Birth-Day

Scene: 01

"Hhhk—hhhk—ghuh—haaah—kkh—haa—ghhk!—hahh—hhhaa—"

A man wrapped in bandages stumbled blindly through the underbrush,His only clothing was a loose, tattered pair of trousers, cinched at the waist with a fraying length of rope. His upper body was bare, save for the bandages that clung to his skin like second flesh, concealing more than just injury, perhaps a past he could not yet let go of. Beneath the wraps on his head, dark strands of hair spilled out in uneven waves, nearly brushing his shoulders. A thick, unkempt beard covered the lower half of his face, a clear sign of someone who had long ceased to care for mirrors.

 his breath ragged and shallow, tearing through his lungs like splinters. Sightless beneath the layers coiled around his eyes, he crashed into branches and tree trunks, each collision drawing a grunt, a gasp ,yet he pressed forward.

" Ungh .. haaaah ..hnffff..haaah " 

Leaves whipped against his skin. Twigs clawed at his arms.

He tripped again , knees to earth, palms skidding through dirt and roots , then rose with a broken groan, staggering upright as a cry tore from his throat.

His breath came in broken surges, and with every jarring step through the thicket, the strain clawed deeper into wounds that had never truly closed. The bandages wrapped tightly around his eyes, once pale with silence, began to bloom ..slowly, hauntingly ..with spreading stains of crimson.

Blood, drawn from somewhere deep within, seeping through the open wounds

 A scream laced with disbelief, grief, and something far more primal 

A piercing scream of a man tore through the heart of the forest,half cry- half shout ,shaking the very air and sending the birds soaring away from the treetops.

" Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!! haah haaaah!!! ..aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!! ..ngh..aaaaaaaaaargh! haaaah!! "

Still, he ran. Still, he cried out 

Somewhere inside his head , some blurry memories haunting him as they get mixed with the heavy gruntings he was making 

> "Straighten your tie Darling

...there. Perfect."

"You've got this, okay? Good luck, love."

The words came gentle, like wind through leaves. A woman's voice ..calm, warm, real. Too real.

> Rustle, crunch, gasp.

" haaah! haah!!m

.huugffh...nnggff..hhnnffff .ungh " 

He tripped, caught himself. The sobs trembled in his throat, growing louder.

as another voice crosses by , echoing down his head .

> "Papa! Papa look!"

Giggling.

"I drew this! It's you! See? Papa is my Superman!"

He choked on his breath, heart hammering as another memory surged forward like blood from an open wound:

 "Come on, Miyuki. Kiss Papa goodbye before he leaves.

Smooch

 "Papa wa daaisuki!!"

-Giggling- 

Laughter. High-pitched, pure. The sound of small arms wrapping around his neck. The weight of love that once made him whole.

His voice,his real voice , cut through the illusion with a ghost of a smile:

> "Ittekimasu Sumi 

Then back to reality

 while running , The ground vanished beneath his feet.

A sickening slip.

. His scream broke open from the pit of his being, a howl wrapped in grief, desperation, rage. He curled inward, arms shielding his head, as he tumbled. Down and down, battered by every strike of the earth, bamboo trunks, 

He tumbled down the steep incline, body crashing through brush and stone .blood on bark. Each impact stole another breath, another fragment of will. A jagged rock caught his side with a sickening crack, twisting him midair.

And then...

stillness.

His body came to rest on a patch of damp earth deep within the forest. Chest rising faintly.

Silence thick around him.

He did not move.

He did not cry.

he did not breathe out another sound.

He .....

had lost consciousness.

A sharp bark cut through the stillness.

"Woof! Woof!"

Leaves rustled. A boy's voice followed, high and urgent:

"Did you find him, Pochi?!"

There was a pause. Then..

"Grandpa! Grandpa!! There..down there! I see him!"

The elder's voice, gravelly and breathless, trembled from above the ridge:

oh dear! ... Is he..is he dead ??

The underbrush whispered and snapped beneath their feet as the boy and the old man slipped down the slope, one cautious step at a time. Pebbles tumbled. Bamboo leaves brushed against their legs. 

"I can't believe he ran all this way... with wounds like that," the elder muttered, voice tight with awe and confusion.

As they reached the forest floor, the dog barked once more, closer now, pacing protectively near the collapsed man. The boy knelt first, reaching out, then looked up as the elder joined him.

The old man pressed two fingers to the stranger's neck. Silence.

Then...gulps

"Ahh... he's alive," he murmured in relief, voice hushed and shaken. "Still breathing."

A long sigh escaped his lips.

"What kind of man survives this...?"

The dog whined. Leaves stirred.

"come, help me carry him. Careful now," the old man urged, already shifting to lift the injured stranger.

"A.alright !" the boy answered, eyes wide, heart pounding.

the old man: " great ! now i'll have to patch these wounds once again.. easy when you try to hold him" 

Together, beneath the murmuring trees and the watchful sky, they began to carry the bloodied man back to their place .

Everything fades to black

. . .

Narrator's Voice:

The flutter of an owl's wings as it swoops upon its prey...

The hushed, padded steps of a cat gliding over earth on silken paws...

A snowflake falling soundlessly,only to vanish upon touch, leaving no trace behind...

These are sounds the human ear, by the decree of science, is simply not meant to hear.

And yet—what if we could?

What if, for a fleeting moment, we were granted the gift to witness such silence made audible?

What stirrings would awaken within us?

What forgotten emotions would return?

Would we begin to see the world,not as it appears?but as it truly breathes beneath its veil of color and motion?

And in hearing the unheard... would we ever be the same again?

everything goes back to nomal

Scene: 02

On a pristine sidewalk, precisely twenty centimeters above the ground, a crystalline snowflake descended with delicate grace. The moment it kissed the earth, it began to fracture, not from the top but from its core, rising like shattered glass in reverse, until nothing remained but a barely visible droplet of water.

A moment later, a running cat's paw landed on that insignificant droplet with a soft splash, the rhythmic pattering of its feet slicing through the silence as it darted toward a stone wall. It slid swiftly into the narrow space beneath a windowsill adorned with delicate flowerpots.

Further down the road, the cat glanced toward an old car rumbling across the street. Its wheels screeched over the asphalt with a coarse, grinding noise, the engine coughing out dark fumes. The exhaust smoke coiled into the air like a phantom cloud, only to be swiftly unraveled by the still breeze, as if the very atmosphere rejected its presence.

Above, the sky loomed with a deep, charcoal gray, so dark, it felt as though the heavens themselves brooded. A thunderclap tore through the clouds, a violent tremor that cracked the silence. The first raindrop fell.

Footsteps echoed.

Heavy, deliberate. The crisp clack of polished shoes against concrete. Black trousers, a thick cotton coat with large pockets. A man's right hand , broad, closed into a fist, a silver ring on his finger. He carried a cage veiled by a piece of cloth, the outline unmistakably that of a bird's. In his other arm, he clutched paper bags from the grocer's. Around his neck, a gray scarf, and from beneath its end peeked silver-gray hair at the nape of his neck. Atop his head rested a classic Fedora.

(fedora:a type of stylish hat ) 

His face tilted down as he walked. The cat watched him draw near.

Just as the feline placed its front paw forward to bolt, vibrations rippled across the pavement, soundwaves stirred by the rain striking the ground in hurried rhythm. The man's foot halted just in time, and the cat meowed as it darted past him.

From the cage he held, came a flutter of feathers.

"Just a little longer, Pecky," the man murmured. "We're nearly there."

Rain intensified.

tssshhhhh shhhhhh tssshhhshhsv

Across the street, three middle aged women, likely in their forties, strolled along the opposite pavement. Their eyes found the man as he trudged beside the wall, nearing a doorway.

They waved, their faces glowing with fondness and flirtation.

"Good day, Mōjin-san!" one called.

"Good morning, Mōjin-san!" another chimed.

"Shall we help you carry those groceries inside, Mōjin-san?" the third offered warmly.

Mōjin paused, bowed politely. With practiced grace, he tugged lightly at the brim of his hat.

"Good morning, ladies. Miss Mari, Miss Rose, Miss Asami,..you're all as elegant as ever," he said, nodding respectfully to each name. "I thank you, but I'm already at the café's door, as you can see."

The women giggled, hiding their blushing cheeks behind their scarves. It was clear , they knew him well.

Miss Asami, voice touched with admiration: "Ever the gentleman!"

Rose laughed: "Honestly, Mōjin-san, sometimes I wonder if you can actually see!" Then with a smile: "And you do look so dashing today."

_chuckles_

The others nodded enthusiastically.

"Hmm! Hmm!"

Miss Marie sighed wistfully: "We wish we could stop by for coffee like always..."

The others glanced downward, visibly reluctant to part ways.

Marie continued: "Unfortunately, we've got a meeting with the neighborhood ladies' association. Ugh. It'll be dreadful, honestly, just kettle talk and husbands complaints."

Her companions groaned in agreement.

Miss Asami stammered, clearly yearning to stay behind: "U-um... Could we still drop by later, Tenshō?"

(Tenshō: café manager)

Mōjin smiled beneath the shadow of his hat, his face mostly concealed except for his thick gray mustache and a sliver of a smile.

"Of course, ladies," he said. "Today's coffee is on the house."

Their hearts skipped a beat.

Asami blushed.

Rose cheered: "yattaaa!"

