Thanks for cooking.
You can leave the dishes right there.
Breakfast was great.
Th-Thanks...
What's up, Ami?
Hayacchi squeezed my boobs so much that they hurt now.
Huh?
Let's talk about what you did!
First you broke my brand-new laptop by swinging a dumbbell around,
and then you told me to squeeze your boobs!
But still...
You know you shouldn't swing dumbbells around indoors.
If you hit someone, they could get hurt.
Right.
And Hayato...
If you have to squeeze her boobs, do it gently.
Ami's still a girl, you know.
What?!
Yeah, that's right! Squeeze 'em gently!
Or maybe not.
The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses
Episode 7: "A Year in My Life"
Akane-chan, take care of the cinnamon toast order first.
Episode 7: "A Year in My Life"
That customer's been waiting a while.
Got it.
It's a huge help having you here for backup.
With so many customers, I lose track of what order to serve them in.
Well, that's rare. You don't give compliments often.
We do have a lot more customers now, though.
More than when Grandma was here, even!
Probably because of the uniforms you made for us.
Huh?
I've been getting lots of comments on the street lately.
They're like, "She's from that café with the cute uniforms!"
Really? Who said that? Did they say anything else?
Thanks for dinner!
Well, I'm kinda tired, so I'm gonna take my bath first and go to bed.
Hey, wanna borrow my rubber duckie?
It'll make your bath more fun!
Maybe I will, then.
Ami
You know, Akane-chan seems different lately.
Yeah. She used to be pretty unapproachable.
She does seem a lot less prickly now.
Well, we've all been living together for a year.
She's an important part of the family now.
Family, huh?
You're still doing this every day?
I'm impressed.
You've been doing it almost daily since we reopened.
People's tastes change with the seasons.
And that's why...
I check the flavor myself the day before.
To make sure the coffee I serve always tastes the same.
You really are Grandma's grandson.
You're so much like her.
Are you thinking of quitting this job?
Wh-What makes you think that?
No reason. Just had a hunch.
You've been going around complimenting everyone. It's not like you.
It felt creepy, so I was trying to figure out why.
Based on your reaction, I guess I'm right.
So you'll be moving out, then?
Leaving this house?
Call it family circumstances.
I'm thinking I'll be out by this weekend.
I won't need my pay for this month.
You can use it to get rid of the stuff in my room.
Okay, will do.
I owe a lot to you.
Since it's my last week... wanna give mine a squeeze?
Be gentle, though.
I was joking.
If it embarrasses you that much, don't say it.
Am I that unattractive?
I did have a lot of male fans, I'll have you know.
So your band gets past tense, too?
Well, boobs aside...
If you feel like you owe me,
there is one thing I'd like you to do.
Huh?
Tomorrow's the café's day off.
Go on a date with me.
Hayato-kun and Akane-chan are going on a date?!
Yes! They said they were going out on a rainy day like this,
so I asked why, and they said it was a date! A date!
You're kidding, right?! Did they have that kind of relationship?!
I can't imagine Hayato-kun making a move on her,
so it must've been Akane-chan who asked?
C-Come to think of it, she did say she might be willing...
with Hayato-kun.
True...
I see.
Outside air in winter makes cups and servers cold,
so we should warm them up.
I wondered what you meant when you called this a "date."
I'm just giving you info?
What choice did we have?
It'd be a pain to discuss this at home with all the others there.
Restock washcloths One cup is cracked No particular problems currently Private event reservations at Familia Don't turn on lights late at night Outside air in winter makes cups and servers cold
You're free to quit the café if you want,
but I need you to tell me these things first,
or our business will suffer.
Oh, I see.
What're you so grouchy for?
Were you hoping to see a movie or go shopping?
I'm willing to do that, if you ask like you mean it.
I'm not asking you for a damn thing!
Well? Did Grandma say anything else?
Of course, no matter how good you make the coffee,
it doesn't mean a thing if the drinker's heart isn't in it.
If there's something troubling you, tell me about it.
I'm here to listen.
I...
I don't have anything more to tell you.
Okay.
Let's go home, then.
Sure.
So where do you think those two went?!
Well, they picked a rainy day to go out!
So it couldn't be an amusement park, right?
Maybe a concert?
Hayato-kun seems to like bands and stuff.
You know...
