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“Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner tonight, Ken?” Koki asked again as Kensuke was tying his shoes to head out after hanging out with his friends at their apartment.“It’s fine, Kou! I don’t want to intrude on you two love doves,” Kensuke teased lightheartedly. “It’s a rare chance for the two of you to be off work and alone together.”“That’s true, but you know Ryo and I don’t mind your company. You could always stay over for the night too,” Koki mentioned.Kensuke paused for a moment, busying himself with the last loop on his shoelace. The obvious worry in Koki’s voice and Ryota’s face earlier when Kensuke suddenly came over after sending them a text that his original plans with his now ex-girlfriend got canceled tugged on Kensuke’s heart with a gentle nudge.Kensuke smiled as he stood up straight and looked at Koki. “I’m okay, Kou! Tell Ryo thanks for the cookies and I’ll visit you guys again before New Years so we can go visit the shrine together.”Koki looked like he still had a lot to say out of kind concern, but he chose not to push the topic right now. “Alright, take care on your way home. It’s supposed to get really cold outside tonight.”“Ick, I really can’t stand the cold winter, so I better run!”“Let me know when you get back to your apartment.”“I will! Bye, Kou!” Kensuke hurried out into the bitter cold and deflated his bright energy like a balloon losing air once he was out of sight.“Man…to be heartbroken and single during this time of year sure is really terrible luck,” Kensuke talked to himself as he shoved his hands in his pockets and made his way home.As Kensuke was trying to hurry to the nearest train station in hopes of catching the train back to his apartment, he passed by a nearby park that was all lit up with colorful lights around trees, bushes, and festive wire statues for the winter season. Kensuke knew cutting through the park would be a shortcut to the station, but he also didn’t want to have to pass by all the couples that were lingering around despite the cold air on romantic dates. Kensuke was about to walk around the whole park, but a sudden gust of harsh, cold wind changed his mind in a flash.“Agh, fine!” Kensuke ran into the park. It wasn’t too crowded, but there were couples wherever Kensuke looked. Kensuke debated turning back and taking the long route after all, but he was already halfway through the park so he might as well continue forward.When he almost got near the park exit where the train station entrance was, Kensuke stopped when he heard something. “Singing?” Kensuke followed the source of the sound with his ears. He looked around as the singing got louder and noticed that sitting alone on a park bench was a man with messy burgundy hair. The man seemed to be singing while holding sheets of paper in his gloved hands.“Mmm~mmm~, maybe if I change this part,” The lone man mumbled to himself as he took out a pen from his coat pocket and started scribbling on the paper. Suddenly a gust of wind blew all the paper sheets out of his hands. “Ah-! Oh no!” The man was too slow to catch them.Kensuke found his feet moving automatically as he ran to pick up the sheets of paper blowing in the wind. “I got it!” Kensuke caught the sheets effortlessly without bending the paper.“Thank you! I’m so sorry for the trouble!” The man bowed his head gratefully as Kensuke came up to give him the sheets back. As he handed them over, Kensuke caught a glance that they were handwritten music sheets.“No problem! The gusts can really catch you off guard. You should probably go somewhere indoors like a cafe so the wind doesn’t blow away your papers,” Kensuke advised.“Of course, I normally do sit inside a cafe to write, but seeing all these pretty lights around I couldn’t help sitting outside even if it’s a bit cold,” The man spoke in a happy tone. “I also wanted to admire the view while I’m waiting for-”Kensuke realized he may be intruding. “Ah, right, you must be waiting for someone to meet up with you.”“Eh?” The man tilted his head confused and then realized what Kensuke implied. “No, no, no! You must be mistaken, Onii-san! I’m not waiting for anyone like that! I was waiting for my inspiration to hit!”“Inspiration?” Kensuke wondered.