How to Enjoy Delicious Coffee: Acidity and Bitterness, Episode 8

The food stall closed before 6:00 PM, and after operating as a regular set-meal restaurant, it was almost closing time.

Hey, Ritsu. Let's go to the after-party.

Shota slid open the restaurant's sliding door with a rattle. Fortunately, there were no customers.

Dad, can I go now?
Sure. Hey Shota, make sure you see her home properly.
Of course. Sorry if we end up drinking until morning.
Huh? I don't have the stamina to pull an all-nighter.

I followed Shota out of the restaurant. The lights were still on at Natsu-san's place, and it looked like he was in the middle of closing up.

It was pitch black outside, with the unreliable light of the streetlamps illuminating the shopping street. The temperature was such that you would start to sweat slightly just by walking.

Shota, weren't you useless at the summer festival? You left the shop to the lady the whole time, right?
Idiot, I was handing out flyers and calling customers into each shop. Don't think I was just standing around doing nothing.

Actually, Shota is a decent guy.
His appearance is just like that because his job as a hairdresser means he always has bright hair color.
He also seems to like pairing chic clothes that suit his smart, tall frame with chunky accessories.

Hey Shota, do you have a girlfriend right now?
That's rare. Weren't you the type who never asked about that kind of thing, Ritsu?
Just wondering.

It had been a long time since I felt curious about the romantic life of a childhood friend of the same age.
Unlike me, Shota is skillful, so I often see signs of such people in his life.

I don't. Or rather, I'm kind of tired, so I think I'm good for a while.
Huh? That's rare. Working too much? Talking to too many women?
Haha. I like talking to women.

If he says he's tired, it means something must have happened with the last person he was seeing.
I make it a point not to ask deeply about those kinds of circumstances, so I don't know what kind of relationships Shota has had. That was normal for us.

I don't really understand romance.
Natsu-san?
Oh, no...

It's not like that, I almost said, but I swallowed the words.
What am I trying to cover up for now, in front of Shota? I was feeling frustrated because I wanted to vent these feelings somewhere, so I continued the conversation even though the izakaya for the after-party was coming into view.

I was just thinking again, after what you said, Shota, whether what I felt when I was facing Natsu-san was love.
I mean, if a guy that good appeared in front of someone like you who has no resistance to that, that's what would normally happen.
Huh? 'A guy that good'?
He can effortlessly provide what people want or the words they want to hear, right, Natsu-san. Since that's his job, I guess that's just how it is.

Shota's words hit me hard in the head.
Providing the words I wanted... It's true, Natsu-san might have been like that.
Actions he does naturally for everyone. It seems I was carried away by that.

I don't like that.

I muttered in front of the building where the izakaya was located.
Shota looked at me worriedly, wondering if I didn't want to go anymore now that we were here.

A guy who is good to everyone, I don't like that.

Perhaps because I said it as if squeezing it out, Shota took my hand and led me up the stairs to the izakaya on the second floor.

"That's right. That's normal. If the person you like is making the same face at someone else, you'd normally be annoyed."
"Huh..."

It was the first time I had fallen in love with someone since becoming an adult.

"Shota, no matter how much you want to pull me along, you shouldn't just hold my hand like that."
"Oh, so what? I don't have a girlfriend, and Ritsu is like family to me, so it doesn't matter, right?"
"You never know who might be watching in the shopping district."

If rumors spread, it would be quite awkward for both of us. Inconveniently, since neither of us has another lover, we could easily become prey for meddlesome adults.

"Who cares who's watching?"
"No, it does matter."

Before entering the shop, I shook Shota's hand off.
It wasn't even about who might see us. I simply don't have romantic feelings for Shota.

That's why I feel like this kind of thing is wrong.
We should have been maintaining a proper distance all this time.
Shota opened the door to the izakaya and went inside. The shop was reserved for the shopping district association members, and familiar faces looked over at us and called out, "Good work!"

"Good work!"

I followed behind Shota, who had entered with a loud voice, greeting everyone with a normal "Good work" as I went.

Natsu-san hadn't arrived yet, and I found myself feeling somewhat relieved.
Shota and I ordered our first drinks. The food was laid out, and we were in a state where we could just pick at whatever was nearby.

"Ritchan, how were your sales this year?"

The head of the shopping district association came over to me with a beer.

"They were better than last year. Though they didn't sell like crazy."
"I see, I see. Actually, it seems that's the case for every shop. Apparently, they were all better than last year."

The association head smiled and patted Shota on the back.

"You've gotten good at pulling in customers."
"No, not really."
"Natsu-san's poster was good, and Shota's customer service was good. This year was a success."

