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The fresh smell of coffee grinds; the inviting aroma of spritz of caramel, vanilla, mocha and otherwise… Sen did not simply work at a cafe for the money. Despite what others may think, his general patience for things were thin at best. He was just very good at hiding it, the idea of politeness drilled—pun intended—into him at a young age. Perhaps a bit too much, it seemed, as he apparently didn’t “speak enough”. Though, why did he have to speak if he didn’t have anything to say? It was much easier letting others speak.
And, anyways, Sen always figured there was an inherent sense of comfort when you were allowed to just be with another person. When you could simply be silent and it didn’t feel as if the air around them was too thick. Sen, for the most part, never quite felt like that before but he understood others felt it around him. It was exhausting. And it really did boil down to his general dislike of small talk. Words to just fill the space… how about simply letting the space be? Or, perhaps, filling the air with something else. Like the steam of a nice cup of joe, the smell hitting your nostrils… that wasn’t such a bad trade up right?
It was just his luck that he’d be sharing this shift with Tokage, the resident chatterbox of the cafe and, perhaps, of the entirety of Japan. At least his saving grace came in the form of Tsuburaba, who could keep up somewhat with the fast pace conversation Tokage sucked anyone with working ears into. Though, he’d be a liar if he were to say that her bubbly personality didn’t get the cafe good tips. It turned out people really enjoyed that kind of crap. Whatever, that’s why Tokage was here after all.
“Have a rawr -tastic day!” Tokage waved off a customer, who simply giggled at her before offering their own goodbye. Her words themselves, though odd to the naked ears, weren’t all that out there once you’d catch sight of her nametag. He believed today it said, “Mrs. Godzilla”. He often times wondered why she hadn’t just gone into the career path of paleontology. Though, everyone wanted to be a hero, he supposed.
He wanted to be one… but that ship had sailed a while ago. Surprisingly, though, it didn’t leave some gaping hole in his life. He liked working in this environment. In fact he was already in college majoring in business and management. Sen knew that nowadays people didn’t get their degrees to start a business anymore, but he figured that was foolish within itself. After all, when he’d open up his own cafe, he wanted it to last. For now he’d gather as much information as he could while working here. All he needed to do now was secure the managing position and he’d be on the right track. Sure, that’d steer him away from the actual preparation of the drinks but it was a necessary sacrifice for the greater good of his own future—
“—The last single person left is Kaibara.” The mention of his name brings him out of his thoughts, his brain taking a few seconds to realize what Tokage had said. And once he did, he nearly wanted to roll his eyes far into his head. The topic of romance was never too far when it came with Tokage; her own new found love seemingly needing to come up in this way… constantly… for weeks now… perhaps even months.
“Tsuburaba is single.” Is all Sen says as he points a thumb behind him at the other. Those saucer eyes now shifting from the syrups he was replacing, to the two people in front of him.
“Well, yeah, but totally not for long.” Tokage spoke, using a hand to flip her hair behind her before resting the same hand on the counter beside her. “Unless he keeps being a little baby about his whole crush…”
“I—I’m not being a baby!” Tsuburaba says in a near whine that’s rather unfortunate for the current accusation she had brought up about him. Still, he doesn’t seem to notice it as he continues to speak. “I’m just waiting for the right moment.”
“What ‘right moment’? You’re asking her out, not proposing to her. Just like, do it!” Sen had to admit, she did have a point. He didn’t see the whole fuss was about, really. Though, Sen didn’t really see the whole appeal about romance in his regular life. Not like he didn’t want it, he just didn’t think about it as much. It wasn’t something one could plan, therefor he just simply didn’t.
“I can’t!” Tsuburaba cheeks were flared, hands shaking a bit as if she was right there in front of him. Sen was surprised he wasn’t blowing out little irregularly shaped circles of solid air; though he probably wasn’t breathing right now. It was amazing the way this would nearly undo the man all together.
“If you wait too long, she’ll find a new lilypad to hop on, if you know what I mean…” Tokage pointed a finger at him before a smirk of sorts filled up her face. “But, I’m still holding out faith for you. She keeps coming back, after all, and always makes a point to talk to you. Soon enough it’ll just be Kaibara being a lonely loser.”
Sen simply blinked at her. Tokage, though, did not skip a beat as she fixed her smirk onto him. “Even Honenuki is getting some! Kuroiro is the reason we got raises last week, you know.” She wiggled her eyebrows as she spoke, crossing the small distance between her and Sen. He stiffened. Of course, she had decided to lock in on him it seemed. How irritating.
“Awase’s been making moves with that Yaomomo chick, Komori and Shouda, Kendou and Yanagi… Even Monoma’s got something with that purple haired dude—”
“Shinsou.” Tsuburaba cuts in. Sen had a feeling he was keeping his own words short as not to become Tokage’s new victim.
“Right, yeah, him.” She waved off, though continued to speak as if her sentence hadn’t ever been cut off. “I’ve got Mina… and Kaibara’s got… coffee? What? A cat? Two? Fourteen?”
