A Cup of Joe
|
Post by Narukami Akira on Mar 22, 2013 18:25:50 GMT -6
Saturday, 24 May 12:00 pmOh, damn. That work on History nearly killed me back there.
I have no problem with answering short questions and shading the right box in those quick-time multiple-choice questions. I'm good at remembering the facts. But essays... is another world entirely. I hate them. Because I have to write lots and lots. I have to analyze what kind of political consequences a treaty made and many other stuff like that. Digging deep into those stuff. It's not really my thing.
Anyway, I'm finally done with that essay about the Treaty of Versailles. Time to go out.
I love walking through the shopping district. Strolling through the busiest section of the city (especially on a weekend), passing by many establishments, which come in all sizes. I'm a frequent customer of a toy model store, even though most of the time it's just window shopping, as the robot models I like to collect don't come cheap, and I have to choose carefully. Still, many Gundam models are really irresistible. The Zeta, or the Wing Zero, they are the best. Still saving money for the latter.
After saying goodbye to the owner, it's time for some grub. Then, I notice a simple-looking café just about ten footsteps away from the store. Looks quite new, too. I'm gonna check it out.
"Luna Café". Looks cozy, especially with its wooden interior. Pretty nice for anyone who want to have a cup of joe in peace. Aside from various types of hot and cold drinks, this place also have food like sandwiches, burgers, paninis, pasta and salad. Guess I'll order a carbonara spaghetti (looks strangely delicious in the menu) and a cappucino. From the chalkboard outside, it also have special parfaits too. But, I'll just go with a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream this time.
I call out to the waitress nearest to me so that she can take my order. When she turns back, turns out she looks rather cute, quite stands out among the other employees here. Maybe I'll have some small talk with her once I have a chance. At least, it can serve as practice for me to be more confident around the fair sex.
|
|
Deleted Account
In-Character Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2013 18:46:36 GMT -6
While cleaning a table, a customer calls me over. I put the rag I was using to clean the table away and walk over with some minor trepidation, forcing myself to smile. If I didn't force myself, I'd look miserable - stupid genetics. Why did you give me a face that looks so morose?
I'm still not used to this city yet; there are men everywhere, and it's really crowded compared to that school I used to live at. Still, I kinda like it. It's a new experience; it's kinda scary, but it's still interesting.
"Y-yes? May I help you?" I ask the customer, a man with brown hair. He was nothing like the teachers I knew, or my father, that hateful man. He was young; near my age. I still have no idea what to expect from men my age. I curse myself for the slight tremble in my voice. I wish I was less shy. "S-so, uhmm, what would you like?"
I hold out a menu for the man to take, smiling inwardly as I realize I'm not trembling, like I was with the last customer. It's small and fits on a laminated sheet of A4 European paper. The paper itself is brown and purple with white text and little yellow stars everywhere, with a little smiling cresent moon in the upper right corner. I think it's tacky, but nobody else seems to dislike it.
|
|
|
Post by Narukami Akira on Mar 23, 2013 13:34:38 GMT -6
Long, pink hair.
Big, round eyes of a puppy.
Petite. Definitely at least one head shorter than me. There's always an inherent cuteness within that small size, like a little animal.
Candy floss-colored blouse, black skirt with a white apron.
She's quite lovely.
She looks a bit nervous when responding to my request. Maybe she's a new employee? Anyway, shyness is a well-beloved feminine charm too, at least among us males. Hope that does not affect her work too much, though.
She hands me a menu, without realizing that I managed to get a copy from a nearby rack and called her just to take the order. Still, that's really considerate of her.
"Oh, hi." I replied, trying to sound as "smooth" as possible. "Thank you for handing me this, but I already have one. I'd like to order a cappucino, a spaghetti carbonara, and a vanilla ice cream for dessert, please."
After getting the order out of the way, I decide to sneak a question in nonchalantly: "Are you new here?"
|
|
Deleted Account
In-Character Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2013 14:56:20 GMT -6
"O-oh! Sorry then. Just give me a moment," Sakura replied, blushing a little from embarassment. She cursed herself more for not noticing the menu in the customer's hands. Taking a moment to return the menu to its original place, the pulled a small notebook and a pen from her pocket and quickly made a few scribbles.
"You ordered... a cappuccino, spaghetti carbonara, and vanilla ice cream for dessert, right? Will there be anything else, or will that be all?" she asked, the pen stopping. The slight blush returning, Sakura again cursed herself for being so easy to read. "A-and yes, I'm new here. I've been living in Kyoto until only recently. How could you tell? Was it really that obvious...?"
|
|
|
Post by Narukami Akira on Mar 23, 2013 16:36:42 GMT -6
"That'll be all, thank you."
She gets flustered again after my question. Cute, albeit predictable. That reaction alone serves as the answer. Still, I'd like to hear what she has to say.
"Well, just a gut feeling. I'm good at that." I wonder if that reply was "smooth" enough.
"Besides, you said you were from Kyoto? It's a very nice place. I used to go there either with my family or my classmates on a field trip. The relaxing scenery, the cool historical sites, the Uzumasa Eigamura area where they film those period shows. It's very nice to know someone from there. That explains your accent."
Did I talk a bit too much? Maybe I should make her feel more at ease.
"Don't worry, I'm from out of town as well. I'm from Nagoya, born and raised. Then due to family circumstances, I had to move here before this school year. It's good to know somebody similar to you in a new, strange place, isn't it?"
