Today was the 20th of June, another hectic day waiting to unfold.

It started with a surprise announcement during the morning staff meeting.

Manna clapped her hands together and cleared her throat. "Alright everyone, listen up. We’ve got a new part-timer joining us at the front desk. She’ll be helping out starting now to get prepared for when Ruka goes on maternity leave. Be nice. Don’t scare her off. Since Suzuka will be covering the front desk, Ryuko, you’ll be filling in for Ruka’s spot. I trust you’ll handle it."

"Thank you, ma’am," I said with a nod to Manna.

Hearing Manna’s words about trusting me to fill in for Ruka made a tiny flicker of pride spark in my chest.

Manna patted my shoulder and said, “You’ll get a bonus while covering for Ruka too — don’t slack off,” before excusing herself as the meeting wrapped up, already busy with something else.

I quickly said thank you once again to her, grateful for the trust — and the bonus.

I stole a glance at Keiko, and by chance, our eyes met. She gave me a small, warm smile. I smiled back before quickly looking away, feeling my ears heat up.

Manna gave Keiko a nod before turning to leave. “Keiko, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Keiko nodded firmly and replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

---

Anyway my first thought about the new kid: Please don’t be another Aki. My soul can’t take another loud gremlin.

When the door opened, in stepped a polite, calm-looking girl with long dark hair tied neatly in a low ponytail. She bowed properly and said, "Hello, my name is Suzuka. Nice to meet you, Seniors."

I blinked. Wait… she’s polite? Mature? Did we just get a normal person? She looks really young though. I quickly smiled and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you too, Suzuka. Welcome aboard."

Aki, being Aki, practically threw her arm around Suzuka’s shoulder. "Perfect timing, kid! I’m in charge of training you. Stick with me, and you’ll be awesome."

I shuddered a little. There goes another innocent soul.

Then Aki perked up like a cat spotting a laser pointer. "Oh! Perfect timing! I’m throwing a birthday party today — Suzuka, you’re invited too! We’ll celebrate welcoming you as well!”

Birthday? My brain froze like a cheap laptop running ten tabs. Wait a damn minute… yesterday was Aki’s birthday?! I glanced at the others and — oh great, they all looked like they knew.

Betrayal.

“Hold up,” I pointed an accusing finger at her. “You didn’t even tell us you were having a birthday celebration.”

“You’re not invited anyway, Ryuko,” she pouted, jabbing a finger in my direction. “You didn’t even congratulate me yesterday.”

Well, okay, that stung. I desperately turned to Keiko, my last hope for moral support. I whispered, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Keiko gave me a look. "Why should I?" And just like that, an invisible arrow pierced my chest. Touché, Keiko.

But still, as a decent coworker, I had to patch things up.

I forced a smile Aki’s way. “Happy birthday, Aki. Sorry for the late wish.”

She pouted again but smirked. “Thanks, but no treat for you. You can just go home early today.”

“Oh no you don’t,” I grinned, leaning on the counter. “You said this is Suzuka’s welcome party too. Which means I’m still invited. Nice try though.”

Aki looked like she wanted to argue, but sighed in defeat.

Victory tastes sweet.

Then, as if on cue, Miko chirped, “Oohh, Aki! How was your birthday party yesterday?”

And off she went. Aki launched into a never-ending monologue about her dinner date, fancy cake, and — plot twist — she apparently has a girlfriend now. Good for her, I guess.

Meanwhile, Suzuka stood there like a polite deer in headlights, probably wondering what chaotic mess she’d signed up for. Poor kid. She had no idea what kind of zoo she’d just joined.

---

Keiko was busy giving Suzuka a proper run-through of all the admin work and kitchen rules, while Ruka supervised me from a chair with her very pregnant belly resting comfortably.

Suzuka, bless her, kept up with Keiko’s instructions like a pro. Calm, attentive, polite — everything Aki weren’t.

That's what I thought.

---

Finally, closing time rolled around, I stretched my arms when Aki burst into the room like she owned the place, throwing both arms in the air. “Let’s gooooo!!” she yelled — and to my genuine shock, Miko and Suzuka yelled it with her like they’d rehearsed it.

Suzuka’s getting along way too fast. It’s only been a day and she’s already one of them. Someone save this child.

I raised a hand. “Okay but… where exactly are we going?”

Aki shot me the death glare of a gremlin queen. “You don’t have the right to ask, Ryuko.”

Sigh. Should’ve known.

I gave it one more shot. “Hey, just don’t pick a weird or dangerous place. Ruka’s pregnant, remember?”

Aki waved me off like I was some nagging grandma. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Trust me.”

I did not, in fact, trust her.

After last year’s disastrous onsen trip, my expectations were low. But like the helpless salarywoman I was, I sighed, grabbed my bag, and followed the pack of idiots out the door.

Turns out she rented a small karaoke bar and restaurant combo. Not bad, actually. Cozy and private.

"Alright, take a seat everyone!" Aki commanded.

We settled in as she started pointing fingers like some sort of mafia boss. "Okay — budget time. Ruka, 1500 yen. Miko, 1500 yen. Keiko, 1500 yen. Suzuka-chan, 1500 yen."

Then she pointed at me. "You… 500 yen."

I almost flipped the table. "Oi, seriously?!"

Aki grinned like a gremlin. "That’s what you get for forgetting my birthday. Life’s tough."

Miko laughed so hard she nearly fell off her chair. Suzuka giggled, still a bit reserved.

"Discrimination," I grumbled.

As the food arrived and the karaoke started, something… unexpected happened. Suzuka, our polite little newbie, grabbed the mic and belted out a flawless, fiery cover of a rock song. The room exploded in cheers.

Aki leapt to her feet. "Yes! You’ve got guts, kid! You’re officially one of us now!"

Suzuka giggled, and from that moment on, her polite exterior melted. She started joking around, teasing me, and before I knew it, she was keeping up with Aki and Miko’s idiot energy like she’d been born for it.

I stared at her, betrayed. She was supposed to be the normal one…!

Keiko smirked and leaned in, whispering beside me, “Welcome to hell, Ryuko-senpai.”

A chill ran down my spine hearing that kind of tease from her of all people, and I could only pout back at her like a sulking kid.

The rest of the night was pure chaos — bad singing, worse dancing, Aki trying to make Suzuka drink cola through her nose, and Miko pulling off some ridiculous slapstick fall that nearly took down the buffet table.

By the time we left, my head hurt from laughing and Suzuka had officially become part of our band of lunatics.

I swear I could hear an angelic choir singing somewhere in the background. Just because I survived another day of Aki’s chaos.