How to Enjoy Delicious Coffee: Acidity and Bitterness, Episode 20

Everything happened in a flash once it was decided I would board at Ritsu-san's house.
Taking Tomio-san up on his offer to just come over with a change of clothes and my personal belongings for the time being, I began living in the tatami room on the second floor, which served as the guest room.

“Whoa, a saury set meal first thing in the morning...!”

My daily meals changed dramatically, and thanks to no longer having a commute, I stopped feeling so exhausted. I have nothing but gratitude for Tomio-san and Ritsu-san, so I make an effort to actively help with chores like washing dishes and cleaning.

“It’s worth it to cook when you eat so happily, Yu-san.”

Tomio-san says things like that when he looks at me. Even though everyone else calls me “Natsu-san,” Tomio-san calls me “Yu-san.”

“Tomio-san, please leave the dishes. I’ll do them later.”
“Well then, I think I’ll take you up on that. Thanks.”

At the dining table, Ritsu-san, who had started eating before me, was wearing no makeup and her sweatpants loungewear. We had become just like family, and this was normal for us.

“Natsu-san, you really eat a lot in the morning.”

Ritsu-san said this while looking at the heaping bowl of rice served in my bowl.

“Well, the rice is delicious. Oh, sorry. Should I increase my board money?”
“That’s not what I meant! I just, you know... I wondered if people in their 30s didn’t eat that much...”
“Please don’t treat people in their 30s like old folks...”

As I felt conflicted, Ritsu-san laughed. I hadn’t known it until I came to this house, but Ritsu-san was a giggler.

“Shall I make you some rice balls? In case you need something to eat at the shop.”
“Oh, that’s tempting. But wouldn’t it be weird if I were eating rice balls at the coffee shop counter??”
“It would be.”
“So it would be...”

And then, Ritsu-san giggled again. I’ve been wondering what kind of animal Ritsu-san, whose snaggletooth stands out when she laughs, reminds me of.

“I get to have dinner when I get home, so I’ll pass on the rice balls. Thank you for the delicious meals every day.”
“Not at all.”

Tomio-san had already left the kitchen, so I only told Ritsu-san, but I was moved by the food in this house every single time.
Even today, it was the most delicious saury set meal of my life.

“When the food is good, I feel like my life is fulfilling.”
“Well, that might be true.”
“Are you coming to the shop today?”
“Yes, I think I’ll drop by later...”

Ritsu-san had continued to come to the shop just as she always had, even after I started boarding at their house.

“I feel bad making you spend money, so I’ll give you a discount.”
“Let’s not do that. You pay more than enough for board, and I don’t want to be a burden to you, Natsu-san.”

Ritsu-san is very responsible about things like that.

After I finish the dishes, I get dressed, tell the two of them I'm leaving, and head out.
I cut through the set meal restaurant and head toward my own shop. My commute is one minute.

I unlock my shop and begin preparing for opening.
I should be able to add the madeleines Ritsu-san tasted to the menu soon, too.

Although I see Ritsu-san every morning and evening, she faithfully came to drink coffee every other day.
When I told her she didn't need to go out of her way, she puffed out her cheeks and said, "Coffee has become interesting, so please don't rain on my parade."

I pay 1,000 yen per meal for food, but I also get to use the bath, I'm renting a room, and they do my laundry. Every time I felt apologetic, Ritsu-san would say, "This food money alone is a big help."

It's a luxurious diet, like breakfast at a ryokan. Tomio-san tells me it's worth the effort to make.

Sometimes, I join Tomio-san for a drink.
It seems Tomio-san's dream was to drink with his daughter, and since Ritsu-san won't join him at all, he seems lonely.
When I said that you don't really hear about fathers and daughters drinking together much, he looked off into the distance and said, "I wonder if that's just how it is."

Even without alcohol, Ritsu-san always interacts with Tomio-san as her true self, so I think they have a good parent-child relationship.

＊

I start the day's business at 10:00 AM.
The people who come to the shop at this time are almost all students. Many of them bring books or study materials and study inside the shop. That said, there are only three customers today.

These people leave the shop around 12:00. I suppose they know the shop gets flooded with office workers starting around 12:30.

When I was a student, I never drank coffee this expensive.
Partly because I was a poor art student.
Even though there are fast-food restaurants and cheap coffee shops, I feel both grateful and apologetic that they go out of their way to come here.

I clear the seats where customers have left and wipe down the tables.
While I was doing the dishes, a young man started getting ready to leave.

"Thank you for the meal."
"Thank you very much."
"Um, you're Yutaro Natsuki, right??"
"Huh...?"

I stared at the customer's face, but he wasn't someone I knew.

"Sorry, actually, I'm in the Media Arts department at the art university."
"Oh, I see."
"I had a chance to watch your work in class, and I got interested, so I looked you up... and ended up at this shop."
"Oh, did you come all the way here just for that?"

Whoa. Do universities show my videos these days?
Wait? That means if you search for my name, you can find this shop.
Come to think of it, I answered that in a magazine interview recently... Oh, right, it's an article in the web version too, so I guess you can find it if you search.

"Your videos were really great, Natsuki-san. Um, could I get your autograph??"
"Oh, uh. No, I'm just a coffee shop manager now..."
"You're still working as a creative director too, right??"
"Well..."
"I'm hoping to make videos like yours, Natsuki-san."

It seems that, without me knowing, the things I created have become this man's motivation.

"I can't write much of an autograph, you know?"
"Thank you!"

I wrote the autograph I'd used casually for work on the last page of his notebook.
The man said, "I'll treasure this!" happily, paid, and left.

I destroyed the life of one young woman.
But I had always hoped, somewhere deep down, that I could give people hope like this.

*

“Hey, genius.”

That day, Himari came to the shop before Ritsu arrived.

“What are you here for?”
“I came to drink some coffee, obviously.”

I guided Himari to a counter seat, just as I always do when she’s being difficult. Once Ritsu arrived, the two of them would be sitting right next to each other.

“Working nearby?”
“Yeah. What was that about the other day? That weird phone call.”
“Oh, that. A friend of mine said I was a genius, so I was curious what you thought, Himari.”
“So, are you satisfied now that I said you were a genius?”

Her voice was loud. I nodded, wishing she would just order already.
Being around Himari makes me want to be difficult, too.

“I can’t believe Natsu is so concerned about what people think of him. For someone who graduated from art school and worked on the front lines of the creative world, you sure say some strange things.”

Himari finally started looking at the menu.

“Which one do you recommend for iced coffee?”
“Are you going to add milk?”
“Yeah, I want to.”
“Then let’s go with the Mandheling of the day.”
“Are you cutting corners?”

How rude, this customer. Calling the manager’s recommendation a shortcut.
I was really glad Himari wasn’t here earlier when that young girl asked for my autograph.

“It’s not a shortcut. It’s a genuine recommendation.”

I prepared a Mandheling with a slightly deeper roast and set ice under the dripper. Just as I was getting ready to drip the coffee, Ritsu arrived at the shop.

“Hello. ...Oh, Himari.”
“Hi there.”

Seeing Ritsu, Himari waved her hand from the counter.
Ritsu gave a slight bow in response and then timidly took the seat next to Himari.

“What would you like?”
“Oh, well... hmm, I’d like something a bit different today... I’ll have the Kenya.”
“Sure.”

As I took Ritsu’s order and ground the Kenya beans, I remembered I hadn’t told Himari yet.

“Actually, I’m staying at Ritsu’s house.”

I used polite language toward Himari, as other customers might be able to hear.

“Wait, really? Are you living together??”
“Oh, no, that’s not it. It’s not living together, it’s more like a boarding arrangement.”

Ritsu-san hurriedly interrupted. Well, I suppose that's true. People usually think of living together as cohabitation.
I understand perfectly well what Himari means. When a man and a woman live together, that's usually what it implies.

"Seeing that I was an old guy and my physical strength was at its limit, she lent me an empty room. It's really more like a boarding house, as I'm also living with Ritsu-san's father. My commute time has disappeared, and I've become healthier."
"Oh, stop it. That sounds like an old man. We're close in age, so please don't say things like that. People will lump us together."
"Huh?? Himari-san, are you the same age as Natsu-san?"

Ritsu-san is surprised. Well, Himari might indeed look young. Everyone finds value in different things, and if I'm an old guy, then Himari is...

"I'm one year younger than Natsu, so I'm not an old lady."

No, that doesn't change anything... And besides, our birthdays are only six months apart.

"Huh?? Himari-san, are you in your mid-30s??"
"That's right."

When I answered in Himari's place, she glared at me with all her might.

"I thought you were about my age. I've never met someone in their mid-30s as beautiful as you before..."
"Huh?? Oh, stop it, Ritsu-san!!"

Ritsu-san, you might be speaking your mind, but Himari will get carried away, so let's leave it at that.

"I'll pay for Ritsu-san's coffee today!"
"You're always so generous. Ritsu-san, you should take her up on that."
"Huh?? Himari-san, that's amazing, isn't it??"

Himari looks genuinely happy. Ritsu-san, you're surprisingly good at this...
Himari will definitely want to see Ritsu-san again. No doubt about it.

Which means... Oh no, I'm in trouble.
Please, I beg you, don't try to come to Ritsu-san's house... That father and daughter won't say no...

