Fakku Cafe\\\' Days (Hiatus)

Ryu giggled as Fallan grabbed a seat and grumbled under his breath. “I remember that guy came in yesterday… That little show was funny but I feel kind of sad for him…”


“Ha ha, don’t worry about him, I think of it like a comedy act. That’s all that Reno meant by it. Don’t take Reno too serious.” Yama scratched his chin as he nodded silently to himself. Ryu sighed with concern, “I don’t mean Reno, I mean Fallan.”


“Oh you caught on to his name already, have you?”


“Well other then the fact they were yelling it aloud, I met him yesterday but I didn’t catch his name till now.”


“Oh that’s right you worked here yesterday, I was off doing some errands… ” Yama trailed off in mid sentence and his gaze ventured to the clock which hung above the wall over by the restrooms.


“Crap is it that late already?! Dang it I need to get going!” Yama began to put everything he had out away. He jumped to his feet, and startle Ryu a little. “Late for something I presume?”


“Yeah, its kind of important and I really shouldn’t be late. Well its been nice chatting with you.” Yama stuck out his hand to shake Ryu’s. Ryu gladly took his hand and gave it a cute little shake. “I bid you farewell my kind sir. I would like to speak to you again.”


“I would like that greatly.” Ryu watched Yama as he horridly dashed out of the café after he had paid the bill. “I wonder what to do now… Sepias is the only other person whose working beside Unos and I don’t think the lady who just came in will work till her shifts starts. I think her name was Yeah. Hmm I guess I should see if that guy Fallan needs anything.” Ryu got up and patted her skirt. She walked over to Fallan and tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me do you want anything to eat or drink?”


“Oh um… Sure I would like some… Ice Tea.”


“Right away sir.” Ryu walked over to the drink dispenser and filled a cup with Ice Tea. She hummed to herself as she went along. She walked back over to Fallan. Fallan seemed to be lost in thought as he sat staring out the window. “Well here is your drink sir.”


He gave her a little nod and said “Thank you,” under his breath. Ryu gave a small smile and walked over to Sepias and company. “Well how are you guys doing?”


Sepias grinned “we were talking about Reno and his little †˜act†˜ before.” Reno scratched the back of his head. “I know I know, I went a bit far. I couldn’t help it. I hope Fallan don’t hold a grudge against me.” Reno offered Ryu a seat and sat down. “Well I just came from talking to Fallan and he doesn’t seem to care. He is just lost in thought.” Hisui clapped her hands together, “well I hope it all goes well.” Sepias looked down at his watch, “Well my shift will end soon.” Hisui looked over to Sepias, “well isn’t that lucky. I was about to leave as well. I must attend to some errands. I got an Essay to do as well.”


“Oh is that so? Well then I guess I†˜ll walk you home.”


“Really? Thanks! It is beginning to get dark and I†˜m still kind of worried about walking home from here.” As those two got up to leave Reno looked over at Ryu, “I wonder what we should do now.”

“Its been awhile since I†˜ve been back… wonder if anyone would notice.” Star walked down the street as she thought to herself. It has been about a week since she went to work at the café. She took a leave of absence and wouldn’t tell anyone what she was up too. The sun had set but an hour ago, behind the rooftops of the buildings. The small businesses, the tall skyscrapers, the college campus, and the nearby apartments and dorms were all located in this one area. “The ups and downs of modern living,” she trailed off in her head as if distracted by something.


She turned a corner and was not but a block away from the café. In the back of her head she knew what she had to do. “I picked this job to help me with my shyness. Though it seems to backfire all the time.” She was uncertain with her choice but she was determined to see it through. If only she didn’t break down with fear every time some sudden or abrupt happen. Like a costumer suddenly asks for a refill, or when a co-worker asks her to do something.


She might not have realized that no one really mind her being shy. In fact quite a few of the patrons found it quite adorable. Her stumbling and fumbling was quite something to watch.


Before she knew it she was at the Cafes front entrance. She took a breath in, (which seems to be a trend for café waitresses). And walked right in. A great be burst of laughter met her, which startled her quite a bit. “H-h-huh, what’s going on in here?” The café tends to have the same patrons majority of the time and only everyone once in awhile will there be new faces. Reno, one of the regulars was chatting with a girl who seemed to be a new waitress. “I was only gone a week right? A new waitress… Wow, I didn’t expect that.”


“Don’t worry she is just covering for you. She works an earlier shift and I asked her to stay a bit. Since you said you would be late.” Star turned around to see Unos. “Oh I see…” she replied. “You don’t seem as surprised as I expected you to be.”


