Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

At the end of a relatively uneventful day, Manhattan Cafe found herself nearing the end of her shift. She took a glass from beneath the bar and began to wipe it down, trying to keep herself busy despite the severe lack of patronage. Although the bar she worked at was never particularly bustling, being mostly obscured from passersbys tucked away in a faintly lit alley, today had been slower than most. She finished cleaning the glass and began to reach for another when her ear twitched as she heard the sound of the front door opening.

“Welcome in.” Cafe said to the visitor.

They took a seat at the bar, sitting adjacent to Cafe. Their tail gently swished back and forth.

“Could I get you anything?”

This new customer simply continued to sit silently, resting their elbows on the bar and interlacing their fingers. They rested their head atop their hands, staring at Cafe while giving a slight smirk. Though the interior of the bar was dimly lit, Cafe could make out this person’s eyes beneath their brunette bangs; a set of crimson eyes that strangely possessed four evenly-spaced horizontal lines in the irises. This patron was also dressed quite poorly, wearing loose-fitting clothes that seemed to not quite be the right size, an open-top purple sweater and black pants that ended well above the ankles. Around their neck they wore a chain necklace, at the end of it some kind of yellow gemstone.

The patron continued to stare silently at Cafe, seemingly looking her up and down, analyzing her. Before Cafe could press the big red emergency button beneath the counter, they finally spoke.

“Hmm… I am unfamiliar with this establishment. Tell me, what would you personally recommend?”
“I… would order the Navy Velvet.”
“I see. Would you be able to fix me a glass of water and perhaps chocolate milk? Both on the rocks.”

Cafe stared at the strangely dressed woman, but only for a moment. It is not her job to judge others, at least not before they ask.

“We do not stock chocolate milk… I can provide water though.”
“It would be much appreciated, this tiresome body of mine demands that I slake my thirst.”

Cafe adjusted her gloves before grabbing the glass she had just cleaned and filled it with ice. Putting it under the faucet, she filled it nearly to the brim with tap water before placing it in front of the customer, who took it into her own hand and threw it back like one would a shot glass. She downed the water quickly in a single gulp and slammed the glass back on the counter.

“Agnes Tachyon.”
“Sorry…?”
“The name is Agnes Tachyon. Just Tachyon if you would prefer.”
“Okay… could I get you anything else?”

Tachyon peered at the nametag attached to Cafe’s vest.

“Miss Cafe, or is it Miss Manhattan? Unless you have spontaneously begun stocking chocolate milk within the last minute since I asked, no, you could not.”
“Eh…?”
“However, I could go for another round of water. If you would, bartender.”

Cafe took the glass from the counter and once more began to fill it with tap water, as she did Tachyon retrieved a smartphone from her pocket and quietly tapped away at it. Cafe could see exactly what Tachyon was typing, however as she sat the glass next to her she caught a glimpse of what seemed to be a long list of numbers. Tachyon sat her phone face down on the counter and swallowed another shot of water.

“Miss Manhattan-”
“It’s… Cafe.”
“Miss Cafe, did you know an Umamusume’s resting heart rate is usually twenty to forty fewer beats per minute than an average human? Our hearts need to be far more efficient for the power output of our bodies, and as such pump more blood per beat.”
“I’ve never thought about it.”
“Oh? Truly an Umamusume’s biology is quite fascinating, especially in comparison to non-Umamusume. Despite generally being the same size and shape, our muscles are capable of outputting far greater strength than someone of a comparable size and build. Of course, much of this comes out when running. Do you run, Miss Cafe?”
“I was on my school’s track team… but that was quite a few years ago now. Haven’t… done much running since then.”

Tachyon turned her phone around and returned to the list of numbers, breaking the text up and starting a new paragraph.

“Have you noticed your resting heart rate increase in that time? Assuming you haven’t kept up any other strenuous physical activities.”
“I don’t keep track of my heart rate.”
“Really? One’s heart rate is an excellent metric for overall health, it’s a good thing to know. Here, come sit by me and I can measure it for you.”
“I should stay behind the counter. My boss looks through the cameras sometimes… wouldn’t want to be caught lazying around off my break.”

Tachyon swung her arm out and gestured to the rest of the room.

“There’s nobody in here besides me, and I doubt another pedestrian will randomly stumble across this place. Come, sit.” She said, patting the stool next to her. She maintained eye contact with Cafe, giving what was likely supposed to be a warm smile, but it came off more sinister than welcoming.

Cafe sighed loudly and reluctantly came around the bar. She sat next to Tachyon, facing away from her.

“This will take about a minute, just hold still and try not to raise your own anxieties.”

Tachyon gently brushed Cafe’s long, straight black hair away from her neck, exposing her nape. She took two fingers and gingerly placed them along Cafe’s carotid artery, applying just a bit of pressure.

“Your choice to have me do this from behind is unusual.”
“Helps me think about it less.”

The room was silent, bar the ticking of an analogue clock pinned to the wall. Tachyon’s hand was slightly cold as it sat motionless against Cafe’s neck. Cafe could feel her own pulse beating against Tachyon’s fingers as she attempted to mindlessly think about trivial things and not focus so much on her beating heart.

“Are you… done yet?”
“Not yet, about twenty more seconds. Refrain from speaking, the movement of your vocal cords makes it more difficult to feel for a pulse.”

Cafe continued to sit still as this woman, who she had only just met today, kept her hand on Cafe’s neck. Despite Tachyon’s warning and insistence, Cafe began to understand the strangeness of this situation and began to think about what a customer, or heavens forbid her employer, were to walk in and see what they were doing. She could feel her heart rate slowly climbing.

