[Maid Cafe 4]

That evening, the self-proclaimed saba saba girl was standing in the downtown area near her home. 

She walked up to one of the many buildings in the area. In the middle of the street, there is a loan shark office. Because of the bankruptcy of the family business, and the resulting cries from her parents, Igarashi owed several loan sharks a total of several million yen. 

It was only last month that the demands began to come to her home.

"Igarashi-san, you have to pay back what you borrowed." 

"I'll return it! I'll pay you back properly!" 

In a corner of the cramped floor, the sound of conversation echoes over the counter. 

One side is Igarashi. 

It is a man in a suit who is dealing with it. He is a middle-aged man, around 40 years old, with no distinguishing features. However, his suit and tie are sagging and he has a beard. It's hard to believe he's a legitimate businessman. 

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"You still haven't even paid the interest properly."

"I swear, I'll pay you back! " 

"You said that before ... " 

"I'm serious this time! So please believe me!"

Igarashi is desperate to pay back the money she owes, but she has no intention of doing so. Based on the knowledge she had gathered from the internet, she believed that she should not have to pay any money, including the principal, to the illegal loan sharks who charge exorbitant interest. 

Specifically, she was very conscious of the fact that she would be contacting a lawyer soon. The money for the bite would be paid by the end of the month. She was swearing in her heart and bowing her head in desperation to buy some time. 

Perhaps, she thought, she might be able to develop a connection with a boy she had met at work.

"Well, okay, I'll wait." 

"Oh, thank you very much!"

"If this doesn't work, I'll have you earn your money physically, okay? I'm holding up an IOU. I'll take you to court or whatever. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that you'll be paying you back every penny of the money I lent you, including interest."

"...... "

Letting out a breath that smelled of tobacco, the man stared at Igarashi. 

The other side is the loan shark, the trial will be absolutely impossible. While understanding in such a head, she trembled the body and left the same place. The threat from the middle-aged man who made a scary face was a very terrible thing for the old young self-proclaimed saba saba girl. 

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◇ ◆ ◇

The next day, after school, Nishino's phone vibrated with an incoming call. He was just about to leave the classroom when it happened. The screen showed the number of his part-time job. He had no shift today, so the suspicion was natural. 

At the same time, he recalled the call he had received yesterday from a self-proclaimed saba saba girl, and took the call with some anticipation. He wondered if she might have been calling from work. He is a very positive guy these days. 

Then he heard a man's voice. 

"Hello, is this the phone for Nishino-san? " 

"Oh, are you the owner of the maid cafe ? " 

"Yes, I'm the owner of Nishino's part-time job." 

Nishino was a little disappointed when he was wrong. 

However, he is the boss of the company. He had high hopes for his part-time job, which he had started working for him, and he could not ignore this person. He hopes that they will continue to get on well. 

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Like the other students in Year 2A, he is a futsumen who is always looking to build happy relationships. 

"Is there something I can do for you?" 

"Oh, Ohno-san wants to contact Nishino-san... " 

"Ohno ? "

I wondered who it was, and then I remembered the yakuza who had come to my workplace just a few days before. He hadn't given me his card, but I'd heard a name like that in conversation. 

" ...... Ah, that man?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, sir, but would you mind coming down?" 

" Okay, I'm on my way." 

"Thank you." 

Sensing the fear in the owner's voice, Nishino replied immediately. Regardless of his intentions, he was the boss of the place he was calling from. He couldn't leave him alone. He never dreamed that he was the cause of the problem. Having finished his call, the Futsumne left the classroom at a brisk pace. 

In addition to the above, there are two other students, Rose and Gabriella, who came to the classroom of the second year A class by a few minutes. The girls from Year 2B had taken time out of their long homeroom to visit the Futsumen. 

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"Oh? I can't find him." 

"I'd like to ask you if you've seen Nishino-kun."

They approached a student who was still in the classroom. 

