Chapter Five: Coffee Even at School

The next day, Shizuku was at school, as usual, swarmed by classmates from the moment she arrived.

“Shizuku! I watched the drama! It was seriously awesome!” a girl exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

“Thanks,” Shizuku replied, her tone polite but reserved.

The same girls who had been disparaging her earlier now showered her with unanimous praise. Watching this scene unfold left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“Do you film on the days you don’t come to school?” another asked, leaning in closer.

“Yeah. I think there’ll be more days I can’t come for a while,” Shizuku answered.

“Then I’ll share all my notes for the days you’re absent! You’ll need them, right?”

“Uh, yeah. That’d help a lot.”

“Don’t worry about it! We’re friends, aren’t we?”

The warmth of the crowd enveloped Shizuku, yet it felt starkly different from the atmosphere around her at the center. Friends, huh. They acted so friendly when she was around, but the moment she turned her back, their tongues wagged with gossip. I couldn’t fathom the nerve it took to flip attitudes so effortlessly. Maybe that’s why I’d never had close friends. If that’s what friendship meant, I was fine staying this way forever.

◇◆◇

“Hey, Juntaro.”

Lunch break had just begun, and as I reached for my food, Shizuku’s voice cut through my thoughts. Something about her seemed off.

“What’s up? Why’re you over there?” I asked, noticing her lingering in the shadows.

“If everyone spots me, I’ll get bombarded with questions about the drama. Hey, can you come over here for a sec?”

She beckoned me to the stair landing, her movements cautious. Once there, she fidgeted, glancing up at me with those eyes—whether by instinct or intent, that look was unfairly disarming.

“So, it’s a bit hard to say, but…” she hesitated, “I really want to drink coffee at school, but do you have any good ideas, maybe…?”

Her question caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless.

“You might think I could just buy coffee from the vending machine, but that wouldn’t quite satisfy me… I want properly brewed coffee, you know?”

“Ah…” It clicked. Shizuku’s face, more exhausted than usual, the toll of filming and the relentless questioning from classmates every break. Coffee, with its fatigue-masking effect, was her remedy of choice. I’d love to brew her some… But naturally, there were no coffee beans or brewing tools here.

“If there were, they’d probably be in the staff room or the home economics room,” I muttered, thinking aloud. “…Guess I’ll check the staff room first. There might be something.”

“You’ll help me out?” Shizuku’s eyes lit up.

“Of course. I’ll take responsibility for turning you into a coffee lover.”

Leaving her at the landing, I stepped into the staff room and immediately locked eyes with Mamiya-sensei, who was about to leave.

“Oh, Mamiya-sensei.”

“Call me Akira-chan, or I’ll kill you,” she shot back.

“That’s… a bit tough.” She’s as unreasonable as ever.

“Um, does the staff room have any tools for brewing coffee? Ideally, beans too…”

“Coffee? What’s with the sudden request?”

“Well, it’s just… I thought I’d use it for a summer project or something.” Total nonsense. No high schooler does summer projects.

“Oh, I see,” Mamiya-sensei said, accepting my flimsy excuse without a hint of suspicion. Is that really okay?

Her gaze drifted to a corner where a kettle and tea bags sat. Instant coffee was there, but the tools I needed were nowhere in sight.

“Not here, as expected,” I sighed.

“I figured…” she replied, then paused. “…Hold on a sec.”

She grabbed a key from the wall and returned. “The key to the night duty room. You might find coffee tools there.”

“But isn’t that where the janitor stays?”

“That’s an old story. It’s just an empty classroom now. I often take a smoke break there.”

“Isn’t that against the rules?” I raised an eyebrow, knowing the school was strictly non-smoking.

“Don’t sweat the small stuff. Just return the key by the end of the day.”

“Thank you.” A private space was a godsend. Shizuku likely wanted to avoid attention, and the night duty room sounded like a quiet haven.

Clutching the key, I left the staff room and brought Shizuku along to the dimly lit, deserted hallway at the far end of the school building.

“I didn’t even know there was a night duty room,” Shizuku said. “Actually, this might be my first time coming this far.”

“Same here. I’m opening it…”

I inserted the key into the lock, and the door creaked open. Stepping cautiously inside, we found a room lined with tatami mats. A gas stove, microwave, fridge, and even a closet stood in the back. At the center sat a low table, an ashtray brimming with cigarette butts—likely Mamiya-sensei’s—lending the air a faint tobacco scent.

“For a place that’s not used anymore, it’s got a lot of appliances,” I noted. “They’re old, but they seem functional.”

