This "perfect place" ended up being a small coffee shop away from the usual hang-out spots. A place that Fumiha frankly didn't know existed. The shop looked modern and had a comfy secluded feeling to it.
The scent of coffee beans permeated from every corner of the shop; a hint of sugar lingered in the air.
"Welcome to the Lustrous Café!" Toi spread his arms as he presented the establishment.
A man with longish hair and glasses stood behind the bar that took up most of the wall on the right. He wore an apron as he cleaned a cup with a what looked like a towel.
"Welcome back Hiro," the man said in a deep but cool voice, "Is this a friend of yours?"
Fumiha cut Toi off before he could speak, "I'm Fumiha Fukuchi. Nice to meet you." She bowed.
"Nice to meet you too, Ms. Fukuchi. I'm Reiichirou Toi, Hiro's older brother." He placed the cup on the counter and signaled to the table to the far end of the shop. "You can sit right over there. I will bring you some coffee and cookies as soon as possible."
He immediately turned and started preparing the coffee.
After sitting down, it only took a few minutes for Reiichirou to arrive with the coffee and basket of cookies.
"This is on the house, right?" Hiro asked with a grin.
"For Ms. Fukuchi it is. You still have to pay."
"What is with that discrimination!?"
Fumiha laughed at their little discussion.
"So," Hiro started, "Do you have any idea what you're going to do for the club stuff?" He took a long sip from his cup of coffee.
"Um," Fumiha tried doing the same, but just putting her face close to the lip of the cup made her back away, "Not really."
At the beginning of the year, the Journalism club had a few things to report on since there were new students coming in. That stopped working after the first two weeks. Now all they had was news on clubs, or sports, which not too many people cared about, or they already knew.
"Sucks that I might have to switch clubs if this one disbands."
"Don't say that, we can still make it work."
"Can we? Ogino and Kinjo have tests coming up so they won't be able to spend that much time in the club. I can't say I'm too motivated to make this club work either. That just leaves you as the only one that will be able to keep the club afloa—Ahh!" he suddenly let out.
Reiichirou had put a few ice cubes down the back of his shirt. "Your club's in trouble and you're just going to let Ms. Fukuchi do all the hard work? What type of friend are you?"
Hiro squirmed from the cold.
"As a former student council president, I can't allow that to slide."
Fumiha's eyes shot open, "You used to be the student council president?!"
Reiichirou smiled and grabbed his chin, "I don't want to brag or anything, but yeah. I was pretty good at it too."
"A former student council president running a café nearby the school. How did I not know about it?" Fumiha genuinely questioned.
"We're not in the best place for a café." Reiichirou laughed. "The fact that it's almost hidden doesn't make it any better. We really only get older folks coming around here."
Fumiha could feel the cogwheels in her brain turning.
A long time ago, she remembered her dad writing about a small shop he had passed by during his trip. After that news was published, that small shop saw a boom in customers from not only locals, but from people who wanted to check it out from out of town.
They had the perfect opportunity here. A former student council president running a shop would be perfect. Not only would people like to know about a nearby café, but the fact that it was run by someone who went to their school would make it that much more interesting.
"I got it!" Fumiha exclaimed. She looked over to Hiro who was still cleaning water from his back. "We can write about places!"
He looked at her quizzically. "Places?" he parroted.
"Yeah! Like places that other students might want to visit. You know, things outside the usual hang out spots. Specifically, the one we have right in front of us!" she presented the café just like he had when they came in.
Hiro's brows raised as he understood where she was coming from, "Oh, I see. That makes sense." He looked over at his older brother, "What do you think about that? Think it would work?"
Reiichirou snorted, "I'm all for free advertisement. Ignoring that, I do think the idea overall makes sense. If things still are like before, most students don't go anywhere that isn't that main street to hang out, right?"
"Exactly!" Fumiha said. "Everyone is so focused on that, that they miss everything outside of it. Plus, having an ex-student council president running the shop who is handsome to boot. It will be perfect!"
Reiichirou smiled, clearly taken aback from the sudden complement.
"And with a handsome younger brother, right?"
"We would just need to visit more places…" Fumiha thought out loud, completely ignoring Hiro.
Hiro took another sip from his coffee before hanging his head. Reiichirou petted his head.
"Hey, Reiichirou." Fumiha started. "Do you think you can help us out with researching possible places for us to visit. If it's not too much of a hassle."
Reiichirou bowed, "It would be my pleasure. I can ask around to any of my usual customers. I'm sure I can find places from the older folks who've lived in the area."
Fumiha pumped her fist. "Alright! This might just work." She tried drinking her coffee and she finally was able to take a sip.
Poor Hiro was mumbling to himself as he realized he was being left out. He had apparently been replaced by his older brother.
"Oh don't be so grumpy," Reiichirou gently shook Hiro, "I'm sure you will come in handy when you guys visit the places."
"Right," Fumiha nodded, mostly to cheer him up.
Hiro silently finished his coffee.