The Coffee Shop in a Different World Station

The last arrival train of the day approaches the Harpertown Station platform with a slight tilt of day. A pout whistled before entering the station, slowly entering the line as the leading steam locomotive made a gosh shout. When parked in place, a popper and whistle sounded again.

"Incoming Yoshi, Parking Position Yoshi, Home Yoshi"

Takumi, who saw the incoming line at the front of the platform, waves a white flag in her hand and sends a signal to the rear conductor as she completes the safety check while pointing her finger at it. Not so much, the doors were opened in turn from the first car, and passengers descended one after the other from inside the car.

"Good luck with your long trip, passengers. We kindly ask you to arrange them in order at this bidding address"

After completing the guidance on the home, Takumi receives the ticket as she moves to the bidding gate and opens the fence made of wood, speaking to each arriving customer. As well as checking if the ticket was legitimate, it was also an important task as a "station manager's deputy" to see if anyone was feeling unwell or not feeling well through a voice call.

"Good day, Lord Takumi"

As the line drew to a close, one man spoke to Takumi. Sabbath was on his way to the Mark City Fair the other day.

"Welcome back, Mr. Sabbath. Are you back from the exposition?

Takumi greets her as usual while receiving tickets from Sabbath. In response to Takumi's words, Sabbath has spoken with a satisfying look as he pointed his hand at the crate he was putting on the trolley and carrying heavily.

"That was an exposition, lots of interesting stuff. Lord Takumi has a souvenir too, may I have a moment later?

Takumi expresses her gratitude for Sabbath's care.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Then can you wait in the hall of 'Swallow'?

Sabbath, who replied in a nutshell, of course to Takumi's offer, headed to the coffee shop 'Tsubame', which is located immediately after leaving the bidding slot. Takumi continued her bidding business as she heard Karan Karaan and the door play behind her back.

―――――

When Takumi, who had completed bidding operations and subsequent station building inspection operations, returned to the 'swordfish', Sabbath's hands had unloaded an earlier large package and several crates had been spread on the table.

Sabbath opens the lid of the first crate when he calls Takumi by invitation. Inside it was laid a straw that appeared to be a cushion substitute, and three pots of palm made of ceramic were served so that it was wrapped in it.

"This is the leaf of Tae, which Lord Takumi requested the other day. Mr. and Mrs. Rudendorf, who took care of us during this time, immediately arranged for us at the exposition."

Sabbath gives Takumi one of the three pots of pottery, giving an explanation. Its pot, with a blue, very delicate floral pattern on its bright white skin, was firmly curled with four straws to prevent the lid from opening due to impact.

When Takumi takes a small knife out of her pocket, she cuts the straw to jump pins. When the lid was gently opened, a unique fragrance fluttered with refreshing and slightly sweet notes reminiscent of flowers and fruits.

Takumi puts the tea leaves in the ceramics just a little on the back of the lid and observes them closely. Its thinly twisted tea leaves had a dark corned brown color similar to the color of the wooden skin. Where mixed white parts will probably be buds. Seeing where it was some length, I could ask that it was a relatively large tea leaf.

"This is a good tea leaf. Does a large tea leaf mean Darjeeling?

In response to Takumi's words, Sabas shrugs his neck and responds.

"Unfortunately, I don't know that much about it. You've heard of first-class tae leaves grown in a place called Kingfisher in the Ballantine Kingdom."

I thought, "Shit." I realized that I had asked Sabbath in "my common sense”.

When it comes to black tea, it's Takumi's mastery of working part-time in a coffee shop since she was younger that makes me think reflexively about whether she's Darjeeling or Assam, whether she's from Ceylon or elsewhere again... etc. But the words that came out of that momentum are not related to the people in this world. It was a natural story that there was no way to get through.

Takumi apologizes for his disrespect to Sabbath as he wipes the sweat seeping into his forehead.

"Excuse me. I asked about it with the feeling where I used to be. It was disgusting."

Behind Takumi's attitude, Sabbath does not see Takumi speaking. That's okay, and while I gently returned it, Sabbath handed the second pottery vessel to Takumi.

That pot depicts a pattern mimicking grass with just as delicate a touch as it was earlier. When straw was cut by Takumi's hand and its white lid opened, a slightly sweeter, deeper fragrance spread from the pot than the earlier one.

"This one looks like a different kind of tea leaf. Features differ from the earlier ones, but this one looks great too"

The tea leaves that were in the second pot were shorter than the earlier ones and rounded out like grains. The whole thing is even darker corned brown than the earlier one, with little white area to be seen. A close observation of the tip of the leaves showed signs, perhaps to encourage fermentation, as if they had been carved with a blade or something. The impression Takumi received was that Assam was the closest.

I checked the tea leaves. The takumi closes the lid securely so that the scent does not fly. And when I placed it next to the first pot, I received the last pot that Sabbath offered me.

"The last one, that's a little different. Please open this one too."

