Chapter 1: Call me Blast
"Let's break up, you don't make me feel cared for, you're boring."
And that's how it ended. He didn't feel grief nor anger, He simply put his phone back in his pocket and got up for another day.
"I have to get to work.."
He thought to himself, but his stomach objected, Breakfast was be the bigger priority.
The low humming of the old fan above him filled the room, The distant chatter of the television speaking to itself that died down in the background, the dim lights revealed painted walls cracking into flowing rivers.
The sunlight barely peeking in through the closed curtains.
"Wallet, water, watch, stuff..."
Ren mumbled to himself, picking up his bag, ready to leave the apartment.
Going down the stairs, Ren approached reception desk, an old man reading newspaper, not even bothering to look up, took the keys Ren handed over.
With that, Ren left the hotel, stomach still grumbling, reminding him of the need for nourishment
After a bit of aimless wandering, Ren reached a four-way crossroad, his eyes stumbled upon a bustling restaurant with customers, and opposite to it, a small bakery.
Ren chose the bakery.
He didn't know why. He gently pushed the door open and entered.
"Welcome to Komi's Bakery!"
Two distinct yet playful and welcoming voices spoke in unison.
one from a taller, middle-aged lady in her 30's, behind the counter with a bright smile, beside her a girl smaller in stature with the same smile, both of them had vibrant, pink hair, wearing matching pink, floral aprons.
Ren quietly approached the counter, a small chalkboard on it with the menu written in neat handwriting.
After a minute of quietly scanning the menu, Ren struggled to decide what to eat, going for the simplest option he could think of.
"I'd like to have hot chocolate, and..."
He tried to make out the word he struggled to pronounce, "You know the crescent rolled bread."
A rosy pink blush covered Ren's cheeks, embaressed at his own dumbness
The lady behind the counter chuckled
"It's alright, it's pronounced as 'croissant'"
She spoke sweetly, very sweetly, the kind that can not be faked even after thousands of rehearsals
"Uhm.. yeah, that."
Ren spoke shyly in reply
"C'mon dude, pronounce it, Croissant!"
The girl beside the lady chimed in
Ren looked flustered but decided to try anyway
"Croissant." He spoke with the little confidence he had in him in that moment
"Good, give me a moment!"
With that, the lady went into the back kitchen
Meanwhile, Ren noticed a familiar warmth build up inside him, He couldn't describe it. What he could describe was the sense of comfort.
His eyes scanned the bakery while he waited, the cream colored walls, the wooden furniture that gave the bakery a comforting, earthy scent along with smell of bread and dough.
The girl noticed Ren's curious eyes looking around and couldn't help herself but find it amusing.
"Never been to a bakery, big guy?"
She asked playfully with a smirk
Ren chuckled at the jab
"Never been to one that felt... you know, this nice.." his eyes look around to see the empty tables,
"It's very quiet and authentic, good for someone looking for some time by themselves..."
The girl sighed at that,
"Yeah... it's been like this for a while."
Ren could see her face falling ever so subtly.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw the bustling restaurant across the street, full of customers occupying tables and waiters moving around quickly.
Ren didn't speak, but he internally knew what was going on. Just then, the lady came out with Ren's order carefully packed.
"I packed it up for you."
She smiled, "You looked like you have places to be at."
Ren took the wrapped up order
"Thank you for the gesture, but I'll eat here."
Ren settled down at one of the tables, slowly opening up the packaging of the breakfast with slow, careful hands.
The smell of the freshly baked warm Croissant hit him like a freight train after his exhausting start of the day. The warm melted chocolate had a complimentary taste sccompanied with the croissant.
But while slowly enjoying his food, Ren felt their eyes on him, while the girl, who was probably the assistant, was busy arranging the baskets of bread and cleaning the shelf.
The baker was quietly watching Ren eating, the same smile on her face, then when Ren looked back at her, she realized she was staring.
"I am sorry, I was just making sure you liked it." she spoke sheepishly
"It's ok, these are really good, honestly!"
Ren spoke with a soft smile.
The ladies' expression beamed with happiness
"I am glad!" She smiled wider
After Ren finished eating, he approached the counter, counting the money in his wallet.
After paying for the order, he was about to leave.
"Uhm, can you wait a moment?"
