Arrival at the Golden Leaf Café

["I don't have that much money left. Sorry mom, do you mind if you could send some more over to me?"]

["Mika I told you that living in the city would be expensive. It cost a lot of money to study as a high school student out of town, so you better find a job soon."]

[Yeah I know mom, I'll find a job soon but I've been rejected from all the companies because I'm too clumsy. I've either slipped up my words during the interview or just knocked something over. One time I accidentally hit one of the interviewer in the face when I ran into him head first."]

["Geez you really are such a clutz. Okay I'll go and send the money over now dear. Bye, take care of yourself."]

*Beep*

Hanging up the phone, Mika just released some air through her mouth. *Sigh*. "I'm hungry so I better go find somewhere to eat. Somewhere cheap that is or I won't have enough money."

Strolling over to market square, a popular district where some of the most popular restaurant were located, she was now proceeding with her hunt for a cheap dish.

"Only $3 to spend on food today or I won't be able to spend rent. That's not much at all. If not I might have to resort to just buying some bland and tasteless bread from the convenience store."

"Oh my god everywhere is so expensive in the shop. What do I do?" Invisible panic written over her face as she frantically tried to find any option she could have until she accidentally dropped the cash she was clutching in her hand into the drift of wind.

"Oh no! My cash I need to get it back." Hurryingly she ran after the note as it flowed in the wind and almost out of her sight.

Eventually it abruptly landed on the ground and sighing a sigh of relief she looked in front of her to see there was a small store.

The building seemed to be a café open for business and also some of the lights shone through the slightly tinted window with lamps in the front of the store. It had the feeling of a traditional café with the aesthetic colour chosen as a light brown.

There was a loosely hung sign supported by one nail that read, "Golden Leaf Café,". Mika started to walk away from the store slowly until she saw a mini flashing deal stuck as a poster on the wall, "$3 BACON AND EGG WITH COFFEE MEAL!!!"

"OH MY GOD! That's a great deal, just enough in my pocket so I can have some lunch here. What a steal!"

Mika hurryingly ran in the door and as the bell rang she screamed, "Hello!", and as she entered tripped on the floor mat slapped face first onto the floor.

"OW! Jeez why do I have to be so clumsy all the time," Mika pouted.

She rubbed her head in pain but a hand was there too assist her. When she looked up there she saw a young man with blonde hair dressed up in a waiters uniform. In his hands he was holding some pastries in one hand while extending the other to her.

"You're not hurt are you? Welcome to Aki's cafe my dear how can I help you today? Please take a seat. My name's Dino and I'm here to service all your needs."

Just staring awkwardly Mika was carried by the man as he prepared everything she could need for a wonderful experience ~ utensils, a seat and presented the menu in front of her in a gentlemanly manner. Mika just stayed stiff as a board as she silently nodded to whatever he was doing. He seemed to be a waiter no older than thirty in the store judging by his white uniform and an apron around his waist.

Pulling both a pen and paper out he beamed, "Tell me when you're ready to order my dear." He happily smiled at his customer and just awaited any requests

"Um can I get one of the $3 bacon and egg with a coffee please? My name's Mika by the way."

"Of course you can my dear. Do you want anything else for today my dear?"

"No thank you. I'm actually a bit broke right now so that's all I can afford unfortunately. I'm looking for a job."

"Oh you're looking for a job huh? No problem, I'll go prepare your order right away so that won't be too long."

Mika just watched as the man rushed into the back. The store looked rather empty on the inside as there were space for around three to four seats and the walls were filled with pictures or just simple antiques.

Mika walked up too one of the pictures and in the frame she saw two boys wrapping around the leg of an older woman. One the boys had blonde hair and the other had dark green whilst the mother had a light brown variety of colour.

"Hello my dear, your orders ready." The waiter from before was now staring at her in the face point blank as she flinched when she saw his face so close.

"Eek, um yes, I'll go and eat it right away. If I may ask who this person in the picture?" The waiter seemed shock by the question and he just lowered his head a little bit before answering in a slightly solemn tone.

