CHAPTER 2 - café

After stepping off the plane, Astrid made her way through the airport, exhaustion weighing down on her shoulders. She retrieved her luggage from the baggage claim, barely registering the hum of travelers around her, and slipped into the backseat of an Uber bound for her hotel.

...

The moment she stepped into her room, she let out a deep sigh, tossing her bag onto the bed as her suitcases rolled to the side with a dull thud. Her body felt like lead, every muscle aching from the long journey. Without a second thought, she collapsed onto the mattress, sinking into the soft sheets, eyes fluttering shut as fatigue pulled her under.

"Tired, tired, tired..." Astrid muttered under her breath, letting out an exhausted sigh.

She lazily reached for her phone, swiping to unlock the screen before immediately tapping on her most trusted contact-Rina Takeda.

Rina wasn't just a friend; she was like a sister to Astrid. The one person she could always count on.

"Hey, Trix! I was just about-wait... what's wrong?" Rina's smile faded the moment she noticed the deep scowl on Astrid's face.

Astrid let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping. "I just moved back to Japan..." she muttered, her voice laced with exhaustion.

For a moment, Rina was silent, processing the words. Then, her eyes lit up. "Wait-seriously?! That's amazing, Trix!" she gasped, her excitement bubbling over. "I can finally visit you now!"

Astrid tried to force a smile, but the weight of everything still sat heavy on her chest. Rina's joy was contagious, but it couldn't quite lift the tiredness pressing down on her.

"And we could study together, go to stage plays, and-"

"Rina," Astrid cut her off, her tone flat. "I don't go to your school."

Rina blinked, stunned. "What? Then... where do you go?"

Astrid sighed, shaking her head. "I just got enrolled to a different school."

"Oh no... where?" Rina asked, her frown deepening as she stared at the screen.

Astrid exhaled sharply, rolling her eyes as she absentmindedly fidgeted with her phone strap. "SFIT. You know... where Hiro studies."

Rina's eyes widened. "Hiro? Hiro Hamada? Seriously?!"

"Yeah, seriously," Astrid huffed. "My dad even tried to convince me to have a civil conversation with him, but no way. I refuse." She set her phone down, the screen now showing only the ceiling.

Rina raised an eyebrow. "Or... maybe your dad has a point? I mean, you two don't even talk anymore. Do you really think he'd even notice you?"

Astrid scoffed. "No. That's ridiculous. He was always the one starting trouble before."

"Well... that was before," Rina said gently. "Maybe he's changed. Maybe he doesn't even remember you." She smiled.

"Not remember me?!" Astrid scoffed, sitting up abruptly. "It's only been two years! That nitwit has the memory of a dolphin-there's no way he forgot!"

"Why do you sound so concerned about him forgetting you, though?" Rina smirked, a teasing lilt in her voice.

"Concerned?" Astrid scoffed. "No, I am not concerned. I'm just saying it hasn't been that long since we all drifted apart. It's only been two years since the three of us-you, me, and Hiro-became prodigies."

"Uh-huh... sure." Rina chuckled, but there was a knowing edge to her voice.

Astrid's glare hardened. "I'm being serious, Rina!" she snapped, frustration creeping in. "Why won't you believe me?"

Rina sighed, her smirk softening. "Alright, alright. No need to get all worked up. Where are you staying? I can come over right now."

"At Hoshizora Heights, room forty-six, third floor," Astrid said with a small smile.

"Nice!" Rina beamed before the call ended, leaving Astrid staring at the darkened screen.

A quiet sigh left her lips as she set her phone down, stretching her arms as the weight of exhaustion still clung to her. The soft hum of the hotel's air conditioning filled the room, a stark contrast to the bustling city below.

Then-a knock.

Astrid's head snapped toward the door. She hesitated for a moment before pushing herself up, her body still sluggish but slowly recovering. She twisted the knob and pulled the door open.

Before she could even react, a blur of excitement crashed into her.

"Trix!!" Rina practically tackled her into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around Astrid with pure warmth and joy. Astrid staggered slightly but let out a breathy chuckle, feeling the genuine care in her friend's embrace.

"You really wasted no time, huh?" Astrid muttered, half-laughing.

"Of course not! You think I'd wait after two years of not seeing you?" Rina pulled back just enough to grin at her.

Astrid shook her head, a small but real smile tugging at her lips. Maybe coming back here wasn't going to be so bad after all.

"Alright, alright..." Astrid chuckled, rubbing Rina's back in return, her touch filled with quiet affection.

Rina finally pulled away, her face shifting into a pout. "You really can't change schools now? I mean, it's still like a month before classes start..." She stuck out her bottom lip, eyes pleading.

Astrid sighed, pressing her lips into a thin line. "No, I can't. My dad already enrolled me a week ago-there's no backing out now."

Rina's pout deepened into a full-on scowl. "Seriously?!"

"Yeah, seriously!" Astrid rolled her eyes. "I swear, once the school year ends, I'm definitely transferring."

"Meh, your choice." Rina shrugged, but then her expression shifted as an idea sparked in her eyes. "But if you do... can you please, please, PLEASE go to my university?" She clasped her hands together, tilting her head with an unbearably adorable pout.

