Interlude 7:
The Fluffy Café Without Taichi
GRISE WAS IN high spirits as he strutted his way to Fluffy Café. Nina and Arle were busy with an escort mission for a merchant’s daughter. The request was strict about only hiring women, which meant Grise had to stay behind.
That’s okay, because it means I get to visit Fluffy Café! He burst through the front door, the bell noisily clanging above him.
“Oh, welcome!”
“Hello!” Grise paused. “Oh, right. I guess Taichi already left for Arzelun.” He was momentarily shocked when he first saw Hymeria, but the realization dawned on him soon enough.
“He sure did!”
Grise and Hymeria had become acquainted after seeing each other numerous times while she was still a trainee. They weren’t terribly close, but since they were both adventurers, they were on the same wavelength.
“I’ll take a cup of cold green tea,” he said.
“Sure thing. Coming right up!”
After putting in his usual order, Grise took a seat on the sofa. Scanning the room, he realized that Luke and his beloved beanbag chair were nowhere to be found. He snickered to himself. I guess he likes it so much he didn’t want to leave it behind, huh?
While he was busy thinking to himself, the Berry Bunnies and Cerberus wandered over, the former emitting a faint, “Kree?” The Cerberus seemed to want to play, since one of the heads was holding a ball in its mouth, letting out a muffled, “Arf.”
“Oooh, you wanna play, do ya? Well, why not! You’re a clever boy, aren’tcha? Bringing the ball to me like this.” Most animals feared Grise because of his rugged features, but these monsters showed no hesitation as they approached him, making them all the more endearing.
I’d better buy them some treats later!
“Woof!”
Grise took the ball from the Cerberus and lightly tossed it. Obediently, the pup gave chase, snatched it up and brought it back. They played several rounds of fetch together. It was too cute the way he scurried back with the ball in his mouth. Grise didn’t have the heart to put an end to their game.
He patted the floor and said, “Okay, we’ll keep going a little longer, then. Let’s use three balls this time!”
Since there were three heads, it only made sense to throw three.
The Cerberus wagged its tail eagerly. This would never get old to Grise. He’d play fetch forever if the pup wanted it.
“Ahh, this fills me with so much joy.” He was in his own little world, tossing the balls, when Hymeria appeared out of thin air, setting his drink down on the table right beside him.
“Here you are,” she said.
“Oh, thanks! This green tea stuff is delicious!” While the Cerberus was scrambling to collect all the balls, he took a moment to sip on his drink, letting out a deep, satisfied exhale. “So refreshing!” His eyes wandered back to Hymeria. “So I guess you’re working all on your own now. How is it?”
“Mm, the café part of the job is pretty normal, as you’d expect.”
“I guess so, since all you have to do is make the drinks and add snacks to the customer’s order. Makes it easier than most restaurants, in a way.” If there was any aspect of the job here that might’ve been difficult, it would be looking after all of the monsters, but Grise knew that Hymeria loved them all dearly. He doubted she would have any issues. At least until he noticed her pulling a face. “What’s up? Something bothering you?”
“Mm, the job is fine,” she said haltingly. “It’s just...all the devices Taichi has here kinda defy imagination.”
“Devices?” Grise’s face screwed up. He couldn’t figure out what she meant.
“Well, not just devices. I mean, take the tableware, for instance.”
He nodded. “True, the plates and cups are a really nice quality.”
Grise could see how she’d be surprised by them. I can only imagine how much these must have cost Taichi. He didn’t want to think how much he’d owe if he dropped his mug and shattered it. It came with its own matching ceramic lid, which Grise was sure had to be a custom order. Better be careful with it.
“Oh, right,” said Grise, “when’s he supposed to be back?”
“According to him, twenty-five days at the latest.”
“Hm...?” Grise blinked slowly. At first, he thought it was a joke, and he’d missed the punchline somehow. “Sorry. I don’t think I heard you right. When’s he gonna be back?”
“Twenty-five days from now.”
“Right.”
Well, at least he knew he hadn’t misheard her. When I went to Arzelun before, it took me about a month one way, and that was on a stagecoach. Was Taichi taking the fastest horse he could find to ride there? That could be the only explanation. Grise was at a loss. He snuck a glance at Hymeria, who promptly shook her head. Clearly, he wasn’t to pry anymore.
