Chapter Text
His hair was light and fluffy, almost like a cloud. It reminded Hinata of sheep's wool. His eyes were stormy grey, sometimes sparkling mischievously. This was the person that would always take Hinata's order- a simple latte.
The coffee shop that Hinata was attending was small and simple. Dark wood interior and chocolate brown walls gave it a sense of sleekness. At the front of the shop on each side of the door was two windows, making it seem more open than it was. Most people would walk by the shop and glance inside before returning to what they were previously doing, none of them particularly intrigued.
Hinata remembered yesterday when he had first stepped foot in the shop. He was walking with Nanami on their usual way to the arcade, a walk that took them down the sidewalks of the city. Her eyelids were drooping more than usual as she walked next to him, and Hinata was afraid they would have to abandon their plan to visit the arcade and go back to Nanami's apartment. "I'm fine Hinata. Honestly. I'm not that tired." She yawned and rubbed her eyelids. Hinata looked at her, frowning.
"Okay, there's a place that's supposed to sell hot drinks down the street. We can go there before hitting the arcade if you want." Nanami had told Hinata dazedly. Hinata had nodded, somewhat interested in visiting the small shop he had always seen while cruising around town. "The one a block away?" He had asked. Nanami nodded and her strides slowed down as she yawned once more.
It took them about twenty minutes to reach the coffee shop. The duo was held up halfway with a brief encounter with Mioda, who absolutely insisted to tell them about her latest song idea. Despite Hinata's protests and Nanami almost falling asleep, she had ignored them energetically explained about her song. It had took Hinata's promise that he would purchase the song as soon as it was available to slip away.
"It's pretty cute." Nanami mumbled as she took Hinata's arm once they walked inside. He flinched and glanced down at Nanami, who's eyes were closed as she leaned onto his arm. He took Nanami by the shoulders and guided her over to a booth by the window. After he leaned Nanami against the cushions of the booth, he got in line for coffee. The barista at the cash register was smiling kindly at the customer in front of Hinata as the customer told the barista his order.
The barista nodded and spoke to the customer, but the words were silent to Hinata against the words of the other people in the coffee shop. The barista waved the customer in front of Hinata away and smiled kindly to Hinata, signaling that he was next. He had unusually fluffy, white hair and the most pale eyes Hinata had ever seen. "Hello~. Welcome to Hope's Coffee Shop. What can I get you?" His voice was smooth and flowed easily, like a river after a rainstorm. Hinata looked up at the barista. He was a lot taller up close than from a distance. "Two lattes please. My friend is over there passed out in the corner. She needs caffeine to get back up on her feet." Hinata looked back to Nanami, who was still sleeping peacefully in the booth. The barista laughed lightly as he swept a clove of hair out of his face.
"I don't think a latte will revive her from a sleep that peaceful. I'll be straight with you, I think you should just take your girlfriend home and put her to bed." Hinata rubbed his neck at the barista's comment and bit his lip.
"Ah, well you see she's just my friend.." He protested awkwardly. The barista laughed once more. "My apologies then. I just assumed, you two looked like such a hopeful couple. Are you sure you want to do two latte's with your sleepy friend?" The barista rested his hand on the counter. Hinata shook his head, slightly irritated that the barista was trying to question his order. He knew that the barista was only trying to be helpful, but it still got on his nerves. "Two lattes, please." Hinata said sharply, his voice raising. The barista turned around and told a barista with long blonde hair and fair crystal eyes the order and appeared unfazed by Hinata's tone. She nodded enthusiastically and got to work. Hinata payed without saying another word to the barista and went back to the booth where Nanami was sleeping.
The barista turned out to be right, as Hinata couldn't even wake up Nanami to drink her drink. He had sighed exhaustedly and after finishing his drink, hauled Nanami onto his back and walked home. He was thankful that Nanami had previously given Hinata a key to her apartment. Once inside, Hinata put Nanami down on her bed and exited Nanami's apartment and returned back to his own apartment.
Now Hinata was back at the coffee shop. It wasn't just that he had enjoyed his coffee, but a tiny bit of him wanted to see the barista again. There was no line this time and the two barista's were conversing with each other. The barista with the fluffy hair was leaning against the wall, his black button up uniform slightly ruffled. Hinata, now in line, coughed to get one of the barista's attention. "Oh, Komaeda! Customer!" The female barista raised her voice. The male barista looked over to the cash register where Hinata was standing. 'Komaeda..? Is that his name?' Hinata thought as the barista plastered on a slight smile. "Hello, welcome to Hope's Coffee. Two lattes?" He asked, tilting his head. Hinata was surprised by that he had remember his order from yesterday. Hinata quickly shook his head. "No, my friend isn't with me today. One latte please."
The barista nodded and turned around to the female barista. "He wants one latte, Sonia." Sonia bounced energetically and began to make Hinata's drink. "How did you remember my order?" Hinata asked. The fluffy haired barista ran his hand through his hair and closed his eyes. "Easy to remember. We didn't get much customers yesterday. I figured it might be worth remembering as well, considering how much I usually see your face passing this place. I thought you would never come in~."
Hinata's face was tinted slightly with pink and he quickly looked away. It was true that he had always looked in the window as he passed by, but never found the time to step inside. "All done!" Sonia declared as she placed the steaming cup on the counter. Hinata quickly rushed over to grab the cup and cursed silently when his hands burned picking it up. "Careful. It's hot." The male barista said, propping his elbows on the counter and resting his face in his hands. "Thanks for telling me." Hinata said dryly, wiping his hands on his clothes. Sonia smiled sweetly at Hinata. "I think that would go without saying." She pushed her hair behind her shoulders and began to clean off the countertops.
Hinata shot a glare at her and she giggled. Hinata picked up the latte, this time not gripping the latte as hard as before. Hinata carried it to the booth he sat at last time with Nanami. He quietly sipped on his latte and looked up to where the male barista was once more leaning against the wall. The barista caught his eye and walked out from behind the counter over to where Hinata was sitting. "Are you enjoying it?~" He asked, sitting down in the chair across from Hinata.
Hinata nodded and took another sip. "Definitely." The white haired barista nodded. "That's wonderful to hear. I'm Komaeda Nagito." Komaeda leaned forward in his booth and looked Hinata straight in the eye. The pale gaze sent chills up Hinata's spine. "Hinata Hajime. Nice to meet you." Komaeda grinned. "The pleasure is all mine, Hinata-kun."