- Thanks.
Rin sets the coffee down in front of him.Her gentle smile feels almost out of place with how tense Luca's hands are, fidgeting in his lap.
- You seem better than last time. I'm glad.
- I have you to thank for that. Really… thanks a lot for reaching out to me that night.
He takes a big sip too big as his tongue burns.
She giggles quietly and turns to leave, but he catches her hand.
- Wait uh… could I know your name? Mine's Luca. Nice to meet you.
She glances back, a small smile playing on her lips.
- It's nice to meet you, Luca. I'm Rin. If you want to talk more, maybe come by when my shift's over.
She heads back toward the counter. Luca raises four fingers 4 PM. Rin nods without looking back.
The café hums around him.The floral patterns curling across the walls and ceiling.The soft shuffle of waitresses moving from table to table.The old man at the counter brewing coffee like an artist at work.The quiet conversations between customers.
An atmosphere so peaceful it feels wrong to leave.
He takes one last glance at Rin. She waves. He waves back barely.
Walking home, he feels… victorious. Small victories matter when it comes to the heart.
That night, he sleeps without a single anxious thought.
Morning sunlight. Birds chirping.Luca drags himself out of bed and stares at the mirror.
- When did you get so long?
His hair. Messy, overgrown.
A glance at his room
Dirty plates from convenience store meals.Empty bottles and cans.Clothes shoved into a corner.
As shame creeps in, he starts cleaning.
As he works, his mind drifts back to the weeks after the breakup.
Trash cleared, floor swept.He takes scissors to his hair, cutting it down to a shaggy medium length.Too much time is spent fixing his bangs until
- Crap, I'm late!
With a quick shower and a massive bag of trash in hand he runs out the door.
A voice calls out.
- I figured I'd seen you somewhere before.
Luca turns. His neighbor's leaning against the railing.
- Sorry… I can't remember you at all.
The man laughs.
- It's fine. I've seen you around before and just yesterday in class. Was hoping I'd run into you.
- Oh. You're only seeing me now because I switched classes. Nice to meet you. I'm Luca.
- Name's Makoto, do you need help with that? Looks heavy.
- Uh… sure. Thanks.
They walk the trash to the bins together, then head to campus.With minutes before class, they talk about nothing.Luca listens closely during the lecture. Makoto dozes off.
Lunch break.
- You know, Luca… you've seemed off for the past month. Barely saw you leave your place. And when I did, you looked like a walking corpse.
- Yeah… it's been a rough month.
- We've got time. I'll listen.
Luca exhales.
- I met my ex, Alice, back in high school in England. We'd eat lunch away from everyone else. Just like me, she didn't like crowds.
Flashback
A younger Alice and Luca, running around a sunny courtyard.Her smile. His laughter.The only person he could show his real self to.
- I asked her out in our last year. She said yes. We planned university here together. When I told her my family was moving back to Japan, she said we'd make it work. We found this university, got in, and… it felt like a dream.
Young Alice and Luca hugging, laughing, crying.
A kiss sealing the promise of a shared future.
- I moved here first, she came later. She introduced me to her new friends Yusuke, the loud one who told me about the cheating. Shinso, quiet but apparently a huge playboy. Sakura, her closest friend.
Five of them walking across campus
Yusuke behind them like a wall.Shinso and Luca talking about assignments.Alice and Sakura laughing ahead.
- I don't know when she started cheating. Maybe I don't want to know.
Makoto places a hand to his chest.
- Thanks for sharing. You loved her a lot. I'm on your side.
End of the day.
With classes finished, they try to leave campus.
Yusuke the outspoken member of Luca's old friend group walks up to them
- Whoa, is that who I think it is? Thought you dropped out since you haven't been in class.
Luca freezes up as he sees Alice is there.
Sakura steps forward.
- What's with the haircut? Trying to look attractive now? Don't make me laugh. Just drop out. What do you think, Alice? Would you take him back?
The sound of laughter fills the air.
Shinso walks up.
- Changed classes, huh? Why? Alice said you always wanted software. Or was that just because of her?
The question digs deep.Was he ever choosing for himself… or had he been trapped all along?
Makoto snaps.
- You're all pathetic. Two loud idiots and one smug coward. If you've got nothing useful to say, shut the hell up and get lost.
The onlookers' attention makes Yusuke and Sakura back down.Alice turns away. Shinso adjusts his glasses.
- Luca… forget her. She's pregnant with someone else's kid.
Shinso walks off with the others.
Luca's heartbeat races.His vision blurs.Makoto's voice fades.
One image comes to mind Rin.
- Coffee… coffee shop.
Makoto grabs him and runs.
Meanwhile, in the café A cup shatters in the back room.
The old man looks in the backroom to check on Rin
Everything okay in there, little Rin?
I'm alright, Gramps. I just… had a strange feeling, that's all.