She picked up her laptop and started running away, with the angry Mizuki shouting after her. Chisato and Mika were left alone.
“Oh dear,” Mika sighed. “Chisato, you’re very young, so you wouldn’t know, but as you age, the doors of possibility begin to shut on you. It’s a very real feeling, like a curtain slowly but inexorably falling on the stage that is your life. And you can’t do anything about it.”
“Sorry, I don’t get it…”
“You become conscious of not being able to do as many things as young people can, of losing potential. It gets quite pronounced from about the age of thirty.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Mr. Doi is fifty-five, right? So, going by the average life expectancy, he’s still got twenty more years to live! And since he’s retired, he can get enough sleep and has time for exercise, so with a healthy lifestyle, he can expect to live even longer! With this much time, he can achieve anything!”
Mika looked at Chisato with patient sympathy and a hint of wistfulness.
“It’s almost painful to hear you casually equating twenty years to a teenager and twenty years to someone in their fifties… I do like your way of thinking—I do—but it stems from your being so young—”
“You opened this café ten years ago, right, Teach? At first, you sucked at it, but now you make great coffee that draws in the crowds. Which proves you can do anything, no matter your age!”
Chisato’s earnestness made Mika smile softly.
“Well, you got me there. You’re right that you can still do new things when you’re older, but trust me, there are fewer and fewer of those chances with every passing day.”
Chisato made a face. She understood what Mika was saying, but she didn’t agree with him.
“Really?”
“Yes, really. You’ll understand when you’re… When you’re a bit older. Maybe,” Mika finished without conviction.
Chisato pointed her fingers like a gun, aiming at him. She smiled and said cockily, “Looking forward to growing old.”
Mika held his gaze on Chisato for a bit longer, then closed his eyes, imagining what she might be like in the future.
“Are you, now? I do think it’s a wonderful thing, growing old. Most people want to live to an old age, but they don’t really think of aging as a good thing. Usually, all people see are the downsides.”
“But some people only get cooler as they age! Like you, Teach. I like how you look now way more than you used to.”
Mika laughed and rested his eyes back on Chisato. She liked the way he looked at her. In the past, he’d often look at her as if not really seeing her. As if he was looking through her, eyes unfocused. But that changed, and he now really saw her. Chisato believed it was due to the amount of time they’d known each other. One more reason to think of the passage of time as something positive and wonderful.
“Thanks… But you see, Chisato, in Mr. Doi’s case, it’s more than just age—the fact he doesn’t have anything to keep him occupied plays a major part too, I think. For some people, work is their entire life. It’s what keeps them going and they don’t know what to do with themselves when they suddenly have free time on their hands. Younger people can generally find something else they want to do or, as is often the case, are forced to look for another job for financial reasons, but Mr. Doi is no longer under that sort of pressure.”
“What you’re saying is he’s bored, and because of his age, he can’t find anything to do?”
“You’re getting confused, Chisato,” said Kurumi, who’d just come out of the staff room rubbing her head—Mizuki had probably gotten rough with her.
“Confused how?”
“Why are you even talking about Doi’s quality of life? The issue you wanted to discuss was Takina acting unlike herself.”
“That’s true, but…but at the same time…his funky mood is the reason why Takina’s worried, so… Oh, I got it! As caring Café LycoReco staff, we should take it upon ourselves to cheer up our gloomy regulars!”
“That’s not our job.”
“Hmmgh, somehow that doesn’t feel right!”
Chisato slumped despondently over the short girl.
“Don’t delude yourself. You can’t change someone’s life for the better through coffee and desserts like it’s a food manga. Don’t worry about something that’s not your business. Anyway, this was originally about Takina, wasn’t it?”
“Takina! That’s right!”
Revived, Chisato sprang to her feet and banged her fist on the counter.
“Could Takina’s broody mood be caused by feelings of love toward Mr. Doi? What do you think, Watson?”
Tired of Chisato’s antics, Mika went back into the kitchen to resume washing the dishes.
“It’s a possibility, but let’s not assume. She might simply be concerned about him.”
“But would you be concerned about someone you didn’t like? All the evidence points to love, Watson!”
She received no response, as nobody found her Sherlock Holmes act remotely funny. But Chisato continued, undeterred, “From tomorrow on, I’d like everyone to support Takina on her love journey!”
Again, nobody said anything. They could tell that Chisato had made up her mind and wouldn’t listen to anyone trying to convince her she might be wrong…and they also couldn’t help entertaining a slight suspicion that she might be right.
It was exceedingly rare for Takina to show interest in other human beings besides highly talented individuals she wanted to learn from or challenging enemies who stood in her way. This was what made love seem like a strangely plausible explanation, and if Takina were in love, it wouldn’t bother anyone. If anything, they would be willing to see her faint feelings blossom. What would be stopping them from lending a helpful hand…?
“Focus on your own love life instead of meddling in someone else’s,” Mizuki called from the back.
The others exchanged looks, suddenly remembering that they were all single. Deep down, even Chisato had to agree that Mizuki had a point there.