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Akito was having an existential crisis.
Ken was having The time of his life.
In the afternoon, he had decided that it would be a good time to go the Weekend Garage, after attempting to ignore his sister’s noisy complaint to come with her to the mall. Ena was definitely persistent, just saying no would not do. This led to him hiding for about an hour. Which wasn’t pleasant by the way, but Akito would do anything BUT go to the mall and haul her thousands of shopping bags.
But alas, his sister somehow found him in the backyard shed and practically dragged him to the mall by the ear. Who needs dumbbells or major arm workouts when you have your sister’s shopping bags to carry for about two hours straight.
After that trip, Akito Decided to treat himself (with Ena’s money that he bribed off of her) with some coffee and pancakes at the WEEKEND GARAGE.
Settling down at his normal seat, and asked the barista, Aka: An, to make him his regular coffee. An leaned her head on one of her hands and leaned in closer to make better eye contact with Akito that made his heart race loudly.
“Coming in after closing time, and demanding coffee is rude Shinonome-san,” He shot her an annoyed smile before flicking her nose. An hissed in an overly dramatic way, Leaving Akito to roll his eyes in response.
With another witty retort, she made him his drink in about a few minutes. And served his coffee along with some extra sugar packs in front of him. This started their usual banter for the day, and one that would usually continue until one of them either gave up, or left for the day.
“Oh that reminds me!” An snapped her fingers suddenly.
“I have this new Pancake recipe I wanted to try out, will you be my taste tester?” An said while bringing her hands together with an attractive smile tugging at her lips.
Luckily in the moment, Akito was also hungry, so he happily complied to An’s request. After a few moments of more idle chatter, she disappeared into the kitchen. Now, today was an already rocky day for Akito. But getting coffee that wasn’t too expensive, and an uncharacteristically quiet cafe, because it was after closing time, redeemed this day from being a bad one, to a good one.
That smile from An was pretty cute too.
Casting that thought aside to never be seen again, he drank his coffee in bliss, almost missing the fact that his idol, Ken Shiraishi had entered the cafe. Who was also the father of An Shiraishi, Who gave an amused chuckle after he saw the happy look on Akito.
“Enjoying our coffee today Akito?”
“I am, thank you.”
Ken nodded and offered him another cup of coffee, noticing that Akito had drank all of his, which was a happily taken offer. After a few moments of even more of casual conversation, Akito was served his cup of coffee.
“Thank you Ken-san, as always,”
“You’re quite welcome Akito, enjoy your drink.” Ken said with a small smile.
Blowing on his drink to cool it down, he noticed the solemn expression on Ken’s face and began to grow worried.
If only he hadn’t asked, maybe his visit at the cafe would’ve remained in a pure bliss.
“Is there something the matter Ken-san?”
Ken tugged at the collar of his shirt slightly and begun straightening his posture before beginning,
“Akito, you’re an honest man, right?”
Akito nodded suspiciously, slightly fearing the question that would be asked. He raised his cup for another sip.
“Tell me then…”
“Come at me,”
“…do you like An?”
Akito almost spit out his coffee.
Almost
because he actually choked on it. Ken worriedly pat his back, but was also secretly entertained by Akito’s overreaction to the question.
Akito Twisted his body to face the door while coughing out the remaining liquid in his throat, he also hid the fact that his ears and face were scarlet red and burning to an almost inhumane level. After another few more moments of repeated coughing, and when his face had calmed down. Going back to its normal shade.
“Ah—no, why would you think that?…” Akito replied weakly. Avoiding Ken’s gaze.
Because I do. So let’s change the subject now.
Despite his nearly completely composed face, Ken didn’t miss the fact that his hands were slightly shaking and were tinted the tiniest shade of red when he held his cup. Whatever he did, he must’ve hit a touchy topic for Akito. And of course, the topic had to be about his daughter An. His suspicions were right after all.
‘You are a dishonest one Akito,’ Ken stopped himself from chortling.