“Mm~!” The man nodded as he gestured to invite Kensuke to sit down next to him on the bench. “Sometimes sitting in different places gives me new inspiration for songs to write!”“Oh, you write songs?” Kensuke was surprised. “Do you work for a music agency?”The man gave a nervous laugh. “No, it’s nothing big like that. I mostly work freelance with the help of an acquaintance of mine I met after I got let go from my previous company,” the man explained.“Hmm.” Kensuke listened with his curiosity tickled a little.“What about you, onii-san? Ah! I hope I’m not causing you to be late for a date that you must be on your way to,” The man realized.Kensuke let out a bittersweet laugh. “Nah, I’m not meeting anyone either. I mean, I was supposed to, but we-...my girlfriend and I broke up,” Kensuke admitted.“Eh?! Ah, I’m so sorry!!” The man apologized strongly.“Hn? Why are you sorry?”“I didn’t mean to bring up such a sad memory for you!” The man rambled.“Don’t worry about it, I kinda figured it was bound to happen sooner or later since we haven’t talked to each other much before we split,” Kensuke said. “Plus we had a mutual breakup, so there isn’t much to regret.” He knew the truth deep down, although it still hurt to admit it.“Oh…”“Anyway, sorry to be a downer on your night too by talking about a heartbreak,” Kensuke moved on. “I should head home and-*AH CHOO!” Kensuke suddenly sneezed and shivered. “Brrr, it really is super cold tonight. I should’ve brought a scarf.”“Oh, let me lend you mine!” The man offered as he unwrapped his dark brown scarf and held it out to Kensuke. “Don’t worry, it’s clean! I didn’t spill anything on it this time!”Kensuke stared blankly at the scarf and then at the man. He was about to politely decline, but the freezing cold shivers down his neck won the temptation of warmth.“T-Thanks.” Kensuke nervously took the scarf and wrapped it around his neck. He sighed with satisfaction that his neck wouldn't freeze.“No problem! I’m glad I happened to bring the scarf I received as a gift from a former senpai of mine before I left my old company when I told him I lost my old scarf.”“Won’t your neck get cold? Then all the more reason I shouldn’t-” Kensuke tried to give back the scarf even though it was already wrapped warmly around his neck.“Don’t worry! I’m wearing extra layers underneath my coat! See?” The man unbuttoned his coat collar to reveal he was wearing a thick high neck sweater underneath a sweater vest.“...that sweater vest looks like something my uncle would wear,” Kensuke slipped out his honest thoughts about the man’s sense of fashion.“U-Uncle? I’m only 26!” The man retorted.“Really? So we’re only a few years apart then!” Kensuke realized despite the man’s older looking appearance, they were close in age. “I just turned 23 in late September!”“So your birthday is right before mine! I was born in early October!” The man shared.“Oh, but you’re still older than me. Sorry for speaking so casually to you, um-” Kensuke realized he didn’t even know the man’s name, nor did he introduce himself either.“Ah, I’m Mamoru! Fujimura Mamoru!” The man introduced himself as Mamoru. “It’s really nice to meet you, onii-san!”“Yaegashi Kensuke!” Kensuke introduced himself. “No need to call me so formally, Ken is fine!”“Ken-kun?”“Yeah!”“Likewise, I’m not good with formal conversations either, so just Mamoru is fine!”“Mamoru?” Kensuke tried it out.“Mm~!”They both smiled warmly at each other before another cold breeze brought them back to reality that they were still outside on a cold park bench.“Ahh, I really could go for something hot to drink right now,” Kensuke wished out loud.“Oh! Then let me treat you to some hot coffee!” Mamoru offered.“Huh? You don’t really need to,” Kensuke hesitated to accept.“I was the one who kept rambling on, so it’s partly my fault that you sat outside in the cold,” Mamoru admitted. “I know a really nice cafe that isn’t too crowded, and the staff there are really kind! Plus their coffee and sweets are delicious.”“Well-” Kensuke wondered what to do, but suddenly his stomach growled. “Ah-...” Kensuke hid his embarrassed blush behind the scarf he was borrowing.Mamoru chuckled. “It’ll be Mamoru onii-san’s treat!”“Onii-san? Don’t you mean Oji-san?” Kensuke retorted.