Living in Tokyo, all I want to do is laze around.

"I am back."

Uesugi spoke loudly because he secretly hoped that a faint, comforting voice would reach his ears.

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###Chapter 443 New Employee, A Simple Gift###

Living in Tokyo, all I want to do is laze around.

Welcome!

Upon hearing the wind chimes, Uesugi Kai put down his phone, looked up, and glanced at the entrance of the coffee shop, only to find it was Totsuka Katsura.

He was carrying a crossbody bag and looked travel-worn. He saw Uesugi Kai as soon as he entered the store.

Totsuka Katsura quickly glanced at the clock hanging on the wall behind Uesugi Kai.

One o'clock in the afternoon.

He breathed a sigh of relief, patted his chest, and said with a sigh of relief, "Luckily, I wasn't late."

Kai Uesugi knew that this guy was here today to start a job at the coffee shop, basically as a waiter, and also responsible for washing dishes in the kitchen.

"Isn't the manager here?" Totsuka Katsura approached the front desk, pulled up a bench, and sat down, placing her hands on the oak bar counter. Her movements were more like those of a customer than an employee.

“No, she’s going out today to do some shopping for renovations,” Uesugi Kai replied.

"Phew, I see."

Uesugi Kai glanced at him and asked, "So eager?"

"First day at work, understand? This is called complying with the boss's rules and regulations."

"Well, it's a pity the store manager isn't here and won't be able to see your performance."

"Ugh... I have to go to work right away?"

"Is today your first day of work?"

"Yes, the contract was signed yesterday."

Uesugi Kai pointed to a spot inside the store and said, "Just go to the staff room and change your clothes. Remember, it's the door on the right. The door on the left is for girls."

“Ah,” Totsuka Katsura glanced in the direction he was pointing and nodded, “I understand.”

Turning towards the staff room, Totsuka Katsura glanced around the store. The decor and air were fresh and clean, with plants separating each table. The potted plants seemed to be cared for daily, and you could see clear water droplets on them, which smelled wonderful.

There were a few customers in the store at that moment, most of them sitting by the window, enjoying the bright sunlight streaming in.

Enjoying desserts and coffee while casually scrolling through your phone, savoring life.

Upon arriving at the staff room, Totsuka Keichi found a locker with a note bearing his name on it, and a key with his name on it hanging on the wall by the door.

He took the key, opened the metal cabinet, and changed into a simple Western-style work vest.

Katsura Totsuka examined herself in the mirror and walked out of the staff room.

The coffee shop had officially opened for business by then.

To be honest, the first thing a newcomer feels when they come to the store is bewilderment.

Without instructions, he didn't know what to do. Although customers came in from time to time, the shop's maids took care of them, so there was nothing for him to do.

Why do I always feel like I'm superfluous?

Totsuka Katsura turned back and came to the bar.

"Uesugi, is there anything I can help you with at the shop right now?"

Kai Uesugi put down the brewing pot, looked up at him, and said, "Not for now."

"No?"

"It's not busy yet."

Erina Akane, who was helping Hanabi Hanabi bake bread in the kitchen, came out to pick up something, but suddenly noticed a new face in work clothes standing in front of Kai Uesugi. "Are you a new employee?"

Hearing the voice, Totsuka Katsura turned around and found a rather cute girl dressed in a maid outfit with cat ears. She even smiled at her.

He remembered that this was the maid who had served him before.

However, he disguised himself to enter the store that time and there was not much contact between them.

"Yes." Totsuka Katsura, a newcomer, answered somewhat reservedly.

While busy with her work, Uesugi Kai introduced her to him, saying, "This is the head maid of the shop, Akane Rina. She takes care of the shop's daily affairs when the shop manager is not around."

"Senior?" Totsuka Katsura cautiously probed.

"Just call me by my name," Akane Rina said with a smile, showing no airs and extending her hand as a greeting.

I shook hands with him, and then I saw that smile again.

Totsuka Katsura was relieved. If the head maid was so kind, everyone in the store should be easy to get along with. Not long ago, he worked at a convenience store, and the senior staff there were not very friendly. They often deliberately asked him to do physical work such as moving cardboard boxes and drinks.

He guessed that the cause was his status as a student at Dongda University.

Out of disdain, the convenience store manager who had come to Tokyo to make his way in the world after finishing high school took over the job and targeted him, a graduate of a prestigious university.

It's really hard to find fault with a convenience store that has such a strong sense of professionalism and a senior-junior relationship with its employees.

However, Totsuka Katsura was used to it. After all, it had always been like this since high school. Juniors would give way to seniors, and juniors would do chores for seniors. It was all just a matter of course.

"Akae-san, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Oh? You're quite diligent for a newcomer," Akane Rina smiled. "In that case, why don't you come with me to the kitchen and help wash the dishes?"

Uesugi Kai deliberately gave his friend a playful bow: "Bye."