“I†˜m used to you sneaking up from behind.”


“Sounds kinky.” Unos grinned, “I didn’t expect you to say something so promiscuous.” Star turned and stared blankly at Unos. “Ugh, fine, fine go on to the back and get ready for your shift. The longer you take the longer I have to pay the other girl overtime.”


Star ventured on into the back room and began to change. A few minutes passed when the other girl walks inside. “Eeeeeek,” Star subconsciously let out a little yelp in surprise. She held her clothes over her half-dressed body. “Oh sorry, I didn’t meant to scare you. Unos told me that the girl I was filling in for was here and that I could go home.” Star turned around in embarrassment. She didn’t like being half-naked in front of people. Be it boy or girl, regardless of age, especially not in front of strangers. She turned around blushing up a storm. “Um… ah… Nice to meet you. M-m-my name is Star.”


“I see nice to meet you too, my name is Ryu.” Star felt kind of relieved now that she knew the other girls name. Until she heard a rustling sound. Star peeked out of the corner of her eye to see Ryu changing, she gave a soft yelp that was too soft for Ryu to hear and turn her head back towards the wall. Ryu didn’t see it weird for two girls to change in the same room. She figured Star was the shy type but not that she didn’t like to change in front of people, even girls.


Star spent the next few minutes in a awkward silence. She tried to finish as quickly as she possibly could. Yet somehow Ryu finished before her, Star didn’t even notice until Ryu called out to her as she was about to leave, “It was nice to meet you. I†˜ll be heading home now.” Star sighed with relief when she heard the dock close. “That was so embarrassing.” Star soon finished up and exited the back room. Unos stood right next to the door looking at his watch, “Good thing you said you were going to be late or I would have marked you up. What took so long.” Star didn’t say anything as she punched herself in.

“Well it doesn’t really matter I guess.” Unos gazed off into the distance and smiled a small grin. “Not like anyone important is going to come to this little café.”

It was around 7pm as he head toward the café. He was in a hurry to get to work, he was already an hour late for his shift. He ran across the street as soon as the light turned. There he saw the café as he hurried along. He walked right over to the door and walked right in. “I†˜m sorry that I†˜m late!” he said aloud to all who were there. Unos called out from the back “Your off today!” He stood for a second not moving panting slowly from rushing over. When his class ended today he went over to the library to pick out some books and dropped them off at his dorm room. He took the week off so he could work on a project for class. He simply forgot due to the weekend.


“Just grab a seat and order something!” Shouted Reno from across the room. Star stood in the corner looking down at the floor. Jelr worked with her, they have the same shift but she doesn’t talk much. Well at least not much with anyone other then a select few. Jelr walked over to were Reno was and sat down. “How are you my friend?” Asked Reno as Jelr sighed while looking down at his hands which he had placed on the table. “I rushed over here, I forgot I don’t have work this week. I need to go back to the dorm and do my prokect.”


“I see, well project’s are important but I think you should just hang out here for at least a little while.” Jelr Sighed again, “I guess your right.” Reno smiled and then he called out to Star, “excuse me! Waitress we would like to order something.” For a second Star just stood there day dreaming. Then Unos tapped her on the shoulder and snapped her out of it. He then pointed toward Reno and Jelr and walked right over. “Sorry about that.” she spoke in a small voice.


Reno smiled, “Its quite alright.” Reno placed his hand on his chin, “Is it ok if we order something?”


“Of course, do you need a menu?”


“I don’t need one, I already know what I want. How about you Jelr, do you need a menu?” Jelr shook his head, “No, I also know what I want. So I guess we will be ordering right now.” Star took out a pen and a notepad from her apron. Reno went first, “I would like a root beer and a mushroom Swiss burger with fries on the side.” Star nodded then faced Jelr. “I would like a Ice Tea and the †˜Love Love Omelet & Rice†˜ and switch out the white rice for fried rice.” Star giggled a little bit which made Jelr blush. “Wonder what’s so funny.” without realizing the humor in his order.


“Did I say something funny Reno?”


“Hmm? Oh haha don’t think about it too much, the names they give some of the food here is a bit outlandish is all.”


“So what†˜s this project your working on?”


“We†˜ll each person is suppose to do his own thing, Its for my major, Computer programming. I†˜m going to make a program which blocks all things that can harm your computer.” Reno nodded, “I see, sounds useful but wouldn’t that be hard? wouldn’t it be hard for a program to decide what programs are viruses and what not? Usually you can only protect against things that attack your computer, which usually means they are already infecting your computer.” Star came back with their drinks and Jelr took a sip of his Ice Tea. “I mean something close to an A.I. which can tell the good and the bad data apart. It will only attack the bad data. It will be a smart program that can tell if something a normal program will see as harmless but is actually a virus.”


