Chapter Text
Maruyama Aya tried to make her customers feel as good as possible in the coffee shop she works at.
Named ‘IDOLkira Caf é ♪’, the baristas were often decked out in idol costumes, and Aya often fantasized about going to an idol cafe as a child. She wanted other people to have a dreamy experience, just as she had always wanted.
Today, a petite girl with blonde hair in a waterfall ponytail walked into the caf é.
Nothing drew much attention to this customer besides a casually stylish outfit that the pinkette could only dream of wearing. A simple pastel-yellow cardigan strewn neatly over a white blouse and a denim skirt, with an orchid-colored headband adding contrast to the stranger’s platinum blonde hair.
Aya had never seen this girl in her life, but already she wanted to know her name.
The customer looked around, almost idly, yet there was a fixed intensity in her gaze.
Shoot, wait .
Aya rushed over to the girl, laughing nervously. “U-Um, sorry about that! I, can I get you a table?”
A melodious, light laugh escaped from the customer’s mouth. “Of course. Where may I be seated?”
“U-Uwa, table for, one, right? Then, you could sit by that table over there, next to the window? The one where you can see all the flowers? It’s really nice!”
The pretty stranger laughs again, which Aya thought was really cute. “Ah, you’re a talkative one, then? What would you recommend where to sit?”
“E-ehehe~... well, I like sitting at that table, as I said earlier, because I really enjoy looking out at the flowers. But I also like sitting over there --” Aya pointed to a quaint corner of the café filled with stuffed animals and books. “--because it feels so homely and cozy, right? Aha, you can choose either one of those seats, they’re empty-”
“Maruyama-san, get back to work!” Aya’s boss, Okusawa Misaki, called out before turning to Matsubara Kanon, the co-owner. “Ah, I gotta get changed soon.. the kids’ll be calling out for Michelle soon.”
“O-Oh, sorry!” the pinkette laughed nervously and waved at the blonde customer whom Aya didn’t even know the name of. “I, here, just sit where you want, they’re both really nice..”
The girl just smiled again, making another airy laugh before nodding and walking over to the table near the flowers.
“Oh, yeah, it’s such a pretty sight, right? Anyway, um, what would you like to drink? Today’s special is the chamomile tea with- o-oh, I’m sorry, wait, I’m Aya-chan, your server today! S-Sorry, um, so today’s special is.. the chamomile tea with lavender h-” Aya kept rambling, nervous for some reason. Perhaps playing waitress for a pretty stranger with a pretty laugh was nerveracking especially.
“Oh, Aya-chan, when’s your lunch break?”
The question caught Aya off-guard as she hastily replied, “Ah, right about now, probably? But I still have time to serve you, y’know~. Oh, and there’s the MP3 there, so you can play some songs.. I personally recommend SUPER☆GiRLS, but you’re free to choose any you like..”
“Would you mind sitting down with me for lunch, Aya-chan? I’m sure you have much expertise to offer for me; it’s my first time here, after all.”
“Oh, okay, um…” I.. should tell Misaki-san that I’m going on lunch break…
But this is a pretty girl, and I’m a useless lesbian.
“I, okay, um..!” Aya neglected her sense of right and sat down, eager for a blossoming friendship.
“You can call me Chisato,” The girl smiled, eyes alight with some sort of newly-found endearment. “Tell me, how do feel about some tea and omurice?”
Aya got scolded that day, but she got that pretty girl’s number.