Absence

"Onii-chan started going out with Teresa-san." A news was communicated from Tada Yui who was the little sister of Tada Mitsuyoshi, a Koinohoshi high school's senior student, who was the same resident of the place she's in at the moment, a regular sized cafe, which didn't only prepare merely coffee menu but also a few snacks and desserts. The youngster herself is still fourteen, and she had probably the one with most features which fitting her own age in the house, not as much polished as her brother in a lot of aspect and of course even less of the relative most advanced in age there.

"Oh, that's a good news..." Another person was hearing her voice pretty much clearly, he smiled as he heard something that should have been a bit far away imagination related to the young man who was the child of his own child, but that truly happened so depiction was no more a mere illusion.

"Going out with a princess...I can't believe that my brother who wasn't interested in anything but this place and the camera, could actually get himself a girlfriend..." She's reflecting how things didn't stay the same as his brother took a few things forward in his life long routine.

"Isn't it a good change for Mitsuyoshi?" The elder wasn't in anyway putting on a negative response to her words and his grandchild's latest progress.

"I do think that is great. And of course, Teresa-san is very nice and not to forget beautiful." She had her mind full of the young blond lady who recently moved into the next apartment to their own domicile. She didn't really hold back her words about positive things that she found in the sociable faraway unfamiliar country guest, her face was ruddy and the ends of her lips turned upwards.

"..." He's only smiling hearing the praises coming from his granddaughter, she was very much simple, and it wasn't hard to see that she's fairly right on the mark. The girl that she was fond of very much was helpful to Tada family as well as she and her friend did lend a hand during their times in the neighborhood, and even to this day after they took their place nearby once again.

"But more than that..." She's starting to look at the old man who was standing behind the worktop...

This person who was always smiling silently, who spent his time working inside the cafe, more than even her brother himself, was their grandfather, Tada Shouzo. Someone who's in his fifties, he had a medium length of grey strands, they're not falling anytime soon, even if the color wasn't as fresh as it was a few decades before, the muscles of his cheek and his mouth was somehow visibly making a clear line, and so was the chin and the lower mouth. His pair of eyes were barely visible because of its condition wasn't in its prime anymore and finally had absorbed lights even less than before, especially he's wearing a pair of rectangular lenses to help it operational as intended. He's someone who was difficult to read, as he hardly wore different expression most of the time. He had his disinclination but other than that he was an average staff of a long running cafe, one he was most known for was being in the same working place roughly more than thirty years. That history of one person could be an indication how a business was well ran, even if it's not the best around the area, if the store itself was even older than the owner himself, knowing fully well that the same trade wasn't that wide spread and had other branch making it even more impressive. All the inspiring Tada history aside...

"Jicchan, you knew that Teresa-san is a princess?" She seemed to suspect a few things about this elder taking care of the articles in the worktop, glass, spoon, forks and alike.

"My friend is staying in Laursernbourg, so I did get news about a few individuals of the well known people in the country." He's an experienced man, so he had his connection, and his knowledge was expanded in a lot of aspects, which was proved that he knew where to go when his grandchild was trying to find a lady in the far west, but that was also because of that friend who had been staying in Laursernbourg for a long time, she probably told him the circumstances of the exchange students.

"Jicchan's friend, is it that person in the picture?" She's gesturing to an old framed photo hanging on the picture rail, the picture detailed of the people including her now late great-grandfather, grandfather and that other person she never saw in person before, the latter two was in their much younger appearance. He was already with his two pair of lenses attached in a single frame, his two pair instrument of observation wasn't perfect since a long time judging from that fact, then the young woman who was having a kind smile similar to the person next to her, her hair was long and black there was a hint of shines on locks and it curl in the most subtle way at the end of each thread, then the last man was who was of the same height and taller than the woman who stand between the two, he was the eldest in the line up, having a short curls of grey tresses between his nose and upper lips. The two were opening their pair of lips each, didn't show much of white teeth but did so with the pink tongue. The three were standing besides each other in front of the Tada Cafe at the time, the overall picture was a perfect catch of the white and black era during the development with one step closer to the colorful generation of flash artwork.

"Yes, she was a former staff in this cafe too." He's a bit nostalgic at some point but he didn't let his mind wonder much with a few fragile things in his hands and in beside his young grandchild.

"Hmm...eh too? There were others who worked in this place?" She's a bit surprised knowing that only a few people would be enough to handle most packed situation of the cafe.

"Well, there were few but didn't stay for too long like she did." He actually didn't meant to talk about someone else but there was also a bit of truth of it so he went and said it, talking about those who had lent a few hands in the store in his younger years.

