“Thank you for coming today~” Takina’s voiced echoed inside the cafe as she followed the rest of the regulars outside after celebrating Kurumi’s Board Game Tournament Birthday Special.
“Wheewwww…” Chisato sighed as she took a seat next to Kurumi on the counters. “Did you have fun?”
“Of course, I did. Thanks.” Kurumi gave Chisato a nod before turning around to look at all the mess they’d cleaned up.
Thankfully the regulars helped out in keeping the cafe clean, since it was sort of a big celebration, and thanks to that there wasn’t much more exhaustion needed for them on that day.
“Say, Kurumi.” Chisato leaned an elbow on the counter, propping her jaw on top of her hand as she looked at the cup of coffee Mika just served her, before giving another to Kurumi. “What do you want as a gift? I mean, we did all that, and some of the regulars gave you some stuff but I, personally haven’t gotten you anything because we were so busy…”
“Hmm. At this point in life, I don’t really want anything anymore…” Kurumi nodded at Mika. “Ah, maybe one thing.”
“Oh?” Chisato looked at her enthusiastically. “Tell me, tell me~” She moved a bit closer to Kurumi in interest before taking the cup of coffee with her propped hand and sipping.
“One thing you gave up on doing. Go confess to Takina already.” Kurumi gave her a teasing smirk as Chisato burned her tongue on the hot coffee. “You okay?”
“Y- You shouldn’t say such scandalous things!” Chisato gently put the cup down before looking at the door. “What if she hears you!?”
“It’s fine, isn’t it? Could even give you the push you need.”
“That’s mean!” Chisato raised her arms in the air in protest. “I- I don’t need any kind of pushes! Or anything!”
“You’ve got a better artificial heart. Isn’t it time to get a move on it?” Kurumi turned to Chisato. “Or is something still bothering toy?”
“Well…” Chisato looked at the cup of coffee again. “…I still feel like there’s still someone else out there that’s better for her.”
“Do you think she’s going to reject you?” Kurumi rested an arm on the counter, finally taking her coffee in her hand. “What does those eyes of yours tell you?”
“Well… I don’t think so…? I hope not? But that’s not the point…” Chisato sipped the coffee once again and gave Mika, who was just quietly watching the exchange, a thumbs up. “I still… I don’t know. Things could still change… Even though I know that my own feelings won’t change.”
“…It’ll be the best birthday gift for me, if you two could finally get on with each other.” Kurumi sipped her coffee and smiled. “You two deserve happiness, too.”
“Well… I…” Chisato turned to Kurumi with a surprised expression. “Thanks.”
The door chime rang as Takina entered the cafe, immediately followed by Mizuki.
“Bwah~ It sure has gotten colder!” Mizuki wrapped her arms around her body as she and Takina went inside the cafe. Mika handed Mizuki a bottle of sake, which she quickly took gratefully. “And a perfect bottle to warm my body!”
“Here.” Mika placed down a cup of coffee in front of Takina who took a spot on the counter next to Chisato.
“Thank you.” Takina nodded and placed her cold freezing hands around the cup. “It’s warm…” She smiled at it warmly.
Kurumi and Chisato looked each other in the eyes. Kurumi nodded at Chisato who only sighed.
“Takina.” Chisato turned to face Takina who lifted her gaze to look at her. “Want to come over today?”
“Eh? I don’t mind but… did something happen?” Takina blinked as she turned to Mika who only shrugged with a smile.
“Let’s just say… a birthday gift to a good friend.” Chisato smiled at Takina before turning to Kurumi who only raised her hands with a shrug.
“I am a little confused… but I suppose this is one of those situations where I shouldn’t ask.” Takina turned to her coffee and sipped. “It’s great, Manager.”
“Thank you.” Mika smiled then turned to Chisato. “Good luck.”
Chisato suddenly felt the chills as her body shivered. “Gwah! Don’t do that, Sensei! I feel like I’m being jinxed!”
“It’s what you deserve for being a useless lesbean and holding it out for sooooo long.” Mizuki took a swig directly from her bottle as she sat on one of the single tables. “If it fails, it’s because you deserved it~”
“Don’t put the blame on me, just because you can’t have what we have!” Chisato turned her counter stool around to face Mizuki as they exchanged colorful words.
Takina leaned forward as she looked at Kurumi who leaned closer to her. “…What should I do?”
Kurumi smiled at her. “What you do best.”
Takina blinked. “Kill people?”
Kurumi couldn’t hold it back as a smile, and a laugh tried to escape from her mouth.
“…Was I wrong? What’s going on?” Takina blinked as Kurumi went into a full-blown laughing fit.
Chisato and Mizuki suddenly stopped fighting as they turned to Kurumi who already had tears around her eyes from laughing.
“Earth to Kurumi-chan?” Chisato waved a hand at the blonde girl who was doing her best to stop her laughter
Kurumi only grabbed Chisato’s shoulder, then started patting it. “Good luck.”
“Ehhhh!? Not you, too!”
“Ahahahahahahaha~”
“Manager, I’m so confused.”
“It’ll be fine.”
“Go away riajuu, go explode~”
“That’s a classic one, Mizuki!”
“What’s a riajuu, Manager?”
“Go explode~”
“Daaaah! Mizuki, shadddaaaaap!”
“Ahahahahahaha~!”
(Just A Little Push/END)
