Sweet Starry Shadows

Over Coffee

Sweet Starry Shadows

Chapter 13: Over Coffee

The bitter yet sweet aroma surrounded her as she made her way over towards the back corner of the cafe with a soft smile on her face. Going back to humming her tune, she took her seat with her back against the wall and gazed out to the blooming flowers that grew across the wall behind where Junia was working.

With an old, vintage feel emitting from the cafe, Lucy could feel her heart rate slowly pacing down into a steady pace. The soft chattering of the people around her enjoying their coffee and beverages, she indeed called this place her second home since she felt so comfortable within in.

"Here you go Lucy-san," Junia said as she walked over to the blonde with a tray on her open palm. Leaning over to place the plate holding her mug in front of her, Junia pulled back her bangs and slipped the tray under her arm. "Would you like anything else? You seem quite exhausted," she said where the blonde thought about it for a moment. "Can I have your special pasta that you would make for me?" Lucy asked.

Junia smiled where she nodded and turned around. "I'll be back soon then. For now, please enjoy your mocha - Made just the way you like it," she said before walking off to serve another customer waiting for her at the counter.

Smiling, Lucy slowly slipped her fingers around the white mug and enjoyed its heat making its way up her arms. Adjusting her grip, she slowly lifted the mug up to her face and took in an inhale where she sighed in relaxation to the scent of coffee beans and milk.

Her lips making its way to the edge of the cup, she took in a sip followed by another.

The soft taste of coffee mixed with fresh cream. Not too overbearing, and not too bitter for her pallet. It was perfect for her, just as expected of Junia, as usual.

Before when she was first introduced to Old Flower Cafe by Sakura, she wasn't too much of a coffee fan since of its strong taste of coffee beans. But when she met Junia, her dislike of coffee began to shift as she served her every time. Each time she would come with Sakura would be a new experience, and for a cafe like hers, it was enjoyable rather than boring like any other ordinary coffee shop.

 Old Flower Cafe was a magical little thing created by Junia and her fiancé. They wanted to share their take on coffee to the world, hence the cafe was born to create magical things for their consumers.

Placing her mug back onto the plate that was decorated with a bud of a rose along with a blooming daisy, she took the daisy in between her index and thumb. Her mind in its relaxing state, she gently spun the flower in between her fingers before closing her eyes as Junia's fiancé began to play the piano on stage where Junia began to sing while working.

"Such a beautiful song," she whispered before the chimes of the bell was heard with three familiar people walking into the shop.

The blonde opening her eyes to look over to see them, she quickly hid behind the dividers where she watched the three walk over towards a table far across her. Sighing in relief, she watched as Sakura and the other two order before they quietly listened to Junia and her fiancé’s performance.

Watching Sakura lean onto the table with her elbows rested on it, she watched as the girl closed her eyes dreamily as she listened to Junia's soft, angelic voice.

"What are they doing here?" she questioned to herself before taking a sip of her mocha which was smooth and creamy. 

"Here's your special pasta made by Junia-san," Klein, a waiter that she knew said. Smiling, Lucy adjusted herself as he placed the plate in front of her. Thanking him, he smiled before walking off to serve another customer where she hungrily began to eat while Junia's voice resonated throughout the wooden store.

With everyone hushed and listening to her singing, Lucy wondered if she too could open a shop like this but more towards the shakes and juices range. Shaking her head as she chuckled at the thought, she sat there and enjoyed her meal without caring too much of the three on the other side of the store.

Just as Junia finished her singing along with her fiancé, the customers all began to applaud to their performance where Junia blushed along with her lover chuckling to her shyness. "They're so cute together," Lucy giggled before glancing over to Sakura who was talking to the two boys with such a stern look on her face.

Curious to what she was telling Sting and Rogue, she gently placed down her spoon and fork and looked towards their direction. Not knowing what business that they were discussing about, she had no other choice but to agree to herself that they were talking about Sakura's mission.

And if that wasn't the case, then it must have been important if Sting's face was as stern as her friend's.

"How did you enjoy our performance?" Junia asked as she skipped towards her with a bright smile.

The blonde smiling, she nodded her head before quietly clapping her hands. "Beautiful... It completely changed the cafe's atmosphere into a calmer and more soothing place for the night," she replied where the girl squealed. "Wanted to look fabulous for a loyal customer," Junia confessed slyly before jokingly jumped her hips to the table which gently shook.

Both of them laughing, Lucy shook her head before taking a sip of her mocha. "What do you think of the two boys with Sakura-san?" Junia questioned where Lucy widened her eyes and placed the cup down.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Junia giggled and mischievously swayed to the side with her eyes looking away. "Oh, I don't know... It's just the black-haired one kept on glancing back to you while I was performing," she mocked to Lucy's surprise.

"They're just acquaintances," she replied where Junia hummed. "Oh really? I thought that they were important considering how deep into conversation that they're in. Well I guess they are, but I don't know... The blonde one is Sabertooth's new Guild Master right?" Junia continued.

Nodding her head, Junia then chuckled. "Oh, then that must mean that they're talking about her mission for her guild," she concluded before clapping her hands together. "By the way, how was the pasta?" she questioned, looking past her hands to look down to the empty plate.

Lucy smiling, she gave her a thumbs up. "Perfect like usual," she replied before taking her last sip of her beverage. "That's good to hear - Oh! Don't go, I have to give you my new concoction!" Junia cried out before scurrying away to her coffee machine.

Chuckling where she shook her head, Lucy stood up and began to walk over towards the counter where Klein stood there waiting. "Testing out her new ranges of Floral Bitterness again Lucy?" he asked as he shook his head to Lucy's eagerness to pay.

The girl pouting, she tried to shove the jewels into his hands again but to no avail. Hearing his chuckle to her actions, she rolled her eyes. "Come on Klein, just let me pay once," she groaned.

"You're our most loyal customer, heck, you're even one our main volunteers to helping out the cafe. The owners said strictly not to let you pay and let them shout you," he explained where she stomped her feet childishly.

"You guys are always like this," she complained just as Junia walked over to Klein and slid a regular paper cup in between. "But you adore being loved by us, don't you?" she intervened with a smile to which the blonde gave up.

Laughing, she took the cup and waved over to the workers. "Bye! Thanks for the coffee. I'll tell you what I think about it later alright?" she said before walking out just as Junia yelled out "Don't review it too late!"

Watching the blonde leave, Sakura looked back to Sting with her fingers entwined. "So, you don't know where he is?" she questioned where Rogue sighed and shook his head. "How about you leave Rogue, you seem pretty worn out. I need to pin-point Jiemma's location before he does something stupid again like starting up another guild. If you're tired, you could always go to your hotel and rest," she then said with a smile.

Rogue nodding, he got up and began to leave the busy cafe. Taking a step out of the cafe, he sighed in relief before noticing two large wolves resting at the door.

In surprise, he flinched where the wolves both lifted their heads to look at him with examining eyes. As if they called him safe, they rested their heads back onto their paws and waited for their master.

"Must be her wolves," he muttered under his breath before smelling Lucy's scent. Not knowing what he was thinking, he began to follow it under the moonlit sky.