"So, Jicchan has few more friends, they're more than Onii-chan does have now, do they?" She's more interested in her grandfather's topic, as it wasn't very often he relate the history, there was quite a gap of age between her brother and her grandfather only by that the number was great more than so in her case. He didn't really talk about their parents which was a sign that there was quite a torn in his heart, but for someone who had experience many things, he did if he was asked.

"Well, unlike you and your brother, I had a few leeway during those times."

"Leeway...? Oh ah..." Realizing what he was talking about Yui suddenly had a few thoughts on her own.

"Because of that I had more interactions with people in the school and even college. I was less dilligent than Mitsuyoshi." He's pretty much admitting of those less worrying and difficult moment in his life, and couldn't help but to compare it to his own grandson who was a little younger than he was at the time.

"Hmm, as expected Onii-chan is a bit different to average people..." She had always been seeing her brother as someone who was worth much more praises, he's working hard in those things which he thought to be his most favored field, and he did it thoroughly even in present time.

"He's got mature in the earliest opportunity possible, he got his priority straight and didn't have the time to do something he wants other than those that we knew..." The elderly man was a bit contemplating and relenting to the real outcome of a mischance.

"Onii-chan, I wonder if he still has a dream, I mean other than being a professional photographer." Having her eyes clouded expressively for a moment she had her mind on her brother who wasn't in the cafe at the moment.

"We don't know he didn't say much about them, as he got to know photography so early he didn't take much look at other things." He did saw and observed what his elder grandchild doing in the last few years, which he could see that few things were lacking in the youth.

"But he's dating Teresa-san, he should be looking more widely around him, should he?"

"Teresa-kun is a more open and friendly than Mitsuyoshi so, logically speaking there's a chance for that."

"Right right."

"But there's another possibility for this connection as they go on." The beaming child was surely brought the gloom out of the youth who had always been sticking his feet on the ground, but just like any other reality that they actually watched, a few things had its down sides.

"What do you mean?"

"Mitsuyoshi had always looking into the future since a long time ago. He took his time to polish those that he thought to be useful, with himself and probably including us too, to make sure that there's something that could be improve on. Then there's that young noble came in his life, that's another responsibility."

"Jicchan..."

"He asserted it, didn't he? He didn't started his relationship without considering further implication."

"Oh, yeah. I asked him about it..."

"There's a possibility that he will get into contact with adult world around these times. If he is really thinking about photography then he will make a decision about them and started to take a few chances with those invitations he received." Not that he knew in details but the second oldest Tada had his name spread wide to an extent, and that was a potential.

"...Is there a chance that he will quit our shop?" Somehow she imagined a Tada Cafe without its most reliable staff, it was an incomplete picture framed into the memory.

"It's not impossible..." He didn't really think anything was too much, as he knew very much who he was talking about.

"Jicchan..."

"Well, it could be something less positive on this side, but he would have to get more experiences in the field, before finally become a proper professional." Professional wasn't that nice to let things go bad and they needed people who had the skillsets and knowledge to achieved something they deemed valuable, and experience was a foundational step to function.

"...Onii-chan, is he really going to do that?" The little sister was starting to get a little more anxious, having someone who was practically there with her since the very first time she had her local uniform suited quit wasn't exactly encouraging for her.

"He's been working hard for a bit of an opening, I don't think he will try to disappoint himself." The old man had to put any possibilities in mind, so he could put a few changes which then supported the family business running. Some business which had been running for a long time surely had a few back up plan to make the door stay open for those who had the intention of contacting the edge of their coffee glass.

"Job, is it...? He's taking on his relationship with Teresa-san so seriously..." She was seeing a few things connected together and possibly opened few chances even further than she thought.

"That's much of determination is needed for a long time, as we're not blessed as the young woman so, he'll have to try his hardest."

"Blessed you say, she wasn't that happy going back to Laursernbourg, you know..."

"That is true, but on the other perspective she will have to experience more of a less privileged life. She's practically can do most of what she want, and even now, even after she's chosen this path. She still holds that privilege." Even though it was general situation at the former part, the latter one was true as well.

"Privilege, she will lose it in the future."

"That is almost certain. You might heard it that some nobility system would allow the consort to be given the nobility title, like a certain princess that we knew that she became a queen and been one for a long time, her husband is not a king, however, but a prince. Even so he still had his rank below his wife, that still give him some benefit even if he need to follow the noble's standard in his daily life, this possibly include a strict prerequisite as well. This procedure however doesn't work the same in Laursernbourg." It would be a mistake that a standard was the same in every state the needed to be so, a few things would be needed for a few independent potentials.

