Kalma

#A865B5

The Monday before, just after opening the cafe for a little bit, the manager waited in front of the counter.

It's a little after 10 am, when there is literally no one in the shopping district. Well usually the housewives will go out around 11 to buy groceries.

The manager always knows that store, just beside the bicycle shop. Because she's always go there back when she's a kid, dreaming, that one day she will own a restaurant.

Or maybe a cafe, but the manager still content of what she feels today. Being a manager of the cafe that always has its lover, from all ages, across different generation, they just couldn't fathom what even the reason they always come here.

The atmosphere that is never changing, but at the same time, she always tried something new...

"I'm thinking to add some dove decorations someday. Because today the sky is so beautiful! What is the color? I think the code is #87CEEB with RGB values of 135, 206, and 235. I should add them to the list!" Tomoko-san was waiting for the employees to come that Monday. Usually they will come start 11 AM, when people started going out.

But somedays, there is just some people that decided to come early. Though as it may, there are many reasons for this. Say, that someone wants to see the beautiful decorations, with all it's pastel colors inside the cafe.

Maybe this person is looking for an inspiration for her own home, because this cafe feels like one. Even when there's no music whatsoever, it even exemplifies what the calm atmosphere should be. Of course Tomoko doesn't realize this, since she's always happy in her own world.

Maybe her dreams did come true, by being the manager of the cafe 'Kalma', where everyone that went there feels nostalgic.

For the people that went before or just around 10 AM, they were just rare and might even be special. Other reasons pertain to why they come early, may be to just enjoy a Vanilla Latte.

Like one of the times, when this girl with long black hair went with her Vespa. Tomoko was just opening the cafe when she's already on the counter, hesitating on how to order.

"U-u-uh"
Tomoko said to her, "Welcome! Araaa are you skipping school? Do you want to be the character of that adult comic?!!! Young lady!"

Even though she never met the girl before, Tomoko knows her trait simply from her behavior. The girl seems strangely calm, but she struggles to talk properly.

"Well if it's only once every blue moon, it's okay. Hey! You know the colors of blue moon if it's even real? The code is #3686A0! It can be helpful if you want to design something!"

The girl muttered a little bit, and then she said, "a-a-no! Uhhm, yes it's beautiful.. hmm can I order Vanilla latte?" She pointed with her fingers to the desired drink.

"Araaa!! Yes, it will come! It will be 300 yen please!"

The girl proceeded to grab her coins, give it to Tomoko, and went to the sit near the windows of the shopping district. There she opened her novel, and Tomoko saw that may be she needs a friend.

Because, Tomoko thinks, why is a high schooler come here? It's school day. She must be lonely.

"So, what's your name?" Tomoko asked her while giving the latte.

"I'm Kokoro," she answered while hiding behind her novel.

"So! Do you wanna work here?"

Riri doesn't know what to reply, and as if there's a saving bell, there's another customer that appears. She wants to write something in serenity, and she found this cafe.

"Welcome customer!" Tomoko looks at the cafe main door, and took a glance at Kokoro Riri, and Tomoko whispered to her, "don't worry! It's just a joke!" She blinked and then she proceeds to serve the new customers.

Well that was way back when Kokoro Riri first went to that cafe, as she decided to find a new interesting place for her to read besides the 'cutie cat' manga cafe.

The Monday before the performance, almost a week ago, almost the same circumstances, but this time, "Tomoko-chan!" Said a whole hearted old man while seemingly running to her.

"Daddy!" Tomoko-san hugged him and watched her mother in front of them.

"You guys! Never change, please!"

"Hahahaha, Tomoko-chan! I missed you! During my jogging this morning, we've been thinking of another child-"

"Kenji-san! It's not another child! It's a grandkid!" Her mother stated.

Her father then apologized and said, "Tomoko-chan! Why can't you be a little girl again?"

"Daddy! I'm still the same girl as before! As mom said, I haven't changed!" She smiled comfortingly.

The mother looks at her and thought, "well, we just need to wait a little bit more then," she then looks around the cafe on that Monday morning, "besides, she's happier than ever,"

Tomoko-chan then told them about the Heart-to-heart performance on Sunday on the same evening. She just told them that her employees were practicing yesterday, and she had already decided the songs.

Her father said, "how can I say no to your invitation? Ohh is it also inline with the festival? Ohh then you must build a stage! And the lighting! And the sound!!! Honey you must work hard!"

Tomoko-san assured him, "Daddy, don't worry, it's all being prepared. Now I just want to focus on the interior design. What brings the color brighter than Sakura petals? Should I add magenta in there?"

"Honey! Your cafe has a new customer!" The mother reminded her.

"Ohh yes! Welcome! Welcome to Kalma!"

"So honey I guess we'll come back later! I've got so much to tell you!" Her dad said.

"See you honey!" Her parents said goodbye.

"Suddenly she remembered the time when she's buying groceries when she was a kid. Hearing her parents said, "welcome back!"" Tomoko Karuyama thought to herself, as it might be the best way to narrate her story.

She laughed, and then remembered the colors of the sky that same evening in front of the grocery store.

It's like time never moves on.