The moment I opened the last ceramic lid, a strong scent completely different from the two preceding pieces poked Takumi's nose. It has a unique twinge aroma that reminds me of medicines that are very similar to fumigant aromas.

This characteristic scent had brought up the name of one tea leaf in Takumi's head. Masayama (Lapsang Suchong) - A fermented tea with a unique flavour, also known as one of the original forms of tea.

"This is a tea that, unlike the first two, seems to divide preferences."

Takumi shares her honest thoughts in the light of her own past experiences. Sabbath nodded at the words and expressed his consent, while continuing to say these words.

"Dear Left, I'm being honest, I ate the side. But the other story is that if you're used to drinking, this smoky fragrance can be sickening. I thought it was a story, and I chose it."

Takumi sincerely appreciates Sabbath's dedication. And where all this tea was in front of me, what I wanted to do was naturally squeezed into one.

"Could you let me buy this tea leaf if I don't support it? I'd like to try it quickly."

To Takumi's offer, Sabas offers his hand with a laugh.

"No, no, no, no money is fine. This tea leaf is a heartfelt thank you from me and Mr. and Mrs. Loudendorf. It's a small amount."

"Then I'm sorry. It must be very valuable, so please make sure you pay properly."

Takumi tries to solidify Sabbath's offer with a bitter look on his face. But Sabbath continued his words with a smile on Takumi's face.

"Besides, this is also part of my business. If Lord Takumi will like it, he would love to deal with it at my place as well. I would love to hear Lord Takumi's opinion on whether it can be treated as a product. We also want you to pay for the tea leaves, but how about that?

Behind the eyes of Sabbath, usually a serene old gentleman, lies the light of being a merchant. Takumi opened her mouth after a long tour, still taking an unusual sharp gaze of Sabbath.

"Okay. If I can help you in any way in my opinion..."

Sabbath, who received Takumi's words, returns to his usual serene expression and conveys his thanks to Takumi in a slow meeting. Takumi looking back again at a container with tea leaves. Then he threw a question to Sabbath to confirm.

"Speaking of which, people in this area are not familiar with tea...... tae, are they?

"Right. It's been something you can barely get here before, and you're not familiar with it. Lord Sophia pointed that out."

"Huh? Is Mr. Sophia that Sophia?

The name of Takumi's well-known “Regular Guest” included in Sabbath's answer opens his eyes to surprises.

"Anyway, it's Lord Sophia Marimaid. Yes, I was completely obsessed with leaving a letter with Lord Takumi."

Sabbath said so, he got his hands on his nose, took out a single envelope and gave it to Takumi. Takumi, who quickly opened the seal and checked the documents inside, accidentally gave a sinister look.

The content of the letter was a request for cooperation with a view to spreading the Tae. From the eyes of Sophia, the banker (bunker), Tae's tea leaves seemed like a promising commodity. On the other hand, from the text of the letter, it appeared that he was experiencing an obstacle in that he was' unfamiliar 'with the spread of the tape, just like Takumi.

Of course, it's not free. If successful, it was also noted that adequate gratuities were to be combined with a commitment to a stable supply of tea leaves.

"Hmm, he's still a strong pusher..."

When Takumi accidentally responds with a bitter laugh, Sabbath nods as if she agrees with it.

"But it tickles people's feelings well. Well, I hear Lord Sophia will be here on the second flight the day after tomorrow, also in relation to my business meeting. Is it going to be in time by then? Of course, we heard that if it takes time, we will come here again."

Takumi thinks a lot with her arms. “Unknown” can be a very high hurdle for the “food” sector connected to living. Because the taste is very conservative and I hardly try to accept anything other than what I'm familiar with. 'Think of ideas for getting acquainted with the unknown' Tae 'in this regard was itself a very high hurdle request.

Furthermore, although there is a certain knowledge of tea, it is an area that I have never experienced when it comes to "devising tea". It was even difficult to make prospects as to how much we could do by the deadline of the day after tomorrow.

Still, there was a great deal of empathy for the desire to spread tea to the people of "this world”. In the first place, in coffee shop drinks, "coffee” and “tea” are in a sense like a set. It was a thankful story if it was possible to get what had previously been difficult to obtain.

Yet another thing - from Takumi's point of view, this request seemed like a "challenging letter” from Sofia. It goes without saying that this request in itself strongly stimulates Takumi's mind as the ”master of the coffee shop”.

"I don't know how far I can go, but I want to do my best. I'll have a seat for both of you the day after tomorrow, so I'd like you to join Lord Sophia, please?

There was a clear light of determination in Takumi's eyes replying to Sabbath. Sabbath continues the conversation with a smile at what turned out to be Sophia's verbal development that she was talking about when she handed over the letter.

"I'd love to hear from you, rather from me. So, where the business talks have been wrapped up, again, can you see some other souvenirs from me? This is..."

Sabbath opened the lid one by one and started introducing the “spoils of war” in turn when he had another crate at hand.