Transitions and White Space (Short Story) #ThreeLineDialogue

After finishing her meeting with the client, Aika returned to the station.
The heat, which didn't feel like April, did not weaken even in the evening, and the asphalt scorched by the setting sun drained even more of her energy.


Tomorrow starts Golden Week.
There was over an hour until the return Shinkansen she had booked as soon as her business trip was decided.


When she came here, she was usually with her boss or people from other departments.
It was routine to set the meeting with the client for the early afternoon and then have drinks with everyone at a restaurant and on the train afterward.


However, today she was alone.
Given the time, she was heading straight home.


That's right, let's try going there.
Aika decided to write her business trip report at a coffee shop she had been curious about since the first day she got off at this station.


Despite being inside the station, it had a retro storefront that set it apart from the others, and a somewhat nostalgic atmosphere drifted about.
Told to take any seat she liked, she sat near a bookshelf lined with magazines and manga.


Her father and mother always told her to come home whenever she wanted, and her boss had also considerately suggested she just go home to visit her parents, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

She had absolutely no plans for the long holiday starting tomorrow.
She just wanted to spend time alone as she pleased... that was the mood she was in.



Usually she would order coffee or a cappuccino, but it was so hot today, and she wanted to drink something refreshing.

When she opened the menu, her eyes landed on a lemon squash.
There also seemed to be a "Seasonal Lemon Squash."



Excuse me.
What is the seasonal lemon squash...?

It's a lemon squash served with a side of syrup that matches the season.
The one we are serving now also changes color.

Then, I'll have that.

Certainly.
Oh, please wait a moment.


The staff member went to check something in the kitchen and returned.


If you'd like, you can compare the two, would you like that?

Huh?

We switched to a different syrup because it got hot, but we still have the one from yesterday.

Oh, I see.

Of course, the price is for one drink.
I will bring you two smaller glasses, each filled with half a serving of lemon squash.

Oh, are you sure?

Yes.

Then... please do.

Understood.
Please wait a moment.


When the staff member left and she opened her laptop, Aika instinctively pressed a handkerchief to her moist eyes.

What is this, it's a feeling I haven't had in a while.
A non-manual response.
They went out of their way to take extra trouble that wasn't necessary.
That kindness touched her more than usual.


I must have a lot built up... good work, me.

She whispered that in her heart and began to type on the keyboard.



Sorry to keep you waiting.
The yellow-green one is from today, and the pink one is from yesterday.

Thank you very much.

...By the way, did you go to a school around here before?

No.

Then, the school festival or something...?

I haven't been.

I see, excuse me.
Please enjoy.



Is the staff member around the same age as her?
He is a man who looks visibly refreshing and popular, the kind you might find one of in every class.
There must be customers who come just for him.


First, she took a little bit of the plain lemon squash from both glasses into her mouth.

The ice-cold carbonation slid smoothly down her throat.
It felt like it would wash away the heat and the fuzziness, refreshing both her body and mind.


She placed the glass on a coaster decorated with flower petals at the corners.
The water droplets that fell disappeared as if nothing had happened.
It is a wonderful shop with great attention to detail and good taste.



Having mostly finished the business trip report, Aika slowly poured the yellow-green syrup into one glass and the pink syrup into the other.
Just like dye spreading on white cloth, the contents of the glasses changed gradually.


While rolling the two lemon squashes on her tongue alternately, Aika looked down at her notebook.

It's not just the temperature.
There are many things that change with the seasons.

It seems she hadn't had the luxury of feeling such things leisurely lately.



When she put her laptop in her bag and went to the register with the bill in hand, the refreshing staff member had an expression as if he wanted to say something.


You're the Aika of Aika and Maika, right?

Since she went to a different high school than her twin sister Maika, was he an acquaintance from middle school?

Even though it might be rude, she stared intently at the staff member.
A somewhat familiar face, the mole at the corner of his right eye...

Masaki-kun, from Masaki and Yoshiki?!

As expected.
Twins can tell other twins apart, right?

Yeah.


They were the other halves of twins who were in the same class only once in middle school.
He played baseball back then, so he had a buzz cut.


Sorry about earlier.
I had the impression of you having long hair, so I thought you were someone I saw at university.

It's fine, don't worry about it.
But, I was surprised.

It was unexpected.
Oh, it'll be bad if I miss the Shinkansen.
See ya.


What should I do.
I don't want it to end like this! another part of her said.
Perhaps all her senses had awakened from a long hibernation, as she was now sensitive to the voice in her heart.


Yeah.
...Do you work here?

Well, it's part of my research, I guess?
I've been working in research since I got my doctorate.
At least for this fiscal year, my life is either the lab, here, or at home.
On May 4th during the holidays, I have a public lecture in Osaka, though.

Amazing!
Can anyone attend the public lecture?

Yeah, exactly.
Something like this.

On the flyer he pulled out from under the register, there was the familiar name "Masateru Nakano."

Thanks for everything!
See you!



When was the last time she jumped on a Shinkansen in a mood like this?

While being swayed on the Shinkansen bound for Nagoya, Aika booked a Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka for a few days later.

*I will be participating in the following project.