#ASAKIKUWEEK DAY 3 OR THE COFFEE SHOP AU OF MY DREAMS¿

[goodmorning-rigoberto]

> 9:45 am.

asakikuweek day 3: food/tea/coffee

@asakikuweek2024

There was no need for him to be checking the clock every minute that passed and yet this was not the first time he found himself doing it.

It was, in a way, a morning ritual.

Three minutes before, fix (a little) his unruly hair.

Two minutes before, put the machines to preheat.

One minute before, have a paper cup ready to be used.

9:45 am. Not a second more, not a second less. The bell on the door announcing the arrival of his "favorite client".

Arthur knew, deep down inside that he was not being fair to anyone who walked through the cafeteria door when someone was enjoying a fairly subtle plus in terms of his service by being a "favorite regular", but he also knew that if no one found out then there was no crime and everything was fine in this world. Everything was fine and peace reigned and he could devote himself to observe very carefully each one of the movements that the newly arrived customer made until he approached the counter.

Bright smile on lips and an expectant cup.

"Honda-san, good morning, the usual?" asked the blonde behind the counter, always helpful and eager to receive that warm smile with a touch of surprise the other always managed to give. In addition to the $7.95 the matcha latte cost (medium, almond milk, an extra shot of espresso, piping hot) that smile was his personal payment for a good service provided.

"Good morning. Yes, thank you" a small bow, a reflex of what seemed like years of learned formality.

"Coming!" one more smile and their interaction for the day was over.

The client, who had lived rent free in Arthur's mind for a few months since he started working in the small cafeteria, was leaving his sight and his life for that day. And Arthur Kirkland, a senior literature student who had just accepted the job to earn extra money for his studies, couldn't wait for his next meeting. The next day at 9:45 am Kiku Honda, black hair and almond eyes, always wears a well-ironed suit and briefcase in hand would exist again for a few minutes near him.

A sigh.

He was so lucky.

There was nothing else to do.

"You know you could just ask him more than just his name, right? Right?" a voice behind him offered and the barista didn't even have to turn around to know who was the owner. "I mean, he sure is cute and nice but that's about it. I think it would be more interesting to know what those pretty eyes are hiding."

"Do you think I haven't thought about it?" Arthur responded exasperated. Of course he had! Each and every night he went to bed putting together a master plan to be able to cross the dependent/client barrier and learn more about the object of his affection, but when morning came it would all fade and anxiety would overcome him. Doubt, his worst enemy, and the self-hatred to which he was already so accustomed. "It's not that easy"

"Well, maybe this is your lucky day."

A confused look, what exactly was Francis up to? Expectant and with very little trust placed in whatever was next to come out of the other's mouth, he crossed his arms. Someone remind him why he was friends with Bonnefoy.

His coworker leaving his workstation behind the bar to raise an object before his eyes. A new master plan, this time foolproof. Triumphant smile on his lips as he felt bigger and more capable before Arthur's eyes.

Kiku's briefcase, forgotten on one of the chairs near the bar.

"What are you waiting for!?" he ordered taking him out of his stupor. "I'm sure he'll be looking for it and if he returns to the cafe, you won't be able to talk to him. Go ahead and don't come back until you get a date."

Francis was crazy, too loudmouthed for his own good, too exuberant for the sake of the universe. French to death. Capricious and sometimes inconsiderate; but at the end of the day an incredible and ingenious friend.

That was no time to get sentimental.

Briefcase in hand he left, looking for the dark hair he could identify in a crowd of millions or see fifteen thousand kilometers away. There was no time to lose, this opportunity was his.

-. -. -. -. -. -. -. -. -.

"Honda-san! Honda-san, wait!" the blonde called him, running to meet him. "Honda...san..."

Air leaving his lungs after the sudden race.

"Huh? Is something wrong?" the black-haired man asked, surprised to hear his name after turn around to find the coffee barista.

"Your...your ..." words getting stuck in his throat from the lack of air. ("Strength, Arthur! This is not the time for this") Recomposing himself, he placed the forgotten object in front of them, managing to establish a point. "You forgot your briefcase"

A new (and never seen before) surprised expression was what he got as a reward, a variation of the small look he gave him every day after Arthur let him know he had his order perfectly memorized.

Two prizes in a day.

He truly was lucky.

"Oh my, I must have forgotten in the rush. I don't know where my head is these days. Sorry for the inconvenience"

"Not at all, it's okay, thank goodness you forgot it in the cafe and not somewhere else on your way to work"

"Yeah, that would be troublesome for everyone" said the opposite, tired, adding a small ironic laugh at the end. Now that he had him face to face and under a different light other than the artificial bulbs in the cafe, Arthur could see not only the difference in height between them, but how pretty his eyes really were and how deep the color was. His beautiful skin without any imperfection and the golden highlights of his tie. Definitely that day he was winning like no one else in the world.

