Behind the screen

Morning Cafe Run

Yuki was rushing through her morning routine, getting ready to head to college. She grabbed her backpack and was about to leave her apartment when her phone rang. It was Jazz.

"Hey, Jazz. What's up?" she answered, balancing the phone between her shoulder and ear as she locked the door.

"Hey, Yuki! Can you meet me at the cafe before class? I really need to talk to you about something," Jazz sounded anxious, which piqued Yuki's curiosity.

"Sure, I can do that. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes," she replied, adjusting her plans for the morning.

"Thanks, Yuki. See you soon," Jazz said before hanging up.

Yuki made her way to the cafe, her mind buzzing with thoughts about what Jazz could need to discuss so urgently. As she walked in, the familiar aroma of coffee and pastries greeted her. She found a small table near the window and sat down, pulling out her phone to pass the time while she waited for Jazz.

As she scrolled through her messages, she glanced up and froze. Across the cafe, sitting alone and looking equally out of place, was the guy she had encountered on the balcony last night. She couldn't believe her eyes.

He looked different in the daylight, less brooding and more vulnerable. He was staring out the window, seemingly lost in thought. Yuki felt a surge of irritation mixed with curiosity. What were the odds that they would run into each other again so soon?

She debated whether she should approach him or just wait for Jazz and ignore him. Before she could make a decision, Jazz walked in, spotting her and waving enthusiastically.

"Yuki! Over here!" Jazz called out, making his way to her table.

Yuki smiled, momentarily distracted. "Hey, Jazz. What's going on?"

Jazz sat down, his expression serious. "I needed to talk to you about something important. But first, you look like you've seen a ghost. Everything okay?"

Yuki glanced back at the guy, who hadn't noticed her yet. "It's nothing. Just someone I didn't expect to see here."

Jazz followed her gaze and raised an eyebrow. "You know him?"

"Not really. We had a... not-so-friendly encounter at the party last night," Yuki explained, trying to keep her voice low.

Jazz chuckled. "Well, small world, huh? Anyway, I wanted to ask you about Kodzuken. I know you're not a fan, but there's this event coming up, and I thought maybe we could all go together. You know, as friends."

Yuki sighed, her mind still partly on the guy across the room. "I don't know, Jazz. You know how I feel about him."

"I know, but it could be fun. Plus, maybe you'll see what we see in him," Jazz urged.

Yuki glanced back at the guy one more time before focusing on Jazz. "I'll think about it, okay?"

Jazz nodded, seeming satisfied with that answer. "That's all I ask."

As they continued their conversation, Yuki couldn't help but wonder about the guy from the balcony. Why did he seem so familiar, and why did their paths keep crossing?