Marie turned in a mock agony, covering her mouth in a melodramatic cry: "Such nobility! Marry me, please!"

The three waved him farewell as they continued down the street, casting longing glances back heading towards their destination.

At last, the man exhaled deeply, the breath of someone who had traveled far, perhaps not in distance, but in burden. He stood before a glass door framed with thick wooden panels, worn and smooth with age. Slowly, he slipped his hand into his coat pocket and retrieved a single, old-fashioned key.

Then, in a movement both strange and deliberate, he gave the bottom of the door a soft kick with the tip of his foot, not enough to open it, but just enough to make it sing.

The impact created a faint metallic thump, but what followed was far from ordinary. Sound rippled outward in concentric waves, like a pebble dropped in still water. These invisible pulses danced across the wooden panels, brushed against the stone tiles, and flowed into the keyhole.

As the waves reached the door's center, a momentary flicker overtook the glass, turning it into a monochrome sketch, a black-and-white imprint of reality, as if time had blinked. For less than a second, everything was drained of color, shadows deepened, lines sharpened, and the world took on the stark contrast of ink on paper. Then, with a subtle shimmer, the door returned to normal.

The key entered the lock with a quiet click, turned, and the mechanism gave way. A small chime above the door jingled lightly as it opened, and the man stepped inside.

Outside, hanging quietly beside the door, was a rustic wooden sign that read:

"Thank you for stopping by — You're always welcome."

And from just beyond the door, his voice called out:

"Here we are."

A gentle glance revealed the classic wooden wall panels surrounding the entrance, inviting, and full of quiet character. Above the doorframe, another wooden sign greeted the world:

"いらっしゃいませ" — Irasshaimase

Beneath it, in soft cursive:

Irasshaimase Café.

Scene: 03

He unbuttons the sleek black coat draped around his shoulders, revealing a crisp white dress shirt beneath. With deliberate grace, he pulls down his sleeves, black cufflinks catching the soft ambient light. His collar is stiff and pristine; he adjusts it up to his neck after removing the gray scarf, which he lays neatly on the counter. As he slips off the coat, his imposing back comes into full view, broad shoulders, powerful musculature, the kind that hints at sculpted strength even beneath the loose oversized fabric.

He unfastens the top button of his shirt and then removes his fedora, revealing a distinguished face weathered not by time but life itself. His hair is a short, silver-gray, soft and silk-like, swept back in tidy waves that sway with the faintest breeze. Thick brows arch over eyes that remain shut- sealed. A sharp, Roman nose. A well-trimmed mustache and beard that exude elegance. There are no true signs of age on his face save for the ash-gray hair and a few faint creases earned through contemplation and decay.

He carries his coat to the corner and gently hangs it. His large hand grazes over the fabric of a black barista-style vest, which he dons over his shirt, fastening each button carefully. Then..

a sudden, soft flutter was heard from the bird cage. His head turns sharply toward the sound, though his eyes remain closed. A smile plays on his lips.

Mr. Mōjin:

"Ah, Pecky. I nearly forgot you were there."

He peels the cover from the cage. Inside, a female umbrella cockatoo

 flaps her wings with joy, her crest feathers raised in delight recognition after seeing its owner's face .

(umbrella cockatoo: a type of parrots )

Pecky whistles cheerfully, rocking side to side, singing in rhythm,

"Genzō… Genzō… Good morning! Good morning, Genzō!

The old man chuckles, opening the cage. She hops eagerly onto his arm and climbs up to his shoulder, repeating her greeting with the devotion of a dear friend. With her crest still fanned in delight, she taps his cheek gently with her beak

her own little kiss.

Genzō:

"Good morning, my dear Pecky. Sorry for the darkness

didn't want you getting caught in the rain."

He strokes the soft feathers atop her head. Then, with practiced ease, he reaches for the table beside him. His hand skims across the surface before he firmly plants his boot on the ground with a resonant stomp.

" Thump! " 

And then....

everything changes.

The world goes silent, save for the deep, dull thud that rings outward. A pulse of sound bursts from the sole of his foot, rolling through the café like an invisible wave. It slips between table legs and chair frames, bounces off marble countertops, caresses the wooden beams of the ceiling, and skims along the elegant moldings of the walls. Every object trembles ever so slightly under its passage

ceramic cups atop shelves, glass lanterns suspended in vintage ironwork, the edge of an untouched menu holder.

The sound returns.

The echo flows back to him, coiling upward through the floor and into his bones

starting at his heel, coursing all the way up through his bones, until it finally reaches his skull like a sacred vibration.

He tilts his head subtly, as if aligning to the vision formed behind his eyelids.

Now, he sees.

Not with eyes, but with mind.

A ghostly blueprint etched in black and white. 8 round tables . The counter stretching like an altar at the back. The outline of the chandelier overhead, ornate and silent. The texture of the tiled floor. The barstools tucked in alignment. The distant glint of the kitchen's steel handle, half-open. Even the delicate frame of an old radio cassette player forgotten on a back shelf.

all of it, there.

He walks toward the kitchen. His steps are precise, unwavering. At the sink, his hands explore the upper cabinets until they land on a Microfiber cloth and a bottle of glass cleaner. He wets the cloth, closes the tap, and returns to the main room.

With quiet purpose, he begins to clean.

The glass tables shine under his touch. Not a smudge is spared. The windows are next

he sprays a fine mist, wipes in slow, even circles, then unclasps the rear bar window and lets in the cool breath of morning.

Another stomp

this time softer, but no less powerful.

The café breathes again with invisible energy. This time, the image in his mind is even sharper. Power outlets. Drawer handles. Shelves with lined-up cups. Teaspoons and coasters. The faint drip from the tap in the bar sink. The sway of the hanging plant near the door. All drawn inside his skull like ink soaking into parchment.

He reaches for the outlet switch, flips it. A soft golden glow floods the café, turning shadow into sanctuary.

Menus are placed one by one on the tables. He collects the morning supplies from the bar and retreats to the kitchen. Coffee beans are opened, measured, ground with reverence. The kettle sings softly, a promise of warmth to come.

Pecky chirps in joy once more. He breaks off a small piece of sponge cake and offers it on his finger. She leaps back into her cage with happy flutters, and he places the rest of the treat in her bowl before gently closing the latch. He lifts the cage and hangs it above the bar, facing him.

With practiced care, he arranges the cups in the sink, rinses them, wipes them dry. The café is quiet now, but filled with presence. Light hums through the windows. The wooden shelves radiate old warmth.

Finally, he pours the coffee into a small cup. He sits, lights a cigarette. takes a deep breath in then lets out one heavy blow like a smoke cloud in the air .Smoke curls into the golden air like a memory waking up.

Scene 04: 

Half an hour slipped by. The old man sat quietly in his chair behind the bar, having opened the nearby window to let the lingering scent of smoke drift away. He gently toyed with his parrot, Pecky, while she pecked contentedly at the cake .

With a restless mutter, as if longing for the bird to speak and break the monotony of an empty café, Mōjin coaxed:

"Naah, pecky... Is it tasty?

Naah, Pecky... Speak to me a little will ya ?

Naah, for heaven's sake, pecky... boredom is killing me.Did the 

sweetness of that cake made you completely forget bout me?

 that hurts this old man's heart ya know 

He sighed, a wistful, almost childlike sound, as the parrot ignored him, focused entirely on the cake munching with her beak.

Suddenly, the doorbell jingled.

Dling ! 

A slender hand pushed the door slowly open, revealing a woman with fiery red hair, draped beneath a black hood. She stepped in cautiously, clutching her bag close to her belly. Behind her followed a man in his thirties, his tired face shadowed with distraction. He wore a coat, thick glasses for weak eyesight, and a scruffy beard,a careless trace of preoccupation, as if the weight of thoughts kept him from tending to himself.

With each step they took, the old man's ears perked. The sound of their footsteps sent subtle vibrations rippling through the floor, sweeping across the café's corners and reaching him like whispers. He slowly turned his head toward them and rose, bowing slightly with a gentle smile, hands folded respectfully before him.

They moved a few steps further, and still, the old man followed the cadence of their steps. Even the woman's breath struck him as unusually strong, and through the quiet, he heard their heartbeats.

- ba dum..ba dum.. du-dum..du- dum

Stood in his place, a strange sensation gripped him. In a murmured thought he whispered to himself:

"A man and a woman...

Something's off...

There's another heartbeat, faint, mixing with hers...

 as if ..

listens again into the silence 

lub-dub..lub-dub..lub-dub

 an embryo? ..first months probably?

anyway, time for work "

He ceased his motion and approached from behind the bar, bowing once more as he greeted them.

"Welcome to Irasshaimase Café. Please, feel free to take any table you like."

He stood with his eyes closed, smile steady, giving them space.

The woman glanced at the man with her, with hesitation and asked,

"Which spot do you prefer, Hayato? Any place in particular?"

Hayato's gaze remained fixed downward, brow furrowed as if reluctant to be here, wishing to escape. When she repeated her question, he snapped back to the present.

 hayato? are u listening to me?

"Hmm? aaah.. No... doesn't matter "

he replied

Her eyes swept the room until settling on a table in the corner, near a window.

"Then ..shall we sit there?" she proposed, pointing as she clutched her bag and moved toward it without waiting for an answer. Hayato followed, his steps heavier than hers , hands stuffed deep into his coat pockets. Until they sat facing each other.