“D-Do I really look like an uncle?!” Mamoru was shocked.Kensuke found himself laughing. “I can give you some fashion pointers. So where’s this cafe?”Kensuke followed Mamoru out of the park and down the street. Kensuke noticed there were a few cafes around the area they were walking, but they were all crowded with couples. Kensuke sort of hoped Mamoru wasn’t going to take him to one of the crowded cafes, but to his surprise Mamoru turned at the next corner and headed down a well lit alleyway that led to a neighborhood street with fewer people walking outside.“Mamoru? Is the cafe not on the main street?” Kensuke couldn’t help but question where Mamoru was going. Kensuke wondered if maybe Mamoru was lost.“Oh, it’s not on the main street!” Mamoru answered confidently. “It’s only a bit further ahead at the end of this neighborhood alley street!”As Kensuke was trying to decide whether it was a good idea to trust Mamoru, he was so deep in thought that Kensuke barely noticed when Mamoru suddenly stopped in front of a random brick building.“This is it!” Mamoru pointed out a cafe that Kensuke never saw before.“Huh?”The cafe front didn’t have too much of an impact compared to the cafes on the main street. Occupying a tall brick corner building with vines that spread around the bricks without overgrowing, the only indication that it was a cafe was the lit CAFE sign and a wooden chalkboard sign that had a handwritten menu next to some wooden flower beds.“Timeless Cafe? I’ve never heard of this place before,” Kensuke commented, reading the name from the chalkboard sign.Kensuke was even more surprised walking inside the cafe as Mamoru held the door open for him. Mamoru told him the place is a cafe, but the inside looked more like some kind of classy nightclub with a full size bar, billiard tables and dart boards, stringed lights with a full size chandelier in the center, leather chairs and lounge sofas, and even a small stage with a grand piano sparkling under a spotlight. There were even festive decorations for the season with a decorated lit festive tree in the corner by the entrance.“Welcome to Timeless Cafe,” a cafe waiter standing behind the bar wearing a Santa hat over his pink hair tied in a braided bun greeted after Kensuke and Mamoru walked inside. “Oh, welcome back, Mamoru. Did you have a nice walk of inspiration?”“I’m back, Rikka-san!” Mamoru greeted him. “Mm! I even met a new acquaintance, Kensuke! Do you mind if I sit at my usual table?”“Of course, we don’t really have any customers right now so it’s open,” Rikka answered. In fact, the place was pretty much empty except for two staff members who were passing time playing at one of the billiard tables in the corner.Kensuke couldn’t stop staring in awe as he and Mamoru sat down at a small polished antique wooden table that was close to the stage by the window.“Mamoru…is this really a cafe?” Kensuke was amazed. “There’s even a chandelier!”“Mm, mm! I know how you feel, Ken-kun! I really was shocked when I saw this place for the first time!” Mamoru related.“Tsubasa kind of went overboard with decorating the whole place,” Rikka joined the conversation as he brought over some cafe menus.“Oi, Rikka! Shiki gave me permission to decorate the place freely!” A blond staff member named Tsubasa who was playing billiards with a taller blue haired staff member retorted. “Are you doubting my sense of style?”“I still think the chandelier is too much,” the blue haired staff member added.“Dai-chan! It’s classy isn’t it?” Tsubasa pouted.“Even if it’s classy, it doesn’t really match the image of a normal cafe,” Dai pointed out. “And don’t call me Dai-chan!”“Yes, yes,” Rikka ignored Tsubasa and Dai as they continued to quarrel during their game. “Anyway, I’d be happy to take your orders. We also serve alcoholic drinks here sometimes, but I’d have to check your IDs.”“I’ll have my usual, Rikka-san!” Mamoru said. “What would you like, Ken-kun? It’s my treat, so order anything you would like to try!”“Um, then I’ll take a regular hot coffee,” Kensuke randomly picked after a quick glance at the menu, sounding indecisive.“Only coffee? You don’t want something to eat too?” Mamoru asked.