I overheard Hayacchi and Akane-san talking at the café yesterday...
Why can't we go in through the front door?
The coffee at that place we went to was gross,
so I thought I'd have you make me a cup.
Sure, I guess...
This'll probably be the last time I make you coffee, you know.
Yeah.
I'll be sure to take note of the flavor.
It only lasted a year, but it's been fun.
My time living here will be a good memory.
Yeah?
I feel bad for what I did to my bandmates, though.
Telling them out of the blue that I was quitting...
I think that was a shame, too.
The song you wrote was really good.
Hey...
Why aren't you asking why I'm moving back to my family home?
Huh?
Guess you wouldn't be interested, huh?
As far as you're concerned, I'm just pretend family.
Would you ask someone anything as long as they were family?
If you don't want to tell me, I won't ask,
and if you've made up your mind, I won't stop you.
No matter who I'm dealing with, I respect their wishes.
Even if they're family.
That's so you.
I come from a reputable family that's been around for over 200 years.
They run a trading business.
But my dad died young,
and I'm the only one who can carry it on.
So they're ordering me to join the company, take a husband, and have an heir.
They've already decided who I'll be marrying.
Hilarious, right? I've never even met him.
I told them to at least let me do what I wanted for one year,
and started the band and the café work...
But then my mother called, saying, "That's enough. Come home."
Mother
I mean, I've done my own thing for long enough,
so I figured it was fine.
I do kind of have a responsibility to the family I was born into.
You know...
I get the gist now,
but don't say things you don't mean.
I hate being lied to.
Wh-What makes you think I'm lying?
The coffee tastes like shit.
No!
Don't move out, Akane-san!
You can't do that!
Yeah!
You were eavesdropping again?
And when did this thing about you marrying a guy you don't even know come up?
You guys...
We finally got to be friends... This is too sad.
I haven't had a chance to see one of your concerts yet!
Please don't quit!
I'm worried how Familia's coffee will be with only Hayato-kun left to make it!
No! No! No!
I will not have it!
So what'll it be?
If this is your decision, I'll respect it.
I...
I want to stay here.
I don't want to go home.
I want to stay with all of you forever.
I want to stay with my band, too.
And I want to learn to make better coffee.
But there's no way my mother's going to allow that.
No matter what I try to do, she'll drag me back.
It's all right.
When that time comes, I'll do something about it.
You should live the way you want to.
So...
Do something, Hayato!
Okay. I will.
I thought it curious that this café had such a young owner.
Now I understand why that is.
It must have been quite challenging for your grandmother to raise you.
Yes, I'm sure it was.
What is it that you wanted to discuss with me?
I have a vehicle waiting, so do keep it brief, please.
It seems Akane-san has something she wants to say to you.
Will you hear her out?
What?! I have to say it?
Something you want to say?
U-Um...
I know I said I'd join the company after a year,
but there are still things I want to do.
I was hoping you could wait a while longer.
Are you referring to your musical activities?
Yeah... And my job.
Then there's nothing to discuss.
You will stop talking nonsense and come home.
Has there ever been anything that you started and then stuck with for long?
You always give up and leave things unfinished.
That's because you keep forcing me to do things I don't want—
I told you that I will not abide backtalking or excuses.
Yes, ma'am.
What is that you're wearing, anyway? And that hair color?
What a shameful look for the Hououji family's heir.
Not to mention the way you've been speaking.
I'd be too embarrassed to present you to anyone.
Seeing you right now gives me a painfully clear picture
of how useless and wasteful this past year has been for you.
I told you to flick your wrist when whisking tea.
How many times must I tell you, Akane-san?
I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mother.
I... I'm...
Hey.
Isn't that quite enough?
Why won't you say anything back to her?
Huh?
I thought you didn't want to go home?
The way this is going, that's exactly what's gonna happen.
Is that what you want?
O-Of course it's not!
Then why are you clamming up? Are you that spineless?
I did tell her!
You only told her. You didn't make her understand.
And what was that, "I was hoping you could wait a while longer," anyway?
You're not making it clear what you want to do.
You're just putting off coming to a conclusion.
Your mom's telling you to come home
because your half-assed behavior worries her.
Well, what are you trying to pull, sitting here silent all this time?!
Weren't you going to do something about this for me?!
