Weekend.
Suzuki Yu yawned as he arrived at the Café, all the while checking the schedule on his phone.
“Work in the morning, piano practice in the afternoon, review lessons in the evening, and tomorrow I have to spend the whole day accompanying Jingu Senior to the art exhibition.”
Looking at his packed schedule, Suzuki Yu scratched the back of his head and sighed, deciding to put it out of his mind for now.
He pushed open the Café’s front door and immediately saw a girl at the counter with a high ponytail, dressed in the Café uniform, busily wiping down the coffee machine.
The girl’s features were delicate, her skin fair, and her ponytail swayed lightly with her movements. Upon hearing the door, she turned her head and flashed a bright smile.
“Suzuki, good morning!”
“Morning, Ayaha. You’re up early today.”
“Mm, well, someone had to prep the supplies and all.”
“If you’d told me sooner, I’d have come earlier.”
“Hehe, it’s not too late now. Who knows, maybe there’ll be a ton of work today.”
Shiraishi Ayaha spoke with a cheerful smile.
Suzuki couldn’t help but smile as well, infected by her energy.
She’d always been so full of life since long ago.
“Make me a cup of coffee, would you? I’m sure you haven’t forgotten my preferences.”
“Of course not!” Shiraishi Ayaha patted her chest and declared confidently, “Americano, two shots of espresso, little sugar, no milk, right?”
“Perfect.” Suzuki Yu gave her a thumbs up, then walked to the Employee Lounge to change into his uniform.
When he emerged in the Café’s uniform, a steaming cup of coffee was already waiting at the bar. Next to it were two small cookies, thoughtfully placed.
“This is a little extra service.” Ayaha winked, “You look really tired today, so have some energy.”
Suzuki Yu picked up the coffee and took a sip. The familiar bitterness spread in his mouth, making him feel a lot more awake.
“Phew, you’re a lifesaver.”
“Have you been too busy lately?” Ayaha tidied up the counter as she asked with concern, “I can see you’ve got dark circles under your eyes.”
“Is it that obvious?” Suzuki Yu instinctively glanced at the Café’s mirror.
“Of course!” Ayaha nodded seriously, “You’re still handsome, but health is more important, right?”
“You’re right.” Suzuki Yu didn’t argue and drained his coffee. At that moment, a customer walked in, so he went to greet them.
They worked together in perfect sync.
Suzuki Yu was in charge of drinks and simple snacks, while Ayaha took care of orders, serving, and cashiering. After working together for so long, they had developed an easy rhythm—one glance was enough to understand each other.
“Latte for Table Three.”
“Got it.”
“Table Five wants to add a Caramel Macchiato.”
“Coming right up.”
The morning was busier than usual, but the two handled it with ease.
After the rush, sunlight slanted through the Café windows, casting long beams of light across the wooden floor.
Ayaha leaned against the bar and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a cloth, looking for all the world like a little squirrel who’d just finished a sprint.
“Phew — finally, a break.” She stretched, her uniform sleeves slipping up to reveal her slender wrists.
Suzuki Yu handed her a cup of iced coffee just then.
“You worked hard.”
“Thank you~” Ayaha accepted the coffee and gulped it down. “Ah, delicious! Coffee made by Suzuki really is the best!”
Her face flushed a little after saying that, suddenly realizing her words sounded a bit ambiguous.
Suzuki Yu didn’t seem to notice, just smiled and said, “Of course, I am a professional, after all.”
“Yeah, yeah, stop bragging. Didn’t I teach you?” Ayaha pouted, but her eyes sparkled with amusement.
The two of them leaned against the bar and rested, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
There were only a few customers left in the Café—some reading, some working on laptops. The atmosphere was tranquil and cozy.
“By the way, are you still doing that ‘Rental Boyfriend’ thing you started in middle school?”
Shiraishi Ayaha asked softly, her voice so quiet it was clear she’d debated whether to ask.
Suzuki Yu’s fingers paused on his empty coffee cup, surprised she would bring this up so suddenly.
“I am. After all, I still need the money.”
He looked up at Ayaha, seeing she’d lost her earlier cheer—the ponytail even drooping a little.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing, I was just wondering, why did you choose to apply for Aoyama Saint Academy in the first place?”
“Well…” Suzuki Yu thought for a long time before replying.
