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There was something already pleasant about the new normalcy of Yu’s life. The irony of that statement was painful considering everything that has happened in the past few months (including a criminal record being slapped onto his name and finding another world), yet it was true. The smell of coffee. The taste of curry. Constant dog hair around him. Text messages from friends on the daily. Even going to a weird cognitive-based world could be called a kind of comfort.
“Yu, do you have any plans later tonight?” His uncle Ryotaro asked quietly as he did a once-over of his inventory one morning.
Yu ate another spoonful of curry at the counter, thinking before shaking his head. “No. I don’t think anything will come up either.” He quietly set his spoon down. “Do you want me to help with the cafe?”
An ever so small smile appeared on the other’s face. “I guess you read my mind.” He shrugged. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but I’m leaving the offer out there…Maybe you’ll finally improve your skills.”
Yu hesitated on an eye roll in response. He wasn’t that bad of a cook. Even if he was, he at least cooked pretty well to the point where some of his friends always hinted that they wanted some of his lunch every time he brought one in. Last Saturday came to mind where both Yosuke and Rise kept trying to steal pieces of it. Truly, if they wanted some, they only had to ask.
He cleaned his bowl once he was done and went upstairs into the attic. There, he collected his things, made enough room in his bag for the little dog that insisted on coming with him every time, and walked towards Shujin Academy.