Behind the counter, the old man laid his palm on the edge, fingers brushing the surface of the bar where he usually sat, his senses absorbing the rhythm of their approach. Each step, every sound,the shuffle of chairs ,sent waves beneath the café's furniture, delivering precise coordinates of their chosen spot.

He picked up the café's menu,a wooden plank decorated with classic patterns, eyes still closed, he walked toward their table. Standing before them, he set down the menus and bowed again.

"Please, take your time picking. Call me whenever you're ready to order."

He retreated slowly to his seat, engaging the espresso machine, then grabbed a damp cloth to polish the bar's surface.

The woman picked up her menu, studying it while Hayato's gaze never left her carelessly unbothered smile unlike his own troubled face. Though he appeared indifferent, even uninterested in the menu, his eyes tracked her movements.

She hummed softly, eyes darting left and right, absorbed in the offerings.

The menu read:

~ Irasshaimase ~ 

 { Menu }

Hot Drinks:

Matcha Latte (抹茶ラテ) – 580 yen

Hojicha Latte (ほうじ茶ラテ) – 550 yen

Genmaicha Tea (玄米茶) – Green tea with roasted rice – 500 yen

Cafe Latte (カフェラテ) – 520 yen

Espresso (エスプレッソ) – 450 yen

Royal Milk Tea (ロイヤルミルクティー) – 550 yen

Yuzu Tea (ゆず茶) – Japanese citrus tea – 500 yen

Cold Drinks and Refreshments:

Iced Matcha Latte (アイス抹茶ラテ) – 600 yen

Brown Sugar Kokuto Milk (黒糖ミルク) – 580 yen

Mixed Fruit Juice (ミックスジュース) – 620 yen

Fruit Soda (フルーツソーダ) – Yuzu, peach, or plum flavors – 520 yen

Homemade Lemonade (自家製レモネード) – 500 yen

Sparkling Water (炭酸水) – 400 yen

Japanese Ice Creams:

Matcha Ice Cream (宇治抹茶アイス) – 450 yen

Black Sesame Ice Cream (黒ごまアイス) – 450 yen

Matcha Parfait (抹茶パフェ) – 850 yen

Anmitsu (あんみつ) – Jelly with seaweed, fruits, and red beans – 700 yen

Shiratama Cream Zenzai (白玉クリームぜんざい) – Sweet rice balls with cream and beans – 750 yen

Hojicha Soft Ice Cream (ほうじ茶ソフト) – 480 yen

Japanese Sweets:

Matcha Roll Cake (抹茶ロールケーキ) – 600 yen

Japanese Pancakes (もちもちパンケーキ) – Soft and thick – 780 yen

Dorayaki (どら焼き) – Pancake filled with sweet bean paste – 500 yen

Japanese Cheesecake (チーズケーキ) – Light and velvety – 620 yen

Sakura Mochi (桜もち) – Cherry blossom-flavored rice cakes – 450 yen

Custard Pudding (カスタードプリン) – Japanese caramel cream – 500 yen

---

Their silence shattered as they spoke almost simultaneously, sentences overlapping.

She asked, eyes still on the menu,

"So... how have you been lately?"

Hayato: eyes cast downward, scowled:

"Are u willing to speak anytime sooner ? or are we going to keep staring at each other"

She replied without meeting his gaze, holding the menu before her face.

"can't even look me in the eyes huh? ,

 and i just did " 

Finally, she looked at him, awaiting an answer to her first Question

"That's none of your business," he shot back sharply, then added,

"Tell me what you want from me, straight up."

His fists clenched on the table, voice growing heavier with each word.

Their eyes locked; she smiled bitterly before returning to the menu as if verifying some truth.

"I see you've managed to get over me. Good for you."

Hayato closed his eyes, rubbed between his brows, adjusting his glasses, then sighed deeply.

"Listen..Hanako, if you're here for amusement, I'm not. What do you want? Spill it out, what do you want from me"

" ......how Cold," she said with a smirk as she sighs with a cool tempered expression on her face.

Hayato slammed his fist on the table in frustration, drawing the old man's attention to the sharp sound.

Hanako watched his outburst with a smile of satisfaction, then lowered her gaze and spoke softly,

"I want to apologize for what happened between us before. I never meant for things to get this bad."

Hayato ground his teeth, fists tightening on the table.

"So here we go again. Is that all?"

She studied him quietly, then turned toward the old man.

Hanako: "Umm... excuse me, Tenchō. Could you come here for a moment?"

Tenchō – a respectful term for the café's owner or manager.

The old man rises from his seat with composure. He gently places the damp cloth he was using on the edge of the counter, then brushes his apron subtly. With unhurried, dignified steps, he begins making his way toward their table, guided only by the faint echoes of their voices, the shifting of their posture, the subtle rhythm of their breath.

Hanako watches him approach, intrigued by the way he move, eyes sealed yet his walk is uncannily precise.

The old man stops just at the edge of their table, bows slightly, hands folded gracefully in front of him.

Genzō:

"Yes, my lady. How may I assist you?"

Hanako, with a sudden softness in her tone:

"Sorry to call you over like this. I just..

Hanako pointed to the menu.

"I'd like the yuzu tea and custard pudding, please."

She glanced at Hayato.

"what about you? What will you have?"

For the first time, Hayato raised the menu, attempting to find something to pick.anything actually. Hanako's sarcastic smile returned, hand resting on her cheek.

"You're the same as ever. Want me to choose for you?"

The old man interjected gently, that unfading smile playing on his lips:

"Excuse me, madam. As much as the pudding choice was excellent, don't you think citrus drinks might affect you and the baby especially in its first months ? If you wish, may I suggest royal milk tea, kokuto milk, or mixed fruit juice?"

Her index trembled slightly as she clutched the menu, staring at him with wide, pale eyes.

"..How... how did you ..how did u deduce that?" she whispered, voice trembling. "I only found out myself a few weeks ago."

The old man grasped his order tray to his chest, about to answer, but Hayato abruptly slammed the table again, shock evident on his face. He rose, exclaiming,

"What's this?! What are you two talking about?! Hooy!"

The old man muttered an apology,

"ōtto ( as in oops) ... I seem to have spoiled something unintentionally. do Forgive me."

Hayato glanced between the old man and Hanako, who stared silently and seriously at the barista. He decided to sit back down, still visibly shaken, his face puzzled and lost with urgent questions . his face then suddenly changed as she strangely cooled down then starts laughing to himself, shaking a bit as his laugh slowly escalates till he burst out laughing out loud .

" Hhhehem..hehem..hehhem..ehhahaahaaaa.!.haahhaahhaa !!" 

 leaning forward on the table 

" so this is it now ? " 

Hanako: what do you mean ? what's wrong 

* tries putting her palm over his hand but he slaps it away and sighs finally taking a deep breath as he was done laughing, then claps with both hands *

 Hayato : cool move , cool move i must give it to u 

How much ?

 hanako looking at him confused

hayato to the old man : How much did she give to u , you know ..in order to memorize ur script 

Genzō: Feeling the man's heartbeat raising realizing he's holding back his anger behind that question , but the old man had no clue why the man said that yet 

" i'm Sorry Sir ? " 

Hayato : Come on! you two are willing to tell me this whole thing isn't a set up? her leaving me a mail last night saying let's meet and she got that urgent thing to say and something bout this meeting being a life point changing , now through all the years we've been married , we never been to this place yet she rushed me in here , no offence sir , i mean i can hardly blame u for anything, she's the Devil with the plan " 

Hanako : It was Raining! while every other shops been closed , this was the only Caffé that's been open 

 now am i lying here ?

 Hayato : Thanks to the rain , probably not . but you can't deny this isn't a set up , you guys clearly know each other just admit it and we can move on

Hanako shouts : For God's sake Hayato, Look at you! , you're acting so childish now, i never imagined you'd be this paranoid! , this is way too much !

"

Genzō: rubbing his chin collecting at the thoughts together after hearing the two shouting now while he's standing in between 

 thinking to himself 

" Aaaaah crap, this is just great , what a way to start the day " 

the two keeps shouting

Hanako : Please calm down hayato! I swear there's no such a thing as a setup , i don't know this café's owner , nor have i been to this place before, and ..i never told him .. 

 haaaagh.. this was never meant to come like that!..none of this was meant to happen that way 

Hayato : taking a hard look at her then at the old man

" Not buying it!" 

Hanako : please Hayato, i myself don't know how he knew bout my pregnance either , but i swear to you if not for me , consider it for the good time we had knowing each other , you're being too paranoid Hayato, i never thought u'd ever turn into.. this "

 points at him as if this now him is scaring her 

Hayato: and thanks to whom ya think ?

 answer me , thanks to whom!? You're afraid of what u've made now huh?

 what ? cat's got your tongue now huh?

Hanako gulps back anything she had to say and remained silent while looking down.

Hayato: i thought so .

Hanako paused for a bit then opened her purse to pull out what seemed to be a pregnancy test paper then put it down on the table

hayato: what's that ?

Hanako sitting back on the chair : You might wanna sit back before u read this .

Hayato adjusts his glasses then takes a deep breath before sitting back , holding the test papers to himself and start reading them out silently 

Hanako: this is the main reason why i called you , i thought long and hard then i came to decide that you deserve at least to know bout this , anything else, is your decision .

