Chereads / Under the Apple Tree / Chapter 5 - Coffee Machine and Sleepover

Chapter 5 - Coffee Machine and Sleepover

Kouta's heading to school, the temperature is quite cold due to it being the end of the year already. "Ah... I forgot my scarf... if only I'd known it would be this cold." the boy spoke softly while rubbing his hand.

"Shiwamari-kun, good morning!" a voice was heard behind him. Kouta turned around and to his surprise, it was Junko. "Ahh... good morning, Junko-san..." he said nervously.

Junko smiled; then she noticed something. "Hey, are you feeling cold? Where's your scarf?" she said as she matched his walking pace.

The boy then turned the other way, "I... forgot it..." he said while inserting his hands inside his pockets. The girl giggles, "As I thought, hehe." she said with a soft and sweet tone.

She then released a sigh. The heat was visible due to the extreme cold. Junko then walked in front of Kouta, "Hey, have you drunk coffee with the coffee machine at the grocery store?" she asked excitedly. The boy was a bit confused, "Eh... yeah I have... why?" he continued. Junko's eyes suddenly began sparkling, "Huh, her eyes are sparkling again..." he thought to himself. "THEN, LET'S GO TO THE GROCERY STORE!" she said as she sprinted to the store.

"EH!? WHAT ABOUT SCHOOL!?" Kouta exclaimed as he continued to follow Junko. The girl turned towards him, "Forget about school, let's hang out, just the two of us!" she said with a soft tone while entering the grocery store.

Kouta, with the sight of disbelief, froze for a second after her statement. "Eh... what did she mean by that..." he spoke to himself as he entered through the automatic door. The two teenagers then headed to the drinks aisle.

Junko's eyes widened and sparkled once again, "The coffee machine..." she stared with a gaze. She then turned towards Kouta. The boy was confused, is it her first time? "Before we buy it... we should decide and pay for it first..." he said nervously while pointing at the counter. Junko then nods excitedly as she heads straight towards the cashier.

"Erm... hey Shiwamari-kun... what do you want to order?" she asked. Kouta took a few seconds to think, "Black Coffee for me please..." he answered calmly. The girl smiled. "Then I'll have that too!" she spoke proudly.

NOTE:

Junko here has a sweet tooth, so anything sour or bitter is not her taste.

After they paid, the two of them went back to the drinks aisle. Junko stared at the coffee machine, "So.. I just press this, right...?" she said while pointing to the 'pour' button.

Kouta nods. The girl then pressed the button. "FUSHHH!" the coffee started to pour down, Junko then smiled as if she'd accomplished something extraordinary.

They then went outside, with the cup of coffee they bought earlier. "Hey, let's sit over there." Junko said as she walked towards a bench with a table. Kouta followed her movements.

The two of them sat down, and the girl stared at Kouta. "Hmm, what's wrong?" the boy asked while sipping the coffee he bought. "The way you drink it without any reaction makes me think..." she stopped as she's resting her chin on her palm, "...you look like an actual adult, hehe." Junko said with a grin on her face.

Kouta blushed due to the sudden compliment. "Eh? No, no, no I'm just... used to it." he answered nervously with the coffee in his hand.

"Hmm ~" the girl continues to grin. Kouta's flustered, "No, no, no, no, no, no-" he stuttered. Junko's shocked, but she's enjoying the moment, "Oii... Shiwamari-kun ~" she said while waving at him.

Junko then decided to drink her coffee. She's a bit stunned, since this is her first-time drinking coffee, a black coffee whatnot. The girl then drinks the coffee, and the expression on her face explains everything.

"HAH!" she shouts as she puts the cup at the table. The boy spoke, "H- how was it...?" he asked while sipping his coffee again. Junko then released a big sigh. "H- how do you drink it unfazed... it's so bitter..." is what she was thinking .

"Ahaha... yeah I'm fine..." the girl said as she's trying her best to not show the bitterness. Kouta is not fooled one bit; he then reaches his bag. Junko then took a peek of what he was reaching, her eyes widened.

A packet of sugar was seen in his hand. He then reached out to the girl and gave it to her. "Eh, when did you get this?" she asked while her cheeks were a bit red. "A few seconds before we left the store..." he spoke softly. Junko was surprised, and didn't know Kouta could be such a gentleman.

She grinned, "Aww... you were worried about me, weren't you? ~" Junko said as she pointed her finger to his face. Kouta was flustered with embarrassment, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no-" he stuttered once again. Junko giggled, "Thanks Shiwamari-kun ~" she said softly while tearing the sugar packet.

Junko then poured the sugar in her cup, "What a pleasant day today is huh..." mumbled while facing upwards towards the blue sky. Kouta's confused, "What did you just say?" he asked. Junko then giggles, "Hehe... nothing ~"

They're both done with their drinks and are about to head to school. "Hey, Shiwamari-kun, thanks for the sugar earlier!" Junko said with a smile. Kouta then nods, "Y- you're welcome..." he spoke softly as he looked down.

"Alright, see you in class!" The girl ran as fast as lightning. Kouta became silent, as he then continued to walk to school as usual.

After school...

Kouta's walking home alone today from school, his house is only a few blocks from there. "I'm home!" the boy shouted softly as he entered the front door.

Footsteps are heard heading towards him. "Big brother!" said the young girl as she's hugging Kouta's right leg. The boy carved a thin smile, "Chisako... I'm home." he continued as he was holding her around his arms.

A woman is seen walking towards them, "Welcome home Kouta." she said with a smile. The boy nods, he then carries his little sister to the living room. The woman followed them.

Kouta then went to his room and lay down on his bed. "Adult huh..." he mumbled with a thin smile on his face.

Junko, right after she was done with her coffee earlier, she went straight home. "I'm home!" she exclaimed softly while taking her shoes off. "Hey Kyoko, welcome home." said Katsuro as he's wiping the glass he just washed.

"Your friends are coming over, right? You better get ready. Or else they might see how messy your room is." he continued with a smirk. "Tch, shut up Katsuro." Junko said as she's pouting towards his big brother.

Katsuro Junko

Eldest of the three siblings, with Kyoko being the youngest child. He's 25 years old and is currently working at a nearby Café.

The time for the sleepover has arrived, and Junko's now in her bedroom with Akio and Hiro. "Alright, what should we play first?" asked Akio as she's searching for her bag.

Hiro raised her hand, "I brought Jenga blocks, wanna play that?" she said while placing the Jenga box. "Yeah, let's play that!" Junko replied with a smile.

A few minutes later, they're done with the first round. "GAH, I LOST!" said Akio as she held the last block piece in her hand. Two of her friends burst into laughter. The girl then makes a serious face, "I swear I won't stop until I'm done with this... we're playing until midnight people!" she continued with a ton of energy.

"Ahh..." Hiro said as she was patting her friend's head. "Midnight huh? You fell asleep first." the girl continues to pat her, the two of them then put her to bed. "I guess we'll sleep too then." said Junko as she turned off the lights.

The two girls then set up their futons. Akio was carried to sleep on Junko's bed. "Goodnight Kyoko, I hope you have a wonderful dream." Hiro said as she closed her eyes.

Junko's cheeks turned a bit red, "I- ugh... and she instantly fell asleep. Guess I'll sleep too..." she said as she closed her eyes.

When she suddenly thought about Kouta. "Dang it..." she thought to herself as her face became even redder than before.

TO BE CONTINUED...