Ryota's POV.
After taking a bath, I quickly wear my work uniform and went ahead and opened the café.
The mornings are usually quiet and it allows me to relax and prepare myself. Until the first customer arrived and took his seat.
Mom, Dad and Saya also came here and ready for work. Until one by one, people started coming in our café and so, our work begins.
Ryota: What would you like to order, miss?
Customer: I'd like the strawberry parfait and some churros.
Ryota: Anything else?
Customer: Nothing.
Ryota: Alright.
I called out my dad who is in the counter.
Ryota: Dad, one order of strawberry parfait and some churros.
Tatsuya: Say whaaaaaaat? That's some unique order.
Ryota: Dad, it's all in a day's work. We always receive peculiar orders. Shouldn't you be used to it by now.
Tatsuya: Yeah, I know. But, ordering somehow mismatched pairs, that would be bad y'know.
Tatsuya: Like how you always ship the protagonist and a girl that doesn't have any interest in him.
Ryota: Ugh, now my dad is an otaku.
Tatsuya: And you're probably thinking that I'm an otaku, then you're dead right.
Ryota: He's even proud to be one!?
Tatsuya: Well, I was also a teenager like you. So I know it very well.
Ryota: Dad, your at your 40s.
Tatsuya: Age doesn't matter. Listen here, Ryota.
Tatsuya: As long as you live your life, by doing the things you like, by exploring new things, by gaining new experiences, that is what makes life so colorful.
Tatsuya: Though there may be tribulations, after all, a rainbow does have some dark colors.
Ryota: That is some wise saying dad.
Tatsuya: Well, you're speaking with a guy who is literally speaking from experience.
Ryota: Yeah. Given how you can say such things.
Tatsuya: Also, Ryota. Didn't "she" told you to be happy?
Ryota: .........!
Ryota: Dad........
Tatsuya: I'm sure, that she wanted your happiness, right?
He tapped my shoulders as he finished making the strawberry parfait and the churros.
Tatsuya: I guess it's really time for you to find someone. After all, if you're still going to be hung up on Yuki's death, you won't be able to move on.
Tatsuya: I'm sure your friends also noticed it.
Tatsuya: And that will not go unnoticed to your mother and I. After all, you're our child.
I smiled at my dad.
Ryota: Thanks for the advice, dad. I'm just.......taking my time.
Tatsuya: Well, that's good. You're still probably in the healing process or probably, already done there.
Tatsuya: Don't be afraid. Open this.....
He pokes at my chest, specifically, where my heart is located.
Tatsuya: Also, your past with Yuki, leave it in the past.
Tatsuya: This is the present, Ryota. If you're thinking that it's probably going to end up like what happened back then........
Tatsuya: Let me tell you this. It's a different girl, means a different scenario, a different romance.
Ryota: A different romance.
Tatsuya: She said in her letter to find someone new, right?
Tatsuya: She knew for the fact that she'll be gone from this world. She also knew that you'll have a hard time moving on from her death, that's why she said those words.
Tatsuya: To find someone new.
Ryota: Find someone new............?
Tatsuya: Yep. Well, what do you think?
Ryota: ............
Ryota: Yeah. I think you're right.
Tatsuya: Well, take it one step at a time. Don't rush things and take your time.
Tatsuya: Don't think about the destination, but the journey itself.
Ryota: I'll keep that mind.
Then he grabs the tray, places the strawberry parfait, the churros and the chocolate dip on the tray.
Tatsuya: Now, go out there! We still have work to do!
Ryota: Yeah.
I took the tray.
Ryota: Thanks, Dad!
I continued my work and served her order. Then the flow of orders continued to the point that I have to help at the counter now.
Then, Tohma-senpai and Sora arrived as I heard the bell and the two of them stepped inside.
Ryota: Welcome to Kaede Cafè, how may we help you?
Tohma: Um, Kaedehara, it's just us.
Tatsuya: Um, yeah? What do you want?
Tohma: Huh!? What!?
Sora: Um, senpai. His family is here, so addressing him by his family name means calling them all.
Tohma: Oh. By the way, is he your dad?
Ryota: Yeah. Tohma-senpai, Sora. Meet Kaedehara Tatsuya, my dad. Dad, meet Tohma-senpai and Sora, my friends at the music club.
Tohma: Nice to meet you, Mr. Kaedehara.
Sora: It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Kaedehara.
They both bowed their heads as dad waves his hands in front of him.
Tatsuya: Oh, haha. No need to be so formal to me, Tatsuya-kun, Sora-kun.
Tatsuya: Oh, I heard that you two will stay here for the day, right?
Tohma: Yep!
Sora: Yeah!
Tohma: Under the condition that we'll help with today's work.
Tatsuya: Yeah, you see. Things are starting to get busy here. Just look......
My dad points at the customers as the three of us observe the café filled with many people.
Tohma: Damn.
Sora: Must be hard to be super famous.
Tohma: We also have our second floor and it's also have a lot of people.
Ryota: That's why we would always have a standby on the second floor to take their orders.
As if on cue, Saya calls out.
