Shion's Day #004 | Holiday Cafe Time

On my days off, my morning starts a little later than on weekdays.

I turn off the alarm and bury my face in the futon just one more time.

"...Just five more minutes."

I thought that was all, but when I looked at the clock again, 30 minutes had passed.

Well, today is a day off.

There's no reason to rush.

I slowly got up and opened the curtains.

The summer light coming through the window is brighter than I expected.

It would be fine to spend the whole day at home.

Watching videos, playing on my phone, or taking a nap if I get sleepy.

I don't dislike those kinds of holidays.

But today, I felt like going out for some reason.

Heading out without deciding on a destination

I get ready lightly and leave the house.

Today, I'm dressed a bit more casually than on a typical workday.

My favorite top and pants.

I put only what I need in my tote bag and started walking in the opposite direction of the station.

I haven't decided on a destination in particular.

"If it gets hot, I'll just go inside somewhere."

That kind of casual attitude is allowed on a day off.

The streets I usually walk while worrying about the time look a little different on a holiday.

A small shop I'd been curious about.

A sign that had changed before I noticed.

People talking on a park bench.

There are surprisingly many things I didn't notice when I was in a hurry.

And after walking for about 10 minutes, a cafe caught my eye.

It was a shop I had passed by several times before.

"...Maybe I'll try going in here."

That was the mood I was in today.

A window seat and an iced cafe latte

When I entered the shop, the cold air enveloped my body all at once.

I let out a small breath without thinking.

I ordered an iced cafe latte.

Actually, I was a little curious about something sweet, but,

"I'll think about it later,"

I decided to just get a drink for now.

I sat in the window seat I was guided to and placed my bag to the side.

I took a sip of the cafe latte.

The coldness and bitterness were just right.

"...Delicious."

I muttered quietly, not to anyone in particular.

Looking outside, I can see people walking around looking hot.

People waiting for the traffic light.

People passing by on bicycles.

People walking while looking at their phones.

While gazing blankly at that scenery, I placed my phone on the table.

Since I went to the trouble of coming here, I want to enjoy some time doing nothing today.

"Doing nothing" is surprisingly difficult

That said.

Within a few minutes, my hand reached for my phone unconsciously.

Opening social media.

Closing it.

Opening another app again.

"...Don't I look at my phone too much?"

I laughed a little at myself.

On work days, I think,

"When I have a day off, I want to do nothing and relax,"

but when I actually have free time, I can't settle down unless I'm doing something.

Plans.

Messages.

Social media.

Tomorrow's tasks.

Next week's tasks.

If I start thinking, they come up endlessly.

So I turned my phone over and placed it on the table.

And I drink the cafe latte once more.

Doing nothing.

Just looking out the window.

Listening to the music playing in the shop.

Listening to the sound of the ice melting little by little.

At first, it was a little boring.

But strangely, after a while, that boredom started to feel comfortable.

In the end, I ordered something sweet too

After a while.

My gaze was directed at the cake brought to the next table.

"...I'll eat it after all."

Since it's a day off, that much is fine.

I ordered an additional small cake.

I held up my phone once, intending to take a picture.

But I stopped halfway.

Today, I ordered it because I wanted to eat it, not to show it to someone.

Of course, taking pictures is fun too.

But I don't have to save everything.

A bite with a fork.

It's sweeter than I thought.

But that was just right.

"This might be a winner."

This time, I smiled a little happily.

A holiday without plans isn't bad either

Before I knew it, nearly an hour had passed since I entered the cafe.

I didn't do anything special.

I didn't go on a trip.

I didn't hang out with anyone.

I just walked around the neighborhood.

Went into a cafe.

Drank a beverage.

And just ate a cake.

Even so, my mood is a little lighter than before I left the house.

I picked up my bag and left the shop.

It's still hot outside.

"I'll buy some ice cream on the way home."

In the end, I'm buying something sweet again.

But that kind of holiday isn't bad.

You don't have to accomplish anything.

You don't have to have your schedule packed.

It doesn't have to be a day you'd want to show off to someone.

If I was able to spend the day in a slightly good mood, that might be enough.

Thinking about that,

I walked slowly toward home.

Shion's day.

No special plans.

No special events.

But I had my favorite cafe latte and cake.

For a holiday, that's just about right.

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