Author's Preface
“SO! Here we are~! Whaddya think? I’ve been gatekeeping this spot for months. Totally lit, righttt?”
As Rinne and Akane made their way up the lightly rusted, external metal staircase - the vibes had immediately shifted.
What greeted them first, was a wooden sign with the fresh hand-painted words “Uncle Roy’s Cafe,” the wood slightly weathered.
Then a cool breeze. An open sky above, stars dotting the night sky. The sun had long since dipped behind Ostia City’s highrise skyline, the giant structures reaching towards the stars.
But beneath it all was a homely arrangement. Mismatched furniture - a few wooden chairs, two or three plastic booths, and an iron bistro countertop. A beautiful wooded pavilion with vines and flowers growing along the bars. And hanging tropical round lanterns, dimmed to give a moody atmosphere
Plenty of folks were even sitting on the floor around open fires, kicking back beers and other colorful drinks. The sound of merriment and easy joy filled the pair’s ears.
The duo slowly walked to the counter, clad in more casual outfits this time.
Akane sported lightly ripped dark blue jeans and a black tank top, finished off with a light grey jacket. Her long black hair was down and free, waving in the breeze.
Rinne was sporting a beige mini-skirt and a maroon tube top, underneath a stylish mesh shirt. Keeping her usual half-up ponytail, the messy dyed hair a bit spiky and unruly.
“It’s…” Akane shook her head, observing every inch of the place, before letting out a small sigh. “Beautiful. Really, a perfect little spot. But I’m serious. Why haven’t you taken me here before?”
“Right?” Rinne puffs up, those lips already looking smug, ignoring the second half. “It’s like, a total hidden gem! But uh, just don’t post it on social media anywhere.”
“Huh? Why not? Don’t tell me it’s something ille-”
“OH MY GOD!!! UNCLE ROY!!! You’re actually here, ahhh!” Rinne squealed with delight as she scampered over and glomped a large man standing near the bar.
“Of course, keiki. Business doesn’t sleep… we never sleep here, brah,” he grinned while hugging her back with one arm.
Uncle Roy was a large behemoth of a man. Easily standing over six feet tall, and built wide and strong. His arms were like canons - each bicep bigger than Akane or Rinne’s head, with no visible mechanical augments. Black stylized tattoos filled up his arms from top to bottom, his long shaggy black hair covering bits and pieces of the ink.
Akane realized she was staring a bit too hard at the designs - and then politely bowed her head.
“Oh! H-hello, sir. I’m Akane Kisaragi… Rinne’s best friend,” she said politely. “Um. I’m very surprised we haven’t met before.”
Rinne giggled, her head resting against the giant man’s arm. “Oops! Sorryyyy~! Uncle Roy is a friend of a friend. He’s a uh… how should I say it…?”
Piercing blue eyes took one more glance at Uncle Roy. The clientele. That line about social media. And the graffiti’d door all the way in the back, with a chain around the handle…
“Yeah, message taken,” Akane murmured. “Let me rephrase that. I understand why we haven’t met then.”
“HAHA!” Uncle Roy guffawed, before bringing out two laminated paper menus from behind the counter. “No worries, little miss. It won’t affect ya, or the other customers. Promise. You must be Akane, yeh? Of course I know about you. Go take a seat, relax. Drinks are on the house~”
The giant of a man waved nonchalantly and headed right back to the bar, already schmoozing up one of the customers. He looked a bit more professional behind the counter, but still quite easygoing.
“Come on, bestie! We have got to head to my favorite spot. I hope no one’s- ooh, perfect! It’s empty~”
Rinne dragged Akane along by the hands, still beaming with happiness. They arrived at a cozy spot by the railing - comfy wooden armchair with pillows, and a round table in the center with a scented candle already lit.
Akane sat down, her sharp features softening into a gentle, easy expression once more. “You seem… even happier than usual, Rinne.”
