The coffee shop that Marin chose was on a quiet street, half-hidden between an old bookstore and a traditional sweets shop. The light wooden sign had rounded letters painted white: "Café Komorebi". Through the large windows, you could see a cozy interior, with plants hanging from the ceiling and small yellowish lights scattered throughout the space.
It was a place that smelled of fresh coffee and baked bread, with light music playing in the background, something between jazz and bossa nova.
When they entered, a little bell tinkled above the door. Some tables were already occupied by couples and students with laptops, but the atmosphere was so calm that it seemed like a world apart from the movement of the street. Marin walked ahead, excited, twirling her body a bit while looking around.
"Isn't it cute? I love this café! Whenever I go out on the weekend, I make a point of stopping by here." She said, smiling at him over her shoulder.
Isagi just nodded, looking at the environment.
It was simple, but in good taste.
They sat at a table near the window, from where you could see the street and the sun filtered through the leaves of the trees outside. Marin dropped her backpack next to the chair and pulled out the menu with enthusiasm.
"The menu here is huge. It has everything! Waffles, parfait, iced coffee, milkshake, matcha tea… And there's a cheesecake that's out of this world. Seriously, if you don't try it, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." She spoke while flipping through the pages, her eyes shining with each photo.
Isagi took the menu more out of politeness than necessity. His mind was full of thoughts about various things.
"Do you always talk like that about the places you like?" He asked, trying to hide a smile.
Marin rested her chin on her hand, looking at him with a half-smile.
"Well, of course! If I like it, I talk about it. Why would I stay quiet? It's much more fun to share, don't you think? Like… If something is good, we share it. If something is beautiful, we show it. And if something is delicious…" She tapped the tip of her finger on the cheesecake in the photo: "We force others to try it."
Isagi let out a low laugh, shaking his head.
"Force, huh? That's kind of radical."
"It's not radical, it's gastronomic attention! If I make an effort to find good places, it's only fair to bring cool people along. You've already earned that right by saving my Saturday." She winked, amused.
He looked at the menu again, not really knowing what to order.
"So… what do you recommend besides the cheesecake?"
"Depends. Are you really hungry or do you just want something sweet?" Marin leaned forward a bit, as if this were serious. "Because their teriyaki chicken sandwich is amazing. But if you want something lighter, there are the stuffed croissants… Ah! And the caramel frappé. My God, the caramel frappé."
Isagi took a deep breath, giving in.
"Looks like I'll have to trust you."
"That's it!" Marin punched the air. "Leave it to me. I'll put together the perfect combo for you."
She called the waitress with a smile that seemed to light up the whole place and placed the order with the naturalness of someone who already knew the menu by heart.
Meanwhile, Isagi watched her.
When the waitress walked away, Marin rested her arms on the table, looking at him with a smile on the corner of her mouth.
"You don't talk much, do you, Isagi-kun? But you're not the shy type. You're more… quiet by choice. Am I right?"
He took a moment to respond.
"More or less. Actually, I'm pretty sociable when I want to be."
Marin laughed softly.
"What an Isagi-kun answer! Seriously, sometimes I envy your calm way. I talk nonstop and then I think: 'Darn, did I talk too much?'"
"You are you." He said, simply. "It doesn't seem forced."
She blinked, surprised by the direct response, and then smiled again, but now in a softer way.
"Thanks. Not everyone thinks that. But it's good to hear it."
The smell of freshly brewed coffee reached them as the waitress approached with the tray. Marin clapped her hands, excited, when the cheesecake and frappé were placed on the table. Isagi's plate also arrived, a savory croissant with chicken and an iced coffee.
"Done!" She said, clasping her hands as if about to pray. "Time to taste paradise."
Isagi looked at the croissant, then at Marin, who was already cutting the cheesecake with shining eyes.
He picked up the iced coffee and took a sip, feeling the cold contrast with the heat of the day outside. Marin, on the other side, bit into the cheesecake with an expression so satisfied that it looked like an advertisement.
"You have to try this." She said with her mouth full, pushing the plate toward him. "Go on, before I eat it all."
Isagi hesitated for just a second, then accepted the fork she extended.
The flavor was really incredible.
Marin laughed, satisfied with his reaction.
"I told you! Only good stuff here. Good thing you agreed to come with me, right?"
Isagi nodded, without haste.
"Yeah… it wasn't a bad choice."
She rested her chin on her hands again, looking at him with that mischievous way.
