French Cup: A Neighborhood Story

Chapter 100: -Gyeong-Wan- New Mix

The ruby chocolate piece rolled in my mouth as I thought about it. Slowly compressing it with my teeth to break it up as it melted. It definitely reminded me of white chocolate more than a true chocolate. The way it melted, the buttery taste. Yet, there was a tanginess. The hint of fruit. Many layers. In some places, it was even a little sour. Definitely the kind of thing you savored and didn't rush to eat, as you would a commercial milk chocolate bar. 

There were already ideas. Ways to make it more desirable. By itself, it wasn't something I'd personally run for. The pink color was very appealing, but the taste was hard to get used to. You had to acquire a taste for it, like matcha. 

As I was thinking about mixing it with almonds to get a crunch, and strawberry pieces to make more of a tangy and fruity burst to bring out the undertones, the door to French Cup opened and I stopped my pacing. The sign had said closed, but the coffee maker was on behind me. Kazuya was there enjoying coffee in this early morning, and I was playing hooky from work. Daring, considering my work was just around the corner. And yet, if any of them walked by I'd keep my stance. Stare them down. That was my feeling. Too content to do anything else, this chocolate in my mouth making it so.

Coming toward us was Minoru holding a stack of papers. Kazuya made a satisfied sound. 

"I was hoping I'd find you here," Minoru said, relieved. He gestured the stack to Kazuya and I followed him up to the counter. He tapped the papers on the counter and then placed them down. Kazuya's hands were already clasped at his chest as he read the top one. Quickly, I realized they all must be the same. 

Neighborhood Meeting, Tonight at 7PM. Charlotte's Theater. Discuss the Atrocity at French Cup and Find a Solution! A Community Gathering of Hope.

The last sentence had been Kazuya's last minute addition, his true desire. But, discussing what had happened at French Cup was first. Saving it. I was only too aware that my mouth was still moving, chewing the sweet and fruity chocolate in my mouth as I read the flyer over.

"Is it okay? Is it what you wanted? Is the clip art of the latte okay?" Minoru pointed at it, unsure even though it was perfect. 

"It's amazing," Kazuya assured him, picking up the top flyer. It was printed on a very bright neon green paper, very eye-catching. He was scanning it, too. "Are you going to deliver them soon?"

Minoru nodded. His thumb went over his shoulder, clearly at the motorized bike outside. "Yup. The usual route for the Rainbow Edition. I'll go further, too. I know other addresses. Friendly people. I know store owners will hand them out, so they're first. Then individuals. I worked on a group text with Nikki, too. I know it's not what my phone number network is for, but this is important so I'm of course more than willing to break the rule."

"Oh, Minoru... Thank you so much. I can't thank you enough."

"You can thank me with some coffee. What kind is that? I've got a long bike ride ahead of me." He was smiling, half joking probably. "What is that going to be, four hundred yen?" He was already going for his wallet.

Kazuya shook his read rapidly. "It's definitely on the house. You're already doing so much-"

A five hundred yen coin clanked onto the counter. "Consider it the restart of French Cup."

Kazuya looked like he was going to cry, his eyes shining as he stared down at the coin. No doubt, he was forgetting to make the coffee. It occurred to me right then that I didn't know yet how to make coffee in that industrial maker, so I couldn't help him. It made me yearn to learn it. Would he show me later if I asked?

A small blush started, thinking of us behind the counter together. 

"Oh- ah," Kazuya sputtered, finally looking up. Coming back to life. What had he been thinking about as he stared at that coin? Probably millions of things. I knew I was. Everything that had happened, and it hadn't even been a week. Now, we were finding this kind of strength somehow. The capacity for strength never ceased to amaze me, especially in him. Yet, what a hard won strength. Too hard. He spun around to the coffee maker, taking up a white mug from the stacks beside it and immediately began to fill it. "It's just black. Um, you like two creams and sugars, right? I've got it."

"You always remember." Minoru was smiling at his quickly moving back.

