Episode 3. Two Sides of a Coin

Tomo put on his vest and adjusted the ruffles of his shirt. Ken was in front of the only mirror, tying his tie. Usually, Kouta or Fujiki would bother them to get to work.

But not that day.

Ken walked up to Tomo and carefully put strands of hair behind his ear. “With shorter hair, you want to show off the piercings.”

“But...”

He felt how anxiety was making his chest hurt. The lump was slowly growing, making it hard to breathe. His heart was racing, and he was feeling nauseous.

Ken smiled calmingly at him. “It’ll be fine. The customers will be happy to see a new side of Momo-san. I’ll be there to support you.”

Anxious, Tomo nervously touched the ruffles on his chest, but was stopped when Ken took his hand.

“They'll love it. I’m sure. They’re worried about you, y’know. They’ve asked about Momo-san for weeks now. Especially since niisan refuses to explain anything.”

Tomo nodded, feeling his cheeks turn a little warmer.

He got mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it flattered him they cared, on the other he wasn’t sure what could make anyone like him for any reason. He was just the strange gender-neutral, gender-confusing server, and nothing else.

He had considered just giving up on being odd, yet he had remained ‘Momo-san’ at the cafe. If the only reason they liked him as a server was because he stood out, he wasn’t sure how to feel about it, but was the only one he could think of.

“I got you these,” Ken said and pulled out a paper bag from a jewellery shop from his bag.

Tomo didn’t dare to enter that store, because he feared they’d find him strange or creepy.

Ken put the bag down on the sofa and picked up four boxes with a bright smile. “Say which pair you like the best.”

Tomo opened one to find earrings with gems a shade darker than his natural eye colour.

“These must have been expensive! Shouldn’t you save your money, or spend them on your girls?”

“Nah. I think of it as investing in my future business,” he replied in amusement.

“That’s a terrible way of saying you rather spoil me.”

Ken laughed. “Do you like them?”

“I don’t know. I don’t really wear earrings. They’re really pretty though.”

“Keep looking.”

The second pair was similar but smaller, and the gems were tiny in comparison. The third pair was a pair of studs with black gems, and the fourth some star-shaped crystals.

“The stars are really cute. I’ll wear them sometime.”

Ken picked up two of the boxes and put them in Tomo’s hands. “You’re wearing these today. You can use any of your regular choices for the third pair. Just not something too big.”

He leaned towards Tomo, and soon Tomo felt the gentle touch of Ken’s fingers and he winced.

“I’ll wear them!” he exclaimed, with his heart racing and cheeks turning hot. “But I can put them on myself!”

***

He had closed his eyes. His heart hammered in his chest. His hands trembled a little, but Ken held his hand, giving it a light squeeze. He knew the fourteen-year-old who had been standing in front of the same door would have liked that support.

He had feared going back with his hair cut, and had helped out in the kitchen instead. However, he felt he belonged on the floor and he had gathered all his courage and told Kouta he’d return to serving customers.

He regretted that decision now.

He opened his eyes when Ken whispered: “Just be yourself.”

Tomo nodded, but the reminder wasn’t calming him down.

“Just do what you always do.”

Tomo turned to him. Ken put a finger in front of his lips.

“That’s a secret,” he said with a wink.

He chuckled, as it seemed very suggestive and inviting.

“I dunno how you do it. When I try I always have some girls all over me.”

“You’re right. I don’t have to explain anything.” He touched his hair, looking down for just a moment before he looked Ken in the eyes. “But…” He grabbed Ken’s tie, pulling him closer. He saw the brown eyes widen and Tomo smiled. “I’ll keep all of your secrets, Ke-n-ku-n.”

He had already let go when Ken pulled away from him, letting go of his hand and covering the lower half of his face with his hand.

Tomo grinned at him as he turned to put his back to the door, and pushed it open.

“Payback,” he whispered, feeling a sense of satisfaction, and much calmer than he had just minutes ago.

***

He walked up to the table with a couple who regularly visited the café. The two never asked for anyone specific, and Tomo felt no pressure to please them.