The other student was sitting near the entrance. He was an unremarkable looking boy. He tensed up at Rose's unexpected question, and spoke quickly. 

"What? Oh, Nishino's got a call a while ago and left. Well, maybe it's the part-time he works for. He was talking about the owner of the part-time. Oh, but sorry if I'm wrong." 

"Oh yeah? Thank you. "

The boy replies with a defeated look.

They turned on their heels and hurried off to their part-time jobs. 

◇ ◆ ◇

After leaving school, Nishino grabs a taxi and rushes to his part-time job. 

 

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The shop is open for business today, and even from the outside you can see that it is busy. With this in view, he entered the shop through the service entrance and headed straight for the backyard. 

As soon as he arrived there, the yakuza asked him for help.

"Young master, please, please help us!" 

"........" 

As soon as Nishino appeared, Oyabun got off his chair and started to get down on his knees. 

At his side, Kotetsu follows him. 

The place is a space for employees to take a break. In the center of the room is a set of tables. There was a glass of wine on the table. This was the seat where Ohno had been sitting until just now. He must have been relaxing there until the Futsumen arrived. 

In another corner of the room, the owner was standing up straight and pale. He looks as if he is about to collapse.

"I've told you before that you and I are strangers and that you should pretend not to know me when we meet. So why did you go to the trouble of contacting the owner of the shop?"

 Nishino speaks sullenly after confirming the appearance of the Yakuza. 

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"Sorry, sorry! There's a deeper reason for this...... " 

"You didn't do anything strange to the shop, did you?" 

"No way! I didn't do anything like that! No, of course not!"

However, the master insisted on this. 

He scraped his forehead on the floor. 

"Don't drag me into your mess. You can wipe your own ass."

"I understand that what you say is true. But the young master has nothing to do with it. So, please, can you at least listen to what I have to say?"

"What do you mean ? "

Nishino's eyebrows quivered as he listened to the boss's words. 

It was a brow that had regained its former lushness some time after the cross-dressing fiasco. 

"Are you going to listen to me?" 

"What do you mean I'm not involved? " 

"It's a big deal for the shop where the young master works!" 

" ... Okay , I'll listen to you. "

"Oh, thank you very much!"

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When the Futsumen nodded his head, the boss began to ramble on. 

The maid café where Nishino works part-time is at the end of their organization, as previously mentioned. And, according to the yakuza, they also own the building and land on which it stands. 

However, there is a dispute over the rights to the land and they are in trouble with other organizations. The trouble is that they are at a disadvantage and there is a possibility that the rights may soon be transferred to another organisation. 

If the building and land were to fall into the hands of another party, the maid café would naturally have to cease operations. 

Such an explanation was given to the Futsumen by the boss. 

"So I was wondering if you could help me, young master......." 

"Why should we get involved in your fight for rights? I'm afraid I'm going to lose my job. But that's not what this is about. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's interested in your company."

"……"

Nishino talks, glaring at the boss.

The other man remained pale as he crawled on the floor. 

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"It's much easier to negotiate the continuation of the shop with them after the rights have been transferred. " 

"No, they seem to be trying to make this an office building." 

"There's a lot of redevelopment going on around here."

"Oh, isn't that right? That's what's going to happen to this shop ......"

"If that's the case, there's always the option of leaving the ground floor as a maid cafe. You can find plenty of such shops in Tokyo, right? I don't know why anyone would want to get involved in an unnecessary fight and go through all the trouble."

"......... "

"If it's your place, you don't need to go anywhere else, do you? I know it's a matter of prestige, but it would be much cheaper to go to the top. In this day and age, it's better for you if you don't rely on others."

"But this time, the competition is troublesome, or perhaps it's a different kind of business."

The Oyabun looks like he is about to cry when he hears the words from Nishino. 

He is a very strong man, and his grief is frightening. The fact that Nishino is a typical young boy with a sprout-like body makes it difficult for the owner to look at him closely. Even though he understood the power relationship between the two men, he could still picture in his mind's eye the image of a man being beaten to death. 

