Tokyo's Phantom Thief

"No way!"

Togawa Sakiko shook her head emphatically, clutching both hands to her chest.

"Asakura-senpai has taught me so thoroughly—I should be the one treating you to lunch! I know a tearoom with amazing black tea. Let's go there tog—ah."

She'd been practically bouncing with excitement, but halfway through her sentence, it was like someone dumped cold water over her head.

Her beautiful amber eyes flickered with hesitation. She bit her lip, clearly distressed.

"Oh no… I didn't bring any money... My wallet and phone balance are both... I'm sorry, senpai—next time—"

"I've got it. In fact, this gives me the perfect excuse to teach you something new."

Rinto acted like he hadn't noticed Sakiko's awkward moment at all, stretching lazily as if this were all part of the plan.

Under her confused gaze, he gave her a cheeky wink:

"We're both part-timers, right? That means we should eat like part-timers. What I'm about to show you is a high-efficiency combo I perfected through years of poverty. This isn't something I share with just anyone."

After successfully intriguing her, Rinto didn't lead Sakiko far—of course, he definitely didn't lure her into a love hotel or anything like that.

For one, he didn't have money to spend on hotels. Last time, it had been the Yoshizawa sisters who paid.

Instead, he brought Sakiko to the convenience store right downstairs.

Just from her reaction earlier, Rinto had sensed there was something unspoken going on with her.

Her manners and posture made it clear she came from a well-bred family—probably some kind of upper-class background.

But her current situation seemed tight. No cash, no balance on her phone.

Sure, Rinto could've just treated her to lunch—but that might've hurt her pride.

So instead, he chose to redirect the mood with curiosity—make it feel like an insider trick instead of a pity meal.

He headed straight for the snacks aisle and grabbed two thick, heavy Swiss rolls.

Sakiko watched, puzzled, as he held them up with pride.

"These things are the real deal. Big, filling, and cost-efficient. The fullness-to-price ratio is unbeatable. I used to know this super strong girl when I tutored part-time—she lived on Swiss rolls for a while. Got locked up at home by her classmates and literally survived on these things three meals a day."

Then he added, matter-of-factly:

"Problem is, they get cloying fast. Cheap cream is way too sweet—it's hard to keep eating. And if you buy a drink to balance it out, you're spending more. Doesn't make sense."

"Which brings us to one of the few actual perks our soulless company offers—free coffee."

He crouched dramatically and extended a hand toward Sakiko like a roguish prince luring a shy princess into mischief.

Sakiko hesitated.

Nervous. A little uneasy.

But when she looked at his smile—and the hand he held out—her curiosity won out.

The princess gave in. Reached out.

And the prince took her hand and led her back to the castle.

With most employees out at lunch, the office had gone quiet—like a dusty self-study hall. Cubicles sat empty, papers scattered like cluttered bookshelves.

Without missing a beat, Rinto led Sakiko into the break room.

There, he gestured with theatrical pride.

"Feast your eyes, Miss Togawa! This—this—is our company's one and only freely available black coffee! No sugar, no milk. No one knows why the boss even installed this machine. The beans are bottom-tier, too."

"Veteran part-timers call this stuff 'dishwater.' Pretty much undrinkable. And if you're buying your own milk and sugar to fix it, you might as well just buy a real drink. So it defeats the point."

He tossed the Swiss roll wrapper into the air like a mic and caught it with flair, presenting it to her like a magic trick.

"So, Miss Togawa: we now have bitter, undrinkable coffee... and overly sweet, cloying cake. What happens when you combine them?"

"They… cancel each other out!"

Sakiko gasped, hands clasped tightly in excitement. Her dainty shoes tapped the floor as she bounced on her toes.

"It's like how I love drinking unsweetened Earl Grey with sweets! The flavors balance out—bitterness and sweetness work together!"

"—Correct answer!"

Rinto grinned like a game show host and pulled out disposable trays and forks—leftover stock from another part-time job.

Totally not stolen. He had full permission from his previous managers. Probably.

Thanks to his service smile and universally appealing charm, Rinto was a hit with supervisors of all kinds—earning him plenty of unofficial perks.

Things like this, he thought, were lessons best taught through experience. Sakiko would pick it up over time.

He sliced up the Swiss roll into neat pieces, plated them with the plastic forks, and poured them each a cup of that infamous "dishwater" coffee.

The two of them sat down together on the tiny stools in the break room—like kids enjoying a meal in a cramped studio apartment.

"Miss Togawa, your meal is served."

"I… I won't hold back, then!"

Blushing, Sakiko fussed with her hair and carefully balanced the tray on her lap.

Even the way she held her fork was elegant, pinky raised just slightly as she cut a small bite of Swiss roll.

She chewed slowly and thoughtfully. Then took a cautious sip of coffee.

Her nose scrunched—hesitation. But when the greasy cream met the bitter drink in her mouth, the reaction was instantaneous.

Her eyes lit up.

"Senpai, you were absolutely right! They go together perfectly! I've always preferred tea to coffee, but this bitterness and watery texture are just right with the cake's sweetness. It's an unexpectedly perfect match. Like, seriously—stockings-dropper level perfect!"

Rinto chuckled. "As long as you like it. Take your time—the coffee's unlimited."

Her sincere delight made it all feel worth it.

It was like teaching a good kid how to play their first arcade game.

Seeing her eyes shine with discovery filled him with a quiet kind of pride.

At the same time, Rinto was watching her carefully.

There was definitely something she wasn't saying—maybe even something serious, like running away from home.

The fact that she'd been so eager to get a job suggested she really needed the money.

He wondered if maybe she had a deal with her parents.

Something like: she's a good girl on the outside, but secretly loves death metal. Wants to start a band with friends.

But her traditional, upper-class parents wouldn't understand. They thought that kind of music was beneath her.

So in negotiations, she promised: if she could earn enough money on her own, they'd let her continue chasing her dream.

Which meant she had to be perfect at the things she didn't want to do, in order to earn the right to do what she did.

...Or maybe that was just Rinto fantasizing.

He wouldn't dare actually ask.