Pushing open the shop door, the bell above it let out a chi.
Inside, the familiar aroma of coffee drifted through the air, and the afternoon sunlight stread in diagonally through the windows.
"Welco," a low voice ca from behind the counter.
The middle-aged man in the pink shirt looked up, saw him, then lowered his head again to continue flipping through the newspaper in his hands.
"You're here?"
"...Mhm."
Hikigaya walked in, but instead of sitting at the bar, he headed straight for the staff area in the back.
"The coffee is brewing," the man's voice ca from behind.
"I know."
Hikigaya pushed open the staff room door and took a dark brown apron from the cabinet. He hadn't worn it in three months, but it was folded very neatly.
He shook out the apron and tied it on skillfully.
Then, he picked up the pair of plain-glass glasses sitting on the shelf. That was a look left behind by Saeki during the month she spent in his body; she'd said it was for "image managent" while working. Later, when he ca here to make coffee himself, he'd continued wearing them.
He adjusted his bangs in front of the mirror to make his hair look less ssy, then put on the glasses.
The person in the mirror looked much better—one could even say... a bit more handso than usual.
He stared into the mirror for a few seconds before looking away; he wasn't quite used to this appearance himself.
Hikigaya pushed the door open and walked out. The man looked up at him once, then lowered his head back to his newspaper.
"You look more presentable like this."
"...If I feel like it."
The man snorted.
Hikigaya walked behind the bar and began checking the coffee machine, his hands naturally reaching for various parts: the knobs, the handle, the steam wand.
He hadn't touched it in three months, but the muscle mory remained.
The bell on the door rang, and Saeki Miria walked in.
Hikigaya nearly lost his grip on the handle.
Today, she wore a Gothic Lolita dress centered on a black-and-white the. The top was a black tube top paired with puff sleeves—looking sowhat airy—with white lace trim at the edges and a black lace choker around her neck.
On the bottom was a black-and-white striped short skirt, its hem layered with multiple tiers of lace ruffles. Her black garter stockings were printed with a diamond pattern.
Her blonde hair was draped loosely over her shoulders with black ribbons pinned in it; she looked like soone who had stepped right out of a vintage fashion magazine.
This kind of outfit would likely have a high turn-back rate on the street. Usually at school, one couldn't tell at all that she favored this style.
Saeki looked at Hikigaya behind the bar, then quickly averted her eyes and sat down on a high stool by the bar, her skirt swaying gently with her movents.
"Boss."
"Mhm." The man put down his newspaper. "Coming in so late today?"
"I got delayed by so business," Saeki Miria said, then glanced at Hikigaya again. "Where's the coffee?"
"Brewing."
Saeki Miria nodded and said no more.
When the coffee was finished, Hikigaya poured two cups, sliding one to Saeki Miria and placing the other in front of himself.
Saeki Miria picked up the cup and took a sip.
"Your skill is still the sa as before."
"...Thanks for the praise."
Saeki Miria let out a soft laugh and fell silent.
"While you were gone, this girl ca in to work every week," the man suddenly remarked.
The movent of Hikigaya's hands paused for a mont.
Saeki Miria held her coffee cup, not looking at him.
"Today you finally crossed paths," the man said, turning a page of the newspaper.
The shop fell silent for a while. The hiss of the coffee machine's steam stopped, and the occasional sound of pedestrians' footsteps ca from outside the window.
The bell on the door rang again.
"Welco to—"
Hikigaya, having just entered "waiter mode," choked halfway through his greeting.
Soone was standing in the doorway, wearing a long-sleeved white shirt under a long black sleeveless vest. The neckline featured a white sailor-style collar with a bow tied in the center, adorned with a pink hanging ornant.
She was still wearing the black beret, with the cherry blossom hairpiece and black ribbon still pinned to the brim.
On the bottom were white shorts printed with pink cherry blossom patterns.
Hikigaya's gaze flickered downward—ah, the leg ring was still there after all.
Sakuraba Ema.
She stood there holding a bag, her eyes eting Hikigaya's, and then she froze.
Hikigaya tilted his head to look at Saeki Miria. She was holding her coffee as if carefully savoring it, but the curve of her lips gave her away.
Sakuraba Ema's "see you tomorrow" from yesterday hadn't been a slip of the tongue after all.