“Yeah, the fridge is still cold,” Shizuku added, peering inside.

Everything was worn but operational. With cooking tools available, you could probably whip up a meal with the right ingredients.

“Juntaro, look at this,” Shizuku called softly, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Peering into the cabinet beneath the stove, I discovered a complete set of coffee brewing tools—a grinder, a dripper, the works. Surprisingly, they were all in pristine condition, not a speck of dirt despite small scratches hinting at years of use.

“They were really taken care of,” I remarked, running my fingers along the smooth edge of the dripper. This level of care spoke of someone who truly cherished these tools. If we were going to use them, we’d need to honor that devotion.

“Too bad there aren’t any beans,” Shizuku sighed, her tone laced with disappointment.

“Yeah…” I echoed, as we rummaged through the room, hoping against hope. As expected, no coffee beans turned up. Even if we had found some, they’d likely be past their prime—coffee beans only last about a year, sometimes just a month, so it’s best to use them fresh.

“Guess we’ll bring beans tomorrow. And some paper filters,” I suggested. We’d found a stock of filters, but their age was anyone’s guess. Better not risk it—hygiene’s an important part of the equation.

“Guess we give up for today… Ugh, I really wanted coffee,” Shizuku groaned, her shoulders slumping. She’d become a full-fledged coffee lover, and I knew she’d struggle to focus on afternoon classes without her fix. I got how she felt.

“…It might not help much, but coffee tastes even better after holding out, you know?” I offered, hoping to lift her spirits.

Her eyes sparkled with a sudden fire. “Hearing that kinda fires me up. By the way, can we use this room freely from now on?”

“Why not? Mamiya-sensei said we could.”

“Doesn’t that feel, like, super exciting?” Shizuku’s grin widened as she flopped onto the tatami, her enthusiasm infectious.

“Come on, Juntaro,” she beckoned, patting the space beside her.

I lay down next to her, the cool tatami beneath us: a quiet contrast to the thrill of the moment. To think we were at school, yet stretching out so freely in this space—it felt like a stolen luxury, a mix of freedom and a touch of guilt that sent a shiver of excitement through me.

“It’s like a secret hideout,” I murmured, almost to myself.

“Nice! Then from today, this is our secret hideout,” Shizuku declared, her voice brimming with glee. Feeling a flush of embarrassment, we both burst into laughter, the sound echoing softly in the room.

From now on, this room was our castle.

◇◆◇

The lunch break the following day found me back in the night duty room with Shizuku.

“I brought beans and filters from home today,” I announced, holding up the small bag of coffee beans.

Shizuku’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’ve been waiting for this! Brewing fresh coffee at school feels so luxurious.”

We dove right into the task. Shizuku had brought the mineral water needed for brewing, and while I set the kettle to boil, I ground the beans with steady turns of the grinder. The rich, earthy scent began to fill the air. I fitted a paper filter into the dripper and, once the water was ready, began pouring with careful precision.

“Wow…” Shizuku’s soft gasp drew my attention. She was covering her mouth, likely to avoid breaking my concentration.

Her reaction was almost too cute, and I nearly faltered, my hand trembling slightly as I poured. But a year of training under Utahara-san’s watchful eye had honed my skills—something as small as this wouldn’t throw me off.

“…Done,” I said, finishing the pour within three minutes. I’d call that a success.

“Sorry, Shizuku, could you grab the saucer?”

“Saucer?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Yeah, uh, that plate over there,” I clarified, pointing to the stack nearby.

“Oh! That’s what it’s called.” She flashed a sheepish grin as she retrieved one.

I placed the pre-warmed coffee cup on the saucer. Warming the cup beforehand keeps the coffee from cooling too quickly—a small trick for the perfect brew. As I poured the coffee, its rich aroma swirled through the room, warm and inviting.

“Mmm, smells amazing,” Shizuku murmured, leaning closer to the cup.

“Yeah, I think I nailed it this time,” I replied with a hint of pride.

We set the cups on the low table and settled onto the tatami, facing each other, the steaming coffee between us promising a moment of quiet indulgence.

“Cheers.”

For some reason, we clinked glasses before I took a sip of the freshly brewed coffee. A bold bitterness hit first, followed by a subtle acidity and a deep, lingering richness that filled my mouth and nose. Moments later, Shizuku sipped hers, her eyes lighting up.

“Delicious…! This is seriously delicious, Juntaro,” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with delight.

“Yeah, I’d call this a big success,” I replied, a touch of pride in my tone.

