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Café Uzumaki was just like any other café. Except when it wasn't, during certain periods of time throughout the week.
They served a variety of coffee, along with a lot of bakery items, just like most other cafes. Plus, their establishment was located near Yokohama University, which obviously meant that most of their customers were college students. The atmosphere of the café was pretty relaxed for this very reason. Youngsters came over to work on their essays and stuff while they ordered an unhealthy amount of coffee and cake. But it was okay; as long as they were having fun, right?
As for the thing that made Café Uzumaki a little unique sometimes? Well one of their baristas happened to be an ability user. A gravity manipulator, to be specific. In this world, ability users started showing up about a century or so ago. While they used to be ostracized in the past, they were treated equally now. Ability users were still rare, but they had equal rights, and were governed by strict laws to ensure that none of them misuse their powers.
Nakahara Chuuya was one of these rare ability users. As mentioned, he was a gravity manipulator. His ability allowed him to control the gravity of any object or person he touched. One would expect him to use his super cool ability for super cool things, but Chuuya was a simple man. The top use for his ability was definitely delivering coffee and cupcakes to tables without actually walking over to them.
Hence, during the shifts Chuuya worked at the café, coffee mugs and cake plates could be seen floating all over the room. It was certainly very funny to look at. In fact, a lot of other people had heard about the flying cups, and hence had started showing up more, just in case they might catch Chuuya on a shift. None of the other employees minded this air of favouritism; Chuuya's ability just meant that they had less walking to do. Plus, they were getting better business, so it's a win-win situation.
Everyone knew that Chuuya didn't go over to deliver coffees unless he absolutely had to. One of such events would be when the café was really crowded, and the flying coffee cup might get intercepted by someone else accidentally. Nobody wants coffee raining from above just because somebody accidentally bumped into a flying cup, alright.
Chuuya didn't go over to tables usually, but today would be a hilarious exception.
Usually, Chuuya worked evening shifts, after all his college classes were over. It was the most convenient for him that way. But this week, unfortunately, he would have to work the morning shift. See, the boy who worked the morning shift, Tachihara, was an art student and he had his university's art fair coming up. Hence, he'd have to go to prepare for that in the morning. Since Chuuya didn't really have morning classes this week, he agreed to swap shifts with him.
And so far, Chuuya wasn't regretting his decision. At first, he figured it'd be boring and trouble some to work the morning shift. There were way too many sleep deprived college students who showed up to get their pre-class dose of coffee. Plus, Chuuya didn't really know any of the morning shift workers that well.
But well that was before he realised that one of his closest co-workers, Yosano, had shifted to the morning shift for the week as well. She'd swapped with another morning shift worker, Higuchi. Besides, Chuuya was also on pretty good terms with Gin, another one of the morning baristas. So, he was pretty much set for a fun week.
Today was his first day of working the morning shift. And it was all going fine. Really, it was. He'd delivered a bunch of flying coffees to sleep deprived college students, and they had thought that they were hallucinating. Some of them rubbed their eyes to figure out what was going, while others just gave up on sorting their mental health and just accepted the coffee before leaving. It was pretty fun.
It was all fun and games, till this one particular customer walked in through the doors. He was a brunet; his hair tousled as if he hasn't run a brush through it in days. He was dressed in a pair of black jeans and a full-sleeved blue sweatshirt. His glasses were lopsided on his face, and the bandages on his hands looked very close to unravelling.
Chuuya should really not be finding this guy attractive. This guy, who looked like he'd just gotten out of bed and walked over to get coffee. But well, Chuuya had eyes and this guy was fucking gorgeous. No seriously, he was so fucking cute. He looked like he was practically half asleep, and Chuuya has never wanted to squish somebody more. Squish...? What the fuck.
The guy fumbled over to the counter to order. Unnoticed by him, a certain ability user pushed aside his co-workers just so he could be the one to take his order.
The brunet blinked a few times before mumbling, "Your strongest coffee please. No sugar."
Chuuya hummed casually, "I'll get you a Blonde Roast filter coffee. Anything else?"
The customer shook his head, "That's it, thank you."
Chuuya said as he typed his order, "You should really get something to soak up that caffeine. A muffin maybe?"
The brunet looked like he wanted to glower at the annoying barista, but he decided that he was too tired to do so. He just nodded at the bakery display, "A blueberry one then, if you please."
