Kyousuke
“Master.”
“Oh, Yuuki-kun. Hello. Huh? You’re not on shift today, are you?”
“I’m not, but could I stay here for a while?”
When Yuuki said that, Master seemed to sense something.
“Sure. There aren’t any customers today anyway.”
He replied.
The café Harukaze, tucked away in a back alley.
The master of this café, Shimizu Kyousuke, was the owner and the one Yuuki worked for part-time.
The café had been built by Kyousuke’s father, and it carried its years with it. It was exactly the kind of small, worn-down café you’d expect to find in town. You could call it a cozy place with a mature, calming atmosphere, but on the other hand, it was also a shop that went against the times and cared nothing for trends.
Kyousuke managed the café while also doing work from home. You could even call it his hobby.
Kyousuke and Yuuki had known each other for quite a long time, going back to middle school.
As Yuuki sat down at the counter, Kyousuke silently began to brew coffee.
A wordless time passed between them, but once the coffee was placed in front of Yuuki and he had taken a sip, he began to speak.
“After all, the coffee Master makes is the most calming.”
“I’m glad you always say that.”
“No, it’s because it’s true.”
Yuuki took another sip of coffee, savoring the aroma and taste.
“Yuuki-kun, may I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Did something happen recently? You seem different somehow.”
Kyousuke said that and looked at Yuuki.
Yuuki’s way of speaking and behavior hadn’t changed at all, but Kyousuke felt that something about him was different, so he asked.
“…Master, you really are sharp.”
“No, not really. I can only notice changes in people I’m close to.”
“I see.”
Yuuki wondered how he should put it, or whether it was even something he should tell Kyousuke. But thinking about the fact that he would continue working part-time here, he decided it was something he had to say, and opened his mouth.
“Maybe it’s because I sorted out my feelings and feel refreshed now.”
“Sorted out your feelings, huh. So something did happen after all.”
When Kyousuke looked at Yuuki again, Yuuki’s face was refreshed, as if a weight had been lifted. Yet at the same time, Kyousuke still sensed something unstable and uncertain about him.
“When I say something happened, it’s not like it was such a big deal. I was just betrayed again, that’s all.”
Yuuki said it with a smile, as if it were nothing.
Hearing that, Kyousuke opened his eyes wide, his expression turning sad, and…
“I see.”
He murmured, stopped what he was doing, stepped out from behind the counter, and hugged Yuuki.
“Yuuki-kun, stay over at my place tonight.”
“Is that alright?”
“Yeah. Take it easy.”
Held in Kyousuke’s arms, Yuuki put his arms around him and hugged him back.
There was the smell of coffee and a faint scent of tobacco, but it didn’t feel unpleasant at all. Rather, the scent was comforting and put him at ease.
“Thank you very much.”
“It’s fine. Yuuki-kun, you’re precious to me, like my own child.”
Kyousuke hugged Yuuki even tighter, as if trying to hold on to him so he wouldn’t vanish like something fragile.
But then,
“Dad, I’m home.”
“…Welcome back, Yume.”
“…What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
Kyousuke’s daughter, Shimizu Yume, had come home at just the right timing.
Seeing the two hugging, Yume looked at them with concern, but Kyousuke let go of Yuuki and said, ”No, it’s nothing,” as he returned to the counter.
As Yume wondered what to do about the unusual atmosphere between them, Kyousuke spoke to her.
“Yume, sorry for the sudden notice, but Yuuki-kun will be staying over tonight.”
“Eh, ah, I see. Got it.”
Yume sensed that something must have happened, so she simply nodded without prying further.
The inside of the café was wrapped in a delicate atmosphere.