Totsuka Katsura had thought the coffee shop wouldn't be too busy, but unexpectedly, the number of customers suddenly surged starting at 2 PM. Normally, as a man, he wouldn't have to do things like serving dishes and clearing tables, but with a shortage of maids, he had no choice but to do it.

Around 7 p.m., the number of customers decreased, and it was finally time for the official rest period.

Kai Uesugi wasn't planning on packing up the coffee equipment yet; he would wait until the last customer left before he started packing up.

Totsuka Katsura leaned on the front desk, her hands folded together, her face buried in them, looking completely powerless.

"Why, why is this coffee shop so popular?"

Erina Akane and Hanabi Hanamaru, along with Yuri Tashiro, the twin sisters, sat in a row, enjoying coffee brewed by Kai Uesugi.

She heard Totsuka Katsura's question and, touching her chin with her index finger, said:

Well, there are a few reasons.

"Can you tell me?" Totsuka Katsura asked curiously, propping herself up on her hands.

Erina Akane held up one finger and smiled as she answered, "First, this shop already has a certain fan base; even now, 30% of our customers are regulars. Second, whether it's coffee, food, or desserts, our quality is excellent, the flavors are unique, and it has a good reputation among office workers. It's located across from a commercial street and not far from the University of Tokyo office area, so naturally, its popularity is soaring. Third..."

At this point, Erina Akane turned her head and smiled at Kai Uesugi:

"Our place is very popular with female customers. Their spending power on desserts and coffee is much higher than that of men!"

At this moment, Kai Uesugi suddenly interjected, "Although business is good, coffee shops are ultimately mid-range consumption and entertainment venues, and it's impossible to maintain this indefinitely. The manager knows this, so we haven't hired too many employees."

"So you mean? It'll just be a particularly busy period?" Totsuka Katsura asked.

"Yes, that's roughly the idea." Uesugi Kai nodded.

"Um"

Erina Akane held the cup with both hands, took a small sip of coffee, licked her lips, and smiled at Kai Uesugi, "Uesugi-san, the coffee you made is really good!"

Not only her, but even the maids beside her nodded reflexively after hearing this.

"Thank you." Uesugi Kai didn't refuse the compliment, but she secretly glanced at Hanabi Hanabi sitting next to Tashiro Yuri. Hanabi was holding the cup carefully, warming it with her hands as if she were trying to keep warm. Her face and eyes were reflected in the coffee cup, and the rising steam and the gentle ripples of the coffee indicated that she was blowing on the rim of the cup.

It was just a very ordinary action of hers, but Uesugi Kai felt from the bottom of her heart that this detail of hers was exceptionally touching and adorable.

"Handsome young man, we're leaving now." The two female guests smiled and waved goodbye to Kai Uesugi as they departed.

"Okay, please take care." Uesugi Kai's response was simple: a slight bow of his head was enough.

Taking the opportunity, Akane Rina jokingly said to Totsuka Katsura:

"This is Uesugi's status in the eyes of female guests."

Totsuka Katsura was Uesugi Kai's old classmate at Tokyo University and knew what kind of person he was among the students. He sighed and said, "I'm... used to it..."

Mimi Coffee Shop officially closed at 7:30 p.m.

For Katsura Totsuka, her first day at work went pretty well, except for being a little tired.

Unfortunately, Rikako Kohashi is on leave today, so he won't have much of a chance to see her.

"Uesugi, do you think I have a good chance?"

As Uesugi Kai pushed his bicycle and came out of the parking corner downstairs with Hanabi Hanabi, he saw Totsuka Katsura gazing at the bustling skyscrapers in front of him with a melancholy look.

"To be honest, it's not big."

"Damn it, even you say that."

"That's true."

Totsuka Katsura showed no sign of giving up. The forty-story building seemed to shrink considerably in the reflection of his eyes: "I will not yield."

After saying that, he put on his helmet, got on his electric scooter, and disappeared into the neon-lit streets.

The wind was getting stronger, and even though Hanamaru Hanabi was pressed close to half of Uesugi Kai's body, her hair was still being blown around by the evening breeze.

"Kai-kun, what were you talking about just now?"

“She likes things about kotaka,” Uesugi Kai explained, glancing at the spot where Totsuka had disappeared on his bicycle. “I don’t have much hope, considering it’s a blended family and she still has things on her mind.”

Kai Uesugi also felt that the night wind was getting a bit too strong.

He turned around to check if his wife's scarf was tied tightly around her neck.

He glanced at her and noticed the scarf was a little crooked. He figured she must be uncomfortable, so he took the scarf off her neck, fiddled with it for a bit, and then put it back on her.

"All right."

Uesugi Kai looked at the girl with sparkling eyes in front of him with satisfaction.

Hanabi Hanamaru, her cheeks slightly flushed, clutched the scarf around her neck, burying her chin in it. Feeling the warmth, she suddenly remembered something, looked up at Kai Uesugi, and said: