[Ryoko and Kiso Fresh Bread!]The sign read cheerfully, decorated with the face of a chibi girl holding a muffin beside a large baking machine at the center.
As I pushed the door open, a bell chimed.
"Hello there! I'm Ryoko!" said a girl with brown hair wearing a chef's hat, standing behind the cashier's counter. She smirked, raising her eyebrows playfully."I see a new guest— I mean, customer! We've got all kinds of bread here! Chocolate, milk bread… even coffee if you'd like!"
She moved her arms side to side as if trying to charm me into buying something— or maybe she was just being overly energetic. Ryoko… That name sounded familiar. Where had I heard it before?Oh, right— that was the place where I did cleaning duty once.
Adam sighed, palm to his face.She turned into a monster back then… So that's her, huh.
"Just some simple bread and white rolls," I said, handing her six hundred yen. "And two cups of coffee, three cups of tableya, and one cup of milk— with three servings."
She blinked, confused, as I blushed slightly and handed her two thousand yen.
It's totally normal to order that much milk, tableya, and coffee, right? I thought. I'm special— I don't need anyone telling me it's bad for me.
I sat down. Chiptune music from some indie game hummed softly through the air, barely audible but strangely calming.
Ryoko brought the tableya, coffee, and milk— along with some buns and white rolls. I chewed slowly; the bread was delicious. I tore a piece for the mole beside me.
"What a cute mole! Better vaccinate it, sir," she said, smiling quietly, eyes watching me as I nodded awkwardly and continued eating.
There were no other customers. Ryoko stood still, glancing at the door, as if expecting someone to enter.
"Is it always this empty?" I asked.
"No… we've been here since forever, doing well. But lately, customers have been slowly disappearing. My brother's been walking around town, selling some of our stuff," she said with a sigh.
"I see…" I murmured, thinking to myself. Guess Manori forgot about her.
Ryoko smiled faintly. "If this continues, we might as well start a new business in another city, sir. Not like this old quiet town."
I took another sip of tableya— creamy, warm, melting on my tongue. Delicious enough to make you forget your troubles for a while.
"Are you friends with Manori?" I asked suddenly.
"Oh heck yeah! Wait— are you stalking me?" She stared at me quietly, her expression unreadable.
"What? No, I'm her friend… I guess."
"You guess?" She grinned. "We're best friends! But she's been ignoring me lately. I should probably go check on her soon, make sure everything's alright."
Welp, I thought. That's something I better forget.
The sound of rain began to fall outside, drumming against the roof like distant thunder. Ryoko stood still, looking anxious for some reason.
Moments later, the door opened. A brown-haired boy stepped in, soaked and exhausted, carrying a suitcase full of uniforms and boxes of bread.
"Brother! You're back!"
"Yeah…" he muttered, setting everything down.
I looked at him. His face was familiar— only missing that unimpressed look and his usual teasing tone.
"Riko?" I said.
He looked at me for a moment, silent. Then smirked. "Oh, you must be one of my brother's classmates. Go ahead, his room's upstairs— don't be shy."
"Wait, but—" I started, then sighed. Wouldn't it be more awkward to refuse?
So I followed, feeling embarrassed and uncertain what I had gotten myself into.
Inside, I glanced around. The pictures on the wall caught my eye— it was Eifer. What a coincidence. At least I didn't have to lie.
Riko smirked as if planning something, gestured for me to enter, and left.
I knocked. No answer. I opened the door slightly—
—and there he was. Eifer, caught singing with a digital girl with a high voice singing on his screen.
The room was a mess. Food wrappers, plastic cups, plates stacked on the table. Notebooks scattered about, full of sketches— landscapes, a short-haired anime girl, random bottles by the corner.
Eifer froze. "Hey— can you please knock—" He stopped mid-sentence, embarrassed.
I looked around and sighed. "Don't worry. I don't care."
He looked at me, puzzled, as I crouched beside the desk. I used to live worse than this, I thought. Everyone can change for the better… well at least he knows this place is trash.
I pointed at his phone. "What's that?"
He flinched and closed hundreds of tabs instantly. "What's what?" His voice trembled slightly.
"Look, I don't care enough to spread rumors about you. Trust me. Or… maybe don't trust me— since you barely know me. But I gotta say something."
He looked up.
"You like her, don't you?"
He froze, clenching his hands. "Ugh— of course I do," he muttered, embarrassed. "It's been a long time since I've liked her… it's crushing me."
Adam know's exactly what he was feeling, yeah because that def is jealousy hehh "Yep... Do you really want Mai to see you like that? I mean it's fine... But sigh, im just confused"
The two of us were silent in the room. The concrete walls were unpainted, rough to the touch, and the bed was poorly kept, stained and unkempt. On the other side of the room stood a shower, its tiles chipped and cold.
"If you ever loved someone… would you do anything for them?" Adam asked, while eifer eyes were avoiding mine.
"Yes," He replied replied.
I let out a small, thoughtful sigh. "I guess… no pressure, man. But if I truly loved someone, I'd have to think practically. Do I have the money to support her? Can I shape my life so hers becomes better? If I lose control of my emotions, will I hurt her? Could she be different from what I truly know of her? Can I protect her? Will time change how I feel about her? Will I truly commit…?"
A faint, self-deprecating smile tugged at my lips as I realized I was more confused than ever.
I remembered the yellow-haired girl in the Stratum. Can I really be enough… holistically?
"Just… loving someone means you truly change—for the better of that person," I murmured.
A fat cat padded into the room, rubbing against my leg with a low, contented purr. I couldn't help but smile back, reaching down to scratch behind its ears...
How adorable of a fricking cat...
I rose, feeling the weight of my thoughts lift slightly. As I walked out, I waved to Ryoko and Riko. Ryoko smiled warmly, and Riko began his usual nagging about what had happened. I sighed, smiling faintly. You really do have a messy side, man… or maybe you're just like Mai.
"What do you think when you look at me man?"
Riko was confused.. "Well i guessed guilt, ugh... That was embarrasing, what the duck" He was angry about something but was confused, that's also a coincidence... I never did see this place, well atleast today.
I opened the door, letting it swing shutting behind me. The quiet of the town settled in, the rain-pattered air cool on my skin. This place… it's nice.
I realized, as I walked away, that when you love someone, maybe it's okay to rest. It's okay to be messy, to stumble, and to still spend time with the person you care about. If Life was finite… and maybe that's why it's alright to just exist with someone you love, however imperfectly.