𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 ━ 𝐁𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐍𝐎 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎 𝐗 𝐅!𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎

My peaceful slumber was rudely interrupted by a high-pitched voice exclaiming, "Naka-chan!" followed by a sudden impact as a heavy weight landed on top of me. It seemed like my sleep was once again going to be cut short.

I groaned and rolled over, trying to push off whatever was on top of me. But the weight didn't budge. Instead, it shifted and I felt a pair of arms wrap around me in a tight hug.

"Naka-chan! Wake up! Wake up!" the high-pitched voice continued to screech in my ear.

As I opened my eyes, I was greeted by the sight of my uncle, Hiroto, who had a wide grin on his face. A grown man who had the bad habit of entering my room unannounced. I should report him to the authorities.

"Naka-chan!" he repeated in a cutesy tone.

"Stop shouting, I'm right here," I snapped. "What do you want?"

"You promised to take me to that new coffee shop, remember?" he teased. "You're not going to break your promise, are you?"

I let out a groan and rubbed my eyes, attempting to shake off the grogginess. I had completely forgotten about our coffee date, but there was no way out of it now, he would never let me hear the end of it.

"Fine, give me ten minutes to get ready," I grumbled, pushing him off of me.

"Yay!" he exclaimed, jumping off the bed. "I'll wait for you downstairs."

In haste, I dressed up in a neutral-colored knee-length black A-line skirt and a soft gray sweater that complemented its shade. To complete the ensemble, I wore black ankle boots with a low heels. Keeping my hair in a simple messy bun, I descended downstairs where Hiroto was waiting impatiently by the door like a restless puppy.

Upon stepping outside, the crisp air invigorated me, rousing my senses. Hiroto prattled on about his latest video game fixation as we ambled towards the coffee shop, but I found his trivial chatter uninteresting. By the time we arrived, I had already heard more than enough about his preoccupation. It was astounding to witness his shamelessness.

The sign above the coffee shop, 'Leblanc,' caught my eye, prompting me to peer inside. The ambiance was warm and inviting, with soft lighting and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.

As Hiroto opened the door, he quipped, "Ladies first."

I grimaced and admonished him, "Mind your manners, we're in public." Hiroto chuckled and followed me to the counter, where we were cordially greeted by an elderly man.

"What can I get for you?" he asked.

Hiroto jested, "What can I get for you, my lady?" I rolled my eyes and requested a black coffee. Once we had placed our orders, we found a cozy spot near the window to savor our beverages.

After holding back my thoughts for too long, I finally voiced what was on my mind. "What's the real reason you wanted to come here?" I asked Hiroto, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.

Hiroto's face grew serious at my question. "It's your grandmother," he said, his tone grave. "She's worried about you. You haven't visited your parents' and Takumi's graves since their funerals, and it's been weighing heavily on her mind. We're both concerned about you. Despite trying to put on a brave face, I can sense that you're struggling. But please know that we're here to support you, and you can rely on us."