first steps, first impressions

The smell of warm pastries with freshly brewed coffee greeted Ayame and Amy senses while they reached the counter. A sense of peace seemed to pour over everyone like a comforting salve in the quiet and peaceful cafe.

A middle-aged woman, presumably the cafe owner, smiled warmly at them from behind the counter. "Good afternoon, welcome to Cat Rose Cafe. How can I help you today?"

Ayame took the lead, offering a polite smile in return. "Hi, we're here for a job interview. We applied for the part-time positions online."

The owner nodded, her eyes flickering to a note on the counter. "Ah, yes! You must be Ayame and Amy. Wonderful. Please take a seat, the manager will be with you shortly."

Ayame and Amy exchanged a glance, relieved that the interview was starting off smoothly. They chose a cozy table by the window and sat down, looking around the cafe as they waited for the manager to appear.

The cafe was fairly busy, but not hectic. Customers sat at tables, sipping coffee and chatting quietly. Some were engrossed in laptops or books, and every once in a while, a burst of laughter or the clink of a teaspoon against a cup echoed through the space.

Amy jiggled a piece of hair and jumped apprehensively on her knee. This location exudes charm. I'm optimistic that the manager thinks well of us. I truly could do with the extra income from this work."

Ayame placed a hand on Amy's arm, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, you're going to do great. Just be yourself and show them how competent and responsible you are. We both got this."

Just then, a tall woman in her early thirties appeared from the back, holding a folder with the cafe applications. She approached the table, a kind smile on her face. "Hi there, I'm Lucy, the manager. You must be Ayame and Amy, correct?"

Ayame and Amy stood up to greet her. Ayame extended a hand. "Yes, that's us! It's nice to meet you, Ms. Lucy."

As they shook hands, Lucy let out a small sigh and chuckled. "Please, call me Lucy. I hate the whole 'Ms. Last Name' formality. And trust me, I know about the whole 'being cool' thing. It's exhausting."

Ayame and Amy couldn't help but chuckle at her candid comment. It was refreshing to see a manager be so upfront and relatable. It made them feel a bit more at ease in the formal interview setting.

Lucy took a seat across from them, flipping through the applications in her folder. "So, I've had a chance to look through your resumes and online applications. You both seem like great candidates for the part-time positions."

Amy, feeling her nerves get the better of her, blurted out, "Thank you, we really need these jobs. We're both responsible and hardworking."

With a small smile on her lips, Lucy nodded. "Yes, I am conscious of that. Moreover, it makes no difference to me if you seem responsible or punctual on paper. I'm most concerned that you have the skills to perform your job duties effectively. Is that something you can do?"

Ayame leaned forward, a little emboldened by Lucy's open attitude. "Absolutely. We both have experience in customer service, and we're quick learners. We'll catch on to whatever tasks you need us to do here."

Lucy seemed pleased with their answers, nodding approvingly. "That's good to hear. Customer service experience is always beneficial in a cafe setting. We deal with a lot of different people, and the ability to stay positive and professional is crucial."

"Wonderful," Lucy said as she leaned back in her seat. "Perhaps we begin with a trial period? It will allow us as a team to determine if you'd be a suitable fit for this relatively small cafe. We'll learn about your areas of strength and weakness as well as how effectively you cooperate. And at the end of the week, we can evaluate whether or not everyone thinks the match is successful. Does that seem reasonable to you?

Ayame and Amy exchanged a glance, silently communicating their agreement. They turned back to Lucy with nods and smiles. "That sounds great," Ayame said for both of them.

"Excellent," Lucy replied, closing the folder and standing up. "Then we've got a deal. Starting tomorrow, you'll begin your trial period. I suggest you come in a bit early since it will take some time to train you on the ins and outs of this place. Can you do that?"

Both girls stood up, still feeling a bit of nervous excitement. "Absolutely," Amy chimed in quickly. "We'll be here bright and early tomorrow."

Lucy smiled warmly. "Perfect. I'll see you both tomorrow morning, then. Welcome to Cat Rose Cafe."

Ayame and Amy thanked her and said their goodbyes, a mix of relief and anticipation washing over them. As they walked out of the cafe, they looked at each other and let out a breath they didn't realize they had been holding.

"Well, that was surprisingly less terrifying than we thought it would be," Ayame said, giving Amy a small grin.

Amy rubbed her neck, feeling some tension melting away. "Yeah, Lucy seems really cool. Not like some of the uptight managers I had interviews with before."

Ayame nodded. "Yeah, she's definitely different. And it sounds like she actually cares more about us being able to get the job done than just looking good on paper. That's a refreshing change."

As they continued walking, a wave of tiredness washed over Ayame. "Speaking of which, I can't believe we have to be there early tomorrow. How are we going to manage that after last night's movie marathon?"

Amy groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Don't remind me. I feel like I haven't slept in a week. But we can do it! We just need some strong coffee and determination."

As Ayame and Amy stepped out of the cafe, their conversation was briefly interrupted as they passed a young man walking in the opposite direction. This man was none other than Philip, the guy Ayame had met on the bridge.

When Ayame caught sight of him, her eyes widened in recognition and a mix of surprise and disbelief.

She turned her head to fully take in the sight of him, her heartbeat quickening a bit. He looked just as she remembered him - slightly disheveled in a charming way, with a hint of exhaustion in his eyes.

......

Amy, realizing that Ayame had stopped in her tracks, looked back at her friend. "Hey, what's wrong? Why did you stop?"

Ayame snapped out of her momentary daze, blinking a few times to refocus. "Oh, um, nothing. I just...recognized someone, that's all."

Amy raised an eyebrow, clearly curious. "Who did you recognize? Someone we know?"

Ayame bit her lip, unsure of how much to reveal. "Um, well, not exactly. But I met him a few days ago, by chance...on a bridge...I told you about him"

Amy's eyes widened as she realized who Ayame was talking about. "Oh! Right, the guy from the bridge. So, he was walking into the cafe we just left. That's...interesting."

Amy shot a curious glance towards the cafe entrance, subtly trying to spot the mysterious guy.

Ayame nodded, her gaze also drifting to the cafe, hoping to catch another glimpse of him. "Yeah, I guess it's just a coincidence, right? I mean, what are the chances?"

Amy shrugged, trying to play it cool, but her curiosity was clearly piqued. "I guess it is just a coincidence. But, I gotta admit, I want to see this guy. What does he look like?"

Ayame hesitated for a moment, feeling a little self-conscious.

"Umm...he's...well, he's kind of tall, got messy blond hair, and these intense grey eyes. But can we not talk about this now? I really just want to go home. I'm exhausted."

Amy studied Ayame's face for a moment, sensing her discomfort. "Okay, okay, chill. We don't have to talk about him right now. Let's just head home. You look dead tired."