Genzō standing in that awkwardness while thinking to himself: 

 Naaah .. hooy ..did they just ignore me completely? i'm all happy for u two and all but ..can u two just finish ordering and let me go? " 

Hanako raised her eyes to the old man, still stunned, ignoring Hayato for the time being while he reads the papers

" sorry u had to witness all that Tenshō" 

Hayato shouts: Hanako ! is this true , is what i'm reading true ? are u really pregnant ? with our baby ? i wanna hear it from u 

Hanako sighs : Yeah , it is your baby 

Genzō cought the same vibration in her tone same as eirlier 

hayato : Since when ?

Hanako: I just knew recently, thought i had a stroke , went to see the doctor and here we are 

Hayato : how is that possible ? we haven't been....

Hanako( as tears starts to form down her eyes ) " : Are u pointing out that u still don't believe me ?" 

Hayato being reasonable: Judging by the time we went separate ways, and even when we were together , We rarely had time to do it so the answer is Yes .

Hanako( Starts crying ): i'm sorry ..i ..

gets up as she turned toward the owner bowing down

" i'm sorry tenshō, but i think i'm leaving , would u please cosider declining my order " walks two steps forward before she was held by her wrist as Hayato stopped her 

 Hayato looking straight forward while holding her wrist behind him: Hanako.. Sit down 

Hanako still crying : Why? there's nothing i'm gonna do that will make u believe me , what's the point of staying then ?

 Hayato in a cold tone : Sit down 

he then looked up at the Café owner and smiled , probably for the first time :

: Anoo.. Tenshō , sorry to keep u waiting all that long , Well u seem to know what's good on the menu, you know what ? i'm gonna trust in your choice , bring me whatever u see fits the situation, probably something strong , i may need it 

a broken smile escapes his face as Genzō silently Held up the ordering tray up to his chest and smiled : 

I take those words for an honor , his face turned toward hanako following her as she sits back in her place

 " what about the Madame ? sorry to ask at such an inappropriate time , but would u like to confirm your order ?

Hanako : Rubs between her eyes: i'm sorry tenshō , can u please remind me what was it that u recommended for me eirlier ? 

Genzō: Royal milk tea, Kokuto Milk or Mixed Fruits juice, Ma'am.

Hanako: aaah yeah, and the yuzu tea was a bad choice ?

Genzō: well most doctors would recommend avoiding citrus drinks for pregnant women especially at their first months while the embrio haven't take its full form of a body yet . The yuzu tea is simply extracted from the yuzu fruit , which is a citrus type of fruit that tastes like a mix between Lemon, Mandarin and grapefruit .

Hanako: and the royal milk tea gives no harm? 

Genzō:That is correct Ma'am , It has a strong Tea base thanks to the Black tea leaves used in it , taking Darjeeling or Assam leaves for example which helps in relaxation , meditation, fixing the blood temper . as well as the creamier texture due to the Whole milk used which gives a smooth yet creamier luxurious texture , the whole milk used is rather safe and nutritious during pregnancy, providing Calcium , protein and Vitamins like Vitamin A, B12,B1 and vitamin D " 

 Hanako: Whoa tenshō , This is really Amazing , You must Really love your Job , i mean most café owners wouldn't even care if their drinks are served bitter or sweet

Hayato : nodding silently 

Genzō: Thanks Ma'am, And yes i do love my Job 

Bows respectfully with his unfading smile

 Hanako : smile , ah by the way ,Tenshō, i'm still in a shock bout when you said eirlier , not only u guessed my pregnancy right , but u even said i was in the first months 

 i only knew four days ago and only since i had what i thought was a stroke , otherwise i wouldn't have gone yet to the doctor 

 so how were u able to tell ? please i'm dying to know , you don't happen to be one of those chōnōryukusha now do u ?

( Chōnōryukusha : a term used to describe those with psychic super powers like mind reading, telikenisis etc) 

Hayato : Oh yeah , that makes us two, i'm also curious to know how were u able to tell since both of u insist that u don't know the other 

Genzō silently standing in between the two thinking to himself while facing hayato

" Alright, this is the second time i'm getting through this brat's mockery, yeah i'm killing him " 

Genzo bows respectfully leaning down between the two holding the tray to his chest before he rubs his chin thinking then speaks :" u wouldn't be able to take the truth itself but let's see.. uh.. well if i told u that this old man in front of you is Capable of hearing Sounds beyond the normal hearing range , sounds that most ears aren't able to detect" 

Hanako : that still doesn't answer how you knew bout my pregnnacy that precisely 

Genzō: well then what if i told u , i heard both your and ur husband's heartbeats when u first came in, then i was caught by your strangely unique heartbeat , yours was beating with two different patterns which caught me first , i checked again then realized it was an embrio beating inside of you. the faint weak sound was enough for me to tell.

The couples froze for a moment before they both burst out laughing 

Hanako : hahahaha ,yaayaayaaya ,Arienai!! that would make u a super human Tenshō, you're so funny 

 Hayato nervously laughing : hahaha , Sonna Wake nee Daro ! for humans to be able to hear heartbeats no matter how good we can get , it's just impossible .

(Arienai: japanese term means : it's impossible , there's no way )

( Sonna wake Nee daro !: a strong denial of something like: there's no way that's true ) 

Genzō with that unfading smile : Told You so , Dewa ..i'll be back with the drinks " 

( Dewa: a japanese conjunction used often to change topics as in :well then, alright then..) 

 Bows as he leaves the couple walks back behind the bar .

Scene: 05

Behind the counter, Genzō moves.

His steps are silent, guided not by sight but by memory etched in sound. The moment he enters the space behind the bar, it's as if the air shifts , like a monk entering his altar

He reaches for the black Okinawan kokutō sugar. His fingers glide over the jars until they find it.

Clink.

A small copper pot welcomes water and kokutō, simmering into a dark syrup. The low sputter of heat echoes, delicate and deliberate.

Next, the black Darjeeling tea leaves,

Genzō grinds them gently with a wooden pestle , the whispers of tea leaves breaking sound like soft footsteps in the rain.

He pours hot milk into the kokutō syrup and stirs. The aroma rises , warm, nurturing giving out a luxurious scent to it

He turns toward the juicing station, fingers ghosting over fresh produce.

Banana ,Mango, Blueberries,Apple,

And a few thin slices of pear.

He avoids papaya, pineapple, and anything too acidic or risky and without making any mistake mixing between ingredients. He knows without needing to be told what is safe for the unborn.

Whirrrrrrrrrrrl

The juicer sings as he blends the ingredients. The colors swirl , gold, orange, soft lavender like the sky before dawn. He pours it into a tall glass, finishes with a single mint leaf placed exactly at the center.

Meanwhile , The couples are sitting together at their table watching as the old man was making their orders behind the bar .

Hayato: so ..hah.( laughs nervously) .i'm becoming a father huh? still can't believe it 

Hanako: reaches inside her purse and pulls out some papers then tossed them at the table in front of him

hayato: what's these now ?

Hanako: Our divorce papers .

Hayato conflicted :...? what's the meaning of this ? 

Hanako: isn't that what you wanted ? us to break up ? i've been thinking about it but now i think i shall grant u that .

Hayato : hold on, i'm still trying to figure this out .. why? why this ?

Hanako: what ? that was supposed to be some good news for you now right ? 

Hayato tilts his head : Under different circumstances , yes .

Hanako: "Oh, the baby?"

(she tilts her head, eyes wide with false innocence)

Please. It's barely a heartbeat, Just a whisper in the dark , easy to silence.

I already made the call.

She taps her phone four times like it's a game.

Wednesday morning. Clinical, clean, no fuss.

Hyato: are u going to....?

Hanako: Abort it ? but of course , i'm not ready yet to step into the single mother world, no please 

Hayato: Why would u want to kill it ?

Hanako smiles underneath: what else would u like me to do ? 

Hayato: Keep it 

Hanako : and then ? are u even listening? i'm not willing to sacrifice my life to struggle alone with a baby

Hayato: u can't decide this on your own! 

Hanako pushes the divorce paper for him on the table: I can , after u sign these .

Hayato shouts : The baby changes everything Hanako! 

Hanako sarcastically: Oooh Kowwa! 

( a sarcastic way of saying scary ) 

Genzō 's ear perked to the sound as he hasn't missed a single word from their conversation but he remained silent while perfectly mixing the drinks .

Hayato shouts again: Hanako! take it seriously !

hanako: what for ? isn't this what you wanted ? 

Hayato frowned silently

hanako smiles : see ? you can't even deny it .

Hayato : i still can't get past what u've done to me , to us! ..to our marriage !

Hanako: and that's another reason why you should sign for divorce ,right?

give yourself some peace , it's easy, just grab the pen, click it, then sign in and.. u'll be free to live ur life , get married , get happy again

or perhaps u already got a girl since you're looking at me as if u wish to kill me so bad . laughs underneath.

Hayato kicks his seat getting up outraged : You know exactly why! You know exactly why! don't start this now! Hanako looking down calmly despite hayato is getting outraged : i'm not starting it , but actually ending it..for good.

Hayato shouts as he breaks : Why did u do that ..why did u have to do that to me?

Hanako: didn't u just ask me not to start this over ? why are u starting it now then?

 you never cared to let me explain anything to u that day, now that u heard there's a baby u're asking Why? 

Hayato: what else there was for you to explain to me ? i caught you red handed , there was nothing you could've said .

