Mr. Doi arrived at the café when it was still empty, not long before lunchtime. He went to sit at his usual corner seat at the counter, and Mika started preparing him a standard black coffee right away. Mr. Doi had been coming in regularly, always ordering the same thing, so Mika had stopped asking him if he wanted “the usual,” confident of the answer.
But even as the customer and the barista settled into that predictable routine, Takina walked over to Mr. Doi to take his order, clutching a tray to her chest. Chisato was watching her like a hawk.
“What would you like today, sir?”
“Hello, Takina. One black coffee… And here it is. Thank you.”
Mr. Doi’s lips stretched into a slight smile as Mika set a cup of coffee before him. Chisato wondered if she only imagined Takina looking disappointed as she walked away.
“Takina, you know, you don’t have to ask him what he wants every time. It’s always the same anyway.”
“I’m just doing my job,” Takina replied coldly.
She had to be in love with the man after all, right? Chisato was pretty sure of it. No, she was absolutely sure. There was no other explanation!
Then it occurred to Chisato that Mika was getting in the way. The only time Mr. Doi smiled was at Mika when the barista gave him his coffee.
Mika was an attractive man. It was a fact—in the span of ten years since the café had opened its doors, countless customers had crushed on him, and he’d even had a stalker at one point.
If Mika was obstructing this new love story…they’d have to lure Mr. Doi out of the café.
“Say, Takina, weren’t you going shopping today?”
“I will be. Why do you ask?”
“I’m coming along!”
“…Since when?”
“I’m in charge of restocking! Anyway! Let’s go and get changed!”
“What? Now? Hold on, Chisato. I was supposed to go after my shift…”
But Chisato was already pushing Takina to the staff room.
Once they were back in their Lycoris uniforms, Chisato dragged Takina over to Mr. Doi. She beamed at the man staring morosely at his coffee, as was his habit.
“Mr. Doi! How are you today?!”
Mr. Doi looked up, smiling fleetingly at Chisato. It was an empty smile forced for the sake of politeness. He really seemed deeply depressed.
“It’s a day like any other day, I suppose…”
“Have you had lunch yet?”
“No, not yet…”
“That’s not good, is it? Delicious food is one of life’s pleasures!”
“At my age, it doesn’t make much of a difference if I skip lunch…”
“If it doesn’t make a difference, then let’s go have lunch together!”
Chisato heard Takina groan behind her.
“So, that’s what this is all about? Trying to scrounge a free meal off poor Mr. Doi?”
“No, I’d never!”
Why didn’t Takina catch on to how Chisato was doing her a favor? She couldn’t explain her motivations to Takina’s face, though. That’d be too crude, like dumping sauce on soba noodles instead of dipping them a little at a time, even though it was all the same once it got to your stomach.
“Ha-ha-ha! You girls are hungry?”
Mika looked like he was about to intervene, but Chisato didn’t even need to convey the complex message of This is the first step of my Supporting Takina’s Love Plan! with the power of her gaze alone because Mr. Doi took their side right away.
“It’s all right. I don’t mind… What would you like to eat, girls?”
“Yay! Hmm… Takina, what are you in the mood for?”
“I don’t need any—”
“No, you know what! Mr. Doi should choose! What do you like, Mr. Doi?”
“Me? For lunch, I wouldn’t mind…sushi?”
“Sounds good! That reminds me, the sushi chef from the restaurant outside the station often comes here!”
“Really? Well, shall we order from there? I’ll pay.”
Nooo! The whole point was to get Mr. Doi out of the café and steer things toward him going on a date with Takina. Getting food delivered to their workplace would thwart Chisato’s plan. She couldn’t allow it!
“Er… Maybe not this time! Actually, there’s this other great sushi place I know! They do amazing inarizushi! Do you like inari? Yeah? Terrific! There are a few sushi restaurants that do nice inarizushi, but Ajigin in Narihira, near the old radio tower, is totally worth checking out!”
“Ah, yes, I know it. Their salty-sweet, moist abura-age is really good.”
Oh no! Come to think of it, Mr. Doi was a local, so it was only natural he’d know the neighborhood well. He probably knew all the good restaurants in Asakusa, too.
Chisato wanted to take him somewhere he hadn’t been to before. Helping Takina hook up with him was the main objective, but Chisato also wanted to treat the sad man to a new experience that he’d then associate with Takina, and that’d cement their bright future together. She’d be feeding two birds with one scone.
There was a particular place that should fit the bill!
“Oh, and do you know Hana Inari, near the Kameido Tenjin shrine?”
“The name sounds familiar… Hmm… I’m not sure, to be honest.”
“Ah,” Takina piped up. “Their inarizushi is a notch above the others. I had their inari with pickled plum, and I can recommend it—”
“Yeah, that’s a winner! What do you say, Mr. Doi? Shall we go with Takina Inoue’s top recommendation, Hana Inari?!”
“Yes, why not? Do they deliver?”
“Unfortunately, no! So let’s just go there!”
“You said it’s near the Tenjin shrine? Isn’t that a bit far? Should we take the bus or go by train?”
“It’s faster to walk from here!”
“Let’s call a taxi, then.”
“No, let’s walk! It’s good exercise, and the weather’s nice, perfect for a lovely walk together! All right! Mr. Doi, Takina! Let’s go!”
“Now? But… Wait, I haven’t finished my coffee…”
“Are you serious, Chisato? We’re supposed to be working…”
“It’s fine, Takina! Let’s go, go! Oh, you can finish your coffee first, Mr. Doi!”
After Mr. Doi hurriedly finished his drink, Chisato dragged him and Takina out, and they headed to Kameido.