#580 Customers: Ordering

It’s still me, eleven-year-old Diablo, speaking!

Anyway, when we took a look at the menu...

“I don’t know any of this.”

“Me either...”

All the names are alien to us!

“The items on our menu do tend to baffle many of our customers.”

Oh!

The waitress in a maid’s uniform explains!

“Allow me to explain the menu to you, sir. Our signature item is coffee. If you are a first-time customer, I highly recommend ordering one.”

“Ah, so this one at the very top of the menu, eh?” says Dad, stealing glances at the maid now and then! “What kind of food is it?”

“It’s not food, sir. It’s a drink.”

“A drink? Is it alcohol, then?”

“No, sir. It doesn’t contain any alcohol.”

Which means...!

This coffee—the signature drink of this restaurant—must be the rumored drink! 

It’s not alcohol, but they say it’s just as good!

Me, me, me! I want a cup of this coffee!

“You sure love trendy things, don’t you, Diablo?”

An innovator must be the first to try something new!

And it’s not alcohol, so a kid like me can drink it just fine, right?

“Yes, that’s true, but coffee may still be too stimulating for children. How about this café au lait, sir?”

“What’s the difference?”

“It’s coffee with loooots of sugar and milk to mellow the taste!”

They even have that?!

There are so many to choose from! I can’t try all of these at once!

“I think I’ll have that café au lait. I don’t want something too strong.”

“I’ll have coffee then. You can have a sip from Dad’s cup, Diablo.”

Yay, Dad! This is like a pajama party, sharing each other’s food!

Okay, I’ll order something else to broaden our exploration!

And so, after we ordered a few more things...

“I’ll be back with your order in a moment!” 

And the waitress left our table.

I wonder what we’ll get. I’m so excited!

“Master, we have an order.”

“Noted.”

The old man got to work!

Wait, what? I thought he was just a guard here, but he’s not!

He takes our order and starts working pronto!

While he boils water in a kettle, he starts turning something with a handle!

Ahhhh, and then he takes a pitch-black powder from some container...!

I don’t know what he’s doing, but it looks cool...!

“Coffee’s ready. The café au lait will have to wait a little longer.”

“Got it.”

The waitress brings something to our table.

“Here’s your coffee, sir.”

Oh, so this is coffee!

It’s pitch black!

“This is coffee...? Are you sure people can drink this?”

“Of course, sir. It’s very bitter at first, so please take your time drinking it.”

Dad, Dad! Let me taste it!

...Blegh, it’s so bitter!!!

It’s so bitter, I think my tongue is going to fall out!

“It is indeed bitter. But there’s something about this bitterness that’s strangely soothing...!”

Dad? What’s wrong, Dad?!

You’re acting like you just found enlightenment!!!

“Hahaha, it seems you’ve still got a long way to go if you can’t appreciate this bitter taste, my boy.” 

Oh, shut up, Dad!

As for Mom, she’s trying the café au lait that just arrived.

“I like this one more. The milk mellows out the flavor.”

“Oh, my coffee’s finished. Another cup, please.”

“Another café au lait for me too.”

Coffee and cafe au lait are both popular!

But for some reason... The way that old man brews coffee is so cool and sophisticated, it’s gripping my heart!

He doesn’t waste a single movement as he performs one action and another!

Quick and efficient!

It’s like watching a first-class swordsman in a play!

He’s sooooo cool!!!

“I’m sure Master would be happy to hear you say so.”

Oh, waitress!

“Master studied how to make coffee very hard when this business started. He practiced hundreds of times.”

“Stop talking nonsense, Cherry, and get to work.”

“See? He’s embarrassed.”

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Cool! So, so cool!!!

I can’t help but feel strong emotions raging in my hearttttt!

At first, I thought he was sticking out like a sore thumb in this café, but it’s the opposite!

I can assure you that his presence will become a characteristic not found in any other catering establishment!

“Here’s your order, boy. Sorry it took a while.”

Oh, yeah, I ordered something for myself.

I chose something different from Mom and Dad’s, but... what did I order again?

“A cream soda.”

Huh?

What?! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!?!?!

I’ve never seen a drink like this!

It’s green! Foamy! And there’s a cream-like substance on top!!! 

Mm, and it’s sooooooooooo good!!!

The bubbly feeling spreads in my mouth!

What is this?!

The cream on top is cold! This must be ice cream!

The ice cream slowly dissolves in the soda, and when I scoop up that mixture with the spoon, it’s also delicioussssss! Ahhhhh!!!

“What’s gotten into you, Diablo?!”

“Can Dad have a taste, too, please?”

Nuh-uh!

I won’t let anyone else have a taste of this cream soda!

I love the taste of cream soda bought with my parents’ money!

Well, okay. I’m a generous person, so I’ll share a little.

“Oho? It’s good!”

“It’s cold and foamy! A novel texture!”

It seems that Mom and Dad have become captivated by the cream soda.

The atmosphere of the café is excellent, the barista is mysteriously cool, and their menu is fantastic!

A child like me still can’t appreciate the goodness of coffee, though...!

Still, I declare this café a 10-star establishment!!!

“Here’s the rest of your order.”

“Oh, we still ordered a few more things?”

Yes, we did.

You said you didn’t want just drinks, so we ordered a light meal.

Just as we were finishing our drinks, it arrived!

“Here’s your pancakes.”

WOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

What is this?!

It’s so sweet and fluffy!!!

The syrup is pouring down the sidessss!

The butter is slowly meltinggggg!

The whipped cream on top looks so aestheticccc!

“This is delicious! More, please!”

“I’m gonna eat until I’m full! This isn’t an afternoon snack anymore!”

“More coffee, too! Bring more coffee!”

Mom and Dad are completely hooked on today’s café experience!

I take it back!

This place gets a hundred stars!!!

Let’s come back tomorrow! 

And when I grow up, I’ll definitely go to this place to unwind after a busy day!