Senior Bu Ling

The front of the café looked much better than it had when they left. The debris and spilled coffee on the floor had all been cleaned up.

Auntie Bo and Bu Ling stood side by side behind the counter, their heads tilted slightly toward each other as they chatted quietly about something.

Hearing footsteps, they both turned to look.

Auntie Bo's gaze fell first on Chisaki's leg, then swept over their faces. Her first words held no reproach, only concern.

"How is it? Are you all right?"

Chisaki felt a sudden rush of relief, the weight that had been hanging over her heart settling gently.

She instinctively clenched her hands, then quickly shook her head.

"I'm fine, Auntie Bo. The wound's been treated. I'm sorry for causing trouble for the café just now."

"Oh, it's no big deal."

Auntie Bo waved a hand, a kind, gentle smile on her face. "Who hasn't made mistakes at work? It's normal for things to slip when you're busy. When I was young and running a café, I knocked over far more drinks than you two have."

"Since you're here, let me introduce you. This is Bu Ling. She worked here for a while before, so I suppose that makes her your senior."

Bu Ling smiled and waved to the two of them.

"Hello! I'm Bu Ling, from Star Torch Academy's Voidmatter Science Department. I guess that makes me your senior."

"Don't dwell on what happened just now. It's normal to make mistakes when you're busy. I used to work here too. I was in the kitchen, but there was a senior who came with me, and she was always getting flustered and knocking things over."

Her gentle words put Chisaki much more at ease. Both of them nodded slightly and greeted her as their senior.

Hearing them both call her senior sent Bu Ling's heart soaring. So this was what it felt like to be called senior. It felt so good.

"You mean Lynae, don't you?"

"I haven't seen that girl in a while either. I bet she still likes speeding around. Tell her to be careful, and if she has time, she should come by my café for a visit."

Bu Ling couldn't help laughing when she heard that and nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, that's Senior Lynae. Only you would still remember that ridiculous hobby of hers, Auntie Bo."

"Oh, wait, I guess I don't need to call her senior anymore. I heard she seemed to have been demoted a year for some mistake, so now she's my junior."

Auntie Bo froze at Bu Ling's words, a look of surprise appearing on her face.

"Demoted?" She blinked in surprise.

"That girl may be flighty, but she's always known her limits. Why would the academy demote her?"

"I don't really know the details. I just heard some classmates in the department mention it in passing."

Bu Ling spread her hands, a trace of regret in her eyes.

"She really does make people worry."

Auntie Bo sighed helplessly, though her smile was still tinged with fondness.

"Senior or junior, she's still the same little girl who loves to run wild and make a fuss. The next time I see her, I'll have to give her a good talking-to."

Bu Ling smiled, then looked at Wuling and Chisaki standing before her and spoke gently.

"You two don't need to be so nervous. Auntie Bo's café is the most easygoing place to work part-time around here. When I first came, I was much clumsier than you two. I made mistakes all the time. You'll get the hang of it."

"Thank you for the reassurance, Senior." Chisaki nodded gently, her voice soft and sweet.

Wuling nodded slightly as well. "I'll take that to heart, Senior."

Auntie Bo raised a hand to straighten her apron and looked gently at the young people.

"All right, all right, don't just stand there. That wound was just treated, so don't tire yourself out standing around. Find a seat nearby and rest for a while."

"You students are away from home studying, and you have to keep up with your classes while making time for part-time work to support yourselves. You have it hard enough already. How could I blame you for a few little mistakes?"

"I opened this café to give the kids from Star Torch a place to stop and rest, not to be hard on you.

"And if we're going by seniority, you should call me senior too."

"Huh?"

Seeing their somewhat bewildered looks, Auntie Bo smiled.

"That was many years ago. Star Torch Academy had only been established for a few years then, and it wasn't very well known. The original campus wasn't here, either."

"That was the year I enrolled. After I graduated, I worked elsewhere for a few years, and then my husband and I decided to find a place to open a café and live a quiet, stable life. Star Torch Academy had moved its campus to this area by then, and there was a lot of foot traffic here at the time, so we decided to settle right here."

"I used to work my way through school too, so of course I know how hard it is. That's why I wanted to hold up an umbrella for those who came after me."

So she was a veteran.

So that was how the café came to be. They were all good people.

Beside them, Bu Ling nodded, deeply moved. "I knew Auntie Bo was the gentlest. When I worked here, no matter what I did wrong, she never once scolded me."

The children's compliments left Auntie Bo beaming. She smiled and waved a hand.

"We've all been through it, so why make things difficult for each other? There's nothing to do right now, so go sit down and rest."

The two didn't refuse again. They murmured their agreement and went to the staff rest area.

There were only two or three tables of customers in the café now, much better than before.

The kitchen had finally quieted down too, and several people had gathered to drink water and chat.

"Would you like something to drink? I'll make you one," Wuling asked.

Chisaki paused for a moment, then nodded gently.

"A glass of orange juice, please. Sorry for the trouble, Senior."

"It's no trouble at all. Sit tight, and I'll be right back."

"Okay."

There was a juicer in the kitchen, so Wuling only needed to wash the fruit and toss it in.

After making her drink, Wuling also made himself a green grape yogurt drink.

He took a little sip. Well, even though it was his first time making it, the taste was beyond reproach. Just what he'd expect from his own handiwork.

As for the grape juice, Wuling didn't know whether Chisaki wanted ice, but since the grapes had already been frozen, the juice was refreshing enough on its own. He decided not to add any.

"Here's your grape juice."

Wuling set the grape juice on the table and sat down opposite her.

Chisaki picked up a straw and took a sip, then praised him.

"Mmm, it's delicious. Just what I'd expect from you, Senior."

"I'm glad you like it."

Though all he seemed to have done was wash the grapes and toss them in. That had nothing to do with skill, did it?

Chisaki turned her head to look at the café's gentle lights and murmured, "This is nice."

"Yeah," Wuling agreed softly.

During the brief silence, Chisaki hesitated for a moment, as though summoning a little courage. She turned to the young man beside her and called softly, "Senior."

"What is it?" Wuling turned to look at her.

"From now on... I'll practice hard."

Chisaki pressed her lips together, her gaze serious and determined.

"I'll get the hang of things, little by little, and stop holding everyone back."

Wuling looked at the bright determination in her eyes, and his lips curved into a faint, gentle smile.

"I believe in you."