"So, what? Teresa-san will have to go to college and then get an office job at some point?" Looking at the general public it was the journey of most people went through that she could find.

"Who knows, if that is what she choose to do, it's not impossible..." The elderly man didn't try to deny anything what the middle school student said.

"Teresa-san, she's a strong person so she probably will do it." She knew a bit about the girl she's talking about, it was enough, seeing a few things that average people saw to be a difficult situation.

"She is strong and she's similar to Mitsuyoshi, but she's still different to him." He needed to clarify a few things for the sake of young fellow's mind.

"Hmm, how?" She was intrigued.

"If she's getting less restrained and depending on Mitsuyoshi even more than she does now, there will be a time that she will gain a total freedom." The man with the glasses was trying to see what he could found in the beloved member of the photography club.

"Ah, Teresa-san could even get more active than she do now?" She was getting excited about a few things.

"She still has a few restrictions, we can hardly think how far she's been holding herself back, but now with her getting over her engagement...no... More like released from it, didn't she...she will even more selfish, no...selfish isn't the right word for her, it's being willful in her case from now on..." It was almost impossible for a youngster not to have their own thought, so without a few over-the-top limit she could say and do a few things for her own good.

"Selfish, I can't really imagine Teresa-san being that way, but you're right, that she's a willful person sometimes." The young blond never said or did something a too much for everyone who interacted with her, so she could agree with the opinion.

"We know that she's a curious child, and curious child will always had her hands spread and try to grab everything within her reach, Mitsuyoshi will have a few more duty keeping her out of those things that will harm her because of her willfulness." At some point he started to smile a bit more ironically at his faraway grandson.

"Ah, talking about harm, we saw other nobles of foreign country had their own bodyguard close each time. But I don't see other than Alec-san in Teresa-san's case." Saying things as she saw, she did found it a bit weird, since she found out the background of the charming elder friend, that she had only one person accompanying her.

"Those people didn't need to hide in the crowd and show themselves during noble's interactions with the crowd, but they will keep their distance from him and get close to the crowd preventing them from taking a step closer to the major figure which by then emphasize how important that person in a lot of ways, even if you didn't see them in front of those people, there will be something restricting people from reaching their hands." Most of common place to see nobles were in the public event and the coordination of the guards was clear to see.

"Ah, those guard rails, I see...but..." Trivial things made some sense for her. Even though reality shows and fictional ones weren't having the same mindset and goal, a few information could still help people making a scene of their information which could prove helpful.

"Teresa-kun's case, she didn't really intend to disclose herself as such, so we don't see anyone in our range of sight." Inconspicuousness raised no eyebrows so he understood the routine.

"There's actually someone there?" She sudden got aware a few things, and trying to peek somewhere outside the cafe but didn't turn her head around too much.

"Most likely. But they're people who know how to do their job. We can't really assume that bodyguards wearing black suit and sunglasses all the time, they should be adjusting their appearance to those of commoner in their daily activity." Security through normality was pretty much in demand especially those who would prefer nothing to be fussed about in their journey of the unfamiliar environment.

"So, even anyone we saw could be a bodyguard..." Now she's even suspicious of those she had seen, except for a few obvious people who didn't even know what is inconspicuousness.

"Possibly, but we can't be so sure..."

"...I wonder if Teresa-san knew about them..."

"She's a child of the king and she knew how the king's surroundings look like, so she's must be aware that someone is observing somewhere she doesn't know."

"If that's really is the case, I wonder if she's not getting bothered by those people..." Another concern came up from her.

"That's why she had Alec-kun by her side, she's there for a lot of reason. Diet, security, and friendship. Teresa-kun could be cheerful must be nearly,if not all to her credits." Some guards indeed had their hand on a some things that could bring the attention from an unwanted party, which then made the job even more difficult, but one person clearly did as she should.

"Now you mention it, she's really strong with her kick on Kaoru-kun." That memory brought a helpless smile on her face, it was a striking first impression of the red haired aide.

"Well...taking that as a reference, she should be alone in guarding her, at the time."

"Was it really okay letting only one person to guarding her?"

"At least Alec-kun was alone at the time, but there should be a few circumstances there or that she had no idea that there were other people covering their surroundings." The elder man himself couldn't say they he really knew how people managed security.

"Is it also because of Teresa-san's family?"

"She's the only daughter, I doubt that someone who had the power, the money and the people would his child go to a foreign country without any trouble and let her back wide open."

