Kota-Sensei takes out a cute pink box from underneath the cabinet.
"Give this to Ms. Taka for me, okay? For all her hard work."
I suppose this is what he was staying up for the last few nights.
"But, Kota, you're giving too many things away for free…how will the business benefit from this?"
"Oh, Apprentice…"
He looks at me with a bittersweet face. One that says 'you're right', as much as he hates to admit it.
"It's fine. She already paid through her tutoring, right?"
"....But, Kota, it's not like she teaches you."
"Well, then it's just an act of kindness. There's no harm in that at all, is there?"
He smiles like he's won the argument.
"With a face like that, you know I can't reject that sentiment, huh, Sensei?"
"Ahahaha, yeah, that's the point! Manipulation!"
I sigh.
As much as Kota is my overseer, he's more of a kid than I am.
"Well, you better get going. I wouldn't want to keep Taka waiting. As much as she is pretty, she can be a real demon sometimes."
"...Yeah, you're right."
I think of the dirty face I'll get when I return home.
On top of Taka-Sensei's cold demeanor, the number one rule she has is being on time to things, and I simply do not follow it.
"—Wait, did you say she was 'pretty'—? Could this be more than an act of kindness, Sensei?"
"Don't be silly, Apprentice! Like I said, it's only an act of kindness."
I'm whacked on the head.
….Or, more or less, paddled by the likes of whining toddler.
"Get home already! You're making me sick by sticking around here!"
"Okay, okay. I'm committing quite the sin by being out so late, anyways."
I stare at the clock above the counter.
Without looking away, I mindlessly chuckle out something stupid.
"—Who knows, maybe I'll get caught up in those kidnappings lately. You always say I look kind of feminine, huh?"
"...?"
But, Kota gives me a troubled look.
It was meant to be a joke to myself, but from his expression, whatever I said was scary.
"…You've heard of the recent disappearances, right, Kota?"
"Hm. No, I have not heard of such."
…Right.
How could I have forgotten?
Sensei's never had a television or phone before, so he's practically living under a rock when it comes to news.
It can become a real hassle when I need to tell him something from home, since I'd have to walk all the way here. He doesn't even buy any mailboxes or mail services.
But, I suppose his kind personality makes up for it.
"Well, there have been a lot of missing people from Shukufuku lately. The victims are all women, and they always get kidnapped at night."
"Oh…was it in the residential district?"
"Hm? No, I wouldn't know. To be fair, I don't know much about it. I was planning to watch more tonight."
"Hm. Alright, then. Be careful, Sustrous."
"Yeah. Are you going to close up shop?"
"Soon enough. I just have a few more things to get too, so I'll be going to bed quite late tonight."
"Is that so? You really should start going to bed earlier, Sensei. Maybe that's why you always have jetlag…"
"Well, business doesn't wait around for sleepers!"
"—Don't say that if you don't charge people! It's only a business if you get paid!"
"Pahahaha! I have you all riled up for nothing! You haven't changed since the day you became my student, have you?!"
He hands me the box.
"Here. It's an ice cream cake, so don't linger around or it'll melt."
"Thanks, Sensei."
"Don't thank me, let Taka do that!"
He chuckles gleefully as he takes off his baking gloves.
"—H-hey, Sensei—!"
"—Eh?"
A bulbous red vein bulges from Kota's right wrist, stringing up to his middle finger. A welt of some sort.
Like tomato juice, it stains the baking glove in a messy splotch.
"Ah, that. I wonder what this is?"
He looks at it like a confused puppy.
"D-did you burn yourself today? It looks harsh."
"Maybe. It's probably fine, so I'll just wrap it up before bed."
He carelessly nudges at the bruise with his finger.
"Yeah…but, it really is brutal…something like that seems too harsh for a simple first-degree burn…"
Kota fits the glove back on without looking up.
"It really is fine. It's not like it hurts or anything. Anyways, go ahead and get that cake to Taka. I'll stay up until two, so you go and rest for tomorrow."
"If you say so, Sensei."
I turn around to leave, but Kota's voice emerges as if he was recalling something.
"—Ah, wait. Sorry, but I actually won't be here tomorrow."
"Really? Why? What's the occasion?"
"Some family issues came up, so I'll have to get involved this time."
"Ah, I see…no problem. You don't have to tell me any more than that."
Kota's family is a broken one. His mother passed away a few years back, and ever since then, he and his five other siblings have been in and out of contact. In fact, most of them didn't even want to chime in to funding the funeral service.
It's always a bitter story when something concerning them comes up, so I just prefer to not linger on it at all. I think Kota appreciates it too, since he seriously thanks me afterwards.
"I won't show up tomorrow. I guess I'll see you…Wednesday, then?"
"Yes. Thank you, Sustrous. You were always so considerate."
With only a smile, Kota bows and waves goodbye as I open the door.
"Goodnight, Sensei!"
"Yeah, Goodnight!"
He still waves at me, no matter how far I walk.
It's only until his figure is so un-recognizably small that I no longer know where Kota or Shukufuku Bakery is.