Here I was again. In the same café for the seventh time this week. I feel creepy and pathetic typing away at my laptop and playing random riffs, pretending to write songs in the corner most area of the café. Surely somebody must have realized by now that I’m not actually writing anything… This is all but a ruse to hide my true intentions. I came here not mainly for coffee or tea, but for someone, and with spring break approaching tomorrow, I might not even see her for long.
The chimes of the café entrance sing their pleasant jingle as footsteps echo the empty shop. There she is, the person I had been waiting for… longing for…
“I’m here, Ijichi-senpai!” she announces cheerfully. I went there early on purpose so I might be her first customer. Luckily enough, I’m the only one in the café. I even had to wait outside the café for the past few days to note down what time she arrives (which happens to sharply be seven in the morning). And even though what I was doing might be considered stalking, it all feels right. Well, maybe it really isn't, but perhaps the end justifies the means?
Though she’s finally here, my mind still resists taking a glance. Why? Why must I be so cowardly? Have I burnt up all my energy from just waiting? Was I really that scared of her? I haven’t even done anything major, but I feel like I’ve come so far; this might be my only chance and I don’t want to miss this opportunity.
“Good morning! Oh-? It’s you again!”
I must have been so lost in thought that I never noticed her approach me. “Oh– Uh… Hi–! Yes haha…” Stupid, stupid, stupid. Is that really all you could muster? You can do better, Hitori!!
“Well it’s good to see you again, Ms.…?” the girl asks with that signature shine in her eyes. I struggle to even respond with something as simple as my own name. She never fails to get me lost swimming in her gaze. The morning light seems to glow brighter with her aura.
“H-Hitori-! My name is Hitori, but Ms. Gotoh would be fine..” I finally manage to squeak out. My fingers begin to shake and I avert my gaze from her. This is all too overstimulating: Her fair, porcelain skin, her strawberry-scented hair that lingers in the air. Even her sense of fashion is admirable. I don’t think anyone has ever looked as good in a white shirt tucked into sky-blue skinny jeans, not to mention the various colorful bracelets on her wrist. And that choker… that signature black choker of hers… I wish it was me wrapped around her.
“Hmm… Ms. Gotoh is too formal. Besides, Hitori is cuter. It’s not like this is the first time we’ve met,” she says, taking me out of my trance. “So what would you like today? Would you like something new, or just the usual?”
“Just the usual, please.”
“Oki! One Hibiscus iced-tea for Hitori-san!” She notes down my order before walking away. No… please don’t look back. I haven’t even seen you for more than 5 minutes.
“I– Uh…” I quickly stand.
“Hm? Is there anything else?”
Shit. Why did I do that? You idiot! CHAT I'M THROWING! Now she’ll get creeped out. It’s so over now. I just flunked my chance of getting to know her more. I have to say something now, but nothing’s coming into my mind.
“Can you get... a...” Yeah, I'm done. I can’t even order anything anymore.
“Would… you like any recommendations?”
I nod.
“Wait here, then. I have a lot of favorites,” she sports a cheeky grin before prancing toward the counter.
A breath I was unknowingly holding escapes me as I slump down back onto my chair, but whether in defeat or victory, I’m not sure. On one hand, I’ll be getting to talk to her more. On the other hand, I’ve made a stuttering embarrassment of myself. Does it really matter, though? The benefits outweigh the downsides. We could just be getting started, but I’m on the right path.
The girl walks back to me, humming a tune, menu in hand. “Here you go!” She positions herself behind me and shows me the menu from around my neck. “Usually I’d order this strawberry shortcake since it’s cheap,” she points to the item in the menu, her mouth dangerously close to my ear.
I must be dreaming. This can’t be real. I don’t even know her name yet and we’re already in such an… intimate position. My heartbeat starts racing and my chest feels weird. My face feels like it's burning; I must be blushing redder than her hair.