Chuuya nodded, "Sure. I'll bring it to your table. Oh, can I have a name for the coffee cup?"
The very exhausted customer sighed in annoyance before offering the tiniest of smiles, "Dazai."
He then hurried to pay for his food before leaving the counter immediately. Half a minute later, he was slumped over one of the tables. Well, at least he really did need that strong coffee.
Yosano nudged her co-worker, "Jeez, what crawled up his ass and died? So prissy."
Chuuya shushed her as he rushed to make Dazai's coffee, "Hush, he's probably tired. I'm sure he's going to be nicer after his morning coffee."
Yosano just rolled her eyes and muttered a 'If you say so' before getting back to work. The morning shift was always rather busy, and there was no time for slack. She was very happy to continue working her job, until she was interrupted by the sight of her co-worker getting out of behind the counter.
She blinked at him, "What are you doing?"
Chuuya picked up the plate of blueberry muffin, making the coffee cup float about his head, "Going to give Dazai his coffee?"
Gin chose this exact moment to show up. She grinned knowingly, "Ooh, Chuuya has a crush~"
The ability user just shot her a glare before walking away from them, his hands still holding a blueberry muffin, and the coffee cup floating right above his head, to prevent any other sleepy customers knocking into it and spilling it.
Dazai was still slumped over his seat by the time Chuuya got there. So, the barista did the natural thing to do. He reached out his hand and tapped at Dazai's exposed hand. That's when the problems began. The brunet shot up to his seat immediately; waking him up was not the problem.
No, the problem was that, as soon as Chuuya tapped the customer's hand to wake him up, the coffee cup floating above his head? Yeah, it came crashing down all over him. It took about five seconds before Chuuya was completely drenched in hot coffee.
He heard his co-workers giggle from the counter as he rushed to gather paper towels and wipe the burning hot coffee from his body, "Ouch, ouch! What the fuck."
He then turned to look at the customer and sighed, "I'm so sorry. That has never happened before."
Dazai blinked at him, "Was that coffee just flying?"
Chuuya sighed again, "Yeah. Gravity manipulation."
Dazai's lips parted, his surprise obvious. He then winced, "Ah, I'm terribly sorry. I have a nullification ability."
The barista's eyes widened, "You... You're an ability user too?"
Dazai cocked his head in annoyance, "Didn't I just say so?"
Chuuya scoffed, "Jeez, no need to be rude. I'll get you another fucking coffee. Stay put."
He turned around on his heels and left before the very rude customer could say anything else. Chuuya thought he was really cute, but turns out he's just a really annoying and rude customer! Honestly, he was better off without trying to talk to such an unpleasant guy. It was certainly not because he'd just made a big fool out of himself in front of his first crush in a long, long time. No, that was definitely not it.
Chuuya slumped over a chair behind the counter as soon as he got there, "Gin-chan, please have somebody clean up that coffee over there. Yosano, make him a new coffee, please."
Yosano laughed for a while, earning glares from her now heartbroken co-worker. She then finally stopped and pointed at him, "Alright, but you're making my next order."
Chuuya sighed mournfully, hiding his face in his arms, "Deal."
Over the next few minutes, Gin got the spilled coffee cleaned up like the efficient worker she was, and Yosano had a new coffee made and delivered to the brunet customer. Unknown to Chuuya, who was still hiding behind the desk, said customer looked around in confusion for a few seconds before accepting his newly made coffee for a new barista.
Chuuya didn't come out of hiding until he was positive that the nullification ability user had left. That, was the highlight of Chuuya's first day of working the morning shift. After his shift was over, he went home and screamed into a pillow.
-
The next day, Dazai was back at Café Uzumaki. Of course, Chuuya yelped and hid under the counter as soon as he spotted the brunet, determined to hide from him once again. Chuuya had made a decision, after all; he certainly would stay away from the very pretty customer at all costs. He must, okay!
Meanwhile, Dazai, who looked a little less sleep deprived today, properly walked up to the counter this time. He nodded at Gin, who was his cashier today, "Good morning! I'll have a latte, please. And a slice of lemon cake, if you have one of those!"
If Gin was surprised by the change in his behaviour, she didn't show it. She just jotted down his order before looking up at him again, "Sure, we have a lemon cake. Can I have a name please?"
The brunet practically chirped, "It's Dazai. Thank you very much! Have a good day."
