Prologue: The Encounter on a Rainy Day

slumped over my desk, feigning sleep. Even as a second-year high school student, my social awkwardness kept me retreating into my own little world. Nobody paid me any mind, and that

“Shizuku! I bought your photo book yesterday!”

“Thank you, that makes me happy.”

The voices of my classmates drifted over. At the center of the class stood Kamisaka Shizuku, known as the mega-popular cool beauty model “SHIZUKU.” Her black bob-cut hair, adorned with a choker, framed a figure that was boyish yet undeniably feminine, with a few undone shirt buttons offering a tantalizing glimpse of her ample cleavage. That unique blend of charm had made her wildly popular among young people, and recently, she’d even starred in commercials with rumors swirling about a potential drama role. She was the kind of person who could captivate anyone.

“H-Hey! I brought your photo book… could you, like, sign it or something?”

“Hehe, sure thing.”

“Thank you…!”

Kamisaka signed the boy’s photo book with ease, never skimping on fan service, even at school. Watching her only sharpened the painful contrast between my dull existence and her radiant presence. By now, I’d grown so used to my own insignificance that it barely stung anymore.

bound for Jinbocho. A short train ride from  led me to my part-time job. Turning into an alley about ten minutes from the station, I spotted the familiar sign for Mellow Café, its door proudly displaying “OPEN.”

“Good work today.”

“Oh, Jun-kun! Good job at school!”

Utahara Yumi-san, the café’s master, greeted me with her gentle demeanor and slightly droopy, thread-like eyes. Her warm, enveloping presence was a favorite among the regulars, and as my benefactor who’d hired a shy guy like me, she held a special place in my heart.

“It’s pretty quiet today, so take your time getting ready, okay?”

“Got it.”

In the back, I slipped on an apron, tied my overgrown hair into a ponytail, and joined Utahara-san at the counter. Three groups of customers dotted the shop: a regular elderly couple, a rough-looking salaryman, and a group of moms chatting over coffee—the usual crowd for this place.

“The sandwich is ready—”

“For the Satou couple, right?”

“Yup, please take it to them.”

I carried Utahara-san’s sandwich to the elderly couple, who smiled warmly. “Oh, Jun-kun. Straight from school again? You’re such a hard worker.”

“Thank you.”

Their kind tone warmed my heart. Being called “Jun-kun” felt a bit embarrassing, but it made me feel accepted in this space, a sensation I didn’t mind at all.

“Dear… it looks like rain today, doesn’t it?”

“They said on TV, didn’t they, dear? It’s supposed to rain this evening.”

Glancing outside at their words, I noticed people on the street hurrying along as the rain began to fall. Those running probably forgot their umbrellas—poor things. Then it hit me: I hadn’t brought an umbrella either. With my shift lasting until closing at 9 p.m., I could only hope the rain would stop by then.

“Oops…”

The chime of the bell rang out, signaling a new customer. “Welcome, how many—” My customer-service smile froze.

“Ka… Kamisaka?”

“Mi… Mikage-kun?”

At first, her hat and mask threw me off, but those distinctive eyes gave her away instantly. Kamisaka Shizuku stood right in front of me, of all places. To think I’d run into a classmate here, in Mellow Café—a tucked-away, old-school spot with an outdated exterior that rarely attracted anyone my age.

—This is bad, this is bad… Calm down, me. Just do your job like normal.

I repeated the mantra to myself, steadying my nerves

Then, I noticed something off about her.

“…Are you crying?”

“Ah…”

Kamisaka flinched, her cheeks flushing red before she abruptly turned on her heel.

“Wait!”

“!?”

Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed her hand. Her uniform was already damp, clinging to her skin—she must’ve been caught in the rain nearby and ducked into the café on impulse, without an umbrella.

“If you leave now, you’ll get soaked,” I said. “You should stay here until the rain lets up.”

“…But.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but you shouldn’t let yourself catch a cold, right? Don’t worry about the bill.”