“Because there are a lot of rich girls there. I figured I could make quite a bit of money.”
Shiraishi Ayaha couldn’t help but giggle at his answer.
“What kind of reason is that? Are you really that desperate for money?”
“Nobody ever turns down money,” Suzuki Yu replied seriously.
“Then why don’t you just find a rich woman to date?” Shiraishi Ayaha pressed on.
“Uh, I guess I want to be the one in control.”
“Pretty high standards.”
Shiraishi Ayaha pulled over a chair and sat next to Suzuki Yu, resting sideways on the table and gazing at him with clear eyes.
“So, what kind of girl do you like?”
That question made Suzuki Yu freeze.
He turned to look at Ayaha’s earnest eyes, suddenly unsure how to answer.
“Well…” He scratched his head, “I’ve never really thought about it.”
“Liar.” Ayaha pouted, “You’ve met so many girls, there’s no way you haven’t thought about it.”
“Really, I haven’t.” Suzuki Yu shook his head. “To me, it’s just work. No matter what kind of client, or what they want, I do my best to meet their needs. That doesn’t mean I have other feelings for them.”
“What if a really rich girl chased after you—would you feel nothing?”
“Hmm…” The image of Shiina Chisa flashed through Suzuki Yu’s mind, and he shook his head.
“I might be happy, but whether I’d actually like her… I wouldn’t know unless I was in that situation.”
“You’re complicated, Suzuki. You make life harder for yourself than it needs to be.”
Shiraishi Ayaha smiled gently, as if trying to lift the mood.
“Everyone has their own ambitions and standards.” Suzuki Yu smiled back.
“So, what are your ambitions?”
That question stumped Suzuki Yu.
He realized he’d never really set himself any grand goals. Up to now, everything he’d done was just because he had a System, and so he worked hard.
If he had to say he’d been working toward something from the start, he honestly hadn’t thought that far ahead.
But one thing was certain: he’d never settle for an ordinary life—otherwise, he wouldn’t have worked this hard.
“As for ambitions… I haven’t figured it out yet. If I had to say, maybe I just want to live a brilliant life.”
“That’s so vague…” Shiraishi Ayaha muttered.
“Sorry, sorry, let’s not talk about this anymore. I want a scone. Bake me some, would you?”
“Okay, just wait a bit.”
Shiraishi Ayaha didn’t refuse—she rolled up her sleeves and headed into the kitchen.
Soon, a plate piled with scones and a small bowl of jam appeared before Suzuki Yu. He picked up a scone, dipped it in strawberry jam, and took a big bite.
“Delicious.” He said, mouth full, and quickly finished the rest.
“Slow down, there’s plenty for you.”
“I need to eat more. Once you go back to school, I’ll have to wait ages to see you again.”
“I’ll be working next week too! The school exams are coming up, so they’re not stopping students from doing part-time work or tutoring.” Shiraishi Ayaha said with a smile. She sat across from Suzuki Yu, propping her chin in her hand as she watched him eat.
“Really? That’s great.” Suzuki Yu grabbed another scone. “So, how’s your studying going?”
“It’s alright,” Ayaha replied, watching Suzuki Yu, “Of course, it’s not as tough as the Aoyama Saint Academy Exams, but I’ll do my best.”
“Need any help with your studies?” Suzuki Yu asked casually, “I’m no genius, but I can handle regular high school exams just fine.”
Shiraishi Ayaha’s eyes lit up, but soon dimmed again.
“No, it’s okay. You’re busy enough.” She shook her head.
“What’s there to worry about? Teaching you helps me study too. It’s just for a short while.” He smiled, noticing that Ayaha still seemed hesitant, so he softened his tone and asked quietly, “But you look unsure—is there some other reason?”
“N-No, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
“If you’re there, I can’t concentrate on studying…”
Shiraishi Ayaha’s face turned red. Her last words were so quiet even Suzuki Yu, sitting right next to her, couldn’t hear.
“What?”
“It’s nothing! If you’re willing, then I’ll be in your care!” She perked up again, her excitement returning.
Just then, another customer walked in.
“Ah, I’ll go clear the tables!”
With that, she stood up and hurried away.
Suzuki Yu watched her back, feeling like something was off.
But what, he couldn’t say.
Forget it—no point thinking too hard.
He finished the last scone, brushed his hands together, and got ready to get back to work.