Magic mug

Ayame is working at the cafe for the first time, and she can't shake off the feeling of deja vu. As she goes about her duties, she notices something about Amy's uniform that sparks a familiar memory...

Ayame is looking at Amy uniform for a while in a laggy stare "something happened?" Amy asks

Ayame, who's been staring at Amy uniform for a while, snaps back to reality when Amy speaks up. "Huh? Oh, um, sorry. I guess I was just spacing out for a moment," Ayame replies, trying to dismiss the feeling of déjà vu she just experienced.

Amy gives Ayame a curious look. "You were staring at my uniform like it was something special. Is there something wrong with it?"

Ayame head shook gently as she struggled to make sense of her thoughts. "It's not that," she murmured, her brow furrowed in confusion. "It's just... strange. I can't quite put my finger on it. It's as if I've encountered this before, but today is your first day here, isn't it?"

Amy cocked her head slightly, a hint of confusion flickering in her eyes at Ayame enigmatic statement. "I mean, it's my debut day here," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "And it's yours too. So, what are you trying to say?"

Ayame swallowed nervously, her palms feeling clammy. "I'm not sure," she confessed, her voice shaky. "It's difficult to explain. It's like when you have a deja vu moment, but stronger. Like, I can almost feel the sensation of having worn the same uniform before."

Amy face twisted from confusion to a slight worry. "You're kidding, aren't you? That's kind of odd," she remarked with a touch of apprehension in her tone, suggesting that she couldn't entirely brush off Ayame words.

Ayame forced a weak grin, trying to dismiss her own unease. "Yeah, I know it sounds crazy. I'm probably just overthinking it. It's just... I don't know... There's something oddly familiar about all of this."

Amy looked around the cafe, taking in the surroundings as if to ground herself back to reality. "Maybe you just have a really good memory," she suggested, her voice betraying her unsettled state.

Ayame let out a dry laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. "Perhaps... But this isn't just about memory. It's an actual feeling, almost like I've lived this moment before."

Before Amy could reply, the cafe door swung open, ushering in a rush of chilly air and a pair of chatty customers. The sudden commotion and influx of people momentarily shattered the tense atmosphere between them.

"I guess we should serve these customers first," Ayame suggested, grateful for the distraction. As they tended to the customers, Ayame mind was still preoccupied with the strange feeling of deja vu and familiarity.

Shift went on, customers came and went, and the duo worked together well and efficiently. However, every now and then, Ayame found her thoughts drifting back to the mysterious sense of familiarity she had felt earlier.

As their shift neared its end, Amy stole a glance at Ayame, observing the thoughtful look on her face. "Hey," she murmured gently, resting a hand on her friend shoulder. "Are you okay? You've been awfully quiet all evening."

Ayame forced a smile, not wanting to worry Amy any further. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just... I can't explain it. It's just a weird feeling I've been having. It's nothing serious, really."

Amy looked unconvinced but didn't press the matter further. "If you say so. Just know that if there's anything bothering you, you can talk to me, okay? We're friends, after all."

Ayame felt grateful for Amy's concern, and the tension eased a bit. "Thanks, I appreciate it. It's just a strange sensation, and I can't make sense of it. But I promise it's nothing special."

Amy nodded, still worrying, but deciding not to push the issue. "Okay then. I'll take your word for it. But if it gets weirder, you have to tell me, alright?"

Ayame managed a small laugh. "I promise. If I start seeing any more signs of weird deja vu or anything, you'll be the first to know."

Amy smiled and gave Ayame a playful nudge. "Good. Because if you start seeing ghosts working here, I want to know about that too."

Ayame chuckled. "If I see any friendly ghosts, I'll let you know. Until then, let's just concentrate on getting through these shifts."

They both nodded, their conversation interrupted by the cafe manager, Lucy, approaching them. "You two done working for the day?"

Ayame nodded, stretching her tired shoulders. "Yeah, we're done. Just cleaning up a bit," she said, casting a glance around the cafe, which was now almost empty.

"Great work today, you two," Lucy commented, giving them a satisfied nod. "We had a great day, and you both handled it really well."

Amy beamed at the praise. "Thanks, Lucy! We tried our best."

"Oh, and before I forget," Lucy said, a sly smile playing on her lips. "We have a little surprise for both of you."

Ayame raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Surprise? What kind of surprise?"

Lucy grin widened. "Follow me and see. It's in the back room."

Ayame and Amy exchanged curious glances but followed Lucy to the back room, their intrigue growing with each step.

The back room was small and cramped, filled with miscellaneous supplies and a few old chairs. Lucy led them to the far end of the room, gesturing to a worn-down couch. "Have a seat," she said, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

Ayame and Amy exchanged a puzzled look but obeyed, sitting down on the old sofa, their bodies pressed side by side due to the cramped space.

Lucy stepped back and, with a dramatic flourish, reached behind a set of stacked boxes and pulled out two small, gift-wrapped parcels. "Here you go, ladies. A little something to celebrate your first official day on the job."

Ayame and Amy glanced at each other before taking the parcels from Lucy. The anticipation hung in the air as they began to unwrap them.

Ayame carefully tears off the wrapping paper and unwraps her gift revealing a beautiful handcrafted mug, embellished with a blue rose and gold designs. The delicate petals of the rose twirl around the porcelain, giving it a touch of elegance.

Amy follows suit, unwrapping her parcel to find an almost identical mug, only hers is a shade lighter in color, almost resembling a baby blue hue. The blue rose also decorates her mug, its delicate design complementing the light blue perfectly.

"Aww, these are beautiful!" Amy exclaims, examining the craftsmanship of the mug.

Ayame nodded in agreement, admiring the intricate details of hers. "They're lovely. Thank you, Lucy."

"I'm glad you both like them," Lucy responded, her smile warm. "I had a feeling these would suit you. Just a little something to remember your first day here."

"We really appreciate it," Ayame said, holding up her mug to examine it again.

Amy also held her mug up, admiring the craftwork. "This is such a thoughtful gift. We'll definitely cherish these."

"You're welcome," Lucy replied, her eyes sparkling. "Now, get home and get some rest. You both earned it after a long day."

"It sounds good," Ayame murmured as she got from the couch. Amy said in response, "Lucy, we'll see you tomorrow. Once more, I'm grateful for the mugs and the wonderful first day.

Lucy chuckled. "No problem. See you both tomorrow. Have a good night."

They bid Lucy farewell and left the backroom, each carrying their new mugs delicately.

As they walk out of the cafe, Ayame holds her mug up to the golden light, admiring the glimmer of the blue rose on the ceramic. "These really are beautiful, huh?"

Amy nods, her finger tracing the outline of the blue rose on her own mug. "Yeah, they're more detailed than I expected. Lucy really knows how to pick out good gifts."

Ayame and Amy head back to their respective homes after their first day of work, each carrying their new mugs gifted by Lucy. As they part ways for the night, still feeling the day events and strange feelings, there's the feeling that this new chapter in their lives is just beginning.