42 Coffee Time

"Do you know what's a popular drink here?" I asked as I studied the menu.

Unlike Ranimer, there were plenty of, what I like to dub, liquid sugar. From frappes to milkshakes, I eyed the heart attack in a cup options with stars in my eyes.

I like normal coffee, don't get me wrong, but liquid sugar is something I haven't had since I came here. Having it once in awhile isn't bad, right?

"I'm not sure. I only know this establishment became successful because of the trendy aesthetics of their drinks." Tatsuya mentioned as he observed the menu, too.

"Really?" After he said that, I had to look around.

Its true. I saw many people taking pictures of their drinks, which were either colorful or had some design on it made of whip cream or foam. 

I couldn't help but sweat drop.

Yup. Seems the Zoomer generation is strong here as well.

"Yeah, that makes sense." I commented.

Oh well. I'll just go with a regular caramel frappe, I guess.

"What kind of coffee do you usually drink, Tanaka-san?" I asked as we waited. The place was popular, so the line was a bit on the longer side.

"I hardly have the need to, but it's usually a normal black coffee." He answered, though his attention was obviously not on me.

"Eh, that's so bitter." I blanched at the thought of drinking it. 

"It's gets the job done." Tatsuya slightly shrugged.

"What was I expecting from you?" I muttered off to the side.

"Care to repeat that?" It suddenly felt like winter was coming back.

"Oh, uh, nope. Not all, haha." Lucky enough, a register opened up for us. "Let's go." I rushed forward to avoid frostbite.

We placed our orders, and after Tatsuya paid, he headed off to find a table. It's didn't take long to get the drinks, and I headed the the table Tatsuya claimed.

Unsurprisingly, it was in a more secluded corner that had a great view of the rest of the shop. 

This man works even when drinking.

I sighed as I placed his iced coffee in front of him before sitting down.

"Is there a problem?" He immediately asked.

"No, I just wondered if you ever get tired." I offhandedly said.

"Excuse me?" When I heard the chilling tone, I sat up straight.

"I-I mean, don't you ever take time off for yourself? You seem to constantly think about your family's business and studying. You're not overworking yourself, are you?" I quickly rambled to hide my prior rudeness.

"..." 

Oh.

This was actually an issue.

"And you haven't collapsed yet?" I became actually concerned.

"I'm careful not to overwork myself to that point." Tatsuya simply answered as he lazily stirred his coffee. "Only an imbecile would."

I mentally facepalmed.

"Alright, lets address this first." I said as I slid my hand down my face. "Tanaka-san, do you have any hobbies or ways to relax?"

"Not necessary." 

"As expected." I muttered into my drink.

"You seem to enjoy mumbling under your breath, Suzuki-kun." Tatsuya bitterly mentioned.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I hid behind my smile. "Anyway, let me ask this then. Do you enjoy your work?"

"Define "enjoy.""

"Uhm, like, you are not constantly stressed and actually happy working." I loosely explained.

"...Then, I suppose I don't enjoy it." Tatsuya impassively answered.

Oh ho?

"All the more reason you should take breaks then." I latched onto his answer. "You should find a hobby you enjoy or something that helps you relax and unwind. If you don't, your life's gonna be on the shorter side." I softly scolded him.

"My life?" Tatsuya scoffed.

"Yes, your life. Being constantly stressed isn't good for you." I informed him before taking a sip of my drink.

Oooh, that's the good stuff. Mm, liquid sugar hits different.

"As I mentioned before, I am not idiotic enough to let my health be affected." Tatsuya sneered.

"Okay, fine. Sure." Seeing how stubborn he was being, I decided to drop it.

Hmph, I shouldn't have worried about you in the first place, you statue.

"But I'll humor you."

What?

"I'll need some examples, so what do you do?" Tatsuya passively stared at me.

Uh oh.

"I, uh, like to play games or watch shows or read something." I was careful to not seem like a total otaku (nerd, basically). 

"Hm." Tatsuya regarded me coolly.

"Haha, yeah." I awkwardly said before taking a sip.

...

"Er, anyway! Let's move on now that we've dealt with that!" I forced a smile. "Last time, did you talk with you parents?" 

Please! Please, tell me the Tanaka couple didn't mess up!

"Ah, yes, that matter." From his lukewarm reaction, I already felt let down.

"How did it go?" I asked worriedly.

"I told them the same things I spoke to you about that night. Afterwards, they proceeded to say they have been suffering consequences and apologized for not being there for me." Tatsuya apathetically answered.

"And?" I urged him to continue.