 He starts having a flashback 

The flash back : 

--------------------------

Hanako tracing lipstick across her lips while staring into the Mirror. The morning sun slipped through the curtains and brushed her cheek, making her skin glow faintly. She studied herself checking one last time. Every detail had to be perfect. Lips just a shade too red. Hair cascading like silk down her shoulders.looking her best .

Her phone buzzed gently against the vanity. She didn't jump; she was expecting it.

picks up the phone

"Mhm , yeah he's not home , said he probably gonna stay the day at work too" she murmured happily with a half-smile. " oh You're outside ? just a minute , i'll come answer the door babe "

The phone clicked shut, and she stood. The lipstick clattered against the marble as she left it behind. Her heels were soft on the hardwood floor as she moved toward the front door with something close to a dancer's grace.

She opened it

Turns out to be someone else at the door , Wasn't hayato at least , He was taller than her husband, broader too. And his scent, thick with cologne and summer air, hit her like a drug. She kissed him quickly, then slowly, then deeply, as if all the restraint she wore in daily life had been peeled away the moment his hands wrapped around her waist.

"If keeping a distance is how you make me miss you," she whispered between breaths, "then you've won."

He laughed low in his chest, his arms encircling her easily.

"No one's home?" he asked, brushing her hair behind her ear.

"He's buried in overtime. All day, finally something good coming out of him," she said. "It's just us."

He lifted her then, her laughter rising as he carried her through the house. The walls, the floors, the stairs up to her room , the very air seemed to know this rhythm they'd lived it before.

Elsewhere, under a sun that felt gentler than usual, Hayato stood at a flower stall with a shy sort of hope blooming inside him. He had taken the afternoon off, lied to his manager just to escape the gray walls of his office. It was a foolish thing to do, probably. But today felt important.

He looked over the selection, then pointed to a bundle of tulips. " Aah miss., And please i would like some lilies too," he added. "She used to love the way they smelled in the morning."

The florist girl smiled while cutting flowers then soaking them wet in water so they stay in shape , each cut from the scissor was clean . " so who's the lucky bird sir ? " 

Hayato laughs nervously rubbing the back of his head : ah hah , that would be my wife , Miss

An anniversary ? she asked 

"No," Hayato said, shaking his head. "Something better. A chance to fix what I've broken."

The florist girl: was it that bad ? i mean what you've done ? was it that bad ?

Hayato rubs his cheek considering it before answering : i dunno how to put it, it's a bit complicated 

The florist was now done picking up the flowers as she was preparing a dicorated paper to wrap them 

" you seem to have a good heart sir , those kind intentions and your love for your wife , i'm sure all that will pay off " 

The bouquet was wrapped in quiet paper and tied with a cream ribbon.

she hands it to him as he smiled brightly.

How much? he asked

The florist : That would be , 2000 yen sir

Pays its price and bowed with a smile

" Dewa, Thanks miss " 

The florist caught by his pure happy smile : Go get her Tiger 

 Laughs as he walks his way home, smelling the flowers thinking outloud talking to himself 

" i wasn't sure which one she loves , so i bought the two types i remember .

 bet that lazy couch potato is still in bed , well perhaps i shall take her out to dinner , somewhere fancy with fresh air , some place that would change the silent broken atmosphere between us , 

 we barely talk lately, even that she never shows it when we talk, but i can read her like an open book, 

work has been consuming our relationship, i barely give her enough time and affection , but not today ! 

clenched his fist 

 today i shall make it count, who knows , perhaps i could get lucky tonight 

 eheeheehhee eheeheehhee

* starts laughing weirdly while hallucinating a romantic night with his wife * 

without knowing , he found himself standing in front of his house yard as he starts walking toward the door

 he rehearsed the evening in his head. Dinner at that little Italian place by the station. Maybe even a movie after. He could already see the smile on her face when he opened the door and held out the flowers. Maybe she'd cry. Maybe she'd kiss him like she used to.

He unlocked the door and stepped inside.

"Babe ?" he called softly. "Look who's here .. supriiiise ! and i got you some flooowers ? now where's that sad squirl at ? come give daddy some huggies cuz i got a surprise for ya .. baabe ? baaaabe ? where a.. ?!!!

There was no answer. The silence didn't seem strange at first. Maybe she was napping. Maybe in the shower. perhaps the kitchen But then as he took a look back behind him , he noticed the shoes black, unfamiliar, and too large to be hers , they were manly shoes after all , neatly placed near the entryway.

time froze for a moment 

His heart stopped.

his hands start chaking 

his mind starts rushing into cunclusions yet he kept doing his best trying to deny all those thoughts coming to his mind as he took the first step with a deep breath

He climbed the stairs slowly , each step heavier than the last. The flowers trembled in his hands.

A sound reached him. A voice. A laugh. A woman's breath catching in her throat, then a man's whisper in reply.

His fingers closed around the doorknob. It didn't turn. Locked.

He stood still for a moment, as if by sheer force of stillness he could undo what was waiting behind the door. But the weight inside him snapped.

He kicked the door hard. Once. Twice. The third time, the wood splintered open.

She was there. She wasn't alone. got a man On the other side of the bed , both naked 

The flowers slipped from his fingers and scattered like fallen promises.

"Hayato—!" she gasped, scrambling to cover herself.

The man beside her jolted upright, fumbling for his pants, trying to speak, to explain, Hayato didn't hear a word. eyes went wide blinded by the rush of blood going up to mess his clear mind

His fists found flesh. There was no precision, only fury. The man grunted, cried out, folded under the blows. Blood smeared across the sheets and the wall. Something cracked , but the blows kept slamming down and each one heavier than the one before ,grunting his teeth hard , screaming as if his soul is being tormented down in hell

Hanako screamed his name, tried to pull him away, her hands clawing at his arm.

" Hayato! ! Please, hayato please stop!" she begged.

In a moment of Rage he pushed her back easily as he never took his eyes of that man's bleeding face , choking on his own blood but Hayato never had the intentions to stop anytime sooner 

blinded by anger , he kept raining him down with savage heavier blows .

Hanako Trembling to the view of her husband having her lover down between his knees beating him to death, this was never the hayato she knew , this was never the man she thought she married 

shaking with fear , no more words were to be heard from the man, only silence consuming the room , and the sound of bones cracking, blood splashing around 

she screams out loud in one long single cry 

 " Stooooop!!!!! You're killing him!!!"

Hayato Stopped his fist mid air , his knuckles were painted in red, eyes wide in shock

Hayato turned to her then. His face was one she had never seen before. Eyes wide, pupils went small as they centered in the middle. Mouth twisted. Another creature made of the man she once loved.

, the man who was dropped down on the floor finally coughed, blood bursting out from the corner of his mouth. 

On the floor, between them all, the bouquet lay bruised and broken petals crushed beneath a heel no one remembered stepping down.

He halted his fist mid-air,his knuckles dripping with blood, hovering over the man's face, now barely recognizable, soaked in crimson.

Hanako rushed in, tears already streaming down her cheeks as she threw herself to the ground beside the man.

"Kazuto!!… Kazuto!!… Babe.., speak to me… babe speak to me please, say something!"

Hayato staggered back a few stepsas he tumbled a bit. His eyes widened in disbelief.

He watched her - his wife- rush to cradle a stranger. Not to him. Not toward the man she vowed to love. But to another.

She knelt beside this bleeding intruder, clutching him, weeping as if her soul had been torn in two.

Hayato stood frozen, staring at her in stunned silence. A question echoed within him:

When…? When had she last cried for me?

And then the cruel truth struck him..

....

...she never did.

He had always shielded her from sorrow, gone to the ends of the earth to fulfill every wish she uttered, and yet… not once had she shed a tear for him.

Now, she wept for someone else.

Everything inside Hayato shattered. His legs weakened beneath him, as though the strength had drained from his very soul. He stumbled, lost in a chaos of betrayal and disbelief.

Slowly, his gaze drifted to the wide mirror on the wall.

He stared at his reflection, a silent, bloodied specter of himself.

He loosened his tie with trembling fingers, blood still dripping from his clenched fist. He drew in ..a long, deep breath.

nhhhhhffff..hfffuuuuuuh

And then, in a voice low and fractured, barely more than a whisper but laced with a fury too immense to fully surface, he spoke:

"Get out..."

Hanako froze. Her body trembled.

She looked up at him, unsure if she'd heard him right 

 shaking with fear in her eyes afraid of what he might do to her next 

"pick him up … and Get out "

"..gasps ..h...Hayato" Her voice cracked, desperate. "It's not what you think—I can expla—"

He didn't speak again. He simply raised his hand and pointed to the door.

The silence roared louder than any scream.

Hanako swallowed her words, choking on the weight of them.

She turned to Kazuto, barely conscious and bruised beyond recognition, and helped him to his feet. Together, they staggered out of the room.

A lingering shot: Hayato, standing alone as he walks to the window.

He watches as the car, the one Kazuto arrived in earlier, pulls away from the driveway ,carrying both of them away as she drags him in then drives them both away.

And only when they vanish from his sight…

Only then does he break.

His knees buckle.

And Hayato begins to cry silently, bitterly alone in the ruins of what once was..home

Back to the present 

Hayato staring now at that cold bitter expression on hanako's face , his eyes dart a bit at the divorce papers she was holding , He looked at her deep trying to see any remaining of the past her she used to be , trying to see the wife he once truly loved 

but no , the woman sitting face to face next to him is a demon , a venemous snake ready to bite him

Then, she leans in — smile sharp as broken glass.

