"That was pretty excellent of me, I'll say."
Feeling proud of how I handled our first customer, I continued practicing coffee art.
Even if Sebas looks a bit scary, he was a very gentle and kind mortal.
As a being that's also created, he cared enough to not ask me for my name.
'haa… sadly, being the nothingness that I am. I would never have a name.'
Even being granted a consciousness is already breaking the law of origins. Can't be too greedy now.
Since if I was to give a name. That would solidify my existence, then that means I wouldn't be 'nothing' anymore.
'Well, nothing itself is already a name attached unto me. So I guess, technically I have a name?'
"Ah. I don't know, I'ma just do my job."
Grumbling a bit after having an existential crisis, the door then opened, telling me the customer has come.
What was revealed behind it was 2 children covering their self up with straws. A girl and a boy.
The younger girl has silver hair and blue eyes while the older boy has black hair and blue eyes.
Seeing that there was some snow on them, I quickly took off my jacket and covered them with it.
"Are you cold? Sorry, that was a stupid question."
It's obvious already, they are shivering covering themselves up with straws even while hugging each other.
"Use this and warm yourself up." As I tried to offer a warm blanket for both of them. The older one immediately steps up.
"Who are you?! Don't you dare touch my sister!" the boy wobbly steps in front of her sister, warning me with his eyes.
These kinds of moments are really what intrigued me as a non-sentient being.
Because look at him. His body which has been malnourished is covered up in black and blue. And yet, he still stands up, trying to protect his little sister.
It really interests me. Why did he have to go that far? What drives him to do it? Why didn't he give up?
I really want to know. For what reason. For what reason do they continue to live under the harsh condition that they've been put in their world.
'haha. As expected humans are the most interesting.'
I can't help but also wanting to feel what they feel.
But first, I have to help them.
======
"That damn old bastard, I will definitely kill you someday."
A young boy curses out while walking through snow, he's dragging stacks of straws that he stole from a nearby farm.
In return however, a massive beating took place. The owner after seeing how dirty the straws were because of him, decided to let him go.
Gyutaro also decided to not make a fuss and hurriedly gathered the straws and then walked away.
"Ume, I'm back."
Gyutaro called her little sister, his only pride and joy in this world. Unlike him who was born cursed and ugly, his little sister was born with beauty and grace.
"Onii-chan. You're finally back." With a bit shaky voice Ume replied.
"Sorry, there was a problem on the, you must've been cold."
Gyutaro covers his little sister shivering body with the straws he stole and sits down behind her.
"Mmm." Ume shakes her head. "As long Nii-chan is with me, I'm fine."
"haha, don't worry. The two of us together can't be beat. I promise you we're always going to be together."
Gyutaro tries very hard to cheer her little sister. But knows deep down they can't keep being like this.
Their body is already beyond the freezing point, even though they managed to survive winter for today, who knows what would happen if a blizzard suddenly comes?
'at the very least, ume has to find shelter.' Gyutaro thought.
Unlike him, Ume isn't born and used to pain. She was different than him who has endured many kinds of difficulties.
'you damn shitty gods. I'm begging you for the last time, save my sister.'
"Onii-chan look at that." Ume point her fingers.
"Ahh?"
A black door, completely black with just a handle. Standing still in the middle of the snow.
Oddly thing was the snow that should've fallen on it. Disappeared. No, it more like dissipates.
"What is that thing?" Gyutaro questioned while being wary.
"I don't know, but Nii-chan can't we get close to it?" Ume asked like a little kid, interested in finding out new things in her life.
Gyutaro is still worried and had a bad feeling about this door. His instinct after going through many ordeals in his life, warned him about it.
But faced with the twinkling puppy dog eyes of his sister, he eventually gave up.
"Uwaaa! Look at this Nii-chan! Even the bottom part isn't covered in snow!"
Ume crumpled a snowball and decided to throw it at the door, but the snowball just fades out.
"There's a handle on the door. Nii-chan can I open it?!"
"Ume, I don't think that's good." Gyutaro seeing Ume snowball disappeared after it touches the door. Hugged his sister closer in case of something bad happen.
"It's fine, Nii-chan is scaredy cat. It's just gonna open the other way." Not listening to his brother's warning, Ume decided to open it anyways.
When she opened that door however, the surroundings change. The cold that was sipping on to their bones no longer hurts.
As they look around confusedly, a strange young man comes up to them.
"Are you cold? Sorry. That was a stupid question."
He took off his clothes and carefully wrapped them around Gyutaro and Ume.
Gyutaro couldn't move. He was confused as to why was he covering them with his clothes.
Gyutaro then wakes up after seeing the young man in front of him, made two blankets appear out of thin air and offering it to them.
"Use this to warm yourself up."
Gyutaro sees the appearance of the young man, Black eyes with orange pupils, and the Supernatural power to create something.
Suddenly, Gyutaro remembered the rumors he accidentally heard. There was something that was killing people in the slums. They called it demons.
Acting fast, Gyutaro sprung out in front of Ume, shaking in fear while thinking about how to get away.
"Who are you?! Don't you dare touch my sister!" Gyutaro screamed, if what those people said was true, then this demon will mercilessly kill both of them.
Gyutaro's brain is running so fast, he's continuously thinking about how to get away from this monster.
'He can create things out of thin air. He can easily block our exits, what about killing him? I don't have my sickles. What should I do…'
While Gyutaro was overthinking, the young man then laughed.
"Pfft. Ahahahahaha... Hahaha. My bad. It seems like I scared you." He gently patted both of their heads and take a step back.
"Welcome to my Café, dear customers. But, it seems like you are in dire need of assistance. Do please let me take care of you."
