**8:10 AM
Tokyo, Chiyoda Ward, Uchisaiwaicho 2-chome
Family Burger – Office**
Kobeni Higashiyama sat stiffly in her rented formal clothes, her hands resting nervously on her knees as she faced the middle-aged man across the desk.
The man wore a black apron. His hair was parted neatly in the middle, framing a slightly round face that was clean shaven and almost delicate in appearance.
He was the manager of the burger shop.
Manager Tachibana.
A gentle smile rested on his lips as he carefully examined the resume in his hands.
Several long seconds passed in silence.
Tachibana flipped to the last page of the document and looked up at Kobeni with an approving smile.
"Convenience store cashier, delivery rider, production line maintenance, and even a former Public Safety Devil Hunter."
He chuckled softly.
"Kobeni, your work history is quite impressive."
"Though the career changes are a bit extreme… Family."
"Y… yes," Kobeni replied, her eyes drifting away awkwardly.
Tachibana narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I heard the salary for Public Safety Devil Hunters is quite high. Why would you leave that position, Family?"
Kobeni forced out a guilty smile.
"B… because I would have died…"
Tachibana frowned faintly, though the smile quickly returned.
"Still, I am quite satisfied with your resume, Kobeni."
"Let me explain the benefits of working here at Family Burger."
"If the conditions sound acceptable, we can begin the onboarding process. Family."
Yes!
Kobeni cheered internally.
All the effort she had spent preparing for this interview had not been wasted.
"Alright, please go ahead, Manager Tachibana."
Tachibana clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them before speaking slowly.
"Family Burger is a very well known chain."
"For full time employees, the salary is certainly not the minimum wage of 200,000 Yen."
"However, it cannot compete with the income of a Devil Hunter."
"The base salary is 280,000 Yen. Commissions are added for high order volume and overtime."
"Under normal conditions, most employees take home between 350,000 and 450,000 Yen per month. Family."
At this point, Tachibana gave her a playful wink.
"And a small secret."
"Our most experienced employees have earned as much as 1.08 million Yen."
"The probation period is three months, but your pay will not be reduced during that time, and the benefits are identical to full time staff."
"We provide pension insurance, health insurance, employment insurance, workplace accident insurance, and even Devil accident insurance."
"However, this is not a government position. There is no four day work week. Employees receive eight days off per month."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Can you accept these conditions, Kobeni? Family?"
Kobeni listened carefully. She never joked around when money was involved.
As for the so called maximum salary, she did not take it too seriously. Only the most extreme overachievers could reach that level.
And Kobeni knew she was not that type of person.
Eight days off per month with a salary around 400,000 Yen.
It was about half of what she used to earn as a Devil Hunter.
But at least she would not have to fight Devils anymore.
That alone made the offer acceptable.
"D… do employees have to pay for meals at the shop?" Kobeni asked carefully.
Tachibana raised his eyebrows and lifted his hands enthusiastically.
"Of course not! Once you join, we are family! Family!"
Free meals?
Kobeni felt tempted immediately. Food expenses were a serious burden for her.
Saving even a little money each month mattered.
Compared to eating natto over rice every day, burgers and fries sounded incredible.
"O… okay. I can accept that."
Clap clap.
Tachibana clapped his hands happily.
"Then we are family now, Family!"
"Mmhmm."
Kobeni nodded with an awkward smile.
This manager was incredibly enthusiastic. She was not used to this level of energy.
Tachibana stood up, still smiling.
"As family, I have one small suggestion for you, Kobeni."
"Eh? Please go ahead, Manager Tachibana."
Tachibana's smile remained, though his brow creased slightly.
"You have a habit of saying 'Eh'. That needs to change. It is not very Family."
"When working here, every sentence must end with the word 'Family'."
"That is what makes it Family. Family."
Kobeni's lip twitched.
What kind of bizarre rule was that?
Still, she needed this job.
"A… ah, right. I mean… okay. Fa… Family!"
Clang.
The office door suddenly swung open.
An energetic older woman wearing a headscarf leaned inside and shouted.
"Manager Tachibana! Come help in the kitchen!"
"It is the weekend, and customers are already ordering breakfast, Family!"
"Hahaha!"
Tachibana burst into laughter. His entire body trembled with excitement as he threw a dramatic punch into the air.
"This is the Family Burger that everyone loves! Family!"
---
**Ueno Park
8:25 AM**
Cael arrived at the meeting spot with dark circles under his eyes.
With his current physical condition, simply staying awake all night would not normally leave him looking like this, even if he stayed up for three days straight.
This damage came from Asa.
Real, devastating damage.
Last night had been brutal.
Cael had just finished giving Pomu her hush money, changed clothes, rinsed his mouth, and quietly returned to bed.
Then Asa woke up.
He had no idea why.
Maybe she sensed something.
Whatever the reason, she launched relentless root level attacks on him for the entire night without caring about his condition.
Cael had no choice but to respond.
Thankfully his body was tough enough to keep up.
Even so, those attacks were far too intense.
Cael had nearly run out of ammunition.
"You're here."
Makima sat quietly on a bench as if she had been waiting for quite some time.
It was rare to see her outside her usual Public Safety uniform.
Today she wore a stylish white blouse and a khaki A line skirt that reached just below her knees.
Her slender calves were wrapped in thin black stockings, and her well shaped feet rested in elegant round toed pumps.
Her usual braid had been undone, allowing her hair to fall straight down her back.
Cael inhaled sharply.
His spirit immediately recovered.
With an outfit like that, anyone would admit she looked stunning.
Though Makima would still be beautiful even in plain clothes.
He swallowed quietly.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"It is fine."
Makima stood and naturally slipped her arm through Cael's.
"As long as you are not late, Cael. We will be spending the entire day together."
Cael froze for a moment.
Makima's charm was seriously dangerous.
That simple intimate gesture nearly shattered his self control.
And only now did he realize something else.
Makima had a scent.
The last time she forced a kiss on him, the disgusting smell of that mouse had completely masked it.
Now he could finally notice it.
"O… okay."
Out of pure instinct, Cael glanced around the park.
For some reason he felt like someone was watching him.
Makima leaned closer and pointed lightly at her eyes with a faint smile.
"Are you worried Asa Mitaka might discover us, Cael?"
"There is no need."
"Just focus on spending time with me."
"I have many eyes."
"I will not allow anything to interrupt our date."
Cael let out a slow breath and rubbed his forehead.
"Yeah. Right."
"Sorry, I am just exhausted. My brain is kind of scrambled."
Makima sighed softly.
"Asa Mitaka really does not know how to take care of you."
"If it were me, I would never allow you to look this tired."
"And that ill mannered Reze. I would never force you into such an uncomfortable position."
Cael's lip twitched.
He could not hold it in anymore.
Good grief.
Makima definitely listened to everything last night.
"Ahem."
Cael coughed twice, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Anyway, let's forget about that."
"What is the plan today, Makima?"
Makima tapped her chin thoughtfully and tilted her head up toward the sky.
"Let me think."
"Starting now, we will find a cinema."
"We will buy plenty of snacks and watch movies until ten tonight."
She turned toward him with a calm smile.
"And after that…"
"We will get a room."