She straightens up, fixing her hair, her voice dropping to a whisper, sugar-sweet and venomous:

But don't worry, darling.

I wouldn't let a lie grow inside me that long."

Hayato : a lie ? are u calling ur baby a lie?

Hanako : so was our marriage no?

Hayato: and who do u think was the main reason for that ? wasn't it your treachery?

Hanako: You never cared for me, you barely gave me anytime , Always work, work , work ,work , work work ! work!!

Hayato: huh? somebody had to put the food on the table , i worked extra hours every day till a late hour, just so i can come home hoping you'd welcome me home a smile on ur face . but no, you always had to find an excuse .

well that work of yours took you away from me, all i needed was to feel u close, Hanako shouted before she starts crying 

Hayato leans back against his chair : That's not even close for an excuse to cheat behind my back 

Hanako : to a Woman , it's more than enough 

i'm a woman hayato , a woman! seeking affection and love is what defines a woman

Hayato : Seeking love and affection is a thing , Spreading your legs is another .

. Hearing that line , Genzō tried his best not to laugh so hard but it slips out his lips anyway

" Mhhehm " 

the two paused and looked his way 

Clears his throat

" Ehhehem, Otto, do forgive me kindly " 

He fills a glass with clear ice cubesThen pours in cold milk , white flowing over ice like silk.

He picks up a small, lacquered matcha bowl,With a graceful motion, he opens a tin of ceremonial-grade matcha powder. His fingertips brush the surface,it's soft, fresh. A whisper of bitter earth rises to meet his nose. He smiles.

A small kettle clicks. Water, just under boiling, pours gently into the bowl. Steam curls upward, wrapping around his face. He takes up the chasen(a bamboo whisk) and begins to whisk in circles, then a zig-zag, then rapid beats like the rhythm of a steady heart.

The soft sound of bamboo against ceramic—shhh shhh shhh—fills the quiet.

He stops, still. Silence. The two finally turned their gaze away from the Café owner and locked eyes with each other once again.

The matcha foam breathes a perfect green cloud across the top.

Now, Genzō pulls out a tall glass.

Cold milk—almond, with a hint of vanilla, pours in first, swirling with a calm white grace. He adds a few ice cubes, each one clinking softly like temple bells in the distance.

Back to the tables 

Hayato: Where do u think was the line we crossed that ripped everything apart ? 

where was the mistake in your opinion?

Hanako: the mistake was when i first believed in your words when u said u'd make me happy

Hayato: yeah, no matter what , i was never meant to be enough

Hanako: tell me hayato, do u still love me till this day ?

Hayato pauses for a bit : hard to say now 

Hanako: Are u seeing anyone Now? 

Hayato: None of ur business

" Just answer me" she said

" No" he replied 

 Did you ever love me for real ?" she asks

" what's with this question now ?" 

" answer me hayato, .. please ?"

Hayato: what's the point in asking When u already gonna stick to a thought that u've drawn inside ur head .

Hanako: and that means ..?

Hayato: it means what it means.

Taps gently on the table as she asks : 

Aren't u going to ask back ? you can try 

Hayato: why? i'm sure u've thought everything through so far .

hanako pauses for a bit : 

 Kazuto..the man you ..found in our Room , after that day , he went in coma for 2 weeks, they had to patch his face up ..22 stitches , Broken ribs, I tried staying by his side until he woke up, and do you know what was the first thing he did when he saw me ?

hayato silently glaring into her eyes as she speaks 

 ... he cried - she said - cried like a baby, his face was as if he saw Death in me , called the nurses to get me out , refused to speak to me , and ever since .. i haven't seen him

behind the bar , genzô caught the same vibration in her tone he caught earlier, hitting like a drop of water as waves ruins the clear reflected image down his head 

Hayato: You both are welcome. 

 pauses for a bit 

 so you're trying to tell me u two never saw each other ever since ?

Hanako nods : Yes 

the same fuzzy vibrations again 

Hayato: how long have u been seing him before i found out ? you two seemed to know each other really well 

Hanako pauses : he was once my ex 

Fuzzy reflection in the water again 

knew him before i got married to u

 one day, i met him down the streets , he offered me a cup of coffee , we sat and brought back the past , then both of us went separate ways , and i thought that was it 

 Hayato: but it wasn't ?

scene: 06

hayato : ..No, you weren't home much , we lost communication, i was getting consumed in my own lonliness , needed someone to talk to 

days later , i saw him once again, thought it was a mere coinsidence , i needed someone to talk to , he lended me his ears ,we kept seing each other after that, nothing really happened 

 until that day , he rang on the doorbell, hugged me, Took me off guard, told me how much he misses me , how he was never able to forget me, i tried resisting at first, but he pinned me down, 

Fuzzy reflection on water again overpowered me, 

fuzzy reflection on water again 

before i realize it i was outmatched , soon i found myself surrendering to his touch 

that's where u barged in 

Fuzzy reflection on water again 

it was whenever Hanako kept lying , those were the images Genzō saw as a reflection from studying her heartbeat closely.

" the rest of the story is what you know , she , followed :

 " i'm not the only one stuck with a false idea inside his brain apparently, you wouldn't believe what i say no matter what either don't u " 

 " Hayato" : Easier said than done 

Hanako: yeah , same here 

Running her hand over her belly : now with this new life i'm expecting , i can not risk letting that baby grow inside, nor to get born in this world , can't afford a decent future for it, can't drop it out or abandon it , before i start getting attached to it, i better do it while i still can ..and you got a life now, i don't wanna ruin it on top

Broke down in tears 

Hayato moved by her tears , blaming himself and feeling the responsibility as he tried to find a way out , he didn't know it until his hand was resting over her shoulder 

" Come live with me, we can...we can still get back together ..it's still your home after all" 

Hanako sobbing:- uhh hnn ngh .hck..ungh..hck.. : uh ngh..no..no..i don't wanna be a burden

i only came today to tell u that and clear things up, i promise i'll walk away from you , you'll .unggh..you'll never have to see me again.

 Hayato , as if his body moved on its own, shot up from his seat, crossed to her and clasped her firmly against his chest: Shhhhh..shhhhh.. just don't ..don't add a word 

Hanako: bursts out crying as she leans in against his chest : hhhunh.. hhik.. i love You Hayato! i've always loved you..

i never meant for things to went in that direction.. i know you see me for a cheat..a backstabber snake.. but ..huunngh..i swear to u ..i never stopped missing u a single day, hhck..I breaks my heart to see how broken you've become, i can never forgive myself ..all i ever wanted ..was you with me when i need you..when i.. hiick.. crave you 

Hayato holding her tight , his face even sadder than before , his eyes burdened with guilt, he wasn't now blaming anyone else but himself.. rubbing her back : Shhuusht..everything's gonna be alright ..i do believe you Hanako, i'm sorry i got blinded by anger , but i'm not turning my back on you nor our baby .

 let's get back home after that, things been quite messy after u left but we'll clean it up, and so our past till now shall be washed out

Hanako - sobs sobs - throwing herself in wrapping her arms tighter around him, -sniffs sniffs- : i love you Hayato, i can't even imagine what i could've done if u didn't answer my call .

Hayato finally breaks in barely holding his tears while blinking beneath those glasses he's wearing: yeah...i love you too .

a faint devious smirk crept across her lips as he Finally said it .

 Hayato checks at the Old Café owner shouting : Aaaa Tenshō? what's up with our order so far?

Genzō raising his voice back with that unfading smile on his face : a.ah yeah, Do forgive this old man kindly, Your orders will come in a minute, i'm painting the final touch sir , i'll be there in a minute , thanks for your kind patience already.

Last, with a slow, reverent hand, he pours the matcha over the milk. It cascades down in swirls, green and white curling like a cloud .

He doesn't need to look to know: the layers are perfect. Balanced. Alive.

He gently places the finished drink on the counter.

Two straws.

Finally, the matcha ,vibrant green , forming a natural marbling between layers. No straw. This drink is meant to be admired before disturbed.

 a moment of shared silence 

Despite of his Calm hands of a magicien ,the old man's mind was somewhere else, captivated by that bitterness he felt whenever Hanako spoke a word 

internal Monologue

..hmmph, That woman, That woman is the devil's voice .Never in my life have i met someone able to lie that easily , Lies are coming out so easily as if she was born to it

that gentleman over there, is check mate, it was exactly like he said, she thought everything out .now he's dancing on the palm of her hand .

she managed to get his beats to strum back again with music , i can feel how happy he is now

Women can be dangerous huh?

a spoon slips from between his fingers as he drops it down , gets down on one knee to pick it up as he pauses ..

why should i care now ?

even if she lied , that's not my problem to begin with

 not his babe ? and then what ?

she made up that story ? so what ?

we're all rotten on the inside, this is our human nature.

he clearly loves her ... even if she.. doesn't ..

He's willing to go back ..even if she lied about the abortion plan .

putting both scales equally on each side, The baby will benefit having a home and two parents 

.. or one ...

that Skank will cheat again 

don't bother yourself Genzō!

She's gonna drain that poor guy 

Stay out of it Genzō !