He bowed down and cradle them. Though as he tries with all his might, Gyutaro just can't seem to get out of his arms.
While Ume is just being silent, watching in confusion.
"Now, now, let's stop struggling, haha, just enjoy it~ I'm a 5-star certified attendant."
"Who the hell is rating you!"
"Myself. Haha."
Bathing, Choosing clothes, Eating, and eventually sleeping. The young man continuously takes care of them.
At first Gyutaro and Ume were suspicious, on the way to the bath, they kept struggling around trying to get out of his grip.
Calling it struggling is a bit wrong however, they both know this young man had no bad intentions towards them.
Because who would pick up and hug dirty childrens like them? Probably no one. The world they know is filled with humans lower than trash, a dog-eat-dog world.
Gyutaro is just not used to kind hospitality, while Ume is deep in her mind questioning why the young man is kind to them.
The young man patiently teaches them how to use the shower, filling the bathtub with warm water. Scrubbing their body with soap.
"See? You didn't look ugly at all. Gyutaro held your head up high. your sister is a beauty, obviously, his older brother will look handsome~."
Two children were standing in front of the mirror dumbfounded. Gyutaro actually didn't look that bad, cute even.
But those cuts, bumps, and bruises coupled with his malnourished body, significantly drop his looks. Now that he's healed and cleaned, he's at least above average.
All he had to do is now to eat well and gain muscles. He would definitely become pretty cool.
Ume? Let's just say her beauty went up a level or two. The young man may not understand what he has done.
But if mortals in her world were to see her, they would subconsciously took a glance and be mortified by her.
"Let's go to the front. It's time to eat! I will cook you the best food you've ever had! Haha."
The children followed the young man slowly to the front. Their minds are still not catching up to what is happening. The pain seeping into their body was miraculously gone, The cold they felt a moment ago was replaced with warmth.
for the children who was familiar with the exact opposite of this experience. it all feels like a dream, something too good to be true.
They arrive at the table and the Young man forces the children to sit before leaving and coming back with a tray on his hand.
The young man places the tray on the table as the children's eyes light up spontaneously. The two cannot turn away from the lure of HAPPY MEALS.
No children can, in fact. and the young man knew this well. He even specially made sure to procure it with toys.
Satisfied with the reactions they gave, The young man tried to walk away trying to grab the drinks he forgot.
As he turns around, a light tug made him stop in his tracks.
"Why are you so kind to us? We can't pay you. You knew this." Ume finally said the thing that has been bugging her mind.
Gyutaro also went silent, he knows no person would give without expecting something.
Even if he doesn't want to admit it. Gyutaro appreciates him for taking care of them. He was something he yearned for back then. A parent, guardian, and friend.
But Gyutaro knew better the world is not that easy, it's always give and take, that's how he lived throughout his lives and the only world He knew. Gyutaro slowly made up his mind, whatever this man want he would obey it. Even if He would fall to disgrace, and sacrifice everything he got.
'At least, at the very least. Ume's happiness would be guaranteed. Ume's would be able to live with all this comfort.'
The young man patted both of their heads gently and said.
"Kindness doesn't need payment. If being kind to other people is something that needs to be questioned. Then, your world is not worth living in anymore."
The young man smiled, before flicking their heads. "Children's job is to sleep, learn and have fun. Let the adults take care of the hard things."
"Is that enough? go eat before the food went cold." Released from the grasp of ume's hand. The young man went back to the kitchen.
Silence filled the room. There's no one else besides the two of them just like always. However, in the quietness, certain words kept resonating inside their heads.
their hearts feel heavy, mixes of emotions are piling up, a certain feeling was welling up. it keeps bubbling up, wanting to escape from their body.
one doesn't understand why and one doesn't want to believe why. But they both know the emotion they hold, the other is holding it too.
It took one sniff, one sniff and the everything came pouring out. The dam they were trying to hold burst open with just a sniff.
The young man came back bringing 2 glass of water and a helpless look on his face.
With a runny nose and messed up appearance, Gyutaro and Ume devour the food like no tomorrow.
They don't know if it was because they never tasted good food, but whatever they've eaten doesn't hold a candle to his cooking.
"eat slowly. I can always make more, geez. You will dirty your clothes." The young man said while wiping The children's face with a cloth.
Despite saying that, both of their speed did not diminish whatsoever. The young man inside also felt happy seeing both of them liked his food.
After that, The young man teaches them the things inside the café. How to operate them, what is it used for, and simultaneously entertain them.
Gyutaro's eyes got wide open when he watches a giant robot fighting Godzilla. While Ume is having fun relaxing on the bean bag watching his older brother.
They keep bantering with each other, The young man keeps provoking and laughing at Gyutaro, while Gyutaro keeps falling to his provocation.
Seeing her new side of her brother, Ume laughed, she hoped if this was a dream she would never wake up from it.
When the children fall asleep, he lies them down on his bed upstairs and proceeds to do his job again.
=======
'Children's Innocence must be protected.'
It seems like the words that mortal said were true. I don't know what kind of hardships they've experienced in their life. But it's not a good one.
Gyutaro's wounds aren't just bruises. He got countless wounds all over his body. Small cuts, Deep cuts, and even bone fractures.
'yet, he endures all that with his malnourished body.'
Was it because to protect his little sister? Unlike him. His little sister's skin is flawless, with not a single blemish everywhere despite them coming from the slums.
'Hmm… it interests me… very much so'
I would love to continuously observe them. But I guess that conversation is on hold until they woke up.
'hmm~ hmm hmm. I wonder what will come next~ A draconian, humans, maybe it's time for mythical beings? Pegasus maybe?'
Whatever it is, it must've been interesting to meet them.
Kinda can't wait. Haha.