Chapter 6: An Unclear Start

"W-What do I even say to her at this point…?" I thought for a while after 30 minutes when I found her breathless, fatigued, and she looked like she got...hurt.

After we had sat down on a park bench under a shady tree, even though it's already nighttime, I tried asking her what the problem is, but she wouldn't really speak up about it. I tried to be subtle on making her speak up but it looks like she knows when I'm being sincere and when I'm also trying to stick my nose into other people's business. This just got a whole lot harder…

I stood up from my seat and proceeded to find a vending machine. Since the spring nights weren't exactly too cold, but it gets chilly enough to be able to wear a coat or a jacket at this type of evening.

I couldn't exactly figure out what kind of drink she would like, but then I remembered that she ordered a Cappuccino or a Machiatto. Was it an Americano or a Mocha? Aahh! Damn it, I can't recall! I'll just go with what my gut tells me to, I guess.

As soon as I got the drinks, I started to head back to where she was and tried to come up with what I'll say to her as soon as I gave her the drink. But then after I got back, I noticed that she started breaking down in tears once more. She looked emotionally drained and physically pale. Like she saw a ghost for more than enough of her entire lifetime.

Why does it feel...familiar? The pain that she's experiencing at the moment. I finally came up with a straightforward answer to what her problem is.

I sat down next to her and said "So it's a broken heart, huh?" Then I proceeded to give her the coffee drink I bought for her. Her reaction was a mix of both skepticism and confusion, like she wanted to let me know that I managed to hit a bullseye.

In all honesty, I didn't want to relive those moments in my life. Everytime I did, I always ended up managing to gain blood on my knuckles, trying to find relief from the anger that boiled within me. But this is someone that had also gone through a similar scenario, yet I was not obligated to help them in any kind of way since I'm basically a stranger to her.

So all I did was put my hands behind my head as I leaned back to look upon the night sky. "Looks like I was correct." I said in a rather calm and confident tone.

She tried to say something, but she couldn't find any kind of way to come up with a reply to my sentence, so all she did was look down on the ground while holding onto the can of coffee that I bought for her.

So I had to be a bit blunt. "Honestly, I never liked going into a relationship again in this kind of world. At least it helps me focus on what I want to do. But still, I'm sorry for what happened to you." I said my honest feelings, but not like she heard it.

She was starting to tear up while gripping onto the now empty can of coffee, as a few parts of it were spilt upon the ground due to her grip, as she was trying to stop herself from crying. I sighed and I thought it was troublesome, but I guess that other people need to have an ear to tell their problem, or a shoulder for them to cry on.

I handed her my handkerchief. "Here. Use this." I said as she reluctantly took the handkerchief from my hands and proceeded to wipe her tears with it. "She must've been in pain for a while now…" I thought to myself as I looked at her with a hint of pity in my eyes.

"Come on. It's time that you head on home. It's getting pretty late." I said as I stood up from my seat and looked over her. The reply that I got was a simple nod as she stood up and kept her head down on the floor. We began to walk back to her place, which I didn't really know to begin with.

As we kept walking in relative silence from each other's company, I had to keep asking her which directions we needed to take in order to get to her home. It was rather annoying since I had to keep her from getting run over by other cars, preventing her from bumping into strangers, trying to protect her, and all that.

As we got to her home, which was surprisingly a dorm for girls that was relatively next to a university that I am assuming is where Raphtalia and Rishia are studying, we were greeted by someone from outside the gate.

"Raphtalia! Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" A mature woman with beautiful black hair ran towards her and started to hug her tightly as Raphtalia reciprocated the embrace from the woman.

But then, she stared me down in malice and it was a bit terrifying, but even I can tell why she would have that kind of look in her eyes. She's just looking out for her.

"You must be her roommate, or family, or acquaintance?" I asked in a calm manner, trying to put on my best impression, just so I can explain to her the story of how I found Raphtalia.

"I'm her stepsister, Sadeena. Who are you?" She asked while trying to look reasonable in front of me.

Raphtalia wiped her tears and composed herself while looking over her sister.

"His name is Naofumi. Uhmm...He found me in the city square when I was…" She wanted to say about the problem she's dealing with, that I figured out, but it seems like the cat got her tongue.

Sadeena didn't say a word, but then she understood, or possibly understood the scenario. Then she separated from Raphtalia and bowed her head in front of me.

"Thank you, Naofumi, for keeping my little sister safe…It means a lot."

After what she did, I smiled a bit while looking at the both of them as I thought to myself.

"She reminds me of myself and my little brother. If we only ever got the chance to be actual siblings…"

I began to start heading into the direction of my house, which was coincidentally just a 20-minute walk away, then I thought of something else and looked over Raphtalia.

"You both can visit the coffee shop whenever you want! If you visit the first time, Sadeena, then the drinks are on me!" I said out loudly to the both of them.

Sadeena then smiled a bit and replied to my answer. "Sure! You better keep your word on that promise!"

Raphtalia began to smile as well and honestly, it gave me a sense of relief to see that I did something right. Now I can say that I have crossed off the problem from my list, at the moment. She'll have to come face-to-face with the reality of the situation that has fallen before her.

Now's not the time to think about that, so let's just cross that bridge when we get there. As I pulled out my phone, I noticed that it was already 10 at night. "Holy shit! I haven't eaten dinner yet and I still have work tomorrow!" so I ran to the nearest convenient store around and just bought myself a store-bought bento.

