Booming Business

"Boss… are you okay?"

Aiko's voice sounded a bit confused as she glanced at Sunny with a dubious expression. The petite girl was floating near the ceiling, taking inventory of their liquor shelf. He, meanwhile, was busy cooking and cursing under his breath. 

There were a lot of customers today, but Sunny could not even manifest an avatar to keep up with the flood of orders. 

'That third guy! Selfish bastard!'

He gritted his teeth.

'Where did all my essence go?!'

The gloomy shadow, left to its devices for once, was staring at him mockingly. Sunny glared at it back. 

'What? I know we're the same person! It's a figure of speech, okay?!'

The phrase "you have no one to blame but yourself" had never been so poignant.