“I don’t have any pets.” Sen finally decides to speak, though it wasn’t the kind of reaction Tokage wanted, it seemed.
“Come on, ‘Bara! There’s gotta be some part of you that like, really wants someone. I’m just trying to find the inner romantic. I know he’s in there under all of that… deadness and eternal despair.” She spoke.
“Deadness and eternal despair?” Is that what others thought of him? Just because he didn’t smile as much as everyone else? Or didn’t feel the need to enthusiastically talk about his love life and, apparently, the love lives of others?
“Yes! You!” She spoke in utter exasperation. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you out. Mina and I are like, amazing matchmakers right after being like the world’s best girlfriends. We’ll find you the perfect person! You know what? I think I’ve got a couple of people I can call right now…”
“No!” Sen exclaimed in a way that both was and felt uncharacteristic even for himself. Tokage and Tsuburaba were understandably taken a back but he knew it wouldn’t keep her down for long. She’d fight it, insist on helping, and for the next couple of weeks these potentials will rotate throughout the days and the idea of multiple strangers trying to strike up a conversation with him made his eye twitch. He needed something to get her off his back. Something that would subdue her enough to back off and just let him be.
“...What?” Her voice brought him back.
“I… I have someone.” He says before his brain could catch up. But once it had, he was already regretting it. He was a fool, an idiot ! This was only going to welcome more questions that he wouldn’t have any answers to!
“You have someone? Oh my god, who is it?! What are they like?! Why haven’t you mentioned them before?!” The questions came out rapid fire; this was somehow much worse than before. He’d have to backtrack, he’d need something to save him from his own mess.
“Babe!” A voice calls out, a mess of pink curly hair popping as the equally pink owner nearly bounced over to the counter. “Are you done? We need to go like, now if we want to make the reservation. It took me too damn long to get ‘Yama to convince Bakugou to go on a double date and I know if we’re like, one minute late Mr. Explodey Hands will find a way to weasle himself out of this!”
“Kaibara has a person!” Tokage sputters out, though she still leans in so Mina could kiss her cheek. “He has a person and he didn’t say anything!”
Disappointingly to Tokage, Ashido didn’t show too much interest in the very hot gossip. Which, from what little he knew of Ashido, he had figured she’d be just as excited. But, thankfully, date night seemed to be her number one priority. So, instead of the hounding of questions he had expected, he had gotten… well a lot less.
“Great, that’s great. Congratulations! Now can we leave, Setsuna?”
With a huff from the green haired woman, the calm atmosphere was restored once more as Ashido was finally able to pull Tokage out of the cafe. There was about an hour left of the work day before Sen would have to close for the night. A task he admittedly took his time with, considering he tend to get stuck with the shift more often than not. He supposed that was just the price to pay for daring to live so close to work.
“Hey, sorry for not saving you from Tokage but… you know.” Tsuburaba spoke, now in his moto jacket and beanie pulled low over his head. Somehow, it made his already big eyes that much more prominent. It’d make sense, it seems, that Tsuburaba’d be interested in someone else with such prominent, nearly signature features like Tsuyu had.
“Yeah.” Sen replied, watching Tsuburaba with a bored expression on his face. “Don’t expect me to ever save your ass.”
“You say it as if you ever had.” Okay, that one brought a slightly amused quirk to Sen’s lips. “I am shocked that you’re going out with someone, though. I just… never pictured you as being the type. But I’m not going to ask a ton of questions or anything. It’s no one’s business, right?”
Giving a curt nod, Sen continued to watch as Tsuburaba opened the door of the cafe. “I’ll see you around, Kaibara—Oh, sorry!” Tsuburaba stepped out quickly as he let a customer in, giving a quick wave before disappearing into the night.
Ah, and so came in his usual 5 pm regular. A woman named ‘Kodai’. He only knew this because of the protocol of scribbling the customers name’s onto the cup. He didn’t do it anymore, not with her at least, considering she seemed to come in like clock work at the same hour. When everyone else was on their ways home, not interested in a cup of coffee so close to dinner time.
She ordered the same thing every night. Black coffee. To which she’d add so much damn sugar, he had to wonder if her mouth was probably filled with cavities. Once, though, she did order a caramel latte but it was only the once. He remembered because he had already ringed up the expected order the moment she walked in. But tonight it seemed it’d be just the same old; which was fine by him.
They never spoke much past the very little exchanged of the usual customer to barista. It was refreshing, in a way. Most customers seemed to think frequency at a facility meant they were suddenly best of friends. That was something Sen wasn’t any good at. This was another area of work that Tsuburaba and Tokage seemed the best at. He’d have to remember these traits for whenever he’d finally open up his own cafe and would be in charge of hiring the staff.
