Disclaimer: I don't own The Promised Neverland

Just A Cup Of Coffee

"Thank you." Anna smiled after she got handed a latte by the barista behind the counter of the coffee shop she was in.

After finishing a long week of exams she had really needed to refuel her energy and decided to visit the coffee shop near her home.

Being a med-student was hard even if she had already started learning at nine.

She frowned to herself however upon noticing that it was even busier than she thought and there wasn't a single free table.

"Oh dear..." she sighed, slightly frustrated as she wondered if she was going to have to drink her coffee while awkwardly standing and trying to not be in anyone's way.

"Anna!" she jumped a little at hearing her name being called.

"Ray?" she called back in surprise at seeing the dark-haired man sitting at one of the tables, one hand raised a little.

"Yo, you looking for a seat? You can join me if you want." Ray offered with a small wave.

"A-Are you sure?" she asked nervously, feeling her heartbeat pick up.

For a while she's had a crush on Ray.

After all, he was kind, mature and always looked after all his family and friends and he was even handsome to boot.

Still, while they lived together with the rest of their family Anna herself wasn't that close to him.

They mostly hung out while in a group and if they talked alone it was usually while helping with chores around the house.

Still, she shouldn't make a big deal out of this.

He was just inviting her to sit with him to drink her coffee.

Just a cup of coffee.

Nothing else.

Taking a deep breath she smiled and slowly made her way towards him, careful not to bump into anyone or anything.

"Hey, Ray! Thanks for letting me join you!" she greeted him as she sat across from him.

"No problem, I figured sitting with me might be a little better than waiting for another table to clear up till your own drink is already cold." he shrugged back nonchalantly.

"So what's up? You're having exams right now, right?" he asked and Anna blinked, slightly surprised he remembered her mentioning it once.

Then again, it was Ray after all.

"Ah, I actually just finished my last one and thought I'd come here to relax a little." she said.

"Yeah, I bet you'd definitely need it and deserve it." Ray agreed.

"A-Anyway, why are you here yourself?" Anna asked, wanting to avoid any awkward silences.

"Work. I've got some editing to do." he pointed at the laptop on the table that Anna somehow hadn't noticed.

"Only editing and no taking photos today? I don't see your camera anywhere." she said after scanning the table and not finding the device.

"Oh, it's right here. Smile." she looked up at hearing him and yelped as a bright flash blinded her for a moment.

As soon as she little dancing spots finally left her vision she found Ray smirking at his digital camera.

She should have figured this would happen.

After all, Ray loved taking photos of everyone and everything which honestly made his job a photographer perfect for him.

"Was that really necessary?" she still asked, referring to getting her own picture taken.

Ray snorted and shrugged at her.

"Hey, it's not my fault that, while not a exaggerated as Emma, everyone make this silly face when getting their picture taken. They're usually pretty funny but yours isn't so bad. Here, see for yourself." he handed her the camera and she saw herself on the screen in the back, eyes a little wider and mouth slightly open as she had been about to ask something at the moment.

She has the admit, she did look a little funny.

Just as she was about to hand the camera back she accidentally pushed a button and it showed an earlier taken picture.

She was however surprised again to see what it was.

"Are those Emma and Norman?" she asked, though it was obviously them in the picture.

They were sitting at a small table outside a different with their own drinks and looked to be having a nice time together.

"It honestly looks a lot like they're on a date." she mumbled.

"Yeah, I kinda figured so too. Hey, can I have that back?" Ray agreed and reached a little hastily out to take the camera back.

Anna, however felt he was acting a little off and decided to look at another picture, finding another one of Emma and Norman still at the same cafe.

The next picture was the same.

"You were spying on them?!" she cried out in disbelief.

This was something she'd maybe expect from Don, Lannion and Thoma but definitely not Ray.

Ray at least had the decency to look slightly ashamed, flashing her a sheepish smile.

"I swear I was actually taking pictures at the park near that place and just happened to see them by coincidence. Besides, can you blame me for wanting to document this amazing day where those morons who constantly swoon over each other are finally going on a date?" he made a dramatic wave with one hand and she sighed, smiling despite herself.

"I guess I really can't." she admitted, having witnessed Norman's crush on Emma since their time at Gracefield and Emma getting a crush on Norman after they finally found her again.

"Then again, are we sure it's even a date and not them just hanging out?" she wondered, knowing how dense both of them could be and might both be treating it as something casual because they both thought the other only wanting it casual.

"Don't girls usually go squealing how a guy and girl getting coffee or whatever it is they're having is "totally a date"?" Ray asked, making air-quotes along the way.

Even if Anna knew he was still talking about about his best friends, she couldn't help but feel her heart speed up.

"W-Well, we're a guy and girl having just a cup of coffee together, aren't we?" she asked nervously, looking at her lap.

"You don't think of this is a date?"

"E-Ehhh?!" her head snapped up to see Ray looking at her with an amused look.

"I guess I can't really blame you for that since I wasn't very clear." he leaned hand head into his hand, supported by his elbow on the table.

"W-W-What a-are y-y-you-" Anna stared to stutter, only stopping and face turning red when Ray reached his free hand over to play with one of her braids.

"Hey, Anna? Any chance you'll let me take you on a date sometime? It doesn't even have to be a coffee place." as asked her.

His tone and behavior were playful but his eyes still held a certain serious glint.

"I-I..." she tried to form words to answer only to get cut off by Ray's phone beeping.

"Ah, geez. Looks like I'm needed elsewhere. I better go." he sighed and started gathering his things.

Just as he was leaving he stopped next to Anna and bend down to her level.

"My offer will remain so you can think about it if you want. I'll see you later at home during dinner." he told her softly, his breath tickling her cheek.

With that he was gone, leaving Anna a confused and flustered mess.

"R-Ray wants to go on a date with me and maybe even saw just now as a date?!" she squeaked to herself, her face feeling like it was on fire while her heart beat so fast Usain Bolt seemed like a turtle in comparison.

She needed to calm down!

She went to finally take a sip from her coffee only to nearly spit it back out.

It had gotten cold...

The End

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