But deep down, I knew it still didn’t measure up to Utahara-san’s coffee. Hers had a profound richness, free of any off-flavors. Today’s brew captured that depth, but if I were honest, it wasn’t flawless. A faint, overly sharp acidity lingered in the refined bitterness—an imperfection I couldn’t ignore. I’d called it a success, but I was still just following the manual to the letter.

Understanding the beans’ character, huh… It was a daunting challenge, yet it fueled a genuine sense of purpose within me.

“Sorry, I still can’t tell the difference,” Shizuku said, her tone apologetic. “The coffee Master brewed and the one you made—they’re both super delicious to me.”

“Thanks,” I said, offering a small smile. “But I’m aiming for something beyond this.”

I took another sip. It was undeniably good—Utahara-san had said it was at a level that wouldn’t shame me in any café. But it wasn’t enough.

“I want something in life I can say I’ve truly mastered,” I continued, my voice steady with resolve. “I want to reach Master’s level… no, someday, I want to surpass her.”

Shizuku fell silent, her gaze softening as she listened. Feeling a flush of embarrassment at my sudden declaration, I added, “…Talking like that out of nowhere is kinda embarrassing.”

She shook her head, her expression earnest. “It’s not embarrassing at all. That’s an amazing goal. You’re incredible, Juntaro. Setting a goal and working toward it isn’t something just anyone can do.”

“You’re working hard without giving up too, aren’t you?” I countered.

“Am I?” Shizuku’s voice carried a hint of shyness as she sipped her coffee. “Right now, I’m pushing through work so I can have coffee at Mellow as my goal. But, like… I don’t have a big goal like you do.”

“A big goal?”

“Like something you absolutely want to achieve,” she explained, her eyes drifting downward. “Going to a café is a small daily goal, right? For modeling, maybe… walking an international runway?” A trace of loneliness crept into her voice. “I don’t have a goal like that.” She gave a wry smile.

“There’s no need to rush, is there?” I said, meeting her gaze as she looked up.

“I don’t know much about the entertainment world,” I continued, “but just continuing to work as a model is a worthy goal, I think. You said maintaining your figure is part of the job, but I could never do that. And to keep it up for years? Not everyone can do that.”

Shizuku’s serious gaze met mine, her eyes steady and searching.

“I don’t want to sound preachy, but… how about making finding a goal your goal for now?” I ventured, hoping my words didn’t come off as trite.

Her face lit up, a spark of relief breaking through. “Making finding a goal my goal… I like that. I’m sold.”

Shizuku’s bright smile seemed to lift a weight from her shoulders, and I couldn’t help but feel a quiet pride. If my clumsy words had eased her worries even a little, it was worth the effort.

“Juntaro, will you help me find my goal?” she asked, her voice soft but earnest.

“Of course. I’ll help you as much as you need. After all—” I paused, the words catching in my throat.

“After all…?” she prompted, tilting her head slightly.

“We’re friends.” My one and only.

“Friends, huh…” Shizuku’s voice trailed off, her shoulders slumping for reasons I couldn’t quite grasp. I tilted my head, puzzled by her reaction.

Before I could dwell on it, the night duty room’s door burst open with a clatter.

“Whoa, you’re really brewing coffee in here,” came a familiar, listless drawl. Mamiya-sensei stood in the doorway, her usual air of nonchalance hanging about her like a cloud.

“And Kamisaka’s here too? What’s this, a secret rendezvous?” she teased, her eyes glinting with mischief.

“As if we’d do that at school…!” I shot back, my face heating up.

Mamiya-sensei ignored my protest, stepping onto the tatami with a casual stride. From inside her lab coat, she produced a cigarette, no doubt stashed there in defiance of the rules.

“Akira-chan, isn’t this school supposed to be smoke-free?” Shizuku pointed out, her tone half-amused, half-accusatory.

“What a bunch of sticklers,” Mamiya-sensei muttered. “Are you guys all goody-two-shoes or what? Look, they said we could use this room, so let me have a smoke in peace. And keep it hush-hush, for both our sakes, yeah?”

Her logic left little room to argue, and we could only exchange a glance before backing off.

“…Phew,” Mamiya-sensei exhaled, opening the window and lighting her cigarette. The duty room window faced the back of the school, where bushes obscured the view. No one was likely to spot the smoke curling upward, but it was a bold move all the same.

“Hey, I know it’s a bit pushy, but could you brew me some coffee too?” Mamiya-sensei asked, her tone casual as she leaned against the windowsill.

“Huh? Oh, sure. If you’re fine with my coffee,” I replied, a touch of nerves creeping in. Did Mamiya-sensei like coffee too? If brewing her a cup was the price for using this room, I’d gladly pay it.