Kodai also fell into the habit of leaving a tip in the jar, whatever loose coins and small paper currency she had, before taking up a seat right next to the window. Then she’d sit there and observe the outside world. Nothing more, nothing less. Somewhere along the way, Sen had also just fallen into the habit of closing the cafe around her, letting her continue to live in whatever mental world she clocked out to, until he was all done and would inform her that it was time to leave.
It broke some kind of protocol, he could imagine, but he just couldn’t find it in himself to kick her out earlier than that. He understood her, after all. It seemed she just wanted to place to relax, to have a moment to herself… It wasn’t a crime. And she didn’t seem all that keen to holding long conversations; she was introverted, to herself. In some ways, he figured Kodai and himself were pretty similar. He supposed, if he were to ever truly ‘be with someone’, it’d probably be with someone like her.
Ah, shit Tokage. Thanks a lot .
What was he going to do about that whole problem now? As much as he’d love to never bring it up ever again, he knew his co-worker wouldn’t let it go. He’d have to produce something . He could maneuver around never bringing them, could say it was work but he’d need something tangible… Something believable…
His eyes flickered up to the girl sitting near the window… He couldn’t ask her… But who else did he know? Shiozaki? She’d never agree to it. There was also Rin but he couldn’t lie to save his life. Kamakiri would flat out decline, he was sure, and Pony was much too… well, Pony to be believable enough.
...Fuck, Kodai was his only hope.
Sen fished out his phone from his pocket, 30 minutes till closing, if he was going to ask he would have to do it now. He slipped it back into his back pocket, taking a hold of the rag he had left on the table with a sigh. This was so embarrassing, he had never put himself in this much of a damn mess before. To have to ask someone to be his momentary fake girlfriend… Who was he? An idiot? Whatever, maybe his ass would be saved tonight. And, if she said no, well he’d have to be fine with that. He wasn’t going to force her into it, after all.
With a moment's breath, he forced the rag into his back pocket before closing the distance between he and her booth. For the most part, she hadn’t realized he was even in front of her, she must be deep within her own thoughts. Clearing his throat, he beant just a bit to catch her attention.
“Uh… Kodai?” He deadpanned.
“Hmm, is it time to leave?” She turned to him, eyes as neutral as ever. As if he hadn’t interrupted her from anything at all. Her voice, though, was small. He’d imagine many people have needed to lean in to hear her. He was just lucky they were in a quiet cafe.
He shook his head. “No.” He straightened up. How was he even going to ask this? “I just… I have a favor to ask of you. It’s not very conventional but…” He trailed off, expecting her to say something. Maybe ask him what the favor was, but instead she simply looked at him. Is this feeling of uncertainty usually what others felt when he’d do the same to them? “I have a coworker who won’t get off my back about needing to have a significant other… she’s really annoying about it, actually. And… fuck, it’s a long story but I was wondering if we could get a picture together. Just so I can pretend like I’m seeing someone and she’ll leave me the hell alone.”
There was a moment of surprise in her eyes, just a blink of it, before her usual deadpan expression fell back on her features. In a pretty surprising turn, she didn’t ask anymore questions. She didn’t say it was weird or tried to make some kind of get away. Instead, she placed her coffee down on the table and gave a small, “sure”.
She scooted over down the booth’s chair and he realized she was making room for him to sit. That was good, the faster they could get this done the better. He sat down next to her, wasting no time in preparing his phone for a selfie, before reaching and angling the arm in between them up for the picture. She wordlessly scooted closer into him, resting a hand on his bicep. He was just about to take the picture when he felt her head rest on his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” The words slip out before he had any chance of holding them back, his eyes blinking in surprise at the act.
“It needs to look authentic, right?” Were her only words as she continued to look up at the phone’s front facing camera. Sen hummed after a short moment; she was right. Still, it made him feel quite… flustered.
A ghost of a smile fell on both of their features as Sen finally took the photo. And then one more just in case. He rose from the seat with a thank you, receiving a soft “you’re welcome”, before they simply fell back into their routine. Kodai, looking out onto the nightlife as Sen continued to clean up the store.
Soon enough it was about 20 minutes passed 6 pm and Sen was ready to go. He didn’t even have to announce it anymore, Kodai was already up and ready to leave. It was almost like he hadn’t ever awkwardly asked her to be his fake, photograph girlfriend just minutes before. Just like always he let her slip out of the shop first before turning and locking the doors.
Usually by now she’d be halfway down the sidewalk, but when he turned around he was met with her eyes on his. Before he could even ask if she needed anything else, she had already started speaking. The words come out too softly at first, his head involuntarily leaning forward to catch her voice, before she clears her throat and tries again.
“If you ever want to have a re—real date. I wouldn’t mind.” He wasn’t quite sure what shocked him most; the question, her stutter, her blush or the fact that he was actually kind of happy to hear that.
Once again, he finds himself barely being able to reply as she suddenly turned away from him. “Okay.” Was all he was able to get out. Was this a habit of hers he’d have to get used to? If they were going to eventually go on a date and all...
Ah shit, Tokage. Thanks a lot… really .