“Since it’s cold outside, I recommend warming up with a slice of quiche pie. I baked a fresh one in the oven a moment ago,” Rikka recommended.The mention of pie sounded good, so Kensuke agreed. “Then I’ll order a slice!” Kensuke decided.“Me too, Rikka-san!” Mamoru raised his hand. “Rikka-san’s quiche pies are so delicious!”“Okay, so Mamoru’s usual sweet cafe mocha, one hot regular coffee, and two slices of quiche pie. Coming right up,” Rikka repeated their order as he noted them down on a notepad.Rikka was about to head back to the counter to start their order, but then Mamoru suddenly stood up. “Ah, Rikka-san! I almost forgot! It’s about the payment for this month…” Mamoru whispered to Rikka.Kensuke didn’t mean to overhear, but they were still standing right in front of him so he couldn’t avoid seeing Mamoru pull out what appeared to be a bank envelope and slide it into Rikka’s hand.Rikka looked at the envelope and understood right away. “Of course, I’ll make sure Shiki gets this the next time he returns from his latest job.”Mamoru looked really relieved. “Thank you, Rikka-san!”Kensuke felt uneasy all of a sudden after he witnessed something he probably shouldn’t have seen. “Um!” Kensuke suddenly stood up, which surprised the other two for a moment. “Actually, could you cancel my order? I’m going to head home!”“Ken-kun? Ah, do you not like this kind of cafe after all? I could take you to one on the main street if you feel more comfortable there,” Mamoru offered.“It’s fine, you don’t need to treat me after all,” Kensuke said as he tried to make his way out to the entrance.“But, did I do something wrong?” Mamoru sounded worried and confused. “I’m sorry if my invitation to bring you here seems sudden since we only met, but the coffee and food here is really delicious!”“I-It’s not that I think this cafe is bad, but um…” Kensuke wasn’t sure how to describe how he was feeling in this situation.Rikka had watched them for a moment before coming to a conclusion in understanding. He couldn’t help but chuckle and step in to ease the sudden tension. “Kensuke-kun, was it? Don’t worry about the bank envelope that Mamoru handed me, it’s not like we’re making a shady deal. Mamoru was passing his apartment rent money to me to give to the landlord and cafe owner, Shiki.”“A shady deal?!” Mamoru looked shocked.“Apartment rent?” Kensuke questioned, feeling the tension relax a little.“Mamoru should explain more clearly so you can understand his situation,” Rikka encouraged Mamoru. “In the meantime, I’ll bring over your cafe orders.”Kensuke felt the tension in the air slowly disappear as he relaxed back in his seat. He couldn’t help but stare at Mamoru in confusion as Mamoru fidgeted awkwardly in his seat.“Mamoru?”“I’m really sorry, Ken-kun! I should have explained things better, I didn’t realize I made you uncomfortable!” Mamoru bowed his head and clapped his hands in apology. “If you really don’t want to stay, you’re more than welcome to leave of course, but at the very least I could ask Rikka-san to box up your pie slice and coffee so you could take it home-”“No, I’m fine with staying here for pie and coffee, but what’s this about apartment rent?” Kensuke was more curious about what Rikka mentioned.Mamoru hummed in thought to figure out how to start. “I think it’s easier to understand if I start from the beginning.” Mamoru took a deep breath. “Back when I used to work for my old company as a regular salaryman, I stayed at their company dorm that they provided to employees working there. But when the company shut down with little notice, I was forced to move out of the dorm.”“Oh…” Kensuke listened.“Of course, it’s nothing out of the ordinary for a company to shut down, but since I lost both my job and a place to stay, I was really troubled,” Mamoru continued with a melancholic expression. “I grew up in an orphanage before I started working, so going back to my original home was something I couldn’t do. I ended up wandering around until I stumbled upon a part time job advertisement looking for a pianist at the Timeless Cafe!”“Pianist? You can play the piano, Mamoru?” Kensuke didn’t expect to hear that.