“Aaand… that’s a minute. I counted fourty-nine beats, however it seemed to increase near the end. Couldn’t keep your mind off of something?”
“Just worried my boss could have… walked in and yelled at me.”
“I’m sure you could have explained it away as me using some sort of coercion tactics.”
“I don’t think she would have taken that… excuse.”
“Regardless, thank you for your compliance.”

Cafe returned to the other side of the bar, gently rubbing the side of her neck Tachyon’s fingers were just held against. She watched as Tachyon wrote down the number in her notes, along with a time and Cafe’s name.

“Well, I won’t be in your hair for much longer. Perhaps I shall return another time and we can see if your pulse has improved.”

Tachyon stood up from the stool and placed a single yen coin on the counter, before turning and walking to the exit.

“Have… a nice night.” Cafe called out to her as the door swung shut.

She picked up the single yen coin and knitted her eyebrows. Although Tachyon did not order anything that cost something, Cafe found this pittance disguised as what she can only assume was a tip to be somewhat insulting. She pocketed the coin and returned to leisurely cleaning glasses.

Cafe turned the key and unlocked her apartment. She stepped inside, the hinges squeaking as the door closed behind her. Removing her shoes, she placed them on a short shelf along the wall. Her home was not of any note, consisting of only two actual rooms. The entrance came into a small hallway, on the left being a bathroom and on the right a kitchenette. Above all of this was a loft-turned bedroom. The rest of the main area was made into a lounge with a sliding glass door on the far wall leading to a small balcony outside. A large window level with the loft let in much natural light during the day.

“I’m home.” she called out to nobody before making her way further inside.

Cafe entered the kitchen, opening a cupboard and retrieving an electric kettle before filling it halfway, turning it on, and setting it on the counter. Pulling off her gloves and unbuttoning her vest, she tossed the articles onto the nearby sofa. She then grabbed a cup of instant ramen and left it on the counter. It was a quiet night, and as Cafe stood alone, the only noise in her apartment was the low hum of a refrigerator and the sound of water beginning to boil.

Trying to settle down and get more comfortable after another day of work, Cafe sat on the sofa and unbuttoned the top two buttons of her white dress shirt. She leaned into the backrest, staring up at the ceiling. It was a bit cold in the room, although she preferred it that way.

The high-pitched whistling of the kettle alerted Cafe that the water was done boiling. She got up and walked over, taking the appliance into her hand and pouring it into the ramen cup. She walked back and sat down on the sofa once more, watching the clock.

Though the cup ramen was not the most healthy thing for her to be eating, it was a simple meal to have every once in a while when she particularly does not feel like cooking. Having finished her non-insignificant meal, she tossed the remains into the bin. She then climbed up the stairs into the loft, dropping herself onto the bed, once again simply staring up at the ceiling. She fished around in her pocket for a moment before pulling out the single yen coin she had graciously been given. She held it in the air, turning it over and analyzing the engravings.

Though she did own a coin purse, Cafe rarely found herself paying things with cash nowadays and figured there was little use in carrying around such an insignificant coin. Instead she dropped it on her nightstand, it clinked as it landed. Despite having done a full day of work, she did not feel tired, however closed her eyes for a moment. Of course, having worked in a less than luxurious bar for a few years now, Cafe was not unused to strange individuals, ones she would often have forgotten by the time she left. However, for whatever reason, this customer today, one who left her a single coin, was stuck in her mind. Something about them that Cafe could not quite pin stood out greatly amongst the other unusual and bizarre patrons of the past. Her eyes opened and she flipped onto her stomach, staring down at the rest of her apartment below.

She thought back to the feeling of Tachyon’s fingers against her neck, the surprise coldness of them when they made contact, the feeling of her own heartbeat pumping against them. She thought about how strange it was that Tachyon was so forward in asking for something so weird out of nowhere, how strange it was that Tachyon even considered the idea and let alone decided to vocalize it. She thought, what if someone had walked in, what string of words could describe why she went along with it? She thought, why did she go along with it? Turning onto her side, Cafe shut her eyes once more. Her racing mind calmed itself as she made it focus on more trivial thoughts, and as she did this she slowly drifted off into sleep.

Chapter Text

Once more, it had been an uneventful day at work. Though Cafe did not mind the solitude itself, the drop in tips was not as enthusing. She took a rag and soaked it, using it to languidly wipe the counter. Once satisfied with her cleaning, she plopped it back into a small, empty four-gallon bucket before returning to standing around and staring at the clock. Despite standing, her head nodded slightly and she almost began to doze off.

However, the noise of the front door being swung open awoke her. She shot up, trying to appear as though she did not nearly fall asleep.

“Welcome… in.”

She looked over to the door, and, although not a regular customer, it was still someone she recognized. An Umamusume with short, light brown hair, wearing a bright orange jacket over a white top and black shorts.

“Oh… Pokke?”
“No way, Cafe?”

Jungle Pocket strode to the counter and leaned over it, bringing her face close to Cafe.

“Hah! Would you look at that! A friend of mine recommended this place, didn’t know you would be working here!”
“I’ve been here for… a few years now. Who… recommended this place?”
“Ah, they should be here right about now actually.”

Once again Cafe heard the front door open, and this time the person to walk through was none other than the customer she had served the other day, Agnes Tachyon.

“Ah, Pokke. I see you arrived earlier than me.” Tachyon said to Jungle Pocket, taking a seat beside her.
“Well yeah of course I did, I mean I ran here after all-”

A phone began buzzing in Jungle Pocket’s jacket.

“Ah, sorry, just give a minute.”