In the meantime, Nishino's phone starts to vibrate. 

 

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It appears to be an incoming call. 

"Hold on a minute." 

He muttered briefly to Ohno and checked the display. 

There was Igarashi's name on the display. 

For the Futsumen, it was a long-awaited call. 

"Hello, it's me." 

He responds immediately and shouts with enthusiasm. 

He is already out of sight of his master.

The look on his face as he holds the device is one of happiness. 

The others in the room stare at him in silence. 

"Nishino-kun, I'm sorry I called you suddenly." 

"No, I don't care. By the way, what is it for ? " 

"Well, can you come to the store today ? " 

"I'm already there. ......"

" ... Eh ?"

Igarashi's crazy voice was delivered over the phone. Immediately after that, I heard a slapstick and the footsteps of people running from the hall. Naturally, the consciousness of each person was directed to the door leading to the corridor. It opens immediately and a maid dressed from the aisle

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She is a self-proclaimed saba saba girl. 

In her hand, she holds a phone in a call state. 

Thanks to this, Nishino had no time to hide the presence of his master and his henchmen. He understood the sound of footsteps coming from the corridor and quickly took a step to close the lock of the room, but immediately after, the door opened and Igarashi came out. 

"Oh, it's true......"

"What's the matter? You're in such a hurry." 

"........" 

She strengthened her body when she saw the situation inside the room. 

The cause is the feet of Nishino, the yakuza who still continues to be on his knees. He and Kotetsu are standing close together. The owner stands with his back straight against the wall. In response, Nishino asks her questions in the same aloof way he usually does in the workplace. It's a strategy of feigning nonchalance and playing it cool. 

"Um, Nishino-kun, am I interrupting something? ...... " 

"No, it's fine."

"Well, but ......" 

"These people are acquaintances of the owner. It's none of my business."

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Nishino has given up trying to hide the existence of the yakuza. 

Locked from the inside, it was impossible to open the room from the corridor. The two eyes of the master, seated on the floor, caught Igarashi's. 

She shivers briefly as he stares at her. In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us. I'm sure you're aware of the power relationship with Nishino, but that doesn't stop your knees from shaking. 

After confirming their reaction, a scolding voice flies from the Futsumen. 

"Hey, don't intimidate people at work!"

".......I' m sorry."

The master's head was quickly bowed and he was in his original kneeling position. 

It was Ohno's honest wish that they would not intimidate him either. However, he was afraid that he would be thrown out of the shop if he spoke of it, so he kept quiet. Kotetsu, who doesn't know what's going on, just bows his head in silence. If I were to open my mouth, I would have to make a fist. 

The self-proclaimed saba saba girl is in a state of shock. 

Still, she mustered up the courage to say the following words. 

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"I have something I want to talk to Nishino-kun ... " 

"What is it? I'd be happy to help you with whatever you need." 

"I've been getting harassed by some strange people lately......."

Having a girl who is interested in him and wants to rely on him, he is excited to be in such a situation. This is a scene where he has to show off his good looks, and his cynical side gets a kick out of it. 

"Just say the word and I'll help you if I can." 

" ... Really ?" 

"Yes" 

Igarashi smiles inwardly when she saw him.

"But what exactly do you mean by harassment?" 

"I've had my mailbox and my door opened" 

"Stalkers... "

Nishino begins to think about how to deal with the situation, as a young girl in the client service is bound to do. Nishino begins to think about how to deal with the situation, as a young girl in the client service is bound to do.

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The boss on the floor called out to him from the side. 

"Young master, it is suspicious to believe in such a thing!" 

" ... Are you still talking ? " 

"The accessories and shoes she is wearing are all luxury brands. It's not something that a woman who works in a shop like this can easily afford. If this was a soap shop or a cabaret club, it would be a different story."

Following the boss's advice, Nishino's attention turns to her body. 

