It's April Fool's Day, and after a tough time of writer's block and real-life problems, I've decided to simply write a one-shot inspired by many crossover fics involving the multiversal characters meeting up in a restaurant or something similar.
Enjoy...
Another day, another dollar...
That's what the usual saying is when running a business or working a job. For the current owner and manager of the café, Phuc Yū, it was no exception. Like every start of the week, he was going through another day running his café.
On the outside, it didn't look anything particularly eye-catching or extravagant like most café shops. With its soft cream-colored brick exterior and large front windows framed by ivy, the café exudes warmth before you even step inside. A simple wooden sign, hand-painted with elegant cursive, hangs above the entrance, gently swaying with the breeze.
However, the interior of the café... is a different story.
Upon entering, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, mingling with the faint sweetness of vanilla and cinnamon. The café is small but cozy, with a handful of round wooden tables neatly arranged across the polished oak floor. Each table is adorned with a small vase holding a single wildflower, adding a personal and welcoming touch. The chairs, mismatched but charming, have been carefully selected to create an inviting, homey feel—some are vintage, their paint slightly chipped, while others are simple and modern, blending seamlessly into the café's warm aesthetic.
To the left, a long wooden counter displays an array of freshly baked pastries behind a glass case. Golden croissants, fluffy blueberry muffins, and rustic scones sit in neat rows, their buttery scent drifting temptingly through the air. Behind the counter, a sleek espresso machine hums softly, steaming milk for lattes and cappuccinos. Shelves stocked with ceramic mugs, jars of loose-leaf tea, and bags of locally roasted coffee beans line the back wall, creating a pleasant contrast against the café's muted green walls.
A chalkboard menu hangs above the register, written in neat, looping script. It lists the café's simple but delightful offerings—hand-poured coffee, herbal teas, honey-drizzled oatmeal, and avocado toast sprinkled with sea salt. Specials of the day are scribbled in pastel chalk, and a small message at the bottom invites customers to "sit, sip, and stay awhile."
Near the window, a cozy reading nook offers a perfect hideaway for book lovers. A small bookshelf, filled with a curated selection of comic books, manga, novels, poetry, and travel journals, sits against the wall, inviting patrons to lose themselves in a story as they sip their drinks. A plush armchair and a couple of well-loved cushions make the space even more inviting, while soft instrumental music plays gently in the background.
And the patrons who go into Phuc's café to enjoy the food, drinks, and calming atmosphere? Well, their appearances and characteristics are much different and more interesting than what Phuc is used to compared to all the things he witnessed when growing up.
"So you once encountered a vampire who hypnotized your fiancée?" said one of the patrons, asking his acquaintance.
He was a tall, fit man with a slight hunch. His black hair was well-combed, and he wore square-rimmed glasses. Dressed in a regular suit befitting his job as a reporter for a newspaper company, this man was none other than Clark Kent, who was sitting at the bar of the café with an order of a slice of apple pie and black coffee.
Clark's acquaintance, on the other hand, slightly resembled him physically but lacked glasses. He also wore a suit, though it was much more elegant, showcasing his privileged background.
This man was none other than Bruce Wayne, whose order consisted of a salad and two bottles of ginger ale.
"And I made sure that the dastardly bloodsucker would no longer harm an innocent mortal after I shot him with a silver bullet in his sleep," Bruce replied, taking a bite of his salad.
Unbeknownst to the public and most of their acquaintances, Clark and Bruce both lead secret double lives as vigilantes, or "superheroes, " in their respective worlds. Whenever a situation arises, they don their costumes and venture off to save innocent lives and vanquish evildoers. In a period where the world was at war, and plenty of civil unrest and rampant crime were happening throughout the United States of America, there were no shortages of problems that needed a more flexible and immediate approach that the law enforcement couldn't deal with, whether it be due to their numbers being stretch thin or of corruption. Because of these similarities, it was no wonder that Clark and Bruce quickly became friends after an initial misunderstanding in their first meeting while in their dual identities.
