The Art Of Sword

After a few minutes of walking, they arrive at the location, C.C Cafe.

When Jihu opened the door, it rang the bell above it, sending a nice *ding* across the room. After getting through the door, everyone admired the cozy atmosphere of the Cafe, then they heard a female voice yelling out.

Female voice: IN A SECOND!

Jihu: Take your time!

…

Then they heard tools banging into each other, running sound, and a male voice.

Male voice: No need to be hasty! And put the stuff down!

The running sound stopped and appeared in front of them was a cute girl with her hair tied up. One thing special about her is that she was whisking something in a clear glass bowl while greeting the group with a smile.

Pastry girl: Jihu, you back! And you bring customers!

Sunz: Is this the reason you befriended me?

Jihu: Everyone, this is Su. The best baker in Korea. In my opinion.

“And Su, these are my friends. You won’t need their names because you are bad at remembering them.”

Su: Hello everyone, make sure to spend a lot of money!

A tall male figure appeared behind Su, placing one hand on her shoulder.

*crack, crack, crack… ding*

Male voice: That's enough. Ten minutes in the kitchen now!

Su quickly scurries away “See you all in 10!”

Male Voice: Sorry about her. She is very free-spirited. My name is So.

So: I run this Cafe with my sister and parents. So table for 6, right? Come this way!

So led the group to their table, waited until everyone had sat down, and handed each of them a menu.

So: I’ll come back in a bit to collect your drink order, and she will collect your food order when she comes back.

So goes back to the counter.

Sunz: Jihu, you know these people?

Jihu: Yeah, knew them for quite a while. I usually work here with them during the summer.

Sunz: How did that happen?

Jihu: The girl in there started it. Jun, my sister, invited me to this Cafe to hang out because I was bored. Then Su asked Jun if she could borrow me for a bit.

“She thought that Su was interested in me, but what Su was interested in was my charisma, which helps draw in more customers.”

“I’ll show you.”

Jihu got out of his seat, talked with So for a few seconds, and headed to the back of the Cafe. At the same time, So approached their table with a notepad in his hand.

So: Is everyone ready to order their drink? I already have his.

Sunz: Iced coffee for me.

No Name: This Vietnamese coffee, what does it include?

So: It’s somehow familiar to iced coffee, but replace the milk with condensed milk or egg.

No Name: Egg? Raw?

So: Apparently so.

No Name: I’ll have the condensed milk version then.

So: Got it.

Yama: I’ll have a Matcha Latte.

So: Ok then.

Grace: A large Eiskaffee.

So: Ok… You three also want a large or smaller.

The rest: Large.

So: Ok, coming right up... *ding-ding-ding-ding*, and now it’s her turn.

Su ran from the back of the cafe to the group table at high speed, which made her trip. But she managed to save herself with a beautiful slide, along with her brother's help to make sure she didn’t knock the table over.

So: Here.

He tore a note off the notepad, then handed the notepad over to Su, then returned to the counter to make drinks.

Su: Hi, my name is Su, and I’ll be taking your cake order. Please tell me the cake number and the amount you want. One slice, two slices, or even the whole cake if you feel very hungry.

Grace: WHOLE CAKE!

Su: Sister, you really like cake, don’t you? It makes me really happy to hear that. I hope you order a lot… because... *clenching the notepad*... business has been bad lately. We don’t even have the money to send me and my brother to university.

…

“I- Ow!”

Something suddenly, out of nowhere, hit her head.

“So, what did you do that for?”

So then flicks something in his hand at Su. This time the object created a sound when it hit Su’s head, knocking her to the ground, and the object returned to So’s hand. He then put it back in his shirt pocket.

So: Stop fooling around and get the order.

Su: Fine! *Stand up* I suggest that you only order a slice to have a test to see if you like the flavor or not. After that, I can bring you the whole cake.

Grace: Can I order like 10 different slices?