“I’m not really a professional like Shiki-san, but I wanted to try something new and they happened to be having auditions that day,” Mamoru shared. “Although, I was the only one who signed up to audition supposedly, so I ended up getting the job right away!”Kensuke wasn’t too surprised considering he didn’t even know there was a cafe here in the first place. The likelihood of finding a pianist to hire in a place with little foot traffic seemed slim.“I was really happy, but then there was also the problem of finding a place to stay,” Mamoru added. “When I mentioned my problem to Shiki-san and Rikka-san, they were kind enough to rent out one of the spare rooms in the apartment upstairs!”“Ohh, so that’s why you were giving Rikka-san money,” Kensuke finally understood.“Mm. But I felt like that alone wouldn’t be enough to cover the rent even if they tell me it’s enough working part time here. So I started to take on freelance work creating songs for small projects that were posted online thanks to Shiki-san lending me a laptop with built in music programs and a working keyboard I randomly found in the alleyway next to the trash bin.”“Whoa…that sounds really crazy and amazing at the same time!” Kensuke was honest.“Here’s your quiche pie slices and coffee orders,” Rikka came back with their order on a rolling cart. “I warmed up your pie slices, so enjoy it while it’s hot.”“Thank you, Rikka-san!” Mamoru and Kensuke started to enjoy the food.“Mmm, wow, this is really good!” Kensuke complimented. The pie slice tasted as good as Koki’s cooking.“The combination of cheese and egg are so fluffy and yummy!” Mamoru praised.“I’m glad you two like it.” Rikka was pleased, but then he placed his hands on his hips and frowned at Mamoru. “Although, Mamoru, I keep telling you to set up an automatic payment for your rent so you don’t have to keep handing over bank envelopes. It does look really shady from an outsider’s point of view.”“I-I don’t know how to set that up since I don’t have a smartphone!” Mamoru claimed. “Isn’t fine to give cash each month?”“I know Shiki doesn’t mind either way, but if you’re not careful, you could be easily pickpocketed, Mamoru-chan!” Rikka warned. “Especially since you always go out walking at night.”“S-Sorry…”Kensuke couldn’t help but laugh seeing Mamoru sit nervously in his chair like a puppy being scolded.“Ken-kun! Don’t laugh!”“Sorry, Mamoru, but I seriously thought you were dragging me into some kind of weird situation since you brought me to a cafe I’ve never seen before in an alley street at night,” Kensuke admitted.“The only reason this cafe isn’t on the main street is because Shiki complains it’s too noisy and he doesn’t want the cafe to be crowded with teenage kids,” Rikka clarified. “We don’t draw in a lot of customers, but we get enough regulars that visit from the neighborhood.”“Is it really okay to only rely on regular customers?” Kensuke wondered.“Tsubasa uses his daily allowance from his prestigious family, since he’s so insistent on keeping the chandelier, and Shiki’s main job as a producer covers enough for the building rent and utilities,” Rikka answered.“Producer?”“That’s right, Shiki-san is a really talented producer! He’s the head of Takamura Music Productions!” Mamoru told Kensuke.It was a good thing Kensuke didn’t take a drink of his coffee yet, otherwise he would have spat the coffee right in Mamoru’s face. “WHAT?! You know Takamura Shiki-san? Personally?!”“Shiki and I are longtime friends. We met each other at a different bar in town through mutual acquaintances,” Rikka mentioned as she gestured over to Dai and Tsubasa who were now playing a game of darts to determine who has to clean the kitchen.“Why’s the head of a famous music company managing a hidden cafe?” Kensuke was curious to know more.“Shiki-san described it like it’s a side job or even a hobby to him,” Mamoru answered. “Although since Shiki-san gets so busy when work piles up in his office studio, he rarely has time to show up here, so Rikka-san helps manage the cafe in his place.”“Shiki also claims the cafe is an excuse to drink all the coffee he wants,” Rikka added half jokingly but also half serious.“Whoa, I wonder if I’ll get to meet him someday,” Kensuke commented.“The next time Shiki-san stops by, I’d be happy to help you meet him, Ken-kun!” Mamoru said. “Despite how serious he looks most of the time, he’s really nice!”