Coffee Aromas

Haruto’s POV

Days unfolded in their usual rhythm, and at last, I found companionship. The camaraderie of five, born from the threads of a school trip, wove our bonds tighter.

But my love for the class corner desk was irreplaceable. I sat on my so-called throne as I placed my bag right next to the window.

“Hey Haruto, what’s up?” Ren's friendly greeting reached me, a tap on the shoulder disrupting my class-bound trajectory.

“Nothing much,” I replied.

Ren, now my closest friend, accompanied me in our shared ventures. We traversed the landscape of our days together, exchanging secrets and stories.

“Why do you always turn down every girl? Some of them were cute, you know,” I asked him curiously.

A protracted sigh escaped him, signaling a revelation. "Actually, there's someone I've taken a liking to."

"Really? Who? When? Where?" I fired off questions, my curiosity piqued, given Ren's prior disinterest in dating.

“Woah, chill man,” he interjected, slowing my barrage. “Since the school trip, I-I have a crush on…Haruna.”

“Her? I thought you preferred cute, short girls," I quizzed, recalling rumors that painted a different picture.

“It's about the person, not the stature. I feel a connection with her,” he confessed, genuine warmth reflected in his smile.

“I’ll support you,” I smiled too.

“Don’t tell anyone about this.”

“Okay. This is going to be fun.”

***

The persistent chime of the bell orchestrated the transition into lunch break, signaling teachers to release their students.

Hinata’s POV

“I want set B please, thank you,” I took my lunch set and started to look for a place to sit.

As I was looking around, I spotted Rei and Haruna who had just taken their lunch set. “Hey, let’s sit together,” I approached them.

“Sure!” Rei Agreed.

“Hey guys, is that Ren and Haruto?” Haruna pointed in a certain direction that turned out to be Haruto and Ren.

Internally, I wondered, is Haruto some kind of celebrity? My curiosity heightened as I noticed a swarm of girls encircling their table. I couldn't help but ask, "What's going on? Is Haruto really that famous?”

Haruto’s POV

Is this the price of popularity? Annoyance crept in as girls flocked around Ren and me, their presence destroyed my appetite.

Hinata’s POV

What is he doing there? Wait…why do I feel so annoyed? Suddenly, my heart felt heavy with what was happening. But why? Why should I watch him all the time? Nothing is happening, he’s just eating with a bunch of girls around him. It’s totally normal, right? My mind grappled with its own questions, even as I continued observing Haruto from a distance.

***

"Alright, class dismissed," Ms. Hana declared as she gathered her books, leaving the classroom.

I have my club activity. Finally, I can play the piano again, it’s been a while since the last time I played one. He should be in the library right now.

Haruto’s POV

The library, my sanctuary, beckoned me like a second home. Countless books had unfolded their stories to me within these walls. Thoughts of Hinata lingered — what was she up to?

As the sky darkened, I started to gather my stuff and then returned each book I had read onto their shelves before leaving the library.

***

Hinata’s POV

Should I follow him? Hiding behind a tree, I trailed Haruto discreetly from the moment he left school.

Th-that’s him. A café? Does he like to drink coffee? Wait…what am I doing? Ever since I met him, I always get home late. But, it’s kinda fun.

Haruto’s POV

“The usual coffee, please,” I ordered.

“Small cup of Americano then,” Yuto replied as he wrote my name on the empty coffee cup.

Yuto was my close friend outside of school. We met a few days after my move to Tokyo. I often visited the café while I got to know the environment and until now, I still visited this café frequently.

“Here you go,” Yuto handed me the hot Americano.

“Thanks man,” I responded as I took a seat at the cornet right next to the wall made out of glass.

I savored the warmth of my Americano. Outside, the evening air carried a hint of drizzle, blending with the rich aroma of coffee. I then placed the cup on the table to let it cool down a bit.

I looked outside, to see the environment around the local café. Is that Hinata? I spotted her standing behind a tree not far from here. What is she doing out there alone?

As I noticed her, a genuine smile played on my lips. "Hinata!" I called out, inviting her inside.

Hinata, who seemed to be caught off guard, hesitated but eventually entered, responding with a shy smile.

Hinata's POV

What? Did he notice me? Don't tell me he knows all the time. Forget it! Umm… maybe I'll wave at him.

I approached the café with measured steps, feeling the weight of the air pressing down on me. The wind, carrying a forceful insistence, swept through, intensifying my nerves to unprecedented levels.

As I entered the building, his gaze locked onto me, a magnetic pull drawing our eyes together. With a fluttering heart, I responded to his watchful eyes with a warm smile, weaving my way gracefully toward his table.

“What are you doing here?” he started, asking me as I took a seat in front of him.

“Umm, I-I just passed by,” I replied nervously. My mind is completely blank!

My mind raced, managing a nervous response. The air was charged with an unspoken tension, the drizzle outside mirroring the subtle complexity of their encounter. Haruto somehow sensed my unease, he then offered a friendly gesture.

"Want some coffee?" he asked, breaking the tension with a simple yet genuine offer.

“What? Umm… sure.”

***

The drizzle outside intensified, casting a poetic ambiance over the café. The aroma of coffee mixed with the earthy scent of rain, created an intimate backdrop for their unexpected meeting.

The café, once a familiar retreat for Haruto, transformed into a space where new connections, friendships unfolded.

As the night deepened and the café grew quieter, Haruto and Hinata's newfound friendship blossomed, resonating with the enchanting harmony of rain and coffee. Little did they know, this evening marked the beginning of a narrative that would weave its way through the chapters of their lives, each moment adding depth and meaning to their intertwined stories.

To be continued…