The next morning, I woke up tired and groggy as hell. I seriously didn't even shower yesterday and just plopped right onto bed. Luckily, I woke up rather early and I still had time to shower and cook breakfast while binge watching "K*no Su*ba".

Weirdly enough, why do I feel like I relate to the problems of the protagonist? Anyway, I took a bath and then got dressed to begin preparing breakfast.

Then I headed out of the house and looked at the time on my phone. It was still 30 minutes before the shop opened, but I didn't really care at the moment. For some weird reason, the next few days of the week were nothing but smooth sailings for me. Not many problems, my life going back to the way it was before, the anime figure of my favorite heroine finally made it about two days ago.

Maybe this was a sign from the universe that I did the right thing by helping those two out? I just kept moving on with my life while having a spring in my step. For once, I actually felt ecstatic.

After a few weeks of just doing work and juggling culinary school along with my schedule, I've had a pretty normal week, so far. It wasn't exactly a bad thing since I was given a possible reward for helping out Raphtalia and maybe the universe is telling me that I deserve it.

"Yeah right, like that's ever going to happen…" I said to myself as I rested my arms on the counter and looked over the people inside the shop. Luckily, the lunch rush has already come to an end and that it's already the evening. It's been a peaceful day, until…

Someone bursts through the doors in excitement. Sure enough, it was someone I knew recently. Along with the person I know. I did say that she can get a free drink, but I didn't think that she'd be like this. I walked up to the both of them.

"What are you doing, Sadeena?" I said to the mature woman, along with her little sister who was trying to calm her down.

"So, I just got bored at home and then remembered you, so we went to see if you'll uphold that promise~" She explained to me in a teasing manner. I wasn't even sure what to say at the moment, I was still reeling back from the exaggerated entrance that she pulled off.

I sighed and just proceeded to show them their table. That's when L'Arc proceeded to approach me once again and put his arm around my shoulder.

"Woohoo~! Looks like Mr. Popular here knows another beauty~!" He said to me in the most annoying way possible. I didn't even want to argue with him at that point. I was still trying to keep my calm mindset, due to the fact that my peaceful week was ruined. That's seven great days of my life that I'll never get back…

"Look. It was a pretty weird night when it happened." I said.

"How come?" He asked. I proceeded to explain that I bumped into her at the town square and then I saw her crying. We rested on a park bench and we didn't speak much at that moment. All I said was that she might've been going through a broken heart, which was actually correct. L'Arc was a bit surprised, but decided not to question about that topic.

I walked her home after letting her calm down and then I met her stepsister, Sadeena. I also promised both of them that I would vouch for free drinks if Sadeena visited the shop.

He nodded his head and gave me a teasing smirk. "So basically, you've got two foreign beauties as friends~?" He said.

I just sighed and looked over his direction.

"Look. If anything, I just got roped into a few unfavorable circumstances in less than two weeks." I said with a cold tone in my voice.

"Point taken. At least the lady looks better, for now. Problem or not, she's gonna have to move on from it sooner or later." L'Arc replied.

Sadeena waved at me and then I wore my best face whenever I'm dealing with customers. Although I have to admit, it felt rather conspicuous whenever I do it, because it felt forced yet unnoticeable.

As soon as I got to the table, Sadeena catched on to my face.

"Isn't it a little hard to wear that kind of face for customers?" She giggled after she said that.

"Sadeena-nee-san, please be nice." Raphtalia retorted.

"I mean, she's not entirely wrong to begin with." I replied with my most honest opinion.

"So what will your orders be?" I asked while getting a notepad and pen from the pocket of my apron.

Sadeena had this look on her face as she rested her chin on her arm. What was she thinking?

"You know. You do look pretty cute and handsome like that~"

Raphtalia immediately stood up while a healthy blush was written upon her face. As for myself, I was a bit taken aback.

Me? Handsome? Cute? Those are definitely two words that I could never associate with myself. Let's be honest, I've never had other people compliment me like that, so it was pretty hard to believe.

I just readied the notepad and pen while looking at them.

"Please refrain from making a scene in the shop. Plus, I'll take my chances with getting complimented." I just calmly assessed the situation and retorted back to what she said.

Sadeena giggled a bit and Raphtalia was rubbing her temples and trying to apologize to me for making a ruckus in the early afternoon.

But then, out of nowhere, a feeling washed over me and it felt like...nostalgia.

"You're so shy, Naofumi-chan~" a woman with rather promiscuous clothing wrapped around my arm while a woman with hazelnut hair loomed over from behind us.

"Will you please refrain from playing pranks on Naofumi-sama, Sadeena-san." The hazelnut haired woman retorted with an…envious look in her eyes.

Then I saw everyone just gathering around me and just enjoying the rest of that day.

Until I snapped back from my memory as I looked over Raphtalia who was trying to call out her order.

"Is something wrong, Naofumi-san?" She asked.

"Oh. It's nothing. Just a little tired." I replied. She felt a bit of relief and then proceeded to tell me about their orders.

"What was that...flashback?" I thought to myself as I began to walk back to the counter and prepare their order. What I didn't know was that this was going to become a rollercoaster from then on.

-The End

Notes: Looks like they're about to have a rough start to their relationship. _(._.)_ Thanks for reading. Btw, I am INCREDIBLY sorry for delaying this! I have a lot on my plate at the moment and I'm still trying to get through my life. _(._.)_