"Nobles sure have many worries..." Sigh following her own condolences of how some people had a rather turbulent life.

"That's the nature of parents, they will always want their children away from bad approach, nobles or not." Most of parents had their own methods of preventing to engage dangers or vice versa, and he was one of those parents too.

"...Haa...Onii-chan, when will he be back...?" She didn't seem to try continuing the topic they were discussing.

"Going by usual routine it won't be that long." The elderly man didn't urge her to keep on talking the previous topic, and went along with her words.

"Even Nyanko Big went out early today." If a cat was counted as resident, then two people was absent from the cafe.

"He went out not long after Mitsuyoshi himself."

"He really is growing intellectually...I think..." The doubt was visible, as she tilted her head to the side for a few degrees.

"It's just a different season for him."

"Yeah, the same as Onii-chan." She made a suggestive following comment.

"Now you mentioned it." The young waitress wasn't wrong at all.

Then bell's sound was ringing, at the same time the door was opening outwardly.

"Good morning, Mitsuyoshi!" A lively voice was came in along with the light footed young man, a classmate and a club member of the same club, Ijuuin Kaoru, he was floating somehow, with his out of ordinary morning practice of body movement...He might be dancing to some people, or it was gymnastic warming up routine, nobody was really sure.

"Morning, Kaoru-kun." The most senior man returned the greetings.

"Morning...eh? Yui-chan, Jicchan...What about Mitsuyoshi?" He stood straight the next moment and tried to find someone in the considerably wide range of guest accommodation.

"He went out early today. So he's not here." This time the youngest Tada told him the answer.

"Hoo, he's getting busier during the day?" A few expressive sniggers from the popular student of Koinohoshi.

"Seems like it." Yui also agreed on his words. Not long after that another ring on the entrance of the cafe. Two people were coming in and formal routine took place again. Wearing a simple bright tone short sleeve shirt and dark one for her top stitched pleated skirt, she was wearing matching stocking and a pair of light supple unlined shoes with a tightening lace at the front. Her childhood friend wearing a long simple orange long sleeve t-shirt, her black jeans was contrasting her white shoes. Another pair of the cafe's regulars.

"Good morning." Their overlapping voice was reaching everyone in the area as the door was automatically closed.

"Oh, good morning, Teresa-san Alec-san!" Yui always got her spirit lifted when she saw the blond, and today it was no exception.

"Good morning Yui-san." The blond greeted once again, with a wide smile. He eyes were mobile, they were scanning the place they were entering.

"Huh? Where's Tada-kun?" She didn't see her classmate in his usual place, behind the worktop with his black apron.

"Eh? He wasn't with you Teresa-san?" Young Tada was surprised as she heard what the latest guest were saying.

"Hmmm, we didn't have an appointment, so I don't see him today." She was trying to think about something and somehow confirmed that she also didn't know anything.

"He should be somewhere else, then." Student of middle school was trying to came up with a possible reason, but nothing occurred to her.

"He's not taking some pictures?" Another routine was possible for him during the sunny day.

"He did take the digital camera with him, but for him to go without saying much, this is the second day in a row." The chance of it happening wasn't zero but further irregularity was attached to it.

"...I see." The low tone was heard of the young patrician.

"Well, he can't help it if it's something urgent. But for him not to leave a message sure is something rare." Ijuuin was wondering himself as he was familiar of the custom of the shop.

"It's only been a few days since Teresa-san and Alec-san came here but he's busy exploring the city..." Young Tada was a pouting her face, disappointment couldn't escape everyone's eyes.

"Isn't he going out to see a few professionals?" The suggestion was another potential reason.

"Eh, what? What professionals?" Somehow someone was wondering even though he heard about the next fact a few days prior.

"Photographers or studios. We knew that he got few letters from them, they could be the reason." The elderly man refreshed his memory of the details.

"I thought that he went out with Teresa-chan but I was wrong..." The young brown haired man had a different guess of the situation.

"Eh? N-no, we had nothing of the short for a plan today..." Teresa confirmed it right away.

"T-that aside, are Yui-san and Jicchan-san okay only the two of you watching over the place?" She seemed pressing her own query about the cafe itself.

"Hmmm? Well it's not that we couldn't handle it." The elderly was thinking about the state of the store.

"But, today is a busy day right?" Somehow she's getting even eager as she seek a confirmation.

"Well, judging from previous week, there could be a possibility..." The elder man wasn't really someone who would reject the good will right away.

"Then please let me help!" Teresa was impatient to begin something for the day.