"Oh that's my mother she use to work here before I came along. She was the most wonderful worker that I have every seen. Responsible, kind and always cared about people before herself .... unlike myself..... " He smiled at the young girl Mika as she just imagined how organised, how fast, how wonderful she must have been to work at a café. Mika's clumsiness would never allow her to achieve something so grand and she would only trip before she could even start. Only studying would get her down the path she truly wanted, to become someone responsible and that was her reason for coming to the city ~ in pursuit of studying further.

There on her table sat a delectable combo of bacon and eggs alongside a cup of coffee on the side. The aroma of the food could be smelt from where the pictures were so Mika sat down at her table thanking for the food before digging in. She took a bite of her bacon and eggs first, chewing for a bit processing her thoughts. After that she took a sip of black dark coffee in front of her. *Sip*. Placing it down she once again accidentally hit it over causing it to spill all across the table.

"Ah! I'm so sorry. I'm so clumsily!" Dion started to clean the table with one of his towels and just laughed a little.

"That's alright. How do you like it? Mika was it?"

"Yes, well um." [How do I tell him the food isn't good]. Struggling with the reality that the three dollar full meal was almost downright inedible, Mika hesitated to form her opinion in her next words. "No the foods is ... um pretty good. How do I say this it has a-. "

"HAHAHA! No need to lie my dear. Don't worry I know that I'm not that good at cooking, my brother is a much better cook than myself. Dino laughed off her words as though he was already acclimatised to these sort of scenarios."

"No! Please don't say that. I can tell that you've put a lot of your heart and in the cooking. I can tell by how the chef presented my meal so nicely, he cared to add seasoning even though it was too much." Mika happily took another bite of the bacon and eggs smiling delightfully. It still had the same taste though, chewy and salty but it had the warmth that came from a meal that your mother had cooked up.

"I'm pretty clumsy myself so for you to be working in this industry, I really admire that. I've failed so many job interviews over and over because I'm just not sociable enough or a flunk the question they've gave me. You've done a wonderful job though and you even asked how it tasted, which was so kind. Thank you for serving me Mr Dion. I would love to come here again."

Dino had a bit of his mouth slightly opened while processing her words. He remembered the criticise he would receive over and over for his meals either face to face or over the internet .

"This food is disgusting ~ Why did you serve this garbage. You should stop cooking forever!"

"No problem Mrs Mika. My mother always used to tell me that,' when you make anything, prepare it with love and passion and there will always be one customer that recognises your efforts'." I should be thanking you, thank you for complimenting my dish." Under his smile he shed a slight tear so small that no one could feel it or see it except himself. It ran down his face and dripped onto his apron.

"Wait your dish? Don't tell me that means-"

"Did I not tell you that I'm the owner? It's just me in here today. Before that the owner was my mother so that's why there's a picture of my brother and mom up on the wall."

"WHAT! You're the owner? Oh my god, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to offend you." Flailing her arms around recklessly she started to apology profusely over and over.

"No it's quite okay Mika my dear, I don't take any offense to it at all. But I want to tell you I think you are the person for me."

*BLUSH* "HUH? What do you mean?" Mika squealed embarrassingly just hiding her blush within her hands her rampaging arms smacking Dino across the face *Whack*.

"Ow! You are feisty as well huh, just the kind of quality I look for in my employees?'" Dino was rubbing his face for the bruise under that remark

"Employees. Wait don't tell me you're going to-."

"Would you like to work here my dear? You said you were looking for a job?" Dino was squatting asking her as Mika was sitting down just smiling with his arms folded on the table.

"UM YES! YES PLEASE, if you don't mind me of course." No hesitation came in the remark as Mika started gleeing to herself a bit after

"No not at all. Uh actually we're a bit understaffed right now and are actually looking for more workers. I'll warn you that the work can be tough sometimes but I know you can do it."

"I know that I'm clumsily and awkward but please take care of me Boss." The boss smiled and they shook each other's hand.

"Happy to have you onboard Mrs Mika Sakura."

So that's how Mika Sakura started working at Cafe Jazz, how will she cope with this weird job?