Chapter Text
"Hiya! Welcome to the Honnouji Coffee Shop! How may I take your order?"
As soon as I walk into the bustling coffee shop on the corner, I'm met by a friendly voice and an adorable girl.
I forget about my order for at least 10 seconds as I'm taking her in. She has brilliant brown eyes that look like melted chocolate and the cutest bowl cut I've ever seen, and in her frilly blue apron, she is absolutely perfect. I can't help but stare.
"Um, miss? Are you okay?" she asks, sounding slightly worried. Her eyes widen and her head tilts to the side slightly.
"Y-yeah, thanks. I'm okay, I just... zoned out," I manage.
"That's okay! It happens to the best of us," she smiles. "What would you like, cutie?"
She just called me cutie. I can't deal. My insides are churning with butterflies.
It’s okay, Ryuko, stay calm, I reassure myself. No use looking like an idiot in front of her, no matter how much I feel like one.
"I'll just have a small hazelnut coffee and a chocolate chip scone, please," I say, rummaging in my black bag for my wallet.
"Sure thing! Coming right up, 'kay? You pay over there!" she motions to the counter to the right of me, lined with various trinkets and bags of coffee beans. I catch a quick glimpse of her name tag as I pass by, muttering a quick thank you. Mako, it announces in swirly blue letters. That's the cutest name I've ever heard.
After I've paid, I plop down on one of the couches surrounding a coffee table and lean on the armrest. Stuffing my wallet back in my bag, I tap my shoes against the floor with nervous energy, awaiting the sound of her voice.
"One small hazelnut coffee and a chocolate chip scone!" Mako's words wash over me like a frothy wave. My heart threatens to leap out of my chest.
I jump up and carefully take my coffee and scone, flashing my best smile at Mako. "Thank you, Mako," I say. Her name tastes sweet on my tongue.
"No problem, Ryuko-chan!" she grins. I gape at her, surprised.
"How did you know my name?"
"It's on your bag, silly!" she giggles, giving a little salute. "Enjoy your food, Ryuko-chan! I hope you come back again soon!"
"Y-yes, thank you," I stutter. "I hope I do, too." And with another smile and a half-wave in her direction, I proceed to a table to the left of her and plop down, setting my bag down beside my feet. My heart is still thundering as I open my laptop and take a sip of my coffee in a futile attempt to calm down.
"Hey! Ryuko!"
My head whips around, and I instantly smile. Senketsu is standing in the doorway, waving at me furiously.
Senketsu is my older brother whom I trust with my life. Honestly, that guy is the best, and I would never do anything without running it by him first. Of course, being an older brother, he still annoys me to no end, but he's made me smile more times than he's made me angry. I wouldn’t trade him for anyone else.
I wave at him and gesture at my table. "Hey, Senketsu! Come sit here, there's an open spot!"
He slides into the chair next to me, stealing my scone and taking a bite. He then leans on his elbows and looks over at me, grinning.
"So, long time no see, huh?" he says, still grinning impishly.
"Senketsu, I saw you this morning, you dork."
"Oh, right! Must have slipped my mind." Another smirk.
"I can't believe you, Senketsu," I sigh and take another sip of my coffee.
"Well, you'd better, because you're stuck with me, Yuko," he says, nudging my shoulder playfully and taking another bite of my scone.
"Come on, Senketsu, you're at it again? Get your own scone!"
This goes on for a while until he has successfully eaten my entire scone and downed my coffee in a single sip. I should mention-- the one thing I despise about my brother is that he always, ALWAYS steals my food.
"So, what brings you here, Senketsu?"
"Well, this is my favorite coffee shop, so I decided to drop by after a lecture. And who do I see but my favorite Yuko?"
"I didn't know this was your favorite coffee shop! Why didn't you tell me about it before?"
"Well, why did you need to know?"
"Uh... no reason."
He glances over to the counter, where Mako is taking another order. Her voice is laced with sugar, and I can see that everyone who she serves leaves slightly happier than they were before. I blush instantly.
"Oh!" Senketsu exclaims, then smirks again. "I got you. Your lesbian powers are activated, huh?"
"Shut UP!"
We finally leave the coffeehouse, full and happy. Senketsu and I walk side by side-- he insisted on accompanying me home before heading back to classes. We saunter through the park, admiring the gaudy red leaves littering the ground and the purple buds peeking out from cracks in the pavement.
"So, Ryuko, it was that girl, huh?"
"How'd you know?"
"Well, it was blatantly obvious. At least to me, since I'm your older brother and all. I know everything about you, especially when you're getting the... dokis for somebody," he says, winking.
"I'm not even gonna comment on how stupid that sounded. And don't just announce it to the world, okay? That makes me really uncomfortable, and if you really know everything about me, you should know that much."
"I am sorry that my flagrant announcement of your homosexuality offends you, and I will stop immediately."
"You are the biggest fuckin' dork this world has ever known."
"Love you too, Yuko."
We walk in silence as we toward the driveway to our house. Despite being colossal, it's pretty empty because its only residents are Senketsu and I. Our mom left when we were young and our dad died last year in a freak accident. I shudder every time I think about it.
It doesn't help that Senketsu is off at college every day-- he's a sophomore at Revocs University. I'm eighteen and just graduated high school, but I haven't found a college yet. I'm lonely all day, really, which is why my cravings for company are stronger than most peoples’.
"Well, I'd best be off, Yuko," Senketsu snaps me out of my thoughts. "Class starts in 30, so I've gotta run. I love you, have a nice day, and..." He winks again, nudging me. "Good luck with that girl."
Well, I'll definitely need it.