The baker spoke up, and she brought out a small bag. It had pastry boxes in it
"Here, take these. They are on me!"
She spoke as she extended her hand forward
Ren looked surprised, eyes widening slightly
"Wha-..." He couldn't find words for a moment, his thoughts running wild
"Why? I mean..." He tried to reason, but seeing the determined look on the lady's face made him unable to refuse.
Ren ends up taking the offer without much fight
"Thank you." he spoke, but this time his voice was much more quiet, he was blushing, looking down at the floor
The lady smiled brighter
"You look cute blushing like that!"
She teased, a pleased look on her face
"But don't worry, when you walked in..."
She thought for a moment before speaking, "you looked so tense, I felt bad for not trying to help."
Ren looked up, eyes searching hers... he was shocked, this lady, he just met, didn't even know his name, but she offered him help, that familiar yet strange feeling of warmth was back, stronger this time
"May I...may I ask your name?"
Ren asked softly.
"Komi, Shiori Komi!"
She answered eagerly
Just then, ren jumped up when he felt two hands slap down and grab onto his shoulders. It was the assistant.
"And I am Mei komi!"
She spoke with energy, walking around in front of him, "You know I am kinda surprised, for a mostly quiet guy, you're pretty smooth with ladies!" She teased
Ren looked confused, but he knew what she meant
"Sorry, it's not what you think it is,"
He looked back down at the boxes of pastries
"Thanks again.. for this."
With that, Ren exit the bakery, but not before shiori waved him goodbye.
Ren checks the time on his watch, 10:03, the sun is bright, and the morning feels much better.
"Man... but what will I do."
He pondered while aimlessly strolling around.
Then, from a distance, he watched a car-wash. As tough as the work looked, it would pay well. The offer of money felt tempting.
Ren approached the car wash and entered inside the facility. He approached a middle-aged looking guy.
"Hello, I am looking for part-time work. You look like you're the owner of this car-wash."
Ren spoke calmly, bracing himself for any questions
The boss looked up from the cash register and took a moment to take in Ren's appearance.
"Sure, 4 hours, does that sound good for your first day?" He reasoned with the experience of someone having done this a thousand times.
"Sure!" Ren replied with a determined look. This job could pay enough for Ren to go another day without too much trouble.
Ren put on the uniform and went outside. He's had prior experience with cleaning and handling machines, so the work at went by fine at first.
But reality hits him again. The cold water in the breezy air made his hands shiver, and his muscles started aching after only washing two cars.
"Hey! Hey! Moron!"
An angry, obnoxiously annoying voice called out from behind Ren.
The guy who was calling out looked like some stereotypical douche-bag from a novel.
"Slow down. And rub in circles. You will scratch my car!" He scoffed, deliberately making sure Ren heard him.
Ren, already beat up by the reality of his work, spoke up meekly
"Sorry, I'll pay more attention."
With that, Ren went back to cleaning the windshield.
Later, after washing the car, Ren was called back inside. At the register, the owner was giving spare change to a customer, and then he turned towards Ren with a serious look.
"I am getting serious complaints that you're doing bad at your job,"
His eyes bore into Ren's, and the stern look he gave could ruin countless people's day
"I gave you this job out of the kindness of my heart, and I can kick you the same way, so you better do your job properly!"
Ren could only quietly listen and nod. With humiliation and anger, he went back out and got back to work.
After what felt like eternity, Ren was done with the work, being paid what could only be defined as scraps for the amount of labor he went through.
Ren looked at the boxes of pastries, and hunger stirred up inside the young man at the idea of a delicious treat, but Ren decided to find a comfortable spot.
After a bit of search Ren found an empty bench in a park and settling down, he opened a box of pastry, which was fortunately stillin good condition, he started eating, the sweet treats were made with love and care, the quality was better than a lot of expensive cakes Ren has had in his past.
But as he continued eating, a pang of guilt caught in Ren's heart, he took such a delicious meal yet couldn't thank Shiori and Mei in any way.
After feeling full, Ren simply took a walk. All the frustration that had bottled up in him earlier was gone, but the soreness in his aching muscles was still there.
Ren stood in front of a book store, looking down at the empty boxes, and then looking at passers by, ren want inside the bookstore to pass some time
Ren was checking out the shelves of books when he noticed a poster at a wall, he looked back at the book he was holding.