Jungle Pocket retrieved the phone and stepped away, seemingly listening to someone on the other end. They spoke for just a moment before Jungle Pocket returned to the counter.

“Ahh… sorry about this but something just came up and I have to go. Maybe next time we’ll get to hang out a bit more, see ya!”
“Oh… bye.”

Cafe meekly waved as Jungle Pocket nearly sprinted out the door. She turned back to Tachyon, who was staring strangely intently at Cafe with a slight smirk on her face.

“She seemed quite in your face, hmm? Perhaps the two of you were in an argument before I came in?”
“Ah… no. We just recognized each other… we went to the same high school.”
“Oh? Perhaps then the three of us should get together and go somewhere sometime.”
“I.. don’t know… we haven’t spoken since graduation and it… might be awkward. Ah… that’s beside the point… could I get you anything?”

Tachyon brought her hand to her chin.

“What was it you recommended the other day? The Prussian Velvet, or something along those lines?”
“The Navy Velvet.”
“Very well, I shall have a Navy Velvet.”
“One Navy Velvet, coming up.”

Cafe reached under the bar and grabbed a spherical glass and a specialized stand for it, placing both on the counter. She filled half the glass with ice before taking several bottles of various ingredients and lining them up neatly. Using a jigger, she measured out and poured each ingredient into the glass, then poured some blue curacao, giving the drink its signature blue color. Finally, she topped it off with a clear, fizzy liquid and mixed it well with a bar spoon.

“I find it disappointing that you did no tricks for me.”
“We aren’t… that kind of bar. Most people come here to just… drink and chat.”
“Oh?”
“... unless you plan on tipping well. I’ve picked up a few things… over the years.”
“Was that a hint of annoyance in your voice? Perhaps I should request to speak with your manager and explain to them how rude their employee was being.”

Cafe’s face formed into a slight scowl.

“I only kid, I’ve had far worse experiences with bartenders.”

Tachyon took the drink from the stand, swirling the liquid around and sniffing it.

“Did you know a sommelier can tell the origins of a wine through scent alone? Albeit that usually applies to wines, and I am by no means a trained and dedicated wine steward.”
“We’ve had a… few people like that come in. I’m not sure why they would come… here of all places… for a high-end wine experience.”
“Perhaps they simply sought to test their skills in a foreign environment.”

Having finished her charades, Tachyon lifted the glass to her lips and sipped it slightly. It coated the inside of her mouth with a somewhat sweet taste, the carbonation fizzing on her tongue. She swallowed the drink, with it burning slightly as it went down. As it did, Tachyon began to cough violently.

“Gah… apologies. I… do not drink very often.”
“Then… why did you come… to a bar…?
“Why did Marco Polo travel east? The intrinsic need to seek out knowledge, to explore the unknown, the need to discover, perhaps is within all of us. Say, how exactly did you know Jungle Pocket?”

Cafe picked up a random glass and wiped it down as she began to speak, “She was… the only other Umamusume at the school. We… both were on the track team.”
“Oh? I do vaguely recall Pokke telling stories of a quiet-looking Umamusume who she had never managed to best. What a small world we live in that we share a mutual friend.”

Tachyon took another sip of her beverage, coughing considerably less this time.

“You said the other day you haven’t kept up your running habits since then? Do you not run to work?”
“I don’t… the area around my apartment… doesn’t have lanes for… Umamusume. I would rather avoid… running into a person… on my way to work.”
“Ah, of course. It is quite unfortunate that not all places have the proper accommodation for those who seek it. Perhaps you should request a meeting with the city council and discuss the possibility of the creation of more lanes.”

Cafe sat the glass she was cleaning down and picked up another, continuing to idly keep her hands busy.

“I don’t mind it… too much.”
“Really? I find that most Umamusume have some natural desire to run as freely as possible.”
“Do you… enjoy running?”

Tachyon’s smile faltered a bit. She took a larger sip of her drink, managing to suppress her coughs entirely this time.
“I would like to.”
“Ah… sorry if it’s a… touchy subject.”
“No need for apologies, after all I had brought up the topic.”

Tachyon finished her drink, setting the glass back in the stand.

“Miss Cafe.”
“Just… Cafe. ‘Miss’ sounds too important.”
“Cafe, how often do you serve Umamusume here?”

Cafe looked up inquisitively and brought a single finger to her face, as though physically searching her thoughts.
“Well… not that often.”
“Considering much of our internal organs are far stronger and more efficient than most other animals of a similar size, I had recently begun wondering about the strength of our livers. Would you say that the Umamusume you have served are capable of consuming more alcohol without becoming intoxicated than the non-Umamusume you have served?”
“Not really.”
“Really now? Although I suppose it makes sense, the liver plays little part in muscular power, and I doubt it has any more of a role in our larger appetites. Hmm… what of yourself, Cafe? Would you consider yourself a heavyweight?”
“Oh… I don’t actually… drink alcohol.”

Tachyon leaned over the counter and rested her head on one hand.

“Oh? So you wouldn’t do a shot with me even if I paid for it?”
“It’s actually… against policy. We had an… ex-employee serving for a regular’s graduation party. He… had a lot to drink… and ended up in a fist fight… with a customer.”

Tachyon’s face cracked into a slight smirk before letting out a small laugh.

“Hah! That would have been quite the sight to behold, if only I had been present for it.”
“The cleanup was… not fun.”
“Say, Cafe, you said the other night that you have done little to no physical exercise since your high school days, no?” She said, standing up from her stool and beginning to walk around the counter.
“Huh? No… I haven’t done any since then.”
“I ask because I am quite interested in seeing your physical capabilities.”

