The evening breeze never failed to make Maki so happy and it made her happier that she was there sitting at the rooftop of their lovely little home/café. They’d closed the café just a few minutes ago and she was doing her nightly routine on having quiet time and just enjoying the stars. It reminded her of the view back again but then again she also liked it here in Tokyo.

“Hey nee-chan…”

Maki heard footstep from the spiral staircase and there emerged her younger sister, Mirai with the phone in her hand.

“Hai hai here she is…” Mirai then handed the phone to Maki who immediately understood who was on the other line.

“Hai?”

“Maki-chan!”

Maki always smiled whenever she heard her mother’s voice. “Okaa-chan! How are things going? Where’s otou-san?”

“Oh he’s out on the veranda with his pals. Have you and Mirai already eaten?” Horikita Juria asked.

“Mm, we just closed up Wits.” Maki answered while Mirai took a seat beside her on one of the recliner chairs right there on the rooftop. “Don’t forget your medicine Okaa-chan ne!”

She heard Juria laugh at the other line. “Of course of course, it’s like I’m the daughter and you’re the mother here…”

It was true though, Maki was such a caring woman to her family. “Well you better sleep now, give my love to otou-chan and Hokkaido!”

“I will I will…” Juria replied.

“Bye okaa-chan!” Mirai echoed from beside Maki.

The latter laughed softly and repeated the message to the receiver before turning it off. It was there that Maki leaned back on the recliner but then looked back to Mirai asking; “So how are you liking Tokyo so far?”

Just having graduated high school, Mirai had followed her older sister to Tokyo so she could get a better education. In a few days’ time she would be attending classed and passing through the halls of Meiji University.  

Mirai shrugged slightly at Maki’s question. “I’m still getting used here but hey, it’s fun just the same, and I love the customers at Wits, they seem to really know you so well.”

Maki wouldn’t deny that. At the young age of 23 she already owned a successful café and was much liked by its patrons. This was her dream after all. She graduated with a degree in Mathematics (also in Meiji) but she cared more for owning the café.

“Well I’m sure you’ll have fun here…” She said, standing up and stretching her limbs. She’d just realized she was sitting there for quite a while and her joints were already starting to ache. “So where are Erika and Meisa?”

Mirai leaned back again on the recliner, also stretching her arms above her head. It was a few moments that the two sisters just stayed there, enjoying the night sky. The stars seemed to be brighter tonight as if they were all celebrating.

There were suddenly sounds of the chairs moving downstairs, causing Maki and Mirai to turn. “Looks like Meisa and Erika are home…” Maki said. She led the way, going down the spiral staircase while Mirai followed her. From the rooftop staircase they were led to the corridor, turning left where they see the mini kitchen. Maki and Mirai’s eyebrows both furrowed as they saw Erika, not with Meisa but with a strange looking woman sitting around the kitchen table.

“Anou…” Mirai started as she approached a little closer. Erika, with her long flowing and wavy hair, turned, an excited expression on her face. She literally jumped back from the counter stool and minced her way over to Mirai while Maki stayed confused in the back.

“Mirai-chan, Maki-chan! I want you to meet Namie-san!” She pulled the siblings forward closer to this so called “Namie-san”

“Konbanwa my children…” Namie said almost in a dream-like state. She certainly looked odd with her rather large clothing and a shawl wrapped around her head as if it was a turban. She made no move to go down from the stool and only bowed her head to Maki and Mirai, a mischievous glint suddenly echoing throughout the depths of her eye. Maki and Mirai subtly tried looking at each other; Mirai’s “What the ” expression present on her face. Erika was unfazed by this while still grinning madly. She clapped her hands together then asked Maki and Mirai to take their places on one of the stools. Even though they had no idea what this was about and were both still really confused, the siblings obliged, taking their places adjacent from Namie-san.

Maki had barely settled her bottom on the stool when Namie-san, placed a finger on her lower lip and stared at her, saying; “My dear, your past will enter the present and forever will be with you in the future.”

With that statement being said, Maki literally stayed half-standing. She looked pretty weird out before standing straight yet again. She sighed and crossed her arms at her friend. “Okay Erika would you mind telling me what’s going on here?” She was getting kind of annoyed already.

Erika sighed as she stood up to explain. “Now now Maki-chan, let’s be nice to Namie-san, her son is always at the gym and I’ve become good friends with her; she’s a fortune teller!”

