April 7, 2014.
This was half a month after Su Qing'an officially enrolled in school.
Afternoon.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast a golden glow on the sign bearing the words "coffee shop" in front of the building near the island's coastline.
The wind chimes hanging by the door fluttered in the breeze, and the sound of waves crashing against the rocks mingled with the chimes, creating a distant and ethereal melody.
This place is quite far from the St. Freya Academy's school buildings, and the coffee shop only opened recently.
The reason Su Qing'an opened the coffee shop again was simple: it was Himeko's request.
Because he completed his schoolwork with incredible efficiency and speed, and his usual recreational activities were so boring that Himeko, as his elder, couldn't stand it anymore, she applied for this shop to help him balance work and rest.
Su Qing'an did not reject this lifestyle; on the contrary, he missed it.
It's as if he's still running that coffee shop called Qing'an in Changkong City, where the stray cats at the door will affectionately expose their bellies so he can pet them obediently; they're so soft to the touch.
The weather in Changkong City is sunny and rarely rainy.
The weather at the St. Freya Academy is always nice.
There are no more stray cats.
"Your coffee." Su Qing'an handed the coffee cup engraved with gold thread to Murata Himeko with a somewhat exasperated expression.
"Huh... It really does smell like alcohol." Taking a small sip of coffee, Himeko exclaimed in admiration. The strong smoky aroma of whiskey perfectly complemented the sweet and sour taste of the coffee. She licked the whipped cream off her lips, the sweetness melting on her tongue and dispelling the alcohol scent.
"Of course, after all, it's a cocktail," Su Qing'an said.
Ireland coffee.
Just as the Italians created the latte for a similar reason, the Ireland, who cherish whiskey as their life, created Ireland coffee to offer a variety of ways to enjoy it.
Himeko, who clearly enjoys drinking, wasn't averse to this cocktail wrapped in a coffee-flavored casserole.
Su Qing'an likes coffee, not only because of its taste, but also because there are always stories behind coffee.
For example, there's a story behind Ireland coffee that's been buried in the past, its truth now unknown.
It was a love affair that ended without fruition: a bartender at Dublin Airport in Ireland met a flight attendant who only loved coffee and not alcohol.
The bartender cleverly combined Ireland whiskey and coffee to create a rich and aromatic Ireland coffee for her.
In the end, all that remained was Ireland coffee, which is both a cocktail and a type of coffee.
The love that everyone yearns for, coupled with the regret of it ending without a trace, makes this a good story.
Regardless of whether it's true or not, Su Qing'an likes it very much.
"Your coffee shop is doing unexpectedly well. Even at this hour, there are still customers ahead of you. Those kids aren't usually this free. It seems they're really curious about you."
Himeko took a sip of her coffee and said she really liked the aroma of the alcohol in it.
"Maybe it's because I'm the only male student here. It's only natural that I attract attention," Su Qing'an replied after wiping the bar.
Most of the students at the St. Freya Academy were selected from orphanages established by Schicksal.
Su Qing'an was enrolled in a lower-grade class, and the Valkyrie, who rarely went on missions, were naturally curious and attentive to him. Given Su Qing'an's pleasing appearance, he could even feel the extra enthusiasm in his classmates' eyes.
This pure goodwill prevented him from being too cold and aloof, which somewhat troubled him.
"It's a place perfect for letting your youth shine. For a guy this age, coming to a place like this is practically the start of a light novel in a Japanese manga."
"Don't hesitate when you meet a girl you like, little one. St. Freya has plenty of beautiful girls with big breasts and long legs, all types and personalities are available."
Murata Himeko rested her chin on her hand and chuckled teasingly:
"Love is a very interesting thing, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what it's like for you to fall in love."
After all, it's really hard to imagine what that would look like.
"St. Freya is nice, but it's not a place that's nice to me." The boy gave a helpless smile. He paused in his work of wiping the glass, looked up at the woman's face, and said, "Besides Himeko, aren't you single yourself?"
"Hmph, they say children shouldn't meddle in adult matters, but the men who want to date me could stretch from St. Freya all the way to Canghai City." Speaking in a cheeky manner, though the truth was unclear, Murata Himeko finished her drink. When she tilted her head back, the skin on her neck was as white as velvet, and then her face was flushed with a delicate blush from the alcohol.
"Alright, alright, so has their living with you caused you any trouble?" Su Qing'an didn't intend to delve into this topic.
It's quite strange to see two people nearing the end of their lives worrying about each other's love lives.
The only difference is that Su Qing'an knows about his and Himeko's situation, while Himeko only understands her own physical condition.
While St. Freya Academy is wonderful, it's only in comparison to other branches. The standards by which the two of them talk are clearly different from those of ordinary people.
"Well, those four girls are all troublesome. Compared to the others, Bronya, who has physical and emotional defects, is actually the most normal. She likes playing video games, likes HOMU dolls, and isn't much different from an ordinary little girl."