Su: Are you ordering for the group or yourself, Sis? I can see the gluttonous in you.

Grace: We're all going to share... I hope so.

Su: You clearly want all to yourself, and I don’t want you to gain so much weight. So please order accordingly.

Jihu: You don’t have to worry about that, Su. *Walking out in a butler outfit*, we are going to clear at least 50 different slices.

Su: Still looking good as usual... I’m still skeptical, but sure, I’ll trust you. The first 10 slices are coming up.

Su headed back into the kitchen, and Jihu returned to his seat.

Sunz: Lookin fresh, buddy. Grace, can you snap a picture of Jihu and send it to me?

Grace: For what reason?

Jihu: He is going to submit my photo for ‘Best Looking Senior’. It’s a yearly tradition at our high school. He thinks I’m going to win it, but I disagree.

Sunz: The only reason you disagree is because this is a mixed competition. You don’t think you can win against the girls. They may have make-up, but you, you have the Korean gene. And plus, it's going to be really funny when you win.

So returns with everyone's drinks: I agree. It will be pretty funny to see you win.

Sunz: See, even this older guy agrees with me.

So: By how much older do you think I am?

Sunz: Maybe 10...

So: I’m only 20, kid. I know my voice does not match my face.

Sunz: I’m terribly sorry for aging you up so much.

Su: Don’t be sorry about that. With that fully mature voice and bossy attitude. Even grown-ups misjudge his age.

She then placed down a huge plate with 10 different slices each on a smaller plate.

“Enjoy!”

Everyone grabs a slice and enjoys it, except for Sunz.

Su: Hey ‘Edgelord’, why aren’t you taking a slice? Is my cake too sweet for your dark persona?

Sunz: No no, it’s not that.

Grace (Forgot) picks up another slice and shoves a few pieces inside Sunz’s mouth (That will keep you busy for a minute.).

“I’m currently responsible for feeding him because his arms are paralyzed.”

Su: How? From jacking off too much.

Sunz nearly choked on his food from laughing. *shakes his head*.

Grace: No… I hope that is not real. He injured himself while training… I think.

Su: Fun couple you found, Jihu. One sweet, one dark. Just like me and my brother.

Jihu: Sweetness is just her current cover. And the ‘Edgelord’ is pretty insecure about his body.

Su has a glance at Grace feeding Sunz while stuffing herself with cake.

Su: The second statement is obvious. But I don’t believe the first one, just look at them. Such a cute couple, and this is coming from a person who has seen couples form and break inside this shop. I even have ‘First Date’ and ‘Last Date’ cakes on the menu. So I know my stuff.

So grabbed a chair and sat between Sunz and Yama: If you know your stuff, then bring home a boyfriend then. Weren’t you voted as the number one ‘Wife Material’ in your first year?

Su grabbed a chair and sat between Grace and Jihu: The only husband I married to is ‘Baking’. Plus, I have no interest in any of them. The first years are horny, the second years are try hard and the third years are desperate.

So: So that event you did during Valentine, was it for their interest or you finding yours?

Su: Need I remind you that, that event brought this family a good amount of revenue.

So:…

Su:…

Sunz shaking his head, refusing the piece of cake to be shoved into his mouth.

Grace: You don’t like this flavor?...

So: I think he wants to say something.

Sunz nodded, then Grace stopped.

Sunz: I think you two want to share with us a story, but are having a hard time weaving it in. So it’s best to get straight to the point.

So: Are you a psychic?

Sunz: I don’t know.

Su: Psychic or not, I’m getting more slices. *leave the table*

So: You have a point. On Valentine's Day of her first year. She received a huge box containing lots of letters. Members of the student council were struggling while carrying the box to her class. But she didn’t have a problem carrying the box.

*Flashback*

Su (15)*carrying the box*: Anyone that sent me a letter, follow me to the schoolyard.

In the schoolyard, at least a hundred students show up, with the majority are boys of all grades and a few girls that have their phones out to record.