“Actually, I’m more amazed to find out that you know a famous producer and relieved you’re not some shady dealer, Mamoru,” Kensuke was once again honest to a good fault.This time Mamoru choked on his coffee as he was drinking it. “Ken-kun?! Is that really your first impression of me?” Mamoru looked wounded.“Uh, oh! You also kind of remind me of a lost puppy when I saw you in the park too!” Kensuke added to lighten the mood.“A lost puppy?” Mamoru tilted his head to the side in a cute way.Rikka giggled. “Mamoru does give off that kind of image, especially when he doesn’t brush his hair.”“Rikka-san?!”“Sorry. You two enjoy yourselves now, and don’t worry about paying. It’s on the house tonight,” Rikka said as he winked and left the two of them alone.“Huh? But Rikka-san, I can pay!” Mamoru offered still, but Rikka pretended not to hear him as he went to polish the glasses.Kensuke couldn’t help but smile with a warmth in his heart that wasn’t from the coffee as he watched Mamoru across the table.“So can I hear you play a song, Mamoru?” Kensuke decided to change topics.“You want to hear me play? Right now?”“Oh, we can wait till you’re done with your coffee, but I am really curious what kind of songs you write,” Kensuke said.Kensuke had to hold back his laughter as Mamoru quickly finished the rest of his coffee and used a paper napkin to make sure his hands were clean.“If Ken-kun wants to listen, onii-san is happy to oblige!” Mamoru was really excited.“Ohh!!” Kensuke clapped.As if on cue when Mamoru stepped onto the stage to sit at the grand piano, Tsubasa dimmed the chandelier light off so the cafe was only lit with the stringed star shape lights and a single spotlight above the stage while Dai flipped the closed sign so they wouldn’t be disturbed.“Although it’s still a rough draft, please listen to this song.” Mamoru positioned his hands over the black and white keys.“Tasogare no Melodia.”As Mamoru began to play the opening melody, Kensuke felt a sudden excitement grow inside his chest. He’s listened to all kinds of music before, even songs played on the piano, but the way Mamoru performed on the grand piano felt way different than anything Kensuke had heard or seen before.Mamoru’s music was enchanting.Kensuke couldn’t keep his feet still as he suddenly leaped onto the stage and started to dance right next to Mamoru and the grand piano. He didn’t have a specific choreography in mind, but that didn’t really matter. Kensuke moved his feet naturally to the rhythm of each note and harmonic sounds that echoed in the cafe.Mamoru was surprised to see Kensuke dancing on stage too, but his hands didn’t falter as he continued to play, even altering the arrangement of his song to match Kensuke’s rhythmic dancing.Soon the two of them were perfectly in sync as if they were performing a duet.When Kensuke landed a final pose right as Mamoru hit the final chord, he was out of breath and sweating a little. But more than that, Kensuke felt overjoyed.Mamoru and Kensuke were both surprised when Rikka, Dai, and Tsubasa broke out into loud cheers and applause.“Bravo!! Amazing!!” Tsubasa cheered. “Bravo!!”“Don’t you have anything else to say other than bravo?” Dai questioned Tsubasa.“It was really wonderful to watch. The two of you were perfectly in sync together,” Rikka observed.“K-Ken-kun!! You’re dancing was so cool!” Mamoru praised.“You too with your piano playing, Mamoru!! You wrote that song yourself? That’s amazing!” Kensuke patted Mamoru on the back.“That was really quite a performance.”Everyone jumped and looked over to see someone else had appeared in the cafe. A man with dark purple hair and a serious expression on his face walked forward.“Shiki! Welcome home, darling!” Tsubasa immediately went in to hug Shiki, but Shiki immediately held him back with his palm.“Yes, yes, I’m home, honey,” Shiki responded. “Sorry I’m back so late, Dai, Rikka.”“Welcome back. You’re actually earlier than usual,” Rikka noticed. “Normally you get back by midnight, but it’s only eleven.”“Eleven? Wait, it’s ELEVEN PM?!” Kensuke realized the time. “I didn’t realize it was so late! I need to get home!”“Oh, do you have a curfew?” Dai asked.“Dai-chan, Kensuke is clearly an adult,” Tsubasa pointed out.“Don’t call me-whatever, I mean, why else would he be in a hurry to get home?” Dai guessed.