"Raiden Mei," Murata Himeko sighed as she mentioned the increasingly gentle girl, "She carries a lot on her shoulders; it remains to be seen whether she can figure it out."
Su Qing'an nodded. He understood what Himeko meant. As the Third Herrscher, Raiden Mei was confused about her identity and also felt guilty about the more than two million souls lost in Changkong City.
Even compared to normal high school girls, Raiden Mei is already quite strong, but it's not surprising that her kindness would make her feel so guilty that she had suicidal thoughts.
Himeko must have said something to her at the end, which is why she doesn't seem much different from before. Her gentle demeanor when comforting Bronya and her cheerful laughter with Kiana are just as she always has.
But there must be something heavy buried deep in her heart, and one day Raiden Mei will have to face those storms.
"Kiana, well, that child has her own worries too. Originally, after you Awakened, she said she didn't want to the St. Freya Academy. But after the headmaster talked to her, she calmed down and enrolled obediently."
Himeko picked up the whiskey she had previously used to make coffee from the bar, and under Su Qing'an's helpless gaze, took a sip, seemingly feeling distressed because of her students.
"Kiana is a very talented child. She's gifted in every aspect, whether it's fighting or studying. If she wanted to, she could achieve excellent results."
"But when it comes to classes unrelated to combat, she's like an idiot and just likes to sleep. On the contrary, when it comes to classes about the battlefield and combat missions, she's very alert and can easily remember everything."
"Should we say she has clear goals, or is she just exceptionally honest about her preferences? Anyway, she definitely won't pass her final exams, especially history. If there are no multiple-choice questions, her score will probably be in the single digits."
The Ireland whiskey had a smooth and lingering flavor. Himeko savored the taste, she swirled the bottle, watched the liquid churning inside, and muttered a comment.
Although she prefers stronger Scotch whisky, it's nice to occasionally enjoy such a pleasant and mellow flavor.
"She might even end up crying and asking Raiden Mei and Bronya to tutor her." Imagining the girl's pathetic last-minute cramming, Su Qing'an couldn't help but laugh; it was truly a hilarious scene.
"Finally, there's Satou Yunona. Su Qing'an, what kind of person do you think Satou Yunona in the past?" The woman's lips exhaled a fragrant and rich aroma of alcohol as she looked at the wind chimes swaying by the door and asked.
"... Sato used to be a rather talkative and somewhat cunning girl. Because she was easily distracted in class, her grades were always just average, and she even liked to slack off when doing her homework at home."
"The reason she comes to my coffee shop is always the same one she tells her mom: she wants to find a quiet place to study with her friends. But the truth is, her backpack is never opened when she comes."
Overall, Sato used to be a normal high school girl.
A normal, average, and perhaps slightly undisciplined female high school student.
In the end, Su Qing'an came to a conclusion, but even so, he understood.
No. Rather, it's precisely because he understands Satou Yunona he can more clearly understand just how much she has changed.
"An ordinary high school student?" Himeko took a sip of whiskey, the setting sun reflecting in her Amber eyes as if to paint them golden. Su Qing'an couldn't see through her emotions for a moment.
"After what happened in Changkong City, this child has lost all smiles for anyone except you and Kiana."
"Training, attending classes, eating, sleeping. She was like a spinning top that couldn't stop, squeezing out every minute and every ounce of energy, gritting her teeth to unleash all her potential and talent. It was as if death was wielding its scythe behind her; if she stopped, she would face death."
"Someday, she'll break down like this."
"It's impossible for people to truly empathize with each other. I can't understand the despair and grief she felt when she lost everything almost instantly in Changkong City, nor can I comprehend her obsession and will to break with convention and reclaim her human consciousness after becoming Pseudo-Herrscher."
"I really can't put on the act of a teacher or elder and lecture her like this."
Himeko sighed as she gazed at the setting sun, half-hidden behind the clouds, but then a relieved smile appeared on her face as she spoke to the silent boy:
"But thankfully, when she occasionally comes to the coffee shop, and during your conversations with Kiana, she always seems to unconsciously show a happy and relaxed expression. To that girl, Satou Yunona, the two of you must be very, very important."
"You are like the last valley where she can find shelter from the storm. Only in those brief moments of conversation with you does she feel a sense of relief and lightness. In that case, she should be able to keep going."
"Hahaha, they're all such a handful." Murata Himeko sake bottle and slumped onto the table, completely losing her composure, as she spoke.
"They all have so many things hidden in their hearts. They're clearly just kids, but there's nothing we can do about it; that's just how the world is."
The woman closed her eyes, mumbled something, and then breathed quietly. The sound of the sea breeze and waves was like a lullaby from a distant memory. Perhaps because the person in front of her was trustworthy, Himeko willfully dozed off.
Himeko, aren't you the kind of person who has no right to say such things? When you're concerned about others, you should think about yourself first.
Su Qing'an carefully covered the woman's shoulders with a blanket, muttering to herself.
When the boy thought this way, he undoubtedly ignored his own circumstances.
A common flaw among them is their tendency to overlook their own needs; whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is hard to say.