The box was placed a few centimeters from Su and a few meters from the students.

Su (15): I know I’m a desirable girl, and because of that. Just a month before today, I said “I have no interest in any of you, and I will burn the rest of the feeling you have for me on Valentine's Day.”

*pulling a matchbox out of her pocket, then proceeding to light a match and throw it into the bucket*

After a few minutes, all that’s left is ashes. Then the bell rings, and teachers have to come out to bring all of the students in, except Su.

The only person there with her was… the janitor, telling her to clean up her mess.

*Return to present*

Su: End of Part 1. *Carrying two big plates with 5 slices on smaller plates on each plate* Here are 10 new different slices. *smoothly transfer all 10 slices onto the huge plate*

Jihu: There are two parts to this story?

Su: I wish. After my big event, the next day I decided to give everyone in my school some chocolate.

Sunz: Why?

So: Because she is a psychopath, wanting to see how everyone will react, especially the people that saw their letter burned to ashes.

Su: The reactions were expected, confused, shy, happy, blank until...

*Flashback*

Su gives a senior her chocolate, and he immediately throws it straight into the trash can.

“You think you can just walk up here and act like nothing happened?!”

Su (15): First, you ignored my warning. Now you’re ignoring free food. You should really learn to accept rather than ignore.

Senior:…

Su (15): If your letter wasn’t in the pile, you wouldn’t be making a fuss right now.

Senior *clench both hands*: You trying to provoke me? You are nothing without that face.

So walks out of the classroom with his backpack and steps in between Su and the Senior.

“It’s best that you don’t put a finger on her.” So said while rubbing Su’s head.

Senior: Isn’t this adorable. The older brother is protecting his sister.

So (17): Who said I’m protecting her?

*Grab her neck with the hand that was patting her head*

“Only I am allowed to hurt her. So take this as her apology.”

*Squeeze*

…

Senior: You… you’re faking it. No one can keep a straight face while hurting their family.

So(17): This isn’t enough for you?

*Squeeze tighter*

“Reminder, human can go without air for 2–3 minutes. I’ll start counting. One – Two – Three…”

Senior: What are you trying to prove?

So doesn’t answer and continues counting.

*30 seconds passed*

Su showed signs of running out of oxygen as she tried to remove her brother's hand from her neck. Her hand dug its nails deep into So’s wrist, and they drew blood.

*15 more seconds passed*

A little bit of blood dripped from So’s wrist onto the floor. The Senior was horrified by the scene and decided to run away.

So grabs the chocolate bag that Su was holding onto and drops her to the floor. She managed to catch herself from hitting the floor too hard and lifting her body a bit above the floor.

The Senior walks back with a smirk on his face: I knew that you two were faking it.

*cough* *cough*

So (17): Want to double-check?

The Senior has a better look at Su and sees a different blood stain a few millimeters away from her face. The blood stain is watery, with a thick blood clot in the middle.

So slowly approach the Senior: Did that change your mind?

The Senior had already run away when he noticed So started moving toward him.

So (Good riddance) picks up Su’s body and notices that both of their bloods on the floor are gone (…). Then he brings Su’s body to the nearest Male WC and locks the door.

So (17): Time to clean up. *place her down on two feet*

Su immediately checked herself in the mirror and threw a red piece of tissue into the toilet.

So: The floor was spotless. *washing the blood from his wrist*

Su spits out blood into the sink, then proceeds to wash her mouth, and then starts fixing and checking herself in the mirror.

At the same time, So washed the blood off his hand and bandaged the wrist, then he changed his school short-sleeve uniform for a long-sleeve uniform in his backpack.

Su (15): THOSE BASTARDS ARE SO ANNOYING-

So (17): Tone down.

Su (No more blood coming out from spitting): I hope this doesn’t cause permanent damage.

So (17): Lesson learned? I told you to keep a low profile.