"Wow... that's nice. If I could be as beautiful as Himari-san in my mid-30s, I wouldn't be afraid of getting older."
"Huh?? Really?"
"Ritsu-san, shall we stop here?"

If things keep going like this, Ritsu-san will end up being favored by Himari, and a situation where Himari gets carried away is waiting to happen...

"Actually, I started wearing makeup because I admire Himari-san..."
"Ritsu-saaaaaan!?"
"Oh my, Ritsu-san, you're super cute."

It's no use... It's over...

"Sorry to keep you waiting!! Here is your iced café au lait, customer!!"

I placed Himari's coffee on the table to end this conversation.
Just drink this and be quiet, will you!!

"Himari-san, are you an iced coffee person??"
"Yes, I have a lot of outside work, so it's been hot."
"You look so cool when you drink that, Himari-san..."

Stop it already!! Don't let that woman get any more carried away!! Leave it at that!!

*

"Natsu-san, you used to date Himari-san, right?"
"Well, yes..."

Himari, who had stopped by the shop during her sales rounds, left after making a noisy fuss about how happy she was.
I felt like I had used up two days' worth of energy in just that short time.

"When you date someone that beautiful, do you get tired of looking at pretty people??"
"No... I mean, honestly, Himari's looks aren't really my type."
"Wow... that's something a woman's enemy would say..."

I do think Himari is beautiful, of course. I think she has regular features.
But I don't really like beauties that much.

"A woman's enemy, you say... No, I prefer personality over looks."
"Then, what kind of person is your type?"

I was being asked about my preferences in women by Ritsu-san while clearing Himari's table.
Do customers really ask coffee shop managers things like this?

"My type... is it? Well, I'm basically weak, so... I'm drawn to strong people."
"Strong people??"
"People who have convictions and don't waver."
"Is Himari-san like that??"

Hmm. Well, I suppose so.
Himari, who works in sales, is strong-willed, unwavering, and has incredible convictions.

"When she was working, yes, she was."
"When she was working?"
"It was different outside of work. That's why we were completely hopeless once we lost the common ground of work."

Ritsu-san looked intrigued and said, "Oh, I see..." with surprise.
Still, to think that I had felt that way about Himari. I hadn't noticed at all.

"Ritsu-san, was your recent change in makeup inspired by Himari?"
"Oh... yes, it was. I admired a beautiful person like Himari-san..."
"I see. But I think you look cute without makeup, Ritsu-san."

Since we started living together, I've come to see Ritsu-san without makeup often.
She looks sharper when she's wearing makeup, but I feel relieved when I see Ritsu-san relaxing at home.

"Natsu-san... You shouldn't say things like that to a woman so lightly."
"Huh?? Oh, did I sound like Shota-kun??"
"How am I supposed to face you at home from now on, Natsu-san..."
"No, you can just be your usual self, can't you?"

While we were talking about that, a customer left.
After I handled the payment and saw them off, I cleared the table the customer had vacated.

"By the way, Ritsu-san. How was the Kenya today?"

It's been a while since Ritsu-san ordered an African coffee.
I made the blend coffee mocha-based, but it seems Ritsu-san prefers Central and South American beans.

"It's been a while since I've had coffee like this, but it's delicious."

Yeah, yeah. When someone says that, I feel glad that I carry it.

"Actually, Kenya is my personal favorite. Though African beans and beans with acidity don't get ordered very often."

I suppose coffee generally familiar in Japan is from Central and South America, but I came to like African beans after I started studying coffee.

It has a strong punch, but I'm drawn to that individuality. Perhaps being able to like things like that means I've grown up or just gotten older.

So, this was a bean you liked, Natsu-san.

Ritsu-san seems interested, perhaps because it's the first time I've talked about my own preferences.

I feel like there's a certain depth to coffee.
Depth?

Ritsu-san is still young, and I imagine she wouldn't find this kind of talk very interesting.

Strong individuality becomes a flavor, and there's room to think about how to enjoy it.
Room to think, you say?
Even if 99 people don't choose a flavor, if one person does, it becomes a chosen coffee flavor. The way you choose coffee can be that free.
That's kind of wonderful, isn't it?
Well, this is a coffee shop, after all.

Coffee has individuality.
From the origin, farm, climate, and roasting, to the way it's brewed.

The high degree of freedom to drink your preferred coffee in your favorite way is the beauty of coffee.

Huh... I think I kind of understand why you're a coffee shop manager, Natsu-san.
Is that so?
Because, Natsu-san, your previous job was all about making proposals, right?

She knows a lot about that. Come to think of it, I did say that in an interview for my previous job.
Perhaps Ritsu-san has looked into what kind of person I am more than I expected.

A coffee shop can also offer various proposals, can't it?
That's true.
I'm envious.

