A Beautiful Model In My Class Comes To The Coffee Shop Where I Work Part-time Only When I'm On Shift - Chapter 24

Episode 24: Invasion

“Lately, it’s been raining a lot, huh?”

As Utahara-san said that she gazed outside.

It was pouring rain.

It’s unavoidable during the rainy season, but when it’s too frequent, it can really dampen your spirits.

“It’s good that more customers come seeking shelter from the rain, but…”

“Come to think of it, Master, didn’t you say you don’t feel well on rainy days?”

“Oh, that’s right… It’s not like I’m in excruciating pain or anything, but it’s like my shoulders feel heavy? Just sluggish.”

“I can understand how you feel, Master.”

There’s a term called “meteoropathy” in the world.

It refers to a condition where changes in weather or atmospheric pressure cause physical discomfort.

For those who don’t experience it, it’s completely incomprehensible.

“But well, times like this call for coffee, don’t they?”

Utahara-san said as she handed me a cup of hot coffee.

“Thank you.”

I took a sip of the coffee she handed me.

The strong aroma and deep flavor spread from my mouth to my nose.

Caffeine in coffee is said to alleviate meteoropathy. However, since some people claim the opposite, it’s best not to take it at face value.

Utahara-san and I are just the types who feel better with coffee.

“By the way, how are things going with Shizuku-chan lately?”

“With Shizuku? Hmm… so far, it feels the same as usual.”

“Hmm…?”

Utahara-san sent me a meaningful look.

It seems like the answer he was expecting wasn’t that, but if I say it hasn’t changed, then it hasn’t.

During lunch breaks in the dormitory room and at this shop at night, we never seem to run out of topics to talk about.

“…But, we did make plans to go out together.”

“Huh?! That’s a date!”

Utahara-san exclaimed with excitement.

So, this is indeed a date.

I’ve been trying not to misunderstand, but if even an outsider thinks so, then maybe my sense isn’t wrong.

Am I overthinking things?

I’ve never had the opportunity to go out with someone of the opposite sex before, so I don’t know anything about it.

“What should I do on a date?”

“Well… I’m not exactly experienced in romance either… When I was in high school, I wasn’t interested in romance at all.”

Utahara-san groaned while saying that, then suddenly realized something.

“Speaking of high school… I heard from Akira. She said that you and the others are using that dorm room.”

“Oh, yes. Master used it during high school, right?”

“That’s right! We sneaked in there and had a blast.”

Utahara-san nostalgically played with her wavy hair.

“Back then, my hair wasn’t this long, it was more like a bob cut.”

“I heard from Mamiya-sensei that you used to be quite mischievous.”

“Akira, telling you that too…”

Utahara-san blushed embarrassedly.

Seeing her not denying it, it seems that Mamiya-sensei’s stories weren’t exaggerated at all.

“It’s not like I caused trouble for anyone, really.”

“I don’t doubt that, but…”

“…It’s completely different from now, but back then, it was really fun. Akira used to say she didn’t like black coffee because it’s bitter, you know? I had to train her forcibly to make her able to drink it.”

Huh, didn’t she just say she didn’t cause trouble for anyone?

Well, let’s not touch on that matter.

“Jun-kun.”

“Yes?”

“Please take good care of those tools. Although they’re quite old now, they’re filled with lots of memories.”

“…Yes, of course.”

Utahara-san smiled reassuringly.

I wonder if I can officially inherit those tools now.

Somehow, I feel like I can.

While having such a conversation, the sound of the bell signaling a customer’s arrival came from the entrance.

I quickly went to attend to them.

“Welcome, party of one?”

“Yes, just me.”

The one who answered was a young woman.

She wore a hat low over her eyes and sunglasses to cover her eyes, so her face couldn’t be seen.

There’s no student vibe about her. Perhaps she’s older than me.

“Right this way, please.”

I escorted the customer to a table.

If the Master doesn’t react, it means this person is a new customer.

(…That should be the case, but…)

Somehow, I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere recently.

Moreover, it’s someone I’ve seen quite recently.

“This café is known for serving coffee tailored to each customer’s taste. Could I have that, please?”

“Uh, um, of course…”

Surprised, I unintentionally stuttered.

Among the regular customers, there are surprisingly few who know about Utahara-san’s way of making coffee.

We don’t go around talking about how we change the way we make coffee for each person, and there aren’t many people who ask about it either.

“Um, may I ask… where you heard about that…?”

“I heard it from a lovely junior colleague of mine… and about you too.”

“Huh?”

“I believe your name is… Juntaro.”

As she said that, the woman slid her sunglasses down slightly.

Seeing her exposed face, I understood who she was.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Reiko Inamori… Do you know me?”