Shota chuckled. Just then, our drinks arrived, and Shota with his beer and I with my oolong high toasted with the chairman.

"Is Natsu-san coming later?"
"I think she'll be here in about 30 minutes."
"What about that beautiful lady?"
"Ah... I don't think she's coming..."

Even the shopping district chairman was concerned about Himari-san.

"Himari-san has really become an idol, hasn't she?"

When I said that with deep emotion, the chairman laughed and said, "Ritchan is an idol too, aren't you?" and asked Shota for his agreement. Shota wore a clearly unconvinced expression, and I couldn't help but glare at him, thinking that even if it was just flattery, this was the time to support me.

After that, while making small talk, Shota and I picked at the food in front of us and talked about how the summer festival would probably be like this from now on.
When Shota wryly remarked, "It's a shame to be locked out of the salon every year," Natsu-san walked into the shop.

Good work today.

People around her were calling out "Good work" to Natsu, who was being humble. Natsu had become quite the celebrity in the shopping district. Himari was nowhere to be seen.

Oh, Shota. Good work to you too, Ritsu.

Natsu had come over to where Shota was standing next to me. I had thought she might avoid coming over because I was there, but she was acting completely normal.

Even though I had been avoiding going to Natsu's shop until now, was I just overthinking it? Or was it because we were in public?

Natsu, is it true you were working inside the shop the whole time?
It took longer than I thought to make the iced coffee... I might have to consider cold brew from the day before next year. There's room for improvement.
What's cold brew?
It's water-drip coffee.

While Shota and Natsu were talking, I felt like a fish out of water.
It had been a while since I'd seen Natsu. I didn't know how to act, so I couldn't even look her in the eye.

I could tell that Natsu was truly relaxed when talking to Shota. I didn't want to ruin the atmosphere, so I just stood there, frozen, listening to their conversation.

Oh, that's right. The blend coffee you supervised, Ritsu, is getting good reviews.
Huh... really?

Natsu said it to me so casually. I was so surprised by the sudden change in topic that I was visibly shaken.

People have even asked to buy the beans because the aroma is so good. We're currently preparing to commercialize it.
Wow...
Should we take this opportunity to name the product 'Ritsu Blend'?
No, I mean, that's...

As I gave a bitter smile, Shota asked what they were talking about.
Natsu explained that I had decided on the blend ratio for the coffee, and that was why she thought it should be named after me.

Well, 'Ritsu Blend' doesn't sound like much, does it?

I retorted, "That's rude." Natsu backed me up, saying, "Shota, don't say things like that when you don't even mean them."

Natsu, whom I hadn't spoken to in months, was standing right in front of me, acting like nothing had happened.
As if there had never been a day when she was angry at me.
I felt both grateful and bewildered, and I couldn't seem to find my usual rhythm.
Just nodding along to the conversation, time flew by in an instant.

The shop's last order arrived. It was 10:30 PM.

Ritsu, do you want to come over to my place now?
Huh?
Natsu is staying over too, so why don't we have another drink? I'll call your uncle and let him know.

At that moment, I found myself carefully watching Natsu's face.
I was searching her expression to see if she would be annoyed to know I was coming, or if she would prefer to be alone with Shota.
Natsu was smiling and saying, "That sounds good."

Then...

Shota immediately called my house on his cell phone. "It's Shota. Yes, I want to take Ritsu to the after-party. Yes, it's fine. Haha, yes. Uh-huh." As he spoke, he looked at me and gave me a thumbs-up.

"Hey, it's fine. I was told not to let you guys get too carried away, but..."
"Thanks, Shota."
"Shota, you're so cool!"

The fact that he conscientiously contacted me when I should have been the one to call is probably because Shota is serious and has a strong sense of responsibility.

Shota's aunt—that is, Shota's mother—and likely his father should be at his house, so I really should have been the one to contact them to ask for the favor. In about ten minutes, this gathering will break up, and we will head to Shota's house. Surely, Shota will naturally ask about Natsu-san's personal life. That was something to look forward to, but also, as expected, a source of anxiety.

If I find out that Himari-san is someone special to Natsu-san, will I be able to act normally on the spot?

Shota's house is on the second and third floors of the hair salon. Many houses around here are buildings with a shop on the first floor and living quarters above. Each house is only a few dozen centimeters apart, and only a cat could pass between them. Next to the hair salon is a dry cleaner, and the second floor of that shop was also a residence.

