Chapter Text
A normal day at New York café began at ten in the morning.
There wasn’t any reason to open earlier because there was no more night-shift worker in the vicinity, and Momose Takashi – the current owner – didn’t enjoy being an early bird much. That didn’t mean he got to sleep in though, because preparation always took at least two hours. Therefore, if he opened at seven, he would have to wake up at four or five – but five would make the time too tight. He honestly could live without an alarm before sunrise.
Having a café in a mountain town meant to expect familiar faces from day to day, especially when the customers mostly came from Akatsuka village. To outsiders, the Akatsuka natives might look the same because of their distinguished wide mouth; however, Takashi could tell them apart at first glance.
It wasn’t like he tried to memorize the customers, but that somehow had become his habit when he saw his father welcoming and chatting with the guests like they’d been friends for years. They might be for all he knew.
Not like Takashi had anything better to do anyway.
Opening the café, welcoming familiar customers, making usual sweets and drinks, listening and responding to different conversations, and finally closing the store were how Takashi’s life would be from the day his father had passed away until the very end. It was plain, but he was content with it, he supposed.
That was what Takashi had thought. Yet after the visit of the man wearing a paper bag on his head, his life came to a drastic change-
No. Actually, the change wasn’t much, if he didn’t count the abducting incident.
Right. He only gained five more brothers with identical faces, but his life still remained the exact same way as before.
Except for…
“When will my coffee be ready? I’m here for half an hour already.” Oozou whined loudly from the counter, not bothered by the attention the other guests were giving him.
That.
Yes, aside from gaining brothers, Takashi also gained a new loyal customer named Akashika Oozou - or his eldest brother. This was supposed to be good, having your new-found family supporting your business.
Yet, Takashi only facepalmed. “I won’t give you any coffee until you pay your tab.” he said determinedly.
Oozou made a sulky sound, “Stingy.”
Takashi rolled his eyes, “Said somebody never paid for a single glass of coffee.” Despite what was said, he still prepared Oozou’s order.
A glass of coffee was a small price to pay to shut his eldest brother up.
“How is the city group lately?”
Lifting his gaze from the dishes he was wiping to meet Oozou’s eyes, Takashi wrinkled his eyebrows, “They’re doing well, maybe. Why are you asking me?”
“Because you call Karatsugu every day, don’t you?” Oozou shrugged.
Takashi almost nodded but halted in time. “N-No no. What are you talking about?” he stuttered, shaking his head rapidly, “I do call him but who said I do that every day?”
Oozou gave Takashi a narrow look but luckily didn’t push his teasing.
Well… that wasn’t exactly wrong, but he didn’t call Karatsugu out of boredom, he just needed the reporter’s suggestions on the riddle he was trying to solve. Or at least that was the purpose of all the calls. For why later they changed to idle chats was beyond Takashi’s control.
“Thank you for the treat.” Oozou stood up, swiping his uniform blazer from the nearby seat, and walked out.
“I didn’t treat you! That will be on your tab too!” Takashi yelled after the eldest brother who whistled innocently and pretended that he didn’t hear anything.
“Later.”
Waiting till the door closed behind Oozou’s back, Takashi mumbled “See you later.”
Oozou was undeniable a bother, but his visit wasn’t bad. Takashi guessed he could let the tab go up to a million yens before demanding Oozou to work for him to pay it back; or maybe he could use that to get free drives.
Either way, despite not wanting to admit, Takashi kind of looked forward to his eldest brother’s next visit, and some interesting story Oozou’d been collecting from his passengers.
And maybe someday, he could tell Oozou about…
Takashi glanced at the corner of the store with a slight smile on his lips.
The blurry person gave back a gentle smile.