However, being a futsumen, he didn't know much about women's clothing brands. He could not tell from a quick glance how much it was worth. If it had been Takeuchi, he would have doubted it without having to be pointed out. 

"I might have saved up a lot of money to buy them, right?"

"The shoes cost nearly 100,000 if they're real, not just accessories. Aren't they a bit too expensive for a freelancer to wear out at work?" 

"But ... " 

"I'm sure she's a multiple debtor, isn't she?" 

" ... "

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At Ohno's words, Igarashi's shoulders quivered. 

Seeing this remarkable reaction, Nishino was also speechless. He had understood from his previous interactions with her that she had been working part-time from time to time. Her financial situation was the same. In addition to this, it is difficult to cover up for her when she is pointed out by the boss. 

This makes harassment a bit of a different story. 

"...... Is that true?"

"I'm sorry, did I insult you?" 

"No, I don't despise you." 

"Really ? " 

"Yes, really."

She is a self-proclaimed saba saba girl who looks up and down at Nishino, just when she needs to. The maid's outfit also made her look very cute. For a man who is not used to women, the distance he had experienced yesterday made him look attractive. 

The boss was not happy. If the man in front of him were to be deceived by a bad woman, how much trouble would he be in? Just the thought of it sends chills down his spine. 

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"Is it the people you owe money to who are harassing you?"

"Yeah, probably......." 

"If so, you should consult a lawyer. This kind of behavior is illegal. In the past, when the law was less developed, but in recent years, there is no need to be afraid. If you take the right steps, they will back off. A few hundred yen, a phone call and you're done."

"Well, that's the thing, I've spoken to a lawyer, but ......"

"So, you're saying you've been turned down?"

" ... Yeah" 

Igarashi nodded while showing off weakness to the front. 

She was scared of the threat of the loan sharks, last night , had contacted the lawyer by phone. However, all from the place where the consultation was brought up, the request was refused. The reason for this is the background of the institutions to which she owes money and her intentions regarding this. 

Some of her loans were from illegal shops and the amounts were nearly three times as much. Her insistence on refusing to pay this, including the principal, made it very difficult for the lawyers. 

Even if she won in court, it was obvious that she would be involved in some kind of trouble. If they were not careful, the lawyers who dealt with them could also get involved. If a client is involved in an injury case, the reputation of the firm is at stake. 

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"Where did you get the money from and how much did you borrow?"

"Um ... " 

At Nishino's suggestion, the self-proclaimed saba saba girl gave him a few different place names. 

Some of the names were familiar to the boss. 

His mouth moved involuntarily. 

"Isn't your name Igarashi Natsuki, young lady? " 

"Eh? ......"

It was right on the money. Her face had gone pale at the mention of her name by the yakuza. She had been walking towards Nishino, but she reflexively took half a step backwards out of the room. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she stared at her boss. 

Nishino reacted in the same way. 

"How do you know her name?" 

"My business is among the names you have mentioned. I was told that there was an energetic woman who was about to pay off the entire loan. She was young and not bad looking, and we were going to get her soon."

"......." 

The self-proclaimed saba saba girl became especially pale when he heard Manabu Ohno's story. 

I noticed that her knees were beginning to shake and wobble. 

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"There must be a lot of customers. How can you, a young man, remember them all?"

"When you told me that you had consulted a lawyer and had been turned down, it rang a bell. I had also seen a glimpse of her on the shop's camera, so I guess that was it too. I thought, I'm about 20 years old, I can suck it for ten years."

"...... Well."

After Ohno's explanation, Nishino was convinced. 

On the other hand, it is the self-proclaimed saba saba girl who is in a rough spot. She had no idea that her own decision to go to the bathroom had been made on her own. She complained loudly out of fear and anger, forgetting that she was dealing with a yakuza shop. 

"The law says you don't have to pay back money you borrowed from an illegal shop, remember? That's what the courts have ruled! I didn't do anything wrong and I don't have to pay back the money!"

