Coffee Break

Down the street, we arrived at a corner where a small cafe was open; this shop in particular was quite popular with university students in between classes due to its proximity to campus. Even during Golden Week, the place is quite busy. The faint scent of baked goods and coffee tickled my senses as I walked closer to the entrance.

That…could really help me out. Some coffee.

Getting in line, I surveyed the crowd. Looks like mostly other university students mixed in with local residents; seems like I don’t recognize anyone.

“What do you want? My treat–” she asked, waiting for me to respond.

“Really? You don’t have to–”

“Nonsense! I gotta make sure my kouhai feels better, and I was the one who suggested the place.” Quite generous of her, and determined.

“Then…a hazelnut iced coffee.”

“Anything to eat?” she looked at me –she’s totally not going to let me say no this time around. I glanced at the display case again and the menu.

“Strawberry French toast…” I read that out from the menu…sounds appetizing–

“Good choice!” she chirped. She went up to the cashier to order. “One hazelnut iced coffee, one caramel iced coffee, and two strawberry French toast–” I wasn’t even 100% sure I was going to order that–never mind…

We got our orders and found a table in the front of the shop.

The strawberry French toast looked impressive; thick slices of golden brown toast with a generous portion of strawberries and whipped cream, sprinkled with powdered sugar, with a side of syrup. I took a sip of the hazelnut iced coffee, and was delighted by the subtle nuttiness and not-overwhelming sweetness complementing the coffee.

“Delicious!” I turned my head to see Tachibana taking a bite, pleased with the taste of the French toast. “You gotta try it!”

“Sure–” After cutting a piece, I took the fork on my plate and went for the toast— she was right, it’s delicious– warm, savory, and sweet.

I placed the fork aside to cut the toast into more pieces.

“So, your first month of university is done, what do you think?”

I scratched the back of my head. “What do I think…some unexpected events–okay, a lot of surprises honestly.”

“Mmm…not what you originally imagined, I get it,” she took a sip from her drink. “I remember my first month was full of surprises as well.” She looked out the window, as if reminiscing about her past. “Lots of new friends, joining the club….one thing leads to the next, and before you know it, here I am.”

The past month has been more chaotic than I envisioned…not in a negative sense, though.

“You could say it’s like a fresh start.”

“A fresh start,” she nodded along. “That’s a good way to look at it, new opportunities to make new friends, then find that one special person and–”

“Oi oi, why does it always end in marriage? “ I quipped. This is the third time….maybe fourth time this conversation has occurred, at this point it wasn’t deja vu or a time loop anymore!

“Sorry, maybe I’m just projecting my thoughts,” she pointed at her head with her finger. “That’s how I found Yuki…”

“Yuki?”

“Oh, my boyfriend! Do you remember during the club fair, one of the guys from our club came over to talk to you all?”

I thought for a second about that day. “I think so….the guy you elbowed in the side?”

“Yes, him! Gotou Yuki–” her smile changed ever so slightly, as if she was reminded of something. “He’s quite the talker and can push my buttons at times, plus he’s dumb as bricks–”

That sounds more like reasons not to be his girlfriend–

“But he’s sweet and genuine–we met at the club’s karaoke event, and–” she took another bite of her food. “The rest is history!”

“Is that so–” Sounds like the ‘love at first sight’ phenomenon has some merit to it.

“Yup! Oh, that reminds me!” she pointed her finger back at me. “Karaoke event–two weeks–tell your friends!”

“Huh, Iwasaki-kun? And–” I turned and noticed three girls walking towards our table.

Sato, Watson, and Lafon.

“What a coincidence!” Tachibana waved to the three of them.

“Afternoon,” Lafon replied.

“Megumi-senpai!” Watson greeted, then yawned.

“Yes, super coincidence!“ Sato smiled. “We were out on a walk, and Lafon pointed out this cafe." Classic Lafon. “What brings you two here?”

“Oh, we’re on break,” I replied.

“Iwasaki-kun here was almost sleeping on the job, so we came for some caffeine and sweets.” I’ve been betrayed—

“Iwasaki-kun, you can’t be sleeping on the job–” Watson yawned again. She’s one to talk!

