Ward 20, Anteiku.
"There really are a lot of customers tonight."
Koma Enji sighed faintly, then raised his hand and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"It's been years since it's been this lively."
Irimi Kaya chatted with Koma Enji while brewing coffee.
As for why it was so lively today, the two of them both knew very well.
Anteiku was only a small shop located in a rather remote area. It was impossible for so many customers to suddenly pour in all at once.
Aside from some regular customers, more than half were investigators wearing suits who had come in to keep watch.
Perhaps this would also be the last time Anteiku would ever be this lively.
Yomo Renji wore a somewhat worn work uniform. He slightly turned his body, his left hand easily supporting a tray.
Four cups of steaming hot coffee were placed steadily on it.
His face was expressionless and his gaze cold, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.
When he arrived at the customer's table, Yomo Renji did not pause at all. His right hand quickly placed the cups of coffee on the table one by one.
The entire movement was completed in one smooth motion, natural and fluid like flowing water.
However, from beginning to end he never said a single word, nor did he even exchange a glance.
After putting down the last cup of coffee, he turned around without hesitation just as he had when he arrived.
He strode back toward the counter and once again began this monotonous work routine.
At this moment, Koma Enji, who was standing behind the counter, witnessed this scene and could not help gently shaking his head.
He quietly said to Irimi Kaya beside him, "Yomo-san can't keep doing this. Such a cold service attitude will probably bring a lot of bad reviews."
The customer sitting in front of Koma Enji, a man named Kimura, also chimed in.
"Yeah, Koma-san."
"I think you should recruit some cute girls, like Touka-san."
"After all this is a coffee shop, not a boxing gym. One of those two has a long horse face (Nishio Nishiki), and the other is a cold-faced middle aged man (Yomo Renji). They really don't suit the atmosphere of a coffee shop."
After speaking, Kimura even looked around cautiously, as if afraid those two might overhear what he had just said.
After hearing Kimura's complaints, Koma Enji first exchanged a smile with Irimi Kaya, then slowly placed a freshly brewed cup of coffee in front of him.
He said somewhat helplessly.
"Kimura, stop complaining and hurry up and drink your coffee."
"If those two hear what you just said, they might really come looking for trouble."
"As for hiring people, there's no need."
"Usually Miss Irimi and I can handle things just fine. They were only called here temporarily to help."
Kimura took the coffee, picked up a spoon, and gently stirred it. With a regretful expression he said,
"Sigh. I didn't expect my little niche shop to be discovered too. It seems it'll be hard to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee in the future."
After sighing, he seemed to feel that what he had said was somewhat inappropriate, so he added,
"Well, just joking. I wish your business prosperity."
Koma Enji rarely failed to respond immediately. Looking at the steaming coffee, a faint smile appeared on his face.
After remaining silent for a long time, he softly said, "Thank you, Kimura."
Kimura took a sip of coffee and laughed.
"Speaking of which, today's coffee tastes surprisingly good. Koma-san's skills have improved a lot. Did you finally inherit the manager's true teaching?"
Hearing Kimura's praise, Koma Enji showed a proud smile.
"Really? If that's the case then have another cup."
"This one's on me. I'm really in good form today."
Kimura immediately looked delighted. He pressed his hands together in thanks.
"Then I won't be polite. Many thanks for the treat."
........
Fine snow drifted sparsely through the air. The streetlights on both sides of the road emitted faint yellow light.
"It's snowing."
Nagachika Hideyoshi stretched out his hand and caught a few snowflakes. The snowflakes quickly melted in his warm palm.
He turned his head and looked at Uesugi Ryu beside him.
"Not going to see them one more time?"
Uesugi Ryu was wearing only a somewhat thin black shirt on his upper body. The shirt buttons were not fastened, exposing part of his collarbone.
Later he would need to wear armor. Combined with intense movement, his body would release a great deal of heat, and the stuffy feeling would not be comfortable.
Besides, with Uesugi Ryu's current powerful physique, he would not feel cold even if he were bare-chested.
He gently shook his head, then looked toward the brightly lit building not far away.
"Forget it. Since they're confirmed to be enemies, there's no need to meet again. Besides, I actually don't like drinking coffee."
Nagachika Hideyoshi lightly brushed the snow off his body. He laughed softly and said in a relaxed tone,
"I could tell. We're about the same. We both like coffee flavored milk. By the way, will that guy come?"
Uesugi Ryu turned around and walked away, no longer continuing the casual conversation with Nagachika Hideyoshi.
"Don't know. Go back to the temporary command post. The battle's about to start."
Nagachika Hideyoshi nodded, then looked at Uesugi Ryu's gradually receding back. He waved his hand and shouted loudly.
"Be careful!"
Uesugi Ryu was carrying two Quinques in his hands and had no free hand to respond to Nagachika Hideyoshi. He simply raised his voice to correct him.
"You said it wrong. It should be that group of ghouls who need to be careful."
Accompanied by deafening roaring sounds, the helicopter's massive rotor spun rapidly, the powerful airflow it produced sending dust flying everywhere.
That piercing buzzing noise echoed in everyone's ears like thunder.
A large group of investigators wearing hard combat suits and carrying firearms were arranged neatly like a disciplined army, forming one square formation after another.
Their expressions were stern and an iron-blooded killing aura filled the air.
Suddenly, a light yet crisp popping sound broke the tense silence.
The bubble blown from the chewing gum in Suzuya Juuzou's mouth burst instantly with a pop.
He kept chewing the gum while skillfully spinning a sharp Quinque knife in his left hand.
At this moment Uesugi Ryu walked to Suzuya Juuzou's side and merged into the formation.
Seeing this, Suzuya Juuzou immediately broke into a bright smile.
Then, as if performing a magic trick, he suddenly produced a piece of chewing gum from somewhere and handed it to Uesugi Ryu.
With a cheerful grin he said, "Uesugi, have some gum!"
Uesugi Ryu did not refuse at all and reached out to take the gum.
At this moment it had not even been half a month since Suzuya Juuzou was injured.
Being able to recover from such serious injuries so quickly was partly thanks to that dessert.
However, Suzuya Juuzou himself already had an unusually strong physique, so no one found it particularly surprising.