"Oh, really Teresa-san? We'll be grateful!!" Getting a chance of collaboration, the third year middle school girl had visually forgotten about her unseen brother.

"It's okay right, Alec?" Just in case the young blond asked her aide who were standing just next to her.

"If Tada-san doesn't mind...?" The versatile bodyguard didn't really try to stop her and asked the person in charge. Her eyes had her own concerns but she didn't see it as something to be hold back on. Looking at the situation where an advanced age man and his youngest grandchild who was barely in the middle of her teenage period, would raise some eyebrows about efficiency and work ethic.

"We'll welcome you two but, don't you have plans for today?" The elder man was in no way feel inappropriate of the idea but still had a few things in mind as he asked them, but didn't specify the target.

"Don't worry we're idle for the whole day." The energetic girl was so straightforward, even a little too much for those around her.

"...It's indeed a problem doing nothing for the entire day. Then we'll be grateful." He's a bit lost for words hearing the response but didn't try to dig deeper.

"Then let's go Alec!" Her voice was high, her spirit was vigorous like about to go to the great war with a conviction of victory.

"Yes." Alec didn't do anything else but just followed her lead.

"Teresa-chan unusually in high spirit. Does working here get her on fire or something?" The eccentric student was spinning his brain to find the reason of a girl having a great compassion in the early day.

"Well, she might have her own thought..." The man with glasses was hinting at something.

"Hmmm? You know something Jicchan?" But the young man didn't connected well.

"I wonder..." It didn't take the two additional staffs putting appropriate outfit and well prepared for the day.

"Please take care of us!" The fire was still very much wild, not far from her, the bodyguard was doing the same, and didn't stay for a long time and took her place behind the worktop.

"Yes, same here." Youngest Tada's chuckling, the smile of a slightly taller young woman was contagious to her.

"What's wrong Teresa-chan? You're not the usual Teresa-chan!" Ijuuin couldn't help but ask her directly, half screaming.

"I'm just excited to see the guests!" Her fiery look was directed towards the entrance, looking forward to next ring of the bell.

"Teresa-chaaaaaan..." Wailing her name, seemed to be defeated by her great energy.

"...That aside, I don't see the cat around here..." The other additional staff was standing beside the main staff behind the worktop, and notice another 'comrade' wasn't in sight.

"Oh, Nyanko Big? He's going in full spirit into the fresh spring!" Ijuuin was excited somehow as he heard her wondering.

"Well he's been busy with Cherry-chan...Eh?...How do you know Kaoru-kun?" Going along the flow the youngest staff was responding was she wasn't expecting that someone else actually answered correctly, her eyes was wide as she shifted her face to the brunette.

"Because I just know it." Like it was a natural thing for him to say he made a unique pose of index finger on his temple and winked at the young lady.

"Well, you did suspect that Tada-san went out with Teresa-sama before finding out that he didn't." The red head was reviving another memory of the latest day.

"Aah! Kaoru-kun, are you always thinking those kind of things?" Somehow with her unpleasant appearance she look at the brunette like an untouchable object, in a bad way.

"No, I didn't. I just thought that people should do fitting the warm season of the whole year." He still had that easy and light attitude as he went on.

"Yeah, of course. You alone are enough to represent the season all over the place." Wry smile was the reaction of his remark.

"You do know what you're talking about Yui-chan." He was proud of himself, it was clear just like how he conducted himself.

"Should I make it winter for you?" Another suggestion which following the brunette's statement.

"No, Alec-san...please have mercy on me..." He suddenly backed down, he seemed to be reawaken to some kind of reality that a good thing wouldn't happened as he heard the words of the bodyguard.

"..." As they went on and squabbled, the blond was wandering in her head out of the present interactions, the blond who was energetic before didn't seemed like raising a single tone on her own. She was there standing, eyeing the colorful entry with its brown frame, like she was expecting something.

Then the guest came in, unfortunately it was someone else other than the one she had in mind, but she put on her trademark smile and greeted.

"Welcome."

That was the beginning of an unusual day where Tada Cafe didn't have its most reliable staff for the business duration.

The cafe wasn't losing its atmosphere as the vibrant and calming space to those who had their own opinions of beverage and snacks. In fact because of two additional staff it was pronounced even more in a sense.

The most of things were as they were supposed to be, even though anyone could see that there was something different to the other days where a regular young man was taking himself on his feet and had his hands on the tools which was there to make people's demand of the menus was missing. His expressionless countenance was in a way another element which was hard to imagine not to be in the sight of visitors, but such reality of him not wearing his apron and uniform just like every staff as an irregularity in the last few years without specific reasons and circumstances.