unwind

the dying hanami café

I don't mind silence.

Actually, it's one of the more comfortable joys I have in life.

Especially when preparing to open up the café for the morning. The fresh smell of coffee grounds roasting is without a doubt my favorite part of my mornings. It could never possibly get old to me.

As I flip the open sign over from closed, I admire the daylight. It sure looks like a warm day out, to say the least. Japanese summers are brutal.

Perfect day for an acai bowl.

Walking towards the café's large refrigerator, I grab a variety of fruits, carrying them over to my prep station. I slide a cutting board towards me, and begin my work, delicately slicing every fruit I decided I wanted in my breakfast today.

The first bell jingle of the day sounds off from my cafés entry doorway. I look up, placing my knife down on the counter.

Regulars, of course, a young mother and her eight year old daughter.

I smile kindly at them, the warmth of their relationship healing my heart.

"Hey guys! Strawberry smoothies as usual?"

______

As the morning drags on, the regular customers I have seldom show. Must be because of the heat.

I let out a discouraged sigh as I lean over the coffee bar, setting my chin in the palm of my hand.

'At this rate the café won't be able to hold up much longer. I'm not getting anywhere with it. Mom, Dad.. would you be proud of this? Me trying so hard to hold up our family's honor?'

As if a prayer had been answered, my attention is caught by the ringing of the door jingling. My head quickly snaps in the direction of it.

Oh, someone new.

As the woman looked around curiously, debating on what to do with herself.. I take in her pristine and tidy appearance, admiring her beauty.

'She looks like a model. She's beautiful!'

Standing at about 5'7, she had long-back length cerulean blue hair with black sunglasses adorned atop her head. She stood there with so much poise, whether it was intentional or unintentional.

'Okay, Kanjō, now is not the time to let your weird excitement get the better of you. Be chill.'

"Heya, can I getcha anything?" I ask warmly, after I put my speeding thoughts to a halt. I observe the woman carefully as she strides over to my counter.

Her eyes peer up at the menu behind me, as she holds her wallet delicately in her left hand, fingers gently sliding inside to retrieve cash.

"What would you recommend?" She asks with her calm, almost velvety voice.

"Personally, my favorite drink is a vanilla oatmilk latte with cold foam, but I can substitute it out with anything of your choosing, really." I offer a kind smile as I grab a cup, preparing to start the order.

"As long as it's sweet enough, make it happen. Oh, actually, could you substitute the cold foam with whipped cream? Thanks." She hands me her cash without me even informing her of her total.

"Oh.. thank you. I'll have it right out for ya!" I say, attempting to hand back her remaining cash.  She halts my hand gently with hers, gaining utter confusion from me with a tilt of my head.

"Keep it, I don't need it that badly." She responds, staring at me with the most expressionless face I have ever seen in my entire life.

"Are... you sure?" I question incuriously, quietly hoping she wouldn't change her mind. I needed this money after all.

"It's fine, just get my order ready."

"AH— o- oh okay! It'll be just a second!" I throw her a nervous smile and head straight to work.

As I grab ice to shake up her beverage, my eyes sneak quick glances at her from across the room. She stood there with her phone in hand, staring at the screen with the same blank and bored expression on her perfect features.

Honestly, I try to make conversation with a lot of the newer customers that come in every now again... mostly to gain more business from them.. but I couldn't help but want to keep the silence between this women and I.  She seems far too out of my world to even have a relatable conversation.

Finishing the drink off with whipped cream, as per she requested, I walk over to the counter and smile, setting her drink down in front of her.

"Here ya go. Anything else you need?" I lean over the counter, folding my arms over each other on to the top of it.

"No thank you, I appreciate it."

And with that, she walks away, searching  around for the perfect spot to sit. Only, instead of making it very far, she stops dead in her tracks. It looks as though upon her further inspecting the room, she finally noticed the abundance of lack of people in my café.

She shakes her head, dismissing the dead atmosphere and finds comfort in the corner of the café, sitting down on a brown leather couch.

I bite my lower lip at the reaction of hers. It's so embarrassing how I have little to no one enter my café anymore.

'Hmm.. Maybe if I try to become a pro hero and leave this life behind.. they make money for sure. Not that I even have really used my quirk though..'

My eyes widen at my intrusive thoughts playing games on me.

'No. Absolutely no way! Heros are nothing but trouble. This is your family's café — YOUR café Kanjō! You can't give it up. I'm doing this for them... for me. I've always wanted to inherit this place...and hold up to my family's dreams...'

But... that dream really feels as if it's crumbling in front of my eyes....fast.

In a world full of people seeing things through black and white lenses, and nothing being more interesting than heros vs villains... honestly it feels like there's barely any room for people like me just trying to survive.

'I can't stand heros..'