Tachyon took Cafe’s arm and began to peel off her glove, exposing her bare hand to the air. Cafe attempted to tear her hand out of Tachyon’s grasp, yet her grip held firm. Cafe’s hand, which was gloved for much of the day, was quite warm in comparison to Tachyon’s hands, which had been cooled by the chilled glass of her drink. Tachyon flipped the hand over, tracing the lines on Cafe’s palm.

“What are you…?”
“They say you can read much about a person through the configuration of lines on their palms. Unfortunately I am not well versed in such readings, however I find it quite interesting that every person’s palm is unique, much like fingerprints.”

Tachyon continued to glide a finger along Cafe’s palm, causing a small, ticklish feeling in it. She delicately prodded it and assessed the softness of Cafe’s skin, before bringing it to her mouth and giving a small, careful taste with the tip of her tongue.
Cafe placed her other hand on Tachyon’s entire face and pushed with every ounce of strength, ripping her ensnared hand from Tachyon. She glared at Tachyon as she ran her hand under cold water.

“I get that you’re inebriated but you need to stay on the other side of the bar.”
“Hmm? No, rather I am quite sober at the moment despite consuming an alcoholic beverage. I had heard that, much like palm reading, you can tell something about people by the way they taste. Albeit I am no more familiar with what a person’s taste means than the lines on their palm.”

Cafe dried off her hand with an unused rag.

“Do you… even think before you speak… or act?”
“Well of course, although some may find my behavior to be odd or peculiar, and from such actions I may face ridicule, even Van Leeuwenhoek was ostracized and he is likely the reason either of us are standing here to even have this conversation.”

Tachyon pulled out her phone from her pocket and typed something out on it, seemingly noting down the ‘feel’ and ‘taste’ of someone’s hand.

“Ah, it is getting quite late. Unfortunately it seems our day shall have to come to an end.”
“The drink will be ¥1600.”
“Ah of course, payment for goods and services.”

Tachyon retrieved a wallet and opened it, fishing out the exact amount.

“And of course, the tip.”

Along with the bills, she placed a single yen coin on top before making her way to the exit and leaving. Cafe picked up the coin disgruntled, yet she pocketed it and finally was able to return to mindlessly wiping the counter.

Cafe opened the door to her apartment and stepped inside. She removed her shoes and placed them against the wall haphazardly. She continued further into the apartment and crawled up the stairs to the loft, where she allowed herself to flop into bed. Tonight the apartment was cold, although she preferred it this way. The bed was messy, clearly not made or tidied in any way. The comforter was pushed to the foot of the bed, as though repeatedly kicked and smushed down. A blanket curled itself onto one side, as if thrown off in a hurry. Despite four pillows being present in the area, two laid on the floor, one rested at the head of the bed, and the last laying in the place of a person.
Cafe turned over onto her back and unbuttoned her vest, throwing it down from the loft and into the lounge. She put a hand into her pocket and retrieved the one yen coin, tossing it onto her nightstand. The coin slid and fell to the floor, clinking as it landed. Cafe sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before forcing herself up and picking up the coin. This time, she gently placed it on the nightstand along with her gloves, next to the other one yen coin.

Much unlike the previous night, her body felt sluggish and her eyes struggled to stay open. Once more laying in bed, Cafe thought about today. She brought a hand to her face, the hand Tachyon had been studying. She traced the lines of her palm herself, not at all sure what their arrangement meant but trying to memorize it regardless. Tachyon had not explained what she read from Cafe’s palm.

Hesitantly, Cafe brought her hand closer to her face. She stuck out her tongue slightly, allowing it to barely taste skin. It did not taste like much, she could hardly consider it ‘salty’ like she had expected, nor consider it any other taste for that matter. She had to wonder if Tachyon was able to make out any specific taste, or if Tachyon could actually make any sense of her being from just a taste. Tossing away any other unnecessary thoughts, Cafe finally let her heavy eyelids close, pulling a nearby pillow into her arms and falling into slumber.

Chapter Text

Tachyon sat in the back of a taxi, leaning her head against the window and watching the city pass by. The streets were dark and still, barely illuminated by a mere handful of streetlamps while barely anyone was out. The driver of the taxi had foregone turning on music of any sort, leaving them to sit in silence with the only noise being the low roar of the engine.

She stretched her arms and back, letting out a satisfied oomph as she did. The air conditioning in the car was blasting cold air, despite it already being quite cold outside. If it were not for her jacket Tachyon would complain to the driver, but she simply continued to stare out into the night. A train of thought picked up in her mind, and she began to lose focus on anything else.

However, before she could utilize her sudden flash of inspiration, she could feel herself being pressed into the back of the seat as the taxi came to a stop.

“Here’s your stop. Weird place to get dropped off at, just keep yourself safe.”

The vehicle had come to a stop right in front of a dingy alley between two tall, older buildings which shaded it from any potential moonlight.

“I am capable of handling myself in less than favorable situations.” Tachyon said as she handed the driver a small handful of cash and stepped out of the taxi.
A strong gust of wind threatened to topple Tachyon, however she managed to brace herself against her cane and stand strong. Walking with it, she enters the alleyway and makes her way through the darkness until she is met with a door beneath a glowing neon open sign. She swaps her cane into her left hand and opens the door with her right, causing a bell to ring as she steps inside.

“Welcome in.” A small voice called out to her. Today behind the bar once again was Manhattan Cafe.

As the inside of the bar was much warmer than outside, Tachyon removed her jacket and carried it in her arms. She hobbled over and took a seat at the bar, placing the jacket on the seat nearby. She sat down her cane and let it lean against the counter.

