As lunchtime approached, the cafe gradually began to fill with customers.
Families with children, a college student with a laptop in one hand, office workers stopping by in passing.
Reze took orders and served, arranging cups and plates with familiar hands.
"What's today's recommended menu?"
A young customer asked.
"The vanilla latte turned out really smooth today. Do you like sweet things, by any chance?"
Reze answered with a slight smile. Even in this short conversation, a warm concern and attentiveness permeated her gaze. But in a corner of her heart, worry seeped in about whether Denji was safe, and if he was working without incident today as well.
"Then I'll have that, please."
"Sure~ Boss, one vanilla latte order here!"
The boss nodded with a gentle smile. Reze's lively voice filled the cafe.
Ever since Reze started working, the cafe seemed full of vitality. It was one of the few cafes in the small town, so customers came regularly, but to the point where they all said they came to see Reze, she had become a local celebrity.
As the customer turned away, Reze let out a small sigh and muttered as if to herself.
'How long will this peace last…'
Feeling the steam rising from the coffee machine and the warmth of the cup with her fingertips, she felt a momentary relief.
Then, a young customer playfully tilted a cup.
"Ah, careful!"
Reze quickly reached out and caught the cup.
"It's okay. That was lucky."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
The child's mother repeatedly thanked her, and the child bowed their head as if to say thank you. Reze shared a brief smile with the child and exchanged a look with the boss.
Even a small incident was tinged with tension, but thanks to the familiar routine, her heart felt a little more at ease.
After lunchtime passed, the cafe became much quieter.
Since most customers who had enjoyed the lunch menu had left, Reze leaned against a table near the window for a moment. In the space where the coffee aroma and steam subtly spread, low music flowed calmly.
'Right now, this moment, it's so peaceful…'
Reze smiled slightly and picked up a coffee cup. The warmth felt at her fingertips slowly melted her heart. But soon, reality seeped in.
Was Denji working safely right now?
The tension from the day they decided to run away together, that Makima could come after them at any time, never disappeared. Even so, the mere fact that she could be with Denji within this current peace made her heart feel much lighter.
Reze carefully set the coffee cup down on the table and looked out the window. The alleyways of the small town, people walking slowly glistened in the sunlight. In that scene, she recalled the days she laughed with Denji, ran away with him. The heavy fear and tension that had weighed on her shoulders seemed to gently unravel, at least for this moment.
'I wish this moment would last just a little longer…'
Reze muttered inwardly.
For someone else, it might be an utterly ordinary afternoon, but for her, it was a time of small miracle where she could live with Denji.
A short while later, Reze got up to start working again. Arranging cups and plates, taking orders, helping the boss, she began serving. Outwardly, she was an ordinary part-timer, but her heart held a cautious love for Denji and a firm determination to protect her current life. And that determination seeped out through Reze's laughter, which brightly filled the cafe again today.
During a quiet moment in the cafe, Reze quietly took out her smartphone.
'Denji-kun, I wonder if he's stayed out of trouble today…'
Her finger naturally pressed the call button.
"Hello?"
Denji's short voice came through. He sounded a bit tired, but thankfully calm.
"Denji-kun, did you have lunch?"
Reze's voice trembled more softly than usual.
"Yeah, I'm okay. I ate something tasteless though… What about you, Reze?"
Denji's words also carried relief and familiarity. She could imagine Denji saying that and sticking out his tongue at the bad taste, so she stifled a slight laugh.
"Hmm, I'm a veteran, so no problems here, right? Didn't cause any trouble today?"
Feeling Denji's reaction through the call, Reze's heart grew more at ease.
"Keh… Ah, no! It was… only a very small thing…"
"Heh~ So you're off the hook for today~"
She said it in a slightly teasing tone, as if to rile Denji up, but it wasn't an unpleasant tone. Hearing Denji's scream from the other side of the phone, Reze formed a small smile.
"Denji-kun, see you later—"
She said that and hung up. Just hearing his voice filled a corner of her heart warmly and gave her a feeling of rising strength. Reze's gaze grew even softer, and a small resolve seeped into her smile. With the heart to do her best for Denji again today.