The First Time in Public

The delicate clink of a spoon against porcelain echoed softly as Akari stirred cream into her coffee. When she finally set the spoon down, a quiet sigh slipped past her lips, unnoticed. She wrapped both hands around the cup instead, welcoming the warmth as it seeped into her fingers.

Akari lifted her gaze and met his with carefully batted eyelashes, offering him a gentle smile she’d practiced in the mirror more times than she cared to admit.

Through his words about his most recent shoot; something about a minor accident on set. Takumi smiled back. It was easy. Warm. Effortless. The kind that was plastered on every billboard in Tokyo.

“And anyway,” he said as his story came to an end, glancing around the café, “You weren’t exaggerating. This place is really nice.”

“Y-yeah,” Akari replied, a nervous laugh bubbling up despite herself. “I-it’s, um… it’s popular.”

“I can see why.”

He nodded contentedly, clearly pleased, and Akari laughed again, resting her chin against her palm to hide how stiff her smile felt. But, internally–

Yeah, because I work here! She thought, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

Café Étoile felt unbearably small today. Smaller than it ever had before. Too quiet, and yet every noise rang louder in her ears. The soft murmur of other customers. The familiar hiss of the espresso machine. Even the steady rhythm of her own heartbeat rang in her ears.

This wasn’t just a date. It was their first test. Their first time stepping out together, where anyone could see them.

From the outside, they must have looked perfect. They leaned in just enough, hands close enough to touch without any hesitation, with their conversation flowing freely. To anyone watching, they were a couple completely at ease.

Though internally, Akari was unraveling.

Akari silently thanked every star in the sky that the boot camp Matsuda and the professionals had put her through had actually paid off. But still it did nothing to soothe the anxious knot gnawing at her stomach.

Each sip of coffee tasted faintly sour, nerves seeping through no matter how carefully she smiled. Her posture was perfect. Her expression gentle. Her heartbeat, however, refused to settle.

She didn’t need to look around to know. They were being noticed. Hushed whispers drifted from a nearby table. Though quiet, not quite enough. And threaded through them was a name she recognized all too well:

Takumi.

Meanwhile, Takumi remained perfectly at ease. He lifted his cup without a trace of concern and took an unhurried sip. “We should come here again.”

Akari laughed softly and nodded, even as her fingers clenched the napkin hidden beneath the table. “Sure. That sounds wonderful.”

Just get through today, she told herself.

Easier said than done.

“Excuse me?”

The sudden voice made Akari flinch before she could stop herself. But reapplying her smile, she turned, expecting to see another one of Takumi’s fans standing there wanting an autograph or possibly a photo.

But instead it was bright. Cheerful. Unmistakable. It was Yui. “Would you two want more coffee?” She stood there with a fresh pot in hand, bubbly as ever as she leaned in to refill their cups.

Akari thanked her friend with polite but not too close of words. As Yui turned to head back behind the counter, she shot Akari a sly smirk and waggled her eyebrows. For just a moment, Akari’s facade cracked, just short enough to plead with her friend for brief anonymity while promising a full explanation later.

At least things were better than when they’d first arrived.

Akari still didn’t understand why Kirishima had insisted their first date take place at her workplace. She’d wanted to protest. Really, she had. But the contract loomed over her, heavy and inescapable, and in the end, she’d swallowed her regrets along with her objections.

When they entered, the bell above the door chimed brightly, announcing them to the two women behind the counter. Akari wore clothes that didn’t feel like hers and sunglasses they’d both hoped would disguise them well enough, she hoped to stay under the radar even to her best friend and boss.

That did not happen.

Akari had looked for the first time since they had arrived seconds before. She saw Yui already halfway over the counter, hands braced against the edge as if sheer excitement might send her flying across it. Her eyes weren’t on Akari at all. They were completely locked on Takumi, who was still glancing around the café with quiet curiosity, blissfully unaware that one of his biggest fans stood just a few feet away.

It took several seconds for Yui’s brain to catch up with reality, and more importantly, with who her crush was with. Her eyes widened, realization crashing down all at once. In a blur of motion, Yui rushed around the counter and pulled Akari into a tight embrace.

She hissed in frantic whispers, gripping her shoulders. “What are you doing here? You never said you were coming in today!” Her eyes flicked up to Takumi for half a second before snapping back down, "Especially not with him!”

Akari felt her soul quietly exit her body. Yui shook her gently but insistently, demanding answers Akari wasn’t remotely prepared to give.

“Oh, I, uh…” Akari tried, only for the words to knot together in her mind.

Before she could unravel them, Takumi stepped closer. He politely offered a small bow. “I’m Takumi Hayase. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I assume you know Akari?”

Yui responded with a sound that could only be described as choked glee. Her face lit up, eyes sparkling as she stared at the handsome man now holding out his hand to her. She took it and nearly melted to a puddle on the floor.

Behind her, Mrs. Jun appeared, drying her hands on a towel. Her sharp gaze swept over the scene in a single glance: the famous actor, the stiff, panicked girl beside him, and her employee on the verge of emotional collapse.

“Well,” Mrs. Jun said slowly, a knowing smile tugging at her lips, “This certainly is a surprise.”

Akari awkwardly laughed back, “I-it kind of just… happened?”

Yui snapped back to life immediately, her hands once again clamping onto Akari’s shoulders, “Just happened? Since when do things like this just happen? This isn’t some romance novel!”

“R-recently?” Akari answered weakly, her smile wobbling.

The following silence was far too heavy with disbelief to last for much longer.

Mrs. Jun crossed her arms, studying them carefully, “And you didn’t think to mention you had a boyfriend?” Her gaze flicked to Takumi, “Or that he was an actor like you?”

Don’t say like me, Akari winced, It hurts too much to hear it like that.

“I-I didn’t think it was important,” she said, each word feeling like it had to be dragged out of her chest.

Yui’s eyes narrowed, disbelief flickering across her face.

Sensing the growing tension, Takumi stepped in without hesitation, his voice calm and considerate. “I hope this doesn’t cause any trouble. I asked Akari to meet me here because she always spoke so fondly of this café.”

Mrs. Jun’s expression softened at once. “Oh! Well, that’s different.” A sly smile spread over the boss’s face.

Yui leaned in close to Akari, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Something's up. You are going to spill everything later. Understood?”

“…Promise…” Akari murmured, her stomach twisting as she fought the urge to scream.

Mrs. Jun released a small sigh, shaking her head with a fond smile. “Well, I am happy for you Akari. Truly. But next time, you need to tell us the next time you are going to be bringing famous friends around. We need time to prepare our best collections just for them.”

Akari nodded quickly, heat rushing to her cheeks, “I will.”

At last, Yui’s suspicion seemed to ease. She glanced around the café, noticing the way a few gazes had begun to linger. “Would you like a table towards the back?”

Akari followed her gaze, the weight of it all settling on her shoulders once more.

“That would be lovely,” Takumi said, gently taking Akari’s arm in his. The simple touch grounded her instantly, anchoring her where she stood. Her face flaring again, but her trained smile returned to its rightful place. “Two coffees, please.”

“Yes, right this way.”