Chapter 16:
Chapter 16 : coffee and tea
Everyday you, Shining you
Kana arrives ten minutes early.She checks her phone. Puts it back in her bag. Takes it out again.The café door opens, and she looks up every single time.Calm down, she tells herself.Her foot taps against the floor nervously.Then Kota walks in.No rush.No hesitation.He scans the room once, spots her, and smiles.“Hi, Kana.”Just that. Simple.“ Hi! You’re… right on time. I mean—early. Not early, but—” She stops herself, flustered.Kota chuckles softly.“I like early.”They sit.Kana talks first. Too fast. About the weather. About the café. About how hard it was to find the place even though it was actually easy.Kota listens.Doesn’t interrupt.Doesn’t rush her.He stirs his coffee slowly.“You don’t have to fill the silence ”, he says gently.Kana blinks.“ I don’t?”“ No. Silence is fine.”She exhales.For the first time since she arrived, her shoulders relax.“Sorry. I get nervous.”“ I noticed”, he replies, smiling. “It’s kind of cute.”Her face heats up.“ You’re very calm.”“Someone has to balance you out.”Kana laughs. Loud. Uncontrolled.Kota smiles again.This time, it lasts a little longer.And somehow, without her noticing when it happened,the date starts to feel… easy.
~
The café had quieted down, afternoon light streaming through the windows.Kana stirred her tea, watching the steam curl up like a tiny ghost.“ So… how did you get into journalism? ” she asked, trying to sound casual.Kota leaned back in his chair, fingers tracing the rim of his cup of tea.“ Long story. I guess I’ve always liked asking questions, finding out things people don’t usually see. Stories, you know?”
He looked at her, amused. “And you? HR at an advertising agency doesn’t exactly scream “quiet desk job.””
Kana laughed lightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.“Yeah, well… it’s HR. I make sure things run smoothly, people don’t break the rules too badly, try not to get anyone fired. You’d be surprised how complicated “happy workplace” can be.” she smiled, sipping her tea. “And I deal with a lot of… projects sometimes”.Kota tilted his head, feigning curiosity.“ projects? Like what?”Kana hesitated, just slightly.“Just… campaigns. Actors, launches… you know, standard ad stuff”Kota’s eyes softened, but he leaned in a fraction closer, voice casual “So, recently, any exciting campaigns? Big actors, new brands…”Kana’s fingers froze on her cup. Her pulse quickened, but she smiled politely. “Huh… I mean, we’re always working with new talent everyday. I can’t really say much. Confidential, you know?”“Of course, I understand. I just… like hearing about the creative side. Nothing serious.”Kota's tone was light, almost teasing, but there was a sharpness in his gaze. He studied her reactions as if trying to read between the lines.Kana’s eyes flicked down to her tea. A small sigh escaped her lips.“ I… can’t say too much. there’s something big coming”.Kota smiled faintly, nodding. He leaned back, letting the moment settle, letting her feel in control while still probing gently.“Fair enough. I guess journalists have to be patient sometimes”Kana finally relaxed, letting out a small laugh.“Patient, huh? Sounds like you’re trying to teach me a lesson.”" Maybe I am. Or maybe I just like listening to stories. Especially when the storyteller is interesting”Her cheeks warmed. She glanced at him, uncertain if he was teasing or sincere.For a while, they just sipped their drinks, the conversation drifting.And Kota’s questions, subtle as they were, had planted seeds.He would find out more eventually.But for now… it was enough to watch her guard slowly slip, one story at a time.End of chapter 16
~
The café had quieted down, afternoon light streaming through the windows.Kana stirred her tea, watching the steam curl up like a tiny ghost.“ So… how did you get into journalism? ” she asked, trying to sound casual.Kota leaned back in his chair, fingers tracing the rim of his cup of tea.“ Long story. I guess I’ve always liked asking questions, finding out things people don’t usually see. Stories, you know?”
He looked at her, amused. “And you? HR at an advertising agency doesn’t exactly scream “quiet desk job.””
Kana laughed lightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.“Yeah, well… it’s HR. I make sure things run smoothly, people don’t break the rules too badly, try not to get anyone fired. You’d be surprised how complicated “happy workplace” can be.” she smiled, sipping her tea. “And I deal with a lot of… projects sometimes”.Kota tilted his head, feigning curiosity.“ projects? Like what?”Kana hesitated, just slightly.“Just… campaigns. Actors, launches… you know, standard ad stuff”Kota’s eyes softened, but he leaned in a fraction closer, voice casual “So, recently, any exciting campaigns? Big actors, new brands…”Kana’s fingers froze on her cup. Her pulse quickened, but she smiled politely. “Huh… I mean, we’re always working with new talent everyday. I can’t really say much. Confidential, you know?”“Of course, I understand. I just… like hearing about the creative side. Nothing serious.”Kota's tone was light, almost teasing, but there was a sharpness in his gaze. He studied her reactions as if trying to read between the lines.Kana’s eyes flicked down to her tea. A small sigh escaped her lips.“ I… can’t say too much. there’s something big coming”.Kota smiled faintly, nodding. He leaned back, letting the moment settle, letting her feel in control while still probing gently.“Fair enough. I guess journalists have to be patient sometimes”Kana finally relaxed, letting out a small laugh.“Patient, huh? Sounds like you’re trying to teach me a lesson.”" Maybe I am. Or maybe I just like listening to stories. Especially when the storyteller is interesting”Her cheeks warmed. She glanced at him, uncertain if he was teasing or sincere.For a while, they just sipped their drinks, the conversation drifting.And Kota’s questions, subtle as they were, had planted seeds.He would find out more eventually.But for now… it was enough to watch her guard slowly slip, one story at a time.End of chapter 16
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