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"Wow, it's still here. Can't you believe it?"
Mitsuya had never thought that he would feel so relieved when he found something that remained unchanged even after years passed by.
It had been decades since he visited the little cafe on this corner of the street, the same place where he built his fashion firm for the first time.
The cafe was owned by a kind lady who always allowed him to stay for a long time when Mitsuya felt too cooped up with work and needed to take a breather.
Mitsuya remembered her, Mrs. Sakaguchi, who insisted he call her Auntie Saka instead. She loved listening to Mitsuya yapping about his work. It seemed that fashion had always fascinated her, but she didn't have any resources or support to pursue her interest, so she ended up working as a teacher before she eventually retired and started this cafe.
Mitsuya could tell how genuinely curious Auntie Saka was when she asked questions, prompting Mitsuya to talk so much more. Ever since she knew that the fashion designer next door became her regular, she started stocking fashion magazines to be read for free in the mini library section of her cafe.
Mitsuya looked around the building, so many had changed. What used to be his firm, had now been renovated into an electronic store. Next to it, there used to be a small florist and a CD store that now had been merged into a clothing store.
When Mitsuya redirected his gaze back, the presence of this little cafe seemed rather out of place, but it was also the only right thing in this street. The decoration might change a bit, and the cafe seemed to get bigger and much more festive. But looking at it, Mitsuya felt like he had never left.
"Pardon me," someone approached him, tapping his arm gently. "Are you Takashi Mitsuya?"
Mitsuya turned around. A young woman, probably in her mid-30s, wearing an apron that indicated she worked in the cafe, smiled.
"Ah, yes, I am," Mitsuya returned the gesture.
She smiled even wider. "Oh, thank God, I'm right. It's been a while, Mitsuya-san."
Mitsuya was about to ask what she had been talking about, but the woman flicked her own temple like she had made a terrible mistake. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I am Alisa Sakaguchi, my grandmother ran this cafe. I used to see you chat up with her back when you owned the place next door."
Mitsuya vaguely remembered Auntie Saka talking about her only son who worked overseas, how she had wanted to meet her granddaughter ever since her son told him he was having a girl.
I only saw her through the pictures, Takashi. Here, here, see? Isn't she the most beautiful angel?
Even after he was about to relocate his firm, he never had any chance to meet Auntie Saka's handsome sailor son, but Mitsuya did meet with her beautiful mermaid princess.
Only a couple times, but he did remember her.
"Oh yes, you have grown so much," Mitsuya chuckled. His laughter didn't last long when he realized something else. "And—"
Even before he could finish his sentence, Alisa took it upon herself to explain, "Nana had passed away eight years ago. She had inherited this place for me. My dad didn't think I could pull out the whole running business thingies, but I did my best. It's always gonna be Kao-kao's Cafe."
The cafe was named after Auntie Saka's first name, Kaori.
"Would you like to come in, Mitsuya-san? To reminisce about the old days?"
Mitsuya glanced at his watch. He would still have enough time.
"I would love to."
Mitsuya didn't remember what he used to order when he visited the cafe, but it was either Auntie Saka told Alisa anything about his order, or if Alisa was simply a telepath, what she chose to serve was perfect.
The camomile with a dash of honey and lemon tickled his nose with its pleasant steam. The coffee cake that came with it hit the right spot too. Not too sweet, just the perfect amount of bitterness.
Alisa was a wonderful company, she asked a lot of questions about Mitsuya, about his work, about his life.
And in return, she was also ecstatic to share hers. About her Nana too.
Apparently, Auntie Saka had been a little heartbroken when Mitsuya relocated. She bought tons of fashion magazines, hoping Mitsuya would appear on one of the pages. It was relentless, yet diligent work of hers, until Mitsuya finally made it into the newspaper.
Yes, a newspaper.
"She was so happy. I remember she shrieked so loud, that I thought something bad had happened, but she was half-crying, holding this morning newspaper. She told me, see Alisa! I know he can make it!" Alisa smiled, looking out of the window. "I think she had never been that proud of another person outside the family."
Mitsuya was touched that someone appreciated him to that length. He regretted that he hadn't gotten in touch with Auntie Saka.
Alisa excused herself when lunchtime was near, considering that people started flooding the cafe.
With this scale of the place, she didn't have many employees to keep the business running efficiently. She seemed to be capable enough to do the job herself, so it could be pretty budget-saving.
"Please do call me, if you need anything, Mitsuya-san."
Mitsuya flashed him a grin. "Will do, Alisa-san."
Mitsuya watched various people come and go. High schoolers, businessmen and women, families, lovers—all kinds of people. He wondered, how attached they were to a place, this particular place?
There were two girls in school uniforms, giggling as they showed each other's phones. A small family, a young parent with their twin was enjoying cakes. At another table, two college students groaned in unison as they went over their laptops and a bunch of books. Cups of steaming coffee, it seemed that they were in the depth of their paper or something.