“Good day. I’ll be serving you today. What would you like to have?” he smiled and used the tray as a hard surface for his pad.

“Momo-san! You’re back,” said the man at the table. “I’ve been so worried. Have you been ill?”

“I’m in very good health, thank you. I had some personal business to attend. Nothing major.”

The man looked relieved. “That’s good to hear. May I have a cup of coffee?” He looked at his companion. “She too. Black, please. And... Hm... What’s Tanaka-chan’s special today?”

Tomo touched his cheek with his fingers as he tilted his head. “It’s a chocolate cake, I think. She said the name, but it was foreign and Momo isn’t good with foreign words.”

It wasn’t entirely true. He was okay at English words, but it hadn’t been English. Or Tanaka couldn’t pronounce it. That happened.

He pouted, like he knew Fujiki would have done.

It helped him to calm down, to put up a front, as temporary as it was.

The man laughed. “Give me one of the foreign-word-perhaps-a-chocolate-cake.”

“Do you want ice cream and strawberries, like usual?” Tomo asked the companion.

“I’ll have that later. You can add orange juice to the later order.”

“All right. I’ll be right back.”

“Will you sit down and have a chat with us, Momo-san? It’s been so long!”

“Gladly! I want to hear how things are going with your puppy! How has she grown? Can she do any tricks yet?” He covered his mouth and chuckled. “Oh! Excuse me. Let me get your order first.”

The couple laughed as he turned and went to the kitchen.

***

“So you cut your hair, Momo-san,” the man said after Tomo had sat down. “That was rude of me!” He looked apologetic after he got an angry stare from his companion.

“No, not at all. You just stated the fact. I have cut my hair.”

“It suits you very well! But I thought you liked it the way you had it. What changed your mind?” the companion asked.

“That’s a secret.”

The man laughed. “You are always so secretive. Then how has school been? Your personal business didn’t affect it, did it?”

“I’m still attending my classes, so don’t worry about that. I study very hard for my goal.” Tomo picked up his cup with peach tea and took a sip, before putting it back down.

“May I know what your goal is?” the companion asked.

He smiled in response.

“Still a secret,” she smiled in return.

“Momo-san!” Tomo felt a hand on his shoulder. Tomo looked at him. “Are you already taken? And here I thought I’d take care of you now that you’re back.” Ken leaned closer and put a stray strand behind Tomo’s ear. “Such a shame,” he said and leaned even closer to Tomo’s face with a twinkle in his eye. Tomo put a finger against Ken’s lips. He held back a grin and tried to look stern.

“Ken-kun, you know my kisses have too much worth for this world.”

Ken stood up straight and grinned. “One day I’ll capture your heart, Momo-san.” He then left the table to show a customer who just came in to a table.

“I apologise for that.” He tried to look troubled. “I don’t know what to do with him.”

“He’s just captivated by your beauty, Momo-san. Perhaps even more so now that you have shorter hair. It honestly suits you, and it’s well-styled this way too,” the companion said.

“I think Momo-san is more ‘cute’, though I suppose Ken-kun would like that too,” the man said.

“Thank you for the compliments. You’re too kind.” Tomo chuckled. “But who knows what is true and what isn’t?”

The companion nodded. “When Ken-kun came over, I noticed your earrings. I never knew you wore them, Momo-san.”

Tomo chuckled again and took another sip from his tea. “With my hair long, they often got covered. But these were gifted to me by someone very dear.”

“Oh, a lover perhaps?”

He chuckled. Tomo lacked any interest in falling in love. In that regard, he differed greatly from Ken, who frequently went on dates.

“Would you prefer if it was a lover, a friend, or a family member?”

The man thought for a moment. “I have a hard time seeing Momo-san with a lover. I don’t even know if Momo-san’s lover would be a man or woman.” The man fell silent and glanced at his companion.

“That’s true… I can’t tell either. But I think it’s a friend. It seems a bit too much for a family member to give,” she said.

“Then let’s say it was a friend.”

The man laughed and the companion smiled.

***

“Hm? Oh, Momo-san. You did well today.”