If it wasn’t rude, Maki would’ve done a face palm right then and there, she even saw Mirai giggling at the sides.

“A fortune-teller…” she repeated with an incredulous tone. Erika didn’t even bother with that. She sat back down then turned back to Maki who was still standing.

“Anyways, I asked her to tell our fortunes for us! And looks like she already told yours Maki-chan!” Erika squeed.

“What about my past? So my 18 year old self will time travel and be with me forever?” Maki said almost in a sneer, not caring what Namie would think. But the so called fortune teller only smiled knowingly at her.

“Ah, you laugh at my vision my child but we shall see, you will believe me…”

“Now she’s rhyming…” Maki whispered to Mirai’s ear and they ended up slightly laughing. Namie continued to smile then she looked directly at Mirai before again showing that all knowing smirk.

“That cold demeanor of yours will pull the warmest one to touch your heart.”

Mirai arched an eyebrow at that. Cold demeanor eh? Well she was sort of like that but she wasn’t a snob or anything.

“Aww now I’m the only one who hasn’t had her fortune read!” Erika pouted causing Namie-san to laugh daintily but before she could give one of her sudden fortunes, they heard footsteps coming up from downstairs (the café).

“Tadaima…”

From the shadows of the dark café emerged Meisa, yet another roommate, looking slightly haggard.

“Ah, Mei-tan you’re here!” Erika stated. “We can get our fortunes told together…”

Instead of replying, Meisa turned to face Maki as if asking what all of this is about. She looked all the more tired to even care. Maki gave a hapless shrug and just allowed Erika to explain; at the least the girl would be humoured.

But Namie-san wasn’t looking at Erika during that moment. She was smiling rather widely at Meisa. Being the rather fierce woman that she was, Meisa stared the fortune-teller down, her eyes almost disappearing from. “What is it?”

“You may not believe in forever but forever believes in you.” Namie-san said. Meisa stared at Namie-san for a minute before rolling her eyes then looking at Maki.

“Maki, you’re the sensible one here, what exactly is happening?”

Maki moved to explain further but Erika jumped in just as always. “You just got your fortune told Mei-tan! And I’m getting lonely here because only mine is the one not foretold!” she pouted.

Finally, Namie-san looked squarely at Erika and smiled. “Ah my dear, it’s a struggled journey when the chase comes not to chase you back…”

The other three women looked to Erika and saw the confused expression on their friend’s face. Maki shook her head and stepped up to end all this.

“Namie-san not to be rude but aren’t these predictions of yours rather vague?”

Namie smiled as she stood up and frankly Maki was getting really annoyed with the fortune teller’s knowing smiles. “They are vague for a reason my dears…” Namie then moved to the window and looked at the dark yet star-illuminated night sky before turning back to the four now very confused women. “It is all written in the stars, and just like what people would envision, you are all connected…”  She sighed then turned back to Erika.

“Well, thank you Erika-chan for letting me stay, and may I say, may the stars light up for your fortunes…”

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Maki, Meisa and Erika stayed at the kitchen, waiting for Erika to get back from taking Namie-san to the bus stop.

“What the hell was that all about?” Meisa couldn’t help but let out. She clicked her tongue, crossing her arms and leaning back on the stool while Maki and Mirai looked at each other holding their laughs.

“Well, at least we had a fun evening before we go to sleep.” Maki said. The whole thing was just so funny and it was even funnier that Erika seemed to believe it.

“Aren’t you guys excited?!”

Startled, they all turned to the woman now at the top of the stairs, her eyes shining with excitement.

“What are you talking about Erika-nee?” Mirai said sounding cynical. “Did you even understand half of what Namie-san was saying?”

“Oh you guys are just not deep!” Erika said. She moved forward then sat down beside Meisa.

“Oh I get what Namie-san was saying…” Maki suddenly scoffed, turning the attention on her. “I just don’t believe in hoo-haa like that.” She stood up stretching for the last time. “Well, oyasumi, another day tomorrow you know…” she went out of the kitchen then to the direction of her bedroom.

