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

Chapter 17: Setting Goals

The next day’s lunch break.

I, along with Shizuku, visited the night shift room once again.

“Today, I brought beans and filters from home.”

“It’s luxurious to be able to have freshly brewed coffee at school.”

Without delay, we began the preparations.

The mineral water needed to brew coffee was brought by Shizuku.

While boiling water, I ground the beans with a mill.

Then, I placed a paper filter on the dripper and started pouring the boiled water.

“……”

I could sense Shizuku trying hard to keep her mouth shut, probably realizing I was focused. Her effort looked somewhat amusing, and I almost lost control of my pouring hand. However, having trained under Utahara-san for over a year, I couldn’t afford to make mistakes just because my concentration was disrupted.

“―Alright.”

I managed to pour it within almost three minutes. I thought I did quite well.

“Sorry, Shizuku. Could you get the saucer for me?”

“Saucer…?”

“Yeah… it’s that plate over there.”

“Oh! So, this is called a saucer?”

We had already poured hot water into the coffee cups and placed them on the saucers we warmed in advance. By the way, when brewing hot coffee, it’s a good idea to preheat the cups.

As I poured the coffee, a delightful aroma filled the room.

“Nice smell.”

“Yeah, I think I did quite well.”

We brought a small table from the corner of the room and sat on the tatami.

“Cheers.”

We somehow clinked our cups, and I took a sip of the freshly brewed coffee. Strong bitterness, a hint of acidity, and a deep richness rushed through my mouth and nasal passages.

“Delicious… This is really good, Juntaro.”

“Yeah, it might be quite a success on my part.”

But…

Unfortunately, it still didn’t match the coffee brewed by Utahara-san. The coffee she brewed had a deep richness without any impurities. While today’s coffee successfully achieved a deep richness, if asked about the absence of impurities, it wasn’t perfect. In the refined bitterness, I could sense a slightly excessive acidity. That was the impurity.

Even though it was a great success, I was still stuck at mastering the manual perfectly.

“To understand the individuality of each bean… it’s not an easy task.”

However, it was a rewarding challenge.

“…Sorry, but I might not be able to tell the difference yet. Both the one Master brewed and the one Juntaro brewed taste really delicious to me.”

“Thanks… But I want to go further than this.”

I took another sip of the coffee.

Certainly delicious. According to Utahara-san, it was at a level where I wouldn’t be ashamed to work at any café. But it was still not enough.

“I… want something in my life that I can say I’ve truly accomplished. That’s why I want to try to go to the same place as Master.”

“……”

“What a sudden declaration, embarrassing.”

When I said that, Shizuku shook her head.

“It’s not embarrassing at all. I think it’s a splendid goal… Juntaro is amazing. Setting a goal and working hard towards it is not something everyone can easily do.”

“You’re doing your best without giving up, too.”

“Yeah, maybe… When you say that, I feel relieved.”

Shizuku blushed and took a sip of her coffee.

“For now, I’m working hard to achieve my goal of going to that café and having coffee every day. But, you know… I don’t have a big goal like Juntaro.”

“A big goal?”

“Well… in my modeling activities, something I absolutely want to achieve… You know, going overseas and walking on the runway, for example?”

Shizuku lowered her gaze, continuing with a lonely expression.

“I don’t have such a goal.”

While saying that, Shizuku smiled wryly.

“…There’s no need to rush just because you haven’t found it yet, right?”

“Huh?”

Looking at Shizuku, who suddenly raised her face, I continued speaking.

“I don’t know much about the entertainment industry, but… just continuing to work as a model is already a significant and big goal. Keeping your physique as part of your job is something I can’t imitate at all. Moreover, doing that for many years is nothing but admirable effort.”

‘……”

Shizuku listened to my words with a serious expression.

“I can’t say anything too grand… but how about making finding a goal your goal for now?”

“Making finding a goal the goal, huh… I like that. I think it’s nice.”

Shizuku smiled as if a burden had been lifted. If even a little bit of her mood had cleared up, it was worth the awkward effort on my part.

“Juntaro, will you help me find a goal?”

“Of course. I’ll help you as much as you need. After all…”

“After all…?”

“We’re friends.”

My only one.

“…Friends, huh. Well, that’s true.”

For some reason, I tilted my head when I saw Shizuku drop her shoulders. At that moment, the door to the night shift room opened energetically.