“Uh, duh?” Rinne rolled her eyes, reaching across the table to grasp her best friend’s hands. “We’re celebrating!!! High school’s basically over, Aegis Horizon is waiting for us, and I’m like, totally locked in! I’ve never trained so hard, like ever. ”
“Yeah? I know that the best,” Akane dryly responded. “Ditching classes. Trying the bare minimum in Flux lessons. You did it much less senior year. But you’ve always had the talent too.”
“Heh. I mean,” Rinne shrugged. “You know why, bestie. Didn’t know if I’d even be able to afford college. I was like, what’s the point of even trying hard?”
“Right. So what are you doing about the money? And how did you…?
“Ehehe… Horizon has some special tests! Practical stuff, combat stuff, ya know? I just like ACED them, and now I’m gucci!”
Akane paused. She stared at Rinne. Eyeing every detail of that cheerful smile. Just a bit too wide, a bit too unnatural.
But she just sighed.
“Fine, I won’t pry too much. Besides,” her eyes softened. “We’re supposed to be celebrating today, not interrogating each other. So help me understand this menu.”
Akane’s brow furrowed, and she pouted slightly.
“I-I’ve never tasted half of these ingredients. Slipshed Berries? Grumox Shavings? And what are all these weird mixes??”
The mood lightened, Rinne burst into laughter. “Ooh, see! This is where my smarts come in!”
She called the waiter over with a cheeky grin. “Heyyy! I’ll have an Apple In Orbit, and my friend here will have a Raspberry Mist Blue!”
The waiter - young, handsome, also tattooed - smirked and nodded. “Aye, got yah. On the house.”
“Oh, your necklace is so cool!” Rinne reached out and gently touched it, her finger brushing slightly against the waiter’s chest. “It’s a traditional design, right? Your fashion is pretty cool~”
“Heh. Thank you, little lady. Made from real shells, back from the homeland and ‘em. Found a real authentic shop, not common ‘round here.”
“No wayyy! That’s so dope! I’m jelly. I don’t have anything like that!”
The waiter just chuckled, shaking his head. “Really? I think it’d fit ya too. Here’s where I bought it from…”
While the two chatted a bit - Akane gripped the seat of her chair a bit tighter. Her breathing hitched.
“Ugh. Everytime. She always does this.”
But thankfully for her, it didn’t last long. The waiter finally turned and waved, putting his phone away. “Let me not keep you two beautiful ladies busy. I’ll be back with your drinks!”
Then Rinne turned back to Akane with a proud smirk - like she’d just won a sweepstakes. “And now, we wait.”
Akane raised a brow. “Wait for what? I don’t understand why you strike these conversations up with random people.”
“Come onnnn. It’s so fun! People are interesting, right? And it works out for like, the better. You just…”
Instead of sitting across, Rinne switched spots. Until she took the seat right next to Akane. She had that mischievous little glint in her eye, as her hand slowly inched up Akane’s arm.
“Just a small touch. Say something nice to them,” Rinne began, leaning a bit closer. “Get to know them. Just a little…”
And just like that - she backed away, giggling. “And Boom! They’ll give you free stuff, be a lot nicer! Works, right?”
Rinne seemed highly expectant. For praise, for a blush, for anything cute.
But instead - Akane’s face hardened.
“It only works because you’re so beautiful,” Akane murmured, shaking her head. “And because you always smell so sweet and expensive. That doesn’t work for just anyone. Be careful who you try to charm, Rinne."
Rinne didn’t speak. She just blinked, slowly. Not saying a word. Until-
She went BRIGHT red.
“H-huhhhh? P-pause!” She breathed in, playfully fanning herself. “‘Kane, you can’t just RIZZ me up out of nowhere, girlie! That was like, dangerous!”
She refused to make eye contact with Akane.
“Like what?” Akane settled back in her seat. “I didn’t… oh.”
She also couldn’t keep eye contact.
“Was that romantic?” The fair-skinned teen questioned herself with a light flush. “I was trying to scold her, not… oh my god…”
An awkward silence rang between the two. Just the chatter of the other guests. The thrum of late-night hover-traffic below the rooftop. And Uncle Roy looked across the cafe with a knowing chuckle.
