(I)

Some time ago in the world of Elydea, Vitalia and Carlotta were required to do community service for 8 hours after failing to complete an assignment. They were allowed to select between helping kids learn math, working at a cafe that lacked employees, or taking care of the elderly.

"We really did forget about that damned assignment," Vitalia sighed as she walked next to Carlotta, who was also in the same predicament.

A door opened right in front of them as they approached a set of stairs next to it. A woman walked right toward them. "Welcome to Consonance's first maid cafe! We recently opened, and we were looking for staff. You two look like perfect candidates."

Vitalia blushes as sweat visibly flows down her face. "A maid cafe!? Hell no."

"Come on, Vitalia! Do you really want to teach math to little kids?? This is our golden opportunity!" Carlotta pleaded on her knees.

Carlotta was right about this. Vitalia's math skills were really poor, and she also didn't really feel like taking care of the elderly; the cafe here was their best chance at completing their community service hours.

Vitalia sighed loudly. "This opportunity really came out of nowhere... what's the worst that could happen?"

Carlotta jumped with excitement; Vitalia couldn't help but also feel happy for their golden opportunity to actually fulfill their duties this time. This wasn't the first time they'd missed their assignment deadlines.

(II)

"Vitalia! Vitalia! Come out! It's been a few minutes..." Carlotta called out to Vitalia as she waited around next to the dressing room.

After ten minutes of waiting, Vitalia finally walked out of the dressing room. She kept looking at the floor as if to hide her face, turning fully red. "Wel-Wel-Welcome, master. AAAAAH!" Vitalia screamed and rushed back into the dressing room.

Both of them wore a soft blue maid outfit consisting of a white apron, white arm tights, a skirt, a bow at the collar, a cute blue headband, and neat thigh-high stockings. Carlotta's outfit had additional bunny ears and a bunny pin she could attach to her hair.

Carlotta laughed. "Cute! Cute! No need to be shy! I'm here for you! I am quite literally made for this job."

(III)

After at least another thirty minutes, Carlotta managed to bring Vitalia into the dining area where customers were already waiting for service.

Vitalia looked toward Carlotta in a final attempt to surrender. "I swear I know how to multiply; can we quit this now!?"

Carlotta pushed Vitalia forward where a girl waited at her table to be attended. Vitalia's face almost looked identical to a tomato; sweat flooded her face; she had never done anything like this before. "Well...welcome. How. May I serve you, master?"

The girl laughed. "You look so cute. I haven't seen you around here before... Let me have an iced coffee and one of your special love cupcakes."

"Your order. Will. Be here soon," Vitalia stuttered almost every word in a way she hadn't before. She felt relief after finally serving a customer for the first time. Only to realize that the place was full and that was only her first customer today.

Carlotta walked to Vitalia, who had just frozen in the middle of the cafe. "Um! What was the girl's order?"

"I forgot."

(IV)

While Vitalia wasn't used to serving customers entirely, she has at least done her job for the most part. Customers were getting the drinks and food they ordered at the cost of her soul and remaining dignity.

But who was the one putting the food and drinks together? Carlotta. Due to the recent opening of the cafe, there were many people coming in and out, and all of the preparation had to be done by Carlotta herself.

"Carlotta, I'm having a lot of trouble in the front. Wait... Huh? What in the hell is going on here?" Vitalia walked into the kitchen to see Carlotta covered in foam. It seems like neither of them was having a good time so far.

The foam covered Carlotta started hugging Vitalia and started crying. "I! I tried! There were so many orders! I forgot what is what anymore! I can't!"

Vitalia looked down at Carlotta with a neutral expression. "I said a lot of things I'm not allowed to say here to a customer, and they threw a cake at my face."

The woman who hired both of them appeared out of nowhere. "I have an idea for you two. What if Carlotta works at the front and Vitalia works here in the kitchen? Doesn't it make sense? The adorable show-off that always puts a lot of effort into her looks and the strategically capable, strong woman Vitalia taking care of the cooking!"

"That's! Amazing! The bestest idea!" Carlotta jumped in joy once again knowing that she wouldn't have to deal with cooking ever again.

Vitalia felt relieved for the first time today. "Wait. Why don't you just help us here?" As soon as those words came out of Vitalia's mouth, the woman was nowhere to be seen. They both looked at each other and sighed in disbelief.

(V)

"Welcome, master! How may I help you on this wonderful day?" Carlotta exclaimed while doing a peace gesture with both her hands.

The customer looked confused. "Where did the cute tall lady go? Oh well. Can I get the sparkling red cake? Don't add strawberries, please; that's all for now."

Carlotta looked offended, but she continued to do her job anyway. "Your cake will be here soon!!"

On the other hand, Vitalia was surprisingly able to keep up with the multiple orders coming in. She had strategically put together ingredients for many of the dishes next to each other. "I should've been here this whole time. If I find that damned cake-throwing piece of. Piece of work. I will have my revenge."

(VI)

After a long day at the maid cafe, they had successfully finished their community service. The sun was setting, and they had already changed back into their normal clothes; the doors were finally closed, and the keys were handed off to the woman who hired them for the day.

"While there were some mishaps. You two still did amazing for your first day. I'll be happy to see you two tomorrow," the woman said with a smile across her face.

Vitalia laughed in a passive-aggressive manner. "My back is killing me. We're not. Returning."

Carlotta couldn't even speak anymore; her energy had completely depleted. There was not much she could add.

"I'll raise the wages. I'll do anything to keep you girls around."

Vitalia and Carlotta walked away without uttering another word; they were set on their decision. They've completed their community service, and that's all they cared about in the end.

The woman stared at the cafe on her own; she felt as if something strange was happening inside, but she couldn't put it together. A weirdly loud beeping sound came from the inside, so she decided to open the door to see what was happening.

In that moment, the whole establishment exploded to bits, leaving only the door and handle intact. The woman looked around in shock.

(VII)

"What the hell? Did you hear that loud sound?" Vitalia exclaimed as she walked next to Carlotta.

Carlotta gasped. "Did you... turn off the oven!?"

"I'm pretty sure I did."

"I think."