"Damn it!"
Why was it at times like this when Kazuha forgot her umbrella? Did the world have to strike her with such terrible fate? She ran into a nearby cafe called "Wisher O'Clock" take refuge from the heavy rain.
As she stepped into the strangely named place, the soft scent of cinnamon and coffee filled her nose. There were no other customers in the cafe, and the room was decorated with newspaper articles, book pages and wooden furniture. The Batista behind the counter took note of her and smiled. He had dark skin and blue eyes, and looked to be around the same age as her. Kazuja stepped towards the counter and began to order.
"I'd like a caramel machiatto and a lemon muffin please."
"Would you also like a towel to go with it?" The Barista falshed a cheeky grin. Kazuha didn't feel like responding with a comeback.
"If you had one, that would be great actually." She sighed.
"Noted. Your total is ¥566. The towel's on the house."
A few moments later, Kazuha was sat down at one of the counter chairs, watching the Barista make her drink as she tucked into the lemon muffin. He eventually came round to her and brought a small towel with him.
"Your order."
"Thank you."
There were a few moments of silence as she enjoyed her coffee. Eventually, the Barista sighed and broke the silence.
"Terrible weather we're having today."
"It really is."
"Do ya have some kind of story behind how soaked ya are?"
"I was walking home from my college when it started pouring. It didn't say anything on the weather forecast so I assumed it wouldn't rain."
"Ah, ya can never trust the weather forecast. All ya can trust is evidence and ya own deductions."
"Ya sound like my dad. All he does is talk about proof and alibis."
"What does ya old man do for a living?"
"He's a detective. He works with the Osaka police." The Barista appeared to be a bit taken back by this statement.
"A detective? What's his name?"
"Toyama Ginshiro. Why?"
"My old man's also a detective. Hattori Heizo. The two of them work together sometimes." It was now Kazuha who was taken back. The Barista grinned at her reaction.
"What's ya name?"
"Toyama Kazuha. Yours?"
"Hattori Heiji. Nice meeting ya."
After the comfortable conversation Kazuha continued eating/drinking what she had bought. The rain seemes to be clearing up and the bright sun was out again. The towel Hattori-san had lent her helped a lot with getting out all the rain from her hair. She went up to him to return the now soaking piece of cloth.
"Keep the towel. As I said, it's on the house."
Thank you Hattori-san."
"Drop the honorifics. Heiji is fine."
"Then ya can call me Kazuha. I can drop by here again and we can talk again." She pushed open the door of the cafe.
"By the way," Heiji started again.
"Hmm?" Kazuha turned around.
"Might not wanna wear a white shirt next time it's raining." The realisation struck Kazuha. Her face started to warm up.
"I-idiot! Where were ya looking?" He just laughed. She left the small cafe, shutting the door behind her and scowling.