Koma and Irimi realize they want to be more than friends? xd

Oh my goodness I LOVE these two! You cannot convince me they aren’t lovers.

Koma Enji was accustomed to glaring at the black dog woman every shift at Anteiku. 

He was not, however, accustomed to flutters in his stomach. But as the months wear on, he begins to harbor his crush as his own silly secret. 

She’s his enemy. Well, a truced enemy, but an enemy all the same.

Irimi Kaya turns around after feeling Koma’s eyes on her again. Damn Ape. Can’t he be forward in something that matters for once? 

“Oh no!” A customer trips, and Irimi’s blouse is covered in coffee. 

“I’m sorry!”

“It’s okay,” Irimi says without anger. 

Koma doesn’t think much of it until he finds her scrubbing the shirt – which she is still wearing – later that evening. 

“You’ll never get the stains out that way.” He tries to joke. If they’re going to be coworkers, they better be able to joke. 

His stomach flutters again. 

“What’s it to you?”

“I know a trick.” Koma scrummages through their supplies. “Aha. White vinegar.” 

“Really?” Irimi frowns.

“Yup. Works every time.” He smiles proudly. “I spill coffee all the time.”

“I’ve noticed,” she says dryly. Humbled by his kindness, she continues. “I’m used to cleaning out bloodstains, not coffee stains.”

“To be honest, I just burned my bloody clothes.”

“No wonder you’re poor.” Irimi shakes her head, but she’s smiling. 

Half an hour later, she feels it’s now acceptable to be an open Devil Ape fan. “You’re a lifesaver. I can’t believe that worked. The stain is gone!”

If only they can remove the stain of their misdeeds. Koma recognizes the same heaviness in her eyes.

 “Do you think we deserve a clean slate?”

“Old man Yoshimura does,” Koma replies.

“But do we?” she presses.

“I didn’t even want one.”

“Me neither.” Irimi stares at the ground. “But I rather like it.”

“Me too.” Koma realizes that he rather likes her, too. 

“You look like you want to kiss me.” Irimi arches an eyebrow. 

“May I?” Darn it, no, he shouldn’t – but this woman is thoughtful and kind and patient –

She laughs. “Who’d have thought?” 

And then she kisses him. 

Upstairs, Yoshimura smiles and holds out his hand. Knowing he’s beat, Yomo forks over the money.