Mirai laughed slowly as she turned to Erika. “Don’t mind Maki-nee, Erika-nee, she’s just tired and you know, we’re accepting applicants for a new chef tomorrow…”

“I just wish that fortune-teller didn’t speak in riddles.” Meisa shook her head. The weight of the day was getting to her and she just couldn’t help but yawn. “I’m beat I’ll see you guys tomorrow…”

Now it was just Mirai and Erika in the kitchen. It was a while that they just sat there when Erika suddenly looked up, looking pensive then turned to Mirai. “You know, I kind of didn’t get what my fortune was all about too…”

Mirai laughed as she stood up. “Oh sometimes Erika-nee you crack me up, oyasumi…”

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“Katsudon onee-chan!” Mirai exclaimed, placing the slip of paper on the little window between the kitchen and the café counter. The hours of lunch time were wavering down, making the people become less and less. Right now there were about only 4 people left inside the café.

Mirai wiped the stray sweat dripping down from her brow before laying her palms flat on the counter.

“Finally we don’t move…” Suzuka, Mirai’s best friend and employee of Wits café breathed out as she sat on the chair behind the counter after serving the last katsudon Maki had cooked.

“As they say, if you can’t take the heat then get out of the kitchen…” Maki suddenly uttered as she exited the kitchen, making the exact same move Mirai did when she wiped off her perspiration. “Boy is it hot in there…” She sat down beside Suzuka, the three of them looking all tired.

“Onee-chan, maybe we need another employee here other than a chef.” Mirai said suddenly, reversing herself from the counter to face her sister and best friend. “Wits is getting popular and pretty soon we’ll always be swamped.”

For a moment Maki sat there thinking to herself before nodding her head. “You’re right Mirai-chan… we’ll put up a sign for that…”

The café door’s bell dinged and in came Meisa with a dashingly handsome man in tow. The three other girls by the counter mischievously looked at each other just as Meisa sat down with the man at one of the tables and stood up gesturing to her companion to wait.

Maki, Mirai and Suzuka were all smiles as Meisa approached them and the latter couldn’t help but scowl at them.

“Wipe those smiles off your places please.”

“What? Is it wrong to smile now?” Mirai said feigning innocence although she was trying hard not to laugh.

Maki nodded her head over to the man Meisa was with. “So who’s that? Your new boyfriend?”

“He is not my boyfriend…” Meisa said hotly. She looked down at them her eyes kind off scaring Mirai and Suzuka but only amused Maki. “He’s… well, no strings attached.”

Mirai and Suzuka gasped at the same time. “You mean you’re friends with benefits?!”

They said it so loudly that those four customers and Meisa’s “friend” looked over their way. Meisa sighed while Maki giggled at the corner, covering with a dainty hand.

“Hi there ladies’” A smooth dashing voice entered their ears suddenly.

It was Meisa’s companion and he looked even more gorgeous when he was up close like this.

“I thought I told you to wait for me at the table?” Meisa said, facing him.

“Well apparently you girls were talking about me so I just had to join the fun.” The man gave another winning smile.

Sighing, Meisa turned back to her friends then gestured to the man. “Girls, this is my friend, Akanishi Jin, he’s also a dance instructor at the center…”

“Ah, hajimemae Akanishi-san.” Maki stood up from the chair and held out her hand which Jin shook.

“Just Jin is fine…”

“This is Maki my landlord...” Meisa started introducing them one by one. “This is Mirai, her sister and Suzuka, our friend…”

It seemed like the two teenagers were struck by Jin’s handsome face since they were both speechless and could only manage a shy wave. When the silence continued, Meisa cleared then nodded her head.

“Well Jin and I’ll just head on upstairs…”

“Bye ladies…” Jin smiled while Meisa took his hand then they moved away to the direction of steps to the rooms upstairs.

Mirai turned her head slowly with a knowing smirk on her face. “Well now, that guy was quite a catch wasn’t he?”

Suzuka scoffed slowly as she moved in her chair. “I wonder what they’re going to do upstairs…” she said amusedly with a sarcastic hint. She crossed her arms, looking to Maki then to Mirai. The latter stared her friend down with a blank expression on her face. “Oh I bet they’re going to play cards alone up in Meisa-nee’s room!” she matched Suzuka’ sarcastic tone.

Maki laughed, shaking her head, clearly amused with the two. She keeps forgetting that her sister is already 19 and like every adolescent has much knowledge about that. She stood up, fixing her apron. “Well, you guys stay here and I’ll prepare the specials for today…” she disappeared through the kitchen, leaving Mirai and Suzuka to themselves.

