Chapter Text
Chifuyus was a simple guy. He liked cats, sweet drinks, aesthetically pleasing photos, watching MMA fights, manga, and music. He was busy with school, work, and was doing research with one of his professors. Ryusei liked to call Chifuyu an “influencer” although Chifuyu would never admit it. It began in middle school when he got 14k followers on his Tumblr blog, posting about his favorite manga, anime, and cats. After getting into so many fights, his mother began to worry that he was going down the wrong path, and would make sure he went to the library after school every day; however Chifuyu took this opportunity to use the computer libraries for his blog. When he got older he moved it to Instagram, where he would post similar things and more, but his rare sponsors weren't enough to pay for his education so he also worked at a cafe near his apartment.
It wasn't the best job, but it paid well. The cafe itself provided a comfortable ambiance, with couches, bookshelves, plants and warm lighting. The aesthetic helped with the social media image he had created, and the couches had provided him a comfortable spot to take an occasional nap in. He also liked his coworkers, that he was constantly surrounded by sweets, and they allowed him to bring Peke J.
They got a variety of customers, since the cafe was in the downtown of the city, alongside the university he attended. He didn't mind most of them, he occasionally got rude or weird customers, some were too flirty, and others were too entitled. In the end he would always try and choose the shift when he knew they wouldn't get many customers.
So there he was, standing on the counter during a late night Tuesday shift. It was no surprise that it had been a slow night, most Tuesdays were, there was only a group of five students doing work at a back table. Chifuyu was hoping they'd clear out soon so he could close early. The cafe seemed to be playing music 24/7, something Chifuyu didn't mind, but after listening to the same station for so long, he could start predicting what songs they were gonna play next.
He had forgotten to bring his biology textbook, but he never left the house without his headphones and the latest manga he had. So after watering the plants and whipping down some tables, he put his earbuds on full blast and started reading the volume of Nana he brought that day.
He continued reading, leaning against the front counter, easily distracted by Hachis complicated–and disastrous–love story; he didn't notice when one of the customers left. The music he was listening to was also loud enough that he didn't notice the bell over the front door ringing when a new customer entered. Chifuyu was never one to pry on others, preferring to mind his own business, so when he felt someone was near the counter, he chose to ignore it. That was until a looming shadow made it difficult to read the words.
He took a deep sigh, “Can I help you?” he lazily asked.
Chifuyu was met by a tall man with an oversized hoodie, baggy sweatpants, a black face mask, and glasses too big for his face. He could've been a student, but he didn't recognize the tall man.
“Can you even hear me?” he said, pointing at the headphones that were still blasting music.
“No, they're actually my hearing aids, so I need them,” he said, keeping a poker face.
“Oh shit, sorry.”
It was difficult to see the mans reaction, but he sounded panicked. Chfiuyu had to bite the inside of his cheek, trying to stop a small smile from forming, “nah, unfortunately, I can hear you. I was trying to be funny,” he giggled, before pausing the music from his phone and putting away his earbuds. “So do you want a drink or something? or can I get back to my book.”
The customer just stared at him, maybe Chifuyu had fucked up, he needed to be more professional, plus the mans face mask made it difficult to see his reaction. He wondered if he should apologize before, the man spoke first.
“No wonder your tip jar is so empty” he teased, while eyeing the nearly empty mason jar sitting on the counter.
The response caught him a bit off guard and Chifuyus face began to heat up, “it's been a slow night!” he said, trying to defend himself.
“Whatever makes you feel better,” the customer, sounding amused, but Chifuyu wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of him.“Give me four espresso shots.”
Never mind.
“Jesus Christ, you might as well just do crack” he said, genuinely shocked. “It's against my code of ethics to serve you that.”
The customer just laughed. Chifuyu noted that it was a nice laugh.
“They're not all for me, four double shots of espresso, in four separate cups. And a medium chamomile tea to go.” It was an interesting order, but not the most shocking one he had gotten. After a beat of silence the other man continued, “my friends are trying to stay up-”
“No need to explain. Four double shots of espresso, and a chamomile tea coming right up,” he said, putting his book under the counter and making his way to the espresso machine.
The space was small, and he had been working long enough to be able to move around while also being able to space out. By now he could make most drinks with his eyes closed.
“Aren't you gonna ask my name?” asked the customer, making Chifuyu snap out of his usual routine.
“No need to. You're the only customer in here.” he said, turning his attention back to pouring an even amount of espresso into each cup, so that he wouldn't be complicate to causing someone to not sleep for the night. “We usually only ask names when it's busy, so people dont mix up the drinks.”
“Well, can I get your name then?”
He didn't mind talkative customers. It's just that most of them didn't come in, at 2 am trying to start a conversation with him. Much less flirt with him. Unless Chifuyu was reading the situation wrong. And most of the time when customers flirted, he would just be more of an asshole.
“Your glasses don't work?” he asked “My names’ on my name tag” he said turning and extending the name tag attached to the ugly brown apron he had to wear.
Once again, the man seemed unfazed by Chifuyus behavior, but it was also difficult to tell since his face was covered. “I’ve always been a shit reader actually, but I was hoping I could get a first name. Matsuno sounds like a family name.”
“Oh” he was taken aback once again. “It's Chifuyu” he said while gathering all the cups to put them in a to-go tray and making his way to the cash register.
“It's nice to meet you Chifuyu Matsuno… So you always work this late?”
“No, sometimes I take morning shifts. Any time that I don't have class works best for me.” he said while putting down the cost of the customer's order, “You a student too?”
He didn't know why he asked, he didn't even really care, the sooner he finished this the sooner he could clean up and go home. But the man was interesting. It wasn't uncommon for people to walk in with masks, but this man was decked out with a hoodie, glasses, and hoodie. Maybe he was a celebrity Chifuyu couldn't identify. But it was never that serious
The man laughed, like Chifuyu had said the funniest joke in the world. “Nah, I got more brawn, than brain. School was never my thing.”
Chifuyu just hummed, in acknowledgment choosing not to comment, he had harassed this customer enough for the night. “Your total will be $15.75… tips are appreciated.”
The man laughed, before digging into his wallet, and handed the money to Chifuyu, “Thanks for your service, keep the change for your tip jar,'' he said, grabbing the tray off the counter and making his way towards the door before Chifuyu could get another word out.
Chifuyu stared down at four $20 bills. The man was definitely not a student. All he knew was that neither him nor his friends could give over 60$ in tips, even if the barista was cute. Nobody was ever that cute. He didnt think about it too much, and shoved the change into his pocket.
At least he would have an entertaining story to tell Ryusei when he got home. A mysterious stranger flirted with him after being blatantly rude and uninterested for most of it. Maybe that's what got the man off, and Chifuyu had been an innocent victim. Or maybe he was just overthinking it. Whichever it was, Chifuyu was happy that he got a generous tip, and would be treating himself to some takeout tomorrow.