Recruitment

Los Angeles, the city of angels. Always filled with hustle and bustle, with things always getting done. At the same time, the noise is also unbearable. Especially for a certain young man, waking up in a groggy state. Despite living there all his life, he never got used to it. While he thankfully usually never had to deal with it, as his home was located elsewhere, away from the city. Unfortunately, today was different.

"Master Miyanagi, I'm sure you're aware that we need to be at the airport in an hour." His butler stood beside his bed, holding before him the suit that he was to wear for the day.

"Yeah yeah, I know." He responded. "And please, I don't know how many times I need to tell you, but call me by my first name."

"Yes, Master Anadama." He got up and grabbed the clothing, thanking his butler. He quickly hopped into the shower and got cleaned up. The hotel they were staying at, seemed as though it had everything. The shower water fell perfectly over his head. The sinks gleamed as though they were brand new. The quality of the bathroom reflected how nice the hotel treated guest, as well as the cost to stay in it. Of course money was not an issue, being the son of a famous baker that now owned multiple bakeries across the west coast. As he got out of the bathroom, now clean, his butler handed him his plane ticket, first class.

"Hey, George..."

"Excuse me, but that's..."

"Please, I'd prefer we're both on a first name basis here." He interrupted. "I just wanted to apologize if I sounded rude earlier. I didn't get that much sleep last night."

"It's ok, I am your servant after all."

"No don't say that. I know you've only worked for my dad for a few years, but you've always been there for me. Especially through hard time. I can't say often enough how much that means to me."

"Well it's been an honor." He replied, with no change in his emotion however. "But if we don't leave now, then we're going to miss the flight and your father assigned me to you to make sure you do what he asked of you."

"Right, well let's get going then." They left, not needing to bring any baggage, as that had already been handled before. They went over to the airport, only five minutes away by taxi, and were able to be boarded with no issues. They sat aside from each other as the plane departed and now was in the air.

"I don't know why I'm the one that needs to go recruit her." Anadama started, as he looked over the file given to him. "I'm pretty sure anyone could've gone and convinced her. I'm not even qualified to do that myself."

"Maybe your age might have been a factor in his decision."

"Who does he think I am?"

"You were free to say no."

"I know. I need to get out more. It's been getting harder to be in that place lately." They sat there, continuing to talk more about other, more mundane things. The trip felt much shorter than it was was, being that they flew across an entire ocean. Check-out was easy, and they carried their luggage to the nearest hotel. One that was nowhere near as nice as the one they stayed in the night before, but neither minded. As they finished packing, Anadama looked at the clock, leaving in the morning meant that it was now morning in Japan. "I really wished we picked a better time to get here. This is really going to ruin my sleep for the next two weeks."

"It should be fine, as long as we get a little bit of sleep right now and wake up in a few hours." George responded to him. And so he took his advice and took a quick nap. Waking up, he found that it was now two in the afternoon. His butler remained sleeping soundly. After spending a minute contemplating if he should wake him, he decided against it.

"He needs his rest." He said to himself. Again, he pulled out the file given to him that contained the notes his father left him. "So, Kosaki Onodera, you're the girl that my dad's been interested in to get into the school. Well I don't know what about you has him so enamored with, but I'm going to find out." He got out of his bed and into the shower. Getting out and seeing George still sleeping, he set an alarm on his phone and left it on the table. He wasn't going to need it where he was going. The major reason they chose this hotel was it's distance from where he needed to be. It also wasn't located within a dangerous area, though people did warn him about the Yakuza.

As he walked out of the hotel, he was greeted with bright sunlight, accompanied with a slight breeze the flowed through the trees. He took a deep breath to take it all in, and began his way in the direction of the bakery. It was a rather quiet day in town it seemed, although it wasn't the size of L.A., he thought it was a little weird how little people were out and about. With a short walk, he found himself in front of the shop, titled "Japanese Candies: Onodera". With no people around he wondered if it might be closed today. But a closer look in the window revealed a woman standing inside wiping some tables. She saw him and instantly lit up.

"Well it's now or never." He entered the store, the aroma of sweets filled his nose. It was certainly a good sign to him.

"Ahh a customer!" The woman greeted him warmly. It had been quiet since the lunch rush so she had been surprised to see someone enter at such a strange time. "I don't recognize a face like yours, you must be new here."

"Well actually..." He stopped, he was about to explain his presence when an idea popped into his head. "Yes, yes you're right. I'm on vacation going sight seeing and stuff." He lied. He wanted to try out what they had to offer without giving them a change to do anything special for him. Working at his fathers bakeries, he's met more than his fair share of critics that do the same thing.

"Oh really, so how'd you find a place like this, just in the neighborhood?" She asked.

"Well actually, my father recommended this place for me."