You talked big, but now that my mom's here, you just watch quietly?!
Quit bitching! Whose life are we talking about?!
Why should I help someone who can't look her own mother in the eye and tell her no?!
What was the point of that year of your life?!
If that's as far as your determination goes,
just quit everything!
Go home and inherit the business or get married or whatever!
Yeah. You're exactly right.
I'm sorry, Mother. I didn't even serve you tea.
You also like coffee, right?
Huh? Yes...
Don't tell me you're going to make it?
I am. Please wait just a few minutes.
I have investigated the matter, masters.
And how did it look?
Zoom!
It looked awful!
Hayacchi told Akane-san to just quit!
What does that mean?! He said he'd do something about it for her!
He must've chickened out 'cause her mom's so scary!
You can't be that way, Hayato-kun!
That coward!
I can't leave this to that phony blowhard!
Yeah!
Half of a cup of coffee's flavor can be attributed to the quality of the beans.
The other half comes from the barista's technique.
How can a girl who couldn't make a proper cup of tea be so skilled?
Yes, that's it. You've gotten much better.
That's right. Slowly and carefully.
These beans need forty seconds to bloom.
Any longer than that, and it'll taste sour and wrong.
Yeah. I know.
Be careful not to pour the hot water directly onto the filter.
...onto the filter.
Pour slowly, in a spiral pattern.
I learned all that from her.
Hououji Akane is the waitress who makes the best coffee of anyone in this café.
Thank you for waiting.
This is the result of my past year.
Please enjoy.
I see. This is the result of your one year, then?
Yes.
May I say one thing?
No matter how good someone's coffee is,
it doesn't mean a thing if the drinker's heart isn't in it.
Just for this one time, at least, could you focus only on the flavor?
Yes, I will.
When I was young, I traveled around the world as a diplomat.
As the only child born to the Hououji family,
I was often told that I would one day inherit the business,
but at the time, I found pleasure and fulfillment in the job I had,
so I couldn't even bring myself to think about inheriting.
That said, Akane-san, you aren't like I was.
You spend every day wasting your life on pointless nonsense,
never even trying to get a proper job.
It's absolutely disgraceful.
If that's how you're going to live your life,
it would be better for you if I forced you to join our family business.
At least, that's what I thought.
Yes... This coffee is most excellent indeed.
That is all I need to know.
Akane-san, live your life as you see fit.
Thank you.
Incidentally, I have yet to learn the name of this café's owner.
Oh, sorry about that. I'm Kasukabe Hayato.
I see. It certainly is a small world.
What?
Ma'am!
You can't make Akane-chan marry someone she doesn't love!
Let her live the way she wants!
Yeah! You can't force her!
Would you guys just wait—
This café needs Akane-chan!
That's right!
Please!
Ma'am!
Everything's okay now. We're finished talking.
Huh?
Thanks to Hayato, I get to live here again.
Oh... Really?
Well, how about that? Hayato-kun really did put in the work.
Way to go, Hayacchi!
Yikes! We were stepping all over him!
I'll turn down your arranged marriage offer.
Thank you.
I'll find the one I want to marry on my own.
Oh?
Hayato-kun is a good, diligent boy, isn't he?
I'm sure it won't be easy with so many rivals,
but as a Hououji woman, you'd better win.
Huh?!
I-It's not like that!
You're such an open book, really.
So very easy to read.
Mother!
You're out here again?
I've been looking for you. Dinner's ready.
Let's go, Hayato.
Oh, okay.
Thanks for being there today. I owe you.
For what?
If you hadn't yelled at me,
I might never have had the guts to defy my mother.
Actually, I was holding back a lot since your mom was there.
Normally, I would've really let you have it.
But anyway, I'm glad it worked out.
Now I'll be able to drink your coffee for a while longer.
Your attitude and expression suck,
but coffee's the one thing you get right.
Oh, really?
You really are adorable, Hayato.
Huh?
You don't need to worry. I'll make you coffee all your life.
Don't mock your boss!
Let's go! Dinner's on!
Episode 8: "A Beach Hut!"
So Akane-chan used to be a proper young lady with undyed hair?
If not for her band, her character might've overlapped with Kiku-chan's.
Don't worry!
With a little booze, Shiragiku-san gets super hor—
Stop, Ami-chan!
Were you about to say something really weird?!