Well, just go with the flow for now, and see what happens. Still, being far away from my hometown is not a bad thing, as long as I can make friends.
|
|
Deleted Account
In-Character Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2013 16:47:33 GMT -6
Sakura looked away. "I hated it there," she replied softly, a small amount of loathing entering her voice. She was silent for a few moments, not saying a word or looking at the customer. Suddenly, she turned and began heading for the kitchens.
"Your order should be ready shortly," she called out over her shoulder. Her voice was slightly morose, and she wasn't smiling any more.
Behind the door to the kitchens, where she couldn't be seen, Sakura took a few deep breaths. As always, her reaction to the word "family" had driven her off the deep end. The kitchen staff interpreted this as normal behavior and left her alone; after all, she usually had to stop and take a breather for a few moments after dealing with chatty customers.
A few moments later, Sakura pulled herself together and handed the order to the head cook. She waited for a few minutes while the man's lunch was prepared, and brought it out to him when it was done. She appeared as if the dark turn her mood had taken had never happened. "W-will you need anything else?" Sakura asked, still somewhat hesitant in her speech.
|
|
|
Post by Narukami Akira on Mar 23, 2013 20:19:58 GMT -6
"Er, was that something I said?"
Somehow the waitress makes a sudden 180 turn in attitude after my previous words, and solemnly walks away without looking at me.
She hates her hometown? Damn, looks like I stepped into a landmine without a warning sign. Right at the first step. From that kind of reaction, there must be something traumatizing happened to her there. I didn't mean to hurt her, but I should apologize anyway. I just can't stand seeing a girl in sorrow, and let that sadness affect her work.
About 15 minutes later, she returns with my food and coffee. Apparently trying to act like a professional again, despite having the same problem every rookie has. I have to make amends now.
"I... I'm sorry for what I said earlier." I speaks out, my eyes keep focusing on the scrumptious-looking dish. "I was wrong to ramble without thinking, and hurt you in the process. I got carried away. Please forgive me for my rudeness."
|
|
Deleted Account
In-Character Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2013 20:32:02 GMT -6
The man's response only made Sakura flustered. "Whaa?? U-uhhmm...! D-don't worry about it! I'm fine! R-really!" This was accompanied by much frenzied arm flailing, as if the awkwardness could simply be waved away. She suddenly stopped, her face bright red, embarrassed. "W-well, umm, I've got stuff I need to do, so..."
With that, Sakura quickly walked off once more, again taking refuge in the kitchen. Again, Sakura cursed herself for being so awkward and shy as she buried her face in her hands, attempting to will away the redness in her cheeks.
A minute or two later, Sakura stepped out of the kitchen and resumed wiping down tables like she had never met the man she had just given food to.
|
|
|
Post by Narukami Akira on Mar 24, 2013 18:38:01 GMT -6
Ah, fine. I probably said too much. Gonna shut up now. No more bothering her. I cannot pry any further than his anyway. And I thought she could have told me more about Kyoto.
Hope that conversation doesn't affect my appetite. Time to eat.
The spaghetti... the taste is rich. Very rich. Now I see why the Western people fancy this dish. It can fill you up very quickly, to ensure that they can last the rest of the day before dinner. Still, I don't dislike it. The rich creamy sauce goes rather well with the firm noodle strings and the salty bits of bacon, so the result is still rather tasty. From the content of this dish, though, I probably won't eat it very often, as I cannot handle too much fat in my system.
On the other hand, I enjoy the aroma of my cup of Italian coffee. No wonder why there are so many coffee aficionados all over the world. It's nothing like the one that comes out of a vending machine. The mixture of coffee and cream is just right, which leaves the taste not too bitter. It's really nice of the staff to make a leaf out of the foam. Must have a lot of skills to do that.
After having cleaned out the dish, I call out to the waitress again to take it and bring my dessert.
|
|
Deleted Account
In-Character Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2013 19:29:20 GMT -6
Sakura jumped in surprise at being called again. She walked over to the table and picked up the dishes, again putting the false smile on her face to prevent herself from looking morose and disinterested.
Taking the dishes to the kitchen, she returned shortly after with the ice cream. Sakura set it in front of Akira and asked "Will there be anything else you need?" Again, she had that pocket-sized notebook and pen ready in case he did.
|
|
|
Post by Narukami Akira on Mar 27, 2013 17:55:49 GMT -6
"Ah, just bring me a glass of water, please."
This is definitely not my lucky day with women. It's only the first step and it's already the wrong one. Just great, perfect first impression. Even though I apologized, she probably thinks of me as an insensitive jerk, as she doesn't show any real sign of being no longer troubled.
At least I should finish my dessert. I always like anything with vanilla. Nature really is something to make such a wonderful species of flower exist. The unique taste of vanilla goes extremely well with dairy products. The light untouchable sweetness is like no other.
Well, maybe I will recommend this place to my friends. I think they will like it here.
|
|
|
credits
Clannad is a product of Key. Dango Daikazoku holds no legal rights or claims to the images or the characters that are used on the site. No materials on this site are used for commercial purposes.
Site code provided by ProBoards and modified by Karu. Skin created by Karu. Site created by Whammy of RPG-D. Please do not copy without consent.
Site banner made by Pixiv id 13750517.
Background image by Cynnalia-stock.
Cafeteria image by Pixiv id 202175.
|
|