He must have been still lingering around the counter even after paying his bill, because Gin asked in a prompting tone, "Dazai-san, is there anything else I can get you...?"
For a few seconds, the customer said nothing. He then jerked as if he was just snapping back into reality, "Um, no. Sorry, I'll be going now."
He then trotted over to the same table as the day before, his eyes still lingering on the counter. Then, he sighed before turning back to properly sit at his table, and pull out his laptop to get some work done.
Gin squatted as soon as she was sure that the customer was gone. She smacked her ginger co-worker in his arm, "Chuuya! How long are you going to stay hidden here?"
Chuuya said stubbornly, "As long as he's in here. Did you see how he talked to you, Gin! He was so nice, and soft and bubbly! So different from how he spoke to me yesterday. He hates me, Gin!"
Gin sighed, "I'm sure he doesn't hate you. At least go and make coffees out back, then."
Chuuya nodded, saying he'll be doing that, before crawling to the back kitchen area. On his brave journey, he was intercepted by Yosano who just stared at him for a few seconds before she kept walking. She nodded at Gin, "Dazai's here again?"
Gin just deadpanned, "Yep."
That was enough for Yosano to understand the situation. She took over making the latte for the customer who had successfully rendered one of her co-workers absolutely useless. Once the coffee was done, it was Gin who took over the coffee and the slice of lemon cake to the customer. Just like yesterday, he left after having finished his food, and Chuuya showed up at the counter as soon as he was gone. Today, he complained some more about how the cute customer totally hated him.
This continued for the rest of the week. Chuuya would hide as soon as Dazai walked in through the doors, and remain hidden in the back kitchen for as long as the brunet customer was on café premises. He'd then show up once the brunet was gone, and complain about he hated having a crush on such a person who hated him!
Yosano and Gin tried to convince him to stop being a wuss and just face the brunet again. After all, Dazai never showed up during the evening, and Chuuya's week of working the morning shift would be ending soon. After that, he'll probably never have a chance to meet the cue customer again. He didn't want to regret not talking to the customer for the rest of his life, did he?
But well, Chuuya was not the one to budge. He absolutely refused to even show up in front of Dazai. For all he cared, Dazai could go and think that Chuuya had changed shifts or something. It doesn't matter; he absolutely won't talk to him, damn it!
And that's how Chuuya's week of working the morning shift came to an end. Before he knew it, it was his last day. His shift was almost over too, and Dazai had just left a minute ago. He just had to work ten more minutes, and then he'd never see Dazai again. Good, that's what Chuuya wanted anyway.
After finishing up on his shift, he said his goodbyes to his two friends before finally gathering his things and walking out of the café. He'd see Yosano at work again anyway, and the three of them now had a group chat to talk about as well. Chuuya could finally go to his Dazai-free life.
Of course, nothing could ever just fucking go Chuuya's way for once!
Chuuya was intercepted by a shocked voice a few yards away from the café door, "You! You exist?!"
The redhead blinked before looking around to find the owner of the voice. He could swear that his life flashed before his eyes when they finally landed on the very customer he's been struggling to avoid for the past one week. It wasn't easy, okay! Dazai came to the café every single day, and it was very difficult to avoid him!
Shouldn't Dazai be appreciating his efforts?! What was the meaning of this, catching up right after he finished his last ever morning shift. The whole point was to go back to his normal, Dazai-free life after this week was over, damn it! How dare Dazai ruin his plans and talk to him like this??
The brunet whispered aloud in wonder once again, "You... You really exist?"
Chuuya scoffed as he walked over to him, "Obviously. Why wouldn't I?"
Dazai insisted, "I really thought... I just... What's your name, Chibi!"
Chuuya looked indignant, "Who're you calling a Chibi, you shitty beanpole?! My name is Chuuya, damn it!"
Dazai clapped his hands in excitement, "Chuuya~! Such a cute name for a cute person. It suits you."
The barista really tried to hide his blush, "What... Oi! What is the meaning of this-"
The brunet sighed exaggeratedly as he stretched his arms, "Haaa, I really thought I hallucinated your existence, little Chibi!"
Chuuya blinked at him, "What are you talking about?"
Dazai pouted as he began to explain, "Well, I thought I saw you! I really did. I thought you dropped coffee all over yourself because my ability nullified your gravity manipulation, right? And then I thought I was really rude to you too, and I wanted to apologise."