Envious? Did I hear that wrong? There's nothing about me that Ritsu-san would be envious of...

Natsu-san, you're like that no matter what you're doing.
No matter what I'm doing...?
Whether you're at the shopping district association or at the shop, you're always making proposals, aren't you?
Was I...?

I'm not aware of it. Always making proposals...
When I'm at the shop, I'm just serving what's ordered.
And at the shopping district association, I was just sharing ideas...

I've never met anyone like you before, Natsu-san.
I think that's just because I'm older than you, Ritsu-san...

From my perspective, every job requires proposals. Sales, retail, customer service—they all require proposals.

Because, ever since I met you, Natsu-san, I've been thinking about all sorts of things more and more.
All sorts of things...?

I'm wiping a cup behind the counter.
I'm always serving Ritsu-san at this distance, but I felt like we were having a more involved conversation than usual.

Learning about coffee from you, Natsu-san, and starting to think about pairings—it's like my world has expanded.
That's true, the world of coffee is vast. Ritsu-san is the one who expanded her world; I haven't done anything.

Ritsu-san's sense of taste and smell are well-suited for enjoying coffee.
Most people can tell that coffee has acidity, but they don't know what kind of acidity it is, nor do they have the ability to accurately grasp the strength of the body.

Furthermore, having a sense of smell that can identify the origin of coffee just by sniffing it is not normal.
What Ritsu-san possesses is beyond the realm of what can be achieved through training.

"Ritsu-san, I think you are well-suited for coffee."
"...As a coffee shop employee?"
"Well, yes, I think you are suited for it."

Ritsu-san might be perfect as a roaster or a coffee blender. Besides, she could probably be trusted with sourcing beans as well.

Ritsu-san is better suited for a coffee shop than I am.
It is not hard to imagine that there are others like Ritsu-san in this world, so I suppose my level as a coffee shop manager is quite low.

Indeed, a genius-type person makes those around them feel inferior.
I add water to Ritsu-san's cup as if to distract myself from my own feelings.

I haven't lived a life that would put me at the top of the culinary world, so it is misplaced for me to be jealous of Ritsu-san here.

"I... wish I could help Natsu-san."
"...Huh??"
"I could study more and more about coffee, and I could be of use to Natsu-san."
"N-no... not at all. I am honored."

What is Ritsu-san talking about?
Even just letting me stay at her place is more than enough of a favor.

"No, I appreciate it, but there isn't much I can teach you, Ritsu-san."
"Natsu-san, do you not understand yourself very well?"
"No, I understand myself quite well."

Ritsu-san understands the differences between beans more clearly than I do. I have to rely on my range of knowledge and general sense of taste, and for the rest, I have no choice but to compete with my creativity.

"Shota said that for humans, 'how you present yourself' is more important than your 'true self.' When I first heard that, I instinctively thought I didn't like that, but..."
"Are you convinced now?"

That sounds like Shota-kun's logic.
It is true that you only need to show your true self in front of family and close friends. Once you go out into society, the technique of presenting yourself is surprisingly important, and I suppose he would say that hairdressers exist for people who do that.

"I think that's what I'm lacking. Natsu-san, you are good at presenting everything in an appealing way, aren't you?"

Uh... is this not a rejection of my true self, but rather a confirmation that my creativity is good? I'm being complimented, right?

"Ritsu-san, have you started wanting to present yourself differently?"
"Well, when there is someone as beautiful as Himari-san, I feel like not making any effort is the same as giving up."

Yeah, Himari is good at makeup. Her bare face is surprising.
Her features are nice, but there is quite a bit of asymmetry, yet you can't tell at all once she puts on makeup.

"If that's what you want, Ritsu-san, I won't stop you, but as I said earlier, your bare face..."
"Please stop! Don't try to flatter me!"

Why?? I'm just complimenting her, but I'm getting scolded a bit?
Without stopping my hand from wiping the cup, I gave Ritsu-san a puzzled look.

"I'm not trying to flatter you; I'm just saying that I value the fact that you tend to show your true self."
"...Is that so?"
"Why are you so depressed now?"
"It's just that my efforts aren't being valued at all..."

Ah... I see. So that's what she meant. My mistake.

"I am evaluating you!"
"......Fine, never mind."

I really am hopeless when it comes to things like this.
Besides, no matter how many times I reflect on it, I make the same mistakes. There's no saving me.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted to compliment you, Ritsu-san."
"I thought you were always flawless with your creative thinking, Natsu-san, but I guess that's not the case."
"I have no words to defend myself......"

As I looked awkward, Ritsu-san watched me with an amused expression.
Soon, Ritsu-san would be heading back to prepare for the evening shift.
After that, we had started having dinner together.