“I see quite interesting, but isn’t that a bit much for a simple project?”


“Yeah, but I hear that there was once a student who made something profound that ended up getting the attention some really important people. He ended up getting funded for research or something along those lines. I hear he was a real genius. Also a lot of my classmates are real brains so they will most likely put in something great as well.”


“I see, well I hope you can get something out of your endeavors.”


“Thanks, I plan on giving my all.” As they spoke star had put their food on the table. They hadn’t notice till now so they began to eat. Jelr had a busy night ahead of him so after they were done they split the bill and Jelr went on his way. Reno sat there in the seat he had been almost all day. It was almost 9pm. Reno stared out into the night and sighed. “Wonder if anyone else is coming in tonight.”

He just got off of work and was walking down the street staring up at the dark sky. It was the city and the roads were brightly lit, no stars were visible. Far different from were he grew up. Where he would watch the stars and listen to the crickets chirping while laying in a field of grass. He now a full grown man living the life of a salary man. He knew what sadness was. He just swallowed his sorrow and went about his life. He used alcohol to drain the pain.


His newest place to frequent called the Fakku Café was open 24/7, so it was no problem how late he stayed. The people there was interesting, and there wasn’t much people to make trouble.


Before he realized it he was walking into the café. Not many people were inside. They were all younglings, two young men and one young lady. The restroom door swung upon and out came the manager Unos. “Oh its you, you should go home and sleep instead of coming here to drink.” Said Unos with a mocking attitude on his face. “Oh and miss this party, anyway does it matter? I†˜m a paying costumer.” Unos laughed, “yes and we need the money don’t we.” Unos nodded to himself and walked into the back room.


Akira walked over to Reno, “How are you young one,” asked Akira as he sat. “Alright old timer and you.” Akira scoffed, “same old, same old.” Reno laughed, “that bad huh?” Akira shook his head, “as I said same old, same old. So what†˜s with the kid behind me?”


“Fallan? He†˜s waiting for Yeah.” Akira nodded, “the head waitress? Why where did she go?” Reno shrugged “I don’t know for the past hour and a half I was busy talking to someone so I didn’t notice anything. Last I remembered was that Yeah went into the back room,” Reno scratched his head and got up onto his feet. He walked over to Fallan and placed his hand on his shoulder. Reno said something which couldn’t be heard from where Akira sat. Fallan quickly got up and sat down at their table. Reno also sat back down. “Oh so she went out to run an errand for Unos?”


“Yeah and-” Fallan began but was cut off by Reno, “ When you offered to assist she rejected you flat out?” Fallan growled, “yeah and now I†˜m just waiting for her to come back.”


“Know what she went out for?” Asked Reno curiously, ”no clue. Unos said it might be awhile before she†˜s back.”


Reno looked over to the waitress and Akira looked over there as well. The waitress was standing against the wall staring at her feet, Reno mumbled something that Akira couldn’t quite make out. Reno then turned his head and looked Akira straight in the face. “So how about a drink?”


“Thought you would never ask, but wait, aren†˜t you under aged?”


“What do I always order? Root Beer of course friend.” Reno called over the waitress which took a second to realize someone was talking to her. Yes… Um… so may I take your order? Said the girl quite shyly. Reno just spouted “I don’t plan to eat, just get me a root beer please.” Akira then said “Beer for me, please make sure it’s the good stuff.” It was Fallan’s turn but he just had his head face down on the table. Reno sighed, “He will have Green Tea.”


“Reno you seem to know that girl, she seems awfully shy. What†˜s her name?”


“Why, interested in her? You sly devil you.”


“No, no, nothing like that, just wondering. You seem to be able to talk to her easily is all.”


“Well it wouldn’t be a problem if you knew her name right? At least knowing some ones name is a doorway to getting to know someone. Her name is Star.” She quickly came back with their drinks. “Thanks Star-san” said Akira with a crooked smile. Star quickly turned around and walked back to her place by the wall. Reno laugh as Akira sat there with mouth gaping. “Don’t worry she†˜s just shy.”


Akira began to guzzle down his beer.

The image of a young beautiful maiden reflected off the mirror. "Yep just perfect," she said as winked at herself. She strutted out of the woman's restroom with pride. Fakku Studios was having her record a CD. She had her reservations about it. The songs and lyrics weren't special or anything. It didn't matter to her much. If her agent didn't talk her into it she wouldn't bothered in the first place. "A well rounded Idol must have looks, endurance, stamina, and she has to be able to sing." She recalled his words as if he had just said them to her.