Clumsy hands full of nervousness found their way to hand the briefcase, fingers touching for a second sending electricity through every corner of his body.

"Again, i'm really grateful. I don't know what I would've done without your help..."

"Arthur" he was sure he had mentioned his name before from time to time, but another one under this new context didn't hurt anyone

"Arthur, you really make my mornings the best"

And the barista knew that he was referring to the coffee provided, but nevertheless he decided to take credit for the fact simply to feel that happiness as his own.

"I'm always here to help"

-. -. -. -. -. -. -. -. -.

The day before, after one last thank you and a cordial goodbye, Kiku Honda took his existence away from Arthur. Now, two minutes before 9:45 am the blonde was waiting for him, strangely expectant. For some reason things felt different, for some reason he was confident enough that he could talk for more than a minute with Kiku, for some reason he found himself wanting more and more.

The bell on the door announced the arrival he had been waiting for. And, without fail, there was his favorite client.

Almond eyes, black hair, reddish tie and to the british's surprise, a shy smile never seen before, one of someone who knows he is in the presence of someone familiar.

Arthur's heart skipped a beat.

Head spinning.

Feeling like he was about to faint.

A shy smile, dedicated exclusively to him.

Oh to be this lucky so early in the morning.

In a friday, no less.

"Honda-san, good morning, the usual?" smooth, using his acquired skills not wanting to stray too far from the routine established between them for fear of dying right there.

"Good morning, Arthur. Yes, thank you"

Another difference and he wasn't sure he could take any more. That was the second day in a row Kiku had said his name.

"Thank you very much, again, for your help yesterday. When I arrived at the company I realized that I didn't know what I would have done without the briefcase," he added, speaking more than Arthur had ever heard him. His voice charming. "You've saved me"

The barista smiled, that hadn't been a big deal but for some reason the other's sincere gratitude made him feel good about himself.

"It was nothing, I'm glad I was able to help. You know, anyone would have done the same" nervous, trying to make light of the situation.

"Is that so? Anyway..." rummaging through the pockets of the light brown coat he usually wore on the coldest days, a coat like any other Arthur had seen but that on Kiku looked different. Modern, elegant and pleasant. "I would like you to have this, is something small but a token of my gratitude. I hope you like it."

Giving him a small metal box with floral motifs.

"Oh, no need Hond---"

"No, no, I insist. It's the least I can do."

Arthur, feeling his face burn (and hoping that his blush was not so noticeable) wanted to add one last objection, but Francis, calling the japanese man's name to deliver his order, prevented him from doing so.

One last smile and another of those small bows so typical of the opposite and, once again, he took his existence away for that day.

But that day, unlike any other, Arthur couldn't wait for the next one to arrive.

-. -. -. -. -. -. -. -. -.

The succession of the next few days was something Arthur had not imagined could happen even in his wildest dreams. He dreamed about Kiku, of course, that and a few other things he wasn't willing to mention out loud.

"Making progress on your affair during work hours?"

Francis will tease him, enjoying Arthur's now very frequent blushes, after the small gift of gratitude he had received from the black-haired man; a curious exchange begun between them.

Unable to accept the cookies (which he had discovered when opening the pretty aluminum tin) just like that, the barista decided that he should give him something in return. Paying for his order with "today's coffee is on the house" was the beginning of a very varied exchange of objects and food between them.

"I can't just keep accepting that you pay my coffee, take these cookies in return"

"No need, Honda-san, please choose a piece of cake from our menu. Those are daily made"

"That's very kind of you Arthur, here, I hope you like them"

"Do you like eclairs, Honda-san?"

"My older brother sent a box of tangerines from home and there are too many for just one person, please take some if you like. Share them with your coworker"

"May I recommend a book to you?"

"Please, just Kiku is okay"

"I hope you like them, Arthur"

"Thank you very much, Kiku"

And so on.

A cordial exchange where feelings grew day by day where familiarity settled between them. Both, without saying it, looking forward to the next day where they could exist in each other's presence even for a few minutes. Learning a little more about the person behind and in front the counter. Fingers brushing for seconds as they delivered the next gift, subtle smiles, bright eyes and a change in the air that made them feel calm and restless in equal parts.

Arthur was living his best life. He never imagined that something as small as handing Kiku his forgotten briefcase would create an avalanche of situations that would end up bringing them closer and closer. He sighed, it wasn't right to have favoritism between clients, but he wouldn't lie and say that the only bell he expected to hear was the one at 9:45 am.

And there it was.

And with that sound Kiku's existence became present.

And with it, Arthur's heart began to beat faster.

"Kiku, good morning. The usual?" he asked trying to keep his cool and friendly smile ready to give away.