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It was a good thing that the café was air conditioned because the sun beating down on the streets did not give much comfort to anyone. Probably half of the customers inside the café were only there just to cool-off but then again, no one could deny the great food that Maki made.

Mirai kept staring at the street outside and the sun reflecting was causing her to get very sleepy. Her elbows on the counter and her chin resting on her palms, her eyes slowly closed but the sound of the door opening caused her eyes to shoot open.

There were two boys, apparently just from a game of basketball with their attire and of course the ball one was holding. Mirai straightened up, ready for them when they ordered. She watched as the two boys chose a seat at the back.

“They’re cute…”

Mirai turned to her left to see that Suzuka had already stood up and was whispering to her. She’ll be the judge of that. One of the boys was tall and very lean, the other one… was coming this way and saw them staring! Darn it.

“Hi…” Oh and he had a nice smile too!

Suzuka had to nudge Mirai to get her to respond. Quickly fixing herself, Mirai tried her best smile. “Welcome to Wits sir, what would you like?”

“How about you?”

The sentence stopped both of the girls but Suzuka just had to turn around and laugh her off. Mirai controlled herself, her eyes turning to thin lines but she composed herself. Who was this guy anyways?! Thinking he’s so handsome and sh*t.

“Sorry sir I’m not available but the katsudon here is very delectable…”

Unfazed, the guy nodded his head, still smiling. “Sure, I’ll order two katsudons and two iced coffees. I’m Ryosuke by the way…” He gave the money in an exact amount.

Mirai ignored the last statement as she wrote the orders down then gave it to a still laughing Suzuka. She turned back to Ryosuke.

“Thank you sir, we’ll bring your katsudons to you.” Mirai said as she laid the two ready iced coffees on the tray in-front of Ryosuke. The boy didn’t start moving though, he just stood there smiling at Mirai.

“Aren’t you going to tell me your name?”

Mirai heard Suzuka giggling at the back again. “I don’t think that’s necessary sir…”

“Yeah I know.” Ryosuke smirked then he leaned forward. Mirai slightly panicked thinking what he was going to do but he pulled away after a few seconds.

“It says on your name tag “Mirai”” Ryosuke smiled brightly once again, taking the tray of iced coffees. “Nice meeting you Mirai.” He said, allowing the name to roll off his tongue. He gave one last wink before disappearing back to the booth where his friend was.

What just happened? Mirai was still dumbstruck, standing there by the register. Suzuka approached her, wringing their arms together.

“Oh Mirai you so pretty…” Suzuka said in a drunken tone; up to now she still had giggle fits. Finally snapping out of her minute-coma, Mirai shrugged Suzuka’s arm off then took the chair at the sides.

“Who the hell does he think he is?!” She half-yelled, half-whispered. “He’s not even that good-looking.” That was a total lie; Mirai had to admit. That Ryosuke boy was smoking hot but she wasn’t up for those airy guys who thought of themselves as god’s gift to woman kind.

“Aww, he totally likes you Mi-chan.” Suzuka said as she pulled another chair and sat down beside Mirai who was still huffing and sort of red in the face.

“Ha, he’s that kind of guy who thinks collecting girls is a hobby…”

“Oh? And how do you know?” Suzuka countered in an annoyingly sweet voice.

Mirai huffed yet again as she looked at her best friend then straight forward. “I just know…” she tried peeking from the counter and had to curse when she saw that Ryosuke was also looking at her. The boy waved, quickly making her turn away.

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Erika closed her locker door with a slight bang before hoisting up her sports bag then chugging the bottle of water with her. It was a busy day at the gym where she worked as an instructor and she was just glad to be getting on home. She made her way out of the locker rooms then out to the streets after saying good-bye to the gym’s receptionist.

It was just one bus-ride from the gym to Wits so it wasn’t that tiring. Erika was already at the bus-stop when she noticed a man also waiting. From the back he looked lean with great hair. Erika cautiously approached the man, not to startle him. She stood beside him and he looked at her for a split second before looking forwards as if nothing happened.

Well this was awkward. Erika tried her best not to look like a tourist looking at a zoo animal but she couldn’t help but stare at the man. Even from the side profile he looked really handsome, but had this snobbish aura with him. Before any other thoughts could occur in her mind, the bus had arrived. The man boarded first.

