Chapter Text
The sunlight peaked through the blinds of a dimly lit room. The room itself was full of barely unpacked boxes, bookshelves full of romance novels, a simple desk with a plethora of stacked papers, and a scattered mess of clothes on the floor.
Of course, the jewel of the room was none other than a queen-size bed. Under the blanket, lies a peaceful Yashiro Nene.
The night before, Yashiro has been late home after a night out with her friends, including Aoi. The moment Yashiro had gotten home, she immediately collapsed into bed. Only waking up once to get changed, and falling right back asleep.
According to Aoi, she had gotten into an argument with Yamabuki over something stupid like the best genre of movie. Yashiro had said RomComs, Yamabuki had said Action movies.
Why did it matter that action movies had better plots?? Yashiro lived for the cheesey switch-ups in RomComs, and how hilariously awful the acting could get. Sometimes even for the bittersweetness and heart throbbing confession scenes. Nene Yashiro was in love with the idea of being confessed to, especially in a beautiful place.
Suddenly, a loud alarm had buzzed from her phone. Yashiro let out a grumble, and reached for her phone to snooze it. It was her alarm to get up and get ready for college and coffee. She usually grabs coffee first because the lines can become so long in that store.
Yashiro laid still for a few minutes, blinking awake and processing the time..
Coffee..
She immediately sat up and tossed her blankets to the floor in a frantic frenzy, yelling out
"Shit! The lines are about to get long!"
Yashiro pulled thick leggings over her legs and threw a sweater over herself. She had bought it the other week, it was so warm and soft.. she shook her head. No time for reminiscing the first time she picked it up! She frantically brushed her hair and teeth, pulled on her leg warmers, threw on her coat and shoes, grabbed her wallet and keys, and flew out the door.
She stopped for a moment to think. Should she grab her scarf Aoi had bought her for her birthday? Yashiro looked at the time, and then at the door. Sighing, she quickly walked in to grab it and rushed out, slamming the door and running down the sidewalk.
The traffic was a hassle with the crosswalks, but Yashiro eventually made it just in time before rush hour. She felt so proud of herself... and exhausted. Yashiro went to reach for the door, when a guy had cut in front of her to open it, and she tumbled backwards into someone else.
"Hey!!-" she shouted at the boy, who didn't turn back. He seemed to be in a rush as well. Yashiro turned her head back to the person behind her, "I'm so sorry miss! Please forgive me."
The girl had short green hair, and beautiful green eyes. Yashiro had to glance twice at her beauty. Then, she spoke up, "No worries. I understand how rude people can be when they're in a rush. He, in particular, has no sense of direction or the people in front of him."
Yashiro smiled, "The rush can get hectic.."
Then she remembered. The rush. She looked over and saw more people approaching, "S-sorry, it was nice talking! I gotta get inside!" Yashiro quickly waved and stepped inside.
"She's quite the temper, don't you think my lady?" Natsuhiko looked up from his phone and looked at Sakura, waiting for her response.
She never responded to him.
____________
Inside, the coffee shop was greatly warmed. Perfect for the winter season. The huge chalkboard menu behind the register read out many unique coffee names and combinations. Yashiro always went for a Toasted Chestnut Latte. It always tasted the best, especially with whipped cream!
Yashiro approached the line, and stood behind a pretty tall guy.. the same guy who pushed her without warning away from the entrance! She realized there was no reason to cause a fuss now, so she had patiently waited in line. Yashiro peeked around the guy in front of her, and smiled when she saw the cashier. Mitsuba was working the front today! That saves her time with ordering.
She looked around more, and saw Aoi in the back speeding through orders. They looked so perfect... She wondered how Aoi mastered the craft.
Aoi was her roommate in their apartment. She was always the best one out of the two living there. Both girls were in different majors, but got along well! They've been friends ever since highschool, sharing dark and spooky stories to each other.
Mitsuba on the other hand, Yashiro had met the beginning of the year. She didn't know much about him, though his mom was the sweetest lady she has ever met.
Yashiro smiled and stared down at her phone, moving forward in line. What had she been so worried about? She wouldn't be late at this rate of speed! It was just a slight change of pace from her usual day, it was her normal schedule. Yashiro went to step forward to the cash register, and accidentally bumped into the guy in front of her.
Something had felt hot on her chest, and she looked down to see coffee spilt on her sweater and coat. She had already been so irritated from this guy already. Yashiro looked up at him, ready to raise her voice and frustrations at him. But, when her eyes met his, she released some tension in her muscles.