“But if you want something pricier,” she lets my left hand hold the menu and she– SHE’S HOLDING MY HAND!? “You can also get the strawberry cheesecake. It’s worth the price, I swear!”
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. Stop trembling please, you can’t fuck this up, HITORI! Is this even real? Say something casual, or something. Maybe like…
“Wow you must really like the color red, huh?”
I fucked up.
“Oh– I mean– Yeah! My hair is red, after all, haha…” she scratches her head. “Honestly, though, I really do. I feel like it’s what my personality would be if it was a color, if that makes any sense…”
That makes so much sense.
“And I love strawberries so much, oh my gosh, you don’t even know. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’ve only recommended strawberry-related items… would you like something else?”
I haven’t even noticed until now, but our faces are so dangerously close. I can see the sparkle in her emerald eyes better. I can feel her luscious, fiery red hair drape over my shoulder. I can even smell her breath mingling with mine. She is all too addicting. I might start melting on the spot from her radiating beauty. Perhaps I’ve had enough and I can die happy. This is more than what I came here for.
“Um… it’s okay! I’ll have the strawberry cheesecake, Ms...?”
“Please call me Kita. I don’t like my first name very much…” she says as she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Even that simple motion makes my heart flutter.
“R-Really?”
“Yeah… It’s Ikuyo if you want to know…” Her shame for the name is evident as she averts her gaze from mine.
“Oh…” I think I understand the pun. No wonder she dislikes it. “I think it’s a wonderful name! I mean– It's not as bad as you make it sound…”
“You really think so?” Kita says with a quiver in her voice, almost vulnerable, “you’re really sweet, Hitori-san. You’re one of the only people to not laugh at it,” she chuckles.
The smile she beams right after is enough to blind me. I really am at the end of my rope here. If the end of the world happened now I would go out smiling. Okay maybe not… I’d probably be holed up in a box and crying, but I can’t afford to do that now.
“Anyways,” Kita removes her arm from around me, “one strawberry cheesecake for Hitori-san!”
Not more than five minutes later, Kita delivers both my drink and cake to my table. “Here you go, Hitori-san! One Hibiscus iced-tea and strawberry cheesecake. I hope you enjoy it!”
“T-Thank you so much!” I reply, perhaps too formally, shooting back a smile that probably looks weird and crooked.
“It’s no problem, see you around!”
I take a sip of my drink and have a forkful of the cake in my mind. The semi-sweetened iced-tea makes a heavenly taste in my mouth alongside the creamy cheese and sour strawberry, all enough to make me giggle in delight. I look over to the counter and spot Kita… staring at me? She immediately averts her gaze and assists the next customer. Her obliviousness is really cute, and she’s sweeter than the iced-tea and cheesecake she’d served me.
–
I thought I’d had my fill of this place, but my body instinctively wandered back to the café after class. I should be riding the bus home by now so I really don’t know why I’m standing near the entrance doing nothing. Seriously, Hitori? As if anything’s gonna happen if you just stand there. Perhaps it’s because spring break starts tomorrow, and it will be a while before I get to visit again. I suppose one last look wouldn't hurt, but it’s closed now anyway, maybe I should just head home–
“I’m leaving, Ijichi-san~!” A familiar voice comes through the door. The evening wind rustles my hair and blows in the direction where the voice came from, and then I see her. “Oh? Hitori-san?” The clouds clear at that very second to reveal the glowing evening sun, painting Kita in its golden rays of light.
God, I am forever in your debt today. “Ah– K-Kita-san. I didn’t expect to see you here at this hour.” I somehow manage to talk to her, but I still can’t look her in the eye. If I thought she was pretty this morning, now, she’s stunning. No camera can capture this moment and do her beauty justice. All I can do is take a mental screenshot of this scene and relive it every time I sleep.
“My shift just ended a while ago, so… yeah!” She rubs the back of her head and chuckles.
“Oh, okay. I figured.” Yeah, this will definitely be the last time I see her. I might as well accept it. “So, see you around, then?”