It was quite a long story, but the abridged version of it went down like this: Clark and Bruce accidentally wandered into Phuc's café when tailing a suspicious person, and Clark thought Bruce was a criminal due to his dark, intimidating appearance and tried to arrest the latter. Bruce retaliated by catching Clark off guard with a judo flip. However, Clark was only stunned briefly and lunged at Bruce with a full-body tackle. Bruce was surprised by Clark's immense strength as he was sent flying into a wall hard enough to crack it. Then, things escalated from there with fists, bullets, and destruction of property. It was only thanks to Phuc's intervention that the fight between Clark and Bruce stopped.
Of course, Phuc's own strength and power surprised the heroic duo, but that's a story for another time, and we would be here all day explaining it.
Besides the two men, sitting alongside them were a couple of other men and women who had their own adventures. Whether it'll be out west, detective work, crime fighting, etc. Among those people whom Clark and Bruce met were also had similar experiences in solving problems that plague America and the world. It causes the duo to feel a sense of camaraderie and the fact that they were never alone in their own endeavors. At some point, Clark and Bruce even join in on the adventures of a recently formed society of superheroes and help out in other worlds that needed assistance.
Again, it's a long story that would take all day to explain in detail.
At one point in the café, Clark gains an interest in two men who wander into the cafe; one of them was a bald vagrant who temporarily gained telepathic superpowers from unknowingly ingesting a serum created by an evil gentlemanly scientist, and the other was a hard-boiled detective who looked identical to him and was known for his legendary fist-fighting and brawling skills. He doesn't know why, but Clark can't help but feel a connection with these two men... as if they were related to each other in spirit by God or something else that's profound.
However, once again, it's a long story regarding Clark's interactions with those men.
As the two men were chatting with each other over their respective adventures, the other patrons of the café were having their own interactions and activities.
"Ok, first of all, you have to try to make sure the handle of the axe and your forearm make a 90-degree angle the entire time the axe is in your hand. If you point the axe like it's a wand, it will underrotate..." Said the blond-haired 12-year-old boy.
Finn the Human is a human male wearing blue casual attire, a green backpack, and black shoes.
Right now, he's at the café's axe-throwing range while instructing six other patrons of similar age.
Those patrons are none other than Sector V of the Kids Next Door.
The axe-throwing area is separated from the main café by a sturdy wooden partition, designed with both aesthetics and safety in mind. The entrance to the range is marked by a vintage-style sign, hand-painted with bold lettering and an emblem of crossed axes. The flooring shifts from the smooth, polished wood of the café to a rugged, industrial-style concrete, reinforcing the shift from calm café ambiance to competitive excitement.
Inside, the range features several well-spaced lanes, each equipped with large wooden targets painted with classic bullseye patterns. The scent of freshly hewn timber mingles with the lingering aroma of roasted coffee, creating a unique and oddly satisfying sensory experience. Overhead, warm Edison bulbs cast a golden glow over the area, while a subtle playlist of rock and country music sets the tone for friendly competition.
Each lane is separated by reinforced wooden dividers, ensuring safety without compromising the communal atmosphere. Patrons can book a lane for a casual game or sign up for mini-tournaments hosted by the café on weekends. An axe-throwing instructor is always on hand, offering tips on grip, stance, and throwing technique, ensuring that both first-timers and experienced throwers can enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Despite the lively energy in the throwing area, the café maintains a strong emphasis on safety. Each guest receives a brief orientation on proper throwing techniques and safety guidelines before being allowed to participate. The axes themselves are well-maintained, with handles wrapped for a comfortable grip and blades kept sharp enough for precision without posing unnecessary risk.
"...afterward, you just let your grip loosen aaaaaaaannnnnnddd..." Finn said before he threw his axe.
The thrown axe flew with precision and in a wheel-like motion. It then hits the bullseye of the target, which speaks for Finn's accuracy.
"Whoa..." Numbuh 3 said.
