Where The Stars Fade

"Good morning Mitto." I said as I opened the gate to my front yard. "You still don't wanna be my pet don't you? But you still come in front of my gate to feed you."

I bend down my knees and opened a bag of cat food, petting its fur. "You can come here anytime you'd like, but I'm sometimes at work."

"Guard my home okay, Mitto?" I said, I stood up and left.

The cold morning breeze sliced through my skin, and it shivers me to my bones. I saw my neighbor outside as I walked, reading a newspaper and smoking first thing in the morning.

"Goodmorning Haruto-kun, it's cold today isn't it?" He shouted from the bench outside his house.

This old man, he's killing himself smoking outside while reading a newspaper in zero degrees. He's like that everyday, and I don't want to bother his choices.

"Goodmorning." I replied with a straight face without even looking at him as I kept walking.

I walked my way to the Café to work, and that's it. It was pretty much close to where I live, so I just walk it out, though it hurts my feet sometimes.

As I was nearing, I can already saw my coworkers, Jinko-san and Rie, setting up the tables.

I walked to the door and Rie flipped the Open Close sign.

"Haruto-san, goodmorning!" She exclaimed with a smile.

I have to bear that everyday, with everyone, but I'm used to it. And I also admit that it's nice sometimes.

"Goodmorning Rie, Jinko-san." I said with a straight face as I entered through the door. Nothing going on in my mind but just the thought of finishing this work.

I went through the back of the Café, removed my coat and layered jackets to wear my uniform.

"Would you like some coffee, Haruto-kun? there's still some left." Jinko-san shouted from the outside.

"Hai," I shot back.

I wore my cap and left, when she surprised me with the cup of coffee in the door.

"Here's your coffee, Haruto. Perfect for the cold weather." She said holding the cup in her hand with a smile on her face.

I just took the coffee and didn't say anything, they're used to it, they're used to my behavior. I went to the frezzer first and got the pastries out to heat them up in the oven. After that I take them to the counter to assemble them inside the glass dome, it was fun as I was doing it, but I don't show to my face occasionally.

I can say I've only smiled once, or twice, or thrice, in one week. It's like a celebration when they see me smile.

The bell from the door rang, and a customer came. "Goodmorning!" Rie greeted from the door.

She's always so energetic with the customers, even on a cold morning. While Jinko-san is just normal, though she also engages with the customers with a cheerful voice.

While I... I do my best and try to look approachable as possible as I can.

"Goodmorning sir, what would you like to have?" I asked, forcing myself to smile like everyday. But I do smile for this work.

"Goodmorning!" He greeted back." I'll have one Hot Americano please." He ordered.

I quickly listed down what he said on a piece of paper, "anything else? Sir?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uhmm, no. Just the Hot Americano please." He said as he pulled out his wallet. Het got his card and handed it to me.

I took it and swiped it into the card reading machine. I gave it back and asked for his name.