"Ema-chan," Saeki Miria finally put down her cup and waved toward the door. "Over here, over here."
Sakuraba Ema walked over slowly and stood next to Saeki Miria, but her gaze couldn't help drifting toward Hikigaya.
"Um..." she asked Saeki Miria in a small voice, "Is that... Hikigaya-kun?"
"Mhm." Saeki Miria nodded with satisfaction.
"Eh?"
Hikigaya looked away and continued wiping the coffee machine.
"Sit down," Saeki Miria said, pulling Sakuraba Ema into a seat at the bar. "Boss, this is Sakuraba Ema, our classmate."
Sakuraba Ema quickly got off the high stool and gave a slight bow toward the counter.
"Hello, nice to et you. I am Sakuraba Ema."
The man looked up at her once, then lowered his head to continue flipping through the newspaper.
"Mhm."
Sakuraba Ema blanked for a mont, unsure if she should sit down, her eyes darting between the boss and Hikigaya.
Saeki Miria explained from the side, "The Boss is like that. He's a man of few words."
"Oh, oh, I see." Emma nodded and sat back on the high stool, her hands placed neatly on her knees, sitting very upright.
Hikigaya glanced at her. Despite wearing a leg ring and a choker, her sitting posture was as well-behaved as a primary schooler's. That sense of contrast was really...
He looked down at himself: a plain T-shirt, an apron, and a pair of randomly chosen jeans.
Compared to these two's outfits, he looked excessively plain.
"Hikigaya-kun," Sakuraba Ema spoke.
"Mhm?"
"You work here?"
"I suppose so."
Sakuraba Ema nodded and looked at him again.
"Those glasses..."
"What about them?"
"Nothing." Sakuraba Ema shook her head. "They suit you quite well."
Hikigaya didn't know what to say.
The man turned another page of the newspaper, not looking up.
"First ti here?"
"Y-yes." Sakuraba Ema quickly sat up straight.
"What do you want to drink?"
"Ah, um..." Sakuraba Ema looked to Saeki Miria with a pleading gaze.
"A latte," Saeki Miria said. "The lattes here are very good."
The man nodded and tilted his chin toward Hikigaya.
Hikigaya put down his cleaning rag and began preparing the latte, his hands naturally performing the steps.
Grinding the beans, tamping the grounds, frothing the milk.
Sakuraba Ema watched him without even blinking.
A few minutes later, a latte was placed in front of her. The milk foam featured a simple piece of latte art—a slightly lopsided heart.
"Thank you," Sakuraba Ema said softly, then picked up the cup and took a sip.
She paused.
"It's delicious."
"Of course," the man turned another page. "This kid was here every weekend from last sumr until the New Year."
Sakuraba Ema held the cup, her gaze fixed on Hikigaya.
Hikigaya felt completely uncomfortable under her stare and could only continue wiping a cup that was already perfectly clean.
"Hikigaya-kun, these... I made them this morning."
Sakuraba Ema placed the small bag she was holding onto the bar and opened it.
Saeki Miria leaned over to take a look.
"Cookies you baked yourself?"
"Mhm." Sakuraba Ema nodded, the tips of her ears turning slightly red. "It's my first ti making them, so they might not look very good..."
Saeki Miria picked one up, inspected it, and took a bite.
"They're good!"
Sakuraba Ema's expression brightened instantly.
Saeki Miria pushed the bag toward Hikigaya.
"You try so too."
Hikigaya looked at the cookies in the bag, then at Sakuraba Ema.
Sakuraba Ema was also looking at him, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
He put down the cup in his hand and picked one up.
He took a bite. It was a bit sweet and the edges were slightly charred, but overall it was quite good.
"...They're alright."
Sakuraba Ema looked relieved, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.
"That's good, then."
Saeki Miria took another one and ate slowly while sitting at the bar.
"Cookies and coffee go quite well together."
Hikigaya finished the piece in his hand and took a sip of coffee.
They really did go well together.
Hikigaya looked at the two of them.
One in Gothic Lolita, one in a cute sailor-style outfit—sitting together, they were surprisingly in sync.
He looked down at his own apron again.
Whatever, he'd just stay like this.
The bell on the door rang.
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