The guy is already broken

you don't even know them, to u , they're just passing customers, soon as they leave ur door , none of this will matter 

she'll break him again!

so be it ! so be it ! plus what would u like us to do ? to go there and tell the Guy , his wife lied bout everything she said and he has to trust our words over her tears ? the blind café owner was able to tell the woman was lying just from the shifting in her heartbeats 

come on! please don't make a joke out of urself 

leave things be..learn to leave things up to fate .

Genzō frowned as he tilts his head their way in deep silence hearing the man's fragile pure laughters as things seemed to have started to work out for them.

 He begins plating the matcha parfait with a reverence usually reserved for rituals.

First: a layer of honey-sweetened red beans (anko)

Then: matcha jelly, cut into perfect translucent cubes.Followed by: a scoop of matcha ice cream, hand-spun earlier that morning.Small bits of chestnut.A curl of whipped cream.A sprinkle of roasted kinako powder.And at the very top: a single golden mochi ball dusted with matcha.

He prepares two — one for the husband, one for the wife.

Each spoon is placed beside the glass gently. No clang. No clutter. Only the whisper of placement.

he comes to the latte , placing a ceramic cup beneath the Espresso Machine 

Click- whiiirrrrrl

SFX: click – whirr – hiss

Fresh espresso flows, dark and rich, pooling into the cup with a crema as smooth as silk.

He warms the milk, holding the metal jug at just the right angle. The milk swirls, spinning into a glossy microfoam, . He tilts the jug, focused.

The old man's hand glides, drawing a delicate heart atop the latte with perfect control. he then stopped for a bit, then resumed writing down the cup

He pauses… then dips a thin stick into dark espresso and gently traces over the foam.

Yeah...you're doing the right thing 

 as he was about to put down all the cups in the tray ,A tender breeze swept through the quiet, warm and fleeting—

so gentle it felt like two delicate arms wrapping around his weary shoulders from behind.

For a moment, Ginzo forgot the weight of his age.

For a moment, it felt like her.

How could he ever forget that touch?

He froze.

His breath caught in his throat. His heart skipped like a stone across still water.

That presence...

It was impossible to mistake.

He knew that gentleness.

He loved that gentleness.

He turned around—suddenly, desperately—

and for a split second...

as if by a cruel miracle...

his blind world lit up.

There she was.

Standing just behind him.

A woman of aching beauty, with wide amber eyes that held oceans of memories,

smiling at him like no time had passed at all.

"...Is that really you?..Sumi !

Her name fell from his lips like a prayer.

His voice trembled, barely holding back the years he had buried inside.

He reached out with a shaking hand, longing to feel her warmth again, to touch her cheek, to make sure she was real

But before he could…

She vanished.

Her image dissolved like mist at dawn

soft, silent, cruel.

And the darkness closed in once again , 

Just like before.His dark world took his sight again.

whispered

" Thank You for passing by , My love " 

The old man resolved as he got down reaching for one of the drawers , took out a tiny device before slamming it back.. puts that tiny thing inside his Apron's pocket then finally held the tray carrfully then starts walking towards the couple

" "This little she-devil flutters like a mosquito around the lamp of the boy

Though behind the light lies fire...

 yet somehow the mosquitoes always forget

and embrace the glow until they burn."

" Oooy Little Asp! ...

You picked the wrong time and place 

to be slithering for food .

"No hard feelings.

But I'm about to Devour you whole now"

The old man walks slowly toward the couple, carrying a tray of their orders. Each of his steps echoes with a heavy, deliberate sound , as if he's about to do something unexpected.

He stops in front of them, just as they were laughing and holding hands.

"Ah... thank you, Tenshō," the husband says politely.

Without a word, the old man begins placing the items.

"Matcha parfait for dessert," he says, setting a cup before each of them.

"Special mixed fruit juice , as the lady requested."

Hanako smiles sweetly.

"Custard pudding..." he places it gently in front of her. 

He offers the iced latte to the man.

"I chose a matcha latte for you, sir... I'm confident it will help. They say in the past , shinobi used to chew matcha leaves to dispel hallucinations, illusions... even poisons."

As he places the cup before the husband , but hayato's eyes were still following the old man's hand as he puts down the orders on their table.

The old man lifts the final cup from the tray.

"And here it is... the café's signature royal milk tea for the lady"

Suddenly, he stumbles slightly forward,on purpose , tipping the cup , spilling its contents all over her.

"HOT! HOT!Hoooot!!!" Hanako shrieks and jumps from her seat.

The old man gently places his hand on her back to steady her but he slips the tiny hearing device and stump it on her back in a quick sneaky move she couldn't even feel, while Hayato leaps to his feet.

"HANAKO! Are you okay?! Are you hurt?!" he shouts.

The old man quickly hands her a towel.

"My deepest apologies, ma'am... I tripped. I didn't see... Please forgive this old man."

Hayato spins around and grabs the old man by the collar.

"Can't you see she's pregnant?! What the hell is wrong with you, you senile idiot?! What if something happened to my child?! Are you blind or something?!"

The fake light smile vanishes from the old man's face. Slowly, he lowered his head to meet Hayato's gaze their height difference becomes painfully obvious.

"Yes... I am.. sir," the old man says quietly.

Then, Ginzo opens his tightly closed eyelids.

Hayato stumbles backward in terror, he's looking into a void, nothing but blackened, burned-out sockets. The darkness seems endless. Marked by cauterization.

"Y-you… who are you?! How can you even live with a wound like that?! You're not... human..."

"Just an old man... running a humble café, sir." replied Genzō 

Before Hanako can turn around, Hayato screams:

"DON'T LOOK IN HIS EYES!!" his voice trembling with fear as he struggles to stand, his knees shaking.

Ginzo calmly closes his eyelids again and steps closer to Hanako.

"Ma'am, please accept my sincerest apologies... may I offer my arm? The restroom is just around the corner, to the left."

Ginzo's hand, large and calloused, gently touches her fragile arm.

Startled, Hanako instinctively pulls away.

"I can manage on my own, th.thank you..." she says, uneasy.

She glances at Hayato.

"It's fine, darling. It's just a spill. I'll be back right away. We can leave as soon as I'm done cleaning my dress."

Ginzo bows deeply, his eyes closed again.

"It will be to your left, past the last table, ma'am."

She walks off toward the restroom. Hayato tries to follow, but she insists he stay.

Reluctantly, Hayato pulls out his chair again and sits, clearly disturbed. He casts a remorseful look at the old man.

"I'm sorry, Tenshō... I didn't believe you were actually blind at first. I thought you were faking it. Please accept my apology"

Ginzo wipes the spilled tea from the table, then kneels to clean the floor.

"It's all right, sir. I get that reaction a lot."

"But... it's really hard to believe. I mean... I've never seen you trip or bump into anything. It's like you know where everything is. That's... incredible."

commented Hayato

Ginzo smiles faintly.

"Thank you, sir. And I apologize again... for spilling tea on your wife."

Hayato finally looks down at his cup. the smile he had on his face quickly fades away 

"Huh... What's this written here? Tenshō... what do you mean by this?"

Ginzo remains silent for a moment. Then, he stands in front of Hayato and places a small recorder on the table.

"Women tend to talk a lot in the restroom. If my guess is correct... she'll tell you herself."

"What's this? A recorder?" Hayato snaps, standing up and grabbing Ginzo by the collar again.

"How dare you?! Are you some perverted old creep?! Eavesdropping on my wife?! That's it ! I've had enough!"

As Hayato yells, shaking the much larger man, Ginzo doesn't flinch, but a monologue echoes inside his mind.

(You see what happens when you act on impulse... Have your legends faded with the black hair on your head? Are you now so senile you let people talk to you like this — and live?)

(Where is the man whose name once made the fiercest of men tremble?

 look at you , You... disgust me.)

Despite the rage, Hayato's whole body trembles. Even though Genzō hasn't moved, something about him some primitive, buried terror paralyzes the man.

Still, Hayato clenches his fist and prepares to punch him.

Ginzo remains still, listening to the voice in his mind, his left hand behind his back clutching the tray so hard the metal bends beneath his fingers.

(Please son… don't make me regret this...) those words never came out as if that was the hope Genzō was betting himself on

Suddenly, a voice comes from the recorder.

Hanako, speaking loudly near the restroom sink:

"Blind old fool!! He ruined my new dress — how am I supposed to go out like this now?!"

"If he's really blind, why do they even let him run a café? It's ridiculous... Damn it, now I have to face people like this!"

Her phone rings.

"What now? I'm in a bad mood, okay? Not the time for jokes... Yes, he's here. No, don't worry. I told you , I know my toys and all the buttons to press 

What? Of course he bought it , you should've seen the look on his face. 

'I'm gonna be a father, I'm gonna be a father...'" ( mocking him ) 

Ginzo leaves the recorder playing in front of Hayato and walks back to his seat behind the counter.

Hanako's voice continues:

"No, I'm just gonna make him sign the custody papers, that's all.

Haha , he asked me if we could get back together.

He quit his job and now he's writing some dumb novel.

'We'll start over this time, I'll sell books while I find a new job...' mimics him again 

Ugh, how pathetic."

She bursts into laughter.

Ehhahhahhahah

"I couldn't stand him even when he had a real job.

Now he wants me to stick around while he sleeps in garbage? Gross..."

A chilling silence surrounds Hayato.

He stares at the table, at the cup, at the world shattering around him. His heart pounds louder.

