Mars is an energetic and a chatty person, she likes to talk with people and has many friends. One day, she almost died in an accident and was saved by the boss. Her boss was 28 years old at that time, so he looked like a prince charming in her eyes at that moment. She decided to visit him in his small takoyaki restaurant to see him.
When she entered his mini restaurant, she ordered a takoyaki, her favorite food, while stealing a glance at him. She noticed that he doesn't have a helper so she applied to help him and repay him by helping his newly built small restaurant to grow. She's a skilled cook so the small business started to grow as time passed.
But one day, a person who wants to buy the boss restaurant appears at the place. It seemed that there's someone behind that person who wanted the land where the boss's small restaurant was located. The boss rejected the person's offer and that leads to trouble coming up every day. The person did all kinds of horrible things to pressure the boss to sell his land.
The boss endured it and stood strong, but I felt sorry for him and felt furious towards that person. I didn't know the identity of the one who caused my savior to suffer.
I became suspicious of the people entering the restaurant, whether to eat or simply apply for jobs. I always question the applicants and reject them if I feel that they have an unknown agenda. I am the boss partner that's with him for years, so I have a say in accepting and rejecting an applicant
That's why I also tested the newcomer that the boss hired. The moment I ask,
"Tell me about yourself, Who are you?"
The young woman became agitated as though it hit her hard. The moment I saw that reaction, I thought that it's a ploy again by those bastards. I planned to confront her, but for some reason, the atmosphere around us started to feel uncomfortable. It's like I've fallen into a swamp. I nervously looked at Ilaya's eyes as she tilts her head and speak
"Didn't I tell you?"
Then she smiles with a cute expression, I also thought that she's cute when she's smiling, but this time, her smile feels incredibly unnerving and a chill runs down through my spine. I thought I saw a faint red mist around her, and the moment I blink, it's already gone and it makes me think that I hallucinated. She then said
"I'm Ilaya"
I had known for the first time that digging the past of others is frightening
….
Ilaya looked at Mars who's looking at her strangely, I noticed that she's a bit pale and sweating so I asked worriedly
"Nee-chan, are you okay?
She seems to return to her senses
"Y-Yeah.. sorry, I seemed to have let my thoughts wander away"
Relieved, I sighed
"If you want to know, not my name I mean, but about my past, then I don't know. You can join us later when the owner talks to me to know my story if that's what you want"
"Why would the boss want to talk to you?"
Ilaya then shrugged
"I made an extremely shameless request so I've got rejected. But he says that we'll talk it through again after the restaurant closes, so we'll be having a conversation again. If you want to know, you're free to listen"
Mars then thoughts for a bit
"Okay, I'll be listening, I owe that old man my life so I'll be there to mediate
She hesitates for a moment then stands up and said cheerfully
"Let's go Ilaya, let's return to work"
Ilaya then smiles then follows her outside the room
"Yes, nee-chan"
…
Ilaya and Mars got busy in the kitchen. Mars is the one cooking the food and Ilaya is the one serving the meals and cleaning the tables. The boss managed the counter, together, they managed to make everything right and not make mistakes. The time then reached 7:30pm and the boss decided to close the restaurant and the three of them headed to the staff room to rest. Mars also brought food to the room for their dinner
The three eat their fill and chat about what they're doing in their work, and mainly, guiding Ilaya to be more efficient and fast. They finished their dinner satisfied, then the owner went to the main point of the conversation, of course, it's about Ilaya
The boss then said to her
"Young lady, now that we finished our dinner, let's go back to our unfinished conversation earlier. I just have one request to be able to grant your request"
Ilaya then look at him calmly
"Is it about my origins? About who I am?"
I decided to get his help anyway, so nothing will change if I keep my circumstances from them. If telling them my problem can help me solve them, then I'll do it
The owner then shakes his head
"Convince me why should I help you?"
Ilaya is so surprised that she let an unintentional sound
"Ah?"
Mars seemed surprised to, she looked at her boss and her eyes is filled with worry, not for the boss, but for Ilaya
Under the serious gaze of the owner, Ilaya collected herself and hesitantly said
"C-convince you?... I-I don't know how to convince you. I have nothing"
The owner then looked at the center of her chest
"Are you sure you have nothing?"
Ilaya then flinch and covered her chest with her arms, then ask in a trembling voice
"What are you t-talking about! And where are you even looking!?"
Even Mars turned her head to look at her boss and glared at him coldly. The boss then coughed and said
"Cough! You misunderstand me, I'm talking about your heart. What is it that you desire the most?"
Ilaya then calmed down and pondered about the owner's question. The answer is simple isn't it?
"I… want to remember my past!"
The owner and Mars seemed taken aback by my declaration, and the two looked at each other
"Amnesia?"
"Search for her past?"
Then they both turned towards Ilaya and said
"Are you serious"
"Is this a joke"
Ilaya then sighed
"I am serious and wished it was a joke, but it's the truth. I don't remember anything after I woke up in the street 3 days ago. All I have is my wallet that has an ID of mine that doesn't have an address, a key, and a candy. Ohh! I also have a ring, here, take a look"
Ilaya remove her necklace with a ring on it and gives it to the owner, Mars also got closer to take a closer look
"What a unique ring"
"It's so beautiful!!"
Well, of course it does. It's so beautiful that I didn't even dare to wear it on my finger for fear of being mugged
The owner then gives the ring to Mars whose eyes is sparkling and said to Ilaya
"So you're saying that you have amnesia and can't remember your past?"
He sounded doubtful as typically, a person with amnesia is often lost in thought and disoriented in their daily life. And now, this young lady is walking around fine and even joking around, is saying that she had amnesia. This is really like a joke