"You're right, sweetheart. "

"If that's the case, then ......"

"But that's the law. There are a lot of bad people out there who don't follow the law."

"Then I'll go to the police!"

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"The owner of this shop is also in charge of the other shop for some reason, but he originally came to me because he couldn't pay back the money he borrowed. He has done so much to pay back the money that now he can't even go to the police and cry. That's how the bad guys push the poor guys around."

"Eh ... "

The self-proclaimed saba saba girl cheeks tighten. 

The owner of the business is in tears. At the same time, Nishino now understands the background of the job interview, which was a bit intimidating. The hair is dyed brightly for his age. You will find a lot of people who are in a position similar to Ohno or Kotetsu. 

The boss smiled at this and continued. 

"And the police don't act until there's been a crime. If it's just a stalking incident, they'll just do a bit of security and that's it. After the legal revision, the process of this area has become more rapid. As far as the law is concerned, they move without any kind of investigation."

"......... "

"In fact, it is the people who have nothing to do with the organization who actually work. It's a good thing that there is a division of labour these days, because the crackdown is getting tougher. The number of yakuza is decreasing, but the number of bad guys is not decreasing. The bad guys stay bad until they die."

As Ohno continues to ramble on, Igarashi's words decrease in volume. 

Igarashi's tone of voice loses some of its energy. 

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"And once your personal information has been passed on, it is shared with various shops in a directory. In addition to address and contact information, even the story you told when you borrowed money is taken up and traded among the bad guys."

"Um, well then, ......" 

"Unless you return the money, the future of the young lady is pitch black." 

"......" 

Eventually, the look on her face became one of shock. 

Her shoulders slumped and her head fell back to stare at her feet.

"I understand the situation." 

Nishino watched the exchange and muttered to himself. 

His gaze turns to Ohno. 

"So, what do you want to say to me?" 

He tells the boss with a challenging expression. 

His eyes, which have a reputation for being thin and narrow, are further narrowed, and he looks as if he is glaring at him. 

He has a dazzling look on his face. 

"As for the young lady's debts, I can make it all go away. In return, I would like to ask the young master to do me a favour. Even if it's just to lend me your name, I don't mind." 

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"Don't be stupid. Then it's much better to pay the money you borrowed." 

Even with Marquis and Francisca, Nishino had never lent his name to anyone. He could not bring himself to lend his name to a yakuza whom he hardly knew. There is no doubt that it would be a disaster. 

"That woman is going to keep doing it, isn't she?" 

"It's not for you to judge." 

"She's used to being in debt once and now she's trying to get help from a third party. Such a scum woman is designed to borrow as much money as she can in the future and get into the same trouble again. That's why there is such a thing as a name list. "

"So what?"

"I would be able to remove the woman's name from the list spread among the shops. You can reduce your chances of going bankrupt. At the same time, as long as you live in this area, you will not be contacted by any other person. You can refuse to pay the moneylender at the shop.. "

" ......"

"What do you think? "

In a complete change from their previous conversations, the Oyabun spoke forcefully.

In his kneeling position, he looked up and stared at the Futsumen. 

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You can't say no to that, said Nishino. Having spoken out against Igarashi, it would not look good to turn him down now. If it is true, her life could be at stake, considering how bitterly Ohno talks about her. 

 He has been deceived by women many times in the past, and it is not hard to believe that this time, too, he might be deceived. But even so, her presence had already become part of Nishino's life, his workplace. 

The sweetness of the chocolate he had been given yesterday while washing the dishes came back to his mouth. 

At the same time, he recalled the feeling of the fingertips of the opposite sex on his lips. 

"Fine, I'll just listen to you." 

" ... Thank you." 

He was a Futsumen who was willing to work for it, even if he had been deceived. 

As some guitarists say, it rocks. 

He stood up, bowed deeply and made a beautiful bow.

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