She hesitated, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. After a moment, Kamisaka met my eyes and gave a small nod. I guided her to a seat and returned to the counter.

“Jun-kun, is that girl a friend of yours?” Utahara-san asked, his voice low but curious.

“Yeah, she’s a classmate. Sorry, but could I order a coffee for her on my tab?”

“No need to worry about the bill,”  replied with a grin. “She seems troubled by something, so I’ll cover it.”

“Thank you.” I couldn’t help but smile at Utahara-san’s enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Returning to Kamisaka’s table, I set down the steaming cup Utahara-san had prepared. “Sorry for the wait. This is on the house, courtesy of the master.”

“Oh… thank you,” she murmured, her hands wrapping around the warm cup. A single tear traced down her cheek.

“Oh, is coffee not your thing? I can get you something else—”

“No, I like it. It’s fine,” she said quickly, her voice soft but firm.

“…Okay.”

“Sorry… I just, I don’t know, I feel a little relieved.” A faint laugh escaped her lips, and I scratched my cheek, unsure how to respond.

Now what?

Something was clearly bothering her, but Kamisaka and I weren’t exactly close. Prying felt intrusive, yet ignoring her distress didn’t sit right with me either.

“…Hang on a sec.”

“?”

I stepped back to the counter and leaned toward Utahara-san. “Sorry, could I step away from work for a bit?”

“If you hadn’t asked, I was going to make you take a break anyway,”  said with a knowing nod. “Go stay with her. Sometimes, just having someone nearby can make things a little easier when you’re struggling.”

“Thank you.” I bowed briefly and returned to Kamisaka’s side.

I’d always envied her, the way she seemed to live such a dazzling life, free of worries, always shining. But now, seeing her like this, I realized I’d been completely wrong.

“Hey, Kamisaka.”

“…!”

“Mind if I sit here for a bit?”

“…Sure.”

She nodded deeply, a hint of relief softening her expression. For a while, the café was filled only with the gentle hum of the BGM and the steady patter of rain against the windows. Kamisaka lifted her cup, taking a slow sip.

“Glad you think so. This place’s coffee is my favorite too.”

Ever since I’d stumbled into this shop by chance, I’d been captivated by the coffee Utahara-san brewed. I want to brew coffee like this myself. That single thought had pushed me, an introvert through and through, to jump at the chance when I saw they were hiring.

“By the way,” I said, breaking the silence, “I’m surprised you remembered me. We haven’t been in the same class for long.”

“You remembered me too, didn’t you?”

“Well, yeah… you’re famous.”

Kamisaka had debuted as a model in her first year of high school, skyrocketing to fame. Now she was in demand for all sorts of projects. Her name wasn’t a household one across generations  , but with her growing presence on TV and in magazines, it was only a matter of time.

“Yeah… I guess I am famous, huh?” she said, her voice tinged with resignation as she took another sip.

“—Did something happen at work?”

“Why do you think that?”

“You say you’re famous, but you don’t seem happy about it.”

“Hehe… Was I that obvious?” Kamisaka let out a playful laugh, her eyes briefly darting away before meeting mine again.

“Work’s going great,” Kamisaka said, her voice bright but tinged with something heavier. “I get to wear all sorts of clothes every day, and the magazine people, the TV crew, my friends—everyone’s always praising me. I’m making money too…

“But…?” I prompted, leaning forward slightly.

Her gaze faltered, and she forced a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Everyone’s started treating me like some kind of celebrity… and I’ve been getting heartless comments too. My everyday life changed so fast, and I’m still struggling to keep up.” Her expression strained under the weight of tangled emotions, betraying the effort behind her composure.

She paused, then continued, her voice quieter. “I was at a shoot earlier, and out of nowhere, some random guy yelled at me, ‘Don’t act so high and mighty!’ I told the staff I was fine, but… when I was walking alone afterward, it’s like something inside me just snapped.”