The recorder continues:

"You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find a doctor willing to fake the DNA test...

Yes, yes... I'll stay with him until I give birth, then I'll divorce him and make sure he keeps the kid.

Will you miss me?

I still hate pregnancy.you know w that was quite the bold idea you came up with , i must say 

I hate kids.

Worst part? Pretending to smile every day while looking at that four-eyed loser..."

Her tone softens.

 yabai ! "Time flew... Tell me you'll wait for me, Kazuto.

( yabai : serves here as Oh no ! expression) 

Don't worry, we'll find chances to meet , i'll be letting u know 

hahaha 

 what ? of course not ,I'll hang myself if I have to stay with him more than a week...

Love you 

If you cheat on me, I'll kill you.

Bye, baby... I'll go now before he comes checking. Bye!"

She dries herself, puts away her phone, fixes her makeup... and steps out of the restroom, heading back toward the table.

Meanwhile, Hayato sits frozen. The world silent , except for the storm now pounding in his chest.

Genzō walked back slowly to sit back behind the counter as he served himself a cup of black Coffee waiting for what's about to happen.

Hanako shows up : Hope i didn't keep you waiting for too long darling 

sits back on her chair , as she notices the shrouded darkness covering his eyes .

scene: 07

Hanako sat down facing Hayato and immediately noticed the change in his face: the color had drained from it, his features dark and stiff with shock and anger.

She slid her hand over his.

"Sweetheart, are you all right? You look pale. Did something happen while I was in the restroom? Are you feeling sick? If you're uncomfortable we can pay and leave, go somewhere else."

She rubbed his hand, trying to soothe him.

Hayato closed his eyes. Images flooded back, every sacrifice he had made for her, every second of his life spent on her, every dream he had abandoned. He drew a long breath, opened his eyes slowly, took her hand gently and smiled.

"No, not at all. I don't know why, but I feel as if a great weight has been lifted off me. I feel lighter than paper actually."

With his free hand he set the small recorder, hidden when she arrived, on the table between them. Still holding hands, Hanako frowned at the device.

"What's that, darling?"

Without a word Hayato pressed rewind and play. A calm-before the storm smile crossed his lips. The moment Hanako heard her own voice, her face blanched. She tried to rise, but Hayato's left hand clamped her wrist to the table.

As each word she had spoken in the restroom repeated, her complexion shifted,draining, reddening, paling again like a panicked chameleon about to collapse.

She trembled, whispering to herself, "Yabai… yabai, yabai, I'm going to die, t he'll kill me, I'm dead, I'm dead. Think! Think—how do I save myself?"

The recording reached its end.

Hayato set the machine on the table, removed his glasses, folded them, slipped them into his jacket , his other hand still pinning hers. Hanako lunged for the recorder, but Hayato snatched it away like lightning and slipped it into his pocket.

"Trying to get rid of the evidence?" he asked.

Hanako shook, sweat beading on her brow. "I..I don't know what you're talking about."

He leaned in. "I'm going to ask a few questions. Answer honestly. If you choose to lie, the consequences will be… severe. Understand?"

"W-what is that recorder doing here? Who would plant a listening device in a bathroom?" She stared at him, then darted a furious glance toward the old man sipping coffee in complete serenity. "You! It was you, you blind senile fool! How dare y...!"

She sprang up to lunge at the owner

Slap!

. A deafening slap echoed through the café. Hayato's hand.

"That was the first question," he said coldly. "And that was not an answer. Let's move to the second: why?"

"Why what?" she stammered.

Another slap, harder, faster this time she couldn't even see it coming .

"Do you know where lies your mistake? You answered a question with a question. Let's try again. Why?"

"L-let me go… please…"

A third blow came out of nowhere, tears springing to her eyes though she fought to hold them back.

"Why?" Hayato repeated.

She twisted toward Ginzo, screaming, "You wretched old snake, don't think you'll get away with thi—"

Ginzo raised his cup to her in a silent toast and sipped, waiting..waiting.. patiently 

" Am i going to hear another one? , perhaps anytime now ? "

Paaan!

She nearly blacked out.

"My apologies," Hayato said icily. "Perhaps I should change the question. What do you find so entertaining about what you've done? Choose your answer carefully, my patience is thin."

Silence. She shook, too frightened to speak.

Ten seconds passed. Another slap, spinning her head.

Thlaack!!!

 She toppled from the chair, shuddering at this quiet Hayato who frightened her far more than the raging version she once knew. She sobbed.

He stared at her with contempt, she was nothing but an insect now. "Stand up. I want an answer."

"Please… I can't take any more… no more slaps, I'm begging you…"

"Stand."

"I'll give it back, I swear. I'll disappear from your life forever… just let me go. I'll do anything… anything…"

"Why did you do it?"

"Because I'm… I'm trash. I have no principles. I love playing with men's feelings…" He released her wrist.

She bolted trying to escape as fast as she could but he blocked her path. "Wait. You forgot something."

Ginzo sipped again trembling with pure join while stretching his legs and let out a long yawn

huaaaaaaaaah 

Takes another sip

mhm, strangely this coffee tastes sweeter than usual , i'm sure i only put one spoon od sugar , 

must be something special in the brew " 

Thwaaack!

the hardest yet. She crumpled, feeling as if her head had come off her body.

Genzō sighs in relief : Ahhh..here we go again 

She crawled up, sobbing. "Forgive me, please… I won't show my face again… please…"

 Hanako fled the café, sobbing, laughing outloud , half-mad with shock as she ran into everything and kept stumbling into people while screaming like someone who's lost her mind .

Hayato finally sat. Ginzo opened the windows, then came to sit beside him.

From his apron he pulled a pack of cigarettes. "Smoke?"

Hayato was about to refuse, then changed his mind. "Y-yes… please, Tenshō."

Ginzo lit one for him, then one for himself, exhaling a long plume.

"Tell me, Tenshō," Hayato said. "Do you think letting her go was the right thing to do ?"

Genzō shrugged. "I can't say. It was your call, your life, your own choices " 

Hayato stared down at the floor. Ginzo asked, "Do you regret letting her escape?"

"I'm not sure… I felt I might actually kill her this time."

"If the price is fair ," Ginzo said evenly, "I could take care of the matter for ya . all i need is a simple nod from ya , Disposing the pair of them wouldn't be harder than wiping up that tea i spilled earlier " 

Hayato's eyes widened; he could hardly breathe. Ginzo's face stayed perfectly serious. The silence stretched, longer than it should be , until the old man cracked a faint smile.

"that was clearly a joke , I was joking, of course."

Hayato laughed nervously. "Ha… ha… right." 

that didn't sound like a joke at all , thought to himself .

pauzed for bit before asking

"How did you know she was deceiving me from the start?" he asked.

"I told you both at the beginning," Genzō said, blowing smoke upward, "but you two laughed, thought I was joking."

"That makes you some kind of monster, Tenshō," Hayato said, half-broken, half-awed.

 " but Thank you. , really , If fate hadn't brought me here, I'd have fallen into her trap again."

He bowed his head to the table in gratitude.

Ginzo rose. "I keep something for times like these."

He shuffled into the back, opened a cabinet, and returned with a dust-coated bottle dated 1997 and two small glasses.

"How about being my drinking partner for today?"

Hayato smiled, raised a glass for the pour. "It would be my honor, sir."

They toasted.

Hayato drained his glass, exhaled. "I don't know what to do now."

"No one waiting for you?" Genzō asked.

"Only an empty room."

"Then treat this as a chance to rebuild. You've done it before. You're a good young man, don't let that worthless asp win by breaking you. Your life is yours."

Genzō patted his shoulder. "Take the rest of the bottle with you. And tonight's drinks are on the house, It would be bad manners to charge you after all that ."

He took a few steps, then called back with a grin, "Next time you come I'll double every price and drain your credit card before I let you leave."

Hayato managed a smile. Genzō returned to his counter.

Half an hour later Hayato finished the bottle, thinking deeply. He stood, bowed. "Thank you, Tenshō. And thank you for the drink, it was the sweetest i ever tasted ."

"Dōmo. Visit again when you can," Genzō said, smiling.

Hayato left the café,heavy steps, but lighter heart.

---

Evening

Ginzo cleared the table; the sky outside had already turned violet.

Hayato reached his apartment, collapsed among scattered manuscript pages. He grabbed one, tore it up, screamed, began wrecking the furniture, smashing whatever he could reach. He caught his reflection in the big mirror and punched , it shattered, slicing his hand. He kept screaming until sheer exhaustion dropped his arms.

---

Dusk

With his hand bandaged, Hayato wandered to the neighborhood park and sat on the swings, rocking slowly, eyes down.

A familiar voice: "That looks like a nasty wound."

He glanced up. The cheerful girl from the nearby flower shop stood there.

"I was about to close up and saw you.and thought i might come and say hi , do you mind ?"

asking as if she can sit on the other swing next to him

He shook his head 

She smiled, sat on the adjacent swing, and held out a white chrysanthemum. "Here, this is for you."

"I… don't have anyone to give a flower to."

"It isn't for someone else. It's for you."

She stood, dusted off her skirt then turned around smiling brightly at him. "See you tomorrow, Tiger."

She jogged away, turned from afar, and waved. Awkwardly, Hayato raised his hand and waved back.

He looked at the flower in his bruised fingers ..and, for the first time that day, he breathed without pain .