The next day, I went to that cafe again. No one was particularly welcoming, but I couldn't stop thinking about that place since yesterday. I don't know if it was because of the taste of the coffee I had, the yuzu tea bag, or the old bell ringing that I heard as soon as I opened the door. Anyway, I was standing in front of it again.
The moment I opened the door, he said, shaking off the cat hair on the towel.
“You’re here.”
Although his face was still expressionless, his voice, which was a tone lower than yesterday, seemed a little more comfortable. I couldn't help but chuckle.
“Yes, coffee.”
He answered, "Yes." He nodded slightly and quietly went into the kitchen.
A moment later, just like yesterday, a porcelain cup of coffee was placed in front of me. This time, I didn’t say a word, just quietly put the cup down and turned around, but our eyes met for a brief moment. Those eyes were strangely warm.
I took a sip of my coffee and exhaled more deeply than yesterday. The air here was still quiet, and that made me feel more comfortable. A cat approached me cautiously at my feet. Yesterday, it was a cheese-colored cat that sat far away and blinked.
Dory, that's right.
Today, Dori sat down in front of my shoes and placed her front paws lightly on my knees. I flinched for a moment, but I cautiously reached out. Fortunately, this time, Dori didn't run away.
“He doesn’t really react to snacks. He’s the type of person who approaches people while watching their reactions.”
His voice came from behind me. I looked back and raised my head. He spoke with an indifferent expression as he cleaned up the cat food box. His tone was blunt, but his words were not. The words of a person who knew the cat very well. I smiled and said.
“Then I guess I’ll have to keep an eye out.”
He nodded slightly and turned around again. It wasn't a smile or an answer, but it felt like some kind of affirmation.
He sat quietly at my table, holding a cat, and I hesitated whether I should say something to him. But he asked first.
“Can I ask why you are here?”
It was an unexpected question. He barely said anything yesterday.
I was taken aback, but quickly answered.
“Wait a minute… I wanted to avoid it.
"He nodded. Without saying anything.
That short nod was unexpectedly comforting. It gave the impression that 'that could happen' even without saying anything.
“It’s good that you came.”
He said that, and I quietly took those words to heart. The cat he was holding slowly closed its eyes in his arms. It was so natural, it felt like it had been there for a long time. I asked for no reason.
“There’s no name for the cafe?”
He said with a shrug.
“It was there at first. But no one asked… so I just got rid of it.”
I laughed softly.
A place that is memorable even without a name. A warm person even without words. This was that kind of place.
Since that day, I have become a little more accustomed to making eye contact with Dori.
Even though I still don't know his name, I've come to expect the quiet affection of that person whose actions speak louder than words.
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