Tokyo.
Inside a small café decorated in calming blue-grey tones—a place favored mostly by high-school and university students—several girls in JK uniforms lifted their cappuccinos with delight.
"This… is really delicious."
"Mhm. Whether it's the milk-foam ratio or the rich texture, everything about this place's drinks is irresistible."
Their youthful faces lit up with bliss as they sipped. But one petite girl with a hime-cut hairstyle leaned in and whispered mischievously:
"The taste is good, sure… but that's not why the shop is always packed, right?"
"Hehe. Everyone comes here for—"
She winked playfully and glanced toward the drink-making counter.
There, a young man with a naturally aloof expression worked with machine-like precision. He gently sifted cocoa powder onto a swirl of whipped cream, then used a metal latte-art pen to draw an elegant feather pattern. A steaming mocha, rich in aroma, was completed in his hands.
Not just the JK trio—most of the girls in the café visibly watched him while pretending not to.
"This way, please. Your drink."
At the service counter, Toyokawa Shoko—wearing a white headscarf and a soft pink apron—placed a sealed cold brew into a cat-paw-printed bag. She bowed politely and handed it over with practiced elegance.
Even though her family had "fallen into decline," the manners she had been raised with still suited customer-facing work perfectly.
As she wiped sweat from her forehead and waited for the next drink, Shoko allowed herself a moment to glance toward the same young man.
Kazama Haruka.
The café wasn't large, so during this shift only the two of them worked: Shoko handled customer service, while Kazama—expressionless and focused—worked behind the bar, preparing drinks.
She remembered the day they interviewed together. The proprietress had smiled immediately after asking only a few simple questions.
"Please, both of you must work in my shop. As for salary—negotiable. I'll always schedule you two together. Such a beautiful combination will definitely attract customers."
Back then, Shoko had disliked the idea of a public-facing job. But repeated rejections due to age restrictions left her no choice, and this job was certainly better than delivering newspapers in harsh weather.
And just as the boss predicted, the café—located among multiple schools—quickly gained popularity. At first, most female customers came to admire Kazama Haruka, though a fair number came for Shoko as well. Many didn't even care about drink quality; simply watching Kazama's handsome profile while sipping anything made them happy.
But soon, to everyone's surprise, they discovered Kazama's drinks were genuinely excellent.
His long, slender fingers seemed to carry magic—following the recipe like everyone else, yet producing results far better than expected. Customers eventually learned his schedule, causing crowds to gather specifically when he worked.
Today was one of those days.
"Miss Toyokawa?"
Shoko snapped back to reality only when Kazama's voice sounded for the second time.
"Ah—my apologies."
She bowed slightly and quickly accepted the hot drink he passed her. Their fingers brushed lightly during the handover, and a faint, electric sensation tingled along her skin. But she had no time to think about it; the customer line was getting longer.
"If you're tired, you can rest," Kazama said quietly—rare concern showing in his tone.
"No, I'm fine."
Her gaze moved over the drops of sweat on his cheeks. "Kazama-kun is already working so hard. I can't add more pressure. I can still manage."
She gently patted her slightly round cheeks, forcing herself to stay energetic.
With their seamless coordination, the "evening rush" eventually passed.
"Rina~ see you tomorrow!"
One of their regulars—an outgoing gyaru with long golden-brown curls, wearing a black crop top and low-rise jeans—blew a kiss toward Kazama as she left.
The café finally fell quiet. Outside, the night sky was already deep and dark; it was past 9 PM.
Even with no customers inside, work remained: wiping milk splashes from surfaces, emptying trash cans stuffed with packaging, cleaning the floor. They shared a tired look, then smiled knowingly.
Kazama wiped tables; Shoko gathered trash from the floor. After another round of busy cleaning, the café returned to its pristine state. At last, it was time to go home.
"Kazama-kun, thank you for your hard work."
Shoko exhaled deeply, removed her pink apron, and bowed politely.
For someone who had lived a sheltered life, this work intensity was still something she struggled to adapt to.
"Miss Toyokawa, please wait."
She froze, then turned back toward him.
"Eh? Did you need something?"
Shoko didn't dislike her reserved coworker. In fact, she felt grateful to have him as a partner. Over the two months they worked together, even without many conversations, their teamwork had become surprisingly smooth.
Sometimes, he would quietly offer her tissues, remind her about the slippery floor, or shield her from small mishaps. For someone whose home life had become a dark place filled with beer cans, alcohol stench, and disorder—Kazama Haruka's simple, sincere kindness felt incredibly warm.
Perhaps that was why she always found herself wishing the shift could last a little longer.
"This."
Kazama set a steaming cup onto the table in front of her. A ceramic clink echoed softly.
Black tea.
The familiar aroma made Shoko's small nose twitch.
"Sister Chi wants to add new tea drinks next week," Kazama explained. "This is a blend I tried making myself. It's my first attempt, so I'm not confident… If you don't mind, could you taste it and give me feedback?"
"Eh? Is that really alright?"
Her stomach growled at the worst moment—she hadn't eaten since school ended, and several hours of work had left her light-headed. Black tea, her favorite drink, was a luxury she could no longer afford after her family's downfall.
Kazama gestured gently. "The temperature should be perfect now. Please try."
"Then… I'll gladly accept."
Tempted by hunger and the fragrant steam, Shoko lifted the cup. Her movements remained elegant as ever.
If it was made by Kazama-kun, she expected it to be delicious.
She extended her pale pink tongue slightly and tasted it.
A soft, lingering tea aroma, followed by gentle honey sweetness, spread across her taste buds.
"Delicious!"
Her amber eyes sparkled instantly with surprise. "Kazama-kun, this… It's even better than the ones I used to drink at ho—"
She stopped. Mentioning her past served no purpose anymore.
Kazama noticed the change in her expression, but instead of questioning her, he simply smiled. "I'm glad you like it, Miss Toyokawa. I may experiment with more blends in the future. Would you still be willing to be my taste tester?"
"Eh…"
She looked up at him again. While drinking his tea, the honey sweetness had briefly made her forget the bitterness of her life.
If she could have something like this—something warm, comforting—perhaps she really could endure the days ahead.
And so:
"It would be an honor, desuwa!"
The excitement in her heart made her old ojou-sama speech slip out uncontrollably.
"That— that way of speaking… how embarrassing…"
Flustered, she covered her mouth. But Kazama acted as if he hadn't noticed, calmly cleaning the tea set and untying his apron.
"Kazama-kun, see you tomorrow!"
Feeling warm inside, Shoko bowed once again and hurried out of the shop.
Ding.
[Skill "Beverage Blending" has leveled up to LV4 (Master).]
[Task: Brew black tea personally for Toyokawa Shoko to relieve her stress — completed.]
[Reward: 1000 Wish Points credited.]
Kazama Haruka looked at the panel floating before him, expression unreadable. He wrapped his trench coat more tightly and walked home.