New Guest

Hayashi Sakura's first day of classes went well so far as she'd hoped. Though it would be much more pleasant if someone had reached out to her and befriended her, all in all her day at school didn't end up badly.

The school bell had just rung, indicating that the classes for today are over. Sakura's classmates are already heading for the door and are now leaving, but the girl is still stuffing her notebook and pen back inside her backpack.

Sakura was in the middle of what she was doing when she noticed Mori Ken already stood up from his seat without even talking to her.

Well, it's better if things stay this way, Sakura thoughts to herself. As long as Mori Ken doesn't talk to her that much, she could stay away from trouble for as long as she can.

Once done, she carefully zips up her bag and straps it behind her. By the time she stood up and turned around, Mori Ken was nowhere to be seen. Sakura then started making for the door and walked away.

Now that she is out of the campus grounds and her classes are over, Sakura then starts making a keen observation with her eyes, like looking around to her surroundings if there is anyone following her or not.

When she's relieved to know that the coast seems to be clear for now, Sakura swiftly crosses the pedestrian and makes it just in time for the 5 pm train.

No one has to know, especially the school administrators of the prestigious school that she is enrolled to right now, of the things that she is about to do right now...

---

"Welcome home, master!"

A cheerful greeting from a perky little girl in her blonde waist-length wig hair wearing a cutesy maid's outfit like that of a cosplayer's comes echoing the four corners of this spacious room packed with gentlemen who serve as the establishment's VIP guests.

A glittering pink mask is fastened on the upper part of her face to conceal half of it and her identity as well.

"Oh, Patty, it's a pleasure to see you once again." The gentleman that the girl enthusiastically greeted earlier now wears a big smile in his wrinkled face once he saw who greeted him at the door.

This girl called Patty sees to it that this slightly old man is led into his seat. Then, with a seductive yet a friendly smile on her lips and the menu being handed over towards him, the girl asks, "What can I serve you, master?"

"You already know what's my favorite, do you?" The man asks in return.

Patty flashes her triumphant, charming grin. "Why, of course, I certainly do, master. Please wait here until your food is served." 

"Oh, yes, I will Patty. Take your time honey." 

Patty came dashing towards the kitchen area where the other maids like her are also busy taking their orders.

"One rice omelet and an iced tea, please? And oh, add some bottle of ketchup as well. My master likes his name to be on his rice omelet." says Patty.

"Coming right up!" One of the chefs who is working at the kitchen replies.

Patty was still standing near the kitchen, waiting for her order to come, when the cafe' manager and head mistress Miss Cookie came up to her and squeals.

"The number of our guests have been doubled the moment they know you'll be on the shift! Thanks to you and your charming presence, Sakura… I mean, Patty " says her boss as she points at the line of men who want Patty to be their maid for the day.

Well, that's right. This girl, who is famously known in this maid cafe as Patty, is the shy and introverted girl Hayashi Sakura in real life. Replacing her glasses temporarily with contacts if she's inside the cafe only, you wouldn't tell it at first that it's actually her.

It has been four excruciating weeks ever since Hayashi Sakura applied for this kind of work at the La La Land Cafe'.

She doesn't see any other high-paying job that could complement her busy college schedule like this one, thus she accepted it halfheartedly, even if it means she needs to hide her identity as someone who works in an exclusive maid cafe inTokyo.

Sakura's first two weeks hadn't gone so easy for her. As a newbie, she has lots of things to do plus she needs to work everyday during those times that she's still vacant.

Luckily for her, Sakura has three out of four maids here in the cafe that helped her to make her way into the rankings. And her boss is also kind and patient with her as well while she's still learning.

As it turns out, the introverted and shy Sakura that everybody had known turned out to be the well-sought after and highest paid waitress/ maid in the La la land Cafe in her third week here.

All five maids' identities of La la land cafe are protected with each of their chosen secret code names from their favorite food.

Though as for Sakura, her favorite food cookie has already been taken and so are the others, thus she instead named herself as Patty… from her favorite cartoon show: Spongebob Squarepants.

Aside from that, they have been strictly told to wear their masks at all times, no matter what their cafe theme for the week is.

This is also to protect their identities from being breached. Costumes are provided by the management, and the salary is already enough for Sakura to survive in Tokyo.

Four weeks have passed, and now the cafe's VIP guests are now doubled in number. Thanks to Sakura, indeed.

Sakura blushes and flashes her gentle smile. "It's not only because of me. It's also because of everyone's efforts as well to make this cafe even livelier than before."

"Oh, please. You are being too modest." says Miss Cookie, who swats Sakura's arm but with no force. The latter can't help but chuckle at her boss' adorable reaction.

Miss Cookie may look like she is in her teenage years, with the cute short-trimmed pink wig, baby face that could captivate anyone:s hearts and their cutesy maid's uniform all in all, but truthfully, she just recently revealed to everyone else that she is now in her thirties, though she didn't exactly said the figures.

That's when Sakura hears the bell inside the kitchen rings, indicating that the food she ordered up for her guest is finished and she needs to serve it now.

"I'll see you later in a bit, Miss Cookie." With a curt nod, Hayashi Sakura starts scurrying away towards her master to serve the food to him.

Sakura has been entertaining one guest from another until such time that almost all of their guests have finally been served, some are already leaving the store now with those pleasant smiles on their faces.

The way she makes them happy with the simple gestures she's making, Hayashi Sakura can't help but be happy as well.

Bringing joy to her masters is after all, her utmost priority here.

The chimes placed on the door starts to make some clanking sounds as a new guest has come to La la land cafe.

Sakura was near to it after serving her latest master, thus she swiftly turns around and wore the smile that she has been wearing whenever a new guest arrives.

"Welcome, mas...ter."

Eventually, that smile of hers soon faded the moment she discovers who that new guest was.

For the boy that had just entered into their cafe is none other than Mori Ken himself.