Mira tightened the strap of her bag and stepped out from the internet cafe. She's been working her freelance job there for the past 2 hours. The morning rush had died down, leaving the city in that brief, quiet in-between—too late for office workers scrambling to beat the clock, too early for the lunch crowd.
She took a deep breath, the cool air filling her lungs.
The reality of her situation had fully settled in last night, long after Hikari had fallen asleep.
She needed more money.
Freelancing wasn't cutting it anymore. It was one thing to scrape by on unstable income when she was only responsible for herself. But now, with Hikari living under her roof, she couldn't afford to take risks.
She had always lived one invoice away from disaster, but it had never truly scared her until now.
So today, she would fix that.
First, the online route.
Mira found a quiet bench near the train station, sat down, and pulled out her phone.
She opened the job board app, scrolling through listings with sharp focus.
Digital Marketing Specialist – Must have 5+ years of experience.
Event Photographer – Contract-based, pay varies per project.
Retail Associate – Full-time preferred.
Etc.
She sighed. Nothing she hadn't already seen.
The same cycle, the same frustrating reality—every job in her field either wanted too much experience or offered too little stability.
Still, she applied to a few. No harm in trying.
But she already knew she couldn't rely on luck.
Freelance gigs took time to process, and she needed something now.
Her fingers tightened around her phone.
Fine. If online wasn't going to work, she'd try the old-fashioned way.
She took one last sip from her water bottle, stood up, and started walking.
-
The first place was a corporate office.
She stood outside for a long moment, staring at the polished glass doors and the intimidating logo above them.
This place looked too fancy for her, but hey—she was already here.
She stepped inside, greeted by pristine floors and the faint scent of expensive cologne.
A woman at the reception desk barely spared her a glance.
"Do you have an appointment?"
Mira hesitated. "No, but I was wondering if you were hiring—"
The receptionist cut her off with a perfectly rehearsed smile.
"All applications must be submitted through our online portal. Please check our website for openings."
Mira blinked.
Well. That was fast.
She muttered a quick "Thanks" before walking back out.
One down.
-
The next place was a department store.
Less intimidating. More familiar.
She stepped inside, making her way toward the hiring desk in the back.
The manager—a tired-looking man in his fifties—glanced over her resume with zero interest.
"We're only hiring full-time staff," he said flatly. "Are you available six days a week?"
Mira hesitated. "Uh… how flexible are the hours?"
The manager finally looked up at her.
"Not at all."
Mira forced a polite smile. "Right. Thanks for your time."
She turned and left.
Two down.
-
By the time she reached the third place—a small bookstore tucked between two taller buildings—she was tired.
She stopped outside, rolling her shoulders, taking a slow sip from her water bottle.
The streets were still busy, people passing by in different directions, caught up in their own routines.
She used to love people-watching. Used to imagine their stories, wonder about their lives.
But right now?
All she could think about was how everyone here seemed to know exactly where they were going.
And she… didn't.
Mira exhaled through her nose. No use standing here.
She stepped inside.
The smell of old paper and warm wood greeted her. The bookstore was quiet, a welcome change from the crowded streets.
An older woman at the counter gave her a small smile. "Can I help you?"
Mira hesitated, gripping the strap of her bag.
"Are you hiring?"
The woman tilted her head. "Do you have any experience in book retail?"
Mira opened her mouth—then shut it.
She had spent a lot of time in bookstores. Did that count?
Probably not.
"Not officially," she admitted. "But I learn fast."
The woman hummed, considering.
"We're only looking for weekend staff at the moment."
Mira exhaled slowly. Not enough.
"Got it," she said, offering a small, polite nod. "Thanks anyway."
The woman smiled. "Good luck with your search, dear."
Mira walked back out.
Three down.
-
By the time she found herself outside a small café, she had lost track of how many places she had tried.
This one was different, though.
It felt familiar.
Warm lighting. Soft chatter. The scent of coffee and fresh pastries.
It reminded her of Moonlight Crumbs—but without the weird magic.
She stepped inside, adjusting the strap of her bag.
A woman in her late forties greeted her from behind the counter. "Looking for something?"
Mira hesitated, then took a deep breath.
"Are you hiring?"
The woman wiped her hands on a dish towel and gave Mira a once-over.
"Got any experience?"
Mira shifted.
"Not exactly. But I've been working at a bakery. Well—not working, more like—constantly there. I know my way around a register, I know how to handle customers, and I make a mean latte."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "You a fast learner?"
Mira nodded. "Yeah."
"Can you start training next week?"
Mira blinked.
That was… fast.
"Yeah. I can."
"Good. Monday, nine a.m."
And just like that—
She had a job.
-
The sun had started dipping lower by the time she walked back toward her apartment.
Her feet ached. Her brain felt sluggish.
But at least she had something.
The pay wouldn't be much—definitely less than freelancing—but it was stable.
It was something she could rely on.
And right now?
That was what mattered.
She turned onto her street, spotting the faint glow of the apartment window ahead.
-
Hikari already inside when mira arrived.
Mira exhaled slowly, stepping through the door.
She dropped her bag onto the floor, rolling her shoulders.
Hikari glanced up from the small kotatsu table where she was flipping through her notebook.
"You're late," she commented.
Mira groaned, flopping onto the couch. "Long day."
Hikari raised an eyebrow. "Bad day?"
Mira tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling.
"…Nah."
Hikari went back to her notebook. "Find anything?"
Mira smirked.
"Yup. You're looking at a future café worker."
Hikari actually looked surprised.
"Wait, really?"
Mira stretched her arms behind her head. "I start Monday. Get ready to hear me complain about customers on a whole new level."
Hikari shook her head, amused.
But then, after a pause—
"…You didn't have to do that for me, you know."
Mira turned her head slightly, meeting Hikari's gaze.
Something unspoken lingered between them.
Mira exhaled.
"Yeah," she said. "I did."
Hikari lowered her gaze.
Then, quietly—
"Thank you."
Mira smirked. "Better pay me back by cooking."
Hikari laughed softly.
For the first time since this whole mess started—
Mira felt like things might actually be okay.