She was doing so much things but she kept her cool. Any other person would go crazy with stress. Voice acting for a popular new manga turned anime. Showing up to events all over the city. Classes where the last thing on her mind. Though fame would always be secondary to her and classes third. What was important to her was at this very moment serving strangers at a quant café right next to the cities central park which separated it and the College campus across the way. "Don't worry we're almost done here," her agent said to her. "What makes you think I want to leave? Am I that simple to read?"


"Well, the fact you keep staring at the exit sign above the door, and you take out your cell phone every three minutes," he smirked an egotistical smile. She got a little mad because she felt like she was being mocked, "well I guess you know me to well."


"Well I am not too sure about that.... Anyway you have a few songs to record, and with your skills we should be done in fifteen minutes."


"Can I leave after that?"


"Yeah, yeah, so make sure to do your best, like you always do."


"I would have without you telling me to. I always put my best foot forward."


Yuriel finished up in no time and was happily venturing off into the night and much to her agents dismay she decided to walk rather then to hail a cab. Thankfully nothing happened and she soon found herself at the Fakku Café. She hesitated for a second. She could see into the small café through the glass windows. A waitress stood staring down at her feet in the corner of the room. A wide smile appeared on Yuriels lovely face, “should have known.” Her little sister star was always the shy type.

Yuriel didn’t liked that Star took a job so late at night, and not just that but a café no less. She once told her sister that a café that operated so late at night must be shady. So Yuriel would come and visit Star as often as she could to make sure she was ok. Though she tries not to go inside much. Due to the male manager who always hounds her. He seems to leave Star alone, Which would was good because if he tried anything he would be dead meat.


Yuriel was happy knowing that Star was ok and was about to leave when she noticed the manager staring at her. “He must have been watching me! He is such a stalker!” Yuriel began to pace in her head. “Should I go ahead and leave? No he would try something. Should I just go in? Though I don’t want to make Star think I†˜m babying her.” Her mind went back and forth in thought, and lost awareness of her surroundings. So she literally jumped out of her skin when someone tapped her on her shoulder. Her head turned around to she who did it. Who other then the head waitress Yeah stood behind her. “Oh my god! You startled me!”


Yeah and Yuriel had gotten to know each other quite well since Star started to work here. They met on Star’s first day when Yuriel accompanied her for her first time. Yeah seemed like a nice enough person.


“So are you going in?”


“Might as well I guess. Now that †˜He’ saw me.”


“I see…” Yuriel didn’t have to say who exactly, Yeah already knew who it was. The two of them walked in. Unos then walked toward them. “So did you get it done?” He asked Yeah. “Of course I did. I finish all request under my job description efficiently and effectively.”


“Yes I know Ms. Robot, reason why I hired you and reason why I sent you on this task.”


“Yeah gave Unos a dirty look. Don†˜t call me that! Anyway I shall return to my duties.”


“Well guess you can do whatever you want. Not much customers other then those three.” Unos pointed at the three men sitting at a table. Yuriel didn’t even notice them till now. She had been too preoccupied to notice. “So young miss what brings you here to this establishment?” Unos grinned at Yuriel. She had forgotten his existence for a moment. A moment which as much to her concern was practically bliss.


She didn’t reply to him. In fact she ignored him completely and instead walked over to Star. Her little sister was just staring down at the ground. Star didn’t even notice Yuriel walking up to her, nor did she hear her voice. Yuriel poked Star’s cheek trying to get a reaction from her. “Hello? Anyone home?” Star still didn’t react which made Yuriel pout with displeasure, “didn’t expect that.”


“Misses! Cans I has a beer?” called out in slurred words. Star came out of her daze and dashed right over to the table not noticing her sister. Yuriel watched in bewilderment. “Sorry about my friend, he†˜s a bit under the table right now. Is it ok if I can have another refill of soda?”


“Um… ok, root beer right? Also another beer for your friend?”


“Yes thank you, and nothing for you Fallan?” Fallan stayed silent, “um yeah that would be all. Thanks Star and sorry you have to deal with this.” Star replied with a small voice, “ok,” and walked away as quickly as possible. That’s when Star saw Yuriel standing where she herself just was. “Oh my gosh! Onee-sama I didn’t see you there!”


Yuriel gave Star a small smile, “its alright.”


“Don’t tell me I ignored you?!”


“No, of course not. I um…” Yuriel amused the thought of leaving, but for some reason changed her mind. “It’s ok if I get something to eat?”


“Of course it ok! Please grab a seat and I†˜ll be right with you.”