"See? Sometimes it's good to let someone drag you into things. You discover places, flavors… and people."
"Well, I believe not all people would drag people they barely know into something like this. But you're right…" Isagi thought with an ironic smile on his lips.
Marin was still excited about the cheesecake when, suddenly, she set the fork down on the plate and looked at him with that natural curiosity that seemed never to run out.
"By the way, Isagi-kun, what were you doing so early on the street? Like… it was still morning when we met. You don't seem like the type of guy who goes out to buy bread at eight o'clock."
He wiped his mouth with the napkin and answered simply, without beating around the bush:
"I was coming back from the dojo. I started training there today."
"Dojo??" Marin practically jumped out of her chair, her eyes shining as if she had just discovered a bombshell secret. "Wait, you already play soccer and still train martial arts? What's this, Isagi-kun, you're like a sports manga protagonist who decided to get a 'buff' in martial arts too!"
Isagi scratched the back of his neck, a bit embarrassed, but there was a different gleam in his eyes.
"It's just that… I love soccer, you know? It's the thing that moves me the most. But I know it's not enough to just play well, you have to have physical preparation, reflexes, balance. So I started training at the dojo to strengthen myself. Every kick, every run… I want it to be perfect. When I'm playing, it's like the whole world disappears and only the field, the ball, and the goal in front of me exist…" Unconsciously, memories from his past life where he was a famous soccer player came to his mind, his eyes shining, full of conviction: "I want to be the best at this. No… I will be...."
To make up for the regrets of his past life.... That's why he was trying so hard!
Marin stayed still for a few seconds. Her heart beat faster without her noticing. In that instant, he wasn't just the "cool colleague" she had gone to lunch with. He was someone who spoke about his own passion with such intensity that it seemed to infect the air around him. It was just like her when she talked about anime and cosplay.
"Darn… he's amazing…" Marin thought, feeling her cheeks heat up.
She tried to disguise it by taking an exaggerated bite of the tempura.
"Wow… you talk about soccer like it's the most important thing in the world." She said with a smile she couldn't hide: "And it's so cool to see someone talk like that about something they love..."
Isagi laughed, a bit embarrassed, glancing at the plate and speaking in a melancholic way:
"It's because it really is. Soccer is my life."
Marin rested her chin on her hand, observing him with a playful gleam in her eyes.
"Hmmm… I get it. So Isagi-kun is dedicated to what he loves, but lazy about school...."
"Hey, don't say it like that…" He grumbled, looking away.
"Even so, it's impressive!" She rested her chin on her hand and stared at him with a mischievous smile. "Now I'll have to be careful around you… what if you decide to apply a secret dojo move just because I annoy you."
He raised an eyebrow, laughing lightly.
"I don't think you stay quiet long enough for me to land any move."
"Hey!" Marin lightly slapped the table, pretending indignation, but soon went back to laughing.
While she bit into another piece of cheesecake, Isagi decided to turn the question around:
"And you? What were you doing there, in front of the store, so early in the morning? It didn't seem like you were just strolling."
Marin made a face, puffing out her cheeks before dropping the fork on the plate.
"I had gone after the owner of that store. He was super famous among the cosplay crowd because he sewed wonderful clothes, like… professional level. I thought: 'This is it, I'm going to ask him to make the perfect outfit for the character I love!'"
Her eyes shone for a moment, but soon she sighed, letting her body fall back in the chair.
"But he said he doesn't work with that anymore. Imagine the disappointment? I was already dreaming about the fabric, the details, the photos… and poof! Nothing."
Isagi stayed silent for a few seconds.
"Hm… cosplay, huh?" He murmured.
Marin stared at him, as if testing if he would laugh at her. But, to her surprise, Isagi didn't make a joke. On the contrary, he seemed to be taking it seriously.
"I think it's pretty cool...." He said finally: "If you like it so much, I don't see a problem. Actually… I'd love to see you in a cosplay, since you love it so much, you must be really good at what you do..."
"Huh?!" Marin blinked a few times, surprised. For a moment, it seemed like she was going to get embarrassed, since she blushed lightly… but soon she opened a huge smile: "Really?! Then wait right there!"
She practically jumped to grab her phone from her bag.
"If you want to see, I'll show you right now!"
"What?" Isagi blinked, caught off guard.
"Ta-daaa!" Marin turned the screen toward him, showing a folder full of photos. In each one, she appeared in different outfits: a silver-haired mage, a shiny idol, even a gothic character with a serious expression: "See?! I've done several!"
