Act I | Act II | Act III | Act IV
Act V: Conclusion
Her heart is in her chest as she stands beside the brick wall outside the coffeehouse, counting her breaths one by one.
This should be… easy. She’s been making decisions on life or death situations for several months now. So what if she kissed her barista? The cute one that always gave her free coffee?
A woman passes by, giving her a strange look before continuing on and Shirayuki frets. She must look an utter mess. How long had she been standing here, trying to get her nerve up to walk back in?
And maybe he wasn’t there?
Ha. He’s always there. It’s like he lives in the place.
Maybe he does?
She shakes herself.
Although there was still a chance that it was a dream. Yes. It could have been a dream. Definitely a dream. It was something that she could laugh at herself about later on when she walked in and he gave her one of those smooth smiles, asking her “What would you like, Miss? On the house.”
Her knees sink a little and she catches herself against the wall, letting out a little whine. She could do this. She could! She just had to remind herself that it was her sleep deprived mind coming up with vivid hallucinations of just how good his mouth would feel slotted against hers.
Gathering herself, she takes a steadying breath and plasters a smile on her face. She could do this. She was going to do this.
Stepping forward confidently, she strides towards the door and pushes it wide open.
Her face falls when she sees the blonde standing behind the counter and not Obi.
The man’s expression goes from lazy to sharp in an instant. “Hi Shirayuki!” he calls, his voice booming through the small coffee shop.
There’s a loud crash and Shirayuki jerks her head to where Obi is trying to catch the straws and sugar dispenser. Creamer is dripping from the counter and onto the floor.
Oh no, her heart sinks. I did kiss him.
“Yo, Obi!” Suzu says. “I'm gonna take my 15 now.”
Obi whirls on his heels, hand reaching out. “Wait!”
But Suzu is already disappearing into the backroom, showing no signs of slowing down.
His hand drops and his shoulders are tight and tense as he turns slowly towards her. There’s nowhere for either of them to hide.
“Hi,” she chokes.
Obi’s mouth opens and shuts twice before he manages, “…hi.”
Oh God, she feels horrible.
“Um, listen,” she begins, taking a step closer. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I was really tired and I never meant to make you uncomfortable.”
He rubs the back of his neck, looking at her bashfully. “People make mistakes all the time,” he smiles tensely. “I understand.”
The silence is pronounced and she can’t help but notice the way his chest seems to cave in on itself, disappointed.
“How about I get you a coffee to make up for it?” he tries.
Her mind go blank. “That doesn’t make sense,” she replies.
He winces, his hand dropping to his shoulder where he rubs it, hard. “No, it doesn’t, does it?” he whispers, looking away.
“No, I mean-” she takes another step forward, “I should be asking you out to lunch or something!”
Obi’s head snaps up, eyes wide. “Miss-” he begins.
“That’s how it works, isn’t it?” she smiles, nerves fluttering down her spine. What is she doing? She feels like she is going to throw up she’s so scared. “Whoever gives the first kiss needs to buy the other a meal?”
What was she even saying?!
He swallows, his hand falling to his side as he stares at her. “Are you asking me out?”
Ohgodohgodohogodohgod...
She curbs the urge to run and hide. As Yuzuri said, there were six other coffee shops around this place, but this- well, this coffee house was her favorite. And so was he.
“Yes.”
A slow, tentative smile spreads across his face, and lord, he doesn’t have the right to look as heart stoppingly beautiful as he does right now.
“Okay.”
