A Beautiful Model In My Class Comes To The Coffee Shop Where I Work Part-time Only When I'm On Shift - Chapter 13

Episode 13: Iced Coffee

“Isn’t it… unusually hot lately?”

On another day, Shizuku, who came to Café Mellow, fanned her chest while wearing a languid expression.

“It’s already mid-June. It’s becoming more like summer, isn’t it?”

“Summer… I’m not a big fan of it.”

“Because it’s hot?”

“That’s one reason, but… sunburn, and makeup melting, and I don’t like the stuffiness…”

“It seems like there are a lot of things you don’t like.”

“I do like the feeling when everyone becomes bright and cheerful. It makes me feel liberated.”

I’m not a big fan of summer either. I dislike the heat, and meals become a chore. However, it’s not like there’s no enjoyment at all.

“Iced coffee tastes better in the summer, so I can forgive it just for that.”

“Iced coffee… right, iced coffee.”

Shizuku, who was startled, finished the almost empty coffee in her cup.

“So, can I order iced coffee right away?”

“Of course.”

When I conveyed the order to Utahara-san, she made a circle with her finger to indicate approval.

“It’s a simple question, but isn’t iced coffee just hot coffee that’s been cooled?”

“You’re not wrong. However, when brewing iced coffee, we use dark-roasted beans to account for the cooling process.”

When people ingest something cold, they tend to perceive bitterness as weaker and acidity as stronger. Lightly roasted beans have a mellow bitterness and distinct acidity. So, when consumed iced, the originally mild bitterness becomes even milder, and the originally strong acidity becomes even stronger. Many people dislike this, so it’s common to use dark-roasted beans for iced coffee, which has a stronger bitterness and a milder acidity.

“I see… so, does that mean lightly roasted beans are better for hot coffee?”

“It’s all about personal preference. Lightly roasted beans may be more drinkable, but people who like bitterness might still prefer dark-roasted beans even for hot coffee. It’s just a general tendency that dark-roasted beans are often used for iced coffee, there are people who like lightly roasted beans for it too.”

“I see. It’s complicated, huh? Coffee, I mean. And it seems like preferences might change depending on your condition too.”

“That’s right…”

People’s preferences are diverse. That’s why Utahara-san, who can understand everyone’s preferences and tailor the coffee accordingly, is a true expert.

“Sorry for the wait! Here’s your iced coffee.”

“Thank you.”

The ice in the coffee made a clinking sound as it was placed on the table. I drink coffee even in winter, looking at it like this makes me feel like it’s pulling me toward summer.

“Mmm! Delicious! It’s incredibly easy to drink!”

“I’m glad you like it. If you want a refill, just let me know, okay?”

“Yes!”

The coffee in Shizuku’s glass quickly disappeared. It seems like she’ll be asking for a refill soon. By the way, Café Mellow’s refill system costs 100 yen each time.

“It’s cold and easy to drink… I’m going to gulp this down.”

“I understand. It tends to go down faster than hot coffee.”

I know it’s not suitable for hydration, but on particularly hot days, I can’t help but drink a lot. In fact, there are downsides to that—

“…Speaking of which.”

“Hmm?”

“My drama is going to be broadcast soon… the one I’m in.”

“Oh… is it that time already?”

I heard that Shizuku’s starring drama is scheduled to air starting from July. It felt like a distant future when I first heard about it, but before I knew it, it was right around the corner.

“You’ve finished shooting the first episode, right?”

“Yeah. We’re mainly recording the second episode now, and we’ll start shooting one week at a time.”

“It’s different from what I imagined. I thought they recorded and then broadcast it.”

“I thought so too at first. But apparently, shooting while broadcasting is the basic format for dramas.”

“I see.”

“Sigh… well, there’s a sense of accomplishment, but it’s tough schedule-wise. The days I can go to school are decreasing… not that I mind not going to school.”

Shizuku said it with a hint of jest. However, the fatigued expression she showed just before indicated that she was revealing her true feelings.

“Juntaro, are you going to watch my drama?”

“Yeah, I plan to.”

Having a friend appear in a drama—especially as the lead—is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m not particularly interested in dramas, but as someone supporting her, I can’t miss it.

“Then, let me know your thoughts. …And maybe console me a bit.”

“Huh?”

Shizuku didn’t talk any further about the drama that day. The true meaning behind those words became clear the day after the drama aired.