“W-Wait!” Kita runs towards me and our faces are merely feet apart, “I’ve been meaning to tell you something. I just couldn’t find the right time.”
My eyes widen at that statement. Really? What could she possibly want to tell me? “Is everything alright?”
“It’s just that…” she starts to fidget with her fingers, “I’ve been seeing you at the café for a while… and this is the first time we’ve actually talked beyond taking orders, so…”
Where is she going with this? Could she be…?
“It’s just– You seem like an interesting person! I’m embarrassed to say this but I’ve been watching you work on something with your laptop and guitar, just in the corner of the shop, and you look so cool doing it… you look so mesmerizing… ”
My heart lights on fire from that. You mean to tell me she was also admiring me from afar… While I was admiring her too? “Wha– what do you mean, Kita-san..?
“Oh my gosh this is so embarrassing…” she palms her face, almost like she’s crying. After a few deep breaths, she drags her fingers down her face, looks me in the eye and says, “what I mean is… would you like to be friends?
Flowers bloom, the stars align, and all is well on this Earth. The tense chains in my heart are now broken, and all my nerves are soothed by those few words. The sunset is at its final stage, the last fingers of orange sunlight fade away, and up rises the moon and the stars. Still, Kita glimmers under the moonlight, and whatever anxieties I’ve been harboring have now washed away with the day.
“Y-You don’t have to say yes!” she suddenly panics, adorably waving her arms while she closes her eyes. It’s funny how now she’s the shy one. “I absolutely don't want to force you. I just wanted to let you know before spring break starts since I might not see you again.”
“Y-Yes…” I don’t know what came into me, but I hold her hands into mine and finally gaze back at her, longingly, purely, with nothing but happiness in my eyes, “I– I want to be friends with you too, Kita-san! I’ve been waiting too… since last week. Y-You haven’t left my mind since then.”
At this point, tears begin to fall on my cheeks. It seems happiness wasn’t the only thing in my eyes.
“Oh my gosh- Are you okay? Hold on,” Kita releases my hands from hers and grabs a tissue. “Here you go, please don’t cry… I’m sorry if I startled you all of a sudden.”
I take the tissue in my hand and wipe as I stifle my pathetic sobs. “No, no, it’s okay. I just can't believe I- I'm so happy right now… .”
“Well… I believe you. In fact, I might just be as happy as you are.” Kita starts chuckling, which turns into a hearty laugh, then I begin to laugh too. We both stand there, in front of the café, laughing at the happy coincidence we found ourselves in.
“So,” Kita finally chimes in, “can I have your Insta?” She pulls out her phone with the app already open.
“I’m sorry but I don’t have Insta…”
“Oh? Well, that’s unfortunate…”
“Y-You can have my number instead.”
“Really?” She starts smiling again. “Here, put my number in your contacts.”
After that exchange, I finally run out of things to say. All my possible wants and needs have finally been satisfied.
“So… See you tomorrow? Kita asks.
“Eh? What do you want to do?”
“There’s actually this gig at a bar I go to nearby. The cafe’s manager, Ijichi-senpai, works part time there in the evening. She’ll also be performing with her friend too! I figured you would like that, guitar and all.”
I think about it for a while. It’s not like I really have anything to do tomorrow, so going with Kita sounds better than rotting in bed the whole day. Besides, I’ve been wanting to do this ever since I laid eyes upon her. “Sounds good. I’ll go with you!”
“Nice~!” Kita claps her hand together and hops in excitement. I can’t help but smile too at her genuine excitement. “Anyways, I have to get home now. My parents will give me an earful if I don’t arrive before my curfew. Text you later?”
“Mhm. I’d love that.” Kita simply smiles, takes my hand and shakes it. Her hands are so soft…
“See you tomorrow, Hitori-san!” She waves goodbye at me and jogs away into the night, almost like a star running back home to the constellations.