"Of course I remember. Why wouldn't I remember?" He waited a little longer as the cup filled slowly. He didn't see it, but Minoru was shaking his head, slowly. So pleased.

"That's what sets this place apart," he said. He adjusted his thick glasses with his middle finger, pushing them back up his nose. "You all care so much about everybody. It's not like a Starbucks. Some staff might remember your usual order if you come in often enough, but you and Nikki remember absolutely everyone's down to the number of sugars." 

Kazuya glanced over his shoulder fast and then back at his task at hand. It was obvious he was trying even now to show Minoru that he was paying attention despite the hot coffee being poured. It warmed my heart.

Minoru went on. "Ahh. That's just one of the reasons why we need to come up with a solution tonight. I've been working on my article, too. It should be ready soon. I'll make a special edition and deliver it. Maybe I can get some interviews tonight, too. I don't want to pester anyone or make them uncomfortable, but it's really important that people know what happened. It can make a difference."

Finally finished, Kazuya turned around with Minoru's coffee. He set it on the counter and dropped two sugar cubes into it, then brought out creamer from the mini fridge under the counter, pouring it in little perfectly measured plops. This made comforting sounds, liquid on liquid. "I want to read it as soon as you finish," Kazuya said so warmly, as warm as the coffee he was now presenting to him. 

"I'll let you proofread it, I promise. I'll email you as soon as it's done." Minoru picked up the coffee cup and drank it smoothly, not too fast. I remembered how Kazuya had once told a guest of my hotel that he liked things at French Cup to be savored. My hotel. Was it even my hotel anymore?

As I stood jarred by this sudden thought, Minoru finished and set the cup down with another satisfying sound, porcelain to quality wood. He picked up the stack of flyers in one swift motion and made a salute to say good-bye. So in his mission, that he couldn't even say words. So devoted, that he had to get on the road as soon as possible. 

We watched him go, and I thought of him in awe. Able to help this much, so important to this cause. I wanted to be important like that, too. 

But, just as suddenly, there was the familiar thok sound of chocolate breaking. My head turned, and there Kazuya was now chewing. My eyes flicked down and saw my ruby chocolate bar in his hands. He seemed thoughtful, the same expression on his face as before when Minoru had given him the five hundred yen coin. The coin was still on the counter, but not forgotten. However, now there was a different distraction.

I held out my hand and Kazuya smiled, sending relief where I didn't know there needed to be. Soothing my own fears. My worry that I was missing work, but...maybe this was my new work. And in that vein, I decided to launch into it with as much passion as I'd once shown the hotel no matter how nervous I was. 

"Hmm. Don't you think this ruby chocolate would be better with almonds?" I asked as he gave me a piece.

"Oh! Mm!" His hand flew over his mouth adorably as he chewed, trying to hide it politely. He nodded rapidly, that smile not being able to be hidden. "A texture! Yes!" His finger went up in the air, telling me to wait. And so cutely, he shuffled behind the kitchen door. With this, I knew the chocolate was instantly making him happier. Maybe my suggestion had done it.

As I stared down at the ruby chocolate, chewing slowly. Savoring it. The mild fruit, the acidity. The butter. The balance. As I stared down at it, I wondered if the exposed pink bar were a mirror. Because surely, my face must be as pink. 

He came out a few minutes later and I showed my face unabashedly. If it was pink, so be it. This strange new confidence. He held out a small bowl of sliced almonds and showed me what to do. He pinched a few of them between his fingertips and then took a square of the chocolate. He placed the chocolate in his mouth first, let it melt a bit, then the almonds came next. As he crunched, he pointed at the little bowl, his cute encouraging smile all I needed. 

Sharing this chocolate with him. Everything else seemed to melt away as I placed the almonds in my mouth to chase it. All of my worries about Matsuda-san and his family. The hotel. The meeting tonight. All of it went away as Kazuya took my hand and held it firm on the counter, as we stared off into the distance crunching away at this beautiful new concoction in our mouths.