“Probably. My friend gets super lively talking about vampires, totally unlike her usual self.”

“What’s she usually like?”

“Quiet, almost socially anxious?”

“Maybe all vampire fans are like that…”

“Huh?”

“Nothing, Little Cola. Here’s the restroom, and another by the stage. If guests can’t find it, you guide them.”

“Got it…”

“Through this door’s the live house. Glass ceiling—sunlight by day, starlight at night. Brightest spot in the café.”

“Oh…”

Cola nods, following Nayuki through a heavy soundproof door.
It’s quiet inside, empty, save for piano notes flowing like a spring.
No lights, just a gray beam of sunlight from the ceiling.
At a white piano, a girl in a white dress plays elegantly, her fingers dancing like butterflies.

“Huh…? Liuli?!”
Cola’s eyes widen.

The music stops. The girl turns, startled, looking over.
“Eh? Miss Cola?”

“Oh? You two know each other?”

“Cough… she’s the vampire-obsessed friend I mentioned…”

“Wow, what a coincidence!”

“Miss Cola… why’re you here?”

“Little Liuli, she’s here to work. You’re colleagues now!”

“Miss Cola’s working here too…”

“You said you were busy today—you meant work?”

“Haven’t played in a month, so I came to practice.”

“Little Liuli’s so dedicated.”

“Playing piano… it’s fun for me.”
Liuli smiles softly.
“Especially when no one’s around, I can play without worrying if it’s good or bad…”

“Sounded great to me. But why’s the piano here? Don’t need it for the night shows, right? Shouldn’t it be in the café for ambiance?”

“It’s usually out front. A band used it yesterday, and we haven’t moved it back.”

“Playing under this ceiling does feel atmospheric… Liuli looks like an elf.”

“E-eh! Miss Cola!”

“Haha, Little Liuli gets shy when praised.”

“Um… Sister Nayuki.”
Liuli tugs her dress, embarrassed.
“I’ve got good news.”

“Oh? What? You’re not going blind anymore?”

“Y-yes! My eyes are healed, like… a miracle.”
She sneaks a glance at Cola.
“You don’t have to worry about me anymore…!”

“It just… got better?”

“Y-yes! I can see everything clearly now!”

“A miracle… Did your heart heal your eyes’ ‘wound’? Still, get regular checkups.”

“Mm… I’ll go for one soon…”

“Oh, Liuli, why not work tonight too?”

“Eh?”

“You two know each other. Cola can shadow you to learn the ropes, less pressure, right?”

“Um… Miss Cola, is that okay?”

“Of course. But it’s early—do we wait here till evening?”

“How about the break room? TV, manga shelf, and Little Liuli can go over work stuff.”

“I’m good. Liuli, you’ve got other stuff, right?”

“N-no, I’m fine! Miss Cola! I-I brought a gaming console, we can play on the TV…”

“Sweet, break room it is—call it onboarding.”

“I’ll give you a handbook later—work details, like how to mix coffee. But evenings don’t sell hand-brewed coffee, just use the drink machine.”

“Evening shifts sound easier.”

“Haha, wait till you see the evening crowd! It’s hectic!”

“Y-yeah, Miss Cola, evenings are super busy…”

“But no chat service at night, so it’s just physically tiring, not mentally. Daytime guests can be tough!”
Nayuki laughs heartily.

“Like a maid café? I get it…”
Cola smacks her lips.
“Tch, hope it’s not all otaku guys.”

“O-otaku guests don’t usually come here…”

“We get some, but not many. They’re the easiest to handle. The real trouble’s middle-aged guys wanting ‘special service’…”
Nayuki grimaces.
“Some even try to drink here.”

“Drinking in a café? Wrong place…”

“Probably mistook it for a hostess club. You’ll get all kinds of weirdos.”

“Miss Cola, break room’s this way.”

“Oh, where’s Sister Nayuki going?”

“She’s working the counter.”

“Oh…”

“Haha, Little Cola’s kinda airheaded!”

“If anyone’s airheaded, it’s Liuli!”

“Eh?”

“Little Liuli? She’s got a sly side.”

“I-I’m not!”
Liuli waves her hands, denying it.

“Huh? For real?!”
Cola’s stunned.