“Could I… get you started… with anything?”
“Hmm… have you begun stocking chocolate milk yet?”
“No.”
“Very well. I will have… ah what was it? The Fringe Weaver.”
“One fringe weaver… coming up.”

Tachyon’s eyes followed Cafe as she took out the few ingredients needed for a Fringe Weaver. Cafe poured a healthy amount of gin into a shaker, along with a good-sized scoop of ice and a splash of a light pink syrup before closing it up and shaking it vigorously. She then emptied it into a martini glass, topping it off with a small amount of a clear, fizzy liquid and stirred it slightly. She gently placed it in front of Tachyon, who continued to observe intently.

“I noticed you didn’t use any measurements this time.”
“This drink is… similar to the one my boss always orders. I can usually… measure it by eye.”
“Oh? Perhaps I should try said drink as well.”
“Try the Fringe Weaver first… if you don’t like it you wouldn’t like what she gets.”

Tachyon lifted the glass, pinching it between her thumb and index finger. She brought it close to her face, watching the subtle fizzing atop it before taking a cautious sip. Unlike the drink she had before, the taste of this one was far stronger, specifically the taste of the alcoholic content. Although there was a hint of sweetness, the drink was more akin to drinking straight ethanol with a spoonful of sugar. She forced a swallow, the drink burning her esophagus far more than the Navy Velvet had.

“That is… quite… something.” Tachyon said, holding back a cough, “Your boss enjoys… this?”
“No… she always orders a gimlet… except with unsweetened lime juice…”
Perhaps I will… pass on trying such a thing.”

Tachyon took another sip of the beverage, swishing it around in her mouth in an attempt to gauge any refined underlying taste. Unfortunately all she managed to do with this was coat the entirety of her mouth in the bitter substance, although she could almost detect a slight piney, sweet flavor under it all. Once more, she managed to swallow it, the burn no less intense than her previous attempt.

“If you don’t like it… you don’t have to finish it.”
“No, considering I shall be paying for the entire drink, I plan to at the least finish the entire drink.”

Cafe thought about bringing up that Tachyon had in fact, yet to finish any drink she had ordered, however she bit her tongue. Tachyon mustered enough courage to swallow another gulp, telling herself that she will get used to the feeling eventually.

“Cafe, do you recall the other day when I asked about your lack of recent physical activity?”
“What… about it?”
“Well, I have been thinking it over quite a bit in my off time. Every other Umamusume I know, bar myself, indulges in some form of regular, strenuous exercise. However, I am quite curious to examine the performance of one who lacks such conditioning.”
“Couldn’t you just… do it… yourself?”
“Well, I would. However…”

Tachyon lifted her cane a bit above the counter, just enough for Cafe to clearly see it.

“But, no matter. Could you step around the bar for me, Cafe?”
“You’re not going to… lick my hand again… are you?”
“No, I have yet to study up on palm reading techniques and as such I shall refrain from attempting such examinations until I am more prepared to do so.”

Cafe looked around hesitantly, glancing at the clock on the opposite wall. Realizing the bar had been empty for quite some time, she reluctantly came around and stood just beyond Tachyon.

“Oh…? Come on now, stand a little closer. I am not known to bite.”
“Having to… specify that you won’t bite me is… offputting.”
“It’s just a saying. Here, hold my hand.”

Tachyon stood up from her seat, taking her cane into her right hand and extending out her left to Cafe.

“You’re not going to… take my glove off again… are you?”
“Not unless you want me to.”
“I would prefer not.”
Cafe warily stared at the hand presented to her. She understood Tachyon likely had something planned, something Cafe hoped would be over quickly and involve little to no licking. She took the hand apprehensively, giving a weak grip as to escape quickly if needed.

“We are just going to step outside for a moment.”
“But I can’t just… leave the bar… unattended.”
“It is almost closing time, no? Besides, if anyone is to come by you can just tell them you’re on a ten minute smoke break.”

Despite putting up a slight struggle, Tachyon managed to pull Cafe outside and into the alleyway. The frigid night air smacked Cafe in the face, causing her to feel as though a thousand tiny ice crystals began to grow on her skin. She could see Tachyon’s breath as she exhaled.

“Alright, let us get onto the sidewalk.”
“What are you… trying to do?”
“I told you, did I not? I am quite curious about your physical performance, and as such I want to time a quick sprint of yours.”

Cafe, realizing she had already dug herself too deep into another one of Tachyon’s plans, reluctantly walked with Tachyon out of the alley and onto the sidewalk. Without any buildings to block the wind, they felt how cold it truly was. A constant, rapid gale lashed out and chilled the two of them to the bone. Cafe let go of Tachyon’s hand, wrapping her arms around herself.

“It’s… too cold out here…”
“Well you know what they say, physical activity is a great way to warm oneself up. You see that lightpost at the end of the corner?” Tachyon said, pointing past Cafe, “from here to there is about two hundred meters.”

She retrieved a digital stopwatch from her pocket and turned it on.

“Run as fast as you would like. I’m not expecting a sprint on the level of Drip Brew herself, although I would like to see a glimpse of your potential.”
“Do I… have to? We’re on concrete… and I’m not exactly… wearing running shoes.”
“Do you enjoy the act of running?”

Cafe paused for a moment, briefly thinking back to her days of track and running with Jungle Pocket.

“I… suppose.”
“Well, then by all means, give it a go. If you’re still worried about missing out on a potential customer, you’ll only be out here for at most another minute, unless you wish to continue to stand around and wait.”
Cafe looked off towards the lightpost. She could see it was a reasonable distance, she had run far greater distances with more than enough stamina to spare even on the worst of days. It was not the case she had never run in unfavorable attire either, nor had she never run on a sidewalk. As much as she would hate to admit it, Tachyon was correct in saying this experiment would take barely any time at all.