We go up the stairs next to "Hair Salon Maeda" and head to the second floor. Maeda was the shop that Shota's grandmother originally ran. Shota's father is a salaryman and lived at his mother's parents' house. That is why Shota has his father's surname, "Sakata."

There is a door to the residence at the top of the stairs, and Shota takes out his key and opens it.

"I'm home."

When the door opens, the faint scent of some kind of cooking drifts out. Shota's mother, who stays at the shop until 9:00 PM, has a late dinner. Surely, not much time has passed since she finished eating.

"Welcome back. Ricchan, it's been a while."

Shota's mother comes out from the back. With her shoulder-length black hair in a loose perm, Shota's mother looks much younger than her age. Is hair really a woman's life, after all?

"It's been a while. I'm sorry I haven't been to the shop lately."
"That's right, you're young, so why let it grow out like that? A woman who stays away from the hair salon is just turning a blind eye to reality."

I laughed and tried to brush it off, but I couldn't say a word in my defense. I had truly become a product of escapism, and I had been thinking that it was painful to face reality with Natsu-san right next to me.

"Come in, come in, it's a bit cramped though."

Shota's mother guides Natsu-san and me into the living room. Natsu-san and I inevitably ended up sitting next to each other on the sofa.

"What would you like? We have alcohol, tea, or coffee. Oh, wait, is it weird to brew coffee for Natsu-san? Plus, it's night."

While Shota was being considerate in the kitchen next to the living room, his aunt seemed to head to the bedroom. His uncle should have a job that starts early in the morning, so I recall their lifestyle rhythm being morning-oriented. He might already be asleep.

"I think... I'll have coffee."
"Then, I'll have some too."

For some reason, Natsu-san is also asking Shota for coffee. "Why am I the one who has to brew coffee for Natsu-san!" he says, sounding dissatisfied.

"I like coffee that someone else has brewed for me."
"Give it a rest. It's just instant coffee, right?"
"Shut up. I can brew coffee just as well as anyone, you know."

Shota started boiling water in a kettle and set some store-bought coffee beans into a dripper. A soft aroma of beans filled the air.

"Ritsu-san, can you tell what kind of beans they are just by the scent?"
"Um... I think it's a blend, but... is it mostly Colombian beans?"

When I mentioned the origin that came to mind, Shota called out from the kitchen, "You're amazing."
"As expected, Ritsu-san is incredible. I'm envious."
"It's really nothing like that..."

As I looked away, feeling humble, I suddenly wondered if Natsu-san couldn't tell the origin by the scent.

"Isn't this something everyone can tell once they get used to it?"
"Well, you can tell to some extent with experience, but being able to tell from coffee beans that haven't even had hot water poured on them, and aren't even freshly ground, is quite something. Especially with store-bought blend beans."

Having Natsu-san state it so clearly made me tilt my head, wondering if that was really the case.
Although I was aware that I had a decent sense of smell, no one had ever clearly told me they were envious of it.

"Hey Ritsu, you're not acting like your usual self."
"Shut up."

Shota's heckling reached me from the kitchen. Well, that was true. It had been a long time since I had talked to or seen Natsu-san, and yet we were sitting quite close.

I should have never come if it was going to be this awkward.
Just as I was thinking that, it seemed Shota had poured the water over the coffee, and a gentle, soft aroma of coffee drifted through the room.

Listening to the sound of drops falling from the filter, my feelings strangely calmed down.

Shota's coffee was placed on the table in front of the sofa. Shota also brought his own large black mug and sat cross-legged on the opposite sofa.

"Thank you."
"Thanks."

Natsu-san and I also lifted our mugs and drank the coffee Shota had brewed.

"Coffee brewed by someone else really is the best."

Natsu-san said that with a smile.
For once, Shota said nothing, instead giving Natsu-san a smile that seemed to imply something.

"So, I thought you two might have something you wanted to say to each other."

I shot Shota a look that accused him of asking what he was talking about. Even at this point, I didn't know what I should say to Natsu-san.

"Yes... Um, Ritsu-san, I'm sorry!"

Natsu-san, who was sitting next to me, turned her body toward me and bowed her head.
I was so surprised that all I could respond with was, "Huh?!"

"I'm aware that I said something very rude. After that, you stopped coming to the shop, and you didn't show your face anymore..."
"Well, I thought I might be a bother..."
"That's why, I'm truly sorry."

What is happening? Natsu-san is bowing her head to me.
It is true that Natsu-san was a little scary the last time we met.

"Natsu-san, Ritsu probably doesn't understand."

Shota said that and sat back up, hugging one of the legs he had been sitting cross-legged with.
It hits the nail on the head, but more than that, I have no idea what to do about this situation.