"I miss this place."
Mitsuya turned to the voice.
"I forgot how much I love their cheesecake. Remember when I accidentally bought you too many cheesecakes as your White Day gift? I got them from this place. Long before I knew you'd eventually build your firm next to it."
Draken leaned to his seat, grinning.
"I'd like to think that Auntie Saka played a big role in our relationship."
Mitsuya snorted at that. How could he forget that Auntie Saka was also super supportive of his and Draken's relationship back then?
They loved to go here together after work or on weekends. It seemed that Draken could just easily charm every woman, including Auntie Saka that it didn't take long for them to get acquainted and become super close.
If Auntie Saka was one of the very first people Mitsuya told about his designs, then Draken would be one of the very first people that Auntie Saka told to about her newest cooking or baking. Mitsuya was almost sure, Draken's opinions had generated a new dish on the menu.
"You only said that because you profited from all the foods she gave you."
Draken pretended to think like he was about to disagree.
"That's... actually... yeah... I'm busted," Draken lifted his hand in defeat, laughing. Mitsuya couldn't help but chuckle too. "I'm serious though. She's so kind to us. I would say, she's gone too soon, but it's not my place to say something like that."
Mitsuya's smile faltered a bit. Draken was quick to save the situation, shifting Mitsuya's focus to the world outside the glasses.
"Isn't it crazy that so many things have changed, and yet, this cafe is still the same, like we have never left?" Draken tapped the table. "It's like time moves differently here."
"There's still gonna be some undeniable changes though," Mitsuya sighed, following Draken's gaze to the people and the buildings outside.
Just because it appears the same, doesn't mean it's immune to a change.
"Of course," Draken nodded. "But what I am trying to say is, it's okay if sometimes you want to get nostalgic. There's nothing wrong with that."
Reminiscing about the old days, Alisa had said.
What old days? When he and Draken used to swing by this place when they were much younger? When he often went to this place to talk with Auntie Saka, showing her the designs he had made?
Mitsuya wondered if he had never relocated, could his name and his fashion firm (or, now his fashion line) be as big?
He could always visit Auntie Saka. Draken could always work as her beta tester. Mitsuya could see that Auntie Saka would be a great substitute for his mother. Maybe not an exact substitute per se, but Auntie Saka would be much fitting for the role that Mitsuya assigned to her, rather than his own mother due to her lack of presence.
Auntie Saka did play quite impactful role in his and Draken's lives. Again, Mitsuya regretted that he didn't stay in touch until after it was all too late.
And he said so to Draken, in which Draken could only stare at him.
"Promise me, you'll only get nostalgic, Takashi," he suddenly said, reaching for Mitsuya's hands, entwining their fingers.
"Of course, Ken." Mitsuya sighed. "You know why I come back here. You don't have to worry about it."
"Worry about what, Mitsuya-san?" Alisa appeared next to him, hugging a tray. The way her eyes scanned him like she was observing him, made Mitsuya slightly uneasy.
Alisa put the tray down, taking over the seat across from Mitsuya.
"I thought you were speaking through the earbuds, but you don't," Alisa knitted her eyebrows, she seemed like wanted to say something more but worried that she was gonna have to confront him.
Mitsuya put the end to her misery, by laughing. "Oh, Alisa-san, I don't want to make you worry. I'm just reminiscing about the times when me and my husband used to be here. We hadn't married yet back then, but your Nana was very supportive of us."
Draken gave him a thumbs-up, mouthing.
Tell her about the menu!
Mitsuya rolled his eyes, fondly. "Sakaguchi-san crafted some menus based on his opinion regarding the dishes. He was her beta-tester."
"And your husband—" Alisa opened her mouth, but quickly clamped it shut.
"Ken passed away two years ago," Mitsuya caught the reflection of the glasses.
He was much older than when he was still here with Auntie Saka. So was Alisa. Mitsuya shifted his gaze and Draken was there, standing behind like he was not a day older than those times when Auntie Saka pushed him down on the chair, serving the new dish she had made.
Mitsuya had never thought that he would feel so relieved when he found something that remained unchanged even after years passed by.
It had been decades since he visited the little cafe in this corner of the street, the same place where he built his fashion firm for the first time.
The presence of this little cafe indeed seemed out of place, but it was also the only right thing on this street. The decoration might change a bit, and the cafe seemed to get bigger and much more festive.
But sitting at this table, Mitsuya felt like he had never left.
Draken nodded.
"You are right, Alisa-san, about how nostalgic to be here."
Mitsuya sipped his tea, slowly. Alisa did pick the right beverage for him.
Despite everything, something went right on its own.
"I can tell you, my Ken would still love this place as much as I do."