In the evening, inside the White Birch Café, Shiraishi Ayaha sat at the front desk. Since there were few customers at this hour, she stared absentmindedly at her phone.
On her phone, a video of Suzuki Yuu was playing. Seeing his face and recalling the scenes from filming, she couldn’t help but grin foolishly.
Just then, the manager, Shiraishi Kousuke, walked out. The middle-aged man saw his daughter’s expression, shook his head, stepped forward, and gave her head a gentle tap.
“You’re lovestruck over him every day, but you still can’t win him over.”
His tone was helpless as he questioned his daughter, and upon hearing it, Shiraishi Ayaha slumped over the table, sighing in frustration.
“I want to, but I really don’t understand what Suzuki wants, and it feels like he’s always so busy, like I don’t even exist to him.”
Hearing this, Shiraishi Kousuke gave a wry smile and said,
“That can’t be helped. Someone as outstanding as him is bound to have lots of girls around him.”
Shiraishi Ayaha’s pretty face was immediately full of disappointment, and she let out a soft sigh.
“Suzuki’s asking for leave again tomorrow. It’s the weekend, but who knows what he’s going to do… Aah, what exactly should I do to win him over?”
“Ayaha, you need to understand, love is a battlefield. Only by taking the initiative can you expect good results.”
“Dad, you only ever say stuff like that.”
Of course, Shiraishi Ayaha knew all this, but in her eyes, Suzuki Yuu was just too dazzling—no matter how much she chased, she couldn’t catch up.
“Speaking of which, we’re a bit short-handed lately. Feels like we’ll have to hire someone.” In response to his daughter’s words, Shiraishi Kousuke didn’t know how else to reply; he couldn’t actually help her much with these things.
So he switched to talking about the shop’s situation.
Thanks to the positive response to Suzuki Yuu’s videos, the White Birch Café had welcomed a wave of new customers, and with Suzuki Yuu being busy all the time, their original arrangements were starting to fall behind.
“Yeah, but training someone new is such a hassle.”
“Just let that Suzuki kid do it. He’s always asking for time off but still takes so much salary from me—I can’t let him off so easily.” Shiraishi Kousuke sounded rather indignant.
Seeing her dad’s expression, Shiraishi Ayaha let out a small laugh.
As they chatted, the café’s door opened, and Shiraishi Ayaha instantly perked up, joining her father in saying in unison,
“Welcome!”
The newcomer was a beautiful girl dressed in the uniform of Aoyama Saint Academy.
If this had been before, they would have been very surprised. But ever since Suzuki Yuu’s video was posted, it wasn’t unusual for students from that school to visit.
But since most of the new visitors were girls, Shiraishi Ayaha couldn’t help but size them up.
In her heart, she would secretly compare herself with these girls—sometimes feeling pleased, sometimes downcast—but never enough to really unsettle her.
But this time, the girl before her was completely different from all the others.
She was too beautiful.
Her long, silky hair flowed down, her features were exquisitely refined, and her whole being radiated a natural nobility.
But what really made Shiraishi Ayaha’s heart skip a beat was the girl’s gaze.
She didn’t know why, but she felt as if she was being scrutinized.
The girls who came before would always curiously look around at the café’s décor, but this girl’s gaze went straight to Shiraishi Ayaha behind the counter.
No, to be precise, it was fixed on her phone, which was still lit up and playing a video of Suzuki Yuu.
“Welcome… Is there anything I can help you with?” Shiraishi Ayaha’s voice was a bit dry, perhaps intimidated by the girl’s presence. She instinctively wanted to hide her phone.
“Hello. May I ask… does Suzuki Yuu work here?”
The girl’s voice was as clear as a spring. Shiraishi Ayaha couldn’t tell if her mood was good or bad.
But hearing her mention Suzuki, she felt conflicted inside.
Still, out of professional courtesy, she managed a professional smile and replied,
“Yes… He’s not scheduled to work today. Did you need something from him?”
“No, nothing. I just came to take a look.”
Saying this, the girl found a seat and sat down.
Shiraishi Ayaha walked over, then gestured for her father to leave.
Shiraishi Kousuke, though puzzled, did as she asked.
Then, with a smile, she asked the girl,
“What would you like to eat?”
“Hmm… That thing Suzuki Yuu made in his last video—can you make it?” The girl looked at Ayaha, her gaze curious.
Hearing this, Shiraishi Ayaha patted her chest, a bit proud.
“Of course. I taught him all his cooking skills.”
“Eh… really?” The girl’s gaze stayed fixed on her, as if sizing her up.
This made Shiraishi Ayaha feel a little nervous, her earlier confidence vanishing. She leaned in and whispered,
“Is there something wrong?”
“Can I ask your name?”
“Shiraishi Ayaha…” She pointed at her nametag and answered softly.
“I’m Shiina Chisa.” The girl in front of her introduced herself, then, after a moment’s thought, said, “Alright, then please bring me the dish you’re best at. Also, for every item on your menu, could you prepare a portion to go, as well?”
Shiraishi Ayaha was stunned. She had never heard such a strange request.
“Miss, that’s a lot of food, and it might take quite a while…” she said awkwardly.
“That’s fine. I can wait. But I have one request: I want everything to be made by you, is that okay?”
At this moment, Shiina Chisa flashed her signature smile and indicated she could pay right now.
Since the customer insisted, Shiraishi Ayaha couldn’t refuse. She noted the order and hurried to the kitchen.
After that, the other customers were handled personally by the manager.
In the kitchen, Shiraishi Ayaha worked very carefully, diligently preparing her specialty mille crêpe cake just as requested.
After a long while, Shiraishi Ayaha finally finished making the mille crêpe cake. She carefully placed the sliced cake on a delicate plate, garnished it with mint leaves, took a deep breath, and carried the tray out of the kitchen.
Shiina Chisa withdrew her gaze from the window and looked at the cake before her. She stared at it for a few seconds, then looked up and offered Shiraishi Ayaha a faint smile. “Thank you, it looks wonderful.”
She then picked up a fork and delicately took a bite.
Shiraishi Ayaha suddenly felt nervous, like she was awaiting a judge’s verdict.
This girl named Shiina Chisa piqued her curiosity—especially about her relationship with Suzuki.
However, just by observing, there was nothing she could glean. All she could surmise was that this girl must come from a wealthy family.
Could she be dating Suzuki?
The thought crossed Shiraishi Ayaha’s mind, and it didn’t seem impossible.
But she didn’t dare ask, and simply stood there, daydreaming.
“It tastes wonderful.” Shiina Chisa set down her fork and dabbed her mouth with a napkin, still wearing a smile.
“Thank you for your praise. I-I’ll go prepare the rest of your order.”
Shiraishi Ayaha breathed a sigh of relief and hurried back to the kitchen.
Shiina Chisa quietly watched her departing figure, lost in thought, then murmured to herself,
“So cute, and so skilled. Is everyone around him like this?”