"He sounds like a good man then." Anadama turned his attention to the sweets on display. There were so many to choose from. But for him, the choice wasn't difficult.

"I'll take one of everything." He asked.

"One of everything? My that sounds like a lot for one young man like yourself."

"Well I'm going to take some back with me of course, I'm sure my father would love them. Don't worry about money, I've got it covered."

"Well if you say so." She went behind the counter and grabbed boxes to place each one in them.

"Just keep that one out, I'll eat it while I'm here." He pointed to the botamochi that she was about to place in the box. Listening to his request, she placed it on a napkin and handed it to him to eat. "Thank you." Taking one bite, he was instantly hit with an explosion of flavor. He was almost taken aback by it, but kept his cool. "These are really wonderful." He said as she handed him the multiple boxes, now filled with dozens of Confectioneries.

"I hope you enjoy the rest of them!" She had a cheerful expression, as he made his payment. "But something tells me that you're here for more than what you just said."

"Well..." Caught, he thought. "I guess you got me. I imagine you've talked to my father, but I'm here for your daughter actually."

"I knew it, I can't believe one of my girls finally has a boyfriend!"

"Well, wait what? Oh no you misunderstand. Also you have more than one daughter?" He was shocked, he didn't expect that part. His father made it seem like there was only one girl to worry about. For a moment, he was worried that they might even have the wrong girl. "How old are they?"

"You really don't know them?" She had a puzzled look on her face. "Well my eldest is 18, she just graduated from school actually. The other one is just a year younger."

"And your oldest daughter's name is Kosaki, correct?"

"Yeah, I guess you do know her then."

"I'm sorry, but I don't know why assuming my relationship to her. You talked to my dad on the phone, right? Mr. Miyanagi? I'm his son."

"Oh right!" She remembered her conversation a few days prior. "I didn't realize that he was going to send someone to pick her up. I haven't even told her about it."

"That's okay, I was sent here to try and convince her. Not to say that we'd force her or anything, just if she was on the fence."

"To be honest I really want her to take this opportunity." She started. "She's always been so shy, and lacking in confidence. I really think that this will get her out of her shell."

"Well then I think that the school will be really good for her. If my dad believes she's got potential, he's got to see something in her. Where is she now?"

"She should be with her friends right now, it's her day off. I don't think she'll be back until later tonight. If you'd like, you can come back later."

"I will, beside I should take this back for my butler anyway. I think he'll enjoy this."

"Yeah I'm sure he… wait did you just say butler."

"Well he's more of a chaperon for this trip. But yes, that is his job. I'll see you and your daughter tonight!" He walked out of the door, carrying the load of boxes. She waved goodbye. A short walk later, Anadama returned to the hotel to find his butler now awake and cleaned up.

"Master, I see you've returned." He greeted his arrival, seeing the boxes, George helped place them on the table. "You know you could've ordered room service."

"I needed to do some research."

"Research... Don't tell me."

"Okay I won't. Still going your help to get through all this."

"Why would you go without me? I hope you didn't ruin anything."

"Don't know why you guys don't have any faith in me, I'm young but I know what I'm doing." The pair began taking bites of the sweets brought in, commenting on the flavors, textures, and presentation.

"If this is what got your father's attention, I'd say he's found himself a winner." Reviewing each treat carefully, George believed that there was quality behind one. Anadama agreed.

"Yeah, I wanted to make sure, but it looks like I was worried over nothing."

"Any reason you left me behind when you went for your research?"

"Well you were sleeping so soundly." He began with a sarcastic answer. "Look I just don't know why dad's so impressed with her."

"Jealous?" He didn't answer, ignoring the question.

"I promised the mother I'd return later tonight to formally invite Kosaki Onodera."

"Odd of you to say her full name like that."

"Well it turns out that she has a younger sister, just a year younger. I might as well get used to making the distinction." The butler nodded in agreement. "Look, I'm going back. Alone."

"Really, why aren't you letting me come with?"

"Because. After seeing that bakery, I can tell she isn't of the most richest of backgrounds."

"I see, so you're thinking that my presence as your butler."

"Will intimidate her into thinking that this is the type where the most privileged go to." He finished the sentence. "I don't even think that's true, I may disagree with my old man about a lot of things, but he's always tried to find the best in the world, no matter the background."

"Well, when it comes to your background..." He started.

"Yeah, well me of all people should know that no one chooses their background." Anadama interrupted before he could continue.

"Is that why you've taken a leave of absence from the shop lately."

"I know why my dad sent me here to go pick up this project of his. He wants me to somehow discover my love of baking or something like that." He ranted. "It's not going to work, some random girl isn't going to change my life and fix everything." He sighed. "I thought turning 18 meant that I should know what I want in life, but now I'm just not sure anymore."