Astrid groaned, glaring at her. "I will! I will! Just-stop that." She shoved her palm right in front of Rina's face, trying to block out the guilt-inducing expression.

"YAY!!" Rina squealed, clapping her hands together before smugly crossing her arms. "Works every time." She shot Astrid a victorious smirk.

Astrid groaned, rubbing her temples as she trudged toward the bed. "You seriously need to stop doing that..." she muttered before collapsing onto the soft mattress with a tired sigh.

Rina giggled, leaning against the wall. "Awh, but then how would I ever get you to give in?" she teased, her voice dripping with playful mischief.

"You have plenty of ways to get me to give in," Astrid murmured, reaching for her phone on the bedside table. Her fingers mindlessly scrolled through various social platforms, her exhaustion still lingering.

"Right..." Rina chuckled, flopping onto the mattress beside her. She pulled out her own phone, her gaze immediately locking onto a shopping app.

"I seriously need to buy new clothes for school," Rina sighed dramatically, scrolling through an endless list of cardigans, skirts, and stockings.

Astrid glanced over, raising an eyebrow. "You already have tons of clothes. Why not just-oh, I don't know-repeat an outfit like a normal person?" She nudged Rina's shoulder playfully.

"Oh, I repeat clothes, Trix-just not outfits." Rina rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with faux offense.

Astrid shot her a skeptical look. "Does it really matter?"

Rina gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "How can you even ask that? The answer is obviously yes!" She furrowed her brows, turning to glare at Astrid as if she had just insulted her entire existence.

Astrid couldn't help but laugh. "You're such an addict." With a smirk, she reached out and playfully shoved a hand against Rina's face.

"Ow!!" Rina yelped, rubbing her cheek in mock horror. "Did you just VIOLATE my face?!"

Astrid just snickered, completely unbothered.

"That is not something to laugh at." Rina rolled her eyes, unimpressed.

Astrid let out a long, dramatic sigh.

"Anyway... how do I seriously avoid him? What if-God forbid-I run into him?"

Rina raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"You know who!!" Astrid groaned, dropping her phone onto the mattress and covering her face with both hands.

"Oh...! Hiro." Rina finally caught on, a mischievous grin forming on her lips.

"Pfft-just avoid him, dumbass. Don't talk to him, don't look at him, don't even breathe in his direction. OR-and hear me out on this-you could just... talk things out and be friends again?" She nudged Astrid playfully.

Astrid shot up from the bed, crossing her arms so fast it was almost defensive. "What? No. NO WAY! You will never catch me attempting to interact with him. No. Never."

Rina smirked. "Why don't you just try? I mean, he probably wants to be friends with you now." She rubbed Astrid's back in an almost motherly way.

Astrid snapped her head toward Rina, eyes blazing. "Friends with me? Are you kidding? Did you even see what he put me through in seventh grade?!"

Rina let out a slow sigh. "I get it, I really do. But... what if he's changed? What if he actually learned his lesson and wants to make things right?"

Astrid scoffed, shaking her head. "Yeah, right. So he can push me down again? No thanks. I don't think he has the guts to be kind, let alone apologize."

Rina pressed her lips into a thin line, studying her friend carefully. "You seriously expect the absolute worst from him, don't you?"

"Of course, I do." Astrid turned onto her stomach, voice muffled by the pillow. "I don't believe he's changed. I don't think he wants to be my friend again. No. Never."

Rina exhaled through her nose, then suddenly smirked. "Okay... then how about we stop talking about Hiro and go get something to eat? There's this cute café nearby, and I heard they have amazing pastries."

Astrid peeked out from the pillow, her stomach betraying her with a low growl.

Rina grinned. "I'll take that as a yes."

...

They walked through the bustling streets, the city lights reflecting against Astrid's glasses, flickering like tiny stars.

"And where is this café exactly?" Astrid sighed, rubbing her temple. "We've been walking for fifteen minutes."

"It's just around the corner, swear!" Rina grinned, her pace quickening. Before Astrid could protest, Rina grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward, weaving through a narrow

alleyway.

"There!" Rina suddenly pointed ahead, practically radiating excitement as she dashed toward the café's entrance, still dragging Astrid along.

As they reached the door, the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries spilled through the tiny gaps, wrapping around them like a warm embrace. Through the glass, the cozy interior glowed with golden light, the soft hum of conversation blending with the quiet clinking of plates and cups.

"That smells amazing!" Rina squealed, eyes sparkling. "Come on, Trix!" Without waiting for a response, she yanked open the door and pulled Astrid inside.

As they stepped inside, the rich, bittersweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee wrapped around them, instantly awakening their senses. The scent of warm pastries mingled in the air, making their stomachs grumble in anticipation.

"That smell is divine..." Astrid sighed, practically floating toward the counter.

Behind the counter, a barista was just sliding a fresh batch of banana bread into the oven before turning back to serve customers. She had short, chestnut-brown hair, a sleek black fitted shirt, and an apron tied neatly around her waist.

"Good evening, what can I get-" The woman's eyes widened in surprise before her face lit up with recognition. "Astrid?!"