“Here you go,” I said, handing her the steaming mug.

“Oh, thanks!” She took it with a lazy grin.

I’d brewed the coffee with the same careful steps as before, but now, serving it to a teacher felt oddly surreal. My stomach twisted—had I gotten it right? I didn’t think I’d messed up, but…

“…Mmm, this is good,” Mamiya-sensei murmured, and my shoulders finally relaxed.

“It’s delicious, right, Juntaro’s coffee?” Shizuku chimed in, her voice brimming with pride.

“Yeah, not bad at all,” Mamiya-sensei agreed, though her grin turned cheeky. “To be honest, I don’t really get the fine details of taste.”

“Guess you’re that girl’s apprentice, huh? Well-trained, aren’t you?” she added, her smirk sharpening.

“Apprentice? That girl… you don’t mean…” My breath caught as her words sank in.

Mamiya-sensei’s smirk widened. “You’re working part-time at Yumi’s place, right? I hear about you all the time from her.”

“You’re friends with Master…!” I blurted, stunned. Utahara-san and Mamiya-sensei were the same age, but I’d never imagined they knew each other.

“Yumi and I go way back, since middle school,” she said, exhaling a puff of smoke toward the sky. “We got up to all sorts of mischief together.”

Leaning against the windowsill, she looked almost nostalgic. “What, that kind-looking Master? I can’t even imagine it,” I said, trying to picture Utahara-san as anything but the composed woman I knew.

“She’s all proper and hardworking now, but back then, she was quite the rebel. Way worse than me, even,” Mamiya-sensei said, her grin softening with memory.

I barely knew anything about Utahara-san’s past, just bits and pieces from small talk. If her history wasn’t exactly something to brag about, it made sense she’d kept it quiet.

“Both she and I went to this school,” Mamiya-sensei continued. “This duty room was our hangout spot.”

“Hangout spot…?” I echoed, glancing around the room.

“It was Yumi who suggested making this place our spot. She even said she wanted to practice brewing coffee during lunch breaks, and ever since, I was stuck being her taste-tester. See? She was a real troublemaker, wasn’t she?”

I exchanged a glance with Shizuku. Utahara-san and her friends had been doing the same thing we were—brewing coffee in this very room. What a coincidence. Or maybe I was just following in my master’s footsteps?

“All the tools here are ones she used back then,” Mamiya-sensei said. “I’ve been keeping them maintained at her request, but… looks like they’re still in working order, so I’m relieved.”

“So that’s why everything’s so clean,” I said, nodding. It explained why the tools, untouched for years, were in such pristine condition.

“I was kinda shocked when she started buying top-of-the-line appliances with her part-time job money, though,” Mamiya-sensei added. “Thanks to that, they’re still in great shape.”

“Master’s drive is unreal, isn’t it?” I said, half in awe.

“When it comes to something she wants to do, that woman spares no effort,” she replied, her tone fond but exasperated. It felt a bit excessive, but if that effort had shaped Utahara-san’s skills today, it was all necessary. I’d have to take inspiration from her determination.

“When she told me she hired someone for the shop, I wondered how it’d turn out… but seeing you, I think it’ll be fine.” Mamiya-sensei stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray and gave my head a light poke. Her expression didn’t shift, but it felt like praise.

“Keep looking out for Yumi, alright? She’s kind of an idiot sometimes,” she said, her voice carrying the warmth of someone talking about a troublesome little sister.

“Anyway, you guys can keep using this room as you like. In exchange, make me coffee again sometime, yeah?”

“Yes, of course!” I replied, a little too eagerly.

With a casual wave, Mamiya-sensei left the duty room. Shizuku turned to me, eyes wide. “I can’t believe Akira-chan and Master are friends—best friends, even.”

“Yeah, total shocker,” I agreed, glancing around the room again. This was where the person I admired had honed her skills, probably thinking about coffee day and night. If I didn’t put in at least that much effort, catching up to her would remain a pipe dream.

“Shizuku… I’m going to need you to help me with practice for a while. Is that okay?” I asked, my resolve firming.

“Of course!” she said, puffing out her chest proudly. “I’m the one who said I wanted to drink coffee at school, so I’m all in!”

I gave Shizuku a deep bow, gratitude swelling in my chest. “Wait, it’s already this late?!” she exclaimed, glancing at the clock. “Let’s hurry and eat our lunch!”

Before we knew it, lunch break was nearly over. We scarfed down our food and left the duty room behind, the weight of Utahara-san’s legacy lingered in the air.