Chapter Twenty Seven – The Price of Help

The late afternoon sun cast a golden hue over Moonlight Crumbs as Mira lazily leaned against the counter, sipping her iced matcha latte. The bakery was in that brief in-between period—too late for the lunch crowd, too early for the evening rush.

Elias was prepping a fresh batch of honey almond cookies, sleeves rolled up, lost in the rhythm of kneading dough. Hikari, on the other hand, was wiping down the glass display case, humming quietly to herself.

Mira watched the two of them, a slow grin forming.

Hikari had been working here for almost a month now. The once-clumsy part-timer had improved a lot—her movements more confident, her greetings more natural. Sure, she still tripped over herself sometimes, and her apron always seemed to have a new flour stain, but she had become part of the bakery's rhythm.

And more importantly, Mira had noticed something.

Hikari was sticking around even after getting paid.

Most part-timers just did their shift and left, but Hikari? She always lingered a little, sneaking extra notes into her recipe book, making conversation with the regulars, trying out new combinations of flavors when Elias wasn't looking.

Which led Mira to one very important question.

She leaned in close to Elias, her voice a conspiratorial whisper.

"Hey. How much are you actually paying her?"

Elias blinked, caught mid-knead. "What?"

"I said," Mira grinned, "how much are you paying your precious little part-timer? You've basically made her an icon of the bakery."

Elias exhaled through his nose, clearly debating whether or not to answer her. He finally muttered, "850 yen per hour."

Mira almost choked on her drink.

"850?! That's barely above minimum wage!" She lowered her voice, glancing at Hikari, who was still obliviously fixing the display. "Elias, she's doing way more than just taking orders."

Elias wiped flour off his hands and gave Mira a look. "She's still a student. I'm not going to overwork her."

Mira raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, but she's also bringing in half your customer base now. People literally come in asking for her."

Elias frowned slightly at that, glancing toward Hikari.

It was true—there were regulars who specifically came during her shifts. Whether it was because she had become the friendly face of Moonlight Crumbs, or just because she made the bakery feel less intimidating, Elias wasn't sure.

But before Mira could push the topic further, the bell jingled.

A new customer stepped in—a woman, mid-thirties, dressed neatly in business casual. She glanced around hesitantly, as if unsure if the shop was open.

"Oh! Welcome in!"

Hikari, without missing a beat, smiled brightly and stepped forward.

"Are you looking for something special today?"

The woman seemed surprised for a moment, then relaxed at the warm greeting.

"Oh, um… yes. I saw your bakery online. My coworker brought some of your cookies last week, and I wanted to try them myself."

Hikari's eyes sparkled. "That's amazing! Do you remember which ones she got?"

The woman hesitated. "Something with yuzu, I think?"

Hikari beamed. "That must be the Yuzu Honey Cookies! They're really popular—would you like to try one?"

Elias watched from behind the counter as Hikari handled the customer effortlessly. She pointed out the best-selling items, suggested a few pairings, and even mentioned the upcoming drink menu.

And just like that, the woman bought a whole bag of cookies instead of just one.

Mira smirked, nudging Elias with her elbow. "See? Icon."

Elias shook his head but didn't argue.

Mira, satisfied with her small victory, slid into one of the tables in the corner, stretching her arms behind her head. Elias returned to the counter, watching as Hikari handed the customer her neatly packed bag of cookies.

As the woman left, Hikari exhaled, looking pleased. "She was really nice."

Elias nodded. "Good job."

Hikari blinked, eyes widening slightly at the unexpected praise.

Then, she grinned, brushing a bit of flour off her apron. "Thanks, Sensei!"

Mira, watching from her seat, couldn't help but think—

Hikari wasn't just working here for the money anymore.

She was becoming part of this place.

And that?

That was worth way more than 850 yen per hour.

Mira tapped her fingers on the table, watching Elias wipe down the counter. 

"Alright, so…" Mira dragged out the words, her voice carrying that dangerous tone that meant she was about to say something Elias probably wouldn't like.

He sighed. "What now?"

Mira smirked, propping her chin on her hand. "You should raise Hikari's pay."

Elias nearly dropped the cloth in his hand. "What?"

"You heard me," Mira said, shrugging. "She's literally an icon and customers love her. You've got her taking orders, selling cookies, advertising the shop—" She gestured dramatically. "At this point, she's doing more for the bakery than you are."

Elias gave her a look. "You do realize I'm the one actually baking everything, right?"

"Pfft." Mira waved a hand. "Details."

Elias sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Mira."

"I'm serious," she said, sitting up straight. "If you're finally making decent sales now, why not reward the person who's been helping you keep up?"

Elias leaned against the counter, thinking.

It was true.

The bakery was no longer struggling.

For two years, he had barely scraped by. Rent was always a problem. Every month had been a gamble, every sale an attempt to keep the bakery's doors open for just a little longer.

But now?

The viral attention, the updated menu, the constant flow of customers— Moonlight Crumbs was finally stable.

For the first time since reopening, Elias didn't have to wonder if he'd be able to pay rent on time.

He exhaled slowly.

"…Yeah," he admitted. "The money problems are finally over."

Mira blinked, caught off guard.

"Wait—really?"

Elias nodded. "The bakery's actually making a profit now. I'll be able to start saving soon."

Mira grinned. "See? I told you marketing wasn't a scam."

Elias rolled his eyes.

But as much as Mira was obnoxious, she wasn't wrong.

He glanced toward Hikari, who was restocking the cookie display with so much enthusiasm, as if she actually enjoyed working here.

She had done more than he ever expected.

She wasn't just a part-timer. She was part of the bakery now.

"…Fine," Elias muttered.

Mira's eyes lit up. "Oh?"

"Next week," Elias said, "I'll raise her pay to 1,000 yen an hour."

Mira whistled. "Not bad, boss man."

Elias ignored her, arms crossed. "But don't tell her."

Mira raised an eyebrow. "What, you gonna surprise her or something?"

Elias nodded. "She's been working hard. Let's keep it a surprise."

Mira grinned. "Damn. You're actually being a good employer. Who knew?"

Elias sighed. "Regretting it already."

But when he looked back at Hikari—who was still happily arranging the cookies like it was the most important thing in the world—he felt a quiet sort of satisfaction settle in his chest.