Su (15): Can’t keep a low profile when all eyes are already glued to you. Just because you also experience it doesn’t mean you are an expert… although your popularity was significantly less than mine.

“At 15, you have an above-average look by Korean standards, but what made you stand out was the maturity in your personality and your voice. With the bonus of having coffee aroma around you.”

So (17): And I’ve been plummeting that popularity as far down as I can. First phase, hoping that I don’t find a love interest until graduate. Can’t say I’m lucky or unlucky, but the combination of my taste (which is nothing) and the amount of carbon copy our country created… really helps with that.

“Phase two, reject every confession coming my way. Through phase one, I now know that I have no interest in anyone in this school, so it will be cold and harmless for me.”

“Final phase, slowly outcasting myself. Soon, the once popular idol will be an ordinary student.”

Su (15): You did all that because you were scared of these ‘Street level Highschooler’ coming after our family business. Just because you attracted their prey or… carbon copy, like you said.

So (17): You were also following the phases pretty well... until recent event. Found some new slice-of-life manga with an over-the-top premise?

Su (15): Better than all of the K-dramas you’ve been watching.

"Also, I’m not secluded like you. I feed off human emotions, but none of them are over the top. So I have to cause them.”

So (17): What are you, a super rare Succubus?

Su (15): Who knows! Also, this mark on my neck. Mom and Dad not gonna like it.

So (17): Better than seeing you in a worse state.

Su (15): Wish that was a joke.

So (17): Here one, can you find a one-shot that is named “Found out my Sister is a masochist after strangling her to near death with my hand!!!”

Su (15): Can’t find that on the normal surface.

So (17): NTR?

Su (15): NTR.

“Serious question. Did you enjoy it?”

So (17): If I did, I’ll hang myself tonight. If you did, ask your boyfriend. I only comfortable with verbal abuse with you.

Su (15):… Don’t kill yourself. We need you.

So (17): No time for sentimental moments. Cover that up with your leftover choker. *toss his bag at her*

Su caught the bag: Thank you!

So (17): You only have the third-year floor left, right?

Su (15): Yeah… got it.

So (17): Took you long enough. *take the backpack back*

Su (15): You left them in such an unorganized state.

So (17): Be grateful that carry them for you.

Su (15): I am, Prince of Blank. Let’s go give away the rest of these chocolates.

“Want to personally give these to the girls?”

So (17): You made them, you give them away yourself... Can’t believe you made a perfect batch for the whole school without error.

Su (15): Because I’m amazing!

So (17): Because we can’t risk losing more money on ingredients.

*Return to present*

Su: Luckily, everything goes smoothly... Until part 3!

Jihu: There still more? Shouldn’t you two rest up for tomorrow?

Su: When there are guests no time to rest! Especially the rich ones.

So: We switch shifts with our parents at noon.

Su: Move on then. After 30 slices, I think you all are pretty full right, especially the couple?

No Name: Not really, and I want more coffee too.

Yama: Me too.

Sunz: Same for me.

(Did I really use that much energy during training? Mom is going to kill me if I lose weight.)

Grace: Look like you have to get back to the kitchen, our Maid!

Su: It seems so. *Grab Grace’s hand* I would like the Lady to choose the flavor she most prefers!

Grace: Permission granted.

(Ahhh! The location of magic.)

Su dragged Grace away.

No Name: I’m going to follow them.

*Only the 4 boys left at the table*

Sunz suddenly able to move his hands.

Jihu: Welcome back, arms.

Sunz: I never want that to happen again.

So: You three have fun, I’m going to prepare another round of drinks.

Sunz: I have a question. Which way is the bathroom?

So: Just right down that hall.

Sunz: Thank you.

*Three left*

So: His girlfriend is being eaten alive right now.

Jihu: Really?

So: Su had the look when she first found you. Luckily, nothing bad will happen.

Jihu: Let’s hope so.

So: If you two want to see how the drinks are made, just meet me at the counter.