Before Astrid could react, the cashier leaned over the counter and pulled her into a hug.

Astrid stiffened, awkwardly patting the woman's back. Did she know this person?

"Uh... do I know you?" she asked, blinking in confusion.

"You're Hiro's old friend! I'm his aunt-Cass, Nyx! Don't you remember how he used to bring you here to do your assignments together?" The woman giggled, tightening the embrace.

Astrid froze. Hiro's... aunt?

The realization hit her like a cold gust of wind, sending an uneasy shiver down her spine. Slowly, she pulled away, her brows furrowing in uncertainty.

"Hiro's aunt... what?" she murmured, blinking as if trying to place the memory.

The woman-Cass-smiled warmly, her hands still resting gently on Astrid's shoulders. "I'm Aunt Cass. Hiro's Aunt."

Astrid hesitated. The name sounded familiar, but the image in her mind felt distant... hazy.

"I'm sorry, but..." she trailed off, shaking her head slightly. "I don't really... remember you."

Aunt Cass' smile faltered, just for a second, before she chuckled softly. "That's okay, sweetie. It's been years. But I definitely remember you."

"Oh, uh... anyways, I'll just get a matcha frappe, then I'll be heading out," Astrid said, shifting the conversation as she turned to Rina.

"What about you?"

"I'll take two chocolate crepes, a croissant, one large cookie, and an Americano-thank you!" Rina chirped, pulling out her wallet.

Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Are you feeding an army?"

Rina grinned. "Nope, just one very hungry academic weapon."

"That's quite a lot," Astrid remarked, raising an eyebrow as she tapped her fingers against the counter.

"What? I need the energy," Rina grinned, stretching her arms. "Besides, croissants aren't really dessert-they're a buttery necessity."

Astrid chuckled, shaking her head as Aunt Cass jotted down their order. "Coming right up! Grab a seat, and I'll bring everything over," she said cheerfully.

The two girls settled into a cozy corner of the café, the warm glow of the hanging lights casting a soft ambiance over the space. Astrid took a sip of her matcha frappe, the earthy bitterness balanced by its creamy sweetness.

Rina drummed her fingers on the table. "Sooo... are we just gonna ignore the fact that you literally just reconnected with Hiro's aunt?"

Astrid let out a slow exhale, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, absolutely."

Astrid froze, her fingers hovering over her bag as she stared at the person standing before them.

Hiro Hamada.

Of all people, of all places-why now?

Dressed casually in jorts, a red inner shirt, and a zip-up jacket, he looked almost exactly as she remembered. Maybe a little taller, maybe a little older, but still him.

And now, here he was, setting down their food like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Astrid quickly snapped out of her daze, straightening her posture as she shot Rina a look. Rina, of course, was already smirking.

"Enjoy your meal," Hiro said casually, but his eyes lingered on Astrid for a second too long.

Astrid scoffed under her breath, grabbing her drink. "Great. Just great."

Rina leaned in, whispering, "Told you

avoiding him would be impossible."

"Is... there a problem?" Hiro asked confusingly.

"Oh, no... just a bit cold out here, isn't it?" Astrid crossed her arms as she looked at Rina with an awkward smile.

"Cold? Oh uh, I can-" Hiro stopped, looking at Astrid as he let out a scoff, "Astrid?"

Astrid stiffened at the way he said her name-like he was trying to confirm if she was actually standing there.

She forced a small, polite smile, though her grip on her matcha frappe tightened. "Yeah. Hi, Hiro."

Rina nudged Astrid playfully. "Wow, would you look at that! A reunion."

Hiro raised an eyebrow. "Didn't expect to see you here."

Astrid shrugged. "Yeah, well, life's full of surprises."

Hiro chuckled, crossing his arms. "You're still the same."

Astrid narrowed her eyes slightly. "And you're still standing here."

Rina cleared her throat, glancing between the two. "Okay! Tension? We're not doing that. Let's just sit, eat, and be normal people, alright?"

Hiro smirked, glancing at Astrid. "Depends. Can you be normal?

Astrid rolled her eyes and turned toward their table. "Come on, Rina."

Hiro watched her for a moment before sighing, shaking his head. "Nice seeing you too, Astrid."

Rina struggled to keep up with Astrid's pace, her arms full with her croissant and crepes. "Okay, seriously, what was that?"

Astrid huffed, her grip tightening on her frappe. "That was Hiro being Hiro. Acting like nothing ever happened."

Rina took a bite of her crepe before speaking. "Well... maybe nothing did happen. I mean, maybe he really doesn't care anymore. You're the one still holding onto the past."

Astrid abruptly stopped, turning to face Rina with a glare. "Holding onto the past? Rina, he tormented me for years! You don't just forget that."

Rina sighed, wiping the corner of her mouth. "I get it, Trix, I do. But I'm just saying... you seemed more affected by seeing him than he was seeing you."

Astrid scoffed, rolling her eyes as she resumed walking. "Whatever. I'm not wasting any more energy on him."

Rina smirked. "Uh-huh. That's why you're practically stomping down the street right now?"

Astrid groaned. "Rina."

"Okay, okay, I'll stop," Rina laughed, catching up beside her. "But I am curious to see how this plays out."