Fortune's Fate

Chapter 7 - A Coffee Date?

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It's a bit further of a walk to the small cafe Masaomi and (Y/n) intend to drink at, but the walk is worth it when the fresh smell of coffee and sweets reaches their noses. (Y/n) takes a slow breath, taking in the comforting atmosphere. The naturally coloured walls and flooring are a contrast to the stone pathways and metal buildings outside, with plants hung here and there to give more life to the already lively place. There is a decent handful of people here for a weekday lunch, and all have already found their spot at either a small booth or table, allowing for a clear path to the counter.

"Have you been here before?" (Y/n) asks Masaomi who is looking around with a gentle smile.

"I have a few times, but this isn't my regular cafe," he states.

"I've heard they have a really good cappuccino here," (Y/n) remarks, glancing at the menu board as they approach the counter.

"I'll take your recommendation then." Masaomi pulls out his wallet in preparation, glancing at his coins before pulling out a card. (Y/n) goes to do the same, but Masaomi holds out a hand. "Please, let me pay. I asked you here after all."

"Oh, thank you."

They place their orders—two cappuccinos and a couple of pastries—before navigating to a cozy corner table by the window to sit and wait. The table is tucked away, providing a sense of privacy while still allowing a view of the bustling street outside. As they settle in, (Y/n) tries covering her mix of excitement and nervousness. It's not every day she is asked to have coffee by an attractive man, especially someone like Masaomi. In the case of her ex-husband, he always saw this kind of activity as unnecessary after marriage, so he never asked.

"Tell me about your day," Masaomi prompts, leaning forward with his arms resting on the table.

"Well, it started with the usual chaos," (Y/n) begins with a smile. "Trying to get twenty-five five-year-olds to focus first thing in the morning is always challenging. But then Katie, one of my students, decided today was the day she'd organise a royal tea party at lunch."

Masaomi chuckles. "Katie sounds like quite the character."

"Oh, she is. She insisted everyone call her 'Princess Sparkle' and even got some of the boys to play along as knights. It was a mess, but they had so much fun and aside from the terrible concoction of water and weeds she made, I enjoyed myself too."

"Kids have such vivid imaginations," Masaomi muses. "One time, I had a little boy who insisted on calling me 'Dr. Dinosaur' because he thought I looked like one of the friendly dinosaurs from his favourite TV show."

(Y/n) laughs loudly at this and tries to cover it quickly with her hand. Masaomi smiles wider at the beautiful sound.

"That's adorable," she replies, glancing up at the man's curly hair, which currently is sticking out at odd angles. "And so fitting." Noticing she has been staring, (Y/n) drags her gaze down to her hands and tries to think of another topic to start on. "So how long have you been working as a pediatrician?"

Masaomi leans back slightly, considering her question. "About five years now. It's been a rewarding journey. How about you? How long have you been teaching kindergarten?"

"Almost seven years. I absolutely love it. Each day is different and the kids are wonderful. They have this incredible way of seeing the world, and it's so refreshing. There was this one time when we were learning about the seasons. I had this whole lesson planned but one of the kids decided that autumn leaves were the most fascinating thing in the world. So, she brought in a whole bag of them! It turned into this impromptu science lesson where we examined each leaf. The kids loved it and we ended up spending the whole afternoon outside, playing in the leaves."

Masaomi listens to (Y/n)'s tale happily, refusing to interrupt in hopes she will keep talking. But after some time, she notices how long she has been talking and feels odd about not being interrupted so far. She looks up in question and catches Masaomi's soft gaze. There's a warmth in his expression that sends a pleasant shiver down her spine.

"I'm glad you accepted my offer to come here," Masaomi says, breaking the momentary silence. "I'm enjoying myself."

"Me too," (Y/n) replies, a soft smile playing on her lips. "It's easy to talk to you."

"Then, would you be interested in doing this again sometime? Maybe dinner next time?"

(Y/n)'s heart skips a beat. "I'd like that. A lot."

Masaomi's smile broadens. "Great. There's this little Italian place I've been wanting to try. How does Friday night sound?"

"Friday night sounds perfect."

"Wonderful. I'll make the reservation. Do you have any favourite dishes?"

"I love (f/f), if they have any," (Y/n) responds. "What about you?"

"I have a weakness for tiramisu," Masaomi admits with a laugh. "So, be prepared for dessert."

As they linger in the cafe, (Y/n) feels butterflies racing through her stomach. There is no way she can hide her excitement at the prospect of seeing him again. Oh how far she has fallen already.