When it was Erika’s turn to climb, she found there was only one seat left. Now she’d have to stand since the man boarded first, it was obvious he’d take the last seat. She was wrong. The man stayed standing right next to the seat, holding unto the pole in the middle of the bus. Was he giving the seat to her?

Erika got her answer when the man subtly gestured for the seat. Huh, he may look snobbish but he is a gentleman nonetheless. She smiled respectfully at him before taking the seat.

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Erika had a body clock, even though she fell asleep on the bus, she’d wake up just in time to get down at her stop. Thankfully she’d never passed too far. When she opened her eyes, half the people inside the bus earlier was gone, she saw Mr. Gentleman in the seat beside her. The man was listening to his earphones, looking bored as ever.

Ah but here came her stop. Since she was at the inner side by the window, she was about to excuse herself from the man but was surprised to see him stand up; so this was his stop too.

The two of them were the only ones to go down that stop. Erika took one last look at the man who was looking at a small map before making her way over to Wits opening her umbrella to protect her short walk from the sun. She’d just taken about five steps when a voice called out.

“Chotto matte kudasai!”

She turned to see Mr. Gentleman sprinting his way over to her.

“Anou…” the man started, slightly showing the map to her. “Could you please give me directions? I’m looking for Wits café…”

“Oh…” Erika smiled. “I’m going that way, you can just go with me…”

“Ah, hai sure…”

To Erika’s surprise, the man gently took the umbrella from her so he could hold it up for the both of them. She smiled inwardly to herself feeling tingly from all the kind gestures this man kept doing. Their walk was about 3 blocks and so Erika took this time to interview this man.

“So are you meeting someone at Wits?”

The man shook his head slowly. “No, actually I’m going to apply there for the as job as a chef…”

Oh, so this guy was a potential candidate for the new chef. “Well good luck to you then, I’ll put in a good word for you to the owner…”

“You know the owner?” The guy said then chuckled softly. “You’ll put in a good word when you don’t even know my name yet…”

“That can be arranged.” Erika held out her hand between them. “I’m Toda Erika…”

The man shook her hand. “Kamenashi Kazuya…”

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Maki exited the kitchen after making the last order of two katsudons to see Suzuka and Mirai in a deep discussion.

“You should go for him!”

“No I won’t!”

“What’s going on here?” Maki asked as she moved closer to where Mirai and Suzuka were.

“Maki-nee, look at those two boys at the end…” Suzuka said.

Maki followed the girl’s line of vision and saw two teenaged boys enjoying the katsudon she just made. She turned back to Mirai and Suzuka.

“What about them? You’re going to show how they enjoy my food?” Maki joked as she chuckled.

But Mirai scowled in answer before holding up a small piece of tissue paper. Maki moved closer and gently grabbed the tissue from her sister’s hands. There was a sentence scribbled on it.

Can I get your number? J

Maki lifted her head up to see Mirai still scowling. She laughed slowly. “Why do you look like that? If you don’t want to give him your number, then don’t…”

Mirai groaned then harshly rested her chin on her right palm. “It doesn’t help the fact that he’s hitting on me…”

Maki turned back to where the boys were. “Who was the one who hitted on you?”

“The shorter one…”

Maki inspected him then turned back to Mirai with a small smile. “You know girls would be crawling for a guy who looks like that…”

“Well it’s not all looks I care about Mirai huffed.”

Chuckling, Maki went, petting Mirai’s head before going back to the kitchen. Mirai tried her best not to look at Ryosuke or else she might give him the finger from all the handsome smirks she was giving.

The café door then opened so she and Suzuka got ready. The man had his back turned since he was waving to Ryosuke. Oh great so they know each other.

Imagine her shock when the man approached the counter, she knew him too. The both of them stopped and froze. “Tomo-nii?”

The man would’ve said something too but Maki chose that moment to come back from the kitchen.

“Tomohisa??”

Tomohisa almost dropped the wallet he was holding. “Maki…”

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AN: Hi there minna-san! I'm sorry it took this long for me to update..

my uncle died last week T_T we were so busy here at the house. But I'm happy he's rested in heaven now.

Back to the story, this was one of the longest chapters I've ever done! I hope this satisfies everyone! comments are always welcome and they give me boosts! XD thank you so much!