Operation: Love Café

...🩵...

Spring Festival prep was officially in full swing.

Class 2-B had been transformed into organized chaos. Desks were pushed to the sides, paint-splattered newspaper covered the floor, and groups of students were hunched over makeshift cardboard walls, papier-mâché props, and hand-drawn menus. The smell of glue, fresh-cut flowers, and someone’s spilled soda permeated the air. Posters that read “Welcome to Love Café” in overly romantic fonts were being hung with tape that kept peeling off.

"Why are all the hearts pink and glittery?" Tsubasa asked, squinting at a large poster one of the girls was pinning above the entrance.

"Because it's a Love Café, Amakusa-kun," Ayane Fujimoto, the class rep, replied in her usual crisp tone. "Not a Depressing Café."

Misora snorted from her spot at the table where she was carefully folding napkins into origami swans. “You do realize he thinks curry rice is romantic.”

"Curry rice is romantic," Tsubasa said, puffing up with mock offense. "It brings people together. It warms hearts. It has potatoes."

Ayane rolled her eyes. "Just make sure you and Misora-chan are ready for rehearsal. You're up next."

"Rehearsal for what again?" Tsubasa asked, already chewing on a Pocky stick he wasn't supposed to touch.

"The couple interaction scenes," Misora said flatly, standing up and brushing her skirt. "You know, the one where you pretend to be the sweet-talking café boy who's totally in love with the girl next door?"

Tsubasa blinked. "Wait, I have lines?"

Ayane stared at him in disbelief. "You're the lead. Of course you have lines. And romantic dialogue. And a bowtie."

Tsubasa turned to Misora. "I was told there would be snacks, not sonnets."

Misora sighed, though the corners of her mouth twitched. "Just follow my lead, okay?"

The rehearsal area was a taped square in the center of the classroom, with a pair of stools set up to mimic a café table. Ayane clapped her hands and called, "Scene twelve! Couple table interaction number one! Misora-san and Amakusa-kun, you're up."

"This feels weird," Tsubasa muttered as he adjusted the bowtie someone had already forced around his neck.

"You're telling me," Misora replied, smoothing her hair. She looked at him for a beat, then flicked her eyes away. "Just... try to say your line without laughing."

"No promises."

Nao leaned against the chalkboard, grinning like a fox. "Everyone placing bets now: how many seconds before Tsubasa turns into a tomato?"

Ayane pulled out a clipboard. "Blush tally begins in three, two, one..."

Misora sat down first, crossing her legs gracefully. Tsubasa clumsily sat opposite her, knocking the fake flower vase off the table. He caught it in mid-air and gave a little bow.

"Smooth," she said under her breath.

He shrugged. "Reflexes of a future café prince."

Ayane called, "Action!"

Tsubasa cleared his throat. "W-Welcome to Love Café, Misora-chan. Your smile... outshines the morning sun."

The entire class erupted in muffled giggles.

Misora blinked, deadpan. "Is the sun okay? Should I call the weather bureau?"

More laughter.

Tsubasa puffed his cheeks. "Hey, I’m trying here!"

She smirked, leaning slightly forward. "Then try this one: 'Your eyes are like two freshly brewed cups of matcha... deep, mysterious, and slightly bitter.'"

Tsubasa blinked. "That’s oddly specific."

"It’s in the script."

"Is it about me?"

"I hope not. You can’t even handle wasabi."

Nao whooped. "TsubaSora Banter: Level 100!"

Ayane sighed. "Can we please finish one scene without sarcasm?"

After three failed takes, they finally managed to say the lines with only mild grimacing.

"You’re not terrible actors," Ayane allowed, crossing their names off her list.

"Thanks?" Tsubasa said, loosening his bowtie. "That thing is trying to strangle me."

"Let me," Misora said before thinking.

She stepped in front of him, reaching up to adjust the tie. Her fingers brushed his neck. The room fell oddly quiet. Even Nao held his breath.

Tsubasa didn’t move. He watched her eyes, which were suddenly very close. They looked darker up close. Warmer.

Misora, focused on the knot, said nothing for a moment. Then, softly:

"You really are hopeless with accessories."

"It has a clip, Misora-chan. A clip. Why is it still complicated?"

She chuckled. "Because you're you."

The tie snapped into place. They were still standing close. Very close.

Someone's phone clicked.

"Got it again!" Nao whispered loudly. "That's going viral for another time."

They jumped apart.

"W-Was that necessary?!" Misora snapped, cheeks flaming.

"Oh, it was vital," Nao said, waving his phone. "We just got our next TsubaSora meme. Thank you for always fulfilling our sweet little shipping craze. Title: 'Adjusting feelings... and bowties. Act Two of Love Maybe?'"

Tsubasa scratched his head. "Wait, what's the joke?"

Misora shot him a look. "It's the room. Definitely too warm."

Ayane fanned herself exaggeratedly. "Right. Totally the room."

As afternoon slipped into early evening, the class moved into painting props and setting up tables. Tsubasa was tasked with carrying buckets of paint, which he somehow managed to get on his shirt.

"How did you even do that?" Misora asked, offering him a towel.

"Art attacks when you least expect it."

She rolled her eyes, but wiped a smear off his cheek with her sleeve. "Seriously. You're like a walking hazard."

He smiled. "Yeah, but at least I keep you on your toes, right?"

Misora paused. "Don’t flatter yourself."

"Too late."

From behind a cardboard cutout, Ayane made another note with a visible daydreaming smile: They bicker more when flustered. Observe further.

By the end of the day, the Love Café looked... surprisingly decent.

Lace-trimmed curtains hung by the windows, tiny paper lanterns lined the wall, and mock menus were set at each table. The atmosphere was warm, a little cheesy, but undeniably charming. Students high-fived and took selfies.

"Okay! Final task! Practice walk-through!" Ayane declared.

Tsubasa and Misora groaned simultaneously.

"Couple greeting. Hand-off of imaginary drink. Romantic compliment. Done," Ayane instructed.

Tsubasa sighed. "Why do I feel like I’m on a dating sim show?"

"Because you kind of are," Nao replied.

Misora took her place. Tsubasa walked toward her, holding a pretend teacup.

"Your tea, milady," he said, bowing dramatically.

She snorted. "You're lucky you're cute."

He blinked. "Wait... did you just say I—"

"Line! It was in the script!" she snapped, turning red.

"I didn’t write that line!"

Ayane looked up from the clipboard. "Oh. That wasn't in the script."

A hush fell.

"N-Never mind!" Misora said quickly, grabbing the cup and turning away. "I'm going to double-check the napkin folds."

Tsubasa tilted his head. "Did I miss something again?"

Nao patted his shoulder. "One day, buddy. One day."

The day ended with laughter, glitter in everyone's hair, and a ridiculous number of #TsubaSora tags floating around on social media.

As they walked home under the soft spring sky, Tsubasa stretched. "Today was kinda fun, huh?"

Misora looked at him from the corner of her eye. "Even the part where you nearly set a curtain on fire with a hot glue gun?"

"Especially that part. Adventure builds character."

She smiled to herself. "Yeah... sure it does."

Tsubasa turned to her, walking backwards. "Hey, Misora-chan? You were really good today. Like, actually convincing."

She blinked. "Convincing at what?"

"You know... the whole acting like you were into me thing."

Misora paused. "Yeah. Acting. Right."

He grinned. "Best friend powers, huh?"

"Sure," she said softly, her heart thudding louder than she cared to admit.

Maybe it was just acting.

Maybe it wasn’t.

But for now, she'd let it be just maybe.

...🩵...

...AerixielDaiminse...

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