Chuuya scoffed again, "What do you mean you 'thought'? That did happen."
Dazai complained, "Well I know that now! But for the past week, I thought I just hallucinated the entire thing. I hadn't slept for three days when I met you, see. It'd make sense if I imagined such a thing. A cute chibi being an ability user and dropping coffee over himself? Such a thing, isn't it unheard of?"
Chuuya stomped his feet, "Stop calling me a cute chibi, oi! Wait, did you call me cute-"
The brunet cut off him cleverly, "And then! I didn't see you ever again! I was going to ask the other cashier about you when she took my order on the very next day after that. But I didn't want her to think I was crazy or anything, so I didn't!"
Chuuya admitted weakly, "I was hiding under the counter."
The customer gasped dramatically, "You hid from me?! I was looking for, Chuuya! How rude!"
Chuuya sighed, "I was hiding from you the entire week."
Dazai actually stepped back this time and whined, "Chuuya! How could you! I thought I imagined you, and I was so disappointed because I thought you were really adorable and I felt really bad about being rude to you, but you have to understand I was so sleep deprived and I wanted to apologise; I really did, but now you tell me you were avoiding me and I was cursing my sleep deprived brain for imagining you up and- then starting to like someone it literally hallucinated and-"
Chuuya pointed out in an amused voice, "Dazai. You're rambling."
The brunet reached up his bandaged hands to cover his mouth suddenly. He then lowered his hands a few seconds later and winced, "I'm sorry."
Chuuya grinned as reached out to gently grab the other's wrist, "God, you're so cute. I like you as well."
Dazai blushed before turning his head away, "Don't call me cute."
Chuuya laughed some more as he stood on his tiptoes to pat the brunet's head, "But you are so very cute. That's why I hid from you! I liked you so much but I thought you hated me because you were so nice to Gin after you were so rude to me the previous day."
Dazai said mournfully, "It wasn't like that. I'd just gotten sleep that day."
Chuuya nodded, "I figured. So... What now?"
Dazai clapped his hands together, "Now I annoy you for the rest of my life, Chuuya! What else!"
The barista snorted as he was dragged away by his favourite customer, "You're very annoying. I definitely don't you want you around forever, oi."
Dazai rested his arm on top of Chuuya's head, "Don't lie so much, Chuuya~ You'll never grow this way, you know!"
Chuuya ribbed him hard, "Stop cursing me, oi! I can still grow!"
Dazai looked him up and down, before boldly pulling out Chuuya's phone and entering his phone number in it, "If you say so, Chibi."
Chuuya gaped at him, "That's my... When did you take my phone! Come back here, oi!"
Next, Dazai could be seen running around being chased by a short redhead. It didn't take more than ten seconds for Chuuya to catch up to him, the two of them toppling down together on a flight of stairs. Because they were disgusting, Chuuya called his crush annoying a few times before pulling him closer and kissing him. Dazai blushed a ton, but he went with it anyway.
That night, they stayed up talking and learning more about each other for the entire night. They went to the same college; as Chuuya learned. While Chuuya was a Physics major (good use for his ability, right?), Dazai happened to be a literature student. He actually had had an important essay due on the day he met Chuuya. Hence, why he hadn't slept for three days.
Chuuya also found out tons of other things about him, along with the fact that he was really annoying. Chuuya also learnt that he still liked him anyway, and actually wanted to know more about him. Especially all the little things, like how he tends to ramble when he's nervous and then blushes and covers his mouth with his sleeves if his rambling is pointed out. God, Dazai was so fucking cute. And Chuuya was so fucking whipped.
How suitable for a barista (whipped, get it?), and how utterly disgusting.
They officialised their relationship (or whatever annoying each other for the rest of their lives is) at about seven in the morning after staying up the whole night.
Their first date was a few hours later; a coffee run because they realised a little too late that they both had tons of important classes in the morning that day. Coincidentally (or not), their server happened to be Gin at Café Uzumaki.
It was safe to say that she was ready to ban Chuuya from the establishment after seeing him hold hands with the cute customer, after complaining about how he must hate him for a week straight.
She didn't have the authority to do so, however. So, she just settled for chucking empty cups at the happy (bickering?) couple. But because she was a wonderful person, and a better friend; she then provided the really sleep-deprived pair of idiots with two slices of blueberry cake.
On the house.