I pick up the boiling kettle and gently pour the hot water into the dripper.

Steam rises from the narrow spout with a sizzling sound. The freshly ground coffee beans puffed up and the savory smell spread throughout the kitchen.

I think I'm getting pretty good at this, if I do say so myself.

I transfer it to a coffee cup, put in two tablespoons of granulated sugar and taste it. You can feel the richness and sweetness. It has a very relaxing taste.

The smell of spring wafts through the open window. The little cherry trees in the back are in full bloom, and their branches are peeking out casually, their small petals swaying.

As I look outside while sipping my coffee, I hear Haizakura's voice.

In her hand, a basket with sugar jars and cutlery. She was setting the tables before the restaurant opens.

"Because they're pink?"

"That makes sense"

Autonomous dolls run on oil. So strawberry cream can also be used as fuel maybe.

"You can actually eat cherry blossoms."

"You can eat the petals, or the leaves if you want. They have a sweet, vanilla-like aroma"

Her eyes got round from excitement.

Haizakura puts away the basket.

And immediately after, she rushes out the back door.

The cherry blossoms peeking through the small window were swaying harder than before...

"Haizakura, don't eat that!"

I hurried after her, raising my voice in panic.

But it was already too late.

Haizakura's mouth was stuffed with cherry blossom leaves and petals.

"You can't eat them like that..."

She was choking with a nauseated look on her face.

There were even tears in the corners of her eyes. Though it seemed to be coolant in fact.

"C'mon, spit it out. There's also poison inside."

Haizakura's face had turned pale and teary-eyed.

I wanted to pat her back, but all I felt was the cold backpack in my hand. The digestive system must be inside, so I started patting it just in case.

"Mu mu mu..."

In front of a mirror, Karasuba was massaging her cheeks.

"...Ehem"

She tilts her head slightly and shows a big smile.

"Alright, smile looks good"

She then turns around with a spin, her skirt twirling.

"Let's give it our all today aswell!"

Karasuba's bright voice echoes through the store.

"Of course!"

Followed by Haizakura's energetic response.

"Understood"

Gekka replies in her usual cool manner.

"Leave the cooking to me"

I straighten my apron, feeling fresh as ever.

"The Black Cat Pavilion is open for business!"

And immediately, the doorbell rings.

It's the first customer of the day.

The words shoot out as fast as a pistol.

The voice of the autonomous dolls mixed with mine to form a greeting.

A few days later.

"Even though mornings are quite busy..."

The round chair makes a creaking sound.

In the kitchen, with a bit too much time on my hands, I gaze at the tables through the serving window.

There aren't many customers.

As I found out after working here for a few days, the Black Cat Pavilion is basically supported by its regular customers.

One of them is the gentleman with silver-rimmed glasses who is reading a book by the window right now.

Black suit, black tie. And he always orders black coffee.

He was there yesterday, and the day before, and if anything, I feel like he's always been there. Same time, same place.

There are more customers like him, whose face I immediately recognize.

The first-time customers on the other hand are harder to remember.

"Oh shoot, it's this late already"

The clock on the wall of the service area rings with a low, droning sound.

"That means..."

My hand reaches for the fridge.

Feeling the cool, chilly air, I take out a block of ice and start crushing it with an ice pick.

I put 2-3 small ice cubes in a glass. And as soon as I did, condensation started to form on the glass.

Gekka hands me an order slip through the serving window.

"Coming up"

I thought so.

Taking a glance at the service area, I see a woman sitting there holding a newspaper in her hand.

Felt hat and flared pants. One of our regulars. Probably a reporter or a patent attorney. After work she always comes to have a tea punch.

I take out the apples, lemons and oranges that have been soaking in a pot of black tea since earlier this morning. Once again, I fill up the glass with ice, carefully pour in the soda and finish it up with a garnish lemon...

"...Oh right"

Suddenly, I remembered something.

I checked the fridge, and it was just about ready to eat.

With a slight bow Gekka serves the customer.

I was curious to see the reaction, so I watched from the kitchen.

She gently places the glass on the drink coaster.

Serving the customers is Gekka's and Haizakura's job. Gekka's work is flawless, she makes no mistakes whatsoever.

But since she's a bit expressionless, having the always-smiling Haizakura around is quite helpful.

"Hmm?"

As soon as she took her eyes off the newspaper, the woman noticed something.

"It's different from the usual"

"Because it's spring?"

"I see, thank you"

She smiles slightly as she peers into the glass.

"Cherry blossom petals. How fancy."

In the sweet tea punch. A cluster of cherry blossom petals surrounded by carbonated foam was floating on the surface.

She brought her thin lips closer to the straw, and then...

"Pff!"

Haizakura came rushing over.

Unintentionally, the female customer started choking.

She pats the woman's back.

Karasuba, who was going through the account book at the register, hears the commotion and hurries over.

The situation was getting even more out of hand.

Gekka trots over, seemingly unconcerned.

She glances sideways at the female customer.

"Sorry, it's my fault... I didn't explain it well enough..."