"So that's how you throw it, then?" Numbuh 2 pondered as he inspected the one-handed throwing axe.
"I'm going up next!" Numbuh 4 proclaimed as he took his spot in the lane.
As Sector V begins their own throws, a yellow anthropomorphic dog stretches over to Finn's side with a palette of ice cream in his hand.
"Hey Finn, having fun teaching the others how to throw an axe?" Jake asked his long-time friend and adopted brother while eating a scoop of ice cream.
"Yeah, Jake, and knowing how they've been fighting adults nearly their entire lives, they'll pick up the skill in no time," Finn replied.
"Ok, here I go again..." A young boy said as he concentrated on forming an ice blade between his palms.
Over to the recreational area of the café, Harry Potter was sitting cross-legged on a mat. He was in deep concentration while learning to form the weapons described in the Ninjas of the Ice: The Art of Fridjitzu provided to him by his friend, Finn the Human.
While he was in deep concentration, Harry managed to form a small ice dagger as his palms widened. As he witnessed this, Harry gained a smile on his face and set the ice dagger down on the floor in front of him. Not only did he create one ice dagger, but also an assortment of objects made of ice to practice his Fridjitzu arts.
"Wow, you managed to create all this within a short time, Harry? That's awesome!" A voice yelled next to him.
Harry was startled by the voice, and he knew one person with that sort of loudness next to him.
"Geez, Naruto! Don't sneak up on me like that." Harry said as he turned his sights to an empty space.
Appearing out of thin air reveals a spiky blond-haired and blue-eyed boy around Harry's age. He was Uzumaki Naruto, and his attire consisted of casual clothing with a notable amount of orange and goggles on his head.
"I'm telling you once again, Kazuma! You pour the milk in the bowl after you pour the cereal inside so you don't waste it!" A male teenager with black hair, sharp eyes, and wearing a tracksuit said to his friend.
"And I'm saying, Subaru, by pouring the milk in the bowl first would make the cereal taste better!" The friend with brown hair, green eyes, and a similar tracksuit fired back.
As the two teenagers were arguing back and forth on which method of eating cereal would be the right way, their two other acquaintances sitting next to them were annoyed.
"Hah... are these two idiots really arguing about eating habits such as cereal?" One of them said as he took a sip of his coffee.
He was a salaryman who was broad-shouldered and tall. He has black hair that is combed back neatly, rectangular glasses, and sharp eyes. He is dressed in a typical salaryman set of suit and tie, but with the addition of a long dark coat.
"Tell me about it. Even I couldn't enjoy something as cereal before coming here." Satoru agreed.
He was older than Kazuma and Subaru, but like the salaryman, he was wearing a suit.
Despite the group of four having their differences in both personality and choices, they found themselves strangely drawn together despite living in separate alternate versions of Japan.
As Phuc saw the warm atmosphere of the patrons hanging out together, his face gained a simple smile appeared on his face.
It felt just like the early periods of when he opened the café and the colorful bunch of patrons from other worlds came pouring in at chaotic intervals. While some meetings start off rough due to misunderstandings, it was still something that Phuc cherishes to this day. Business was booming thanks to the visits by the otherworldly patrons, and the atmosphere was a warm and inviting one.
An environment like this is one of the reasons why he kept going in running the café.
As he was currently brewing some coffee and cooking a meal for himself, the bell hanging at the front entrance to his café rang, showing that someone had come in.
Looking over to the entrance, his sights were set on a special lady friend that Phuc helped a while back and has been dating since then.
"Hey handsome~ How's it going today~?" She teasingly asked while leaning forward from the counter, allowing Phuc to get a good look at her big assets.
Yep, just another day in the café.
So... there you have it!
I would've written more of this one-shot, but I've got to deal with other real-life problems at the moment, so this is what you all are going to get for this fic. So far, this one-shot is just written for the 1st day of April in the spirit of the day.
Also, the next chapter of my Pokémon: Breath for Adventure is in progress of being completed soon. So stay tuned for that.