1 Home Cafe

"Remember the sky that you were born under,

know each of the star's stories.

Remember the moon, know who she is.

Remember the sun's birth at dawn, that is the

strongest point of time. Remember sundown

and the giving away to night.-"

Remember, 1951

-Joy Harjo

***

The leaves rustled lightly as the wind blew, they landed on the door step of a large mat with the worn letters of 'Welcome'. The over bearing smell of coffee filled the evening sky as Satsuki began to close her family's coffee shop.

She stepped outside and began to sweep the leaves off the sign. She let out a sigh.

"I can't wait till tomorrow." She whispered.

Tomorrow would be the first day of autumn. Which meant no School. Satsuki is 17 years old, and the youngest in her class. It was her 4th year and she would soon graduate.

Satsuki walked towards the swinging bench that sat in front of the shop, she gently sat back, clenching the broom and swung back and forth. She looked up at the evening sky. The hues of purple blending with blue, she attempted to look for the first stars in the sky to show themselves.

"Daydreaming again I see." Hinata smirked.

'Where did she come from?' Satsuki thought.

"What's the rush? We're closed aren't we?" Satsuki replied.

"Alright, alright. Sheesh. I was only joking."

Satsuki had left the coffee shops front door open and Hinata had snuck downstairs to say hello. Hinata was Satsuki's younger sister by 3 years. The coffee shop is downstairs, and their home is upstairs. A quaint 3 bedroom, 1 bath; their father had built it so that they could keep their business close.

Their father would always say to them, "Keep your home close to your heart." The coffee shop was their home. In fact, that was also the name of the Coffee shop, 'Home Cafe'.

"I am only down here to help you finish up sooner Satsu." Hinata pleaded. (Satsuki = Satsu)

"Plus, you promised you would watch 'My Hero Academy' with me!" Hinata pouted.

"Alright Hinata, don't whine."

Satsuki got up from the swing and put her right index finger in between Hinata's brows. "You are to young to force yourself to have wrinkles." Satsuki said. Hinata giggled and they both went back inside the shop. Satsuki turned back one last time and caught the sight of a star peering through the evening blue as she closed the door of the shop, she smiled.

***

The sun shone through the curtain, it reflected the mirror, and as always glared the reflection into Satsuki's pale complexion. Satsuki always hated her eyes. She always believed they were to round for her long and slim face. She believed that she should have been born with smaller eyes to compliment her petite figure. She was indeed beautiful, her hair was black and swayed below her elbows, and yet she always was one to look for false faults.

Satsuki yawned dramatically and threw the pillow over her face in disdain that it was morning already. She could smell the fabric softener in her pillow, she sucked in the smell before putting the pillow aside and sitting up on her bed. Satsuki turned to look at her alarm, it was 9 o'clock. Her eyes half awake, she turned her head away and looked again.

"Oh no! I forgot!" She jumped out of bed and began to change quickly.

In the coffee shop...

"What happened to your sister this morning Hinata?" Mr. Saitō asked.

"Dad, I'm not her keeper." Hinata replied.

"I was sure it was her day to prepare breakfast..." Mr. Saitō whined.

"I'm sorry, sorry! My alarm didn't go off." Satsuki flew downstairs and bowed apologetically.

"It's okay my lame sister, I made breakfast, and it is yummy. Have some rice!" Hinata praised herself as she passed Satsuki a bowl filled with rice.

"No worries, no worries, you only have one father. I did raise you all by myself. When you were little I always made sure you had your breakfast hot and ready..." Mr. Saitō's voice trailed off in Satsuki and Hinata's head.

Their father had a tendency to whine and the sisters knew not to pay heed.

"Satsuki."

"Yes Father, yes I know, you raised us well and thank you. I'll remember to check my alarm next time." Satsuki gently kissed her fathers forehead as she got up to get some tea.

"Hinata after breakfast I am going to Fishimi Inari Shrine, would you like to come with me?" Satsuki asked.

"Sorry Satsu, but I wanted to practice my bass. I am a 1st Year so I want to show my 3rd Year classmates how much I can improve in playing."

"No worries, I will just go alone."

"Inari, huh?" Questioned Mr. Saitō.

"Isn't Kandakara a much closer walk?" He pondered.

"Yes Father, but Inari is also a close bike ride. Plus, I wanted to see the red gate." Satsuki replied.

"Well, just be safe." Mr. Saitō sounded defeatedly.