A week had slipped by in the blink of an eye, my days blurring into a repetition of university lectures and the quiet solitude of my apartment. Ever since that night at karaoke, Yui and I hadn't had much time to hang out. The sheer amount of work our professors had piled on us was tiring enough. Seriously, was this some kind of trial? It wasn't just overwhelming, it was downright cruel.
Tonight was no exception. I lay sprawled on my bed, utterly drained, staring at the ceiling as if it might offer some peace. "Barely keeping up" would be an understatement, but hey, at least I was learning a lot, right? That thought didn't really help much. What I needed now wasn't a lesson, it was a breather.
I rolled over, groaning in frustration. Sleep wasn't coming, not with my mind buzzing like this. After a moment of deciding what to do, I made up my mind. "Alright, a late-night coffee it is", I muttered to myself, swinging my legs off the bed.
It was 11:37 PM when I stepped outside, wrapped in my favorite sweater and a pair of cozy pajamas. The cool night breeze touched my face, but the soft fabric from my hoodie shielded me from the chill. The streets were almost eerily silent, deserted and only the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement accompanied me.
Oddly enough, I didn't mind the emptiness. There was a strange kind of tranquility in the stillness of the night, a beauty that only appeared when the world was asleep.
As I wandered in search of a 24/7 cafe, my thoughts drifted. Moving here and living on my own, it wasn't as bad as I'd feared. Sure, it was tough, lonely, but there was something liberating about standing on my own two feet. Still, if I didn't find a part-time job soon, I was going to run out of money faster than I'd like. The last thing I wanted was to burden my family.
"I chose this life," I whispered under my breath, determination swelling in my chest. "So I'll make it work."
The rhythmic tapping of my sneakers against the pavement and the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze were my only companions as I walked on. Somewhere out there, a warm cup of coffee and a quiet corner awaited me.
After wandering the quiet streets for a while, I finally stumbled upon a café. It looked almost deserted, with not a single customer in sight. Well, not surprising given the time. A soft, yellow glow spilled out from the windows, as if calling me from the inside like a warm hug.
The faint jingle of the doorbell announced my arrival, but the room remained silent except for the hum of an old coffee machine. Perfect. I quickly made my way to a seat in the far corner, where the shadows seemed to embrace the solitude I craved. Setting my book on the table, I headed to the counter to place my order.
"A black coffee, please," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
The barista gave me a polite nod and got to work. Black coffee, simple, straightforward, and just what I needed. Call me an old soul trapped in a college kid's body, but I'd take the bold bitterness of black coffee over sugary brews any day.
With my steaming cup in hand, I returned to my little sanctuary in the corner. The faint aroma of coffee mixed with the scent of aged paper as I flipped open my trusty copy of The Hardy Boys, made me relaxed. Lately, those old mysteries had become my escape, comforting, in a way that felt oddly familiar, like revisiting an old friend.
I was just getting lost in the story when I felt it, a presence. Someone was standing in front of me.
Reluctantly, I removed my eyes away from the page and looked up.
And there he was. The last person I expected to see at a place like this, especially at this hour.
Here's the rewrite in a light novel format:
"Yo!"
The cheerful voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
Standing before me, with an unmistakable grin and a casual wave, was Saku.
"Y-Yo?" Said I, caught completely off guard. "What are you doing here at this hour?"
Saku raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Well, I could ask you the same thing. But if you must know, I come here most nights to study. This place is quiet and cozy, you know?"
"Ah, I see…" I hesitated, clutching my coffee cup. "Well, I just needed some fresh air and, uh, happened to stumble upon this café. So, here I am."
Saku gave me a knowing look, his grin widening as he pulled out the chair across from me. "Mind if I sit?"
"Oh, yeah, go ahead," I said quickly, gesturing to the seat.
I watched as he settled in, placing his bag on the floor beside him. I took a sip of my coffee, hoping it would help mask the awkwardness bubbling up inside me.
Truth be told, admitting the real reason I was here desperately needing to escape the mountain of studying I'd just clawed my way through felt embarrassing. I didn't want to come across as the clueless country bumpkin barely managing to keep his head above water in the big city.
So, instead, I stayed quiet, letting the faint hum of the cafe fill the silence between us.
"Let me guess," Saku said, leaning back in his chair with a sly smile. "You're having a hard time keeping up with the workload for our course."
What are you, a psychic? After all my effort to hide it, he just casually guesses the exact reason I'm here?
"Y-yeah," I admitted, scratching the back of my head.
Saku chuckled, his tone light but reassuring. "First of all, don't sweat it. You're probably thinking that people like me, who've lived in the city my whole life, see you as some country bumpkin struggling to keep up. But that's not even close to the truth. Second, you're not alone. I'm kind of in the same boat. And so are Anika and Emi, probably Yui, too."
I smirked, deciding to tease him a little. "I think you really are a psychic."
"Nah," he said with a laugh, waving off the idea. "Psychics don't exist in this world, you know? I'd say I'm just observant."
"Alright, then, Mr. Observant," I said, leaning forward slightly. "What gave me away?"
He grinned. "Easy. You've got bags under your eyes, practically crying out for sleep. That's a sign you've been tossing and turning not getting enough sleep. Probably because something's been bothering you. And since you're not from around here, my guess is you're overthinking what everyone here thinks of you if you can't keep up with university loads."
I blinked, taken aback. "That makes sense," I admitted, feeling oddly exposed. "Got any advice?"
"Sure," he said, his tone growing surprisingly earnest. "Live your life the way you want to. You don't need anyone else's validation. As long as you feel like you're inching closer to your dreams, even by a little bit, that's all that matters. Everything else? Just noise."
He paused for a moment before adding, "Not saying you should ignore constructive criticism, it's good for you. But don't beat yourself up with negative self-talk. Trust yourself a little more. You'll figure things out."
I stared at him for a moment, his words sinking in. "That's actually helpful," I said finally, a small smile on my lips. "Thanks, Saku."
He waved it off like it was no big deal. "No need for thanks. We're friends, aren't we?"
The conversation flowed naturally after that, it revolved around light jokes and honest thoughts. Time passed without either of us noticing, and before long, the clock struck 2:37 AM.
"It's getting late," Saku said, stretching his arms over his head. "We should head home before we turn into zombies tomorrow."
I nodded, standing up and gathering my things. "Good idea. Let's get some much needed sleep."
As I walked back to my apartment, Saku's words lingered in my mind. Live life the way you want to. Easier said than done, sure, but somehow, it felt like some of the weight on my shoulders had been lifted.
Still, there was one thing I couldn't shake. I'd have to find a part-time job soon. Dreams were great and all, but I needed to make ends meet, too.