Cafe inhaled deeply, then let her breath out slowly. Without any sort of stretching, without even a hint of a warmup, she assumed a running stance.

“Oh? You’ve managed to make up your mind? Very well. Let me get the timer ready… and… go.”

As soon as she had heard the press of the stopwatch, Cafe began her sprint. As she had expected, her legs were mostly flailing about in an attempt to keep the rest of her body upright, her arms swinging wildly to keep her balance. Although, as she made her way down the block, she could feel her stance shifting. As though the muscle memory locked away had broken itself out, her legs began to take a much more rhythmic motion. At first she had to consciously think about moving them, about how to land her feet, yet as she continued these thoughts vanished and her legs began to move on their own.

It almost felt as though time itself came to a crawl. Though she could still feel the cold air stinging her face, inside she began to feel warm, as though a smoldering flame deep within her was finally given new fuel. She could feel her heart assume a steady, strong pace. What had once been a terrible chill that threatened to freeze her solid had become refreshing, cooling breaths. She could no longer hear the howling wind passing by her ears, she could hardly see the buildings passing by. As she settled into a proper pace, the only thing on her mind was that lightpost.

Without missing a single beat, like a well-oiled machine, she reached her mark and turned on a dime. This time she needed no preparations, mental or physical. She did not have to think about it at all, her legs simply propelled her on their own. In her focus she stopped thinking about the fact she left the bar unattended, stopped thinking about trying to set some record time for Tachyon, stopped thinking about the fact this was all some experiment on her. She could only think about running.

As quickly as her mind had gained focus, it was lost. Her pace slowed as she began to come back upon Tachyon, and as soon as she had reached her the sights and sounds of the world returned. No longer being in her zone, Cafe could feel her body aching. She breathed heavily, deeply, as her heart attempted to leap out her chest.

“Hmm… I see. You know, for not having run in years, your time is quite good.”
“I… short distances… were never… my thing…”

Cafe leaned over, attempting to catch her breath, each inhale feeling like she was throwing a block of ice into a train’s overheating engine. She looked up at Tachyon, who was attempting to give a warm, polite smile. Cafe took a step towards her, however when she did a sharp, excruciating pain shot up her right leg, causing her to yelp and fall to one knee.

“Oh. Are you alright?” Tachyon said, offering Cafe a hand.
“Yeah… it’s just… an old injury…”
“Here, I’ll help you back to your post.”

Cafe took the hand that was offered to her, being helped to her feet. Tachyon wrapped an arm around her, supporting Cafe’s weight as they reentered the bar.

Cafe stood behind the bar, her breath calmed but still noticeable. Tachyon took a stool and placed it by her.

“Thank… you.”

Cafe sat down, lightly massaging her leg.

“Well, that was quite exciting to watch. However I do believe it is time for me to make my exit. How much was the drink?”
“You… didn’t finish it.”
“Oh? I suppose I did say I planned to finish it, although it isn’t like I’ve finished any drink I paid for entirely yet.”
“It will be… ¥1400.”

Tachyon riffled around in her wallet before pulling out a few bills.

“Ah, and of course, the tip for today’s service.”

Along with the bills, Tachyon placed a single yen coin on the counter.

“Do you… have to do that… every time?”
“Do what?”
“The single yen tip… usually that’s considered… an insult.”
“Is it now? Think of it less as a monetary tip and more of a… token of my visit.”

Before Cafe could get another word in, Tachyon had made her way to the door and left. Now, once more being alone in the bar, Cafe took a clean, dry rag and wiped her face.

Cafe came up the stairs to her apartment, legs uneasy and sore. She gripped the handrail, stabilizing herself against it. Each step felt as though heavy weights were around her ankles. The cold air blew against her, cooling the still burning embers inside her.

She managed to get to her apartment door, putting the key in and twisted it. Turning the handle, the door opened and Cafe walked inside, letting the door close itself as she walked straight into the lounge. She fell onto the couch and laid there for a bit, stretching her arms and keeping her eyes closed. Her job could be mentally taxing at times, there have been several incidents with horrible customers; however she had never expected it to be so physically taxing as well.

“Running… huh…” Cafe thought to herself, turning over on the couch and staring up at the ceiling. She unbuttoned her vest and let it stay on the couch as she got up.

Cafe thought back to something Tachyon had said, rather, something she had done. Tachyon had not come in with a cane before, yet today she did. When asked about why she does not simply do running experiments on her own, she merely lifted and displayed the cane. Cafe had to wonder then, if her and Tachyon were similar in some regard. It would be quite the coincidence for them to have met then, considering things.

She fumbled around in her pocket for a moment before producing the single yen coin Tachyon had once again left as a tip. She climbed up into the loft and dropped it with the other two. Three of them, three tokens, representing the number of times Tachyon had visited her. Three times Cafe was put through some strange and peculiar situation on the whims of Tachyon.

Realizing she still had things to do, Cafe’s mind refocused as she got down from the loft and drew a bath. She let the water run as she entered the kitchen, looking for a quick meal. In the fridge there was not much, a few miscellaneous ingredients that had not seen use, an array of canned drinks, and a single, individually packed half of a sandwich. Cafe picked it up in her hand and turned it over, looking for an expiration date. Seeing that it still had a few more days, she opened the container and began eating it, wolfing it down and leaving little time to savor anything.

