A Ray of Sunlight

Chapter 3 - Midnight Mocha Cafe (Haruto's POV)

Why did I accept this offer? I know nothing about coffee making or bread making or human currency or even talking to humans in a way that isn't rude because Kazuki said sometimes I sound rude like when I keep on interrupting people and I have to stop. I memorized most of the menu (which was basically bread and sweeter bread and this thing called cookies and the multiple unnecessary drinks) and Kazuki said I just have to write it down and it will be okay but what if it's not okay? What if Miss Mindy is harsh towards me like how Kazuki was towards me at first?

After eating breakfast and changing into one of Kazuki's work clothes, we arrive at the cafe. Miss Mindy was already there, rolling dough and baking human food which I have no idea how to pronounce even though Kazuki went over the foods over and over again with me yesterday night.

"Hi Miss Mindy-" I stopped myself as she turned around. Does she think I'm crazy to already know her name even though she hasn't introduced herself yet?

I started to apologize but then she said "Ahh, so this is your cousin." She wiped her hands on a green towel and continued "Hello Haruto, Kazuki was talking to me about you, he said you're a nice boy. We are lucky to have you here at Midnight Mocha Cafe. I'm sure you'll have fun here."

I liked everything about Miss Mindy already, her acceptance, her accent, wrinkles, glasses, everything. Perhaps time would pass by quickly here in the Cafe.

Miss Mindy said that I can do the honor of opening the store now and so I went to the door, unlocked it and there he was! Our first customer of the day. I realized that it was the boy who comes over every single day.

"Who are you?" The boy asked me. He looked to be around the same age as me except taller and he looked way more mature than me.

"Umm...I..." I didn't know what to say. I haven't talked to anyone for 2 years and I think my social skills have gone down. "Umm..." I continued to stutter until Kazuki pushed me out of the way.

"Hi Shiro. This is Haruto, he was just hired here." Kazuki said. I was relieved that he took over.

"Hi Haruto. Shouldn't you be in school?"

"Umm... he's just staying at my house temporarily and decided to work here while his parents are away on business trips."

"Ahh, it must be nice to miss school. Where are you from?"

That was a big problem. I only know a few countries such as Japan, the United States and... that's about it.

"Uhhh..." I stuttered but Kazuki quickly helped me answer

"From a very far away European country. I was shocked why my Aunt would move there ha ha."

"That must be nice. Nice to meet you." Shiro extended his arms for me to shake and I did.

"I'll get you your usual." Kazuki said quickly walking away and I awkwardly trail behind. He quickly brings out a sandwich and some tea. Shiro pays and sits down to eat but before he does, he requests something from Kazuki.

"Kazuki," Shiro says, "Can you walk me to school today?" Now, Shiro wasn't a short or weak looking person so I was stunned when he asked Kazuki this.

"Sure but may I ask why?" Kazuki said.

"I think someone is following me." Shiro said.

"Ehh? Do you know who it is?" I said

Shiro shook his head and said "I have never seen this person's full face before because it is always covered with a mask but since last week, that person keeps on following me around. I managed to get a picture of that person before running away the other day."

Shiro took out his phone from his pocket and when Kazuki and I saw it, we were both shocked.

"Is that Katsunori?! That creep wasn't just messing with me but also with a high school student?! What is his purpose?" I said.

Just then, Miss Mindy came out.

"Hi Shiro." She gave a smile before realizing both Kazuki and my face had gone pale. "Is something wrong?"

Shiro showed Miss Mindy his phone and now it was her time to be shocked.

"Is that...the demon from the incident?" Miss Mindy asked, backing away and eventually getting to a chair.

"Miss Mindy, do you know this person?" I rushed over and asked

"It's...it's the incident."

"What incident?"

Miss Mindy gave a sigh and started telling the story. "A few years ago, there was a mysterious man who was called the Demon because he was plotting something. That something turned out to be a giant monster." Miss Mindy paused and started again, "The monster was set out to destroy the world. The government couldn't stop it and the military couldn't either. Finally, an alien from the planet Sora came to the rescue. Aliens from Sora are said to be legends but he was real, that alien was real! He wore red and silver armor, a cape and had a helmet with horns on it. He fought the monster and eventually the mysterious man."

"Who won?" I asked. I was curious. Noone in the defense force had a helmet with horns on it except father and me. Could father have fought Katsunori?

"The alien from Sora did." Miss Mindy sighed again. "Perhaps the Demon's back but it's okay. I have hope that things will be okay."

"Why do you say that Miss Mindy?" Shiro asked. He finished his sandwich and was sipping on tea.

"I saw in the newspaper that there is a new hero. He isn't Kaito. Not as tall as him or as strong as him but he had Kaito's horns and the same fiery look in his eyes. I'm sure this new hero would help us go through whatever the Demon has for us this time."

"That's great Miss Mindy but I'll walk Shiro to school now since he might be late." He gave Shiro a "let's go" gesture but turned around and said "Come Haruto, let's go together."

Honestly I think Kazuki brought me too because he was scared of Katsunori and honestly I was scared of him too after seeing how powerful he is.

There wasn't anything unusual walking to Shiro's highschool. The mornings went by as quickly as a breeze. I mostly delivered the items to Kazuki who took the items to the customers and baked with Miss Mindy. I told her I'm not a really good cook and told her about the fried egg I burnt but she just nodded and said everything was a learning experience so I just took her word for it and helped her do small tasks like whip the eggs or knead dough. I'm still not good with making the coffee because of the confusing names so Kazuki does the coffee part.

It was now 2:30pm and in thirty minutes, Shiro would be released from school. Kazuki and I told Miss Mindy that we would be picking up Shiro from school and she let us leave. I was really nervous because what if we see Katsunori again but I couldn't stop him and he ended up hurting Shiro?

I guess we got there late because there were students everywhere but Shiro was nowhere to be found. Kazuki tried calling Shiro a couple of times but he didn't pick up. Finally we saw him against an alley wall when we were walking back home.

"Hey! Shiro, are you okay?" Kazuki said, frantically running over to Shiro. I followed behind.

"The man, he keeps following me and...and...he pushed me into this alleyway." Shiro said. He looked pale and was slightly shaking

Please ignore the grammar mistakes 💀