Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051604232886910
Her part-time job the next day.
The pleasant aroma of freshly ground coffee filled the shop.
“Kana-chan. Could you show Kikuchi-kun how to brew coffee today?”
When the manager spoke to her, Kana glanced at Shunta for just a moment.
“…Yes.”
There was no blatant refusal like yesterday’s.
Still, there was a certain distance in her reply.
◆
The kitchen.
“This drink goes in this cup. Lattes go in this one.”
Kana explained as she deftly arranged the cups.
“Fill the milk to here. Check the temperature on this gauge.”
“Okay.”
Shunta was taking notes intently, determined not to miss a single detail.
“Okay, try it once.”
“Got it.”
Shunta began brewing the coffee carefully, double-checking the steps he’d been taught.
Kana watched his hands in silence.
(…He’s picking it up faster than yesterday.)
There were few unnecessary movements.
He was absorbing what she taught him without hesitation.
Shunta, for his part, was also slightly surprised.
(She’s… teaching me better than yesterday.)
The tense atmosphere from the day before had eased just a little.
Just then.
“…Yesterday.”
Kana opened her mouth slightly.
“Um… I’m sorry.”
Shunta’s eyes widened just a little.
“Don’t worry about it.”
Saying that, he gave a small smile.
Faced with that smile, Kana couldn’t say anything in return.
She simply gave a slight nod.
After that, the two of them quietly continued making drinks.
◆
After closing time.
As she was tidying up the shop, she heard a tapping sound on the window.
Tap, tap—.
Gradually, the raindrops grew more frequent, turning into a downpour.
“Rain, huh?”
Shunta looked up at the sky outside the window.
(I’m glad I brought my folding umbrella.)
With that thought in mind, he stepped outside to put away the umbrella stand in front of the shop.
Then.
A little boy was standing motionless under the eaves.
He was clutching the shoulder straps of his backpack tightly and looking up at the rainy sky with a worried expression.
“What’s wrong?”
The boy answered without looking up.
“…I don’t have an umbrella.”
His voice sounded as if he were about to burst into tears at any moment.
(I can’t just leave him like this.)
Shunta smiled gently.
“Wait here a second.”
Leaving those words behind, he hurried toward the changing room.
Inside the store, Kana, who had been tidying up, watched him go with a puzzled look.
(……What’s he doing?)
A short while later, Shunta returned, clutching a folding umbrella in his hand.
“Here. Use this.”
The boy’s eyes widened in surprise.
“But what about you?”
“I’ll be fine.”
Shunta gave a thumbs-up and smiled.
“I’ve got another one.”
“Thank you so much!”
The boy bowed repeatedly, then ran off with the umbrella open. Shunta quietly waved until the boy’s back disappeared from view.
“Well, time to head back.”
And then, as if nothing had happened, he walked back into the store.
Kana simply stared at his retreating figure.
(……Why?)
Her heart fluttered.
The guy who did the worst thing possible on the day of the entrance ceremony.
That’s what she’d always thought.
But.
That smile from just now.
And the kindness he showed the boy.
No matter how she looked at it, it just didn’t match the Shunta Kikuchi she’d heard about at school.
(A person like this……)
(Did he really do something like that?)
She couldn’t find an answer.
That’s exactly why—.
(……I’ll make sure to find out for myself)
It’s not just rumors.
With my own eyes.
I’ll see who Shunta Kikuchi is now.
◆
“Thanks for your hard work today!”
Having finished changing, Kana stepped out of the store.
The rain was still falling.
She glanced over and saw Shunta standing under the eaves, looking up at the rainy sky.
“I thought it would stop, though…”
Kana walked slowly toward him.
“…Where’s your umbrella?”
Shunta turned around.
“Oh, thanks for your hard work.”
Then he smiled sheepishly.
“I left it at home today.”
(……That’s a lie.)
Kana knew it.
He’d just given that umbrella to the boy a moment ago.
“If I run to the convenience store—”
Just as Shunta was about to step out into the rain.
“Wait.”
Kana called out to him.
Then, she lifted her umbrella slightly.
“Want to share it… for a bit?”
“Huh?”
“There’s something I’d like to ask you.”
Shunta looked at Kana, puzzled.
(I don’t really have a reason to refuse…)
(Maybe I’ll ask a few things, too.)
“…Okay.”
The two of them stepped under the same umbrella.
Only the quiet sound of the rain enveloped them.
After walking for a while, Kana spoke up.
“…Hey.”
“Hm?”
Kana looked at Shunta walking beside her.
“You’re totally different from how you are at school.”
“…………”
Kana bit her lip slightly.
And then—
She voiced the question she’d been holding onto all this time.
“Are you… really Shunta Kikuchi?”
–
–
If you enjoy our content, feel free to donate, Thank you in advance !