Seeing as the bath was now full, Cafe stripped down and took a quick shower. She scrubbed away the grime from the day, taking care to clean and condition her hair. After finishing, she slowly stepped into the bath, taking great comfort in the hot water. She let herself submerge almost entirely, just enough to still be able to breathe. The water soothed her aching body, it almost reminded her of a hot spring. Cafe had wanted to visit one for the longest time now, unfortunately she could never find the time. She sank a bit further into the water, closing her eyes and relaxing.

Chapter Text

Cafe was startled awake, someone having shook her on the shoulder gently. She shot up, her face no longer laying against the cold surface of the counter. In her groggy state she nearly forgot where she was, until looking down and seeing she was in her work attire. Without much thought, she sat back down and once again laid across the counter, burying her face in her arms.

“Hmm? Cafe~?”

Once more Cafe shot back up, having only just put two and two together and realizing that it was in fact, another person who woke her up. Another person being a customer. She tried to focus and finally saw it was Agnes Tachyon standing in front of her. Cafe steadied herself against the counter, still not having fully awakened from her accidental nap.

“Oh? Had a busy night, did we? Or perhaps you struggled to fall asleep? You know, I do happen to have something for that exact problem…”
“Hmm…? How long… were you standing… here?”
“Longer than you would likely prefer, you looked quite peaceful in your slumber. Although I did think about how much of a shame it would be to snap you out of such a restful state, I also considered the trouble you may potentially get into if your boss were to view such a thing on the cameras.”
“Huh? Oh… she doesn’t … check the cameras.”

Tachyon brought a hand to her chin and gave Cafe an inquisitive look.

“Ah, but I do recall you saying that she does.”
“ I only said that… as an excuse… to avoid whatever you had… planned.”
“Not too willing to humor a customer, are you?”
“No.”

Tachyon stepped closer to Cafe.

“You need to… go back to the other side… of the bar.”
“Just one moment.”
“What are… you…?”

She reached a hand out to Cafe and gently brushed away a single strand of hair that had been stuck to her lips. Upon realizing they were now in contact, Cafe grabbed the hand and forced it away from her face.

“There, now you look completely presentable.”
“Could you step around the bar already?”
“Yes, I can. Once you release my hand, that is.”
Cafe ceased her grip, letting Tachyon back off and take a seat on the opposite side of the counter.

“Now that our little quarrel has ended, may I order a drink?”
“You don’t need to ask permission to order.”
“You know, you could say that without the grimace. I fear you might bash me over the head if I were to turn around.”

Cafe relaxed her face a bit, although she was still visibly annoyed.

“What… can I get you?”
“Well, I wanted to ask if you had any personal recommendations.”
“Actually… I do have something… in mind.”
“Do you now? I would love to hear it.”
“Just let me… make it… for you.”

Tachyon leaned back and sat up straight, giving Cafe a polite smile.

“Very well, I shall trust your judgement.”

Upon receiving confirmation, Cafe gathered the tools and ingredients and placed them on the counter, a glass measuring cup, a slightly empty quart of milk, a container of some kind of white powder, and an unmarked paper bag. She poured the milk into the measuring cup up to the four-hundred milliliter line before dropping in two teaspoons of the white powder, which Tachyon assumed was sugar. She then took a tablespoon of the brownish-colored powder from the unmarked bag and added it to the concoction.

“Cafe, is this really…?”
“You brought it up… a few times now. So I decided to… buy some cocoa powder… for chocolate milk.”
“Oh? I find it flattering you think of me so much outside of work.”

Cafe ignored Tachyon’s comment, instead continuing her work. She took a bar spoon and stirred the mixture until it appeared homogenous. She then poured it into a tall, narrow glass, threw in a hard plastic straw, and served it to Tachyon. She analyzed the drink for a moment, gazing at the cup from various angles before lifting it to her face and sniffing it slightly.

“Although I am no milk sommelier, I will say it at least appears to be a well done mixture.”

She took the straw into her lips and gave a slight sip.

“Hmm… it is quite an enjoyable beverage. Perhaps you should give it a taste as well.”
Tachyon put the glass back on the counter and pushed it over to Cafe.

“I’m… not a big fan… of chocolate milk.”
“Well this glass just may be the one to change your mind on such things. I insist, give it a try.”

Cafe stared at the glass, resting her hands on the counter and lightly tapping her fingers.

“Hmm? Are you nervous about the idea of an indirect kiss? You could wipe the straw beforehand if you would like, I take no offense to such a thing.”
“Why would I… be worried about… that?”

She lifted the glass up and sipped through the straw. The sweetness of the sugar and the richness of the chocolate danced atop her tongue, giving her some reassurance that not skimping out on higher quality cocoa was a good idea.

“It’s… alright.”
“Just alright? Are you not a fan of chocolate in general?”
“Not that… I just told you… I’m just not a big fan of… chocolate milk.”

Cafe put the drink down and slid it back across the counter.

“Hmm… are there any beverages you are a fan of then?”
“Well… I drink coffee quite regularly. I actually… forgot to brew some… before work today… so I fell asleep.”
“How do you like your coffee? Perhaps you enjoy a cappuccino? Cortado? Café Bombón?”
“Black.”
“I suppose that should have been my first guess, you do strike me as the type.”

Tachyon stirred her drink with the straw, watching the liquid swirl around.

“Do you have a coffee machine in this establishment?”
“Why… are you… asking?”
“Ah, I don’t mean to imply I wish to order any, frankly I’m not a fan of coffee in general. I was asking because, considering I assume you regularly drink coffee on your shift, would it not be convenient to simply make it here?”
“Mmm… well…” Cafe muttered under her breath, looking up at the ceiling as if visually searching for her thoughts, “We do have one… my boss… bought it a while ago. Although… supposedly it messed up her drink… so she kicked it… and now it doesn’t work anymore.”
“Is that so? May I take a look at it? Though none of my degrees are on engineering appliances, I am a bit informed on the matter.”
“You have… more than degree?”
“Indeed, chemistry, genetics, mathematics, biomedical engineering, just to name a few I can remember. Regardless, they are besides the point. Let me take a look at this coffee machine and attempt to diagnose the problem.”
“I… can’t really just let you in the back-”

Tachyon took an obnoxiously loud sip of her chocolate milk, something Cafe saw as entirely intentional.