Isagi's eyes widened.
"Darn… There are a lot here... They're all really good."
He didn't take his eyes off the images he was seeing on the phone, Marin was really beautiful.... It wasn't just because he had a weakness for blondes in his past life.
Marin seemed happy with his compliments, strangely very happy. When she finished showing all the photos she had taken, she looked at Isagi and saw that he seemed thoughtful.
"Well… you said you wanted someone to sew, right?" Isagi asked, leaning back in the chair.
"Yeah… but there's no one who really does it…" Marin replied, getting discouraged again.
He smiled sideways.
"My mom was a seamstress."
Marin almost dropped her phone.
"WHAT?!"
"Before marrying my dad, she worked at a pretty famous atelier in Tokyo." Isagi explained while pondering: "She did everything from haute couture clothes to theater costumes. Even today my dad usually says that many clients back then said she was the best. They said she had a special gift: she could sew complicated fabrics like pure silk without leaving a single needle mark."
"Really…?!" Marin's eyes widened, leaning forward.
"Yeah. When I was little, I remember seeing her work until dawn, turning ordinary cloths into clothes that looked like they came out of magazines even though she doesn't work with it anymore, since after marrying my dad, she quit the profession, but…" He shrugged: "Even without practicing as much, I know she hasn't lost her touch...."
Marin slammed her hands on the table, unable to contain her excitement.
"This is perfect!! Isagi-kun, do you think… do you think your mom could help me make the cosplay of my dreams?!"
He blinked, surprised by her excitement, but answered calmly:
"Maybe. I can't promise anything without talking to her first. But… I think she'd be happy to help someone who really has a passion for something like I do...."
Marin clasped her hands and begged:
"Please, talk to her! I swear I'll be the most dedicated client ever. I can bring the references, explain every detail, and even help if needed! Oh, my heart, just thinking about it gives me chills!"
She touched her hands to her cheeks, the smile stretching from ear to ear.
"Isagi-kun, you have no idea how much this means! It's like I stumbled upon a magical destiny portal. Like… I was going away frustrated and suddenly bam, you appear and say your mom can make my dream come true!"
Isagi watched her with that same calm expression, but inside he couldn't help but find her boundless energy amusing.
"You really take this seriously, huh?"
Marin pointed the fork at him, without hesitating.
"Obviously! Cosplay isn't just putting on a pretty outfit. It's bringing a character you love to life. I want it to be perfect, because it's the way to show my respect and affection for her. It's not just any hobby, you know?"
He nodded slowly, absorbing every word.
"I understand. And I think my mom would understand too."
Marin took a deep breath, as if trying to contain her excitement, without much success.
"Okay, deal! You talk to her and then tell me what she thought. I promise I won't let it slide: I'll even prepare thank-you gifts if she agrees. Oh, what excitement!"
Isagi just took another sip of coffee, hiding a slight smile.
"Alright, I'll do it for you...."
Marin got even more emotional, she pulled out her phone and slid it across the table toward him, the screen already open to the contacts app.
"We'll have to exchange LINE, right? Otherwise how will I know? We can't just rely on random destiny encounters!"
Isagi arched an eyebrow, but picked up the device without complaining. He typed his own number and then opened LINE to scan the QR code she had already prepared.
Plim!
The notification that they were now friends appeared. Her name on the screen was full of colorful emojis and a smiling cosplay icon as her profile picture.
"Done." He said, returning the phone.
Marin leaned over to see his screen too.
"Great! Now we're officially connected. You can expect: I'll send a bunch of messages with cosplay ideas, photos, inspirations… you won't escape, Isagi-kun."
He just gave a slight smile, not minding. But when he went back to his own screen, he saw an unread notification in the upper corner: a message from Alya.
For a moment, he stayed silent, looking at it without opening.
Damn, he needed to fuck...
Smiling ironically, he put the phone in his pocket without opening the message.
In front of him, Marin went back to attacking the cheesecake with the same energy as always, her eyes shining as if each forkful was the best in the world.
And, somehow, seeing that scene was enough to push any thought from his mind in that instant.
The rest of the time at the café passed too quickly. Between one sip of frappé and another, Marin talked nonstop about anime, characters, and even the funny behind-the-scenes of cosplay events. Isagi, who at first just listened, ended up getting into the rhythm, talking about memorable soccer games, memories of matches, and even about how some plays still came in his dreams.
It was a light conversation, without awkward silences. Every time Marin laughed loudly at something, Isagi felt like the whole environment lit up.
