In front of Healing Paw Cafe, Sakamura Kumi opened the door anxiously. Her hand trembled, not because enduring the cold temperatures from the rain, but because she suppressing her fear. She recalled Kayoko's words in the phone half a hour ago.

If you can't pay me with your money, then I'll have you pay with your body!

Kumi couldn't help but afraid, what does her senpai want to do with her?

Her fear makes her imagination to run wild.

"Don't tell me, senpai really swings that way? She took advantage from my debt and used it to do lewd things to me?
OH NO! What should I do... What should I do...?! My chastity is in danger!!"

She immediately regretted coming to this place.

Why did she come?
Isn't this the same as sending herself willingly to the wolf's den?

Though, Kumi didn't really have any other choice. She couldn't just ignore her senpai's demands. She doesn't know what will Kayoko do later if she did that. Perhaps, an even more harsher fate will be waiting for her.

Either way, she already came anyway. Once she entered through this door, there was no turning back.

*CHIME*

"Good evening...? Kayoko-senpai, I have arrived..."

Kumi steeled her resolve and entered the cafe.

♠♠♠

 

Soon after Kumi's arrival, Kayoko immediately dragged her to the backroom. It was the room used for receiving important guests. She then prepares two chairs and signaled Kumi to sit down.

"Well done for coming to this place, Kumi... I thought you would run away."

Kayoko greets Kumi with a warm smile, welcoming her kouhai with affection.

However, from Kumi's point of view, Kayoko's smile was very suspicious. Kayoko doesn't smile often, that's why for her to suddenly let out such a gentle smile just makes her fishy.

"Emm, senpai...? Why did you call me here? And about the talk on the phone..." Kumi fidgeted.

"Well, well... just sit down and relax for now."Kayoko urged.

Since Kayoko said that, Kumi didn't have any choice. She immediately sat down on one of the chairs, waiting for Kayoko to continue.

Not long after, two more people, a man and a woman in their 20s, entered the room. Two identical rings could be seen on their fingers, a clear proof that they were a married couple.

"Oh, is this the person you told us about?" The man asked.

"Yes, that's right, Motoyuki." Kayoko nodded, she then continues, "Before I start, I need to introduce a few people to you, Kumi. First, they are the owners of this cafe Kobayashi Motoyuki and his wife, Kobayashi Yukari."

"Nice to meet you, Sakamura-san." Motoyuki greeted Kumi.

"Hello there." Yukari smiled.

"Ah, hahi~ P.. pwease to miit you."

Kumi, who wasn't used to socialize with people can't help but be fluttered. It was one thing if she interacts with people in the internet, as she can hide behind the monitor, not revealing her face. However, it would be a different matter to meet face by face with people in real life.

After all, she is just a keyboard warrior!

Looking at Kumi's attitude, Kayoko shakes her head. It seems Kumi's social anxiety is more severe than she thought. Motoyuki and Yukari also seems have that doubt in their face. Although they were still smiling outside, but for Kayoko, a slight glance is enough to see the qualm in their facial expression.

"Let's cut the discussion short. Kumi, the reason I called you here is because I... No, we require your help." says Kayoko as she grabbed Kumi's shoulder.

"...Help?"

"Yes... This [Healing Paw] cafe is in an urgent state of understaffment. Many of our part-time workers are in their 3rd year of high school and they have already resigned to prepare for the university exam."

As Kayoko said, she released her grip and moved herself to the window.

She stared to the cloudy sky as she continued.

"You should have seen our cats earlier, haven't you? We have a lot of cats, and to take care of them as well as serving the customers, just us three and 2 part-timers is far from enough. Not to mention, I have a duty as a teacher and other jobs as well. Don't you think so, Kumi?"

"Uh... Yes...?" Kumi nodded.

Kayoko then turned her glance back to Kumi. Then, she dropped a bombshell that shocked not just Kumi, but the Kobayashi couple as well.

"This cafe urgently needs helper. If this problem continues, we might be forced to turn some of the cats in this shop into cat stew!"

"WHAT?!!" Kumi couldn't help but shouted.

Even though Kumi is not an enthusiastic cat lover, but imagining a soft and friendly fluffy cat being slaughtered makes her feel terrible. How could people be able to do such vile things to those adorable creatures?

Animal cruelty!

Kumi instantly glared at the Kobayashi couple. If they could do such a thing as killing those lovely animals, then they were not in their right minds.