“Come now, there is no need to give me an excuse. You seem to go back on those regardless.”

She stood up from her stool and came back around the bar, standing by the slightly ajar door leading to the employees only area. Cafe, knowing Tachyon is correct, walked over and opened the door and stepped in first.

The back area was small and cramped, it immediately opened into a short hallway with three doors. Two of the doors were closed, although Tachyon could see slightly through the door adjacent from her. Inside looked to be an office, her catching a glimpse of a desk covered in various piles of paper and folders. Cafe brought her through the door on the left, which came into what Tachyon could only assume was the break room. The space was also quite small, barely enough space for a miniscule kitchenette, a wall of square lockers, and a table to all be crammed together. There, just on the counter, Tachyon saw her new interest.

On the counter sat the battered and broken remains of a coffee machine. At some point it may have resembled an actual appliance, however now it was little more than a vaguely rectangular-shaped object made of plastic and metal with an obvious footprint in it.

“You said your boss did this?”
“Yeah… she kicked it.”
“I… expected it to just be some internal damage. Not this… piece of scrap. I never bothered to ask, but is your boss also an Umamusume?”
“Ah… yeah. She is.”
“That makes things easier to understand.”

Tachyon leaned over the remains and prodded it lightly, to which it gave no response.

“Have you at least tried to use it since then? It could still work.”

Cafe stared at Tachyon, unsure how to even feel about her suggestion. Tachyon paid no mind to this, instead choosing to plug the machine into a nearby socket.

“Cafe, do you happen to have coffee grounds here?”
“Yeah… up in the cabinet there.”

Tachyon opened the cabinet and retrieved a bag of coffee grounds. She opened what she believed to be the compartment for the grounds and poured a good amount in. She then put some water in some obvious enough opening and pressed a button. Immediately the object whirred to life, making all sorts of terrible metallic grinding noises, as though two large gears were scraping against each other. In the midst of this cacophony, Tachyon saw a small trickle of a dark brown liquid fall from a nozzle and onto the counter.

“See! At times the best solution is to simply try. Come, Cafe, this time I shall be the one serving you.”

Cafe watched over Tachyon’s shoulder hesitantly, showing a face of obvious concern.

“I’m… not sure… but alright.”

She took a seat at the table and waited for Tachyon, who had found a clean looking mug and placed it under the machine. A slow, mostly unsteady stream of dark fluid flowed into the cup. Eventually the flow stopped, yet the machine continued to assault the ears of everyone nearby. Tachyon took the cup and placed it in front of Cafe.

“And as they would say in La République française, bon appétit.”
“Isn’t… that usually used… when eating?”
“Well regardless, I hope you enjoy my latest creation.”

Cafe looked down at the cup and then up to Tachyon, who was standing and eagerly waiting. Cafe brought the mug up to her face and tried the still piping hot coffee. However, as soon as it touched her lips, she realized something was horribly wrong. Though coffee was bitter, this beverage tasted as though someone had poured a healthy amount of battery acid into it, before tossing in a very large handful of salt. She could not bring herself to allow the liquid into her mouth, let alone swallow it.

“So? Do tell me of the tastes and flavors.”
“I am dumping this out.”
“What? It can’t be that bad,” Tachyon said, walking over taking the cup from Cafe, “though I am not a fan of coffee in the slightest, I can at least detect flavors in things-”

Tachyon made the mistake of taking nearly a mouthful of the coffee, coating the entire inside of her mouth in the burning, acidic flavor of her latest creation. She quickly spat it back into the cup and rushed to the sink, where she washed out her mouth.

“I have… decided to pour it out.”

She watched the dark, foul liquid swirl around and flow down the drain.

After finishing their misfortunate skirmish into the employees-only section of the bar, Cafe and Tachyon returned to the regular area and assumed their usual positions.

“I must say, I have never been particularly fond of coffee but that… concoction was something else entirely.”
“I… might actually… not make a pot when I… get home.”
“Nor will I, although I never had any plans to do so regardless.”

They sat in silence for a moment, failing to disregard that event in their minds.

“Moving past all of that, how much will the drink be?”
“Well we don’t have… chocolate milk in the system… so I’ll just say it’s… ¥800.”
“Oh? That’s considerably cheaper than the other drinks you’ve had me pay for.”
“That’s… because you always go for the… expensive drinks…”

Disregarding the obvious observation Cafe just stated, Tachyon pulled out ¥800 and sat it on the counter.

“And of course-”
“Do you… really have to… do that?”
“Do what?”

Cafe pointed at the single yen coin in Tachyon’s hand.

“I told you… last time… it’s kind of insulting.”
“Well if you recall, I did say it is less of a monetary tip and more of a sentimental one. Perhaps some day in the future you should put all of these coins on display, a grand Agnes Tachyon trophy case.”
“I… don’t think… I’ll do that.”
“Well you are more than free to not take the tip.”

Once more, before Cafe could give another response, Tachyon had left the coin on the counter and left.

Cafe sluggishly pushed open the door to her apartment, lazily removing her shoes and left them on the floor haphazardly. She fell onto her couch and, before even realizing it, she had closed her eyes and already fallen asleep.