Chapter Text
She woke up early the next morning because her sleep schedule said so, so she decided to go to Pothos for breakfast.
While putting on her shoes she heard a knock on the door. Sakura opened the door to find a note there.
'I'm raising your rent. It's now xxx instead of xxx.
~ your landlord
She crumpled the note in her hand and went to Pothos.
''Morning, Sakura!'', Kotoha said as she pushed a plate of food in front of Sakura who, despite looking like one of the tomatoes on the plate, gobbled down her food.
Kotoha could recognize the look she had on her face. Something she learned to do at the orphanage was to read people easily, she didn't think she needed her few years of training to read the girl in front of her.
''What's got you so upset, Sakura?'', the brown-haired girl asked, she had hoped Sakura would actually tell her.
''Stupid landlord raised the damn rent.'', she pouted with food still in her mouth.
Kotoha sighed.
''Lemme figure something out.''
Sakura hastily finished her breakfast as if she hadn't eaten in years and was about to head for the doors but Kotoha stopped her.
''Hey, Sakura? Can you help clean up these tables? Furin kids know how to fight but they can't clean up after themselves.'', Kotoha sighed, shaking her head.
Sakura obliged as she took a cloth from the brown-haired girl and started cleaning and emptying the tables.
After a bit of arguing and staying longer than she expected, the black and white girl tried to leave once again, and once again Kotoha made her stay.
''Sakura! I need you to stay a little longer. Once the clock hits 2 pm, Furin kids love coming here to catch a bite to eat.''
Sakura groaned. She didn't mind staying at Pothos late and she didn't mind cleaning tables and stuff; it was less boring than staying at home anyway.
Just as expected, at 2 pm Furin kids started arriving at the café doors.
Crowds of ''Hey, Kotoha!'' and ''What's on the menu today, Kotoha?'' started to make their appearance.
There were a few people, kids around her age maybe, that stuck out to Sakura. An auburn-eyed and haired boy, with a mysterious eyepatch on his right eye, and... what was that guy's name from yesterday? Nerei maybe?
Their tables had a few others but nothing special really.
They ordered some egg sandwiches, tea, omurice... How the hell is Sakura supposed to remember all that stuff?!
''Earings, that table over there ordered a buncha stuff I won't remember, how the hell do you remember all this stuff?!'', she yelled in frustration.
''First, my name isn't 'earrings' it's Kotoha! And second, write it down idiot.'', Kotoha sighed, handing a little notepad and pen to the girl in front of her.
With a grumble, the girl stomped away to the table she was just at.
Why is she helping that girl out anyway?! She's the one that owes Sakura for saving her so why is she helping her out even more!?
When she arrived at the table the auburn-haired boy was first to speak.
''Hey, I think I've heard of you before...'', he stood up.
Sakura hasn't trusted men since she was little. All they do is shout and scream at her for existing. They bring nothing but anger, sadness, and destruction.
She brought her fists up to her chest, readied for a fight.
''Oh yeah?''
''You're Sakura-kun right? Wow, you beat up all those guys yesterday, huh? Well done!'', he rapidly started patting her on the back.
''Well done''? Those words were never spoken to her before!
''Yeah, Suo-san! She also helped me out yesterday and beat up a ton of guys! Speaking of which, Sakura-san can you tell me your full name, favourite and least favourite food, height, weight, date of birth, and what type of boys you like!'', Nerei said enthusiastically.
''You want my what?!'', Sakura yelled in surprise. ''Do what ever you want; touch me and you're dead.''
She took their orders and handed them to Kotoha before heading to another table.
''Woah, Kotoha, who's this chick?'', a boy with short, dark brown hair asked.
''This is Sakura, she's new to town so be nice to her or she will beat you up no joke.''
''Damn, okay. Well then, can I have 2 onigiri with fish flakes please?''
''I'll have an omurice!''
''Egg sandwich please!''
''How the hell are you all so damn hungry!? Do yall not get fed at home or something?!'', she yelled, furiously scribbling in the notebook.
''Fighting and protecting the town makes me hungry though.'', the brown haired boy mumbled sadly, rubbing his stomach.
''Oh shut up, Anzai! We always have to give your ass backup!'', one of the boys at the table laughed, putting his arm around who Sakura thinks is Anzai.
Sakura flinched at the swearing, her body tensing up on reflex.
''Bro don't out me infront of a girl!'', Anzai pleaded, shoving the boy's arm off.
''Idiots.'', Sakura sighed as she walked off.
''Yo, I have those idiots' orders'', the bi colored girl pointed to Anzai's table. ''You know my name so say it!'', Kotoha said taking the note of orders.
''Jeez, they do know I'm only one person right?'', she sighed, getting out ingredients. Sakura snuck behind the counter and started helping Kotoha without saying a word.
''Wow, you're good at rolling these.'', the brown haired woman complimented.
''My foster parents made me work in the kitchen a lot since I'm a girl and I need to learn how to cook so, I got a lot of experience doing this kinda stuff.'', Sakura replied nonchalantly.
''Damn. That's sexist as hell.'', Kotoha said as she left Sakura to the onigiri and started making the sandwiches. ''Sorry that you had to live through that and you're only...''
''16. I'm 16'', Sakura stated as she eyed the rice balls.
''No way you're as old as me! You look so young and cute for your age!'', the brown-haired girl whined.
''Excuse me?! I ain't cute! And what the hell do you mean you're the same age as me?! You look like a fully grown woman to me!?'', Sakura yelled, pointing her finger at the other.
''Hell you mean I don't look my age?! Don't call me old! And you're one to talk about not looking your age! I'm never giving you a compliment ever again!", Kotoha retaliated, also pointing her finger.
''How the the hell was that a compliment!?– Ugh nevermind!'', Sakura flipped her off before turning back to the onigiri and eating one.
''Damn, these are actually pretty good.'', she mumbled with food in her mouth.
''Don't eat the food, you big back! What are you doing!''
''What, you don't taste test you food or something? What if it's poisoned?''
''Shesh. I thought men liked to fight.'', Suo shrugged, watching the two yell about their age.
After a bit of bickering from both young women, the boys' orders were served.
''I heard that you guys protect the town or something,'', Sakura blushed as she asked the question. ''Does that mean you guys get to fight?''
''Yeah! Though it's not all fighting; we protect the people of Makochi. Whether that be helping them or fighting other gangs that cause trouble, we stand as protectors above fighters.'', Nerei stated proudly.
The dumbass is acting like he's the one who's fighting.
''If you'd like, you could go on patrol with us. It seems that you've already met Hiragi-san so I'm sure that he'll let you tag along.'', Suo smiled.
Sakura figured that Suo's face is like that permanently because he smiled too much when he was younger. Her foster parents said that if she kept scowling then her face would be stuck like that; she's pretty sure it's the same principle here at play.
''What-whatever... Thanks anyway.'', she scowled before practically running away back to behind the counter with Kotoha.
''She's hella pretty right? Or is it just me?'', Anzai mischievously whispered to his group of idiots.
''Yeah!
''You think my girlfriend would be mad if I cheated?''
''Shut up or Kotoha will get your ass!''