Hikigaya looked toward the door.
Three high school girls in plain clothes walked in, peering toward the bar the mont they entered.
"Eh? It's that guy."
"No way, I thought I'd never see him again."
"Looks like your prayers worked."
The three girls whispered excitedly in low voices, heading straight for the bar and sitting in the seats closest to Hikigaya.
He recognized them; they were regulars who used to co often.
"Long ti no see~" the girl in the lead said, resting her chin on her hand and looking at Hikigaya with a smile. "I thought you weren't coming back."
"Where have you been? We haven't seen you in so long," another girl asked.
Hikigaya opened his mouth, but he hadn't yet co up with a reason to stall them.
"He went back to his hotown to handle so business," Saeki Miria interjected from the side.
Only then did the three girls notice Saeki Miria sitting nearby. "Not working today?"
"I just sat down; I'll be helping out in a bit," Saeki Miria replied.
"Three cappuccinos," the man said flatly, putting down his newspaper. "They order that every ti they co."
Hikigaya turned and began making the coffee, the machine humming.
Saeki Miria set down her coffee cup and stood up. She walked to the side of the bar, picked up a spare apron, and tied it on with skillful, natural movents.
Then she walked over beside Hikigaya and began preparing the necessary cups and saucers.
The three girls watched with great interest.
"You two still have such great chemistry as partners."
Saeki Miria didn't answer; she just smiled, a rosy tint surfacing on her cheeks.
Once the three coffees were ready, Hikigaya pushed them over.
"Thanks~" The girl in the lead took her cup and finally noticed the pink-haired girl sitting at the bar.
"And who is this?"
Sakuraba Ema held her cup and took a sip of coffee.
"A classmate," Hikigaya said.
"Oh—a classmate." The three girls exchanged a aningful look, then took their coffees and sat at the innermost table, laughing.
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As ti passed, the shop beca increasingly crowded. Even the owner joined in to help make coffee.
Hikigaya didn't pay it much mind; it was normal for it to be busy on weekends.
"One Aricano."
"Two lattes."
"Cappuccino."
The sounds of orders ca intermittently; Hikigaya's hands never stopped.
Saeki Miria was beside him helping record orders, taking money, and handing out coffee. Occasionally they exchanged a glance, but neither spoke much.
Sakuraba Ema sat on the high stool, clutching her refilled latte. Her gaze moved back and forth between the busy pair. Without realizing it, she had finished the cookies she brought.
She watched Hikigaya skillfully operate the coffee machine, watched his focused profile, and saw the silent understanding when he exchanged a glance with Saeki Miria. A feeling she couldn't quite describe stirred in her heart, like a gentle tug on her soul.
Even though she was sitting right here, even though she was so close, she felt as if she were separated by a glass wall.
Sakuraba Ema's fingers unconsciously rubbed the rim of her coffee cup.
The bell chid again. This ti, a short-haired woman around thirty walked in, dressed in a simple white shirt and dark trousers, carrying a commuter bag.
She sat at the bar, her gaze landing on Hikigaya as she slightly raised an eyebrow.
"You're back?"
Hikigaya nodded.
"Aricano, no ice," the woman said. "The sa as usual."
The woman leaned against the bar and glanced at Saeki Miria, who was clearing away cups.
"This girl is here too? It's so crowded today—can the three of you handle it?"
Saeki Miria didn't speak; she just smiled.
The shop owner didn't pay the woman any attention, rely grunting.
The woman didn't mind. She took the Aricano Hikigaya handed her and took a sip.
"Still the sa flavor." She then noticed Sakuraba Ema sitting nearby. "Got an extra helper today?"
Being called out, Sakuraba Ema gave a small start.
"She's here to drink coffee," Saeki Miria explained for her.
The woman said nothing more, took her coffee to a window seat, and pulled out her phone to send ssages.
Throughout the afternoon, the flow of custors never ceased.
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As evening approached, the custors left one by one, and the shop finally grew quiet.
Sakuraba Ema finally finished her latte. She pushed the cup back gently and looked at the color of the sky outside the window.
"Um," she spoke in a small voice, "I have to leave now. It's getting dark."
Sakuraba Ema got off the high stool, straightened her clothes, and walked toward the door.
At the door, she stopped and turned back.
Hikigaya was cleaning the bar, his back to her.
Sakuraba Ema bit her lip and walked back.
"Hikigaya-kun..."
Hikigaya turned around and looked at her.
"Tomorrow... will you be coming tomorrow too?" she asked, her voice carrying a trace of faint anticipation.
Hikigaya blanked for a mont. "I probably will. I'm usually here on weekends."
"Then... can I co again tomorrow?" Sakuraba Ema asked again, her fingers twisting together nervously. "I—I can help out. I might not be a big help, but..."
Her voice grew smaller as she spoke, and her face grew redder.
Hikigaya looked at her and remained silent for a few seconds.
"...Co if you want. But there's not much to do here."
"That's fine!" Sakuraba Ema said imdiately, her eyes lighting up. "I just... I just wanted to co see."
Having said that, she seed to realize what she'd blurted out. Her face turned even redder, and she quickly looked down.
"Then I'll be going. See you tomorrow."
She pushed the door open hurriedly, the bell chiming once.
The shop owner stood up and stretched.
"Sort out your own dinner; I'm heading out for a bit."
Hikigaya nodded.
The man reached the door and suddenly rembered sothing.
"You leaving, kid? Want a ride?"
"I'll wait until you get back, Boss," Saeki Miria said.
The man looked at her, said nothing, and pushed the door open to leave.
Only Hikigaya and Saeki Miria were left in the shop.
"You should go ahead; I'll wait for the old man to return," Hikigaya said.
"It's fine." Saeki put the cups away. "I'll leave when he gets back."
Hikigaya didn't insist further.
The two of them stood behind the bar. Neither spoke. The shop was quiet, save for the occasional noise of pedestrians outside.
The clock on the wall ticked away; the hour hand was nearly at seven.
There were no custors in the interim. At this ti of day, there were many people eating dinner but few drinking coffee.
Hikigaya suddenly realized that they had only eaten a few of the cookies Sakuraba Ema had brought since noon.
He glanced at the small kitchen in the back.
"Are you hungry?"
"I'm alright," Saeki Miria answered instinctively, but just as the words left her mouth, her stomach let out a soft growl.
The tips of her ears turned red, and she said nothing.
Hikigaya turned and walked to the back. He lifted a pot lid; there was a little less than half a pot of curry inside. It was likely made by the boss at noon and kept warm on the stove.
He looked back at Saeki Miria.
"Curry. Want so?"
Saeki Miria nodded.
Hikigaya served two portions and brought them to the bar. The steaming curry gave off a savory aroma.
Saeki Miria sat on a high stool and took a spoon.
"Thank you."
"The old man's treat."
Saeki Miria smiled.
The two sat at the bar eating curry, the only sound being the clinking of spoons against plates.
When they finished, Hikigaya cleared the plates. Saeki Miria tried to stand up to help, but he waved her off.
"Just sit. You've been on your feet all afternoon; get so rest."
Saeki Miria didn't insist. She sat back on the stool, propping her chin on her hands as she watched Hikigaya clean up.
Hikigaya stood with his back to the bar at the sink, washing the dishes.
After a mont, Saeki Miria spoke.
"Ema-san seed quite happy today."
The movent of Hikigaya's hands paused for a mont.
"Is that so."
"She even asked after school on Friday what kind of cookie flavors you liked."
Saeki switched to resting her chin on the back of her hand. "You can tell she put a lot of heart into it."
Hikigaya didn't answer.
The bell on the door rang.
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