Chapter Text
A small, slightly run down for the area cafe laid in a downtown block in a minor town. Solstice Cafe brought in everyone, although they usually don’t even intend to go there in the first place, it just had an atmosphere that often drew people in, even if it was the atmosphere of “this place might just close down next week”. People come and go, it was a place that really everyone who lived in town knew, and it wasn’t too expensive, which was a bonus.
Working there today, much like everyday, was a short boy with dark brown hair. The boy, Kiku Honda, was not a fan of working at the cafe, and he of all people was one to know about it since his brother, Yao Wang, owned the place. He spent most of his time working there, and by most, that basically means all. Kiku did almost all the work around there until about 3:15, when his friend Feliciano would come to take his shift over, but Kiku would still have to work, just not at the register.
Felicano was a lot at times, loud, and a bit of a dunce. Sometimes, he brought his boyfriend, Ludwig, around, which Kiku wasn’t sure if they were official or not, but they sure acted like it. He didn’t mind since the company of someone actually reasonable to talk to was always appreciated. But, since they both had to go to school and the academy didn’t get out until 3pm, Kiku was stuck tending to everyone who walked in.
Kiku glanced up at the clock.
7:55.
He had 5 minutes until they were open for the day.
Sighing, Kiku walked towards the back hallway and grabbed his green apron from the break room, tying it around his waist. He looked through the only window in the room, peeking at his reflection and fixing his beyond crooked name tag. Today would most likely be a long day, as he had lessons from Yao Wang waiting for him when he went home. Kiku no longer went to the academy, but there was once a time when he did, although that was almost 4 years ago now. His seventeenth birthday was coming up, merely two weeks away. February 11th was an often looked over day, at least in Kiku’s opinion. Although he'd never really celebrated it, he thought about it often. He'd only known Felicano for a few months, way back in September when the cafe needed a new hire.
That new hire ended up working quite well, because it got both of the Vargas brothers working in the cafe, although Lovino, Felicano’s older brother, only worked on weekends, he seemed busy and always in a bad mood for some reason, Kiku could understand, sometimes he thought they could be friends if Lovino wasn't so outwardly opposing to everyone.
He peered at the block again. 1 minute. He sighed and slipped back out into the main shop. Just as he finished setting everything up and making sure the register was all in order. He heard the entrance bell ding, and already knew exactly who’d be standing there.
Antonio walked in, as usual, at exactly 8:01 am. It was always exactly 8:01, Kiku figured that he was likely the type of person who thought it disrespectful to go in as soon as a place opened, but it’s the same difference to Kiku.
“Hola! I’ll just get the regular today, as always,” Antonio said. He always ordered café con leche, everyday. At this point, Kiku thought that maybe they should just make it as soon as he steps inside, since he never orders anything different. Once he serves Antonio, a few other customers come to the counter. He greets them like usual, but is extra out of energy today. It’s hard to even want to talk to anyone, let alone work an entire day at the cafe, this Monday was rough.
Kiku made it through the morning, which is usually the busiest time of day. The sun peered through the window, although it wasn't as blinding since it wasn't directly shining through anymore.
It was 3:11 when the entrance bell chimed and Feliciano walked in. With Ludwig today, Kiku noted, not unhappy about it. They had been spending so much time together.
Looking up to see a group of 4 approach the door, Kiku let out a quiet sigh. One last group until he could slip away from the register and let Feliciano take over, and he couldn't wait.
Kiku began listening to their conversation when they walked in.
“I don't know! It's not like I've been here before!” said one of the older looking ones with bushy eyebrows in a British accent. The guy beside him looked annoyed.
“Well I never said anything about you knowing your way around, Arthur…” the other adult replied, his eyes slightly twitching in annoyance. That one spoke in a heavy French accent. Alright… So our cast is Arthur, a French guy… and who else..?
The two others seemed off in their own world as Kiku shifted his attention to them. He enjoyed people watching, seeing them in their day to day life, a life that Kiku wasn't involved in, it was nice. They looked younger, Kiku guessed one of them to be around his age, and the other more sheepish looking one to be slightly younger.
“Yo Matthew dude! Have you checked out the menu? I think I'm gonna get a smoothie!” Beamed the obviously American one. The other one, Matthew, looked up, before he had been fidgeting with his hands, just nodding to whatever the other one said.
“Uh I don't know… I might just get the same thing as you, Alfred” Matthew said, his voice terribly soft. Kiku bet he had to repeat himself an average of 100x per day. But who was he to be judging?
“Is everyone ready?” Arthur, the British one asked, pausing all conversation. It was crickets. “alright… that's a yes I suppose, Francis, go first” he said as he pushed on Francis’s back.
Well, Kiku thought, it isn't often I get to learn the full roster of names… He readied himself as they walked up. “How may I help you all?” he asked, being as polite as his job required.
The orders didn't take long, the only thing that took forever was the unexpected talking.
“Where do you go to school?” Alfred asked after he finished ordering his and his group paid, asking for 2x instead of having the other one, Matthew, ask for it. Kiku wasn't really in the mood for a chat, but sometimes that's how the job goes.
“I uh-” Kiku started and then was cut off by Alfred.
“Well, I go to the academy just a few blocks away and I've never seen you before but like you don't look like an adult yet, at least…” Kiku started to tune him out. Was he being serious?
“I'm homeschooled, and 16..”
Kiku began to work a little faster, trying to show his visible focus on making the drinks and not talking to the guy. The rest of his group had already sat down at a booth. They didn't even seem concerned, so this was probably just a thing he did often. I feel bad for the other cafe employees…
“You're 16?! Me too dude! That's so cool, that's like really cool. So you just work here and stuff? I don't have a job because of school and baseball but it's off season…”
“Yes”
He plays baseball, Kiku noted. Interesting. Finally assembling the last drink, he took them to the counter, where Alfred is still standing. He was still talking, but Kiku was struggling to focus.
Alfred paused when the drinks arrived.
“Oh these look good! Thanks dude!” He waved his group over, and they slowly stood up, Kiku didn't even know how long the wait was since his ears were getting talked off and Feliciano still wasn't ready to be on shift.
Kiku looked up at the American for the first time since he walked in. They made eye contact and Alfred smiled, although he always seemed oddly jolly. Kiku felt too awkward to do the same, he didn't really smile much.
“All right, see you around… Kiku!” Alfred said, turning his head and squinting to read his name tag as he walked towards the exit with the other 3. “By the way, your name tag is kinda crooked!” He added on, still not losing his loud and enthusiastic tone.
“See you around…” Kiku said much quieter, adjusting his name tag, although it didn't matter since he wouldn't have heard him anyway. Some people are so odd… he thought to himself.
Now where is Feliciano?