This time however the newcomer remained silent. Looking nervous. His pretty eyes avoiding his gaze.

"Good morning," he managed to say after a few seconds "I, yes thank you... the usual would be perfect"

Surprised, Arthur wrote his order on the small cup he always had ready on hand, giving his heart a few minutes to adjust. Was something happening? Had he done something wrong?

He didn't understand the change. At least he didn't feel any type of negativity coming from the other, it was a different morning, yes, but not in a bad way. Arthur couldn't pinpoint what was different about Kiku but to his relief it wasn't a bad difference. He was about to ask, wanting to know what was happening but to add to his surprise the japanese was faster than him.

Kiku, who he had learned about for the past months, was full of surprises as he held out a small box wrapped in a light blue cloth.

Clearly a lunch box.

Clearly homemade.

Clearly for him.

"Please, if it is to your liking, I would like you to accept this"

"Kiku, I..."

"I don't want to be rude or take up any more of your time, so... I'd better go. Good morning, Arthur, see you later."

And just like that he left, leaving him stunned as he tried to understand what had happened. It was a real thing happening early in morning of that day, the container in his hands was proof of it but he couldn't believe Kiku had taken the time to prepare him lunch.

"Are you going to stare at it like a fool or go after him?" a familiar voice behind him asked, the amusement of this whole situation loud in his words.

"I don't know if I should..." doubt eating him.

"What are you talking about? Honda-san not only left without paying but he also forgot his coffee. Come on, go give it to him"

"Huh?"

"Arthur, you might be very into this rose colored romantic situation but this is still a business"

"But I..."

His gaze rising from the box in his hands to the hot cup at the bar. Francis smiling understandingly, he couldn't believe he was playing cupid for the other. Was he this dumb?

"Come on! His matcha latte will get cold"

And without waiting another second, cup in hand, the blonde went out in search of his favorite client.

-. -. -. -. -. -. -. -. -.

"Kiku! Kiku, wait! Kiku!" Arthur screamed, his voice agitated after managing to catch him. "You forgot....you forgot your coffee." then added, trying to seem casual, the running client finally stopping but refusing to turn and look at him.

That was it.

There was nothing to do.

"Francis sent me to deliver this to you, it's still hot. It was a surprise, you know? No customer has ever left without paying, but don't worry, it's on the house...as a thank you, for the lunch...you made for me."

His cheeks burning.

"I don't know what else I can do to thank you, you're always giving me delicious things and I'm grateful, but I'm a terrible cook..." a giggle to try to lighten the atmosphere. God, why it was so difficult?

Kiku slowly turned to face him and that's when Arthur understood the reason why the other refused to do it. His cheeks were burning, the first time he had seen him this flusterer.

Another new surprise.

"Could you ..." He paused, inhaling sharply to calm the tremor in his voice. "Would you agree to have dinner with me, that is... Would you like to go out and have dinner, sometime? If your schedule allows it, that's for sure"

Arthur convinced himself that this whole situation was not happening. It wasn't possible, no, not at all, it was more likely he had slipped in the shower that morning and hit his head and was currently living one of those dreams similar to reality that people in a coma state experience.

Yes, that was it.

That had to be it.

Interpreting his silence, perhaps as a refusal, Kiku smiled shyly.

"It's okay if you can't, I'm sure you're very busy and I..."

"No!" the barista quickly added, wanting to dispel any doubts. The clearer the better "I mean, I would like that, I want to have dinner with you."

It was not a dream.

And in an outburst he couldn't quite explain, as if a switch motivated by the emotion of the moment had been activated inside him; Arthur close the distance between them to kiss the other's cheek. A small contact that lasted a few seconds, but contained all the feelings accumulated in the previous months. He couldn't take it anymore, he surrendered to Kiku's existence and the unique way he had of surprising him.

His calm breathing and the warmth that emanated from his body now that he had him so close after the contact between lips and cheek.

"Here's your coffee..." he managed to say, almost in a whisper as if he didn't want to disturb the moment.

"Thank you" polite as always "Does Thursday at 8 works for you?" he added, still very close to his face. Still polite and somehow considering what was best for him.

"Yeah, can I have your number?"

"Yes"

"Can I ask more about you?"

"Sure"

"Can I...kiss you again?"

And this time, without daring to wait for an answer, Arthur closed the distance between his lips and Kiku's presence again. Some time ago he had believed that between him and Kiku Honda was an entire galaxy, that the man was nothing more than an alien like existence he was only allowed to see for a few minutes during his work at the cafe.

Now. With his breath tickling his skin and his soft lips in contact with his own, Arthur was sure that if he exploded in that very moment or the world ended or a gigant rock coming from saturn was about to eradicating the human race or if he really was in a coma-induced dream; none of that mattered.

Nothing aside from Kiku's lips matter.

God he was so lucky.