2:30 PM
Family Hamburger
The manager, Tachibana Yuumi, abruptly closed the shop and gathered the twenty or so employees together.
Kobeni Higashiyama lowered her head, her fingers nervously clutching the hem of her shirt. She did not dare speak.
Her heart was already racing.
She was certain Manager Tachibana was about to criticize her in front of everyone.
During her probation period, her performance had not been good. She often forgot to add the word "Family" at the end of her sentences.
Because of that habit, Tachibana Yuumi had warned her many times.
But today was different.
Tachibana Yuumi was not here to scold anyone.
His expression looked miserable as he repeatedly wiped the corners of his eyes with a white handkerchief.
His voice trembled.
"Family members."
"This happened very suddenly. I have heartbreaking news to share with everyone, Family."
Kobeni quietly let out a breath of relief.
The other employees exchanged uneasy glances.
The atmosphere in the room quickly became heavy.
Finally, the most competitive employee in the shop, a short haired senior girl wearing a bandana named Hanyu Shizuru, broke the silence.
She did not know what had happened to the manager, but she still clenched her fist in encouragement.
"Manager Tachibana, please pull yourself together! Family Hamburger cannot survive without you! Family!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
Her words immediately drew agreement from the other employees.
Tachibana Yuumi nodded emotionally and sniffled.
"It is like this."
"Not long ago, I received a notice from Public Safety."
"My older brother, Tachibana Yuuya…"
"was shot and killed by a gunman while walking home."
"After the police confirmed his identity, they brought his body to my house so my mother could identify him."
"But my mother had a weak heart."
"She was so shocked that she died on the spot."
"Family members… this afternoon…"
"My brother and my mother both passed away, Family."
The employees widened their eyes in shock.
Hanyu Shizuru's tears instantly began to fall.
"A gunman?!" Kobeni blurted out in fear.
The words slipped out before she could stop herself. Memories of her time as a Public Safety Devil Hunter flashed through her mind.
Tachibana Yuumi immediately turned and glared at her.
"Akai! When speaking in the shop you must remember to say Family, Family!"
The corner of Kobeni's mouth twitched.
Even at a moment like this, he still cared about that…
"O… okay. Please accept my condolences, Manager Tachibana, Family…"
Hanyu Shizuru stepped forward with teary eyes and hugged the manager, gently patting his back.
"Manager Tachibana."
"There is an old saying that time flows like a river and never stops."
"The family members who passed away cannot return."
"Even though you lost your mother and your brother, you still have all of us as your family, Manager! Family!"
"Waaah…"
Tachibana Yuumi burst into loud sobs like a child.
"Hanyu Shizuru, you are the best!"
"You truly are the best employee in this shop! Family!"
Hanyu Shizuru continued to encourage him.
"Manager, pull yourself together! Go back to making delicious Family Hamburgers for the customers! Family!"
"I understand, Family."
Tachibana Yuumi wiped his tears and looked around at everyone.
"Before we reopen the shop, I need to handle something."
"I want to send my mother and brother to a funeral home as soon as possible."
"However…"
"Too many people have died recently. Almost every funeral home has a long waiting list."
"So I gathered everyone to ask if any of you family members have connections with a funeral home. Family?"
Everyone looked at each other.
It was a difficult request.
Naturally, Kobeni thought of Cael.
But she really did not want to get involved in something like this.
Clap.
Tachibana Yuumi suddenly pressed his hands together and bowed deeply.
"Please help my mother and my brother!"
"I will reward you generously!"
"Family!"
Hearing that, Kobeni hesitated.
A generous reward…
She weakly raised her hand.
"Manager… how generous is this reward you mentioned… Family?"
Tachibana Yuumi immediately looked at her like someone who had just grabbed a lifeline.
"Akai, do you have a way? Family?"
Kobeni spoke shyly.
"I… I can ask a friend for you, Manager. But the exact price is not up to me, Family…"
Tachibana Yuumi exhaled heavily and held up five fingers.
"As long as the funeral is handled properly, I can pay five hundred thousand yen as a thank you gift, Family!"
Kobeni immediately pulled out her phone.
"I will ask for you! Fam… Family!"
Running a funeral would take at most three days.
Five hundred thousand yen.
That was almost two months of her salary.
She had to try.
Luckily she had saved Cael's contact information before leaving.
Kobeni quietly walked to a corner.
Beep.
The call connected.
"Hello, is this Cael?"
"This is Kobeni Higashiyama. Um… I wanted to ask about something…"
Three minutes later.
"Mm hmm! Thank you for being flexible!"
Kobeni hung up the phone excitedly and hurried back.
"Manager, my friend said you can go there today!"
"They can start making arrangements tonight."
"You can go directly after work."
"As for the price, it is two million yen for the first body."
"The second body is half price."
"The total is three million yen, Family!"
"Great! Family!"
Tachibana Yuumi instantly dropped into a horse stance and punched the air with excitement.
"Akai is terrible at making burgers, but at least she is useful for something today, Family!"
Kobeni forced a small smile.
She had been scolded so often that this almost sounded like praise.
Without hesitation, Tachibana Yuumi transferred 3.5 million yen to Kobeni and patted her shoulder.
"I will trouble you to go there first."
"I remember you drove to work today, right? Family?"
"Y… yes, Family."
Thanks to Senior Himeno helping her clock in earlier, Kobeni had successfully received a one million yen quarterly bonus.
Using that money, she painfully bought a small K car.
Now her commute was easier, and she could also pick up her younger brother Yori after school.
Meanwhile, at the funeral home.
Cael hung up the phone.
Today felt strangely busy.
Business was not unusual.
What was strange was that every request came from someone he knew.
What the hell is going on today?
First, Hayakawa Aki had called.
She said two Kyoto Public Safety Devil Hunters would be sent over soon and asked if they could be handled first.
Cael agreed. He still technically worked with Special Division 4, so helping colleagues was reasonable.
Then Kobeni called.
Nothing had happened to her family. The dead were her manager's relatives.
Still, the request was similar.
Cael tended to favor people he knew.
Besides, he felt he had a strange kind of connection with Kobeni.
So he accepted that job as well.
Since Aki called first, he would cremate the Public Safety Devil Hunters first and handle Kobeni's manager's family afterward.
The former were government personnel, so the process would be simple. Cremation and basic procedures.
The latter ordered a full service.
The bodies would need restoration, and the ceremony had to be prepared properly.
Tonight would be busy.
He glanced toward the office.
"Reze, do not accept any more orders today."
"Four bodies are arriving soon. Prioritize the regulars."
"If any customers can wait, push them back."
Reze, who was sitting at the computer organizing body processing records, looked up and smiled sweetly.
"Okay."
At the same time, two separate cars carrying four bodies were heading toward the same destination.
The funeral home.
And Cael.