“What the hell…” I muttered, indignation rising. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Kamisaka.”

“Thanks,” she said softly, her shoulders relaxing a fraction. “Hearing someone say that helps a lot.”

Slander against celebrities or influencers was practically a daily occurrence now, but that didn’t make it right. There was no reason Kamisaka should have to endure such cruelty.

“Still, I’m glad,” she added, her tone lifting slightly. “If I hadn’t run into you today, Mikage-kun, I might’ve quit modeling.”

I froze, searching her face for any hint

“Kidding!” she said quickly, then hesitated. “…Maybe.”

That didn’t sound like a joke at all. She must’ve been teetering on the edge of giving up until just moments ago.

“…Are you pushing yourself too hard?” I asked, concern creeping into my voice.

“        Nah,” she replied, her voice steadier now. “Now that I’ve calmed down, I realize there’s no need to quit. If I gave up now, it’d feel like I was running away, and that’d be kind of frustrating.”

“You’re strong, Kamisaka,” I said, genuinely impressed. “Being able to stand your ground like that—I think that’s real strength.”

If it were me, I probably would’ve run. Escaping something painful always seemed easier than facing it head-on. I couldn’t imagine always confronting everything was the best way.

Her eyes widened slightly. “…That might be the first time anyone’s said that to me.”

When Kamisaka smiled, unguarded and genuine, my heart skipped a beat. Unlike the polished charm she wore as a model, this expression felt raw, almost overwhelmingly captivating.

“When you smile like that, Kamisaka… you look really beautiful,” I said before I could stop myself.

Her face flushed red. “Huh?”

“I-I mean—” I stammered, heat rising to my cheeks.

“Whoa, that caught me off guard…” she said, a teasing lilt in her voice. “I thought you were more reserved, Mikage-kun. Didn’t expect you to flirt like that.”

“F-Flirt!?” I sputtered. “No, I didn’t mean it like that!”

Kamisaka burst out laughing, her usual cool demeanor nowhere to be found. Her expressions shifted freely, unguarded and bright. “Haha! It’s fine. Honestly, I’m happy you said that.” She held her stomach, catching her breath after laughing so hard.

I was glad she was smiling, but I couldn’t shake the embarrassment crawling up my neck.

“Hey, tell me about you, Mikage-kun,” she said, her curiosity sparking.

“About me?”

“Yeah. Like… you work here, right? How long have you been at it?”

“Uh… since May of my first year,” I replied.

“Oh, so about a year, huh? That’s cool, working at a café. Why’d you pick this place? Because the coffee’s good?”

“Exactly,” I said, a bit more animated. “I wanted to learn how to make coffee like they do here, so I kind of begged to be hired as both an apprentice and a part-timer.”

I glanced at Utahara-san, who returned a warm smile. “I’m still nowhere near good enough, though.”

“I don’t brew at the shop yet… but if I ever get the chance, I’ll let you know.”

“Really? It’s a promise, okay?” Even if it was just flattery, her interest felt oddly uplifting.

I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s like my body just craves it.”

“I get it. All the regulars say the same thing.”

          Mellow Café thrived on its loyal regulars. After working here for a year, new customers were rare, but even those few almost always became regulars themselves. That was the magic of the coffee’s rich, satisfying depth.

“Can I come back here?” Kamisaka asked, her voice light. “As a proper customer next time, of course.”

“Of course. I’ll be waiting,” I replied.

“Haha, thanks!”

Before I realized it, the rain had stopped. Normally, that’d be cause for celebration, but Kamisaka’s expression faltered, a hint of disappointment flickering across her face.

“We did say until the rain lets up, didn’t we?” she said, almost dutifully, clinging to the excuse I’d used to keep her here.

“You can stick around a bit longer, you know? The master probably won’t mind.”