“Mm…you sound quite tired as well?” Tachibana turned her attention to Watson.

“Oh, I was up late last night on my computer–” she laughed. “Having no classes got my sleep schedule a little messed up.” Smart alibi, Watson….technically not a lie.

“Chloe said she pretty much rolled out of bed right before she met up with us.” Sato pointed at my coffee. “Seems like she needs something like that now—what’s this!?” She noticed the French toast on the table as her eyes sparkled….akin to Lafon’s reaction to desserts.

And there’s Lafon’s reaction right beside her for comparison.

“French toast–”

“French toast? Looks much fluffier than the French toast I’m used to.” Sato turned to Lafon. “You’re the judge, though, the origin of French toast–”

“We call it pain perdu, and it’s not from France–” Lafon corrected.

“It’s not!?”

“Guess I’ll add history to the things Sato needs to study,” I goaded.

“What does that mean!” she huffed.

“Gojira–”

“Iwasaki-kun!!?” she pouted, crossing her arms as I started laughing. “For that, I’ll…I’ll take some of this!” Her hand lunged for the table, picking up the fork I had set earlier, and plucked a strawberry and a piece of toast.

“Sa–”

“Too late!” she exclaimed in victory, taking a bite and instantly pleased by its flavor.

That was my fork! Maybe it’s a western thing – I faintly remember some global health lesson discussing communicable diseases…what was the name of it… mono–something…happens a lot from sharing utensils, I believe. Anyways, no need to get worked up about it.

Besides, can’t you order your own?!

On the bright side, at least she didn’t knock over my drink.

“Serina, let’s order our own,” Lafon insisted, already halfway to the line, with Watson in pursuit. The cafe has struck a diamond with Lafon!

“Alright, oh Iwasaki-kun, I’ll get you a new fork–” Sato twirled and followed the two of them to the line.

Haah, now that that’s over with– I need another sip of this iced coffee and decompress.

I must have zoned out again, because by the time I had returned to my faculties, Sato had already returned with a fork and was conversing with Tachibana.

“Thanks for the fork,” I resumed as I started eating my food again.

“N-no worries!”

“Serina, we’re about to order!” a voice from the back called out to her.

“Coming!” She turned back, accidentally bumping into one of the empty chairs…and then a few steps later bumped into the table further down.

A bit of a klutz at times.

“Is that so–”

“What is?” I turned back to Tachibana.

“Nothing.”

***

And nothing much else occurred for the rest of Golden Week. The reprieve from classes was almost gone, just like the bruise on the back of my head.

I found myself once again in the common room, this time just lounging on the sofa on my phone. After cleaning my room, I realized I had used too much cleaning solution which rendered the air borderline unbreathable. I had to open the balcony doors to let the room air out, which means I can’t use the balcony either.

So here I sat, the third option of places to lounge on a Sunday afternoon. Can’t believe it’s May already. Four months of this until the fall semester….and this floor will have many more people than just the four of us—the peace and tranquility of this moment will be disturbed, for better or for worse.

Definitely for the worse. What am I kidding, what peace in the first place, it’s already been a packed schedule with the three of them.

From a distance, I heard someone’s voice. Was that…Lafon? She was saying something, but I couldn’t understand it…

She was on the phone, uttering words at a rapid tempo. This must be her native language. 

“Je demande si c'est possible ! C'est cassé! Le concours a lieu dans un mois!” she shouted at her phone, seemingly annoyed with whoever was on the other line. Demand…possible….what was that again?

She hung up the phone, sharply turning her head in disgust. “Inutile–” 

I have no idea what that meant, but that sounded like an insult.

As she stormed around to the common room, she noticed me on the couch and stopped, dumbstruck by my confused expression. 

She unfroze and responded, “Iwasaki…emergency meeting.”

Emergency meeting? She found an impostor?

“Wh–”

“Hold that thought—two minutes.” She disappeared to her room.

Two minutes later, she reappeared, holding two shopping bags.

“What’s with the bags?”

She sighed. “Food run. I normally only need one,” her eyebrows furrowed. “But I’m stressed.”