When they finished the coffee and paid the bill, Marin stood up with the energy of someone already ready for the next outing. But, instead of each going their own way, Isagi ended up saying:
"I'll walk you home."
She blinked, surprised, but soon opened a smile on the corner of her mouth.
"Wow, Isagi-kun is a gentleman, huh?"
He shrugged.
"It doesn't cost anything."
They left the café and started walking side by side. The street was quiet, bathed in the soft afternoon light. Marin swung her backpack on her shoulders and lightly kicked the dry leaves along the way.
Isagi glanced at her and couldn't help but ask:
"By the way, why are you in school uniform today? Especially on a Saturday."
Marin looked down, adjusting her skirt, and then made a funny face.
"Ah, this? So… I went to a schoolgirl event early on. But I didn't want to use my real uniform, you know? It would feel kind of awkward. So I improvised this one with some pieces I had at home. Half cosplay, half hack."
Isagi arched his eyebrow.
"And you woke up early just for that?"
"Of course!" She said, laughing: "Do you think we get good schoolgirl photos at eleven at night? It has to be with sunlight, Isagi-kun!"
He couldn't resist and laughed along, shaking his head, and saying again.
"You really take this seriously."
"Obviously I do!" Marin replied, with the same gleam in her eyes as before: "It's what I love...."
The conversation continued like that during the walk. She told funny stories from events, he reciprocated talking about bizarre situations he had seen in games. Whenever one of them spoke with passion, the other really paid attention, as if that was the most important thing in the world at that moment.
And, little by little, the half-hour walk seemed to last five minutes.
Until, to the surprise of both, when they arrived, they discovered that where she lived was just one block from his.
"What?!" Marin's eyes widened: "How come we live practically as neighbors and never bumped into each other before?!"
Isagi shrugged, with a discreet smile.
"Maybe destiny decided to wait until today."
Marin crossed her arms, pretending to think seriously.
"Hmmm… or maybe you're as ninja as you seem, and managed to hide all this time."
"I don't know if ninja is the right word."
She burst out laughing, throwing her body forward from laughing so hard.
"See? That's why I like talking to you, Isagi-kun. You talk little, but when you do… you hit the nail on the head...."
He just observed that open and sincere smile. It was funny: even having gone through so much, even carrying the weight of experience from another life, there, in that moment, he felt like a normal boy, walking with a girl who made time fly.
Different souls, but with the same flame burning inside them: the uncontrollable passion for what they loved.
They turned the last corner and, a few minutes later, stopped in front of a medium-sized residential building. It wasn't anything luxurious, but it didn't look poorly maintained either: it had white-painted gates, some plants in the entrance garden, and the doorman absentmindedly watering the flowers with a hose.
Marin pointed upward with her index finger, smiling.
"This is where I live. Third floor...."
Isagi followed the gesture, looking at the facade. He had never noticed that building, even though he had passed by that street a few times. Funny how life sometimes hides people like that, so close and so distant at the same time.
"Got it" He replied simply, not knowing what else to come up with.
Marin rested her hands behind her back, leaning her body slightly forward, with that casual way that seemed natural to her.
"Thanks for walking me, Isagi-kun. It was fun."
He nodded.
"I'm the one who thanks you. I also enjoyed spending time with you, Kitagawa-san."
She blushed lightly and smiled.
"Hah, so I pass the serious soccer player's test?"
Isagi looked to the side, hiding a smile that threatened to appear.
"I think so."
A brief silence fell, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Just the kind of pause that makes the heart beat a little faster, as if something was about to happen. Marin bit her lower lip, thoughtful, before giving a somewhat awkward wave.
"So… see you at school, right?"
"For sure...."
She made a thumbs-up with her hand and started climbing the entrance steps. Still on the first flight, she looked over her shoulder and added:
"Ah, and think carefully about that idea with your mom, okay? If she agrees, I'll be super happy."
Isagi raised his hand in a half-wave.
"I'll talk to her."
Marin opened a wide smile, as if that was enough, and disappeared through the building's hall door.
Isagi stayed standing for a few seconds on the sidewalk, looking at the entrance until the sound of the automatic gate closing brought him back to reality. Only then did he take a deep breath and start walking toward home, alone.
The way back was silent. Without Marin's animated voice filling the air, it seemed like the street had become emptier. But, at the same time, a different sensation accompanied him: a kind of warmth in his chest, a restlessness that he didn't remember feeling before.
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