“Tamers sure are amazing,” he said, for lack of anything better.
“I think Taichi’s a serious exception.” She had a distant look in her eyes, as if she knew even more about him, which made him stand out among his peers.
There’s probably so much that it’s almost discomforting.
“I guess for a Tamer as skilled as Taichi, it’s not impossible to make the trip that quickly.” hedged Grise.
Well, regardless of whether he’s weird, I’m willing to overlook it for this café. He reached for his mug and drained the rest of the tea from it.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Phew! Playing ball sure was fun.”
“I’m thirsty.”
“Let’s drink some water!”
After the Cerberus finished playing with Grise, it trotted over to the automatic water dispenser Taichi had left for it. This Cerberus loved this device because it kept the water fresh.
“But it’s kinda lonely without Taichi.”
“Nothing we can do about that since he’s on a trip.”
“I really like Hymeria!”
“Me too!” chimed in the other two heads.
Since they had come to love Hymeria so much, they were intent on playing with her as much as they could while Taichi was gone. She diligently prepared their food and was always smiling at them. She was also really cute! Almost like a mom.
“But it’s so lonely at night,” Nord whined. He was the neediest of the three heads.
During the daytime, they had Hymeria and customers to occupy their attention, but it was much lonelier at night, since they had grown used to sleeping with Taichi.
“I get what you mean!” Pino said with a nod. “So what’ll we do tonight?”
“How about we sleep with the Berry Bunnies?” suggested Chrollo.
“Good idea!” cried the other two heads.
The bunnies tended to crowd together and sleep downstairs. If the Cerberus snuck in with them and curled up, they wouldn’t be lonely.
“Plus, if we stick by them, we can protect them in case anything happens!”
“Yeah!”
“Since we’re the newest addition, it’s our job to protect those who’ve been there longer than us!” The Cerberus adored the bunnies, respecting them and their more veteran status at the café.
“Kree?”
Marshmallow understood that the Cerberus heads were referring to them and bounced its way over.
“We’ll be sleeping with you guys starting tonight. Hope you don’t mind!” said Pino.
“Kree!” Marshmallow bobbed their head as if to say the Cerberus was more than welcome. They were the leader of the Berry Bunnies, so getting their permission was reassuring.
“Hee hee, I can’t wait.”
All three heads were in top spirits.
“Mind if I order a bag of treats?” Grise’s voice boomed through the room.
“Treats!” cried the three heads in delight.
“Kree kree?!”
They couldn’t help but react with excitement when they heard. Taichi had originally created the Bunny Cookies for the Berry Bunnies, but they were so delicious that the Cerberus had come to love them too.
“I want some!”
“We played with him first, so I’m sure he’ll give us some!”
“We’d better hurry over!”
The Cerberus scrambled toward Grise, bumping into his leg and staring up at him with pleading eyes.
“Oh, how cute!” Grise was immediately taken by them and their show of affection.
“Kree!”
“Kree kree.”
“Kreeee!”
The bunnies were not to be outdone; they crowded around Grise’s feet, masterfully begging for their share.
“Urgh, if I keeled over a second from now, I’d die without any regrets,” he said.
“No, please don’t die,” Hymeria told him calmly as she retrieved the bag of treats he requested.
What followed was an all-out battle. While the Cerberus respected the bunnies as veterans of the café, that was irrelevant when it came to securing treats.
“I’m gonna get my share no matter what!”
“We can’t let the bunnies get the better of us here!”
“You said it!”
Overwhelmed by the critters’ adorable pleading, Grise turned back to Hymeria and held up a finger. “Uh, can I get a second bag?” With so many monsters wanting a portion, he figured one wouldn’t be enough to satisfy them.
Hymeria gave him a look of knowing pity. She grabbed another bag and handed it to him.
“Thanks. All right, time for treats, everyone!”
“Woof!” barked all three heads in unison. They happily scarfed down the cookies they received, and the bunnies eagerly nibbled away on theirs.
Grise sighed contentedly. “This place really is paradise.” He had to stop himself from grinning like an idiot as he indulged in the moment.