It was broken by the clank of three colorful drinks being placed right on the table.
“Here we are,” the waiter from earlier said with a grin. “One Apple in Orbit, one Raspberry Mist Blue - and on the house, something I think you’d both like.”
He stared for a moment, his inquisitive gaze switching between the two blushing girls who couldn’t look at each other.
“Uh. Is there something wrong with the drinks, or?”
“N-NO!!!”
“... Right. You two enjoy it then.”
As he left, the two slowly reached for each of their drinks… and Akane’s eyes widened a bit with awe.
“Whoa. So pretty. It’s like art,” she whispered.
Rinne’s blush began to fade. “S-see? What did I tell you? We got an extra freakin’ drink! Put it here, bestie!”
She held her hand out and waited.
Akane just stared at the hand awkwardly for a second. Like any physical contact right now would make her explode.
“Ugh. Fine, it worked this time,” she grumbled, and then matched the hi-five. Akane then lifted the cool glass to her lips, and was immediately welcomed by an icy, refreshing sip.
It was a cool mix. Blue at the top, with a slight gradient leading down into a lighter baby blue at the bottom. The edges of the glass were chilled, and when Akane breathed out after - out came a fine blue mist.
“Whoa. It’s not that heavy. This is pretty cool. I wonder what chemical reaction causes the mist?”
“R-right? Come take a sip of mine already and haha we’re cool now right???” Rinne stumbled across her words, laughing sheepishly. She placed the drink in front of her best friend.
The Apple in Orbit was a beautiful nebulous mix, almost like a replica of the starry night sky. The apple rind was curled around the glass - the orbit part of the fruity, slightly tangy drink.
“Wow.” Akane held it up to the night sky, her smile more gentle now. “I… guess you picked a good spot, Rinne. These drinks are sweet. Thanks. I wouldn’t mind chilling here for the whole night.”
Rinne took a sip of the Raspberry Mist blue, and then exhaled that fine blue mist in the sky. She leaned back against her comfy lounge chair, kicking her feet up against the middle table. Fully relaxed.
“Mmm… mhm. This is nice,” came Rinne’s voice, much softer and slower. “Super chill.”
Words weren’t really needed anymore.
Just two young women, fully graduating high school in a few weeks. Enjoying the breeze, the view, and the overly colorful sweet drinks. The awkward moment… mostly forgotten.
“Looking up at the stars reminds me,” Rinne begins quietly. “Your dream. The idea of going out into that big space,” she pointed up at the stars, “exploring the unknown. Helping out those who are on the edge. It’s totally cheesy, totally… Akane. ”
“It’s just my duty,” Akane whispered back. “I’m blessed. A happy family, a stable life, and plenty of talents. So it’s only correct that I use them for others.”
“Such a good girl, aren’t you~?”
“Shut up.” Akane huffed, setting her drink down on the table, the wind blowing through her straight black hair. “... maybe part of it is because I wanna go to a prestigious school. Show off. And be the best even in a place like that… maybe.”
“There you go!” Rinne giggled, reaching out to nudge her best friend’s shoulder. “You’re human! Live for yourself sometimes! You’re not just a supercomputer who happens to be gorgeous and socially awkward. You’re Akane Kisaragi. My genius bestie, with a tiny bit of an ego.”
“Hehe. That’s mostly correct, I guess.”
Akane felt that warmth creep in again. Settling into the bottom of her heart. Friendship, loyalty, graciousness… and maybe something else. Something warmer, that made her ears feel hot, and her stomach tingle. But whatever it was, it felt good.
But after a moment or two, she eyed the third drink on the table curiously.
“So. Who’s gonna have that one? Are we gonna split it or something?”
“Oh! That. It’s fine,” Rinne waved dismissively. “Leave it. I invited two of my friends from a party I went to a while ago! They’ll be here in a bit. You’ll LOVE them! They’re super nice, and like, upperclassmen already at Aegis. They can totally drink it~”
Just like that, the warm feeling began to melt. Replacing itself with something colder. More petty. A tight, heavy feeling.
“Huh?”