His eyes were a glittering amber color. She blinked and channeled back into reality, hearing him apologize. He looked frustrated too. What had changed?
"I can pay for your drink-! Would that make it up somewhat?" He looked down at her, and she could see his face light up from embarrassment. At this point, she felt pity on him. He didn't need to do that, especially when she was the one at fault for not paying attention.
Yashiro sighed, and spoke, "It's no trouble, really. I'm sorry for not paying attention and watching where I was stepping. There's no need to pay for my drink."
The boy's eyes averted from the long eye contact they had shared, "Are you sure? It'd probably help relief the trouble of cleaning up that tack-" and Yashiro heard a small smack, watching the boy flinch.
"Cleaning up that outfit." He finished.
Yashiro smiled softly and giggled "It's fine. We're holding up the line." She gestured her hands for him to move out of the way.
The boy nodded and scooted out of the way and out of the door with his one drink that was unscathed. Yashiro sighed and turned to the register, "First spill of the day, and it's all over me."
Mitsuba snickered at her clothes "Wasn't that new? That makes it even worse! He's a total jerk, you know. Will it be the usual?"
Yashiro groaned "That's the worst part! It *was* new! Aoi and I had just gone shopping the other week... and yeah, the usual please."
She took out the money and handed it over to Mitsuba, who responded "At least you have a change of pace for once. Maybe get a change of clothes too. Who told you leg warmers were a good idea?"
Yashiro moved out of the way to wait for her drink and snapped back at Mitsuba, cheeks puffing out, "They cover my ankles well and they're comfortable!!"
Mitsuba took the next order, and quipped back, "Yeah, but they don't match with your outfit!"
Yashiro huffed and sat down at a table. This was a wonderful start to her day. Waking up late, rushing out the door into traffic, getting pushed away from the coffee shop door by some dude, and getting coffee spilt on her outfit by said dude!
She wish she could just go back home and work from there. But she couldn't. She had an exam coming up for her English class, and her professor assigns so. Much. Work.
Yashiro sighed and placed her head on the table to rest for a bit. This was way too much for today, and it wasn't even past noon. It was embarrassing for her and the boy. She thought about something.
How come everyone else knew him but her? Who even is he? Why are his eyes so gorgeous? Yashiro shook her head on the last question.
'That was stupid to think. He was a jerk to you.'
Moments later, she heard a hum come from a familiar voice, "Ne~Ne!~"
It was Aoi, with her drink in hand, and apron put up. Seems she took her break early. Yashiro sat up and looked at Aoi with tears forming, "Please don't tell me you saw what happened.."
Aoi sighed and smiled, "Of course I saw it. Nene, why didn't you take that boy's offer? Isn't that a similar start to one of your romcom troupes? Why not give it a chance?"
Yashiro mumbled "Because he was a jerk to me already by pushing me out of the way. He doesn't even seem like my type either, Aoi! I don't even know his name!"
"Oh, that was Amane! Yugi Amane!" She answered pretty fast after Yashiro's statement. Somehow, that name seemed familiar to her. Probably shared a class together at a certain point.
Then, she heard Mitsuba's comment "Yeah that perv is my friend's brother!"
Aoi called back at Mitsuba, "Hey! He isn't that bad! He's just quiet sometimes and he can get real cheeky."
Yashiro turned her head to Aoi, "Hopefully I don't run into him anytime soon .. it'd be embarrassing for the both of us.."
She took a sip of her drink, and relaxed. The warmth of the latte and the flavor was a remedy. It had a soothing aftertaste.
Aoi spoke up, "Speaking of running into... We're gonna have a potluck soon! Sometime next week, since we'll all be on break! I wanted to go together as roommates! Everyone else wants you to come with. They just loove your snacks!"
Yashiro thought about it for a moment, and smiled.
"As long as I don't see him, I'll be there!"
Aoi clapped her hands with glee, "Yaaay!!~ You're the best, Nene! It'll be tons of fun! I promise you. I gotta head back to work, I'll see you when I get off. Then we can plan what to bring!"
Yashiro waved to Aoi, and stood up to leave. Aoi always knew how to cheer her up. She's one of the greatest friends she could've ever asked for. Yashiro came to her after her first heartbreak, and she instantly cheered up the following week.
Her tension had relaxed, and she was on her way to go back home to change real quick. Surprisingly, she had enough time for this. Her phone had a notification that read "CLASS DELAYED BY 30 MIN." which was a relief.
There was no sight of Amane, and that was good enough for her. Yashiro returned home, changed out of her stained sweater.
The next thing on her mind was what to make for the potluck. She'd have to decide with Aoi.