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— 第1章 —
it's february.
emiko is not too fond of februarys. the coffee shop she works at get extremely packed during this month. maybe it's because love is in the air so everyone wants to come and get a drink at cofzu, the shop she works at.
the OPEN sign is yet to be flipped. more time at cofzu, less time spent in the dance room at her dance school's studio.
emiko had been dancing for seven years. not a long time considering that she was 13 when she first began dancing. she had enjoyed music and watching dance videos on youtube but never thought she'd truly have a passion for it.
dance school is expensive. her mother is sick and can't do much. one thing she had promised her mother was to never quit dance after all the time she put into it. hours and hours, until the rising of dawn, to make sure she could keep up with the other girls who've done dance since they were infants—quite literally.
her weakness in dancing are lyrical routines. was never too good at them, so she put all the time she could practicing, during school, after school, while doing her homework and through the night.
so many sleepless night that she has spent since she was 13.
february was the month she least spent time in the dance room. she needs to pay her mother's hospital bills and her dance classes.
her mother swears she's getting better soon. for emiko it's always been; school—now work—, dance, hospital, dance. well, since she was fifteen.
college is too expensive so she isn't studying. however, she has gotten many scholarships...abroad.
too many she had to turn down. still she had nothing to lose when her whole life was here, in tokyo, with her friends and her mother.
"emiko, flip the sign." anzu, says behind the counter wiping cups one last time.
emiko nods and does as told.
it's five am. such an early time to start, but some people drink coffee at this hour before going to work.
"at what time are you off today, koko?" anzu asks.
anzu and emiko have known each other since they were 14. in fact, they did dance together but it didn't last long. anzu decided it wasn't for her. now she runs the coffee shop that her father passed down to her, hence the name: cof (coffee), zu (anzu).
sounds like cough-zoo.
anzu had offered emiko a job here at cofzu after finding out her mother was sick and didn't have enough money to pay the hospital bills. anzu also offered emiko some money but like most she immediately declined. so she gave her a pay raise.
10,000 yen.
emiko is slightly, unaware.
"twelve. since i'm opening, it's okay if i leave earlier than usual right?"
"of course! leave as early as you need, seriously." anzu tells her as the first customer walks in.
time goes by a lot faster than expected. two of the other employees were working the front. anzu was to join them soon too. she was just seeing her friend off.
"there's a guy from seoul coming in today." she looks over to her friend. dancers from seoul are the worst—personality wise.
"i'm so glad i left."
"you were there for three months." emiko says standing up to put her coat on.
"those were the three months of hell. i truly met the devil that day!"
emiko laughs, waving goodbye and taking her leave. before heading off to the dance studio she heads to her apartment as she had forgotten her bag for dance.
walking down the hall to her apartment, it was pretty lonely these days. the people on the right door moved out. the person living on the left to her is mute so...but to her surprise there was someone leaving the so-said empty apartment.
"hello." she says, minding her manners and bows to the tall boy.
he doesn't say anything. he just looks at her and walks of, a duffle bag in hand.
"that was fucking rude." she mumbles unlocking her door and going in for her bag.
"i'll leave this slightly open for you, mido." leaving her window slightly open for her cat to come back in when he's ready to. she wouldn't be home for a while.
taking the bus to the dance studio, there she sees the boy sitting a few seats behind from where she was gonna sit.
what if...no, no, no. but maybe...? maybe i'm just jumping into conclusions.
the bus comes to her stop. losing the boy from the building in the crowd. even when it was empty he was no where around.
"oh, okay, good." she says, relieved.
walking into the girls changing room, she's greeted, "emiko! you're here!!" one of the younger girls say. "have you seen the guy that came from seoul!?" the young girl says eagerly.
"ah, no i haven't." emiko chuckles.
"he's just around your age!" another girl says, bouncing her eyebrows up and down.
"is that so.." she just laughs awkward.
teenagers.
"you have to meet him! he's tall, and very handsome! i think you'd like him. he's super kind too!"
"i bet! i'll see you guys in the dance room." she says walking off to change out as the other girls leave her to do so.
walking out of the practice room, she sees a fine tall guy speaking with the instructor.
he's here!? he can't be!
"emiko! come! let me introduce you," ms. tanaka begins as the guy turns back to look at emiko, "this is koga yudai! just call him k!"
k? who is he? L from death note? be for real.
"hi." she says bowing her head out of respect.
he looks back at the instructor, ignoring emiko, "tanaka, what should i do today? it's been a while since i was last here and i heard the program changed a bit."
"ah, yes!" awkwardly chuckling as she took her gaze off emiko and back to k. "it's not too different from before, emiko could help you out with adjusting to the program!"
he couldn't say no, but he didn't want to say yes, "sure." he forces out.
"also! emiko, if you do well this month i'll give you two a duet for the spring recital and for the competition too! and of course adding you in for a solo at the tokyo 2020 summer regionals!"
"wow, okay! i'll do my best!"
k glances down at her, she doesn't do her best or what?