"After hearing their sad excuse of a sob story perspective, I realized the extent of their selfishness and ignorance." Tatsuya scornfully spat.

...Damn.

This is gonna be harder than it thought.

"As mother was crying off to the side, father said that they would like to mend our relationship." Tatsuya continued.

"And what did you say?" I weakly asked.

I had a bad feeling.

"That's ridiculous."

Yep, yep. That's what I thought he would say.

"I suffered for years! They've only recently realized they had a son, not an heir. Now that they want that relationship, they expect me to give it to them?" Tatsuya scowled. "I won't give them what they want so easily, those spoiled brats." Tatsuya frostily hissed. 

I stared at him, wide eyed.

I, uh, didn't realize it was this bad? He called his parents "spoiled brats." He really doesn't like them, and that conversation just made things worse between them.

"So, things didn't good well, I see." I stiffly commented.

"Far from it." Tatsuya went back to his emotionless self, though more cold.

"Uhm, do you plan on giving them a chance?" I carefully poached.

"...I'm not sure." Tatsuya softly answered.

"They may not be the best parents, but they're your only parents. It'd be a shame if you don't give them a chance while they're still around." I took the straw out of my drink to mess with the whip cream on top. "Besides, they seemed sincere. I'm sure they'll try their best to makeup with you."

"..." I felt Tatsuya's steady gaze.

"What is it?" I dropped the straw back in.

"You speak as if your parents are dead." Tatsuya calmly stated.

...

My parents.

Woah, I haven't thought about them in a long time.

When was the last time I even visited them? Sadly, I can't now that I'm here for the time being. I should when... if I get back.

"Well, maybe I just miss them. They've been away for a while." I glumly smiled while stirring my cup.

"You were close?" I don't know if it's just me, but Tatsuya seemed to soften up.

"Uhm, I—" 

Oh gosh, I don't know MC's parents. What do I say? 

"—I wouldn't stay we're close." I sheepishly admitted. 

"But you miss them?" Tatsuya asked cynically.

"You don't have to be close to miss your parents." I chuckled. "For me, they're family, and family is home."

Too bad my home wasn't there for long.

"Hm, I don't understand those kinds of things." Tatsuya frankly said. 

"You'd gain an understanding if you gave your parents a chance." I grinned cheekily. "You don't have to do it soon, but you should before you can't."

"...I suppose you're right." Tatsuya looked off to the side.

"Mm." I nodded and sipped the sweet drink.

We fell into a sort of mutual silence as we finished our drinks. Neither of us were in the mood to continue talking, so we didn't. Tatsuya could observe peacefully while I enjoyed my diabetes cup.

And after some time, I finished while trying to not obnoxiously suck my straw to clean out the whole cup.

"If you're finished, I'll walk you home. It's getting dark out." Tatsuya had cleared his cup a while before me. I guess he waited for me.

"Okay, thanks." I took him up on his offer.

After we threw away our trash, we walked side by side, and unlike this afternoon, our pace wasn't hellish.

Even though it was spring, nights can still be chilly, and on this particular night, the wind just so happened to be around. The last of the cherry blossoms were being blown away.

"Ah." I unconsciously blurted loud.

"What's the matter?" Tatsuya glanced at me.

"I just realized I didn't go cherry blossom viewing (also known as "hanami") this year." I bashfully explained.

Man, what a wasted opportunity! Who knows when's the next time I can be in Japan at this time of the year!

"So you enjoy that kind of thing." Tatsuya plainly remarked as we kept moving forward. 

"You don't?" I knew he was a emotionless guy, but not to this extent.

"Is there a point to?" He looked to me for my answer.

"Of course! Cherry blossoms are such a beautiful flower! To experience seeing so many blooming at once is amazing!" I excitedly explained. "Plus, it's such a unique tradition in Japan. I always dreamed of having a picnic while watching the petals dance around!" I beamed.

"I see." Looks like I caught his interest!

"Yeah! And if I get to when I'm older, I'd definitely like to have drinks with friends under cherry blossoms, too. Hehe." I meekly added.

"Pft."

I snapped my head out of the clouds and looked over at him.

I stopped walking.

"I worry what a drunk Suzuki-kun would be like."

Tatsuya was smiling without holding back, though he held his hand up, slightly blocking the view. Behind his glasses, I could see his eyes crinkled happily and his eyebrows loosened from their deep set position. The way the moonlight shone on his jet black hair and translucent skin and the cherry blossoms fell around him made him look otherworldly.

I was astonished.

Such a missed CG moment, Deepest Desire devs!