“Sorry, just playing with you Akito, I’ll drop the topic now.” He gave a nonchalant laugh that forced Akito awkwardly laugh along with too.
Ken will not drop this topic! It’s his daughter, after all!
And Akito is screwed! And he is in love with said-daughter!
“Again, Sorry for that Akito,” he began, “Kotaro and Arata came in a few days ago, and one of the guys were joking about taking my An out on a date!”
he fell for the trap. Hook, line, and sinker.
The aura that came from Akito, was a deadly one. The cafe that was usually so warm and welcoming, became a cold, suffocating one. Scoffing, Akito leaned his head on to his knuckle.
“Is that so…” a bleak reply from Akito. With a blatant annoyed roll of his eyes, he sipped more of his coffee. But it was a bit too bitter for his liking, He noticed the packs of sugar that were at arm’s length away. Grabbing one and ripping one open, he poured the entire pack in. Taking a sample taste, and not liking the still sudden bitterness of the coffee, he ripped another pack open. And another one, and another one.
‘Is the coffee sweet enough for you Akito?’ Ken snickered in his mind. Akito drank the last bit of coffee in his cup, which he was still bitter by the way, and was offered another cup. Akito refused. Albit bit too harshly.
I want to hear what An said.
But Ken wasn’t satisfied yet, it was more like checking an internal list. So he continued to play with the agitated Akito.
“Well, Kotaro is a good man after all, don’t you think Akito? They’d make a pretty good match too.” Ken observed Akito’s actions, poor Akito didn’t face the man, instead he was looking at the table with an unreadable expression. If this wasn’t enough, Ken had one last blow before he was done with him.
“An even said she wouldn’t mind going out with Koutaro if they weren’t rivals! They grow up too fast, honestly!” Loudly laughed Ken as if to seal the deal. Pushing as many buttons as he could. The cafe becoming more colder with Akito’s passive aggressive laughter and smile. Just about when Akito’s vein was about to pop, the kitchen door swung open.
“Akito!~ your pancakes are done!~” An sing-songed cheerfully, setting the plate down in front of Akito. Excited, expecting to see a joyful look on Akito’s face only to be met with one of the most insincere smile that she had ever seen on him. Even his good-guy face couldn’t top this one.
A tiny bit disappointed, An frowned as she quickly grabbed his cup, and was reaching for the coffee maker. Only then, to grab her dad’s shirt. An yelped in surprise before realizing who it was.
“Oh! Dad?! You’re here too?” She fiddled with the cup in hand nervously.
Ken was slightly hurt that his own daughter didn’t even notice him standing right there in front of the door. To top that, before he could even say hi, her full undivided attention was on the pitiful ginger who ate his food in silence.
“Akitooo? You won’t even face me now?”
‘You leave your Old man high and dry for a guy An?!’ However, this didn’t stop Ken hiding a wide smile and enjoying the scene that was unfolding between the two oblivious couple and completely moved on in the span of two seconds.
“Well, at the very least, is it good?”
Akito nodded.
“Really?! On a scale out of one to ten?”
He put his utensils down to make a 10 with his fingers, but then immediately went back to eating.
“Huh, you were all chatty before I left, but now you’re all quiet?”
He didn’t reply to this comment.
“Is Akito giving me the silent treatment??”
Neither to this one, he kept eating. Before they knew it, there was nothing but syrup and powdered sugar on Akito’s plate, if not for that it would’ve been scraped clean. However, An was still somewhat concerned with his change of mood. Even after, An was still latched onto Akito’s side, determined to make him talk.
It was until they were out of the cafe, and more noisy complains from the clueless An, would Akito speak.
“An.”
“Huh? So you’re talking now?!”
“Your father said you’d go out with Kotaro, is that true?”
“Huh? He said that? Well that’s not—-“
“Try going out with me instead.”
He walked off after giving her quick kiss to her lips leaving a flustered, surprised An. Who stood still for a short amount of time, clearly in a daze before running off after him.
Ken who was watching from inside the cafe gave the last chuckle of amusement for the night, and wished them both a good luck.