Saya: Ryota-kun! Tatsuya-san! One order of black coffee and cinnamon rolls.
Tatsuya: Another peculiar order, huh?
Ryota: Okay, coming right up.
My dad gets the cinnamon rolls while I brew the coffee as Tohma-senpai and Sora just watch in awe at how me and dad work in perfect sync.
Saya comes down from the second floor and takes the order to the customer.
Tohma: Woah.
Sora: No wonder........
Tohma: You really are full of surprises, Ryota.
Ryota: All in a day's work.
Then mom comes to the counter.
Koharu: Oh, are you Tohma and Sora?
Tohma: Yep.
Sora: Yeah.
Koharu: I am Kaedehara Koharu, Ryo-chan's mother.
Tohma: Nice to meet you, Koharu-san.
Sora: Nice to meet you too!
Koharu: Fufu. Well, are you two ready for working here temporarily in our café?
Tohma: You bet we are!
Sora: Yeah!
Ryota: Where did they got that energy?
Koharu: Ara. Ryo-chan, you really have such good friends.
I smiled at my mother.
Ryota: Yeah.
Mom hands Tohma-senpai a waiter's uniform and told to change at the male's restroom. While Sora was given a waitress uniform and changes at the changing room.
The two of them emerged as I smirk.
Ryota: Mom, I guess we should recruit them. I mean, just look at that!
Tohma: Well, I wouldn't mind but, I'm kinda busy since you know, I'm a third year.
Sora: I don't know if I'll be embarrassed about this?
Koharu: Eh? You look adorable Sora-chan!
Afterwards, we went back to our work as mom shows them the ropes of taking and serving orders from the customers.
They both adapted to it quickly and somehow, I was just focused on my work as a barista.
Well, I guess thanks to them, our workload got a little bit lighter.
Koharu: Oh, we got another delivery request.
Ryota: Again?
Mom reads the message on her phone.
Koharu: Let's see..........
Koharu: Hmmmmm, at call center office. Well, Ryota, can you take the order?
Ryota: Sure. But dad will be left alone here at the counter.
Tatsuya: Don't worry, I got this. You go ahead and deliver it to our customer.
Koharu: What's the order?
Mom takes an order slip and quickly writes down the order and gave it to me.
Ryota: I see. Well, here we go.
I handed the order slip to my dad.
Tatsuya: Alright.
After making the order. We carefully secured the drinks and the food in the boxes. I grabbed the motorcycle and placed the orders in the delivery bag.
You may be wondering, am I allowed to drive a motorcycle? Well, I'm allowed since I got my license and I'm at the right age to have one.
I took on my helmet and jacket.
Koharu: Alright, you know the address, right?
Ryota: Yep. You gave me the complete address and I got it on the map.
Koharu: Alright, be careful on driving.
Ryota: I'll be off.
I drive off towards the address.
Ryota: Hmmmmm, let's see here. Turn left, then straight ahead, then right, then another straight ahead, then finally right.
Until I reached Shibuya Ward, which is where the address is located.
Ryota: Okaaaaaay, then.......let's see here.......
Ryota: Alright, just a few more meters and I'm there.
I followed the route and I found the building. I parked the motorcycle and took out the deliveries.
A 30 story building and luckily, they have a elevator. I took it and asked for the name of the customer and they led me and the customer is already anticipating my arrival.
Customer: Oh, that maple leaf logo! You must be from the famous café!
Ryota: Uh, hehe.
Customer: How much is it?
Ryota: That would be.......1,800 yen. You ordered 4 cappuccinos and 4 blue berry cheesecakes.
Customer: Wow, that's a reasonable price. No wonder why you guys can make such a profit.
Customer: Also here, take this 2,000 yen. A tip for the customer service. I expected it to arrive around an hour but you arrived here within 15 minutes.
Ryota: I took a shortcut and since the traffic is not that heavy, I had all the time.
Customer: I see. I see. Well then, thank you, young man. Have a safe trip.
Ryota: Thank you for your patronage.
I gave him the order slip and the receipt. Then I got the payment and an additional 2,000 yen.
Ryota: Wow. I never expected a tip to be this big.
Then after a few minutes of taking the elevator. I set out and returned to the café.
15 minutes later.........
Ryota: I'm back.
Saya: Welcome back.
Tatsuya: How's the delivery.
Ryota: You guys wouldn't believe what just happened when I delivered them.
Sora: Ooooooooh, sounds interesting.
Tohma: Hoho. Looks like from the look of your eyes, something good must've happened.
Koharu: Oh, Ryo-chan. You're back.
Ryota: Yup.
Koharu: Also, we got another help.
Ryota: Another help? Did someone applied for the part time job?
Koharu: Well, it's one of your friends.
Ryota: One of my friends......
???: Oh, welcome back, Kaedehara-kun.
Wait, that voice.........
I slowly turned around to see a blonde girl wearing the same blue scrunchie on the left side of her hair.
Ryota: Wait, what?
Ryota: What are YOU doing here?
Ryota: Hayasaka-san?
She smiled.
Hayasaka: Oh, don't be silly! I'm here to help!