Rendered in Code and Color

Chapter 4: Shadows and Silhouettes

The sight was... captivating to Kazuki. He didn't even realize he was watching Miyuki. That is, until Kaori leaned in and said something to him.

"Admiring the art, or something else?" Kaori whispered, leaning closer with a mischievous glint.

As for Kazuki's response, well, he didn't actually hear what Kaori said. He was completely zoned out. All he knew was she said something, and it seemed to be directed towards him.

"Sorry, what was that?" He asked, snapping back to reality.

"Geez," Kaori pouted. "You don't even notice it yourself, do you?"

"Hm? Notice what?"

"Nevermind," Kaori replied with a tired sigh. "Alright, daydreamers, let's focus on why we're really here. Miyuki, come help me decide what to order."

They were seated around a table for six. Ayaka and Hiroshi naturally sat side by side. Kazuki sat next to Hiroshi and Kaori sat next to Kazuki, as if she was waiting so she could sit next to him. After Kaori beckoned Miyuki to sit next to her, that put Miyuki across from Kazuki — Kaori subtly sitting in between them.

Initially, Kaori wanted them all to sit down simply to stake their claim, ensuring no one else would occupy their spot. But just as they began discussing who should fetch the menu, a waiter arrived, handing each one to them. The man was tall with a strong, muscular build, and his bald head caught the soft sheen of the cafe's lights. A neatly trimmed goatee framed a welcoming smile that, combined with his deep, rich skin tone, painted an image of warmth and strength.

"Welcome to the Komorebi Coffeehouse." The man, most likely in his thirties, greeted warmly. "My name is John. Is this by chance your first visit here?"

"It is! I've been excited to visit here for some time, and today just happened to be the right occasion." Kaori replied.

"Is that so? If I was to hazard a guess; you're celebrating your first day in college?" The man inquired.

"Well, there's that too but today we are celebrating new friendships!" Ayaka declared with a cheerful smile, her eyes brightening with excitement.

"Really? You all seem close for newfound friends. What a great way to start the semester." He replied with a wide smile. "Well then, I'll leave you to your celebration. When you're ready to order just give me a wave, I'll be right over."

The group politely offered their thanks as the man headed back to the front counter.

"So I guess they are all about letting the customers move at their own pace, huh?" Kaori commented.

Hiroshi leaned closer to Ayaka, whispering, "You think he's the owner? I noticed a slight western accent."

Ayaka nodded in agreement, "I thought the same. It's subtle, isn't it?"

"Well, if he is the owner, he's got my stamp of approval" Kaori remarked. "Anyway, let's figure out what we want. It was my idea to come here, so I'll cover the costs. Order anything you want "

"Wait, I can easily cover—" Miyuki started.

"None of that. Just because you have money doesn't mean you should feel obligated to pay for everything. I got this" Kaori interjected with a warm smile.

Miyuki was unsure how to respond, so she simply nodded in quiet acceptance.

The cafe's menu was just as appealing as the atmosphere. It of course had the standard options one might expect from such a place, but it also had choices which were unique to the atmosphere — including seasonal options which, of course, rotated throughout the year.