Work Text:
**Hallowed Grounds Coffee**
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«January Specials»
"Matcha Made in Heaven" - Ube Matcha Latte
"Hansel & Gretel" - White Chocolate Gingerbread Dirty Chai
"Déjà Brew" - Espresso Latte
"Cocoa & Chill" - Hot Chocolate (+marshmallows)
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Nabe didn't read the read the rest of the chalkboard or really register the new concoctions he and other patrons would get to choose from for their morning cup. His focus instead was on the cartoon squirrel wearing a hat, scarf, and mittens. The animal was smiling contentedly and holding a to-go cup, a loopy steam heart around its head. Doodles of snowflakes, blowing winds, bubbles, and sparkles filled the negative spaces, adding to the charm of the coffee shop before customers even entered.
The first perk of his caffeine addiction was of course, supporting a small coffee shop in his neighborhood. The second was that he was always one of the first to see the new menu board designs at the start of the month. They were simple and a little childish maybe, but they brought a smile to his face. He was trying to figure out which of the employees was the artist behind the chalk drawings so he could tell them how much he looked forward to the new ones.
Sure, he could ask someone, but he liked the brain game of trying to figure it out for himself.
The bell above the door announced his presence and the hiss of the milk frother welcomed him in to the shop. The warmth of the shop embraced him as he inhaled deeply, savoring the scents of roasted coffee, vanilla, and Matsubara-san's fresh banana bread.
"Good morning, Nabe-kun!"
And there was the third perk; the handsome barista who was working almost every morning Nabe came in.
He smiled at Kawakami behind the counter. "Morning, Nori."
The barista met him at the register, still tying his apron behind his back. "Your usual? To-go?"
The fact that he had a "usual" coffee order didn't surprise him, but the fact that Nori recognized him and remembered his order was thoughtful. Nabe hummed, reading the specials chalkboard on the cabinets behind Nori. On this one, the squirrel was drawn leaning back against the walls of a coffee mug, its arms hanging over the sides as though it was relaxing in a hot tub. "I think I'll try something different actually."
Nori's eyes lit up. "One of the new specials caught your eye?"
He nodded. "I'll have whatever the squirrel's having." At Nori's confusion, he pointed his thumb toward the door. "The one on the sign outside. That one—" he pointed to the chalkboard behind Nori, "—is contaminated."
Nori turned to follow his gaze and laughed. "Yeah, bath water wouldn't be a good flavor." He typed on the register. "Seriously, anything in particular? Or do you really want a surprise?"
Nabe appreciated him checking. He had half a mind to change back to his usual, but the way Nori's eyes held a spark of inspiration told Nabe to go for it. "Sure, surprise me. I don't have any allergies but if you could make it with oat milk, please."
Nori smiled and nodded. "Right. I already have an idea." He pushed more buttons on the register, enough that Nabe was slightly concerned about what the other man would brew up. Should he have given it more thought? Steered him away from sweet things or extra espresso? No whipped cream?
He was so in his head he hadn't registered Nori asking him another question. "Sorry?"
Nori chuckled and Nabe noticed a flush blooming on his round cheeks. "I asked if you liked them. The squirrels, I mean."
"Yeah, they're cute," he said, tapping his watch to pay for the mystery drink. "The same employee drew the snowmen last month too, right?"
"Y-you noticed them too?" Nori asked, flush deepening. It was charming.
Nabe made his way to the end of the counter to wait. "I like seeing them each time you guys change the sign. I'm trying to figure out who draws them—" His phone rang shrilly from his pocket. Checking the caller ID on his watch he sighed. "Excuse me, I have to take this." He moved further down the counter and off to the side to answer the phone, looking out the window as he talked.
The coffee shop got busier as he was on the phone, the din of the room now overpowering the soft lo-fi playlist that normally set the cozy ambiance. When his drink was ready, Nori only had a moment to call his name and tell him "have a great day" with that endearing smile, before he headed back to the machines to make the next drink.
Still on the phone, Nabe made his way back out into the cold and took a sip of his drink. It was sweet but not overpowering, a delicate blend of cinnamon, apples, and vanilla, similar to an apple pie, but creamier and more robust. He lifted his cup to look at the order sticker to get a better idea of what Nori had made, when he noticed something written on the cup. Turning the drink to get a look, he smiled.
A cartoonish squirrel was staring off the cup, smiling and holding a cellphone as it lounged comfortable on a string of numbers beneath it.
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