Chapter 49: The Café

The café door chimed softly as Hanami and Kosuke stepped inside. Warm air wrapped around them, carrying the smell of fresh coffee and late-night pastries. The place was cozy, quiet, and lit with soft yellow lamps that made everything feel gentler than the night outside.

Hanami picked a small table by the window. Kosuke followed, relieved to finally sit down after everything that had happened between them. As he pulled out his chair, he let out a small breath—one he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

But before he could even settle—

“Professor Kosuke?!”

The shout cracked through the café like a dropped plate.

Kosuke froze.

Hanami blinked, startled.

Slowly—painfully—Kosuke turned his head toward the corner.

There they were.

Three of his students.

A trio of overworked first-years surrounded by open laptops, half-empty mugs, and notes scattered everywhere. They stared at him with the expression of people who had just witnessed a UFO descend into a field.

The tallest student stood up so fast his chair squeaked.

“P-Professor?! You’re… here?! At this hour?!”

Another student whispered loudly, “Is he… on a date?”

The third squinted at Hanami like she was a rare endangered species.

Kosuke wanted the floor to swallow him whole.

He cleared his throat, choosing the safest, driest tone possible.

“…I’m getting coffee.”

The students exchanged looks.

Coffee, yes. But with a woman like that?

Hanami pressed her lips together—clearly holding back laughter.

The boldest of the three students stepped forward. He pushed up his glasses, eyes wide.

“Professor Kosuke… who is she?”

Kosuke opened his mouth, ready to give a simple, reasonable explanation.

But Hanami beat him to it.

She smiled warmly at the students, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and said in the calmest, sweetest voice—

“I’m his wife.”