“No, it’s fine,” she said, shaking her head. “I haven’t paid for anything, and staying longer would feel rude. Besides… I feel refreshed now.” With a cute little wink, her usual public-facing charm shone through, a sign she was truly feeling better.

“Oh, right. When do you work here, Mikage-kun?” Kamisaka asked, her voice light with curiosity.

“Pretty much every day,” I replied.

“Got it. So I can see you whenever I drop by, huh?” A shy smile curved her lips as she grabbed her bag and stood.

“Thanks for the treat… I’ll definitely be back.”

“Yeah, I’ll be waiting.”

Kamisaka offered a polite thank-you to Utahara-san as well before slipping out of Café Mellow.

“She even said a proper goodbye. What a nice girl,” Utahara-san remarked, her tone warm.

It was past nine in the evening, and we were cleaning up after closing. Utahara-san broke the quiet as she spoke again. “She’s your classmate, right? Uh, what was her name…?”

“Kamisaka Shizuku.”

“Shizuku-chan, huh? She was gorgeous—could she be, like, a celebrity or something?”

“She debuted as a super popular model last year. She’s in magazines all the time.”

“Wow…! That’s amazing! Ugh, did I just sound like an old lady there?” Utahara-san chuckled, brushing a hand through her hair.

“No way, Utahara-san, you’re not old at all. You’re still plenty young.”

“Really? Phew, that’s a relief.” She let out a dramatic sigh, pressing a hand to her chest.

At twenty-seven, Utahara-san was the master of Café Mellow. Five years ago, fresh out of college, she’d taken over the place from her grandfather and had been running it single-handedly ever since. I’d heard she only put out a help-wanted ad last year on a whim. I felt incredibly lucky to have jumped at that chance.

“She looked so refreshed when she left,” Utahara-san noted. “What did you two talk about?”

“She was having some trouble at work. I mostly just listened.”

“Liar. You were totally flirting with her,” she teased, her eyes glinting mischievously.

“Wha—!? I wasn’t trying to flirt or anything—”

“Hmph, whatever. It’s not like I have enough youth to compete anyway. I’ve never even been flirted with! You’re such a dummy, Jun-kun!”

“Come on, Utahara-san, you’re plenty young…”

“Oh? Then will you flirt with me too?” she shot back, a playful challenge in her voice.

“…No way. Flirting with someone as beautiful and kind as you? That’s way too daunting.” I scratched the back of my neck, feeling my face heat up. As a total introvert, I could never come up with smooth lines. Sometimes I blurted out exactly what I was thinking, and when I didn’t want to say something, I just clammed up and dodged.

“…That’s so you, Jun-kun,” she said softly.

“Huh?”

“Alright, back to cleaning!” She turned away abruptly, leaving me puzzled.

Why did she look away like that? Shaking off the thought, I went back to wiping down the tables as usual.

“…Found it!” I muttered, pulling out the drip coffee my mom had bought. It’d been sitting untouched for a while, but it didn’t seem to have gone bad.

“Now to boil some water…” I heated water in the electric kettle and poured it over the filter set in the cup. The coffee dripped through the ground beans, slowly filling the cup. Once it was done, I removed the filter.

“Here goes.” After letting it cool a bit, I took a sip, tasting sharp bitterness and acidity. No doubt about it—this was coffee as I knew it. But the coffee at Café Mellow had been so delicious it might as well have been a different drink altogether.

“…I want to go back,” I whispered to myself. Today, thanks to Mikage-kun listening to me, I’d managed to hold myself together had been piling up, making me want to quit modeling altogether. I was still a little scared

“Still, Mikage-kun…” His face popped into my mind. With his hair tied back, he was surprisingly handsome. Working at a café like that, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was popular. Seeing this unexpected side of a boy who usually blended into the background at school made my heart skip a beat.

“I’m the only one who knows he works there… right?” I murmured, a small smile tugging at my lips. I downed the rest of the coffee and headed to my room. The bitter, sour coffee, in its final sip, was somehow just a little sweet.