“I live by myself in an apartment for the record,” Kensuke clarified as he was scrolling on his smartphone. “Ahh, I knew it. I missed the last train that could take me to the station near my apartment.”“Shiki, call and pay for a taxi to drive Kensuke back to his apartment,” Rikka told Shiki.“Huh? Why do I have to?” Shiki wondered what he walked into.“Um, it’s really my fault that Ken-kun stayed so late because I brought him here!” Mamoru spoke up. “I can pay for the taxi!”“You just paid your apartment rent, Mamoru. I can’t ask you to cover my taxi fare,” Kensuke reasoned.“But Ken-kun-”“AHH!” Tsubasa suddenly shouted.“What now?” Dai asked.“I have a better idea! Mamoru, your room has a bunk bed,” Tsubasa knew. “Just let Kensuke stay over for the night and he can take the first train back in the morning!”Everyone stared at Tsubasa as if his blond hair turned black.“EHH?!” “....and so that’s the reason why I’m not back at my apartment tonight. I’m staying over in Mamoru’s apartment!” Kensuke had finished explaining his whole story to Koki and Ryota who had listened for the past hour.There was a good fifteen seconds of silence before Kensuke heard Ryota let out a huge exasperated sigh of annoyance.“....you have thirty seconds to explain why I shouldn’t call the police-” Ryota warned.“The police?!” Mamoru overheard the call since Kensuke had it on speaker as he was bringing in an extra pillow and blanket for Kensuke. “Please don’t call the police! Shiki-san might kick me out if Iijima-san shows up here!”“Twenty-” Ryota counted down.“Um, the quiche pie and coffee are really tasty here, Ryo!” Kensuke tried. “If you call the police, they might shut down the cafe and we don’t want that to happen, right?!”“TEN-”“Wait, Ryo-sama! UH-Mamoru! Quick! Your music! Let Ryo and Kou listen to it!” Kensuke threw one last bone.“Y-Yes! Please listen to this and reconsider!” Mamoru went along with Kensuke and ran to his keyboard. After quickly setting it up while nearly tripping on the cords in the process, Mamoru started to play a random melody on the piano keys. It lasted a bit over thirty seconds, but Ryota stopped counting as he and Koki listened from the other end of the call.“W-Well?” Kensuke was afraid to ask, but the other line had been quiet.“That’s amazing, Mamoru-san,” Koki complimented.“Ehehe, it’s an old song I wrote for a small theater performance last year.” Mamoru mentioned. “The story was about a small ballerina fairy and-”“YOU wrote that?!” Ryota raised his voice.“Y-Yes!! I’m sorry if it’s not to your liking-” Mamoru started to apologize, but suddenly Ryota cut him off.“That’s my favorite song from that show performance!” Ryota said.“Ohh, I wondered why it sounded so familiar,” Kensuke realized. “You even bought the music box with the ballerina fairy after the show that had the same melody and listened to it every night-”“D-Don’t share that out loud, Kensuke!” Ryota sounded embarrassed.“Sorry…”Mamoru and Kensuke heard Ryota let out another sigh, but it was calmer this time.“Fine, but Kou and I are showing up first thing tomorrow morning at the cafe to make sure there’s nothing we need to report,” Ryota decided.“Phew-....wait, you’re coming over here? But Ryo-” Kensuke tried to talk, but Ryota already hung up the call.“S-So does this mean they won’t call over Iijima-san?” Mamoru hoped.“Ahh, sorry, Mamoru. I was planning to introduce you to my friends, but I didn’t mean for it to be planned this way,” Kensuke apologized.“Mm-mm, I was the one who got you in this whole mess in the first place. I’m sorry!”“I’m sure Kou will try to talk it out with Ryo so it won’t be too bad when they get here tomorrow…I hope.”“T-Then I shall pray to Pakira-kun for support!”When the two of them got comfortable enough in the bunk beds after changing into their pajamas, Kensuke leaned over the side a bit from the top bunk. “Hey, Mamoru?”“Yes, Ken-kun?”“Thanks for keeping me company tonight,” Kensuke expressed.“Eh?”“I thought tonight was going to be a total letdown spending it alone, but you made it better.”“Ken-kun…”“Well, goodnight! Let’s get plenty of sleep so we can be prepared for Ryo’s scolding tomorrow!”“Mm…wait, scolding?!” Mamoru was worried again. “Ken-kun!” Mamoru called in a hushed whisper.Kensuke had already fallen fast asleep into a sweet, warm dream.