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

Episode 29: Lap Pillow

Mamiya-sensei gulped down the coffee I brewed in one go and left the duty room.

Then, as if in passing by each other, Shizuku appeared.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I just passed Akira-chan, were you two talking?”

“Nah, not really. It seems she wanted some coffee, drank a cup, and left right away.”

“I see.”

I had no intention of touching upon the conversation with Mamiya-sensei.

Even if we were to ask for more time off, Shizuku couldn’t rest even if she wanted to, which would only trouble her more.

“I made coffee for Shizuku too.”

“Thanks!”

Taking the glass, Shizuku quickly drank about half of the coffee.

“Phew… I feel alive again.”

“That’s good.”

As Shizuku sat down on the tatami mat, I offered her the bento box.

“Oh, this is the bento you mentioned this morning, right?”

“Yeah, I think it’s just average… If it’s not that good, feel free to leave it.”

Opening the bento box, Shizuku exclaimed in admiration at its contents.

The main dishes were ginger pork, rolled omelet, and sausages. I also included cherry tomatoes and boiled broccoli for color and nutrition.

“It’s really like a typical bento. It looks delicious.”

“I’m glad you think so but…”

“Can I eat now?”

“Yeah, go ahead.”

“Itadakimasu…!”

With a strangely delighted expression, Shizuku took a bite of the ginger pork.

Then, with a bright smile, she looked at me.

“It’s delicious! This ginger pork!”

“I’m glad…”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“The rolled omelet is well-made too… You’re really good at cooking, Juntaro.”

“If I get praise like that from Shizuku, it’s worth the practice.”

Shizuku quickly finished the bento. Judging by her eating, it seemed her compliment about its taste wasn’t just flattery.

“Phew… Thanks for the meal.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I was really hungry, so this helped a lot. It’s been a while since I had such a satisfying lunch.”

“I remembered something about bento. I’ve been curious for a while, but what’s bento corner like?”

“Hmm, it’s like ordering a large quantity from a famous bento shop? Honestly, I’m not sure, but it’s always delicious. Well, I haven’t really eaten much of it though.”.

Shizuku furrowed her brows in concern.

“Eating too much affects my afternoon work… I try not to eat much on set.”

“Affects how?”

“…I get sleepy. When my stomach’s full.”

Seeing Shizuku shyly avert her gaze, I almost burst out laughing. Well, it’s not a laughing matter, I know.

It’s unacceptable for a model-turned-actress to doze off on set.

Being considerate of others is important to avoid any disrespect.

However, the reason she avoids eating bento turns out to be such an adorable one.

“It’s not funny anymore.”

“I know… One piece of advice though, drinking coffee before eating might help.”

“Huh, really?”

“Caffeine can help with drowsiness and regulate blood sugar, so it might reduce post-meal drowsiness, right?”

It seemed from my research that drinking before eating might be more effective. By drinking first, it could also suppress appetite, preventing overeating, a double win.

However, caffeine can also stimulate gastric acid production, so people with sensitive stomachs might experience irritation, requiring caution.

“As expected, you know a lot.”

“I study whenever I have free time. I think my knowledge has expanded.”

However, coffee’s effects are ambiguous, and not all effects may be obtained correctly.

Through research, there are confirmed effects, but interpretations may vary from person to person.

The important thing is not to believe everything blindly but to seek evidence-based answers. I love coffee, but I don’t believe anything blindly.

There’s no evidence that drinking coffee leads to a longer life.

“Should I ask the manager to prepare coffee in advance for you?”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“Hey, if I keep you around, won’t everything be solved?”

“Huh?”

“For bento and coffee, you can rely on Juntaro.”
“I appreciate the kind words, but… that’s impossible.”