Contains:

     - Mild language

Mentions:

     - Death of a family member

     - Child abandonment

Here, they serve coffee, smoothies, and tea, some of which contain tapioca balls, jellies, and other candies. I learn these little balls are called "boba". They also have a variety of pastries and sweets. But what's really different is that there are cats everywhere.

She explains that this is a type of "Cat Café" and apparently they are pretty common, especially here in Tokyo. Basically, it's a café that lets you mingle with and pet cats while you enjoy your sweets and drinks. Drastically different from the "No Pets Allowed" signs I'm used to seeing posted in American establishments. I always thought it was a rule due to a hygienic reasons, but this place is surprisingly clean. Like immaculately clean.

Yuki brings us our delights on a tray. She sets it down on the quaint little table, and then goes to sit across from me. I'm already seated, petting a sweet tortoiseshell calico in my lap. The feline stretches out a bit when I reach her belly.

I'm passed a passion fruit green tea with boba and some macarons of various flavors, while my new friend has a strawberry smoothie with lychee chunks and extra strawberries, along with a miniature strawberry cake, fancier than I've ever seen before, which she quickly starts to pick apart. It appears she really likes strawberries, since she eats all of them first, before moving on to the rest of the cake.

Personally, coffee is usually more my thing than tea, but I don't want to upset our new friendship by telling her that. Especially after she went through the efforts of picking something out for me to try. I take a cautious sip, but eagerly continue once I realize that the tea she gave me is actually quite tasty. Also, trying to get to the boba is an entertaining game in itself.

"So . . ." she starts off, "how do you like it so far? Japan, I mean."

I explain my experiences; how much I love being here, how different things are, places I hope to visit, and things I want to do. The conversation just flows naturally, that is, until I ask her if she is an exchange student as well.

"Nope, born and raised here, I'm afraid," she states.

I feel embarrassed and begin to apologize for my blunder, but she cuts me off, saying "It's nothing to be sorry for; you're not the first one to assume, and certainly not the last."

I let out an awkward sigh of relief as she continues, but I still feel a bit bad. I should've know better than to presume. After all, I know exactly what it's like to feel out of place in your own country.

"Everyone always thinks that," she continues. "Mainly because of the way my sister and I look, and the fact that we speak English so well. Not many people running around Japan with natural strawberry blonde hair and green eyes, I suppose. Apparently our mother was British with gorgeous blonde hair and golden eyes to match. I'm not sure about our father though, seeing as we never had the chance to meet either of them. We were taken in as newborns by Narumi¹-obaasan², but I'm guessing we got our green eyes from him."

She seems lost in thought, her eyes seeing beyond the present moment, until they refocus and flick to me. A slight blush forms.

"Sorry, if that was too much of an overshare," she tentatively apologizes. "I tend to do that sometimes." The light blush of embarrassment continuing to form on her cheeks.

"Not at all," I assure her. "I don't mind, and actually I can totally relate! I'm told I'm too direct and it bothers people sometimes. Also, my mother passed away when I was really young, and I don't really remember much, so I understand what it's like, to an extent. But it must be nice to have a sister at least, right?"

To not feel so alone, I continue privately to myself.

"It is . . ." she agrees as she trails off in thought. Although she smiles warmly at that, it doesn't quite reach her eyes. I wonder if their siblingship is complicated too, but she continues, "Do you have any siblings?"

I hesitate in my answer before replying, "No."

She smiles for real this time and replies "Bummer, you would've been a cool sister." The thought warms me bittersweetly.

                                              ~ ~ ~

We continue to talk about her family, things we like to do, places to see, eventually circling back to school. I find out that she likes the idea of sports, but is incredibly clumsy, so she steers clear of them. Yuki mentions that she does well academically and offers to help me with my Japanese. I agree, thankful, then decide to broach the subject of our classmates, specifically the boy who sits next to us.

"Oooooh, you mean Kurosaki-san," and a large devilish grin appears on her face, along with a sly look in her eye. "What do you want to know?"

"Is he always like that?" I inquire.

"Like what, quiet? Keeps to himself?" Her devious expression changes quickly to confusion, like it's not the question she was expecting.

"No, I mean . . . rude," I correct. "Did I do something to upset him?" I tentatively ask, hoping I didn't accidentally tresspass on some custom I wasn't aware of when we had first met.

"Hmmm," she ponders for a minute before the sly grin returns. "He doesn't talk much, but no . . . I don't think upset would be the right word."

"Huh? He basically told me he hates my attire." I respond.

"Well, if that's the case, I don't think he's telling the truth then," she continues, shaking her head back and forth. "I saw the way he was looking at you. Secretly. All. Day. Long. And I don't think it was hate in his eyes. More like longing." She giggles a bit at that last part, interlocking her fingers next to her cheek in a jokingly romantic way. Girl must read waaay too much shojo³.

"No way," I laugh with her, playfully swatting at her arm. She laughs even more.

"Well, anyways, I think his first name is Hatori," she belts out between laughs. "You know, in case you're interested." She then waggles her eyebrows playfully, teasing me.

"Not a chance in hell!" I exclaim, spooking the calico from her nest in my lap. We both fall into a laughing fit, so much to the point that we choose to leave, before being asked to do so by staff.

                                              ~ ~ ~

                                ADDITIONAL NOTES:

¹ The woman's full name is Narumi Miyazaki. 愛深 "Narumi" (ナルミ) is a woman's given name meaning "loved" and "deep / profound". Pronounced "Nah-roo-mee".

² Narumi-obaasan: She has a different honorific because she is an elderly lady; more of a sweet grandmotherly maternal figure to the Miyazaki twins, rather than a stern motherly one.

³ Shojo: A genre of Japanese comics (manga) aimed primarily at a young female audience. They are typically characterized by a focus on personal and / or romantic relationships.