"Oh... oh yeah, I.. I saw the poster..and.."
Ren mumbled as he realised something.
The food wasn't the flaw. It was the marketing. The bakery wasn't well known among customers.
"Oh yeah... I CAN HELP!" Ren thinks to himself.
Ren immediately bolted out of the book store, going as fast as he physically could. After a few minutes, he stood outside the bakery, panting, he slowly entered.
"Uhm...Ms. shiori? Ms. Mei?"
Ren calls out, and he goes up to the counter. From the kitchen, shiori comes out.
"Oh! It's you! Did you like the pastries that much?"
She spoke with a raised eyebrow, taking in Ren's disheveled appearance. It was very apparent that he ran all the way to the bakery.
"Oh no, dear, did you run all the way here?"
Shiori swiftly moved around the counter, approaching Ren. She leaned down and wiped his face clean with the apron she was wearing
Ren was flustered, a blushing mess to say the least, he couldnt stammer out a single word, then Shiori, seeing his blush, took a slow step back
"So, did you like the pastries so much that you came back?" Shiori asked with a teasing tone
"I loved them, I absolutely did!"
Ren replied eagerly
"And I think I know how to help,"
Ren hurriedly pulled out his phone
"If you may allow, can I take a picture of you and Ms.Mei holding some pastries and bread."
Shiori looked confused, tilting her head, but then she smiled
"Well, aren't you forward, sugar!"
She laughed to herself
"I don't mind you taking my picture, but I don't know if my sister would be so eager."
Ren shook his head
"Hold on, I didn't mean in any bad way, I thought you could have posters around the district to help reach out to potential customers!"
Hearing the chatter Mei came out of the kitchen
"Oh! What's up? You came for more pastries? Get out, you beggar!"
She shooed him with her hand, but the chuckle that followed afterward made Ren ease out when he realised she was joking
"Hi Ms.Mei, I was wondering if you and Ms.Shiori could pose together for a picture, you know, for a poster!"
Hearing that Mei perked up
"Oh! I like the sound of that! Should I put on goggles?"
Shiori thought for a moment,
"Sure, but..." she thinks for a moment, as if debating between whether she should say it or not
"If you're doing this to pay me back... just know that I don't expect anything in return"
But, the sincerity in her voice made Ren want to help more
"No way! You don't have to worry about that, alright?" He shrugged her accusation off.
After a moment, shiori and Mei pose together while holding a box of pastry and a basket of freshly baked bread, Ren quickly took a few pictures.
"You're pretty smart, dude, and cool too!"
Mei spoke with a big grin
Ren quietly looked at her for a moment, then spoke up
"What makes you say that?"
He asked, genuinely curious
Mei shruged her shoulders
"You know, smooth guy who is willing to help even though we just met."
She gave Ren a big thumbs up. "Trust me, you and sis will get along well."
Ren raises an eyebrow at that and Shioro give Mei a stern look
"Mei, stop that!"
Then, she approached Ren
"But seriously, thank you, we really appreciate your help!"
Ren blushed harder than he ever had when shiori closed in the proximity
"N-no problem!"
Then Ren looked back down at his phone,
"Well, I'll go get the posters ready,"
Ren was about to hurriedly leave, but then shiori called out
"Wait! I... I wanted to ask, what's your name?"
Ren looked back at her, holding the door handle
"Ren!"
He spoke quickly, about to leave, but then he stopped, turning around
"Daichi ren"
He spoke with confidence
"But you can, call me Blast..."
He smirked ever so slightly
Shiori tilted her head at that
"So, we are using made-up names, huh?"
She chuckled
"Well then, you can call me honey."
Ren blushed furiously at that, stammering out and then composing himself
"Well, if you're honey, then I am a bear."
Shiori laughed at that, a hearty laugh
"Oh, you rascal!"
She wiped away a small tear under her eye as she spoke
"Do you always have something weird to say?"
Ren thought for a second
"I'll let you figure that out."
With that, Ren left the bakery.
He bolted out on the busy street, the passing cars, it all didn't feel shallow anymore.
Finally, after such a long time, Daichi Ren is looking forward to a brand new day...
