Chapter Text
Kuramochi heard about this cafe from Miyuki (who had heard from Chris, but we don’t talk about that, yet ), and through knowing Miyuki, he knew that the fucker only knew about this cafe because he only listens to Chris. Ever. Miyuki’s brain consists of mainly two types of information: baseball and Chris Takigawa Yuu.
Ever since they graduated from Seido, they made sure to keep in touch with their senpais and kouhais, but Miyuki has gone above and beyond when contacting Chris-Senpai. Be it good places to grab a coffee and a quick bite, or nice parks to jog in the morning or afternoon or whenever their senpai is taking his daily jog (
which Miyuki figured out after a few days of jogging at the exact park that Chris-Senpai said that he goes to
). Anyways, Miyuki and Chris-Senpai now jog together at 5 AM in the little park that’s conveniently placed between their respective campuses. But that’s enough thinking about that hopeless idiot and Chris-Senpai. (
Both of whom are two of his embarrassingly few friends, but shhh.
)
Now that his last class for the day has come to an end, Kuramochi makes his way to the cafe. He missed lunch because he had to cram for a test and his stomach is making him suffer for it. Chris said that one of his kouhai works as a barista there and that if he or Miyuki mentions his name, then they could probably get a discount or free treat or something. Kuramochi is pretty sure that it’s called the Diamond Cafe. Apparently it’s right by the stadium. He finally stops staring at his GPS app when it says that he’s arrived at his destination. He looks up and notes that it’s certainly a place that suits Chris’s ‘aesthetic’ if he has one
It’s relatively simple on the outside. It’s sandwiched between two other little specialty shops. A little planter filled with small flowers and the aroma of coffee wafting out of the open doors of the cafe. A little chalkboard stand-up lists the day’s specials and oh, the brie and honey grilled panini sounds really good right now, he didn’t get a chance to grab lunch earlier.
The interior of the cafe itself was cozy, longer than it was wide and rectangular wooden tables and stools lining the wall. The smell of roasting coffee is stronger now but not quite overwhelming since the front door is open. Lo-fi hip hop softly drifts out of the front door and onto the pavement.
A bright voice from the back brings his focus to the task at hand: buying coffee and some food.
“Welcome to Diamond Cafe! Please give me a few moments!”
Kuramochi’s eyes skim over the chalkboard menu mounted on the wall behind the barista counter, all of the items listed being basic cafe foods and drinks. The display case also has a few baseball-themed pastries: baseball-frosted sugar cookies and baseball-bat rice krispie treats to name a couple. The treats are cute, if Kuramochi could say so himself.
The boy from the back room finally leaves the back room, carrying a crate of what Kuramochi believes to be syrups and the like. And no , Kuramochi’s mind did not go blank when the cute brunette stepped out. Ah shit, it’s the Sawamura kid that Chris has been talking about, according to Miyuki.
“Hello! Feel free to order whenever you’re ready.” Kuramochi’s eyes skim over the menu quite a few times more than necessary. Especially since he already knew what he would order ever since he left his shared apartment. A cold brew with coconut milk, honey, and vanilla. But wow, something about those honey eyes and welcoming smile stole the breath from his lungs. After a few seconds, Kuramochi finally recollects his thoughts and orders his drink along with that brie and honey grilled panini.
“Excuse me if I’m wrong, but are you Kuramochi-Senpai? Chris-Senpai said that one of his friends will come over today,” Sawamura inquires and his eyes slide up to meet Kuramochi’s, “There aren’t many people who have green hair.” Kuramochi brings his hand to grab the back of his own head, feeling the hair there as if a physical reminder that yes, his hair is green.
“Yeah, that’s me,” Kuramochi tenses a bit from how awkward he just sounded, “and you’re Sawamura? The kid that Chris-Senpai took under his wing?” More like the kid that followed Chris-Senpai like a duckling until he had no other choice than to take him in.
A sparkle twinkles in Sawamura’s eyes, “SHISHOU TALKS ABOUT ME?” He coughs, “I mean, CHRIS-SENPAI TALKS ABOUT THIS HUMBLE DISCIPLE?”
Several thoughts flitter through Kuramochi’s mind, most prominently being, “ Ah, so that’s why Chris-Senpai always sounds so tired when talking about this kid. ” Before he could even process what he’s doing, Kuramochi finds his hand squeezing Sawamura’s cheeks, causing his lips to pucker up. “Oi, are you always this loud with your customers and your senpais’ friends?” He slides his card across the counter with the other hand. Sawamura, for whatever reason, lets Kuramochi smush his cheeks while finishing up the payment on the register.
Sawamura merely wraps a hand around Miyuki’s wrist, “I’ll make your order as soon as you let go of my face, so PLEASE UNHAND MY CHEEKS.” Kuramochi quickly lets go of the boy’s face, mentally berating himself for doing that to the cute kohai he just met, purely because it’s reflex for whenever he finds something annoying. Thanks Miyuki, now Kuramochi can’t act nice even when he wants to.
Sawamura’s voice pops out from behind the counter, “Do you have practice soon? Senpai told me that you’re on Meiji’s team.” So Chris talks baseball to anyone? If this kid was on the team, he should be at practice right now. Maybe he’s just a fan under the same major as Chris?
Kuramochi takes a glance at the time on his phone. It’s already 1:27, close enough to 1:30. “Ah yeah, practice starts in 30, so I have to run once you’re done.” Crap, he has to shove that panini down his throat as soon as it’s ready. Coach is going to give him laps, and only laps, for the entire practice if he’s late.
“Ahh okay…” Sawamura murmurs from behind one of the machines, “I UNDERSTAND SENPAI, I WON’T LET YOU BE LATE ON MY WATCH!” He at least sounds as though he is moving faster, if that’s what the clanging behind the counter means. Kuramochi would find the kid’s energy cute, if only he wasn’t so loud. (
But who was he kidding, he finds Sawamura cute anyways.
)
Soon enough, Kuramochi’s food and drink is being slid towards him. Sawamura stares at his drink with his honey eyes sparkling. Kuramochi takes a sip, “It’s pretty good, brat,” and he smirks while walking towards the door.
“I’M NOT A BRAT!” Sawamura stares at Kuramochi’s back, Sawamura could almost feel the steam leaving his own nose. “Is that- IS THAT YOUR REGULAR?”
Ah, this kid is so loud. If they were in middle school, Kuramochi would have no hesitation to kick his ass. “YOU DON’T NEED TO YELL EVERYTHING!” Kuramochi sighs and looks back, “and yes, it is my regular, you brat.”
“I’ll make sure to remember it, Senpai!” Sawamura smiles and Kuramochi feels his own smile try to come out, “BUT HURRY AND RUN TO PRACTICE!”
“HYAHAHAH,” Kuramochi laughs while running out of the cafe. Maybe he’ll drop by again tomorrow or the day after with Miyuki.