He found Tachibana shirtless and about to remove his trousers in the men’s changing room when he opened the door to check if it was free.

“Thank you; you did well too. I’ll wait outside until you’re done. Sorry.”

Tachibana let out a short laugh. “I don’t mind.”

Tomo closed the door and leaned towards the wall beside it.

After a few moments, Fujiki entered the staff area from the floor. “You did a good job today.”

“You too, senpai.” Tomo glanced at the board with everyone’s schedule. “You worked late today.”

He shrugged. “It’s early for me. Who’s in there?”

“Tachibana-kun. You can go in.”

“It’s fine. I’ll wait with you. I’m not in any hurry. Makoto won’t pick me up for another hour. Maybe more. I’ll be working in the office until then.”

“Tell him to stop by sometime. I haven’t seen Makoto-san in a while.”

“He’s been busy with university and his job. I’ve had to go home aaaaaaall alone, you know. In the end, I stayed just to walk with him.” He laughed. “Though it’s still way too early to go home. Did you know I often work to midnight?”

“You tell me every time your day ends any time before 20.”

“Do I?” Fujiki laughed.

“It must be nice to go home together though.”

Tomo felt a little jealous. Ken could walk home from the café, while Tomo took the train. It was the other way around when going to school.

“Hm...” Fujiki said with a teasing grin. “Are you thinking of someone right now, Momo-kyun?”

Tomo’s cheeks burned, and he looked down, avoiding the waitress’s inquiring gaze.

“I don’t have anyone like that. I just meant you get to spend time with someone while going home. I’ll just be on the train and study.”

“Mmhmm. How are your English classes going? You plan on studying English and French in university, right? I haven’t heard anything about it recently. Have you given up on it?”

“No, I’m still working hard. Handa-sensei says he’s a little worried. I should come to the English club more often.”

“Well, you do work more than others your age. You’re here almost every—” Fujiki stopped talking as the door opened. “Well done today, Tachibana.”

“Oh. Fuu-chan-senpai,” he said. “You could have just come in.”

Fujiki put his arms around Tomo’s waist. “I got to speak with Momo-kyun, so it’s alright.”

“Senpai!” Fujiki laughed as Tomo’s cooling cheeks turned warmer again.

“Momo-kyun is adorable when flustered.”

The man took off his heels and they were suddenly about the same height. He walked into the changing room and left Tomo standing by the door while Tachibana left the building.

“Momo-kyun, I’ll leave in a moment, so get in here!” Fujiki shouted and Tomo entered the changing room before he closed the door behind him. “Kenta should be here soon. I’ll go get him if I have to.” Fujiki pulled the wig off and then started picking up his things out of the locker. “It must be hard for you to always have to wait. You don’t identify as a guy, right? I haven’t asked that before, have I?”

Tomo leaned his back towards his locker.

Had anyone else asked, Tomo would have laughed it off, pretending they said something stupid.

“Mmhmm.”

“Fuji-chan should figure something out about the changing situation already. You’ve worked here for two years and you end up being the last every time.”

“Kouta shouldn’t have to bother with that,” Tomo said. “I’m the strange one. I probably should change at the toilet, like you do.”

“Tomoki.”

He looked up to see his supervisor look at him sternly.

“You are not strange in any way. I change at the loo because I prefer that. It gives everyone else something to think about. ‘How does Arata look so feminine? I wonder if Fujiki-senpai wears women’s underwear while crossdressing?’ and other things like that.” Fujiki removed the hairnet and let his natural hair out.

“No, I’m strange. I like cute things. I have pierced ears. I prefer my hair long. I haven’t had my first crush...”

Fujiki huffed. “Don’t tell anyone else,” he said as he picked up a bag from the locker, “but Makoto was my ‘first crush’. I've been into a lot of guys, but you know... never had the connection I have with Makoto.”

It baffled Tomo too much for him to react. Seconds ticked away before Fujiki looked away from Tomo and hurried out.

Seeing the man’s reaction made Tomo embarrassed, and it was several minutes later when Ken entered the room and found Tomo covering his face.