How can she be sure they won't do the same thing to humans?

"Brute!"

Motoyuki and Yukari: "..."

'What the heck are you saying Kayoko-san?! When did we say such things? Look at that... because of your words, Sakamura-san completely misunderstand us!'

Facing Kayoko's slander, the couple could only struck dumbfounded.

Originally, this cafe was just a normal cafe that served beverages. Motoyuki had inherited the cafe signboard from his family. As for the cats, they were stray or abandoned cats picked up by his wife. Being a cat lover herself, she can't watch those cats suffer and decided to just raise them.

It was not long after he married Yukari that the normal cafe changed to the current cat cafe. As she picked up more and more stray cats, the number of the cats kept increasing.

But although taking care of the cats is hard and demanding, but never in their right minds would any such vicious thought, as to turn them into cat stew, appear. 

"N... no! You're mist..."

Yukari wanted to retort and correct the misunderstanding, but unfortunately for her, Kayoko was faster. How could Kayoko allow Yukari to do so before her objective is completed?

"And then, I remembered about you, Kumi. Your current apartment didn't allow pets, but you have lots of pets in your parent's house, didn't you?"

"Uh, yes... That's right." Kumi nodded.

By now, her nervousness has gone away, since she no longer sees the Kobayashi couple in a good light.
(× Later on, they've spent a lot of energy and time to correct the misunderstanding.)

"Yes, you have good experience of raising pets. You can guess what I want to say next, right?" Kayoko smiled.

"Senpai... wants me to work here?" Kumi questioned.

"Correct."

Responding to Kumi's question, Kayoko nodded. As expected, Kumi is quick to learn. However...

"... Uh... I'm honored, but... the time... I'm also a teacher, I have to teach in the morning, and then..." Kumi still hesitating.

Obviously, the reason of her hesitation is because of her novel.

Although she feels bad for her senpai, but if she worked here in addition to her teaching work at school, it meant her novel writing time would be greatly reduced. If that happens, then she won't be able to maintain her daily updates.

"I think, I have to re..." Kumi was about to decline, but before she finished her words, Kayoko interrupted.

"The salary here is about 1.5k - 2k per hour¹Average hourly wage working part-time in Japan (2018) is 900 yen (About $8~).. Depending on the amount of customers, if our cafe is popular then the salary might increase." Kayoko calmly said.

"...ally apply to work in this place!" She immediately changed her mind without hesitation.

*GRIN*

Hearing Kumi's answer, Kayoko smirked.

As expected, money really makes the world go round!

♠♠♠

 

Ten minutes later, Kumi quickly regretted her decision to work in Healing Paw cafe. Sure the pay is good, the shop is clean, the cats and the other employee are also friendly to her.

However...

"Umm, is it really necessary to wear this while working?" Kumi wanted to cry, "...This is kinda embarrassing! Why do I have to wear this maid uniform?" She continued as she touched her cat-eared band and tail.

"It's the employee's uniform of this cafe after all. Don't worry Kumi-san, you're cute! Be proud of yourself! Nyan~" Kana consoled her.

"I understand that... But, but... Why is my uniform different than yours? My midriff is wide open though!? This uniform completely shows my belly! Isn't this bullying?" Kumi let out a tear in her eyes.

'What if my students saw my current appearance? My dignity as a teacher will be gone...'

"Well... What can I say? That's the only uniform available for your size. Everything else didn't fit well..." Kana awkwardly said.

Every other uniform, including the one used by former part-timers in the past, is tailored for high-schoolers. Of course they won't fit Kumi's figure. But magically, there is just one that matches her in the wardrobe.

It was as if it had been specially made with Kumi's body measurements in mind.

Hearing Kana's response, Kumi despaired. Now she understand what Kayoko means by 'paying with her body'.

"Don't worry about trivial things, you will get used to it soon! Nyan~" Kana cheered her up.

Soon after that, the doorbell chimed, signaling a customer entered. 

"Look, that's your first customer, Kumi-san! Good luck, and don't forget to say Nyan~!"

Kumi nodded as she tried her best to suppress her tears and embarrassment. She walked to the entrance door and greeted the customer. She tried her best to smile and speak in a cutesy manner.

"Welcome master! Please enjoy your stay... Nyan~!"

But the next moment, her smile freezes as she realized the identity of the customer.

Akina: "..."

Kumi: "..."

In that instant, the atmosphere suddenly become awkward.